Blankets

sometimes to an almost-3-year-old
a blanket is more than a blanket
sometimes it's
a skirt to go "visit your friends"
a dress to go dancing
a sweater "because it's cold"
a fort to lay under with Daddy
a ghost
a cave to hide from Mommy in
a superhero cape

and sometimes it's just a blanket
to snuggle with Mommy
and play with her hair
right before bedtime
and watch "The Dancing Show" (So You Think You Can Dance)

I Wish

I wish........

I didn't feel guilty every time I ate a piece of chocolate
Mya would stop waking up every night at midnight
Everything we still wanted to do to our house cost $5
I loved, no even LIKED to work out
Bryan liked seafood
It would be fall and stay fall for at least 3 months
I didn't stick my foot in my mouth all the time
I could kick the DC habit
I was going to Hawaii in April
I didn't have the skin of a teenaged boy going through puberty
I could make my baby enjoy her life somehow
I didn't get so defensive
It wasn't so hard to remember to say our prayers together
Lauren was a morning person
I could wear boots, a sweater, and a scarf today and not die of heat
Mya would stop shutting herself in rooms and screaming while wedged behind the door
I had 5 days off like Bryan does this weekend
I didn't have to wash my hair every day
I wasn't so loud
Our kids didn't make church so unbearable
I was taking a dance class again
I didn't have a gap between my front teeth
I had more patience with my kids
I liked onions, my life would be so much easier
I had time to sit and read for an hour every day
I could learn how to keep my house clean
Mya didn't spit out her milk and ruin at least 1 shirt per day
I had never seen the huge spider in my office that evaded me last week
I didn't have to work so hard at EVERYTHING, nothing just comes easy to me
I had about $250 guilt-free that someone made me spend on a killer pair of boots
Someone would do my laundry for me
I could get Lauren to eat anything other than pb&j and mac & cheese
There were about 4 more hours in the day
I could just be positive today

So Sad

One of my friends on Facebook posted this, so I thought I'd attach the link here. For all you moms out there, or anyone for that matter, a reminder to listen to the promptings you may have, regardless of the mood you're in or brushing it off as a silly thought.
My heart goes out to this family, especially the mother. I can't imagine what she must be going through.
http://www.karsenmery.blogspot.com/

Oh NO She Didn't!

Look at this kid -doesn't she look so sweet and innocent? Well, she used to be, at least.
I've noticed an increase in sass and attitude from Lauren since preschool started. It's like she's decided that she's big now and gets to say things to me like "but I want it", and "you said no to me, you don't say no to me", and always seems so surprised that phrases like that don't get her desired outcome.

Yesterday I even caught her throwing some of her sass her friend's way while we were coming home from preschool. After we dropped Sage off, we had a long conversation about how we don't talk to friends that way, and if you aren't nice to your friends then maybe your friends won't want to play with you anymore.

The afternoon went on, and the babysitter, Jessie, came over while I worked. She couldn't get Lauren to go down for her nap easily. Lo was crying about wanting to walk up the stairs, because about 30 minutes earlier she had thrown a fit about taking a nap, and I carried her up them. She's really weird about stuff like that - she was all worked up about wanting to walk up the stairs. I know, the kid is crazy. So after trying to get her off the subject for 5 minutes, I finally told her she could get out and go walk up the stairs. (And yes, that fixes the problem. There have been numerous times I've had to take her back outside to walk up the stairs in the garage, take a cup out of the sink for her to put in the sink. It sucks, but you just CAN'T get her to change her mind about it.)

And then it happened.

I was walking down the hall behind her and she turned around and stuck her tongue out at me.

I about went through the roof.

Where did she learn that? I'm assuming preschool. I know she's going to learn crap like this someday, but I'm not ready for that day. Is this whole attitude thing common when your kid starts going to school? She was just starting to get really sweet. We have pretty much stopped the throw-yourself-on-the-floor temper tantrums that lasted hours. She's old enough to reason, and to talk about things, and work things out before they escalate to that point.

But sticking her tongue out at me?

So I whipped her around and asked her if she just stuck her tongue out at me.

She said yes.

I then told her that we don't do that and if she EVER did that again she would not like what happened. (Really, I hadn't decided what the punishment would be at that point. New territory here.)

I think I had the crazy "pushed the wrong button" eyes, because the babysitter looked slightly frightened. But we laughed about it a minute later, so I'm pretty sure she doesn't think I'm too crazy.

Seriously, I'm not ready for this kind of stuff.

I guess as always, every new stage of your kid's life brings a whole new set of challenges.

Now I need to think of the punishment, because how much you wanna bet I see that tongue again in the next couple of days?

