Quick both girls are asleep it's time to blog

Nothing super cool has happened in the last little bit, mostly just life.

We hang out in  laundry baskets all day

We got home from Portland Sunday January 1st and the next morning James starting his internship at St. Joseph Hospital.  He's working in the inpatient reb center and is loving it.  He works 4-10 hour shifts and that leaves us with a 3 day weekend every week.  It's been really nice.  Two nights ago both James and I woke up at 4:30 am and James told me he was thinking of his patients and couldn't go back to sleep.  So he got up an hour earlier for work.  (he usually wakes up at 5:30 am).  Last night the girls both went to bed early and we found ourselves alone talking on the couch for an hour.  It was so nice.  


Gwenevere started Preschool again.  It's great to be back in theswing of things.  Yesterday we learned about the number 10 and the shape of a heart.  The girls where super heart heroes and had to rescue the numbers 1-10.  We also played bingo with the Shapes we've learned.  Gwenevere loved playing bingo and I think we'll be playing it more often.  

Gwenevere showing me her super hero cape

Super Heroes hard at work

I caught Grace tasting her toes yesterday.  It was a first and her reaction was hilarious.  She quickly removed her foot from her face and made a soar face.  I haven't seen her taste her toes since but she sure loves playing with them. 

Grace has reached that stage where she won't fall asleep just anywhere any more and I'm learning all over again how to put a baby to bed.  If anyone has any suggestions on sleep training I would LOVE to hear them.  I was working full time when Gwenevere was this age so it's a bran new experience for me to have a 5 month old.  I'm sure I could use any advice you want to give.   


As for me, I've been super busy with work I have two vacant apartments and one more on the way.  This is the most I've had vacant and I'm a little stressed.  Anyone want to move into the Starview Apartments?  :-)   


Other than work, I've been getting ready for Gwenevere's birthday party.  She's turning 3 next Tuesday.  wow!   I love it.  I love that my little baby is growing up.  I hope I can keep this attitude but right now it's fun watching her grow and learn.    Gwenevere is in a Hello Kitty stage, she likes watching hello kitty on netflix and yesterday we went birthday shopping and all she could point out was Hello Kitty stuff.  She wants Hello Kitty PJs, a Hello Kitty belt,  a Hello Kitty doll, and a hello Kitty piggy bank.  (She loves collecting money).    For Christmas Gwenevere got some Hello Kitty puzzles and she LOVES them.  I hope this Hello Kitty stage lasts for a while I'm really liking it myself.  (but don't tell James.)  wink.  


Gwenevere wants a Pajama party for her birthday with Hello Kitty Decorations.  We bought the invitations yesterday and today we're going to start making the Hello Kitty Pinata.  Wish my luck.  


  Other than that: last week we went to the zoo.  It's been way to long since we've gone to the zoo.  I enjoyed walking around and looking at the animals with Gwenevere and our friends.

Thanks Jill for taking pictures

  James has the car everyday and it makes getting out of the house a big adventure.  I'm really wishing we had two cars but I keep thinking of gas and insurance and no income and I'm very grateful we have one for right now.  We've talked about buying a cheap second car with our tax returns but i'm not 100% ready to buy another beater car.   I really want to just wait it out till we can afford a nice newer car that we can have for several years but we probably won't be able to buy a new car for a while. Dilemma. 

On Friday James took us to the Tacoma nature center where we "hiked in the woods" and had a fun time.  Then we drove to Ikea, met up with the Box family and went shopping.  We ate dinner at Ikea too and we had a fun time. 

I just LOVE the hat Grandma Sharolee made

Gwenevere wanted to hug this tree.  I promise we never taught her this :-)

Gwenvere almost made it the entire .5 mile.

One happy Family

Sunday we went to Chamber's bay and watched the Sunset.  It was the perfect way to end a perfect weekend.

Anyway, moving on with my random thoughts, Gwenevere has said some really funny things lately.  


