My Curly Hair Days

We're Consolidating!!!

2011-01-24T20:55:00.001-08:00

This has been a great creative outlet for me. Now that I have my photography blog, I have decided that I probably don't need 3 blogs. So I am going to consolidate down to 2 blogs.

If you want to see my photography blog, head over here www.thepurephotography.blogspot.com

Please visit our family blog (with all my funny stories and thoughts, too) HERE for the family life!

Thanks for reading and please hop over to the other blogs!

Love y'all!!!

Merry Christmas to You!!!

2010-12-22T22:41:00.001-08:00

~We are still working on keeping Christ the center of our Christmas. Santa is a beautiful representation of giving and loving and the spirit of the season, so that is why we have Santa at our house. The girls talk about presents and Santa, but we also talk so much about the birth of Christ.
We got an advent calendar this year that is the nativity and I LOVE it!!! I have been searching for one that was a nativity and had 25 days on it. Thank you Fisher Price for making a beautiful Little People calendar!
I remember one time that I saw a beautiful statue of Santa kneeling beside the manger of Baby Jesus. I wish that I could find that and put it in our home.
And there is also a really great book "I Believe in Santa Claus" that we read as a family and the spirit of that is wonderful.
And finally, I saw this movie and wanted to post it to share with others!
Please have a beautiful Christmas! And remember why we have Christmas, our Savior, Jesus Christ, came to Earth because He loves us!

Christmas thoughts...

2010-12-22T21:50:00.000-08:00

There have been a bunch of thoughts rolling around in my head lately as I have gone through this Christmas season.

First: I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I wait all year for these few amazing weeks and I am so glad that they are here! My sister and I are Christmas Crazies and proud of it!!!

Have to get this one out, it has been on my mind for weeks now.
~Sears- I HATE your new slogan. It's not that it's lame or boring or whatever. It's just...... UGH....

"Be the Santa you want to be"

What is that? Really?

R was in the store the other day with Sessa and she saw the sign. I think he kind of held his breathe a little as she read it. She turned to him and said, "That doesn't make any sense!"
What was Sears thinking? That once children start to read, that the magic of Christmas is already gone? My four year old is starting to read!!!! They must not have any parents on their creative team. Idiots!

~This may be the last year of Christmas magic for Sessa. The other night she almost started alluding to the Big Question, but then she asked a different question. We have been preparing for this and had talked about it, but it was still a little hard to think about.
Part of me is sad to think about it. I love watching the girls get so excited and happy to talk about the Spirit of Christmas! I love listening to them talk about Santa and the reindeer and how fun it is to believe.
But there is also a small part of me that is excited to share with Sessa the fun of spreading the Christmas Spirit to everyone around them! Growing up can be really fun and exciting.
But, I think I am going to hold on a little longer...

Merry Christmas!

Catching up on life!!!

2010-11-16T16:40:00.000-08:00

It's been just a little while since I have visited....
But my cell phone is full of texts I sent myself to remind me of the funny & quirky things that always happen at our house. And there have been a few!! So get ready. Here they come:

When she still had the long hair:

~M and I were riding in the car and had this conversation-
M: "Mom, I am trying to tie my hair to my toes because it keeps it out of my face."
Me: "Oh will that keep it out of your face?"
M: "Yeah Mom, no one will recognize me with my hair in my toes."

~While Sessa was in the hospital for appendicitis-
M: "Sessa is so sick the are going to poke her and then poker her again and then poker her again and then put on a bandaid and then she will feel better."
Neighbor: "Is the doctor going to maker her better or the bandaid?"
M: "ummmmm... the bandaid."

~After hopping down from the dinner table at a neighbors house, M went into the bathroom to wash her face. When she got into the bathroom, she said:
" Man I am messy!!!"

~Chach in her nighttime prayer: "...and please help me not to get hurt and not get to get itchy."

~Chach: "I would prefer my last name to be Ketchup."

~For about a week, the girls were all obsessed with the letter G. Everywhere we went that is all they talked about. Because M is learning her letters, Sessa is her teacher here at home.
Sessa: "What is a G color? Grey and green. What is inside you that starts with G? Guts. Food with G? Grapes, grapefruit. Gryffindor, grass.............."

~When we first moved to the Midwest I noticed something very different about Holidays. Every year, right after Halloween is over, Christmas lights started going up. And not just at a few random houses, either. Most houses were suddenly very festive!
Now, Christmas is my favorite time of year, but it's kind of rude to skip Thanksgiving all together.
And then I realized, the weather is horrible and WAY too cold to put up lights the end of November.
These people in the Midwest are some smart cookies!

~And finally, I was at the meat counter of our small local grocery store waiting my turn. The man next to me was obviously noticing the rising prices of food, especially fresh meat. He turned to me and said:
"Almost makes you want to be a vegetarian, doesn't it?"
I looked right at him and said:
"Nope. Not even close!"

So we are getting back into things. There are many more thoughts bouncing around in my head that will be coming very soon!!!

Raising Triplets?!?!?!

2010-09-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

With 3 girls, I always felt like it was really important to raise them to be individuals. Explore their own ideas and thoughts and dreams.

**Sessa with her bugs, moths, & butterflies, her reading obsession and her over ornamentation with jewelry.
**Chach and her love of Dragons, Kung Fu Panda, and making inventions and doing experiments.
**M with her passion for her "ducky" (sleeping blanket) and sucking her thumb, all animals, and all things pink and sparkly!

So, with these girls, you would think most days would look like this as they got ready for school, right?

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!
The girls are totally in love with dressing alike!!! As much as they can!!! It feels a bit like having triplets, I think!

Almost like twins! WOW!

So fun to have sisters!

Sessa and Chach decided to match M one day and I just happened to be wearing a shirt the same color!

Thanks for the BYU football t-shirts, Grandma Patty! The girls insisted we all match the other day. Notice the matching hair and bows! R had to actually change out of a different shirt into this one, right before leaving for school!

It is fun to watch them draw closer to each other in so many ways and clothes are just part of it. They play together so well. They try to help when one of them is hurt or sad and they cheer their little hearts out at each others soccer games!
Even if they dress alike, they are sure special and unique little girls!
We love you!!!!!!!!

Sessa's sick...

2010-09-05T16:10:00.000-07:00

Sessa is sick...
I posted more details on the family blog at http://www.rufffamily2000.blogspot.com/ .
Please keep her in your prayers. Thank you.

Lunch, Jenga chanting, and Duct tape requests

2010-08-22T19:17:00.000-07:00

A few silly random things that happen around our house!!!

This whole summer, Chach has been enjoying the time she has to eat her lunch.
In her spare time, she has decided to make gourmet concoctions.
Wanna see???
Here ya go:

PB&J on a hotdog bun, baby carrot pieces lining the bun, and an andes mint cubed on top. Yum!!!

We have started playing Jenga on Sunday evenings as a family. It is so funny to watch the girls as the tower teeters close to crumbling. Sessa clenches her fists and teeth, Chach scrunches up her face and squints her eyes, and M coveres her ears.
We were playing this last week and M added to her Jenga ritual. We call it her Jenga Chanting. She covers her ears and chants "Not Gonna Hear!" "Not Gonna Hear!" Not Gonna Hear!" over and over again! Poor sweet girl!

And finally,

I heard Sessa and Chach coming up the stairs today from playing.

Sessa: "Mom, we need some Duct Tape."
Chach: "Yeah, we need to fix something."

I couldn't think which of their toys might need duct tape, so I called them up to show me.
And here is what needed the duct tape:

Obviously I am not the mother who sews all the time!!!

I asked where they got the idea to use duct tape and they said:
"Mythbusters! They fixed a car with Duct Tape!"

Oh, well that makes sense now!!!

Walmert adventures!

2010-08-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

~Why does it take me longer to chose deodorant than it does to pick a candy treat? I have to take the lid off, pull off that cap thing, and smell every single deodorant on the aisle. Today I stood there for 10 mins trying to remember what I have at home, what I like (goes on clear) and don't like (sweet smelling deodorant), and if I should just get one or the double pack. At the end, I walked out of that aisle with a deodorant that I still think is wrong. Give me a "3 Muskateers" anyday!!! Ugh!

~So Chach decided to buy a pin wheel with her allowance today. No problem. It's her allowance and she can spend it on whatever she wants. She ran up and down the aisles, using the breeze to make it to spin. Such awesome energy and wonder! I would love to be like that again! Find wonder and joy in simple things like pinwheels!

~Listening to my 7 year old read the names of the ice cream is so sweet and fun! Tin Roof Sundae and Turtle Tracks sound even better when Sessa says them!

~What else would M buy with her allowance? A pink ball. Shocker, I know!

~Why must the checker give my 6 year old a hard time about wanting a small bag to put her pinwheel in? "It's not going to fit, it's too big," he kept saying, over and over again.
Really??? Just give her a small bag, even if the pinwheel doesn't fit. She doesn't care!

So, trip to Walmert was an adventure today!

Grocery store barbies, chatty moons, and special carrots

2010-08-01T12:51:00.000-07:00

At the grocery store on Friday, Sessa looked up at the sweet bagger (a beautiful high school girl) who was helping us with our groceries and said,
"You look like one of my Barbies".
I quickly let her know that Sessa adores her Barbies and that it was a compliment. Sweet girl.

Chach: "Where do you think the sun is?" (it was behind the clouds)
Sessa: "I don't know."
Chach: "I think that it is chatting with the moon."

We have carrots every day at lunch and the girls love it (sometimes)!
On Friday, Chach decided to mix it up a little bit with her carrots.
And this is what she made for me:

Polka Dot Carrot!!!!!!

Measuring cars, organizing grapes, sunburned shoulders, and black holes!

2010-07-18T19:14:00.000-07:00

Too many things to blog about. Driving in the family minivan for 2 days, having 5 bbqs in 12 days, seeing old friends and their kids, rainy outdoor pageants, missing my bed, and missing my schedule!

But for tonight, I have a bunch of pictures to put up on my photography blog, so you just get a few simple funny things from the girls!

Leaving on vacation, I looked back about 10 mins into the drive and saw M doing this. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "Measuring the cars and trucks as they drive by". Well, that makes sense. The things a 4-year-old will do to keep herself entertained!

Also, M loves Minnie Mouse! For her third birthday she had a Minnie birthday party and it was AWESOME! She sleeps with a Minnie doll each night, along with her blanket "Duckie", and Sparkles, her white tiger. Well, tonight, R was laying her down to sleep and she handed him her Minnie and said "Daddy, I don't want to sleep with Minnie tonight." She paused for a minute and said, "But she is a very pretty mouse". Sweet girl!

Tonight R and I were talking about black holes (I know, such light dinner discussion), and Chach asked what they were. We let her know that we would tell her more when she was older and her brain could handle it (as R put it). Chach turned to us and said, "My brain can handle it, it is empty! I can't remember anything!!!". Oh my sweet child!

Picture from R's camera phone. Those are grapes that Chach was having for a snack the other day. Thought you would appreciate her initiative and organization skills!

Sessa has a white board up in the bedroom and LOVES it! She writes on it all day long. The draws maps and princesses and cakes and does math problems and practices her spelling. The other thing that she loves to do is write notes to herself and especially to R and I. If she is cooling down in her room, she will write us a note about it and show it to us. If she is happy, she will draw elaborate notes about it! The picture below is the night after a day in the sun with no sunscreen (bad mama). Poor sunburned shoulders!

That is her saying "Owwwwwww" and holding her shoulder with the arrow pointing to the sunburn. Poor thing!

But really, I am back and ready to get my blog on! FB has been kind of sucking up my time, so I have weaned myself from it. I probably miss all the news of the day, but I am ok. I am content to just focus on these:

Confessions of a Goalie and Pitcher's Mother

2010-06-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

Chach the Goalie
I have been thinking about this post for a long time. Watching the girls learn different sports has been so amazing! I feel so proud of the girls and how quickly they have learned both soccer and softball.

Sessa the Pitcher
AND YET...
I feel very torn when I watch my babies play goalie or pitcher. So many mixed feelings.

On one hand, I am proud that they are out there, staring down the other team. Standing in the way of the other team scoring points. They are both so strong and smart (and silly at the same time). SO brave to put themselves out there!

