What to do...

when Daddy's not home!! Daddy was volunteering at our church cannery tonight and wasn't going to be home until late tonight. During a pizza dinner I asked the girls what we should do and got lots of fun answers. We should have a slumber party, with sleeping bags, and a movie, and cookies, and popcorn. All right! We quickly got everything cleaned up (they sure can work fast when motivated!) and I discovered M doing her hair for the party (SO not my child!!!). I decided no slumber party was complete without a little makeup (finger AND toe nails and a little something to help us smell good!). Our poor neighbor happened to bring his son over in the middle of the nail painting to see if they could borrow a movie - they didn't stay very long! (I offered to paint their nails but they got away too fast!).

I left them alone to decide who got which sleeping bag and told them if I heard fighting no one would get one - it's amazing how well they can get along!

M's Hair and nails

Cookies! We (I) decided two cookies was just as good as one cookie and a little popcorn (and a lot less work!)

Animals. blankets and pillows all made it down!

Finally they curled up for a princess movie. Life is good! I took the little one to the other room since all she wanted to do was climb on the girls and try to get their cookies!

After the movie they went to bed. I was the most awesome person ever when I suggested they might want to sleep in their sleeping bags tonight! I told them if I had to come up even once and remind them to stay in bed EVERYONE would lose their sleeping bags - AMAZING what they can do! I checked on them a little while later and everyone was fast asleep! Hooray for Friday nights!

The best part was tucking them in (usually Daddy time). Poor E had some major bug bites so I went to get cream for them and Mg had lost her bunny so I went to find those and inbetween was giving out goodnight hugs and kisses. I kissed E, went to find Mg's bunnies and gave them to her and then went to give M a kiss. Sweet Mg quietly said "you didn't give me a kiss" and it was so sweet and wonderful how much a kiss meant to my little girl. It's those wonderful moments that make being a mom worth it!

And despite all the fun we had - we missed you Daddy!

Isn't she adorable!!

THANK YOU DADDY!!!! I've been meaning to get the video camera out for awhile but Daddy got A being absolutely adorable as she showed off her new walking skills and he even uploaded the video for me - I'm a lucky girl to have him! A was so proud of herself and was also loving putting on a performance - she will only walk when SHE wants to although the last day or two she pretty much only walks. I love my cute girl! If you listen closely especially at the beginning you'll hear her squeaking since she is so excited but then eventually it turns to laughing :) She ALWAYS walks with her hands up in the air and she doesn't have a lot of control over which direction she goes but she is very good at turning - yesterday she kept turning in circles and it was hilarious!!!

(excuse the mess - we had friends over and the kids were about to go to bed and then we were having a scrapbook evening so our stuff was everywhere!)

Blogs to books

I've talked to a few of you about this program and now I've finally got the link...my college roomate wrote a free program that allows you to prepare your blog to have it printed. I don't know about you but my blog has certainly become a valuable journal. It saves the highest quality picture you uploaded, allows you to save th comments and she gives fabulous instructions on how to save it and sent it out to get printed. There's now a link on the sidebar or go to

http://blogs2books.blogspot.com/

I love my roommate!!!! Thanks so much!!

Our newest "pet"

So we've gone crazy with the bug collection thing. We don't go anywhere without a net and have been known to go to certain places in search of a new bug. Several entomology friends from the ward are probably tired of us pestering them with questions and at least two other girls have started bug collections because of us. Since E decided she now wants a collection we have been on a quest to get hers looking nice before winter sets in and a lot of bugs go away until spring. Which brings us to our new pet...a horned tomato worm.



Yes, the thing is huge. That's on M's really long fingers and notice he is wider than her fingers!! We went swimming at my piano student's house and while looking for a tomato for dinner we found one, and then there were three...one for each girl. Perfect (that was said sarcastically!)



So we got home and I researched what this thing was - and learned that it will pupate into a very cool and large moth! Well, since we have a bug collection a really large moth would be great! So yesterday we got out some old buckets and found some dirt to make a home for these new, temporary pets. A was quite helpful!

Isn't she cute!!

