The Inevitable

What is it about a roll of toilet paper that makes you just really want to give it a good spin and watch it all pile up on the floor?

Oh, you uh... never get that desire? Huh.

 I'm guessing Emmy is 2-1/2-ish in this photo. She decided to take a fresh roll out of the cupboard and unroll it into the tub. And then another roll. And another. All before pulling up her undies, apparently.

Where was I?

I caught Claire redhanded yesterday.

"Who? What? Me?"

I guess I can't really blame her. I'd do it too if I didn't have all of these adult-social-norm-be-mature-pressures. *sigh*

Mom's Job Chart

As we were settling in for a nice schoolwork session at the kitchen table this morning, Emmy reminded me that we hadn't made a job chart for me yet. 

I drew one up, and Emmy started spouting off the things that she thought I should be doing everyday. I had told them that they could put whatever they wanted on my chart (brave, I know) and I was amazed and touched at what they wanted on there. 

 "You can't put 'eat breakfast' on yours, Mom, cuz you have to make it."

 "How about instead of doing schoolwork you can blog."
(I'll be heading up to check that one off momentarily)

"How about put in there 'one load of laundry' cuz that's not too hard."
(Is Emmy worried about her poor old Mom's workload?)

Me: "Jonah, do you want to put anything on there?"
Jonah: "How about... snuggle Jonah."

I think I can handle that one.

Then Emmy: "And put violin on there, cuz I want you to play to me all day!"

Yes. It's true. I'm taking violin lessons. 

I think it needs a post of it's own.

So far, I believe Emmy is my only fan.

Was that the sun?

We are huge winter fans at our house, this you know. Our cutie-only-child-favorite-neighbor-practically-another-sister happens to be a winter fan too.

How could you have kids like these and not love winter?

This one is still undecided. 

The weather has been either too bitter or too rainy (which is such an evil in a Utah January) for us to be outside much. 

Yesterday was the exception. I actually felt full blown rays of sunshine on my cheeks. Oh how I love the  winter sun! Summer sun makes me want to take a nap. Winter sun makes me want to play. 

Claire wasn't too interested in experiencing the snow herself, but she thought the kids playing in it were hilarious. She and I are usually perched inside in the window, so this was a new delight for her. 

It never ceases to amaze me how much energy these kids have. 

But, then again, I was the same way. 

And I sometimes wonder if I do actually have as much energy as them, but just use it differently.

Then I remember that one time I ran up the stairs because Liz was calling on the phone, and how I couldn't actually talk once I answered the phone because I was so out of breath. We may or may not have spent the majority of that conversation laughing at me. 

This is one of the more mild descents. She usually just flops herself on the sled and ends up at the bottom of the hill in a tangled mess of giggles. 

Either way, we're lovin' it. 

Bring on the thrift store sunglasses!

Excuse me while I grab some quick oxygen, then go catch up with my babies.

I'm learning.

Have you met Ee-ee? You've met Ee-ee. You know, my other child. The one that didn't actually come from my womb but still gets birthday parties?

 She's been around for a while. Emmy loves this monkey. Really really loves her. As her Mother, I'm all for it. I love Ee-ee too! She's the sweetest little monkey I know! And she takes good care of my little girl, so I appreciate her being around.

First time skiing? Let's bring the monkey.

Oh dear, Ee-ee doesn't have her very own hand-crocheted beanie? Tess will whip one out for her real quick, just give her about 15 minutes.

I did a big huge Mommy no-no. It's not the first time. I'm relatively new to Mommying, okay? It happened like this;
Emmy and I have been reading the Little House books. There's a very good chance you've read them as well. Laura, Mary, Baby Carrie, Ma, Pa, you know, the Ingalls family. For Christmas one year Laura receives her very own Rag Doll. She only had a corncob doll before, but now she has a real one just like her sister, Mary. She names the doll Charlotte. It's one of the best parts of the whole series of books, in my opinion.

Naturally, this caused Emmy to dream of having a real rag doll too, because who wouldn't want to be exactly like Laura? So I determined in my heart of hearts to make one for her for Christmas. Did I have a pattern? Pshaw! No sir.

It took a while.

But I did it.

I made her from the feet up, and for some reason that made the feet the nicest part. Maybe I'll take a hint and make one from the head down next time.

Did I just say 'next time'?

I finished her 2 days before Christmas. She turned out pretty cute, considering. Her head is extremely slightly crooked, but that adds to the charm, right? She has beads in her hands and feet to give her some weight, and she's super squishy and soft everywhere else. 

I put her in a box, and late on Christmas eve I set it near the tree.