And on the other hand, I am so nervous for them! The pressure of the whole game and their team on their shoulders.

As goalies in soccer, I want them to have the chance to save the ball from going into the goal. But secretly, I hope that the ball stays down at the other end of the field so they don't have to feel that pressure. Or that they may let the ball through and feel the disappointment. And also hoping that people will be kind to them if they make a mistake.
And watching Sessa pitch last night, I felt those feelings all over again. I was so proud that she volunteered to pitch, never having done so before but the soccer worries came flooding back!
I could see the mixed feelings in her face as the inning progressed. It fluctuated between nerves, determination, frustration, joy, disappointment, happiness, and pride. A mirror of what was going on inside of me!

Oh, watching your children grow! So much joy and so much pain at the same time!

And for now, the girls will keep playing goalie and pitcher as much as they can!

Part of living this life, is learning the lessons of the game. For both the girls and the mama, too!

Antelopes and red sports cars...

2010-06-10T18:34:00.000-07:00

Sessa- "Mom, did you know there are 2 kinds of antelopes?"

Me- "I didn't know that. What are they?"
Honestly, in my brain I was thinking that she knew 2 different colors or breeds or something.
But this is what I got....

Sessa- "The animal kind and the fruit kind."

Um...

Me- "Sessa, the fruit kind is actually called a CANTELOPE."

Sessa- "Oh yeah."

AND one from Little M

Riding in our greenish minivan:

M said "Mom, I wish our car was the sports kind and it was a red one."

Me- "Oh that would be fun. Why?"

M- "Because it would be like Special Agent Oso!"

Of course, that makes perfect sense!

Me- "Well, our whole family won't fit in that kind of car."

M- "We could get two!"

Once again, that makes perfect sense!

PS I would love even 1 red Lotus to drive around!!!!!!!!!

Summer: Day 3

2010-06-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

Our Summer so far...

DAY 3

Sleep in: CHECK

6 French Braids: CHECK

Watch the rain pour down: CHECK

Farmer's Market: CHECK

Pick up baseball tickets: CHECK

Walk along the rail road track (balance beam style): CHECK

Eat Magic Popcorn, straight off the cob: CHECK

Grill up some brauts: CHECK

Watch Sessa's softball game: CHECK

Vote in the State Primaries: CHECK

Catch Fireflies: CHECK

I HEART Summer!!!!!!

Another Sessa Quote

2010-05-21T07:15:00.000-07:00

This is R. I was helping B. get the girls ready for school today and heard Sessa say something I thought was really funny. She had just gotten out of a shower in which she seemed to always have water in her eyes. (Well, she kept complaining of water in her eyes, anyway.) As she was drying the water from her face she said,

"Dad, the water in my eyes is like our sins. And the towel is like getting baptized. It washes them all away."

Sessa, you really entertain your dad. And he is very happy that all of your parents' efforts are sinking in somewhere.

Things I've heard lately....

2010-05-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

I have been doing a lot at home lately (hurt ankle and all that jazz), so I have been able to just sit and listen to the girls. What is inside those little heads? What do they really think about?

I think that I learn a lot sometimes when I just listen to their words.
And then sometimes, I don't know what I am hearing!!! (0:

Here are just a few:

I asked Chach if she wanted to play soccer again the fall- Chach- "As long as the leaves stay out of the way!"

M- "Mom, I love you everyday!"

Chach- "Sessa, pretend I'm a marigold."

Getting ready to sing twice in church on Mother's Day, Sessa- "What about Father's Day? Do we have to sing a Batman song?"

Singing along with Sessa's piano song "who's afraid of the big bad wolf", Chach- "Who's afraid of the Handsom Iguana, the Handsom Iguana, the Handsom Iguana?"

Chach's talk from Sunday

2010-04-28T14:22:00.000-07:00

Chach had a talk last Sunday about Joseph Smith and the Restoration of the Gospel. After talking to R about it, she had an idea for a story. She told it to R and he wrote it down for her. I thought it was a great talk!!! Click on it to enlarge it and read the talk if you want. The picture underneath is the drawing of Ann and her hippo toy! Awesome drawing, huh?!

It is so amazing to listen to the testimonies of my children grow! What an awesome thing!

Sessa's Favorite

2010-04-21T19:58:00.000-07:00

Tonight in the bath/shower Sessa had a very funny thing to say:
"Daddy, the best thing about a shower is the towel. Towels are one of Heavenly Father's gifts to our bodies."
Kids. Silly, simple, make you laugh, make you think.

Facebook in the 1800s

2010-04-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

I don't think I have mentioned this, but I joined an organization named the "Daughters of the American Revolution". I have an ancestor who fought in the American Revolution and so I am able to join. Pretty cool. It has been a wonderful experience being around wonderful older women and serving the community!
Last month for our meeting we discussed the First Ladies of the country and it was so interesting to learn about the lives of the amazing women behing the building of this nation.
...
AND about the scandals!!!!!!!!
...
While we talked about the scandals, I heard a funny whispered comment from the sweet woman in front of me.
A lovely Grandmother in her 80's turned to her friend and commented that she read there was so much gossip about the First Ladies back in the 1800's. How did it spread so fast? Everyone knew about everyone. And then with a serious look on her face, she said, "And they didn't even have FACEBOOK back then!!!"

Laughed so hard I started to cry!
What a funny world we live in! Facebookin' Grandmas!

Clean Up at our house!

2010-04-07T16:21:00.000-07:00

Sessa- "Mom, can we clean up after dinner?"

Me- "Nope, before dinner."

Sessa- "Ohhhh."

Me- "Hey, I did you a favor today. I threw all your toys into the corner so I could work out today. It should make it a lot easier for you to clean up."

Sessa- "No, that makes it harder. The toys are much easier to clean up when they are all spread out."

Uh...
I didn't know what to say after that.
So...
they are downstairs "cleaning up" before dinner.

March madness at our house!!!

2010-03-22T07:51:00.001-07:00

A pictorial view of the last few weeks at our house....
and then a funny story!

St. Patrick's Day Race with some great friends!!!

Green bread- 'Nuf said!!!

Sessa sweet face and beautiful hair (before the hair cut to her shoulders)

Ok, the funny story. Click on this picture and look at it closely. R asked Sessa to run downstairs and get him a 9volt battery. I think that he forgot how high up they were. If you look closely at the picture, there is a kids table, with a chair on top of it (one of the legs is barely on), and all the way at the top of the bookshelf is a drawer open where the battery came from. Do you see it? can you see it? Look again! And then picture my 7 year old tettering on that "ladder" just to get some batteries for her daddy! Silly girl! It's ok to ask for some help!

Results from the food experiments...

2010-03-10T08:47:00.000-08:00

I have had a request for the results of the experiments we have been trying with food...

Avocados-I love them and R hates them so... the girls- color and texture wigged them out at first, but Sessa liked it in the end.

Plums- This one made me laugh. Something as innocent as a plum and Chach was really freaked out and begged not to try it. Not sure why. It just looked weird compared to the apple on her plate, I guess. But she tried one bite and really liked it. She asked for more!

Peaches- Texture again! That fuzz was pretty weird. But the girls ate in the inside and liked it.

Star fruit- I tried this fruit when I was in Hawaii in college. We had it as part of our Thanksgiving dinner and it was fun. I think the shape and color were SO fun for the girls, but the taste wasn't what they were expecting, I think.

Sweet potatoes/yams- Served as a french fry is fun and the girls like ANYTHING they can dip in ketchup, right? I haven't tried them mashed for them. I think the color will surprise them. I love them, so I am going to keep trying different ways to serve them.

Radishes- Nope

Beets- I love them and so do the girls, but the color worries me around everything. Oooooh! Red juice stains. Ugh! I can't even think about it.

Peppers of all colors- the girls aren't totally sold on these. They kind of like yellow and orange ones because they are a little sweet. Only raw though. They won't touch them if they are cooked.

Brussel sprouts- I love them! And I wanted the girl to try them, even though they are traditionally loathed by kids! Sessa liked them first and M thinks they are ok. Chach loves the way they look and they taste ok.

Nectarines- are a staple at our house. I grew up eating them and the girls, too. I never realized that other people may not know really what they are until one of Sarah's friends asked what she was easting one day. It kind of like a firm peach without the dreaded fuzz. WE LOVE THEM!

Asiago cheese bread- My kryptonite for sure! We all love it!

Baby swiss cheese- Chach loves it, but Sessa says it stinks! Funny.

Provolone cheese- Direct quote, "This is a good white cheese" Sessa.

Black forest ham- Yummy. A hot at our house for sure.

Pumelo- Tons of work to get into it, through the rind, but a lot of fun! The girls begged for another one! Like a grapefruit, only a little sweeter. Eat it like a grapefruit, I would say.

So the moral (I believe in morals!) to this story is... hang in there Mamas! Keep trying new and fun foods! You might find something you LOVE!

Or something you don't love!!!

Give it a whirl sometime!!!!!!

To Break to Monotony of our lives right now, we do this...

2010-03-07T18:01:00.000-08:00

I have been working on ways to break through the monotony of the Winter here in the Midwest. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE winter and sledding and snowmen and snowflakes and all that beautifulness! But the last few weeks, we have been getting a little of the Spring Fe-vah!

Here are a few things we did this week:

After an hour of furious braiding, Sessa and M had a head full of fun!!! And Chach let me do 2 braids. And then there was the beauty (READ: frizziness) that follows! Fun hair is so silly!!

Another thing we have been doing is trying new foods. We have tried avocados, plums, peaches, star fruit, sweet potatoes, radishes, beets, peppers of all colors, brussel sprouts, nectarines, asiago cheese bread, baby swiss cheese, provolone cheese, black forest ham, and pictured here is our newest adventure- A Pumelo!!!! What is a pumelo, you ask??? It a lot like a grapefruit. With a SUPER THICK yellow rind. The fruit inside is pretty good. A little sweeter than a grapefruit, I think. We will see what we try next!

And being the only one home, little M has become the subject of my test shots when I am preparing for photoshoots. This is her, warming up the camera on this amazing bridge I did a photoshoot on this last week! Those pics should be on the Pure Photography blog in the next week hopefully.

Well, that's it folks. Trying new things and looking forward to getting out our kites and our bikes and getting a little Vitamin D time outside!!!

Barbie Fashion sense according to Chach...

2010-02-21T14:10:00.001-08:00

*We watch Barbie movies at our house.

*We Do!!!

*With 80% of the household made up of woman. And 60% being under the age of 8 years old, Barbie movies are a must.

One of the latest movies is "Barbie and the 3 Muskateers" and the girls have really enjoyed the adventure story.
Especially Chach, our rough-and-tumble girl!
We were watching it the yesterday in the van and the girls were laughing up a storm as the girl muskateers were fighting (and beating) the bad guys. We sang along to the song "Your Unbelievable!" and laughed at the funny lines in the movie.

Then we hear this line:

Barbie: "AND Those Boots are SO last season!!!!!!"

Trying to continue on with the joke,
Sweet Chach then said: "Yeah, WINTER!"

Such is the fashion sense of my 6 year old!

A day in the life of a sledder...

2010-02-14T15:27:00.000-08:00

So much of our lives revolve around snow right now. I was walking out to the car yesterday in some totally HOT heels and just about bit the dust because of the ice and snow. Such is the life right now.
BUT, we are really learning to find the fun things about the snow!!!
It was such a nice (read: COLD) day on Wednesday, we hit the slopes with little M and her best friend, Calvy. R was able to hop over from school for a couple of hours of fun. Then Calvy's dad headed our way, too. What a blast!
Then a photographer from the local paper showed up and documented our day of snow and the next day Calvy was in the online paper!!! What a blast!
Here are some of the adventures of our little party!

A race between the daddies and kiddies! Go R and M!!!!!!!!
(And Calvy and his daddy!!!)

After a little crash, M needed a lift up the hill. Thanks Daddy!

After a rockin' 2 hours of sledding, we were all so tired! Great for kids who need naps!!! Here is our little friend Ellie, asleep in the sled! I know, cute!

Trying to get back on the bandwagon...