So each girl made a home for her worm with plenty of dirt for it to crawl into (they go under the dirt about 3 inches for 3-4 weeks to change into the moth) and put plenty of tomato leaves for it to eat. (yes, that long line in the middle is the worm!)

We brought them inside to enjoy them, however within a few minutes one of them went into the dirt!!! Then last night the other one did too so now the waiting game begins! What a house we have!!!

My monkeys

E was home sick again today. She and Mg were playing the computer together and they decided to play Elmo. E said "Mommy sometimes calls me "Emmo" and Mg laughed and agreed and then she said "Mommy calls me Mg and sometimes she calls me "monkey!" It's true - I quite often call all of them monkeys. This is why...

Her latest trick is to climb up this step stool - this is the second step up and she discovered that when it is near the pantry she has access to food! I'm not looking forward to the day when she learns to MOVE the stool to where she wants it! All my girls have loved to climb - some were better than others, but they are all definately MONKEYS!!! (and they would be happy to demonstrate how monkeys talk if you ever ask them!!)

Gold Rush Days

Over Labor Day weekend we made a last minute decision and decided to go to the Sacramento Gold Rush Days. We had a great time! They take the streets in the old sac area and cover them with dirt and you see all sorts of horses and carriages and wagons and people dressed in period costumes everyone - the girls loved it! We've been talking about pioneers and the big girls love the "Little House on the Prairie" books so it was fun. It wasn't supposed to open until 11am but we got there early to go bug hunting along the river :) It worked out well...we were there by 10:30 and most of the booths were already open so we got to check things out without the crowd or the heat!

Our first visit was to the Mormon Battalion area. M got to make her own rope and Daddy had a GREAT time - once they found out he had ancestors who were in the Battallion he got into all sorts of conversations and enjoyed seeing the uniforms they wore and such. We actually ditched him for a little while so he could continue talking :)

While Daddy talked the girls and I went to pan gold. I was surprised at HOW much fun they had doing that! We stayed for quite awhile (since it wasn't crowded and Daddy was talking!). Afterwards they took their gold to the bank and were given a gold nugget (aka a rock spray painted godl!) and a certificate that they could use to go bowling, get a free drink and such. So we wandered around trying the free activities and had a great time. We actually went back to pan for gold again because they liked it so much!
Not the best picture but Mg sure enjoyed her gold!A of course enjoyed the ride and her thumb :) She was pretty good considering she didn't get a lot of walking time!
We brought a picnic and enjoyed the cannon getting fired off (well, at least Daddy did!) and went to check out the river and the steam train and the boats and then went home for a nice nap (and Daddy went to work)! Hooray for holidays!

Adjustments

This has been an interesting week with the kids back in school. I miss the big kids. I'm grateful to be able to give more individual time to the little ones, but it's hard to get used to! I've had to sit down and think "what did I do with M and E when they were this age?" So I feel like I've gone back in time and am reliving the last few years again. I signed Mg up for a gymnastics class with her friend, we had a meeting this morning to plan preschool and we're hoping to try Music Makers again (she already says she doesn't want to go! Grr). I'm looking forward to the fun things to do together and I'm really glad Mg will be getting all the age appropriate activities she needs - it seems like she is always coming along on big girl activities and therefore she's not great at her basics like colors and letters since we never stopped to go back and teach it to her. So this is good, just wierd to get used to! We're still working on a good nap schedule for A as well so there are all sorts of adjustments to make and I'm looking forward to a regular routine. The big girls are loving school. I had back to school night for both of them last night and I'm happy with their classes so it should be a good year. Hooray for Davis! There are so many good things about this place and good friends - I'm grateful to be someplace I am so happy!

yes, it's mud (see the comments)

Why I Had a Bad Week

Isn't she adorable!! High maintenance, but adorable! Don't turn your back...or this might happen!! :)
Anyone need to hire a cute dishwasher??!!! Never a dull moment over here! :)

Styling for school

I especially like their poses :) They've had a lot of fun this week getting their hair done and picking out clothes for school. Thanks grandma's!!