Spring is in the air. Literally.
Despite the inches of snow on the ground, it really is spring. I know, because it was Easter, and that definitely means spring. Of course we did all the normal activities--bunny baskets, dyeing eggs, talk of the resurrection--the usual. But now I'd like to present the more...unique way that sister Andrea came up with of celebrating the vernal onset. I present to you, the chick flick.
It started out innocently enough. I was incredibly crafty this year, so I planted wheatgrass and nestled some darling little chickies in it. Festive centerpiece, no?
Then Andrea (it always always starts with her. We're not sure if she's just mischievous, incredibly easily amused, or a combination of the two) decided to use her spoon to try to launch the chick into the grass.
Then we all had to try, because that's just too random to not be fun.
We got pretty good. Look at the height on these babies!
Tyler (now fully clothed--TMITYS did not come to Easter dinner) concentrates on getting just the right trajectory.
My sister in law Catherine took the photos. Apparently it's a little tricky to photograph paper chicks as their being flung across the table, but she did an incredible job. Must. Not. Covet. Her. Camera. She photographs and blogs at
catonalimbphotography.com.
Easter randomness. What else would you expect around here?
Labels: family, holidays
Fool's Gold
I know I mention it a lot, but I love my family. Here's yet another reason why I think they are some of the most enjoyable people on the planet.
April Fools is a favorite holiday for my mother and my kids. In fact, they've been including the auspicious day in their prayers (please bless that it will get here fast and that we'll laugh all day long). The pressure was on. For my kids I gave them banana splits for breakfast, then taught them the classic French game where you try to stick a fish on someone's back, then yell 'Poisson d'Avril' and laugh hysterically. This game was a hit, except they wanted to say it in English, and somehow 'Fish of April' is just not as funny.
But I digress. The real story, the real blog post here is the one you're wondering about. Why on earth is there a picture of a man in a yellow speedo running through the house???
Let me 'splain.
For the last 20 years, my mother has had a scapegoat. Diet Coke open in her cart at the store? Wasn't her, it was the Man in the Yellow Speedo (MITYS). Bag of chips consumed? Him again. He was the convenient answer to any bad behavior she didn't want to fess up to. This MITYS has been confusing poor innocent checkers at grocery stores all over the west for many years.
Thanks to my amazing sister Andrea, her intrepid husband Tyler, and the awesome purchasing power of Amazon, the MITYS was able to make his first live appearance.
We had just bowed our heads for the prayer of our wacky dinner where we have to eat spaghetti and salad with crazy kitchen utensils, when the MITYS burst through the back door, snatched up the pot of spaghetti, and disappeared through the front door. It all happened in a flash; all I had time for was a shot from behind. Perhaps that's best, though, for everyone involved!
I think my favorite part was watching him stash the pot in the garage, grab his pre-hidden ratty bathrobe, and run up the street at lightening speed, barefoot. Only Tyler.
The kids were a bit mystified by the whole thing, but they didn't let that dampen their enthusiasm for eating spaghetti (recovered from the garage) with whisks and beaters.
Labels: family, funny
Beach babies
We just got back the other day from the last vacation of the summer. We went to Southern California to go to the wedding of my darling cousin Cameron. We went with my family--my brother and his family, and my two sisters. The whole trip was perfect from start to finish.
First of all, we had the perfect adult to child ratio of 6:6. Totally manageable. Andrea might beg to differ, since she did end up with 4 of the exhausted little people right after the wedding. Oh, the tantrums of the Calvin!! The screams reverberated through the lobby long after they went up in the elevator. Fortunately, moments like that were few and far between, and for the most part the kids were great.
All the little girls got to be flower girls. So much fun!! And isn't Katie an amazingly gorgeous bride?
The reception was in this fabulous house in Newport Beach. Oh, the backyard!! SO beautiful!
Sammy was, of course, absolutely perfect. I swear, that baby is almost
too good. Not that I'm complaining! He smiles and gurgles and coos and bats at his toes, no matter where he is. Good thing, too, considering all the places we've hauled him to this summer.