2010-02-11T07:16:00.000-08:00

I have been taking a hiatus from a lot of the computer things for the couple of months. Just busy. And I have come to really like Facebook, where I can just write a quick sentence for the day and see what my friends are up to. It has been fun.
Until now. I HATE the new facebook. It drives me crazy and I refuse to go on there much at all. I know I am missing out on stuff, but I hate hearing who added who as a friend and who killed who in Mafia wars and all that jazz. So OVER it!!!
Really, I just loved sitting down for 10 mins and see what everyone was doing that day. It is just too hard to wade through all the crap.
So I am not!
But I am going to get back to blogging again. I think I need it. There are some fun things rolling around in my head, so I am going to get them onto my blog.
And I am also going to work on looking blogs again. It is fun to do, but I just haven't had to time to do it lately. But I miss that a lot too! I love to read what is rolling around in other people's head, too!
So, here's to the death of the new Facebook and the revival of reading and writting on our blogs!!!
PS And you know you love my Christmas music!!!!!!! Just teasing... I am getting there!!!

Here it is!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-01-26T07:50:00.000-08:00

By popular demand, here are some photos of the best 6 year old birthday present EVER!!!
Miss Chach turned 6 last Friday and we helped make her "Wildest Dreams Come True"!!!!!!!!!
Hope you enjoy as much as we do!

Playing with Spike!

That is a great face!!!

M stood on the chair for about 10 mins while Spike walked around and roared.
She likes him a little more now!

Happy Birthday, Chach!

You are an amazing girl!

And Spike is lucky to have you!!!

The varying weather habits of our family!!!

2010-01-24T16:52:00.000-08:00

We have become strange creatures living here.
The weather here is so wacky sometimes
But life has to go on, no matter what the weather, right?
So, here are some funny adventures from this last month and the fun weather:

What do we do when the thermometer reads 2 degrees and the wind chill is -15 degree?

WE GO SLEDDING!!!

For some reason, there wasn't anyone around to take our picture (not sure why), so we just set the camera on the car, set the timer, and smiled!!!
It was a really fun (and freezing) day!!!

Today was kind of the opposite!

We had a high of about 37 degrees and we were celebrating!

The girls wore jackets to church and once we got home, they stuck on shorts and skirts and went out back and played with bubbles for a while!

And, yes we are weird!

There were pink noses and cold hands a few minutes later, when they were called in. And they begged to stay outside a little longer!

Sorry, ladies, another 30 degree day!

How can you tell if....

2010-01-17T21:05:00.000-08:00

Seesa and Chach built the snowman they have been dreaming of for weeks!

She has one arm up and one arm down to show that she is dancing.

How can you tell if a snowman is a girl???
She has eye lashes!

Happy winter, folks!

Merry Christmas my friends!

2009-12-19T08:35:00.000-08:00

~Merry Christmas 2009~

Where has the time gone? I feel like I was just doing last year’s letter! This is our second Christmas here in Iowa and life is truly beautiful. It has been a great year, full of new adventures! We were lucky to have family come visit us in the Midwest. In February, B’s sister, Katie and her husband John, came to play! And then in March, R’s parents and his little sister, Michelle (on the way home from her church mission), stopped by for a visit, too.
This year was full of fun for our family. We went to the John Deere Pavillion often and took some great drives down to Nauvoo, IL. We visited the Art Museum, Zoo, and the Family Museum. We flew kites, ate fresh Iowa corn, and caught fireflies!!!
In April, we visited some great friends in Kentucky and hopped down to Nashville and fell in love with the city! We took a surprise trip to Utah for R’s Grandfather Day’s funeral in June. It was wonderful to celebrate the life of such an amazing man! We miss you!
We also learned that Iowa had really fun weather this year, too…Heavy rains, a mild summer, tornado warnings, beautiful fall afternoons, freezing cold temperatures, and super slick ice!
This last year was wonderful and full of growth, beauty and changes! Here are a few:

R started the Doctorate Program in March and he is now in his 3rd trimester. After spending hours and hours with Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry books, he finally got to start getting a little more “hand on” this trimester. He loves what he is studying and he is doing really well in school. We took a trip to Chicago this summer to see the Harry Potter Exhibit at the Museum of Science and Technology. At church R is teaching the men as an Elders Quorum instructor and is really enjoying it.

B had a wonderful year! On that trip to Chicago with R, they visited the Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio (one of her favorite architects). She just recently started a photography business and loves the creativity and joy it brings. B is still working hard on her goal of living a healthy life and has discovered one of the best ways to work out and have fun. ZUMBA!!! There were big changes at church and suddenly B found herself as the new Primary President, in charge of all the children from ages 18 months to 12 years. It keeps her so busy, but also so happy and fulfilled!

Sessa had a great year. She finished 1st grade and had a busy summer filled with swimming and playing and trips with the family! She turned 7 years old in August and had a wonderful movie party with her friends from church and school. Sessa started 2nd grade and is doing great at school. She adores her teacher and the pirate theme of their class! Sessa also started taking piano lessons and she loves it. She begs to practice everyday and every time she walks by the piano she opens it and plays a little. She started taking dance lessons for Hip Hop and loves it! She loves to move and dance and laugh. For Halloween she was a Zebra with purple hair. This winter Sessa always wants to play out in the snow and loves to wear her boots and coat (but not her hat)!

Chach turned 5 in January and had a snowman themed party. It was great to be with so many fun friends and make snowmen and play games with cotton balls. She had Preschool graduation and was sad to say good-bye to her amazing teachers! This summer Chach swam like a fish and played in the field behind our house so much! By the time August rolled around, Chach was very ready and excited for Kindergarten. Her teacher has been teaching for almost 30 years and is amazing! She understands Chach and makes leaning a joy and exciting for Chach! She is also taking dance lessons. Her class is Ballet and Tap dancing. I asked her which she likes the most and she said she doesn’t like ballet because she has to hold still but she will go just so she can do tap! This Halloween was a blast for Chach. She got to be a “good” witch with blue hair (apparently good witches don’t have green faces, when I offered to paint hers green).

M is growing so much. She turned 3 in June and had a very happy Minnie Mouse birthday party! It’s funny how much kids change at this age. She got the potty training down and hasn’t looked back! This fall it has only been M and B home and that has been an adventure and so much fun. A Pink Butterfly Fairy with pink hair was M’s costume of choice for Halloween! And for anyone who knows her, that is not a huge surprise! And we finally said good-bye to the beautiful little girl curls when B gave M her first hair cut in years. She is so grown up and beautiful and a big little girl!

We just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas. We are so grateful for all our blessings at this time!
And especially at this season, we are so grateful for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
~St. Luke 1:11- “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”~

love always~
R, B, Sessa, Chach, & M

Been a while... but a little Christmas funny!

2009-12-08T11:45:00.001-08:00

We listen to the Muppets and John Denver do the "12 days of Christmas" and the girls love it... here are a couple of things they hear in the song:

M- "2 Turtle Dogs!!! I love Turtle Dogs!!!"

Sessa- "9 Babies Dacing. That is so fun! Babies dancing. It would be fun to see 9 Babies Dancing!"
Chach- "Ba dum dum dum. I love 5 Golden Rings!"

Go listen to it again and laugh!

Photography blog unveiled!!!

2009-11-15T22:27:00.000-08:00

After lots of encouragment and help from loved ones and friends, I have started a photography blog. Some pictures are just candid ones I have taken and some are from actual photoshoots. Either way, I hope you enjoy them!!! Let me know if you want more information! Check back often for new photographs!

~Check me out at Pure Photography~

http://thepurephotography.blogspot.com/

Mom= The Next Iron Chef???

2009-11-02T15:45:00.000-08:00

We have been watching the Food Network show "The Next Iron Chef" and the girls love it! They are really curious about all the different kinds of foods and dishes and cooking. They love it when there are weird ingredients from all over the world. It is just a fun time at our house.

This is the discussion that happened today while we were watching:

Sessa turned to me and said: "Mom, you should go on this show. You would win it!"
Me: "Really? Thanks. Why do you think so?"

(wait for it... wait for it....)

Sessa: "Because you make really good Macaroni and Cheese. It is awesome! I love Macaroni and Cheese!"

~~~There it is folks! Proof that I am the most amazing mother ever!~~~

*****************************************

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T20:19:00.001-08:00

9 Years Ago Today...

2009-10-28T22:25:00.000-07:00

...was my dad's 50th birthday.

...I went to the Mt. Timpanogos temple with R, who had been home from his mission for exactly 3 days.

...we sat in the Celestial Room and held hands and prayed.

...R and I got our answer to whether we should get married. Yes, of course!

...We went to my jewelers to pick up a Hummel statue that I had won.

...While we were there, R mentioned that we could look at rings while we were there, IF I wanted to. Yes, of course!

...We looked at beautiful diamonds and fun rings, especially the one I loved when I went there with friends and my sis!

...I went to my Dad's 50th birthday party alone.

...R called the jeweler and went back and picked up my ring.

...We went and walked around the Mt. Timpanogos temple, where R asked me to marry him.

...and I said... Yes, of course!

~I am so glad I said yes! And I would do it all over again!!!~
~~~~~~~I love you forever and ever, R!~~~~~~

Appaloosas, Owls and Hamsters, Oh My!

2009-10-22T17:00:00.000-07:00

The girls are OBSESSED with pets right now. Sessa and Chach bring home books about different pets every week from the school library. We have learned about dogs and puppies, cats and kittens, horses, ponies, birds, and this week it was HAMSTERS.
Sessa sits and read these books for hours to the other 2 girls and they talk all about having that certain pet.
The following was the conversation this evening:

Sessa- "Eeeew, you brush hamsters with your toothbrush!?!?"
Chach- "Eeeew, I don't want a hamster!"
M- "Eeeeeeew!!!"
Sessa- "Mom, look at this picture! That is that girl's toothbrush!"

With a straight face, I calmly explained:
"Sessa, you wouldn't have to you use your toothbrush. You would buy one just to brush the hamster with."

Sessa- "Oh, well that's good."
Cache- "Maybe a hamster is ok then!"

PS These are just everyday conversations. We are NOT getting a pet. I know y'all want to be helpful and kind and sharing, but please don't comment and offer me your gopher/parakeet/kitten/or hamster! Thanks anyway!

Queen of Hearts and Alice in Wonderland Costume Set GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-10-20T15:20:00.000-07:00

You have to check this out! It is SO amazing!
Enter to win it!
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Queen of Hearts and Alice in Wonderland Costume Set GIVEAWAY!!!!

What she heard...?

2009-09-30T20:16:00.000-07:00

At breakfast this morning, we had a funny discussion.
I asked Sessa to say the blessing on the food.

Sessa- "But I have been doing it in rows!"
Me- "What?"
Sessa- "I said it at bedtime and then again at dinner."
Me- "That's ok. We do say a lot of prayers during the day."

Then, little Chach decided she wanted to chat, too...

Chach- "Well, I have been praying in daffodils."
Me- "What?"
Chach- "Sessa has been doing prayers in ROSES and I have been doing them in DAFFODILS!"

Fun to hear what the girlies hear sometimes!

Nothin' like a girlfriend!

2009-09-23T13:43:00.000-07:00

I am so lucky to have some great girlfriends!
Two great chickies watched my little M while I ran visiting teaching. A HUGE favor for me!!!
I got home (from being gone for more than 2 hours), not only is little M doing great, my dishes are done, my floors are vacuumed, and downstairs bathroom wiped down!

I love ya girls! I am so lucky to have you guys! You are the best!

My Wonderful, Unique Little Chach

2009-09-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

This is R. posting again. I just wanted to drop a note about one of my girls. I love all my girls so very much for so many reasons. Chach just seems to have a different drum going in her head, the sweet thing. She finds many ways to make me laugh and lift my heart in her own way. The following picture is her drawing of herself singing and how happy music makes her feel. I love you, my Chach. I cherish your love, sweet innocence, and happy spirit.

When the World Stopped Turning...

2009-09-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

~Where were you...
8 years ago today?
~What were you doing...
8 years ago today?
~Who were you...
8 years ago today?

Who are you today?

~In my tiny studio apartment in Logan, UT
~Sleeping and Richard woke me up and we watched everything together
~A newlywed finishing up my degree in Interior Design. A new wife and a soon-to-be mother (in the next year). I loved this country before and that day I was a Patriotic Citizen!

Today I am a wife, mother, woman, and still a Patriotic Citizen.
I will never forget!

