Come ON!!

I have never attempted to cut my kids' hair, or Steve's hair. I don't have enough courage to do it myself. I am always afraid that it will end up looking...well, kind of like it does in the picture.

I DID NOT do that. I actually paid someone to do that.

I think I need to rethink my position on cutting hair, because I am pretty sure I could have done a lot better than that.

Thank heavens her hair grows fast and thank heavens she's not old enough to have self esteem issues.

She's falling in love.

Clara has always been a Mommy's Girl. I am sure it has something to do with her nursing for a year and a half, or that I was the one to get up with her during the night, or just the fact that I am with her all day.

Recently, she has discovered how fun her Dad is.

She is always the first one to hear his truck pull in the driveway. As soon as she does, she starts yelling, "Daddy 'ome, Daddy 'ome!" She runs to him when he comes in the door and does her trademark scream / squeal. She hugs him, kisses him and screams some more - this time in his ear.

She still is my little shadow during the day, but I think Daddy is moving up the ranks. It's too cute to see the two of them together.

And I think he loves her just as much as she loves him.

Fro Grow '09

We are in the first week of Fro Grow 09. Thomas should have had his hair cut this past weekend, but he is growing it out for the next month. We are trying to grow the perfect accessory for his Halloween costume...

I am so excited to make this costume. I bought a pattern that I can modify last week, so I need to make a mock up before I make the real one. If anyone knows where I can find a large, gold square belt buckle, please do tell. I have been searching the internet but can't seem to find the right size. Steve says I need to use rollo wrappers and make my own. I would rather not, but if I can't find anything it may be my only out.

I also need to find a pair of bright yellow leggings (sz 4T or 5T). We are going to be in Washington for Halloween and I think the weather will require something warmer than tights. Maybe I should just dye some long-johns yellow. Any ideas?

My little bathing beauty.

I was recently introduced to the blog momtog. I love it! I have learned quite a bit from her entries and was thirlled to get this picture today of Clara, shot in manual mode. I am finally getting the aperature / ISO / shutter thing figured out. For any of you wanting to get off automatic mode, give it a read.

Expressionist

On our hike Monday, we came across a lady with a dog. As you can see, Clara was so excited.

I love how the dog looks like it is trying to lean away from her. Smart dog.

I think the visit made her day.

Monday

Yesterday was Daddyday. Around here that is the name we give any day of the week that Steve has off. After hearing that the leaves were starting to change up at Kyle Canyon we decided it would be a perfect time to take a picnic up to the mountain and go on a little hike.

(Please know that I use the word hike very loosely, it was more like a very S L O W walk up part of a trail because Clara was insistent on walking by herself. )

We started our afternoon with a tailgate lunch. Steve and I were the only ones to eat lunch. Thomas ate chips and chocolate while Clara slept in her car seat. Next time we need to plan our timing better and bring food the kids will eat. I figured that being on a fun picnic would somehow magically get my kids to eat a ham sandwich, but I was wrong.

This is one of my favorite pictures I got. This was taken right as a breeze started to come down from the canyon. Clara was amazed by it, Thomas couldn't care less.


The color was beautiful! I love fall, and I think I would love it even more if we had color like this in the valley.

Clara's hair blended right in with the color. I felt bad that I didn't do it up, she kept brushing it out of her face all afternoon.
A rare appearance by me. I sometimes wonder if my kids will think they were motherless because I am never in any pictures with them.

I can and can't take credit for this picture. I manually set the camera, but then Steve took the shot. I thought it was pretty good for a white boy.

Maybe this is my favorite shot. This is so typical of Clara. She is so affectionate and gives the best hugs. They are tight and they are intentional. She is such a little lover. This was completely unprompted. She just turned to the boys and gave them a big squeeze.

Thomas deep in thought.
Taken moments before the big hug.
This is his favorite pose.

The end.

Proff!

I am the new sunbeam teacher in our ward. And yes, Thomas is in my class. Yesterday was the first time I taught and all the kids were so good and so cute...except for mine. I am sure his behavior will improve within the next few weeks, he just needs to understand that I can't call on him ever single time I ask a question because he is my favorite son.

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I thought he hadn't paid attention at all, and then after church he drew this picture. I guess he did listen to the lesson.

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(I love the beard!)

Anyone else?

Am I the only one, or has anyone else found that all the kids' fall/winter clothes have shrunk over the past few months?

(The bottom of those jeans were touching the back of his heels 4 months ago!)