We spent two blissful days on the beach. Usually when we go to California, we don't have time for the beach. The thought of Disneyland on a Saturday in August just didn't sound even a little bit fun to us, so we went for the beach instead. I know there are a whole lot of superlatives and exclamation marks in this post, but they're really truly deserved. The kids ran and laughed and dug in the sand and had such a picture perfect time. .
Labels: family, vacation
Definition of family
We just spent a fabulous couple of days at a condo in the mountains with my whole family. Swimming, games and more games, movies and snacks were the only things on the agenda.
In the middle of an afternoon swim, surrounded by cousins, aunts, and siblings, my little Calvin stopped in his tracks. He looked around, then announced joyfully, "All of dese people is makin' me SO HAPPY!"
That's gotta be the perfect definition of a family.
Labels: Calvin, family
My heart's in big melty puddles
I don't think he knows it's a holiday, but my sweet Calvin boy just gave me my best Valentine's present yet.
He had one of those legendary toddler diapers and I was cleaning him up. We were talking and I was telling him that Mommy's are here to take care of little boys and keep them clean and sweet. We finished and I went to give him our customary post-diaper change big hug. Then he melted my heart forever and completely.
He planted a big kiss on one cheek, turned my head and kissed my other cheek, then turned my head again and planted a big kiss on my mouth. "T'ank you Mommy take care me! Wub you!"
Then he ran off to play.
Be still my mother's heart.
Labels: Calvin, family
Surprises
Steve's traveling season has started, so we're in a continual pick-him-up/drop-him-off cycle around here. So today we piled in the car to pick him up as usual, and the kids thought everything was normal.
What the kids did not know was that we weren't picking up just Daddy, but also a much-beloved Grandma Amy here for a surprise visit!!!
Hazel was watching so intently for Daddy, she didn't even notice her dear Grandma walk right in front of her. When I directed her eyes over, Hazel just about fell on the floor laughing and hugging. So fun!!
We all went to dinner at one of our favorite places (Calvin ate a plateful of arugula dressed with lemon juice and olive oil. Weird kid), and tomorrow is bowling day. But there's more. While everyone is bowling, I'm going to the craft store. Alone. AND Target! Alone again!!! What luck!
Surprises are great fun. The kids are sure delighted with this one!
Labels: adventures, family
Merry Christmas!!
I hope everyone had an absolutely wonderful Christmas. I know we sure did. Oh, so wonderful! Where to even start?
Last night we had a glorious part with my mom and siblings, and Steve's brother and his family. Amazing food--we always have french onion soup, wassail, quiche, marzipan cookies, lemon tarts, and lots of other delectable goodies. If you think you are all baked out, please don't be! Don't wait until next Christmas to try
these oh so incredible white cherry chocolate shortbread cookies. Yum!
We did the nativity--my girls take turns being Mary every year, and this time it was Hazel's turn. Chloe and my niece Jane were adorable angels. Calvin and his little cousin Seymour were
supposed to be shepherds, but they went A.W.O.L. Oh well!
Christmas morning. We got about 4 inches of snow last night, and it's just gorgeous outside. We didn't even start opening presents until around 10:30 this morning; we have breakfast first, Steve went across town to pick up his dad, we read the Christmas story, then Chloe gave the most precious prayer before we started. She prayed that we'd have the Holy Spirit in our hearts, and that we would remember Jesus and love him. Wisdom from a four year old!
Chloe pausing mid gift-unwrapping to read one of here new books.
Calvin opening his box of letters.
The violin was such a high point of the morning. As soon as she realized what it was, the joy in her face made ever bit of Christmas stress more than worth it. She's SO excited!!
There was one present we saved for very last...
It's a blue!
I'm so absolutely delighted! Of course a pink would be wonderful also--pretty much you can't go wrong with either option. But in terms of bedroom sharing, even numbers, and a much-needed wrestling partner for Calvin, blue is definitely a wonderful thing!! We're ecstatic. I'm so so happy that the whole thing went according to plan. Such a fun surprise!