Another amazing prayer by Chach...

2009-09-09T21:43:00.000-07:00

"...and please put our house in a bubble so it can float up in the air where no bad things can get in."
-Chach tonight at family prayer

Sessa is Seven!!!

2009-09-01T19:06:00.000-07:00

Who is Sessa?
Sweet
Silly
Smart
Strong willed
Smiley

Singer of Karaoke

Salad eater!

Super cookie decorator...

Special and lovely daughter!

We love you little girl!!!
We are so glad you came our way!

"Out of the mouth of babes..."

2009-09-01T17:12:00.000-07:00

Me- "We don't need the newspaper."
Chach- "Does it say there is no Jesus? Is that why we don't need it?"
(really, where did that come from?)

Sessa- "Wow, he must be rich!" (referring to the host of America's Funniest Videos)
M-"Why?"
Sessa- "Because he gives those people so much money!"

Chach- "My heart says 'Bee-Bee-Bo-Bee' when it's happy!"

M- "Mom, I don't like lunch. I like suckers!"

Chach- "...and please put a bubble around our house called a forcefield. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

M- "I don't like babies."
Me- "I like babies."
M- "I don't like babies, I like dogs."

My Little Bookworm

2009-08-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

Hey. This is R again. I used our new camera to catch a picture of Sessa doing one of her favorite activities-reading by streetlight. A few months ago we told the girls that they don't have to go to sleep when the lights go out, but they have to be quiet. Sessa has since developed this habit of sitting on the top step of her bunk ladder to get the most outside light for late night reading. Silly kid. I love her. (You may have to look close to see the details, but you can see her book reflected in the window.)

First Days of Fun...

2009-08-25T16:28:00.000-07:00

School started and we are all so ready and happy!!!
Enjoy a few simple pictures of our first day!

Chach has been smiling non-stop for days leading up to school starting and it hasn't stopped!

She had to complete the ensemble with a flag belt and heart emerald ring...

In line for a great day of fun!!!

It must be nice to have a big sister to show you around!

Miss Sessa in 2nd grade! What a great day!

New outfits and fingernail polish! Gotta love it!

Even with the rain, Sessa had an awesome day!!!

We love school!

I am sure there will be many photos to follow!!!

I hope everyone else had a great first day of school like we did!!!

Chach says....

2009-08-17T16:35:00.000-07:00

So our Chach has an interesting way with words. Last night we were on our way home from a friend's house, and she asked to listen to "The Indian Song" (Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" song). She is obsessed with this song lately and wants to listen to it every time we go anywhere. We explained to her that we weren't going to listen to it on Sunday. Well, after trying her hand at begging and fit-throwing (at which she is a pro), we convinced her to try talking to us more sweetly to try to get her way in the future.

Her attempt to sweet-talk us was as follows: "Mom, when I listen to the Indian Song, it makes my heart feel like there's a party with lots of cakes that are soooo delicious. Could we please listen to it?"

Wow. My little poetess, I salute your awesome attempt at sweet-talking--despite it's lack of success.

--R

Pioneer friends!

2009-08-09T15:45:00.000-07:00

Getting together with friends at church and celebrating the Pioneers!
Playing games, eating treats, watching a canon go off, and dressing up!
Here ya go:

M has really missed her friend, Hyrum! He is finally back in town and they just played and played! Nothin' like a great pioneer friend!!!

His full name is Joseph Hyrum, so it's kind of like:

Joseph and M

Check this out!

2009-08-05T08:19:00.001-07:00

I have a friend who just started a blog called "Should I Be Saying This Outloud???". She wanted to just have an open dicussion about things she was concerned about (healthy, kids, and so much more). If you think you know her, just keep it private.
Drop over there and check it out. I am sure she could really use a few suggestions and some help! And I think if we tell others about it, it could help other people, too!!!

Finally another lost tooth, but not without a story...

2009-07-30T17:32:00.000-07:00

Ms. Sessa lost her left front tooth almost 2 months ago and we have been waiting and patiently wiggling her right one since then. It has been pretty loose for about a month now. She has been writting her note to Mary Molar, the Tooth Fairy, for about 3 days and we knew that the time was coming.

Last night it was just getting too late to work on the tooth, so I thought, another day with that silly loose tooth , but that's ok. Well, R was up there helping them say their nightly prayers and I heard a bump and Sessa started screaming. Not the fakey, naughty scream, but the real hurt scream.

Well, I guess this is what went down...

Sessa put both feet into her pillowcase (sack race style) with her pillow still in it. She proceeded to try to jump over R's legs as he knelt down with M. Well, I am thinking that the pillow in the pillowcase inhibited her super human jumping ability that she has honed from years of jumping on beds. She didn't quite make it over his legs and smashed her face (read: her loose tooth) into Chach's bedpost (all 3 girls share a room and love it, but that being said, there isn't tons of sack race room in there).

And, voila, tooth ready to come out.

I don't know if you remember, but the other top front tooth was lost in a similar way. The second to last day of school Sessa came home with a fat lip and a super loose tooth, from smashing her face into the jungle gym. (And a chipped baby tooth on the other side)

So, how do you lose a tooth at our house? Trip and hit your face on things, I guess.

Poor, cute thing!!!

Julia Child, Martha Stewart, Betty Crocker, Me!!!

2009-07-27T09:49:00.000-07:00

I made a cake for a girlfriend for her birthday and I heard that she loved super chocolatey chocolate cakes.
So since I have been wanting to work on my cooking skills, I just went for it! Chocolate cake mix, chocolate pudding mix, and chocolate chips in the cake. Chocolate frosting on the outside. And then I wanted to just coat it with mini semi-sweet chips. Well, I got the top covered and thought it looked really cute like that, so I left the sides without (I would have frosted it a little neater on the sides if I had known that). I think that it turned out really cute!!! And it tasted awesome!

This is my new cake box that I just got and I had to deliver it in the new cake box! So cutie and funky and so fun!

So, here's to a new cooking adventure!!!!

Life Changing Television

2009-07-24T18:09:00.000-07:00

For weeks now I have seen commercials for a show on MTV called "16 & Pregnant". I haven't really wanted to watch it because I guess I am tired of people glorifying teen pregnancy. Talking about how cool it is and how many girls just want a baby to love. While things happen and sometimes things turn out fine (honestly, not very often), I just didn't want to watch a show where the large majority of children make the light of such a serious and life changing choice.
A couple of days ago I was changing channels and saw a commercial about a very young teen couple on the show who decides to put their baby up for adoption. So I decided to watch it.
I watched it today and it was amazing!

The boy looked like he was maybe 14 years old (couldn't find a picture of him), but I think they were both 16. Both grew up in very dysfunctional families, with drug addicted parents and absent parents.
So these 2 CHILDREN decided to give their daughter a better life than they could ever provide. Both of their parents were angry and upset and didn't support their decision at all. The boys father kept telling him to "Man-up" and take care of his things. And her mother didn't want to let go of her first grandchild.
~I can't imagine how hard that would be, to let go of your flesh and blood.
But these 2 courageous teens did what they knew was right. She said that the wanted her daughter to have the life she never had.
The grandmother refused to sign to adoption papers so they had to wait to give the baby up until she checked out of the hospital. It was very painful for the birth mother and father. They were so strong and loved each other so much and their daughter, too. They kept telling themselves and each other that their baby deserves a better life.
At the end of the show, the mother and father both talked about how hard it was but how their knew it was the right choice.

If you want to see this episode, follow this link:http://www.mtv.com/videos/16-and-pregnant-ep6-catelynn/1615511/playlist.jhtml
It was hard to watch and amazing to watch. I cried through the whole show.
I wish more people would think harder about adoption and what a blessing it is. For the birth parents, the adoptive parents, and for the child.
I have some very close family and friends that have not been able to have children or it has taken a long time. So, in the meantime, they do the best they can.

If you know anyone who is pregnant and is thinking about adoption, please feel free to give them my information.

Another great place to visit for information is:

http://www.itsaboutlove.org/

~Adoption: It's About Love~

HP6

2009-07-15T19:54:00.000-07:00

R and I went to see "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" today. It was so awesome! The best one so far!
There was laughter, teenage angst, suspense, and there were many tears. Even having read the book many, many times, I was still surprised and thrilled at the movie!!!
I found myself feeling more and more sorry for Draco Malfoy. I know, he is a jerk and does bad stuff. But I kept looking at him and thinking, "If he wasn't under these circumstances, he wouldn't be like this. Sure, he would still fight Harry every chance he got!". But he was lowering his wand. He wouldn't have done it!
*It just made me think of how we shouldn't judge people too quickly or too harshly. We don't always know what they are going through in their lives.
ANYWAY, awesome movie! I would pay to go see it again. In fact, I might go again this week or next. Awesome! I can't wait to buy it! Go and see it and enjoy!!!

Seems like we just met!!!

2009-07-11T22:13:00.000-07:00

It seems like we just met! It seems like we just sat down and chatted in your living room!

Now our girls tell us how much they miss Caleb and Joe and Sarah and even little Caroline! It's strange how people are in our lives for only a short amount of time, but we are forever changed!

Awesome girlfriends! Me, Jamie, Becky (the moving chick!) and Angela!

We will miss you!

Move on to bigger and better and brighter things!

PS The girls (especially Sessa) keep mentioning how mich they miss Caleb!

God Bless America!

2009-07-11T22:06:00.000-07:00

M using her freedom to enjoy the huge sparklers!!!!

We are grateful for the sacrifice of so many to give us our Freedom.

Land of the Free and Home of the Brave!!!

Independence Day...

2009-07-03T18:23:00.000-07:00

Independent- adj. 1. not influenced or controlled by others: thinking or acting for oneself. 2. not depending or contingent upon something else. 3. not relying on another for aid or support. 4. refusing to be under obligation to others. 5. possessing a competence.

Independence- n. 1. the quality or state of being independent.

I love our country and I am so grateful to live in the United States of America.
I read a letter and wanted to share part of it with everyone:

"At some point during the day, I hope you'll take time to think and reflect on what it is we're truly celebrating on the 4th of July -- our Independence Day. Of course the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th, 1776 but it's so much more than that.
On this day, 233 short years ago, a small group of men dedicated themselves to a higher purpose, an ideal they believed in so greatly, they signed their name to its expression and in doing so put their very lives at risk.
Never has a simple act of signing one's name carried such weight, such a profound commitment.
By signing the Declaration of Independence, 56 men stood in direct defiance of the British government. They became marked men, and willingly so. As I was doing some research on the significance of July 4th, I came across some interesting facts about these men.
Today as we all enjoy the freedom our forefathers guaranteed us, join me in honoring the extraordinary sacrifice of 56 extraordinary Americans.
Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence: Five were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes burned to the ground. Two lost sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, and two more had sons captured. Nine fought and died in the Revolutionary War.
If you ever feel like your lone voice can never be heard, that the political system isn't set up for "regular" Americans to change the course of history, remember: The signers were flesh and blood, mortal men with a divinely-inspired aim.
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists, eleven were merchants, and nine were farmers and large plantation owners. They were well educated, smart enough to know that by signing the Declaration of Independence, they were signing their own death warrants.
They did it anyway, and God bless them for it.
As we enjoy our liberty on this 4th of July, or any day of any month, we must never take that liberty for granted. Too many have given too much. In the words of the Signers themselves,
"For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
Their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor -- I think that's a price paid worth a few minutes of reflection, don't you?
But let's not be solemn in that reflection. I say rejoice and share this information with your friends and family, especially your kids. The Signers asked for nothing in return for their pledge, but I say that we show our thanks with a pledge of our own: To remember, to be grateful, and to carry on in their spirit. America is the greatest country this world has ever and will ever know, and it will stay that way so long as "we the people" remember that just like in 1776.

Happy Independence Day, and God bless America.
Glenn Beck"

Please, remember who we are and where we came from.
Happy Independence Day!!!
-My Curly Hair Days

Together...

2009-06-30T19:01:00.001-07:00

There is nothing like being together!

Nauvoo was about 80 degrees and breezy. And so lovely!

I heart my family!

"Funny" how that is...