Emmy didn't notice the box until all the other gifts had been opened.

We left Emmy alone while she carefully examined her.

I think she's passing the test.

Aunt Katie also gave Emmy her wooden dolly highchair from when she was little. 

I really didn't know what Emmy's reaction would be. I didn't have my heart set on her loving the thing, because you really never know with 4 year olds. I was definitely not going to be offended if she didn't really care a lick about her. 

But I shouldn't have worried. She absolutely loved her. 

I assumed that she would name her Charlotte, but she didn't want to. That was Laura's doll, and this was her doll. So the naming process began. She didn't really settle on a name for about 2 weeks. One naming-episode went like this:

"Mom, will you tell me all of the most beautiful names?"

"How about... Mary"

"Nah."

"Hmm.... Elizabeth"

"Uh uh"

"Rosie"

"No Mom. Something really pretty, like Emmy"

"How about Elle?"

"Nope."

"Uhmmm.... Annie?"

"No, something really pretty. Like Emmy"

"How about... Emmy"

"YEAH!"

But then she decided that would be too confusing, because if I called for 'Emmy' she wouldn't know who I was talking about. Makes sense. 

Now I must explain the Mommy No-no that I did. Emmy already had a monkey. The love of her life monkey. And I made her a rag doll, which she also loved. Why hadn't it occurred to me that this could be dangerous? 

The first night after getting her doll she wanted to sleep with her, but didn't think that she could sleep with both the doll and Ee-ee, and I couldn't convince her otherwise. So she made Ee-ee a nice bed underneath her bed. 

But she was sad about it. Emotionally torn up about it. She hadn't slept without Ee-ee in years.

She couldn't realize that she could love two special things. 

It was almost like finding out that you're expecting your second child, and wondering how you could possibly love another one as much as your first. I had to fight against the temptation to bring Ee-ee into my own bed! Is this crazy or what?

The next morning she grabbed Ee-ee and carried her around for a while, then went back to the doll, and so on. 

Emmy's heart is really big. After a few days of emotional disturbance she realized that the doll (who would eventually take on the name of Raggy) and Ee-ee could be Sisters, even though they don't really look alike. 

They both currently reside on Emmy's bed - there to comfort her in the night and give her something to love. They're there to help her learn how to be a Mommy. Good thing too, because I'm still learning myself.

I can only hope that all of my future Mommy no-no's will be as happily resolved.

Best morning ever.

Oh WOW where to begin. Katie and I (and three kiddles) went to the COOLest exhibit this morning down at BYU. A whole bunch of Carl Bloch's original pieces are on display down there, and it was beyond amazing. 

Beyond, I'm telling you!

 Would you believe me if I told that these two behaved themselves?

Carl Bloch created these over 100 years ago, and I guarantee you've seen them around. This one for example?:

Gorgeous.

And so many more, but there were also a few I hadn't seen before, like this one:

 I cried when I saw it. I couldn't help it. The painting is massive, and displayed in a room by itself. So powerful.

Most of his paintings dipict the Savior's life and ministry, but there were other paintings as well - like this one of the woman feeding the birds, which I loved.

The exhibit has five huge Altar Pieces which travelled here from Denmark and Sweden for the exhibit. It is the first time they've left their native locations. There are also nearly 30 other pieces in the exhibit. Talk about a great opportunity to see them!

Can you believe his use of light in this one? Floored me.

The kids really enjoyed it too, which was neat. Although they also think the car wash is the coolest thing ever.

If you get the notion to drive down to BYU and check this out, you won't be disappointed. It's completely free, but you do need to get tickets. Check it out at the website here for all the info. Also, make sure to print off a parking pass - they have a special section marked off just for people who do and it's right up front!

Thanks for arranging it, Katie!

Birthday's all around

I love gifts that come in a card that say something along the lines of "We're going to..."

In this case it was a Birthday card from my Mom and Sis in law telling me that we were going shopping!  So as soon as the holiday upheaval settled (which was only a few days ago) we went. 

I picked the store, they supplied the cash. 

I'm trying to think of a better birthday gift... hmmm... nope, can't think of one.

 There is much love here.

The four of us went to All That Stuff in the Barn (in Midway) which is my favorite home-goods store ever. Don't get me wrong - I love me some IKEA. But only for certain things.

 I got this little birdie, and I can't get a photo that does her justice. She's more of a tealish color than the steely blue that is showing up on my screen, and about 3 inches tall. I actually got one big bird and three little ones, but I'm questioning the righteousness of it. It's possibly too much of a good thing. I might take three back and just go with one birdie.