Anyway, Merry Christmas to everyone!
Labels: family, holidays, new baby, Recipes
Movies successful, and movies not so much
After a perfectly wonderful morning shopping with my two sisters, I came home to take the kids to see Enchanted. I've heard nothing but rave reviews, so we were way excited to go. But, Steve ended up not being able to go, so I decided to go by myself. First large mistake.
There were four other people in the whole theater, so at least I didn't have to worry about disturbing too many people with my crew. Normally Calvin is great in movies, so I didn't think there would be a problem. Oh, how naive I am!! The previews were "so scawwy" (they really were!), then when the movie started, well that was scawwy too. Emphatically 'scawwy'. Loudly, vocally, obnoxiously scawwy.
So I took Calvin out, got a refund, and took the protesting girls home. We'll try that again later when we can divide and conquer!
Later, to redeem the day's planned Christmas activity, we had a dinner picnic. We made apple raspberry muffins and hot cocoa for dinner and ate them while watching 'Santa Claus is coming to town.' So much fun with my sweet babies!
Labels: family, holidays
Back home
And we're back from our flyingly fast trip to So. California. Somehow, through some marvelous combination of Steve's brilliant ability to work the system and really good timing, in the month of December we fly SIX people for the price of TWO!! Incredible, yes, I know. So we planned a spur of the moment trip to go to Disneyland with the kids and my little brother Thomas.
So much fun!! Disneyland at Christmas really defies description. Main Street with wreaths and garlands everywhere you look, a massive gorgeous Christmas tree, snow and icicles all over Cinderella's castle--it was pure magic.
Small world was my very favorite. I didn't know this, but the whole ride is redone for Christmas. They sing Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls and Small World, there are Christmas decorations
all through the ride, and it was so completely darling.
The whole day was just perfect, start to finish. By far my favorite day at Disneyland ever. So much fun!!!
The next day we headed to Legoland. Thomas is a self-confirmed Lego fanatic, and this was a high point for him. I took Chloe and Calvin and we did sweet little kid rides, and Steve took Hazel and Thomas and they worked the roller coasters. Calvin is still talking about the 'twain wide' and 'dwive a caw'. So fun.
In an eerily similar repeat of the
last time we did Disney and Lego back to back, Calvin hit the wall big time. Time to go home!!
If you were to look very very closely at the picture of the three kids with Lego Santa, you'll see a small blue bouncy ball clutched in Calvin's hand. A flight attendant on the way there gave it to him, and it was his favorite thing ever. Normally you'll find him walking around with a ball or two, and he always takes them to bed with him, but this one was something special. For the entire day at Disneyland, that blue ball was clutched in his fist. On every ride, through the parade, walking around, he NEVER let go. I was sure that it would be lost within minutes, but he made it through the whole day with that silly bouncy ball.
It made it to Legoland and through the first half of the day, but they had a huge playground there, and I think that it was somewhere there that he finally relinquished his grip on the ball. I was hoping he could make it through two theme parks without losing it, but that was too much, even for Calvin.
Anyway, such a fun trip, but so nice to be home again. Now we can settle back in to the preparations for Christmas and cozy fun at home.
Labels: adventures, family, vacation
Recital night
Tonight was the Family Recital. So completely fabulous!! I have a very musical family, and the ability to perform is highly valued. So my aunt (who, by the way, is my same age--my mom's the oldest of nine and she's the youngest) set up a night at a local music store to give everyone a chance to show their stuff.
My amazing sister played her trombone, my mom did a gorgeous Brahms piece, the kids all did a great job, and my Nana played Grieg's Nocturne. Hazel didn't want to play the piano this time, but I think she was inspired by tonight. Calvin didn't make a peep the whole thing, except to exclaim while Andrea was playing the trombone, "Tumpet, Mommy, Tumpet!!"