2009-06-28T21:20:00.001-07:00

...in a room full of wonderful people, I still feel a little lonely.
...when Chach is so tired she is falling asleep at dinner, she still insists that she doesn't want to go to bed because, "Daddy, look how wide my eyes are!".
...when I really need to pray, I don't feel like it.
...the day we get the second EBT card so that both R and I can have one, little sweet M bends the heck out of the old one and now we only have one again!
...even if I tried really hard not to hurt someone, hurting someone still hurts.
...Baked Lays are still hard to just eat one.
...you have a fantastic life and are still a little down sometimes.
...working out hard to do somedays, but I feel like a million bucks after I'm done.
...you don't really know if people are listening.
...something at church really rings true to you and you know you want to do better.
...kids know when you are lying, but love you anyway.

Tonight in the land of ... brilliant people stuck on roofs!

2009-06-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

Tonight we hung out as a family! It is nice that R has some semblance of a summer break. So we are doing what we can to enjoy it. This evening we...
...ate Turkey Brats (which were fabulous) from the grill
...hoped that stickers would motivate the M to go potty (nope)
...listened to the weather radio switch off between a "heat advisory" and "thunderstorm watch"
...tried to take Sessa to the kids Zumba class, which was cancelled
...swam in the pool with new friends
...hosed off one of "those swim diapers" full of wonderfullness because she hasn't been going poo for 3 days now
...got a phone call that there were people jumping off the shed into one of the pools
...closed up 2 pools with minimum issues
...got to the third pool where the drunk people wandered out after 5 mins of sitting in the pool staring at us after R told them it was time to close the pool
...answering "Why isn't the time posted?" for the millionth time ("We don't know, but it's a good idea to post it")
...realizing that there was a large man now stuck on the shed roof.
...His buddy (very skinny buddy who jumped into the pool just before we pulled up) kept asking if we had a ladder.
...the girls watching the large man trying to get off the roof and I started to distract them in case he fell to his death
...he didn't
...fall to his death, that is
...R mentioned to the man (and the buddy and woman with them) that technically getting on the roof of the shed was against the rules. "Technically!"

...got home and caught fireflies in the field while wearing our swimming suits
...sang a Christmas song for our bedtime song

Goodnight! And stay off the roof!

Funny around our house this week...

2009-06-24T15:11:00.001-07:00

This week has been full of funny comments. Here are a couple:

"Who tied the jumprope around the soap"- R in the upstairs bathroom, probably talking with Sessa and Chach

"Can we get some peanuts? And then the kids can get an elephant and feed it"- Chach as we walked by some peanuts at the walmert.

"Can we go to Kentucky Cheeses?"- M mixed up our quick family trip and the fun place to play.

Putting on new dresses I made them:
Sessa- "I thought our dresses were going to be made out of rubber."
Me- "Why would we make dresses out of rubber?"
Sessa- "So they would be easy to get on."
Chach- "And we could just slip them on!"

Walking out of the Y after a grueling Zumba class:
"Mama, was your exercise good?"- Sweet M really wanted to know!!!

"Look, Mom, Sessa pulled my arm out. She's a musician (magician)!!!"-Walking around the walmert the girls had their arms in their shirts. Chach got her arm stuck and Sessa helped out!

Fathers

2009-06-21T19:58:00.000-07:00

R is an amazing Father who loves his daughters beyond anything I have ever seen! He makes them laugh and plays with them. He loves to tickle them and hold them and read to them. R may not outwardly worry about them as much as I do, but I know that he prays for them daily. I love seeing his big hands holding sweet little girl hands! There is nothing like it in the world!

Jon is R's younger brother who is a first time father! He loves his brand new son! It is amazing to see how men change when they have a child!

R's father, Lynn, is such an amazing Grandfather! He and M were very close when we lived with them. He would just walk around the house holding her. When they were out to visit, they spent a lot of time reading and playing together! It's almost likes he loves our girls as much as we do! (0:

My father, Jim, is a sweet and kind grandfather who works so hard and loves the gospel. The girls always love going to see him!

Grandpa Day just passed away 2 weeks ago. He was a hard-working, stubborn farmer who worked with his rough hands his whole life. He sat 2 rows behind us at church and the girls loved to walk back and say hello to him. He adored babies and little girls!

I thank the Lord for all the amazing fathers in my life!

Temporarily out of Service!!!

2009-06-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

Folks,
For those of you who don't know, we had to suddenly go out of town for a funeral this week. R's Grandfather died on Saturday morning and we left Saturday night. R rescheduled 3 of his 8 finals and we are in back with our family for the week! I will be back to the blogging world soon, I promise!!!

Little M is 3 Today!!!

2009-06-03T09:53:00.000-07:00

Just before M joined our family!!!

First, we always try to take a picture just before the new baby comes! This one was taken June 2nd, 2006 in our home. R is holding Sessa who was almost 4 years old and I am holding little Chach who was about 2 1/2 years old. We are ready for you to come, M!!!

3 years ago our family of 4 turned into a family of 5!!! We welcomed our little angel, M into the world!

Cute healthy baby holding Daddy's hand. And wrapped in the infamous ducky blanket!

Daddy and M! Love at first sight!

Little M 6 months old! Nice mohawk!!!

At age 1, M loved the water and to work on her walking!

2 years old at the zoo. And then with her broken leg!
So fun!

Now she is 3 years old! So big and beautiful and sweet and silly and sassy!!!

