Any Ideas?

OK, so I was sitting in the living room after having my hair done by the ever fabulous hair dresser Cailah (no I still haven't looked at it, but it was quick and painless so I think I'm O.K.) and I hear small hair things falling onto the tile in the kids bathroom. After a "that doesn't sound good" I jumped up to see what what going on. This is what I found. I give up. How the heck am I going to keep her alive? She was pretty proud of herself, and Mike and I laughing and taking pictures probably doesn't help discourage her, but sheesh!

P.S. She just brought me a glass and asked for milk, which means she wants water because we don't put milk in glasses. And no, she won't drink out of a sippy cup. Annoying and messy? You bet! But she's proving to be a bit stubborn. Anyway, when I gave it to her she said "thank you." Add that to the "hi" I got when I got home and she's just increased her vocabulary by about 20% in one day. A savant to be sure.

5 Years Old

Cailah turned 5 on Monday. Again, HOLY MOLY! How does this happen so fast? Five is a big birthday because that means they head out to the big scary world in September. But that's only scary for mom. She can wait. I keep asking if she wants to stay home and do Kindergarten with me, but no deal. She's convinced she'll learn more at school and have you ever tried to argue with a 5 year old? Not recommended.

This was by her account "THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER." That's the direct quote she she opened her present from G & G Bell--a ski lesson. Whoo Hooo! She's one excited chica! Thanks Mom and Dad.
Yes, the cake was a disaster. Don't ask. It will be funny in 10 years or so. Contact me then. Suffice it to say I'm NEVER EVER trying red velvet again. The major bummer was it didn't even taste good. On the positive side, even though we couldn't find the super cool candles Kristin bought for her cake, Mike, the ever creative fire guy, made a cool candle substitute. A little scary to light your cake of fire, but really, matches-candles, what's the dif? Anyway, I laugh every time I look at these pictures. She created her "birthday costume." Don't ask. I have no idea why she needed a birthday costume. But since I am anything but a fashionista and have major trama when I try to get dressed up, I let the girls be creative with their attire. Sometimes they go above and beyond, but hey, I took Super Gunnar to the store many times; I can fully enjoy a birthday costume now. :0) Happy Birthday Cailah Jean!

Thumbnail Tragedy

Abby ripped her thumbnail off tonight. Soooo happy we have nurse Kristin in the house and how convenient that she was home. I got to just hug her while Mike held her hand and Kris did the dirty work. I had to leave for class while she was still really upset and they were not quite done fixing her up. Very hard for mom. I was still shaking a little when I got to class. But when I got home she was sleeping peacefully. I'm not telling what we are doing with the leftover Tylenol 3 from Braydon's surgery. Thanks to Abby for saying it was ok for me to go even while she clearly wanted me to stay and was crying, and to Mike and Kristin for taking good care of my baby.

A Few of My Favorite Things

Some of you know that for quite awhile it was my custom to ask my kids what their favorite thing of the day was as I put them to bed. I would write them down and then write my favorite memory from the day as well. I've kind of gotten away from that, but every once in awhile I still do it. I thought I'd share a few recent ones here.

Abrielle--The other night Mike and I were sitting in the living room when Mike says "Al, watch" pointing to Abby's room. Abby was in her bedroom singing and dancing away. She was making up the song and doing costume changes as she went. It was great. Oh, to be so free, creative and talented. We decided it really was a shame we don't live closer to some studio's because she'd be great on some of those kids shows.

Braydon--Braydon has gone through a major growth spurt since his surgery. And I mean like an inch and a half in three weeks kind of growth spurt. Busted right out of all his pants. GRRRR. He's also had a reading growth spurt. Suddenly he's just reading, really reading. I loved crawling in his bed fort and reading chapter books with him by the light of the castle torch. So fun!

Cailah--Can't wait to go to school. She does preschool on her own lately because I've been bad about formal preschool time. Last week she came upstairs with a paper full of addition sentances she had written down. They were right other than the signs. 2-2+4. :0) To quote a famous dragon LOOOOVE IT!

Delayna--Is finally learning to bask in Cailah's love. A few times over the last week they have played together and just laughed and laughed. She thinks family prayer circle is her personal stage and prayer has been a little difficult lately. But we are sure Heavenly Father delights in the giggles as much as we do.

The Kiddos

I finally finished the girls Christmas dresses. Well kind of. I cheated a little. Mom found a $2 black dress at the second hand store when I was looking for pants for Braydon, so I gave myself permission not to finish the dress part of Abby's dress and just did the jacket. And I still need to make Braydon's black pants, but I found $5 beige cords for him at Penny's so I'm giving myself permission not to do those right now. But they are cute are they not?

Housework

A note on housework. Mike can't believe that I posted pictures of my messy house and has suggested that I can delete them now. But I'm not going to. That's my life. It's part of the point of the blog. Granted mainly I do it so people can ohh and ahh over my brilliant and gorgeous children, (feel free to share your oohing and ahhing anytime ) :0) But it is also the only journaling I do anymore (and be thankful I don't do full journaling here.) Anyway, this is my life. I spend too much of my energy thinking about, dealing with, working on cleaning my house. I hate it. It often overwhelms me and gives me serious cause to what if my life for a few mintues every day, sometimes more than a few. But sometimes I defeat it, if only for a half hour and that gives me just enough to keep trying. I've decided I'm not the happy housekeeper, don't know if I ever will be. I endure it because it's part of the job. I know, it shocks me too, but there you have it. Sometimes I need a little motivation to bother trying day after day so don't be surprised to find sequals posted from time to time. Happy housekeeping everyone!

P.S. I spent most of the afternoon baking (bread, pumpkin bread, pizza dough and dinner) a messy, messy enterprise. HUGE thanks to Krisin who helped clean it all up. All that help makes me feel so engergized I might just go empty the dishwasher before I go to bed. Night Night.

P.P.S. I did empty the dishwasher before I went to bed. :0)

Delayna Bo Bayna

Ok, so just when you think she can't be any more fun . . . She goes and gets more fun. I've never known a kid to be so joyous that eating time has passed. Most of the time she tells us all done before we even get her buckled in her high chair. For those time we insist she actually sit in her chair (for our sanity more than hope that she'll actually eat) she sits there, smashes her food, throws it in the floor and tells us "all done" periodically. When we finally go get her out she does the "all done" happy dance and flashes us the biggest smiles in the universe. She then proceedes directly to a chair where she begins her ascent to the dining room table, usually upsetting at least one adult's dinner in the process. Mealtimes are joyous occasions here!

Yesterday I was working in the kitchen when she comes to me and says "Mom, Mom, Mom, uh, oh." and points to the bathroom. Her second favorite place in the house. (Have I mentioned that we have no white screw covers left on any of the toilets? They are hiding from her.) So with a laugh at her cuteness and some trepidation I head to the bathroom. Good news is it wasn't a tradgedy, just a Band-Aid in the toilet.

Oh, and you are probably asking, "what is her favorite place in the house?" That would be anyplace higher than she is. Here are a few preferred play places.

The dishwasher door.

The piano, and she's on her way up. We've rescued her from the top of the piano numerous times. I just caught her this time.

The dining room table. The lazy susan is a fantasic ride! Notice she's not on the seat of the chair, she trying to climb the chair because it is turned around and she can't get on the table.

If she can make it to two I think we have a chance.