Hazel took me over to the instrument section to show me the violin she is wanting. I'm not quite willing to commit to violin lessons
quite yet. I want make sure that she really really wants them.
Happy Sigh. I love my family!!
Labels: family
Reasons
I know it's been forever. But there's a good reason for it, honest. Let's see if you can figure it out... Lately, I spend most of my time lying on the couch while my kids wander aimlessly around and beg for food. I put them off as long as possible, then run into the horrible place called the kitchen and throw something together for them. Foods I normally love, like basil and tomatoes, are now so completely off limits in our house. I'm eating a diet consisting of canned vegetable beef soup and quesadillas. Anything else makes me want to groan in agony. The toilet and I are very very close.
Need any more hints?? I'm pregnant!!!
So very excited, but it's been hard to feel excited when I'm so surrounded by ick. And since my ONLY topic of conversation lately is how yucky I feel, I've been avoiding posting. Because really, how much of that can people listen to?
My kids are beside themselves with excitement. Every day, many many times a day I hear, "How big is the baby?" "About the size of a lentil."......."Now??" "As big as a lentil."........"How about NOW??"
We're making in utero development a part of school for the next, oh, nine months or so. They love thinking about the baby growing little fingers and a nose and delight in each weeks new progress. It's so much fun to do this with kids old enough to be excited with me.
I'll try to post more often, now that the big news is out. But if I'm whimpering in the bathroom and can't make it to the computer, I know you'll understand.
Labels: family, new baby
Ice cream
A neighbor of mine recently had a new baby after a difficult pregnancy--4 months of bed rest (she has 3 older kids) so she needed lots of help. People are always so wonderful, so there were meals brought in, kids shuttled to where they needed to be, and lots of support. Well, she wrote an essay explaining why ours is the best neighborhood in America and won the prize of an ice cream party for the whole neighborhood.
My kids are sticky, sweaty and exhausted after an evening of chasing friends in the twilight. There were about 20 families there--so incredibly fun to relax with neighbors and take a break from our busy lives.
The other night we were trying to decide how to best savor the box of raspberries we got from this week's CSA haul. Hazel and I decided that they'd be best spooned over vanilla ice cream. She cocked her head to one side and said, "and I think a sprig of mint, don't you?"
Yup, she's my kid all right!!
Labels: family
Playing catch up
You know how you don't blog for a while, maybe because you're out of town, then once you get home there's just laundry for days, then you are overwhelmed at the thought of all those missed posts floating around your head so it just becomes easier to not even bother?
Well, that's how the last week has been. Sorry!! So I'm not going to try to catch up or anything; I'll just dive in the middle and ramble. As usual.
We spent a few days at a condo in the mountains. 16 of us in a condo that sleeps 8. Good times. Thank heavens for air mattresses! We took the kids horseback riding one day. The man in the second picture owned the operation and I swear I'm not making him up. He really is just what he appears to be--no artificial mannerisms for rustic effect in this guy!
The kids swam for days and days--Hazel is finally able to swim for 6 feet or so underwater. I've avoided the whole swim lesson thing. If anyone can give me some pointers on how to do them with 2 younger siblings in tow, please do enlighten me.
So she gets swim lessons from me. I guess if I can homeschool her in history and phonics, I can homeschool her in swimming, right?
There's a little creek that runs behind the condos. The kids spent many happy hours splashing in the water. Chloe built fairy houses out of river rocks and fed the inhabitants lots and lots of pebbles. Calvin threw rocks with never-ending delight. Each splash found him throwing his hands in the air yelling, 'YES!!' in that darling toddler-speak way. Hazel played with the bigger boys and generally thought she was at least 5 years older than she really is.
But then, sniff, I realized that she really is growing up. She has been obsessed with the hope of having a 'wiggler' like her friends. She manhandles her gumline, hoping that she'll attain that measure of maturity, but it never materializes. Until last night. When I smiled and confirmed her first loose tooth, the look of joy that radiated over her little face was infectious. She couldn't stop smiling all night. In fact, she confided in me at the Thai restaurant where we were eating, "This is the most beautiful night of my whole life. A wiggler
and coconut ice cream!!"