We are so grateful to have M in our family! She makes life interesting and fun! She loves us all so much! She loves to laugh and loves to play! She adores nursery and playing with her friends!
~~~Thank heaven for little girls!!!~~~
We love you, M!!!

Potty training...

2009-06-02T13:47:00.000-07:00

M will be 3 tomorrow and she is so great! So big and sweet and fun and busy. And yet, she isn't potty trained. The other girls I did at 3 so I haven't been stressed about it. But I think she could have been out of diapers earlier, but there were plenty of reasons (READ:EXCUSES) that I didn't even try!
Here are a few of my reasons (READ:EXCUSES):

1 year ago:
~Oh, she has plenty of time
~Her sisters weren't ready, so I'm not even going to try
~I don't mind changing her diapers for now

9 months ago:
~We are getting ready to move
~She will just revert back and then it's wasting my time
~I am so busy packing
~Don't really want to do that at Grandma's house
~I can't find the potty seat, it's got to be a box somewhere

6 month ago:
~We just moved here
~She still isn't settled in
~It's the holidays and I can't handle that
~She won't be able to concentrate on it with everything going on
~It's too cold

3 months ago:
~Still too cold
~It's almost summer, let's wait until then
~R is just starting school and it's stressful
~She is going to miss R a lot, so that will make it hard
~It's almost her birthday, let's just hook those 2 together and make it a big deal for her

Today:
~Not today, it's Tuesday
~Tomorrow is too busy...
~Let's start this weekend
~No, I can't handle that on Sunday, so we have to wait to start until Monday
~In the next week for sure!!!

So really, the reason biggest reason M isn't potty trained yet is:
because I just didn't want to.
That's it.

But now I do, so wish me luck!!!!

As Much as Things Change...

2009-05-26T19:55:00.000-07:00

One year ago, some of our best friends moved to the other side of the country! The hubbies were great friends and Amy and I were so close. We both have 3 little girls, all the same age! We moved to the Midwest 4 months later, but we always stayed close. Emails and phone calls and blog checking. This past weekend we travelled down to visit our close friends! You always wonder if it is going to be different. You are both at different places in your lives, you live in very different places, you haven't seen each other in a long time. You just never know.

But, what I learned this past weekend was...
*****As much as things change:

M and Hailey: ages about 18 month and about 2 1/2 years

Chach and Alison: about 4 yrs old and 5 yrs old

Sessa and Rachel: about 6 yrs old and about 7 yrs old!

Friends in 2008 and in 2009!!!

*****They still stay the same!!!!!

We love you guys and miss you! Visiting was amazing! Thanks for the fabulous weekend!!!

And the crackers are...

2009-05-26T07:16:00.000-07:00

When I posted the last entry, I didn't realize that people would want to know more about the greatest graham crackers in the world.
Well, according to my sweet hubby, they are

"Keebler Honey Graham Crackers" (yeah that's right)

So, now you know! Sorry I kept the info from you! Now, go try them and love them, too!

Graham crackers...

2009-05-19T07:49:00.001-07:00

If there is something that R is kind of a snob about, it is his Graham Crackers!
That was his after school snack for years and years! So that is something we have stocked up at our house.
We have to drive to a specific store to get the kind he loves, because for some reason, not all stores carry the right kind.
So last week R was in our neighborhood store that we get our meat from and he see a neighbor looking for graham crackers. So they launch into a discussion about the finer points of crackers. The neighbor is really into learning about the crackers and is disappointed to not see them at that store.
Because the BEST ONES aren't available at that store, R drops by their house after the store and shows them the box so that they can purchase the BEST ONES next time they have smores!
Another reason I love R!
He loves to share his knowledge about things he loves!
There are a few more things he is passionate about, but this one happened last week and made me smile!

This week...

2009-05-14T07:21:00.000-07:00

I find myself very behind on everything in my life this week.
And yet, I am blogging.
Figures!

This week...
...the laundry has been in the basket for 5 days now and we have to dig out skivvies every morning
...I started a project for Primary this Sunday, but just can't get that sewing machine out to do the next part (maybe today... or tomorrow... or Saturday)
...there is a box in the basement waiting for the girls to fill it with the toys they are ready to get rid of. It is 1/4 full with things that we ARE NOT getting rid of.
...I sat up listening to the weather radio waiting for the tornado warning to be done
...I jumped when the weather radio alarm when off and was ready to sprint upstairs to get the girls out of bed and take them to the safety of the basement
...I listened to the flood warning and then relaxed again
...there were 2 phone calls I felt prompted to make. One was made, the other wasn't. And I regret that even if she forgives me
...the papers around my house were shuffled multiple times a day, trying to find the one I wanted to use that day and figure out what the HECK I can throw away!
...watched the "old people" kick butt on Biggest Loser!
...watching the torrents of rain fall made me realize that I really did grow up in a dessert
...there was some fun planning for a quick vacay down south in a week
...our little 3 year old, M, has been ragailing us with her beautiful singing voice with songs from Wicked. "Defying Gravity" is my fav!
...I have been reminding myself to call the dr but still haven't done it yet
...there is some vinyl I need to go pick up, but I'm just not there yet
...there is Sharing Time planning for the next 2 weeks. I won't be here for the second one, so I need to make sure it's taken care of so no one is wrestling 50 children with nothing to do
...I have listened to "Over the Rainbow" 50 times and "Finally" about 45 times
...(recently added)there is a large cardboard box that I just kicked out of my kitchen and let it soak up all the rain from yesterday
...the shoe pile by the door has grown exponentially and is now taking over the dining room/living room/kitchen/bathroom (yeah we have a small apartment)
...the beautiful roses that R gave me, that I LOVED, are now dead and dry on the kitchen table. Maybe that should be taken care of before someone comes over
...the kryptonite of my healthy lifestyle change was discovered... Asiago Cheese Bread! AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

And this week... there is another post on my blog

Pointless, but, oh well!

Mama's Day!

2009-05-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like a mama! And I sure love mine!

What I learned from my Mama:

1-Be smart

2-When you spill your drink all over yourself while you are driving, just stop at a Walmart and buy a new outfit!

3-Serve others

4-If you fall and hit your head at the store, drive yourself to the hospital, check in at work and let them know you won't be coming in and then don't let the ER shave off your hair! STAPLE, STAPLE, STAPLE!

5-Pray for strength

6-Toilets are bad for pagers, cell phones, pdas, etc...

7-See the world

8-While you are seeing the world, don't lose your luggage, your laptop, files from work, students papers, your really nice jacket, or anything else that isn't attached to your body and some things that are.

9-Do the hard things

10-Be honest

11-Avoid talking to your oldest daughter on the phone and driving at the same time. The poor cars will never know what hit them!

12-Do it right

13-Pay close attention when you mail packages! Especially when you do 2 at once. Or you might end up mailing "Wii Music" to your son in Ghana, Africa on his mission!

14-Be dependable

15-Dance the "Patty Dance" every chance you get!

16-Laugh even when it's hard

17-QVC is a great place to shop for Christmas!

18-There is nothing like a great sister!

19-Go to the temple every Saturday morning

20-Be the mama tiger (actually BEAR as my little bro corrected) that every child needs!

21-Be brave!

22-LIFT WITH YOUR KNEES, NOT YOUR BACK!

23-Lipstick and earrings outside the house (and most of the time in the house, too!)

24-It is possible to cheer "Red" and "Blue" at the same time and not turn out purple!

25-Be polite

26-Tiffany's is a fun place to look at diamond rings

27-Cruises can be so much fun, unless you get motion sickness

28-Be happy with what you have

29-Don't stress too much about a bad hair cut. Give it a week or 2 and it will be perfect

30-Try to make it to the bathroom BEFORE you throw up. Or at least try to make it to a garbage can

31-Give to others

32-You won't know if you like it until you try it on

33-Bear your testimony

34-Ride a motorcycle

35-Be generous

And the most important thing-Love the Lord more than anything else on this Earth and remember, He will carry you when times are hard!

I love you Mom. I pray every day to be a good mother like you. I miss you!

I don't scrapbook...

2009-05-07T12:12:00.000-07:00

I know.
Most people are shocked when they hear that I don't scrapbook because I am an Interior Designer with a minor in Art.
But, it's just not my thing.
I like to look at the pages other people do. I think that it is a true talent and a gift.
But, it's just not my thing.
It stresses me out too much to think about how long it would take me to do a page and then to think about how many pictures I need to scrapbook and how much money it would cost me to do it right. I am also very critical of my own work. Always have been.
So, I don't scrapbook.
I am, however, thinking about doing a little Digital Scrapbooking. I am thinking about doing a few "Special Occasion" things. Maybe a cool book or something from Snapfish or wherever!
We will have to see. I have to clear my schedule and work through learning Photoshop Elements and then I will think about it.
If anyone has any ideas of where to start and some free stuff online, send it my way. I haven't done anything at all, but I think I want to start in the next couple of months.
Yes, I said months.
I am giving myself time to get into it and all that before I dare show anyone, anything.

So, "Hold on to your butts"!!! (Jurassic Park quote that I love)

Thanks for the encouragement and help!

Great article!

2009-04-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

~I was in Marching Band in high school and it was awesome! Say what you want, but that's how I met my hubby and how I got to travel around the country during my teen years!
So when I saw this article, I had to post it! Way to be, chick!

Don't mess with the marching band girls

QUARTZ HILL, Calif. - Don't mess with a marching band girl, especially one armed with a baton.
A 17-year-old high school marching band student beat up two assailants who tried to mug her as she walked to school in this high desert community about 40 miles north of Los Angeles, sheriff's officials said Tuesday.
The girl punched one of the men in the nose, kicked the other in the groin and beat both with her large baton before she ran away on Friday morning, officials said.
"The moral to this story is don't mess with the marching band girls, or you just might get what you deserve," said Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Michael Rust.
He said two men approached the girl from behind, grabbed her coat and demanded money. Deputies searched near Quartz Hill High School for the muggers, looking for a man who was holding his bloodied nose and the other limping.
No arrests have been made, but Rust said it appears the girl made her point to her assailants.

"Final score: Marching band 2, thugs 0," Rust quipped.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30493653/?GT1=43001

What does a cutie look like?

2009-04-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post a quick movie from the museum this weekend. Our fine arts museum was free and we had to go!
In the auditorium there was a great blue-sy, blue grass band. We sat there and listened and the girls loved it!
Especially Chach!!! Everyone else was sitting politely and listening. Not her! She automatically got up and started clapping and dancing! It's not in the video, but she started twirling her pony tail on top of her head!
(Sun glasses and all, which she wore most of the time we were in the museum)
Gotta love it!

Private & Confessions & Private Confessions!

2009-04-20T20:26:00.000-07:00

private...
So, as a few of you might know, for the last 16 months I have been working on losing weight. I decided that it was time to make a change.
TOTAL CHANGE!
Healthier eating, getting active, getting healthy all around. My kids deserve it, my hubby deserves it and more than anything, I deserve it!!!
So, I have been working out (IN PRIVATE) and eating well (IN PRIVATE). I have lost about 45 lbs (IN PRIVATE).
A good friend commented that I was the only person she has even known who has been able to lose weight on my own and at home.

now for the confession part...
So last month (March), I fell off the bandwagon. We were sick all month and miserable all month. The miserable weather was finally getting to me.
But, no excuses are accepted in my life anymore!
Luckily, I didn't fall off totally. Maintained my eating and weight. Just dropped the exercise. So, here I am in April, back to working out! Yeay!

But, here comes the new scary thing...
We got a membership to the Y and I started taking classes. For only the second time in my life, I walked into a class (IN PUBLIC) and worked out (IN PUBLIC).
I know what you are thinking, I am a very social person and chatty and fun and all that. But working out is something very private to me, becuase if I look like a fool at home, I am the only one who knows. Other people seeing me look like a fool, not that fun.
So I walked into Zumba (Latiny, dancy aerobics class) and went for it. I was a dancer in my time, so I picked up on the steps quickly. It was fun and the hour went by quickly. I love being sore in all new places!
So, here's hoping for a healthier me and you!

PS And if you see me hobbling around, throw me an encouraging smile!

Another thing that made me laugh/cheer/smile/all of the above!!!

2009-04-16T10:27:00.001-07:00

Ok, here is another video I saw (not related at all to my last post). I had to share it with you guys!
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-US&vid=750c0064-779b-4a51-b5c7-0f3020f25233

I would love to see that in a train station!
Have a Do-Re-Mi Day!!!

My Favorite Thing In a Long Time!!!

2009-04-15T16:38:00.000-07:00

I saw this story on MSN and had to check it out!

"A middle-aged Scottish woman who says she’s never been kissed has become an international star after shocking judges with her singing on “Britain’s Got Talent.”

Only sang at church, school and karaoke? What? That is amazing!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/30226154#30226154

I wish I could embed her clip from the show, but it's protected, so please follow to YouTube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

I watched this and cheered!!!! It made my day! (0:
I hope it makes yours, too!

Go Susan Boyle!

So here is what we decided!!!

2009-04-14T11:38:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the suggestions! I know that we will be here for a few years, so I am always up for suggestions of cool things to do around here!
Feel free to post others if you think of them!
Friday, Sessa had school, but Chach and R didn't so we decided to do something together. We dropped off M at a friends (thanks!) and did a date with little Chach. She doesn't get as much time with us as she would like, so we decided to do something she LOVES! We went and painted pottery!
We pulled up and Cach looked at the sign and said, "Why is their a paintbrush on that sign? Are we painting?". So was thrilled as we walked in and let her pick something to paint! She looked up and down all the shelves and picked a puppy. So cute. She wants a dog so bad!
We also did a plate with my hand, R's hand, and her hand on it! So much fun! I love being with my kids!
R did a ton of homework this weekend and also got to hang out and play with us some! He had reminded us of his prowess on MarioKart and Rockband (he is a killer drummer!).
Easter was great! We did a little Easter Egg hunt and talked about Christ and the Resurrection. Just being together was a great way to spend Easter. We had stake conference, so the dresses don't come out until next Sunday. You know we only do dresses for other people to see!!! (0:
The girls and I also did some crafts that had been waiting. Each girl got a letter to paint and paint they did!!! Sessa is meticulous and does stripes. Chach kind of paints in sections and M just loves to throw it around! So cute purple, pink, white and silver letters on their wall in their room!
Did I mention that we moved the girls into one room? They LOVE it!!! We spent some time together and decorated it.
Thanks again for all the suggestions. We ended up doing little things, but it was just so great to be together!

Ok, I need some input!

2009-04-07T09:10:00.000-07:00

I know that most of you guys in my area are looking at this weekend and wondering what you should do. Let's all hang out! (0:
Well, I am putting out a "Shout-Out" for some ideas of what to do around here. We don't want to spend tons of money, but some might be ok. We thought about driving over to some big cities or to a great National Park (we don't really know any), but we also thought stuff around here would be fine, too!
I need some ideas!!!!! My kids are 6, 5, and almost 3. They are very adventurous, too! Keep that in mind...
What do you guys like to do around here or even a few hours away?
We like indoors and outdoors! We like art and music and science and biking and climbing and running and playing and lots of other things. We are really open to lots of ideas!!!
All your ideas are appreciated! We may surprise you in what we decide!
We haven't been here long enough to find out all the cool stuff around here!
Please help us out!!!
Thanks tons and tons!

"Don't have to hit play..."

2009-04-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

We took the big girls to the movies the other night and I overheard/participated in this conversation:
Sessa: "I love going to the movies. The cool thing about going to the movies is you don't have to hit play."
Me: "Well, someone has to hit play."
Chach: "Who hits play?"
Me: "Someone who works for the theater."
Chach: "Like Sister Nobody?"

So, just so you know, Nobody, my kids think that you work at the theater. Not sure why... but there you go!

Some music

2009-04-02T09:14:00.001-07:00

I have music on my other blog, but I find myself wanting a little more music I love when I am on this blog.
So here is it!!!

One of My Curly Hair Days

2009-03-31T10:47:00.000-07:00

Today was one of My Curly Hair Days. Like I said at the beginning, they don't happen every day. So enjoy 'em when you see 'em!!!
Really, they must not happen that much or I must look REALLY bad the rest of the days.
For example, I dropped Chach off at preschool today and the teacher's aide FLIPPED out when she saw my hair. She started asking all sorts of questions about curling irons, ringlets, sprays, gels, etc... Then, the teacher walked over and joined in. She just kept complimenting me on my hair and was incredulous that I have naturally curly hair.
I was truly flattered at their compliments. I have never been the "pretty sister", so it is kind of strange.
But then I started thinking... (always a bad thing, right?) I realize that part of the eye-popping and oogling is because of what I look like most other days.
I usually look fine. A t-shirt and jeans. Usually no make-up and hair in a ponytail. Just a regular chick that you see in the grocery store at any given time. If I need to spruce it up a little, I throw on a pair of rockin' earrings or some lipstick. But nothing amazing.
So when the dressin' up happens, it really happens, I guess.
SO...
The moral of this story is: it's good to dress up a little sometimes.
AND
Don't do it very often, so when you do, people will REALLY notice!

Don't think too hard!

2009-03-29T17:51:00.000-07:00

This is a picture Sessa drew of her family.

Sessa and Chach draw girls the same way. All with the same puffy "SLEEVES". The first time I saw them, I busted out laughing! I showed it to R and he couldn't stop laughing!!!

No fail, every time people see their drawings, they all think the same thing.

But DON'T!!! Those are sleeves!

It happened today. Little Chach's primary teacher (AKA: the most awesome, smart, beautiful, fun, and interesting "jungle gym/teacher" ever!) was letting her draw on the board at the end of class and the puffy "sleeves" emerged. We were talking and she started to giggle. So I was compelled to explain.
The inspiration for this post:

Huge, enormous, giant, PUFFY SLEEVES!

Who needs Paris?

2009-03-26T19:16:00.000-07:00

Driving to the Y to swim the other day, I overheard Sessa and Chach excitedly discussing this tower, as we drove by it. Not sure what it is, but what they thought it was, was classic!
Chach: "Look! It's the Eiffel Tower in Paris!"
Sessa: "But we live in Iowa!"
Chach: "Oh. Well, it's the Eiffel Tower in Iowa!"

Paris, shmaris!

PS Just kidding, I miss you Paris!

Wierd Midwestern Illness

2009-03-22T20:13:00.000-07:00

Ok, how posts about illness can one blog hold? Who knows, lets see....