Me, Myself and I

I often. . . go to Gardner Village just to walk around.
I have . . .the greatest husband in the world.
I fear . . .failing.
I feel . . .very loved.
I hear . . .Pandora (Fall Out Boy at them moment)
I smell . . .the remains of dinner
I hate. . .the spider that got away from me behind my desk this morning. I'm still creeped out.
I think. . .that I have the greatest 2 jobs ever.
I know. . .that I'm not perfect....not even close!
I want. . .to have more of a desire to work out.
I always. . .wash my hair, every day.
I am not. . .the best cook, but I sure try.
I am like . . .loud. Take it or leave it.
I believe. . .that family is incredibly important.
I don't always. . .read my scriptures and pray as often as I should.
I am happy that. . .I have so many good friends.
I win. . .at Trivial Pursuit (most of the time).
I lose. . .at most sport of a physical nature. Scratch that, all.
I never. . .bite my nails.
I need. . .some sort of treat every day.
I listen. . . and love all different kinds of music.
I am scared of. . .spiders.
I read. . .when I can.
I am . . . blessed.

Aren't We Cute?

Feel free to notice the new family pic at the top of this blog, and the new pics of the girls on the right.
Seriously
So
Stinking
Cute

Just Doing My Part

Kanye,

You had 2 lyric-approved-by-me-suitable-for-this-blog songs that were on my playlist for all to enjoy while browsing through and reading about the life of our family on this blog.

I'm officially doing my part to support the boycot of all things Kanye West by deleting those catchy tunes from my playlist.

Try not to be such a loser

No one likes you

Even the people who are supposed to smile and pretend they like you (celebrities) don't like you

Just doing my part

More Family Pics....

Sheryll put together this awesome little montage of our family pics - enjoy!

http://animoto.com/play/tSQ4ZjF6zS3Grnp1ZXeX5w

You Got Served

It's 7:51 a.m., and I have already been served a variety of crackers, some corn, 2 layer cakes, soup, and numerous cups of hot chocolate.
Who knew wooden alphabet puzzle pieces and empty plastic tea cups were so delicious?
She's across the room right now drinking her hot chocolate from a pretend salt shaker, sitting on her little pink stool in her jammies, completely glued to Sleeping Beauty.
Almost 3 year olds have the greatest imaginations.

I
LOVE
THIS
AGE

I wish I could just freeze time right now and keep her like this forever.

Thanks Tyler/Taylor's Mom!

Picked up Lo and Sage from school today and they greeted me with frosting covered faces. Apparently it was Tyler or Taylor's birthday (the pronunciation is getting a little lost - Lauren first told me Tyler, then changed it to Taylor) and his/her mom lovingly brought a treat.

A MASSIVE chocolate cupcake covered in about a full cup of frosting.

I was instructed by the almost 3 and almost 4 year old more than once to not hit any bumps on the way home, because we didn't want these delicious treats to fall off the center console in the truck.

Preschool gets out at 11:30.

Lunch is as soon as we get home.

Ask me how lunch time went.

JUST

ASK

On a brighter note, another shot of Mya with her, as my brother called them yesterday, "Shrek Ear" pony tails.

Very fitting, seeing as how Shrek = Ogre. Mya also = Ogre.

Maybe I need to rethink her Halloween costume choice...
And PS, I officially miss my good camera. These pictures suck! Inkley's is getting a call today.

Near Perfect Weekend

Babysitters 2 nights in a row

Golf on a random Friday afternoon - without killing eachother (though Bryan's behavior was slightly suspect while driving the cart)

Actually hitting the golf ball every time.....almost

Iggy's

CPK Thin Crust Margherita Pizza

DC with no ice :)

Battle of the Sexes

FroYo with fresh raspberries & graham cracker crumbs that I didn't ask for

Anchorman

Toby & Jack Jack

Lo wearing panties to bed and staying dry

Sunday dinner

Booking our flight for San Diego

Family BBQ

Hugs from my G-ma

Kids sleeping in until at least 8:30 every day

Lots, and lots, and lots of laughing

Hanging with some of our favorite peeps - old and new

Preschool!

I just dropped my kiddo off at her first day of preschool!

It took some convincing to not wear the backpack that she got to pick out all by herself in the truck on the way over.

Of course, she didn't care to wait for me. She just marched right on back.

That backpack is almost as big as she is!
Lauren & her friend Sage get to be in the same class.

And in case you were wondering, neither of us cried.
After taking a few pictures, I just gave her a quick smooch and she went on about her business.
SHE IS GOING TO LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF THIS!