Oh the decisions I have to make every day!

I also got a really lovely white cake stand, which I've wanted for a while. If my cakes don't turn out gorgeous the least I can do is present them on lovely dishes, right? I know, so tricky.

Then they took me to dinner at our Favorite place - Tarahumara, which was the perfect ending to a girls night out. Thank you, Caleb, for holding down the fort for a few hours:) And a hugungous thank you to Mom and Katie - I love you lots and lots. Really.

Then it was JoJo's birthday, so it was off to her house on Monday. The 1/2 mile driveway is scary for the Goldilocks Van, so Tess (who was already up at JoJo's) drove JoJo's subaruby out to get us, which she proceeded to get stuck in her driveway (which is at the end of JoJo's driveway) along with JoJo's other white subaruby which she gotten stuck only the day before.

At least she's consistent. Love you Tess.

 And she's calm under pressure.

We did eventually arrive at the destination, and the birthday bash was epic.
JoJo planned her own birthday party.

 It included a grandkids-decorated birthday cake, pin the tail on the donkey, the drop-the-clothes-pins-into-the-jar game, party favor bags for every one (and one for Caleb, who wasn't actually there), balloons, hats, and red bead necklaces.

Best Grandma birthday party ever, Mom! You turned 52 with a bang!

It's a routine thing

When I was a little lass growing up in a home-schooled family of 8, my Mom found a little tinkling of sanity by making job charts for each one of us. We had to complete them each morning before we went to our various daily activities, which consisted of anything from hiking to the pond, wearing dress-ups around in the woods pretending to be orphans/runaways/giants/royalty, skiing at the neighborhood ski resort, planting peas (we did this all summer long) (all over the place) or going to the Library. 

So any ways, now that I'm the boss I get to make job charts for my kids too. 

 The weird thing is - they love them! Something about a regular routine every morning I think.
It's not like they're hard though, really. Just things they should be doing anyway. This blue one is Jonah's.

And here's Emmy's. She decided that she should be drawing her own pictures now, since she's way into that sort of thing. As long as she knows what the pictures are, we're good.

This is Emmy attempting to spit after brushing this morning. My kids can't spit. Have you ever met kids who couldn't spit?

Plus I had just brought my camera in from the car and the lens was foggy. Thank goodness for forgiveness. 

Getting dressed. This kid kills me. Could he back off the cuteness for a minute so I could discipline him every once in a while? You know, in case he needed it.

And "school work" which usually consists of work books, but occasionally is more of a craft time. Like this morning, when we made new felt animals for the noah's ark quiet book. That counts, right?

Yesterday, after finishing the charts, we were all enjoying a small (relatively) piece of dark chocolate as our reward. Emmy was looking at me with a ponderous look. After making a decision, she stated
"Mom? I think you need a chart too."

Maybe I was in my robe. Maybe I hadn't brushed my teeth yet. Guaranteed I hadn't picked up my toys.
What would I do without an oldest daughter to keep me in line?

What? Change?

I was trying to find a decent photo of my purple couches when I came across this one of Emmy from right after we moved here. Have we been here this long?

Then I got distracted looking at photos of baby Emmy and was thus verily amazed at how similar she and Claire look.

This is Emmy. But it could be Claire. 

Anyways... the point that I was going to blog about is this: My purple couches are gone.

It's true. My lovely couches which Grandma Gwen reupholstered for me back in the day have gone to live with Caleb's parents, where they are currently enjoying a break from their time as jungle gym/trampoline at our house.

One of them left before Christmas so that we would have a place for our tree (we're living on a square footage budget here) and the other couch left just last week.

Which made for a great dance floor.  

We may have been listening to Charlie Brown. 

Vince Guaraldi really gets my kids going.

Then the new furniture arrived! New to us, any way. We traded with Caleb's parents. You see, I have the most fabulous taste in furniture, and Caleb's Mom practically worships my decorating, I'm practically famous, and she's been begging me for my couches for years, so finally I found the goodness in my heart to let her have them.

Plus they're going to look fabulous in her new house. Because I think she washed them.  

And maybe I loved her leather couch. 

Which she just gave me.

And her green striped chair, which I have long coveted.

Which she also just gave me.

 The kids are really torn up about it.

 They've been in total withdrawal about the loss of the purple couches.

 I can barely get them to eat.

Send help.

And please disregard the laundry basket on the stool. Maybe it's so full that I can't lift it off the ground so I had to set it on the stool for future lifting purposes. 

I also completely rearranged my bedroom, started hanging pictures in the basement, and folded 6 loads of laundry yesterday.

I know. Overachiever.