Oh, and
Sarah, she is desperate that your daughter find out about her long-awaited loose tooth. Would you let E. know?
This last picture is just because I can. The curls melt my heart every single time I see him. So yummy!!
Labels: adventures, family
Parties and aftermath
There's just too much to write. Where to start....
Yesterday was Steve's birthday, so we had a huge party with 30 people and wonderful amazing food. Even though my kitchen floor is at an all time new level of stickiness, it was well worth it. And today? Well, let's just say that I'm not used to staying up until 3, nor my children used to an 11 pm bedtime. 'Nuff said.
My sweet sister Stephanie was invited to a barbecue with the
Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They had karaoke. KARAOKE with Mo-Tab!! This is priceless. I wanted her to go undercover to get some pictures for me, but she demurred. She did, however, get to rock out with the choir. Too funny!!
I was talking to Hazel yesterday and really focusing on her and our conversation. That's always a mistake. Because when you're giving one child you're attention, that means that there are others unsupervised. Calvin unsupervised. He climbed onto the counter and got the bunch of bananas and threw them to the floor. Banana free for all! He unpeeled them all, stuffed a couple into his bottle, smashed some more, and had a glorious time. I came out and saw his little guilty face and ordered him to start cleaning. I stepped over the mess, careful to avoid stepping on any of the squishiness, and my heel came down on a peel. People, I slipped on a banana peel!!!
Labels: family
A wedding
Whew! That last week was absolutely a blur. My darling aunt got married on Saturday, and my little girls were flower girls. So dang cute! My mom and sister were in charge of all the food for the reception (holy cow) so the wedding day was a little harried. Especially for them. I just showed up and served stuff and
tried to keep Calvin out of the many water fountains.
This is my three plus their little cousin, Jane.
All the little nieces with the bride. Nine of them, all in matching dresses!
Labels: family, parties
Mountain air
The weather has been sweltering. Stifling. Downright yucky. So we decided to flee to the mountains to enjoy a cool respite. What a blessing to be able to drive a quick bit and reach beauty like this.
My little brother came with us--the kids adore him.
We took a picnic of bread and fruit and cheese. The air was cool, and after a quick sprinkle, all the flowers released their heady scents; mint and sage filled the air. We went on a quick hike and counted wildflowers, chased chipmunks, listened to bird calls, and smelled all the different plants. Such a perfect day!!
Then, to celebrate Chloe's birthday, we came home and had a barbecue with lots of family. Grilled salmon, marinated in soy sauce, ginger, garlic, brown sugar and orange juice. Grilled veggies, baked potatoes, salad, and rosemary bread. Oh. My. Goodness!! So much fun.
I gave Chloe a present that she was thrilled with, but all the guests thought was just a little odd. A child sized mop, dusting cloths, and her own toilet scrubber! She is so excited to play Cinderella, and I'm excited to get these girls working more. But wouldn't you so much rather give a practical, yet very welcome gift instead of yet more cheap plastic junk?
Labels: adventures, family
Fireworks and kissin cousins
Camped out on the grass, shaded by huge trees in a magnificent park. Aunts, uncles, cousins, my sisters and brothers, nieces, and Grandma. Watermelon, blueberries, boardgames, frisbees and kickball. Aaaaah. This is the sweet life.
Calvin and his little cousin Jane played a couple killer games of peek-a-boo.
My girls are decked out in their festive 4th apparel. How many more years do I get to dress them alike in themed clothing? With matching hair ribbons, no less?
The fireworks were incredible. The kids oohed and aaahed, but Calvin wasn't so thrilled. He spread his little chubby fingers over his eyes, and didn't move them the entire. time. of the fireworks show. But nestled in his daddy's arms, wrapped in his own special 'mimi' blanket, you could hardly feel too bad for him.
Hazel sleepily confided in me on the ride home that her little 7 year old cousin has a girlfriend.