Really, I wonder if my body is just getting all the sickness it can right now, so the next 3 years I won't get sick at all (yeah right!).
I hate being sick. I have to keep functioning.
But I really hate it on Sundays. I need to be at church. My family needs to be at church. R has to teach a class and I need to be in Primary. I hate leaving my friends hanging and trying to get everything done, down one woman (and sometimes 2 women). Sorry, Word Girl and others. I hope that you survived and the children didn't maul you! I am sure you were amazing without me!!! (0:
But really, I need to be at church. I love the feeling of church. There are weeks when it's truly WWE Smackdown, with the 3 preshies. But, I love sitting there feeling the Spirit and being among friends. When I miss church, I feel it all week.
So this weak, I mean week, I will heal and get my rear back to church!

Miss Manner, my kind of chick!

2009-03-20T11:12:00.001-07:00

I love to read Miss Manners and her advice to people.
I always have.
When I was little, I would dig through the paper to find her column and read all about manners and ettiquette.
R and I were just talking about how my sister and I would sit up in our room and read one of her books. I think it was " MISS MANNERS' GUIDE TO EXCRUCIATINGLY CORRECT BEHAVIOR".
I think.
I can't remember for sure. It was a big, dark blue book and we would just open it up to a page and learn all about what to do with your gloves at dinner and where to set your hat and how to excuse yourself to use the restroom, and how it's ok to pass gas ("It is a perfectly natural thing to do, after all").
Miss Manners now has a website through MSN that I check often. (Check it out... Miss Manners' Site )I have never submitted a question, but I really love reading the problems and answers.
I read this one today and I had to post this because it was something that I had wondered before.
I love Miss Manners' answer. We all want to say the things that she suggests. This lady has some guts! (0:

Dear Miss Manners,I have one relative and one dear friend who each insist on knowing where I was or what I was doing when I fail to answer their telephone calls, whether it be at home or on my cellular device. Often times I am simply trying to complete a task, such as balancing my checkbook or checking out at the grocery store, before engaging in a telephone conversation.
Sometimes I simply do not wish to share my personal information and am looking for a polite response that does not accommodate their need to know every detail about my life.
The dear friend is a bit pushier than my relative and will try to goad me into giving her the information as to my whereabouts when I missed her call. I am well into my 40s, with my own career and home, and I don't think I owe folks a minute-by-minute detail of my day, if I am simply unavailable once in awhile.
Please help me with a polite way to let them know that not all of my business is their business.
Gentle Reader,If it were Miss Manners being quizzed, she would say "Auditioning for the opera" one day, "Registering in a hotel under a false name" the second, and so on.
But perhaps you are one of those people who thinks that this would constitute the evil of lying (or not -- how do you know what Miss Manners does with her time?). In that case, you should just keep repeating, "I was away from the telephone." You needn't say if you were not so far away as to be able to read these people's names on your caller I.D.

PS If you feel like I am talking about you, I'm not. If you are feeling guilty for your behavior, hhhmmmmmm, not sure what to tell ya! (0:
PPS Just teasing!

Funny conversation

2009-03-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

I love listening in on conversations of my kids.
Now that I have 3 little princesses that have full vocabularies, it is always an interesting thing. All 3 have always talked a lot. People are always so surprised when I tell them M is only 2 1/2, she is so chatty!
It must be a random, genetic quirk because I'm nothing like that.... right!?!
But I guess more than them just being chatty, it is funny to listen to their perspectives on life. Being on this earth for only 6 1/2 years, 5 years and 2 1/2 years, they see things with such fresh eyes!
A good example:
Sitting in the "amazing IHOP" one evening, I overheard 2 of my preshies having a funny discussion.
Sessa: "This is the best restaurant!"
Chach: "What?!?! Even better than McDonalds?!?"
I love that they have such a great appreciation for fine food!

Great music thoughts

2009-03-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

I was just reading a great post about music from a friend and she was commenting on how great music was in the late 80's and beginning of the 90's. I have to agree!!! Songs were really fun and simple back then! Sheesh, I sound like an old lady or something!

A few years ago I was one of the people in charge of our 10 year class reunion. And I spent a lot of time putting together the Top 50 songs from our years in high school. It was so funny to look back to see what we grooved to at school dances!

Some of the ones that people loved and laughed with were:

Runaway Train, Soul Asylum
Free Fallin', Tom Petty
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles), Proclaimers
Pump Up The Jam, Technotronic
Two Princes, Spin Doctors
Fields Of Gold, Sting
Counting Blue Cars, Dishwalla
I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That), Meat Loaf
Whoomp! (There It Is), Tag Team
Semi-Charmed Life, Third Eye Blind
Can't Help Falling In Love, UB40

Just wanted to add my list to hers and let everyone think about what they were up to during that time!!! (0:
Please feel free to add any others that I may have missed!!!

Man, things have changed!

2009-03-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

Just a thought pattern that has been in my brain lately. It starts off sweet and then comes the deeper part.
Sometimes I look around me and think about how much things have changed from when I was a kid!
When I was a kid:
~I never rode in a carseat, super strapped down and all safe and stuff. I laid in the back window and enjoyed the warmth!
~I played with the greatest toys. Give it up for... lawn darts, beebee guns, and paddle balls!
~I stood on the banana seat of my bike and let go of the handle bars and "surfed" down the street I lived on!
~We played in the street all the time! It was the best place to play kickball!
~I climbed fences and raced through fields to get the a neighbor's house.

CAUTION: Semi-serious post. Sorry for those of you who need a good chortle! Try again later.
Now, things have changed a lot. I know, things were tons more simple back then and so much fun, but I think there are some good changes, too. This is one change that we feel really good about.
I was reading an article about how parents have stopped doing sleepovers. I know, people are going to be up in arms that we are too over-protective and stuff. But this is something that R and I made a decision about a long time ago. Sleepovers are not for our family.
We decided that for a couple of reasons... to protect our girls from unsafe environments (physically, emotional, etc..) and to protect us as parents as well from untrue stories, etc...

There were a few things that I noticed in the article that I wanted to mention...
-Family doesn't always equal safety
-Standards vary from home to home (you may be surprised how much things can vary)
-Experimentation is more likely to occur ("sleepovers were how many young drug users began experimenting")

We have had to turn down a few very kind invitations and they didn't really understand and probably thought we were over-protective and strange. BUT,
That's ok. They're my kids and I am accountable for them!

Up, but didn't blog & My Favorite Show (today, at least)

2009-03-10T12:05:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I was up again from 2:30-3:30am coughing. But I didn't blog. I tried to sleep. TRIED!
(Did you know TRIED and TIRED have the same letters in them? I just found that out. Makes sense.)

My favorite show right now is "America's Funniest Home Videos". I can't get enough of it!
First, it's still called "Videos". That is funny. Not too many of those around anymore.
Second, from a Chiropractic perspective, that show is a livelyhood. Brilliant people hurting themselves and each other. One way to keep people in business and create jobs, keep shooting movies for that show!
And third, sometimes I just need a good hard laugh. I love to laugh and I haven't been doing it as much lately. So I just sit down and turn the TiVo on and enjoy the glorious recordings we have of AFV. There is nothing like laughing so hard you are crying and can't breathe and you start coughing! Love it! Watched it for like 3 hours last night!
So, need a laugh? Watch a little AFV and think of me!

Midwest Cold: Round 2

2009-03-09T11:50:00.000-07:00

Round 2 of the Midwest Cold. I am coughing so hard that my stomach hurts and I can barely keep my bodily functions in place! So, nothing special today. Just an "I'm sick and sorry I haven't typed in a while!".
I will fight hard and get back to the world of the living (and blogging) soon!

PS Maybe I will blog tonight from 2:30-3:30am, while I am up coughing.

Not trying to be exclusive or anything...

2009-03-04T16:35:00.000-08:00

Some of you (my chickies) have heard that I have a private blog. I am not a snob or anything (contrary to popular belief). (0: Just trying to be safe for my preshies.
If I know you (you know who you are), I would love to invite you. Let me know if you are intersted and we can hook up!
Well, not hook up. You know what I mean!

Do I take too long or is she just tired!

2009-03-02T15:04:00.000-08:00

I was just checking my email and little Chach pulled up a chair next to me and asked if she could type, please. SURE! But I asked her to wait for a minute while I finished up. 5 minutes later, I look over and she is fast asleep, sitting up on her chair. Poor thing. I try not to be long winded (and fail most of the time) but maybe she is just a little tired today!

Here is her typing:

khikii6rritki4575y5tur54re43hr6263ggtygfhgdgfgrfgtgrtgdeedffddvdsedvedcvvcsvev

i like to play. (Sessa wanted to type, too)

7 Things List about me...

2009-02-26T08:54:00.000-08:00

Thanks, ucmama. It's funny to think about yourself and think about interesting things about yourself (er... myself). So here, goes!
1~My favorite style of ballroom dancing is Latin! R and I did some ballroom in high school and loved it!
2~I am scuba certified. Did it my freshman year in college and had a blast in Hawaii! But when I first started, I had a hard time not breathing through my nose. I don't know about you, but I was taught to NOT be a mouthbreather.
3~I don't know how to French Braid. I had long hair for most of my life and I have 3 daughters. I am in trouble.
4~One of my favorite books of all time is C.S. Lewis' "The Great Divorce". I love it so much, I gave it to R for one of our anniversaries. Don't judge. Read it!!!
5~I love Mock-umentaries! Some of my favorites include, "Strictly Ballroom" and "Best in Show".
6~I have worn the same toe ring on the second toe of my right foot for almost 11 years. I bought it with one of my sisters and I love it. (And I think R feels a little jealous of it, because I love it so much!)
7~I have eaten a McDonald's cheeseburger and french fries while riding down the canals of Venice, Italy in a Gondola.

At this point I am supposed to ask 7 people to do this, too. Honestly, I don't know how many people read my blog and I haven't figured out the whole Sitemeter thing. So, here goes. I would love to read a few from Nobody, Adolescent, Word Girl, Howertons, JM, Jamie, and anyone else who reads this blog!

Feels so bad

2009-02-24T07:26:00.001-08:00

Working on helping the girls grow into responsible women is really hard and painful. For us, mostly. Today we were rushing around and Sessa forgot her backpack as she walked out the door. Sweet Chach saw it and ran to give it to her.
(R and I had just had the discussion about letting her forget it if she did.)
So, off to school with a backpack.
R walked in the back door about 10 mins later and informed me that he was a Bad Dad. At the school, he let Sessa know that she had about 4 mins to get to class and she quickly hugged him and took off out the van door. Sans backpack. R looked back and painfully decided to let Sessa learn to remember her backpack next time. So he started pulling away. He was almost out of the parking lot and looked in the rear view mirror and saw Sessa.
She has just turned around to look for him and her forgotten backpack!
R said that she will probably be crying on the way into school. Sheesh, I hate that. And it makes R feel like such a bad dad.
We decided that if she called from the school, we would just let her know we were sorry she forgot her backpack.
R (and I) kind of wants to run to her school for lunch again and bring her backpack to her. It's so hard to see her upset!
But I guess it it better for her to learn these simple 6 yr old lessons of responsibility now, rather than when she is 16 yrs old and forgetting more important and life changing lessons.
But it is still hard to watch the girls learn sometimes!

Misc. Goings On...

2009-02-23T10:21:00.001-08:00

*Sessa has been saying some interesting prayers lately.
"Please bless the unicorns that Noah didn't take on his ark. Bless them to come back alive so we can play with them."~Yeah, she heard a silly kid's song about that. Unicorns and dragons didn't make it.
"... and bless this food to be good for our bodies and our hearts and our brains and our bones..."~Sounds like those discussions about how good food is good for different parts of the body sunk in.
R and I went to Sessa's school and surprised her at lunch on Wednesday and had lunch with her. She was beaming when we saw her. I love that she is still proud that we are her parents! It was so fun to see her walk through the line and get her lunch and show us what they do at her school. The five minutes of quiet was weird when I first heard about it, but then I looked around at all the kids and they finished their lunch. Interesting. Strange, but interesting. Then Sessa asked if we wanted to come out to recess with her and we did. It was FREEZING!!! But she ran around and played hopscotch and jump rope and just had a great time.
I miss recess!
Also, I have always worried about the health of my children. Because I am overweight, I have been working on losing weight and getting into better shape. So for a few weeks, R and I talked a lot about losing weight and eating the right amount and the right stuff. Then one night Sessa mentioned that she was losing weight, too.
OH GREAT! Look what I did! Already worried about her weight. I have failed as a mother to instill the right perception of weight in my daughters.
So we had a talk about how she didn't need to lose weight and how R and I had just not eaten healthy enough or exercised enough. And that we didn't need to focus on being thin/skinny/etc... After that discussion, I realized that she was really just copying R and me and there wasn't anything to worry about that way. Yet, of course!
So now we talk all about being healthy and that is the most important thing. Now what shape or size we are, just being healthy. That is the focus that we are taking in our family.
I hate that have to worry so much about how much pressure my little girls are going to face! It almost makes me mad!
Ok, step away and take a breath. It's ok. We'll tackle those things as they come.
I am really proud of *Chach. She has shown me that bad habits can be broken. She gives me hope. For almost a year (maybe more), she has been a spitter. Not really spitting at people, just (sorry for the gross-ity) playing with her spit and keeping a ton of spit in her mouth. It drives me crazy and grosses me out a lot!
So we have been reminding her to swallow her spit and to play with other things. She always said that she didn't like spitting. She even started praying about it:
"Heavenly Father, please help me stop spitting"
Yesterday I realized that I can't remember the last time I saw her doing this bad habit (sorry, I can't bring myself to type it again). She put her mind to it, worked hard and prayed hard, and she beat it! Awesome job, Chach! You can do anything!
Including writting letters all over a paper and wanting us to read it to her! Little Smarty-pants! She also loves to play memory and she is so good at it! It amazes me how good she is!
And the *M. She is the only one who has really done the whole "Terrible 2 thing". She just is so cute and sassy! It's wonderful and we are working on it. She loves to let everyone else clean up. She doesn't eat her veggies, thus in turn, doesn't get a treat after dinner. EVER! Every night is an opportunity for learning for her. I hope she will learn soon. Total bummer for her!
The song that M is always humming is "Jingle Bells". Always. She even puts all different words to it matching the situation she is in. It makes us laugh!
Also, the M has become our serial toy hider!!! She has a baby that she loves and sleeps with everyday at naptime and at night. But for a week, we couldn't find it anywhere!!! ANYWHERE!!! I tore the house apart. The girls emptied their toy boxes 3 times and we cleaned the house top to bottom. Then one day, she opens her "school backpack" and says, "Oh hi baby!". She is also notorious for hiding farm animals in the dvds, on the bookshelves, the pantry, and in shoes and boots. And I am sad to say that I believe the Piggy from the farm is gone forever. I can't find her.
But you never know, M might just open up the vcr one day and there it is!!!

Valentine's Day thoughts

2009-02-15T15:52:00.000-08:00

First, I was planning on posting a couple of times a week and then we got sick. This cold has totally wiped me out! I had to give Sharing Time at church today and I barely made it through. Sneezing and coughing and runny nose and all! But I survived.

My Real Post:

I actually really love Valentine's Day. Not because I make my kids say "Happy Valentine's Day" to EVERYONE we meet that day. Not because I love flowers and chocolates. Not because I pause to think especially about a sweet card for R (this year it was Bart Simpson, gotta love it! Come over and check it out!).

I love Valentine's Day because I LOVE my family! R and I do go out to dinner or something sometimes, but a lot of times we spend the day together as a family!

We play all day! We have heartshaped pancakes for breakfast, then we have heartshaped sandwiches for lunch and then for dinner we have something we all love to eat! Yesterday it was Chinese food. The girls love dumplings and R had his fav (Beef with Broccoli) and I ordered 4 different dishes to try! Lots of leftovers and I found a good Curry Chicken! (0:
We try to do things all day that we love to do! Whether it is watching a movie or playing games or shop for fun things or just sit around and do impressions/play "Name that movie quote". We have turned this holiday into a family day!

R bought me my favorite flowers (write this down everyone: Calla Lilies) and he also bought each little girl a carnation, because he loves them, too! The carnations are still sitting in cups of water on our table, in front of each girl's seat.

"People" complain that, "We don't need a day to tell people that we love them. We should do it everyday."

Well, that is true. We should say it everyday. But we don't always. So, at least once a year we should all express our love to the people we love (especially to the nice cashier at the Walmert who we bought the bouncy balls from)!

I LOVE EVERYBODY! (right Nobo ? Yeah, though you would think that was funny!)

PS I love you so much, R! You are my lobster!

My Chach... the materialist?

2009-02-05T15:51:00.000-08:00

With the wonderful weather, I have been fighting the good fight against the "TV sitting" of my children. It's been rough. To get my xersize in, the girls have to watch some tv.
This morning was my morning off the xersize so I wanted to give Chach and M the opportunity to get some playtime in! Good idea, huh???
Not even close! Chach threw a ROYAL FIT! She loves her tv and is probably the most addicted to the tube and I feel bad about it. The fit got so bad that she had to visit her room and take a few minutes "alone time". I peeked in there about 10 mins later and she was cuddled up under her covers, just chillin', peaceful and content as can be. She really responds to the "calm down" tactic.
So I thought we had this kind of tackled for the day. There were a few little whimpers and whines throughout the day, but generally, Chach had surrendered to the day without much tv.
Then this afternoon sweet Chach appeared at my elbow at the computer. She looked up into my face, wide-eyed and innocent, and said, "Mom, can we get a bigger TV.....?".
WHAT? Where did that come from?
First, we have good sized tv already, like a good 32 inch-er.
Second, Chach isn't usually the one asking for more, bigger, better, etc...
And third, what happened to make my little preshy so shallow and materialistic? It doesn't really matter how big our tv is, right? It doesn't matter that our tv isn't thin and flat and hanging on the wall, right? We don't need to compare our tv to everyone else's, right? Where did I go wrong? After so many years of teaching my girls that stuff doesn't matter, that people matter, what happened? Where did I go wrong? What happened?

And then Chach finished her thought:
"... so I can have a big box to play in and I'll make my 'magination? I'll 'magination everything!!!"