The other day Gwenevere was talking about how, when she grows up she doesn't want to become a Doctor.  James explained to Gwenevere that she can become anything she wants. 
Gwenevere replied" I want to be a girl Doctor.  
James smiled and said "That's a good idea." 
Gwenevere than continued "Papa, how about you be a Dragon."   
Papa:  "Well, I guess I can't become just anything I want."
Gwenevere:  "Oh, okay, how about a Dragon Doctor."


I didn't know Gwenevere knew anything about Dragons.  It's funny what they learn.


Last but not lease, while we where in Portland Grandpa Roemhildt had a friend take our family pictures so here is some more photos for you to admire.

okay so i want to take back what I first said, Even when nothing much has happened, our life is super cool.

The Roemhildt Family Christmas Newsletter

Season Greetings from the Roemhildt Family

We want to wish you a Merry Christmas and let you know we love you. We also want to share with you the joys we’ve experienced this past year and send loving wishes and warm thoughts to your family this holiday season.

This Year in a Nut Shell

The past year has been a blast. We started out the new year pregnant and expecting a baby in August. In January we celebrated Gwenevere's 2^nd birthday. The party was a big hit; everyone pretended to be wild animals at Gwenevere's zoo party. Shortly after Gwenevere's birthday it was time to celebrate James' 28^th birthday. Than on St. Patrick's Day we dressed up in green and went to my ultra-sound appointment and found out we were expecting another baby girl. Gwenevere had been calling her baby sister a girl for a few weeks before the ultra-sound so we weren't too surprised but still very excited.

In May James started his first internship at an outpatient Physical Therapy clinic in North Tacoma. James worked hard all summer long at the clinic. For Father's day we went camping on the Olympic Peninsula; it was a very wet but fun camping trip with lots of friends. Gwenevere fell in love with camping and asked to go camping again and again.

Gwenevere and I spent the summer playing at the zoo, riding the carousal and eating lunch at Papa's work. We even made a trip to the Seattle Space Needle for

the very first time. Gwenevere liked calling it the “Space Noodle” It was a good summer.

In August my Mom came out for a visit. We were hoping Baby sister would be born while she was here but unfortunately it didn't happen. We still had lots of fun making stuff for the baby and running last minute errands.

On August 17^th at 2:43am, Grace was born in the comfort of our very own home. Her arrival was quick and very exciting. We are happy to have her in our family.

August went by so fast. We had lots of visitors come to see the new baby. James started his last semester of Grad-school classes. (I can't believe how fast his grad-school has gone by.)

September, is one of my favorite months of the year: and this September was once again very special. Gwenevere started a home school preschool program my friend and I started for our girls. Gwenevere is learning all about shapes, colors, letters and numbers. She loves learning and she loves school just like her Papa.

On Sept. 17^th James and I once again celebrated our wedding anniversary. Six years of marriage has gone by fast. I used to say “maybe for our 10 year anniversary we'll do ...” Thinking it was a long ways away and we would be able to do something extra special but it hit me this year just how fast 10 years is going to go by. So instead of planning fancy trips across the ocean for our 10 year anniversary I'm now hoping and planing that maybe we'll get a house for our ten year anniversary.

The 17^th was also my Mother's birthday and since she was able to visit us that weekend we celebrated by James gave Grace her baby blessing

Once October came we made Halloween costumes, went trick-or-treating and before we knew it, it was November. Grace is growing up fast and Gwenevere loves being a big sister.

James worked very hard and passed his comprehensive final before making a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner for our family. James' family was able to visit for thanksgiving. Now is the time to decorate the Christmas tree and sing Christmas songs all day long. We love this time of the year. We love the joy and happiness that comes with celebrating our Savior's birth.

We look forward to the upcoming year, James' graduation in May and the next adventure that will await.