"Who?" I asked, knowing pretty well what the answer would be.
"Me!"
"Did he tell you this?"
At this point she grinned delightedly and hid behind the hair that fell in front of her face.
"I just know, because (in a stage whisper) we were holding hands under the blanket!"
I'm not ready for this!! But it was just so dang cute how she said it!!!
Labels: family, holidays
And we're back, again!
Another loooong delay on my part, but with good reason, I promise! We were out of town (yes, again, I know). I always hate to advertise on the internet that we're going to be out of town, so it's just easier to wait until we're safely home again. Of course, all the people who read this and know me IRL already KNOW we're out of town, and so far none of you have broken in to steal our highly precious collections of random kids toys. But still. A little caution is always a good idea.
I know that we go on a lot of vacations. But please, lest you all get the wrong idea, let me explain. Steve travels so much during his work season, we have oodles and oodles of free tickets. Flying is very inexpensive for us. He's the king of
priceline, so hotels are very cheap also. He's self employed, so he has tons of time off in the summer, and traveling is one of his passions. Since it's something we value, we sacrifice other things to make it possible. For example, we drive some of the crappiest cars known to mankind. My van is known as the 'ghetto van', because it is! But they run, and they're PAID FOR, which means that we love them desperately and will drive them forever, if we can. So there are definitely trade offs to everything. Traveling is one of those things that we love to do, so we have found a way to make it possible.
That being said, we just got back from New York! Fun fun times. It was a quick trip, and my mom came with us and got to see the city for the first time. We did a lot of the super touristy things--Times Square, Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, look at Ground Zero, Central Park...all very fun.
Steve the darling and wonderful got ticket for me and my mom to see
Wicked. So completely wonderful!!! He watched the kids while we went. Isn't he the greatest??
We got home late last night, and all the kids are very tired. So am I, for that matter! Traveling with three small people, to New York of all places, is not the easiest. Calvin especially is a challenge. He has this new and charming habit of throwing tantrums where he is only content to be writhing on the floor. If that surface happens to be a filthy New York street covered in I-don't-even-want-to-know-what, all the better. I'm really hoping he grows out of this darling stage soon!
So. Good times. We've a few more little jaunts planned, then we'll be staying put for the rest of the summer. Unless of course Steve can persuade me otherwise!
Labels: adventures, family, vacation
Our weekend
My poor little Chloe took a tumble off the slide and managed to break her arm. Just a tiny hairline fracture, so it's great, as far as breaks go. She's generally fine during the day, but she's been having some rough nights lately. I think it just aches then, but trying to get any tylenol down here ends up being much much worse than the pain. I promise. Poor baby!
We took the family over the weekend to a cultural heritage fair type thing at the city county building. There were groups from over twenty different countries selling food, playing music and dancing. So fun!! We feasted on Sudanese chicken and spinach with lentils, Tibetan momos, Tongan coconut drinks, pupusas and plaintains from Bolivia (I think), noodles from China, and dessert from Switzerland. YUM!
Labels: adventures, family
Of flowers and fish
It's starting out like this, but the goal is to end up with this.
Now if I can just keep it watered, we should be in business.
For my wonderful
birthday this year, my children gave me two beta fish. Because they just love me like that. Actually, I got off easy--they set out to buy
a rabbit. But at the same moment Steve was looking at the poor bunny and imagining its certain quick demise under our care, I was doing a quick read on rabbit care. The sentence stating that, "Owning a house rabbit is like making the commitment to have a two year old child for the next 5-7 years," struck terror in my heart. I panicked and called him, yelling, "No rabbit, PLEASE!!"
So instead, I got birthday fish. Named by my girls, prosaically, John and Sarah.
This morning as I walked in the kitchen, I found Calvin feeding the fish. Feeding them huge handfuls of Frosted Mini Wheats and Honey Oat Flakes. Lucky, lucky fish. They survived, but aren't we all so glad they're betas and not bunnies?
Labels: family