Grocery store post #25436-B

I was at the market today (I really like to say market because it reminds me of my grandma). Again, I had Thomas and Clara strapped into the disgusting car cart. Again, Clara was screaming. However, this time she was screaming because Thomas kept touching her. We were in a hurry. I only had 30 minutes to get my shopping done, feed the kids (thank you service deli corn dogs) and get Thomas to school.

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I told Thomas to stop bugging his sister, but he was having too much fun. Finally I stopped the cart and knelt down next to him. Very calmly, but firmly I said, "you better stop touching her or you are going home and are not going to be able to go to school today." Thomas didn't say anything. He put both hands on the steering wheel and then rested his head on his hands. I felt a little bad, but I also felt like I had properly disciplined him. About 30 seconds passed and Thomas still had not raised his head.

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Me: Thomas, are you crying? Don't be sad, I'm not mad at you.

He lifted his head up and I I could see that he was fine.

Thomas: No, Mom. I'm okay. I was just saying a prayer.

Me: About what?

Thomas: Nothing.

Me:Why won't you tell me what you were praying about?

Thomas: Because

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I got down to his level. I am thinking in my head how this is a perfect teaching moment, and about how we have raised such a righteous 4-year-old, and what a good kid he is...

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Me: I am happy that you are saying a prayer. That is a good thing. What are you asking Heavenly Father?

Thomas: Mom...(he hesitated for a bit) I was praying that you would be nicer.

ouch.

I guess I can rule out a career in Cirque Du Soleil

carrot / cake

Thomas came home from school today and asked for a carrot - as in vegetable. Not only did he ask for a carrot, he ate it without me making any kind of threat. To top that off, he asked for a second one when he finished the first.

Now, before you go and nominate me for mother of the year because I somehow got my picky eater to devour 2 carrots, I must make confession. The only thing Clara ate today was Banana Cake. I can't even claim that it was banana bread. This was cake made with a cake mix, sour cream, and cream cheese frosting.

For Skippy

Advice please.

Even though Clara is pretty darn cute, and very loveable she does have a slight flaw. She is a screamer. What started out as a cute little squeal has turned into a full blown, ear-drum-breaking scream that makes my teeth hurt. It has an extremely high pitch and it is LOUD. She does it when she is happy, she does it when she is mad, and she does it to get attention. I don't know what to do. I tell her no, I put her in time out, but she continues to persist.

This afternoon we were walking through the grocery store. Both the kids were riding in the germ infested car cart that I swore I would NEVER - EVER let my kids ride in. They were goofing off with one another. He was tickling her and she had him in a head lock. I didn't really care because they were both strapped in and contained - and they were laughing. Then Clara started her screaming. Grocery stores with high ceilings and cement floors are amazing. They amplify sound and make it seem louder than it really is. I was sure glass jars were breaking all over the store. I tried to get her to stop. I reached down and covered her mouth with my hand and told her, "no." I then heard a lady in customer service ask, "WHAT was that?" I was walking by her and said, "I'm sorry, I know it's really loud." She then answered back, "Oh, that was her? I had no idea what that noise was."

.

Somebody told me that they knew of someone who would squirt their daughter with a spray bottle every time she would scream. I don't think I could do that. When I was growing up we did that to our cat every time he would jump up on the counters. Plus, I think I would have to walk around the house with a spray bottle in a holster in order to catch her in the act.

So, if anyone has any advice, please - for the love of all who have ears - do share.

Newsed

Steve finally did it. He bought himself the truck he has always wanted.

Steve has quite the commute to work. He drives about 80 miles round trip each day. He was putting so many miles on our car and it was driving him crazy. He wanted something he could drive into the ground and not care about the miles. He found this little beauty a few weeks ago and has been waiting to pick it up.

Christmas came yesterday.

The two boys spent all afternoon yesterday tinkering around with everything. Thomas is in love with it, too. So far they have made plans to go camping and decided on a color to paint it...green. Thomas took me on a tour of the back seat and informed me where each member of our family will sleep once we take it into the wilderness.

And yes, they do have matching shirts. Last week we went to the mall. Thomas was shopping with Steve and happened to see a shirt very similar to his favorite green shirt in the men's department. He told Steve he had to buy it so they could match. Steve, being the great dad he is didn't think twice and bought it. Yesterday we went to Maggiano's for lunch and they wore their matching shirts.

They are quite the pair.

Celebratory Blog Post

This little girl went pee-pee in the potty for the first time last night.