Cade's First Haircut 2/20/09

Not too sure about what's going on.


Decided he doesn't like this idea.


Distracted by someone else in the shop.

Look at those crocodile tears!
(Where does that phrase come from anyway?)


Oh, the drama! (Or trauma?)

Rainbow Connection

February 13, 2009

On Fridays, Trey stays after school to work with a group of students and their English teacher, as they prepare for the upcoming Pentathlon competition. As I sat in my car waiting for him to finish up, it started to pour - I mean really POUR! I don't remember it ever raining that hard! Then all of a sudden this awesome rainbow appeared. It was the brightest, most vivid rainbow I've ever seen, and I could distinctly see each separate color. The coolest part was that it was the full arch - completely 180 degress - I've NEVER seen that before; usually only a portion of the arch is visible. I took a picture with my cell phone (top) but couldn't get the whole arch into view. When we returned home, Jaise asked if we'd seen the rainbow, and told me she took a picture of it, too (bottom), in case we missed it. She couldn't get the whole arch into view either!

Happy 12th Birthday, Jaise!

January 23, 2009

Jaise has been looking forward to turning 12 and going to Young Women and mutual activities for some time now. Within the first week of being 12, she did temple baptisms, gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting, and attended a stake fireside. Just a preview of how busy things are going to be!

Jaise was supposed to have a big sleepover party, but she kind of got in trouble and it was cancelled before the invitations went out. You may think I'm a mean mom for cancelling her birthday party, but if you knew the rude and disrespectful things this child said to Ryan and I, you'd ship her off to a deserted island! We did, however, end up having a homemade pizza party with Ryan & Jan, Curtis, and Jake & Anna. As Jaise was going to bed that night, she mentioned that it was the perfect way to celebrate her birthday - at home with good friends and family, having fun together and just hanging out.

She is looking forward to attending Girls Camp in July, and starting junior high in August. This next school year we have three kids starting three new schools - Trey in high school, Jaise in junior high, and Chaye in Kindergarten.

Happy Birthday, Channa!

January 20, 2009 -

I refuse to post birthday pictures. I had just gotten a haircut the day before and I was still trying to figure out how to style it on my own. Therefore, I was having a severely bad hair day on my birthday. Thank goodness my new straightening iron arrived UPS a couple days later or I might still be hiding out! (Not that the hair looks that much better straight, but at least I can fix it now.)

I absolutely did NOT want to celebrate my birthday this year. Call me a party pooper, I don't care. I feel old, fat, and yucky, and the ominous 40 is approaching way too fast. After a depressing Inaugural Ceremony that morning, what was left to celebrate anyway? I told my husband and children I wanted no gifts, no cake, and there was no need to extend any birthday wishes to me that morning.

For the most part of the day, things went as I wanted them to. It was just another day of the week - good! Then Ryan came home from work with an ice cream cake. What a dork! My step-mom called and I went into the other room to talk to her. When I returned to the kitchen, there were birthday gifts all over the table. What kind of considerate man did I marry, anyway? (At least now I have proof he doesn't listen to me!)

I was very happy to receive my own set of dumbells as one of my gifts, as I've been asking for them for a couple months now. And Ding Dongs - I love them frozen!!! There was more, but why bore you? ;) I loved Chaye's card and still have it hanging up in the kitchen.

What was I Thinking?

January 9, 2009
I just opened the yogurt cup for Cade, when the phone rang. I set the yogurt down on the table and answered it. When I came back this is what I found. (What was I thinking, leaving open yougurt on the table?)

Of course I couldn't get upset about the mess he made all over the table, his clothes, the chair, and the floor.


After all, it was my fault for leaving it within his reach.

At least he left half the container to actually eat.


With a smile like this, he gets away with a lot!

Imaginary Friends...

This took place on January 8th. Chaye informed me that it was her "friend" Brenda's birthday and we needed to make a cake. Brenda is an imaginary friend. Chaye has lots of imaginary friends, teachers, ballet classes, life experiences, etc. I decided to indulge her and possibly score some "good mom points" on the side. Of course Chaye wanted to make the cake all by herself.

First she stirred all the ingredients.


Then she used the mixer... very carefully!


She probably used way too much PAM, but oh well.


"I'm a very good pourer, aren't I, Mom?"


Everyone knows this is the best part.


"Pink cake with pink frosting, because pink is Brenda's favorite color."


"Don't lick the bumpy side of the knife, Mom, or it will cut your tongue."


"Ta-Daaaahhhh! Can we do candles, too?"


Apparently this was Brenda's 4th birthday. Yes, we sang "Happy Birthday" to Brenda, and Chaye blew out the candle. (Triple points for me for singing along.)


Cade benefits from imaginary friends' birthdays, too.


Making her day scored me the most points of all!

Chaye was very happy to share her cake with her siblings as an after-school snack. Jaise realized that it was Chaye's 1/2 birthday that day.... what a coincidence!