Novelty Neckties

This is how Dad takes the boys to bed.

G will start crawling on his shoulder before family prayer is even over.

They love it.

Two stories about Nate

The other day Nate was sitting on the couch watching a soccer game between Spain and South Africa. I was sitting with B.A. on the other couch. She asked Nate what ESP meant. Without hesitation, and hardly taking a breath, he went into a full explanation of extrasensory perception. He described what it was, how it worked, and how people debate its reality. This sermon lasted a good 5-10 minutes. When he was done, she said, "Okay. But what team is ESP?" (On the little scoreboard on the soccer match they had Esp, short for Espana).

I thought this was hilarious. This is something I love about the fatherly father in Nate. He will never hesitate to answer the kids' questions fully and completely. He loves the chance to teach them something.

+++++

A friend of Rhon's parents are divorced so I was talking about it with the girls a few days ago. They were thinking and wondering where they would live if Nate and I got divorced. Some of the things that were said...

Daddy is so funny. He makes us laugh all the time.

Daddy makes such good food.

Dad is so fun.

Daddy makes the best salsa. (This was said by B.A.)

... and I quote, "But Mom. You are a good Mom" said in a conciliatory way.

I am getting worried over here. Nate has all kinds of things going for him, but all I have is being a "good mom".

It's okay. I'm glad they like him. I'm glad he is a good dad.

Rhubarb

Mt. Rainier

brought to you by Southwest Airlines : )

Nate and I spent a whole 3 days alone together over the weekend.  It was perfect.  Nate is as funny as ever.  In Seattle, we did all the touristy things.  And we had amazing food.  If I ever go to Seattle again, I will for sure go to Piroshky Piroshky, and the Doughnut Company again.  And again.  And again.  There was also a boat ride and kayaking.  My mom was amazing and took care of all 5 of my kids!  That couldn't have gone better.  And because of my super awesome BIL, Justin, we were able to save a ton of money.  Thanks!

1999 - 2009

Today really feels special.

Chippity

Why can't he just eat a cookie like a regular human?

Maybe he is not entirely human?  I guess I need to teach him to say, "Kowabunga!"

Seven

There aren't many people who can pull off the missing front teeth look.  But I think Rhon does it really well.

Rhon is funny, dependable, and caring.  I know if I ask her to keep an eye on G for me, she really will.  She loves to ride her bike.  She loves to do the monkey bars at school.  School is not her favorite, but she does really well.  I think she would just rather sleep in everyday.  Even though she is a great artist, history is her favorite subject.  She loves food and bolognese is her favorite meal.  She has developed quite the attitude.  She rolls her eyes and glares like a pro.  She hates to clean up.  And she is terrible at it.  I suppose she probably gets that from me.  She still has a very inquisitive nature, which means there are always lots of questions.  She is starting to show an interest in boys, and she thinks Wayne Rooney is cute (ugh!).  I love this little girl.  I don't know what I would do without her.  

Two Stories, One Piece of News, and a Dinner

                                              

All this because I said I wanted guacamole.  "That man is incorrigible!"  said in a southern accent  He made 9 different things.  Rice, beans, chicken tacos, spinach & grapefruit salad, grilled corn, salsa, limeade, chorizo dip, and, of course, guacamole.

Another tooth lost.  Another slacking tooth fairy moment I'm sure I will have.  But this tooth has a special story.  The girls were in their room playing.  Rhon had a bag of candy that B.A. apparently thought was hers.  She tried to grab it, and Rhon played keep away for a minute or so.  Then B.A. grabbed it.  They each had a hand on it.  Finally, B.A. was able to get it away from Rhon.  As her hand flew back with her reward, she knocked Rhon's tooth out!  It just popped out and flew across the room.  I don't think it was 100% ready because there was more blood that any other tooth so far.  She wasn't mad or sad.  They both thought it was funny and cool.

