The List

The List of things I really, really, with a passion, don't like is quite short, actually.

Raisins. Cockroaches. Doing the laundry.

And potty training. Really, if it were up to me I'd rather leave them in diapers till they were in the 2nd grade (or got too embarrassed and trained themselves). I'm not sure why I dislike it so much. But it's up there (other than cute chubby tooshies running around naked for 3 days straight. That's kind of cute.)

Since Ken is still home from work, we thought now would be a good time. 3 days into it, she's actually done pretty well. She thought it was great - juice and M&Ms, right up her alley. Maybe we'll actually venture out of the house tomorrow.

Puddle Jumping

We're big puddle jumpers around here.

We don't let a little rain stop us from dragging the kids outside for a little fresh air and to get some energy out.

April snow (like I woke up to this morning), however, is another question entirely. Which would explain why I'm still in my pajamas.

nephew Ryan

red-cheeked nephew Calvin

Caroline and Calvin.

Happy Birthday, my still-pretty-little-Peanut

You know you're a princess when you have, not one, but 3 birthday celebrations. We had cake with Grandma B before she left, cake at Stacey's yesterday, and our family party tonight (I was feeling a little guilty about not actually making a cake or doing much. And I think birthdays should be a big deal).

I made this devil's food cake which was really quite good. I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of buttercream frosting. But it sure looked fluffy and pretty.

Evie attempted to blow the candles out (but still needed a little help from her big bro):

"What? They're really going to let me keep sticking my finger in it? Can this really be happening?"

"I can shovel more in with the fork . . ."

"Goodness gracious! I will not let you eat my cake!"

Things I love about my Evie:
- I love how much she talks now. She proudly announces herself as "Ebbie!!" She speaks in full paragraphs (though most of it is Evie-speak but every now and again you'll catch a word you recognize -- like "cake!" today).
- When I rock her before bed (she points at the chair now demanding "cudd-ew") she sings with me. Very loud. And (sometimes) on tune. Her current favorites are iddy-diddy-di-dew (itsy bitsy spider) and "too-ah ooh-ah" (tura lura, a lullaby my mom used to sing to me.)
- She spent the majority of her 2 year check up today dancing around the doctor's office, wearing nothing but her diaper, her shoes (which she proudly put on herself) and her two little pigtails.
- She is strong-willed. Her current favorite word is "NOOOOOO!" Yelled at the top of her lungs, sometimes for no apparent reason. Hopefully, she will use this for good.
- She loves. Everyone. Her family. Our friends. Her puppy. She loves.

Thrice?

Conversation with Sir Luke:

L: Mommy, how many times did Daddy get shots at work? {we have a slight obsession with S-H-O-T-S after the debaucle a few months ago with the flu shot}.
M: I think 2 or 3.
L: Hmmm {thoughtful look}. So was that twice that he needed shots or thrice?

The Princess hath Arrived

Santa brought Evelyn some dress up clothes for Christmas.

(I think someone was feeling guilty about the dominance of cars, trucks and shooting things in our house. And, frankly, wanted to play dress up.)

I was a little concerned that Evie wouldn't be as into it as Mommy was.

No need to worry. We spent an hour this morning trying on crowns and hats. "I-ahnt pwin-thess" she would say, and point to her head. Then she kissed her beautiful image in the mirror.

I guess I should have figured, given that I found her walking around in my satin red pumps yesterday.

Happy Birthday, Luke

Today the first day of 2009 (what? I'll never remember to write that on things. Never.)

It's also the 5th birthday of our oldest son and my first baby.

5 seems so old to me. Like the beginning - of the end.

School. Kindergarten. Riding the bus and being grown up then asking to borrow the car and taking girls out and getting married.

(I might be a little crazy).

But I love this boy.

I love his determined spirit and sense of leadership (this is the boy who at 2 years old was rounding up and leading games with the neighborhood kids).

I love his efforts to help - he cooks with me, puts away dishes, tries to help with Evie.

I love watching him with his baby sister. He reads to her, entertains her, begs to sit next to her during dinner, even shares his coveted fruit snacks.

I love his smarts. This is the boy who essentially taught himself to read (and was all put out a few weeks ago when we parked at a spot at the gym labeled "for parents with small children." He got a horrified look on his face after reading it and cried out "but Mom! I am not a small child!"). This is the boy who spent an hour last night practicing German words with his Daddy.

I love his big dreams. In his mind, he can do anything. This is the boy who shed tears this summer because he couldn't spike the "beach volleyball" (aka the 6 foot high volleyball net in my parents' backyard) over the net like he had seen them do in the Olympics. He's already planned out who he's going to play football for -- the BYU Cougars, Michigan, the Vikings, the Bears and the Packers (because "that's your favorite, Mommy").

I love his consistancy, attention to detail (some might call it O.C.D. I call it attention to detail). Life is good when everything has a plan. He reminds everyone -- including our nanny when we're gone -- that we read scriptures and say prayers every night. We sang "Silent Night" until at least mid-May because he loved the song and couldn't bear to put it to rest.

Happy birthday, my old little boy.