A Special Message from our Family

As we look back over this past year our hearts are full with love for our Savior Jesus Christ. He is truly the reason for this Season. We want to share with you our testimonies of his role as the Savior of the world. We believe Jesus Christ lived on earth, and died for the sins of the World. We know that after his death he was resurrected and continues to live and guide us back to our Father in Heaven. We pray that this Christmas Season you will feel of the Savior’s love for you and your family.

Once again, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Love n Prayers,

James and Elizabeth,

Gwenevere and Grace

Charles G. Baertlein's baby Blessing

Friday December 29, 2011 we drove down to Portland to spend the weekend with James' family and to celebrate Baby Charlie.  

Saturday morning we went out to breakfast with James' Dad, and siblings.  We ate and ate and ate and than went to visit Green Grandma (James' Dad's mother).


We celebrated Christmas all over again and had so much fun doing it.  

Giving Uncle Gary a big hug

Gwenevere with her hello Kitty puzzles Grandpa Roemhildt gave her

Opening Presents

Later that afternoon we took more family pictures and then rested the rest of the evening

Gwenevere took pictures of us taking pictures.  She is so stinking cute

On Sunday January 1, 2012, Baby Charlie was blessed by his father Max.  It was a beautiful blessing and I'm grateful to have been there.  Rebecca made a wonderful soup for after the blessing and soon it was time for us to go back home.  


Exhausted from our travels we plan to stay put for a while but we have loved visiting with all our family.  Happy New Year!

Our trip home from Idaho Falls

Bright and early the Monday after Christmas we started our drive back to Tacoma.  We left Idaho Falls around 6 am.  The girls slept while James drove and I watch the sunrise.  The car was cold and do to cold weather outside the car had a hard time heating up.  Finally James pulled over and took a look to see what he could do.  My mom had sent us home with a sack of potatoes.  This turned out to be very useful.  James took the paper sack and placed it between the radiator and the vents in the front of the car.  We got back in the car and within a few minutes warm air was coming from our heater.  Yippee!  

We drove to Cour D Alene Idaho and for the first time as a family we stayed the night at a hotel.  It was FUN!

Gwenevere exploring

Eating Dinner (Safeway Chinese and Jojo's)

Lovely Ladies

The first time in the pool

Grace not to sure about this swimming thing

A change of mind: Grace loved the water but it was a bit to chilly to stay in for a long time

"Don't taste the water"

heading back to the room for bath and bedtime

The next morning James brought up breakfast and after packing the car Gwenevere was ready to hit the pool one last time.

When we finally left the hotel we drove around Cour d Alene

Taking a picture by a moose for Grandma Sharolee

On our last day of driving we looked like this

 

We stopped by Will and Jenni's new home on our way home.  Gwenevere loved running around with Preston,  and I loved seeing what they plan to do with their own home.  We are excited to have them closer again.  

We made it back home by 9pm that night and found out that we would be making a trip to Oregon in just few days.  So it was time to unpack, clean and repack for another adventure.  

Picture with Santa

One of my favorite things during the Christmas season is taking pictures with Santa.  This year I was afraid it wasn't going to happen but things came together at the last minute and I got my wish.

Growing Grace (4 months as of Dec 17th)

Growing Grace

4 months stat

Height     24.5 in

Weight    14lbs 3.2 oz

I can't believe how big Grace is already.  She loves playing with her sister Gwenevere and she loves screaming aka talking to anyone or anything.  Grace can roll over from front to back and back to front on her left side and on her right side.  Grace sleeps in her own bed 10-12 hours each night.  Grace enjoys car rides as long as she hasn't just eaten before being place in her car seat.  For Christmas Grace met her Auntie Grace and they had a nice little chat with each other.  




This week (four months 2 weeks) I fed Grace her first baby food.  Squash.  Two days later and she is really really enjoying eating baby food.  She is getting better with eating each day.   I plan to feed her once a day and only veggies until she's 6 months.  It's more for oral therapy than for nourishment but I know she loves the tasting part too.




We love having a little Grace