G cried as I got in the shower today.  He always does.  Every single time, unless I let him in with me.  But today I wanted to take one by myself.  I wish I had my camera!  First he screamed at me.  Then when he realized he wasn't getting anywhere with that, he threw himself on the floor and hid his face in his hands.  Then he got up and started banging on the shower door.  That didn't work either, so he took a couple paces backwards and got a running start and rammed his head into the glass door.  He rammed it.  As if he were a goat.  He rubbed his head in disgust.  Then he did it again!  This time he just stayed there and kept banging his head.  Crack crack crack!  He must of realized that that was hurting him more than anyone else because he began his trouble making phase.  He crumpled up my rug into a pile, emptied out my drawer, and preceded to the toilet.  He lifted both seat and cover, and got on.  He looked like he did in the picture above.  Saying, "Pee pee.  Pee pee!" all the while.

We went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house last night.  I felt more like a cow being herded than a person walking through a temple.  That's okay.  It was still cool, and I am glad my kids got to see another temple.  I think the chandeliers were their favorite this time.

Following 6 and Preceding 8

Rhon's 7th birthday party

The bandannas were to help me keep track of them, and they worked as great party favors too. Oh, and I told them to make grumpy faces. 

This picture cracks me up because she is totally faking it.  I couldn't light the candles because it was too windy.  When we were done singing, she made a wish and pretended to blow out candles.

Letter

Dear Tomato Gods,

     In a small garden, in a small town, in a big state, in western United States, there are 20 or so sprightly, happy tomato plants that we ripped from the comfort of their birth containers and stuck them in the infertile, clay-like soil of our back yard.  We do what we can for these new, and still very fragile, plants.  The rest is up to you.  We have 5 very eager children that wish to eat of the fruits that these plants could produce.  We have much salsa to be made.  Many neighbors' summers wouldn't be the same without the joy of Nate's fresh salsa.  And just thinking about our BLTs makes my mouth water.  Not to mention all the salads that will be had, if our tomato plants are prolific.  We are only asking for kindness and grace.

                                                 Thank you,

                                                     Tomato Planters

 

Make Space For Me

Last weekend we had the best camping trip EVER!  Here are the top 10 reasons why...

1.  We didn't have to pack.

2.  We didn't have to put up a tent.

3.  Nate didn't have to chop wood.

4.  We got to skip church.  (heehee)

5.   We had running water and a toilet. 

6.  We didn't have to cook.

7.  We didn't have to clean up.  

8.  We didn't have to spend the night. 

9.  We didn't have to take a tent down.

10.  We didn't have to unpack.

Nice.

Trailers rule.

Hiking.

Hiking II (from the backside)

I swear this boy falls more than any human I have ever known.  He fell at least 6 times on this hike.  He just doesn't pay attention.

Hiking III (getting over the muddy bits)

The girls.

Mads chucking rocks into the lake.  There is nothing better than seeing standing water and making it splash.

My squirts and the Hirschi squirts.  (Don't roll your eyes.  It was funny to me).

Andrew, Mads, Rhon, G, Dare, B.A., and Gracie is in the back.  If G's face doesn't crack you up, it should.

Little Chicklet

I know her face isn't in focus.  But look at the detail in that pine tree right behind her.  Stunning!  Really, I meant to do that.  This post is referencing that tiny gap in her bottom teeth.  It was a tiny tooth.  One that could easily be forgotten.

This is the letter Rhon received under her pillow this morning...

Dear Rhon, 

          It appears there has been a misunderstanding.  I have just spoken with my good friend and associate, the Poop Fairy, who has been visiting your house every night for the past two weeks.  apparently when you requested fairy services, it sounded like you said, "Poop Fairy" not "Tooth Fairy".  To some extent, this is understandable, as it is not always easy to make all the correct sounds when one's tooth is missing.  We would appreciate it, however, if the next time you lose a tooth, you made every effort to enunciate properly.  Thank you for the tooth.  Even though it was a bit dry, it was still terribly delicious.

