Balloon Tutorial

On the way home from the bank today the kids were playing with the balloons they were given. They love to blow them up and make them squeak, much to my chagrin. Isabelle hasn't figured out how to blow hers up yet so Ryan was trying to teach her. He wanted to show her how to breathe in air through her nose while holding the balloon with her mouth. These were the instructions that I heard from the front seat: "You just have to pretend like you're sucking snot back up your nose!" This is another instance of differences between the sexes - a girl surely could have thought of a different example that didn't involve snot.

Time out, anyone?

Scott just reminded me of a funny Izzy moment. A few days ago Izzy hit Ryan for some reason and Scott walked her up to her room saying, "You're going to be in time-out for two minutes." (the big softy) She looked up at him and said, "That's not very long."
She apparently needs to learn when to keep her mouth closed!

I just love you

It is nearly 11:00 pm. Scott and I were just reorganizing a bit after moving in a new kitchen table (thanks to Steve Scoresby for the help) when we heard a yell from upstairs, "Mom!" We ran up to find Izzy in the hall. I said, "What's the matter?" She replied sleepily, "Nothing." I hugged her and she mumbled something. I asked her to say it again and she said, "I just love you."
I laughingly led her to the bathroom and then back to bed. (sigh) I truly have a wonderful life!!

Isabelle and Pearl Seraphina Sparkles (aka Kitty)

Isabelle decided the other day that Seraphina needed a new name. I told her that it was unneccesary considering the fact that she named her in the first place. However, she was quite adament, so as far as she is concerned, Seraphina is now also known as Pearl. I asked her where she came up with that name and she looked at me seriously and said, "It came right out of my body."
So, while to the rest of us she remains, Seraphina, Kitty or Kit, I now present Miss Pearl.

Got Style?

Who buys her clothes? Oh wait, I do! Maybe I should buy her clothes only in solid pink or purple, then she would always match!

Where's the good in "Goodbye"?

We said goodbye to my sister Katie and her family today after staying with them in Las Vegas for a long weekend while Scott was at a conference in AZ. We are on our way home and Ryan just said to me, "I miss Haisel and Taylor already!"
If I could have packed them all up in our car I would have brought them all home with me.
Here are some highlights:
Playing games with Kate and Ammon (new fun one – Ingenious)
the trampoline (my kids think they are in heaven on a trampoline)
the weather (I'm wishing we weren't coming back to winter)
lots and lots of cuddling -

Little(ish) Millie is adorable and squishy I didn't want to put her down.


Lexie is so sweet and so cute to talk to and she likes it when you tell her the three little pigs.


Taylor is loving as always and really didn't want us to leave. Every day we were there he got a little panicky if I put my shoes on and went out the door. He would ask "Are you leaving, Sunny?" When we finally were leaving he wrapped himself around my leg and grinned up at me. He said, "I'm really going to miss you" and "I wish you lived close to me!" Amen, Taylor!! Amen!

Haisel was so good to my kids, she did a pretty good job of balancing Ryan and Izzy who wanted her complete attention doing different things.


We went to a museum near there house that made me very thankful for my indoor toilets and my washing machine. I'm glad that my washing machine is more that just a wooden tub with a churning crank. How spoiled we are!!
Needless to say, it's hard to come back to real life. I am relieved though that my children still love me after living with another mom who Ryan admitted is the best cook ever. As I just put in a movie for them to watch before they fall asleep (in the car) Izzy said, "You're the best mom, and the most beautiful mom, and the kindest mom..." It has been a good trip.

Izzy's lateover

So in honor of Izzy's birthday, I bought myself a new camera. I hope that I love it, Scott usually does this stuff for me.
Izzy's party is going strong right now, they are watching the much requested (by Isabelle) Hello Kitty movie. We did a small party this year because it's the "off" year. Otherwise I think we would have had a dozen or so girls, Izzy kept wanting to invite more. I had to remind her that we are sticking to her cousins and Hannah.

If I had a million dollars...

If you had a million dollars, what would you do? After Scott asked me this and I responded with the boring answers of: buy a new house, buy some new clothes and shoes (I shop more for my children than myself), and hire a maid. He reminded me of my not so secret wish of wanting to stay at the hotel at California Adventure - that would be awesome. So it's now offically a goal of mine - we may never hit a million, but someday we'll stay at that hotel.

Scott:

That's fairly easy (after the new house of course) he would then buy another fourwheeler with an enclosed trailer. (I just asked him what he would buy and he nodded his head at my answer then added that he would buy Brother Maxwell - a sweet disabled gentleman in our ward who is quite poor - a new car. It's true though, he would.)

Ryan:

He would buy his own Nintendo (or whatever kids play now) stocked with Pokemon and superhero games. (This is the great big no at our house). He'd make sure our new house had a soccer/football field and he'd buy all the bionicles ever made(hence my need for a maid).

Isabelle:

Ever since our Disneyland trip in November Isabelle asks me at least twice a week if we can go to Disneyland that day. She has shed many a tear over my lack of sensitivity. She will also often ask me, "Are there people at Disneyland today?" (me) "Yes." (her) "Well, then we can go!"
She also would stock her wardrobe with clothes with cats.
She'd also probably love a bunch of bubble gum.

Okay so most of this is frivolous, but if you can't dream of frivolous things...besides, realistically speaking I just spent a heck of a lot more than a million dollars (give or take a pack of gum)!!

The gospel meets science fiction

Have you ever wondered what your children learn in primary? Last night in FHE we were talking about the Plan of Salvation and when Scott got to the part about us not remembering heaven after we came through the veil Ryan said, "I remember it, I jumped over the fusion chamber." To quote Kevin Henkes (Lily's Purple Plastic Purse) "Wow, that's just about all I can say, Wow!"