                                                                                 Yours Truly,

                                                                                         Tooth Fairy

P.S.  Next time, try to remind your parents more often that I'm due for a visit.

P.P.S  You'll be happy to know that the Poop Fairy's time was not completely wasted.  Your youngest brother G, kept her well supplied with poopy diapers that she described as, "Simply delectable!"

I wish I could take credit for this.  All I did was transcribe.

My Mother's Day Post

I get amazed easily.  It happens to me several times a day.  For example, I am amazed that I can type letters on this keyboard and they magically appear on the screen.  I am amazed when I push the gas pedal of my car, it goes.  Spring is full of amazement for me.  Flowers just pop out of the ground where there was nothing there before, and blossoms form on trees that were just sticks during the winter.  Don't even get me started on how a microwave works.  I am amazed at how you can throw a few ingredients into a bowl, roll the dough into balls, and you get a delicious cookie.  I am amazed that the sun comes up every day, that people can speak different languages, that bees can sting you, that my house can get so messy, that we can smile and laugh.  

I am amazed that my body can create another body inside of it.  I think often about the process. How ears form, and finger nails, and hair on their tiny heads.  It is amazing that my body creates another heart, and it beats.  My belly gets bigger and I feel the baby.  I actually feel her growing.  Not even this amazement compares to how I feel when I see my baby the first time.  Words can't describe how I feel when I am face to face with the child that has been inside of me for 9 months.  And the love I feel!  That is truly amazing.  

As a mother, these were the 5 best days of my life.    

In Other News...

                    

Dare had her kindergarten orientation.  She was so excited she could hardly contain her bouncing.  But when she was told to go with her group to the different activities, she wouldn't go.  She wanted me to go with her.  I wasn't the only mother that had to walk their kid over to the group leader.  I just didn't think I would have to with this one.  She has her assessment today.  We'll see how she does on her own.

Oh, she also informed me that I am not allowed to call her Dare anymore.  She prefers her given name.

Downs and Ups

It is a bad day when...

it's Monday.

you wake up late.

as you are fixing breakfast, you forget you didn't check homework over the weekend.

you realize you are out of bread so there isn't anything to make for lunches.

you go get your baby so you can take the kids to school, and find out he has poop everywhere.

you make the girls late for school because you have to give your baby a bath.

the baby not only has poop everywhere, but in his ears too.

you are sorting laundry, and that same baby destroys the beautiful tulips your husband got you for Mother's Day.  (I know, I cried).

Then...

he rips the plastic off his bed.

the girls are fighting.

there is no dinner made.

I'm tempted to get pizza, but the thought of it makes me throw up in my mouth.

But...

I got all the laundry washed, folded, and put away.

dinner turned out to be okay.

the kids went to bed.  (This is always a highlight).

I watched Bride Wars.  It was alright.  It cheered me up a bit.

That was Monday.

It is a good day when...

your husband works from home.

you leave sleeping children alone.  (I usually have to wake them up to go to school).

you get to talk you your husband all day.

you take a nap.

your husband makes dinner.  It was really good!

everything is done and cleaned up by 6:30.

after dinner, you get to go to Leatherby's for a girls night out.

you eat chocolate while laughing with friends.

you bring home some ice cream for your husband, and talk some more while he eats it.

you laugh with your husband until you fall asleep.

That was Tuesday.

G is Out

Mads is my new favorite.  I have two reasons for this...

1.  see post below

2.  Stinky G.

                                                 

                   

M & M

When we were taking the girls to school yesterday, I told Dare and Mads that we had to go to the store before we went home.  Mads said that we couldn't go because he didn't have his shoes.  I told him I brought his shoes.  Then...

Mads - "What about my socks?"

Me - "I brought your socks too."

Mads - "Yay!  Mom, you're my favorite best girl.  Really, you are."

That made my day.