~~~~~~~~~Breathe, breathe, breathe.... I'm doing ok. Precious child.~~~~~~~~~

Red-lipped lessons...

2009-02-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

All growing up, my mom would put on lipstick every time she left the house. As I got older she kept telling me to put a little lipstick on. I needed more color! But it's never really been my thing.
In honor of my mom, I decided to try wearing red lipstick everyday to see what it was like. I had read that article I posted and it sounded like a fun thing.
So I busted out the bright red stuff reserved only for Valentine's Day (you know the stuff!?). Just before the girls got home from school, I put it on.
First, to wear bright lipstick you have to be good at putting lipstick on or you are in trouble. So I was in trouble. The lines have to be perfect and not squiggly. Then you have to make sure that one half of your top lip isn't huge and the other one tiny.
Second, unless you are into Botox (and I'm not) be careful. It is easy to look artificially plumped with such a bright color. I also had the problem of it looking borderline clownish!
So, after applying and wiping a few times, I settled into it. When the girls got home I opened the back door. Sessa saw me and got a huge grin on her face. "Mommy, you look beautiful!". Then Chach piped in "I love your make-up!". Everytime the girls looked at me, they would smile! Maybe it is just fun to see someone all made up, expecially if that someone is a mom who is a little on the casual side.
At church a friend told me that her little boy loved my lipstick!!! He said I looked georgeous (or beautiful, I think!). Funny how kids really responded to the lipstick.
I felt so pretty and fun and strong walking around with bright red lips! People looked at me differently while I walked around Walmert.
But there were a few downfalls...
~I couldn't kiss my hubby. And that was sad. He loves to kiss me and so he was kind of bugged by my the lipstick.
~I couldn't kiss my girls. That is one thing that I love to do. Kiss their cheeks, their hands, the tops of their heads. One of my favorite things to do and it really limited that.
~It was kind of a pain to keep it on and not get it all over things. It does fade and you can totally tell. And the chance of getting it on stuff is pretty high. Trying on clothes was so scary! It almost stopped me from shopping (almost!).
But really, I felt like the experiment was a great success! I think that I will probably wear red lipstick more often. I am not a big lipstick person, but it was a fun thing to do and see that I liked it. Maybe I will be more like my mom and put lipstick on everytime I leave the house.
Maybe.
PS. The dark hair is great! I am having a great time with it!

I chose "To DYE" (twice)...

2009-02-01T20:27:00.000-08:00

Since my last post I have received so much help, advice and encouragment. So my choice was to DYE!!! And I had to do it twice!

Before this story begins I wanted to share with you something memorable. As people commented about their "grey hairs", I thought to myself "Do I have any grey hair?". I had no idea. My hair is kind of a neglected part of me. So I asked R if he would look. So he did and he pulled one out and showed me. Wow, I have grey hair! Huh.

So, when I decided to do the deed, we headed to the local Walmert and looked through the whole aisle of hair color couture. The internet advice people (from here after referred to as "they") said to go with a lighter color than to shock yourself with a super dark color (right...). So we (thanks for the help R!) picked a medium brown called "Cinnamon Stick". A tiny touch of red. Or so we thought. Because my hair still has some blonde in it, this was the result:

Not what I was hoping for... THEY didn't take into account kind of blondish hair. THEY didn't think about wanting to go more than 2 shades darker. THEY thought that I would know what I was doing. I wanted m hair brown or blonde, just one color. But suddenly I had 3 colors going on. Not what I was going for. Also, the instructions on the back of the boxes were of NO help whatsoever. No guidance for a chick with blondish hair who wants to get some medium brown hair! Only for people with brown hair who want more brown hair. How does that even make sense?

So back to the Walmert and get the darkest brown possible (almost black). I just had to cover the red! I actually really like red hair, I just looked really weird. Almost like I was trying to fake it too hard! Lucky redheads!!!

Poor R left for work while my hair was still wet (after dye job #2), so he had to wait until he came back to see if we were heading back to the Walmert again. When he left, I was frustrated at the dang hair and when he came home I was much more happy.

MUCH BETTER!

Still a little on the dark side for me and a touch of red in it, but it covered up the most of the trying too hard red.

So what have I learned dying my hair? I now look at Sessa and M's hair and I think, that really is a beautiful color (almost the exact color that mine was). And Miss Chach has a nice color, maybe I will try that next time. Maybe I just need to brighten my color a little bit. It's fun when you are done, but I am too lazy and cheap to have it done "perfessinally" or to do it all the time. Like my clothes, I like to try new, funky things. So we will see what happens next time.

*Lastly, stay tuned for my evaluation of doing the bright red lipstick for no reason whatsoever. I have learned a lot and it's fun to hear what kids think about it.

To Dye or Not to Dye...

2009-01-26T13:10:00.000-08:00

That is the question!
Yesterday at church, I saw that this awesome chick I know had lightened her hair and it looked so awesome! She is so beautiful anyway, but it was fun to see her with lighter hair, too.
I have dyed my hair a few times when I was younger and it was fun!
But here is my problem for me. I would love to dye my hair a little darker. I'm not really a blonde anymore (which is fine with me) and my hair just isn't dark enough to be "a dark raven- haired beauty". I wish it was dark like some women's hair. I just like it. And R knows that. He always says, "Then dye your hair."
But I have something stopping me. The over-worrying mother in me is so hesitant! I spend a lot of time talking to my girls about how lovely their hair is and that they are beautiful girls (not vain, but beautiful). So there is something inside of me that worries that my girls will think that I am unhappy with the hair that the Good Lord gave me and I have to change it. They don't need to feel that outside pressure to look like everyone else! They are so amazing and beautiful just the way they are. I am their mother, so I can say that they are the most perfectly angelic children ever, right?
But then the other side tugs at me and I remember that we also talk a lot about how the most important things are not on the outside. People come in all different colors and sizes and shapes. Beauty isn't only one specific person or hair style or whatever. It is something that comes from inside. And I think that they are getting that. We were in Wal-mert the other day and a large woman walked by. Little Sessa made a bee-line around the cart. With her eyes wide as saucers, she looked me square in the face and said (as I am holding my breath and bracing for the worst) "Mommy, people come in all sizes". Whew!! Maybe it's working!
But I just don't know. Why do I worry? I don't know. Being the mother of 3 daughters, the responsibility weighs heavily on me. I have heard about this book called "Reviving Ophelia," which talks a lot about how the outside world/media/etc. is crushing the spirit of young girls and pressuring them to just fit in and do what everyone else is doing! I want my girls to continue to want to be individuals and be strong women! If any of you have a copy, I want to borrow it! It's not in the library here and I might just have to buy it.
So this all started with a desire to dye my hair! I just need to keep my anxiety in check and remember to keep teaching my girls about true beauty!!!! (And let them help me pick my hair color and try to figure out how to match my light blonde eyebrows to my new hair color!)
PS Check out this cool article. I am thinking about trying the red lipstick. I have it on right now!
http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-life/bigger-picture/staticslideshowglamour.aspx?cp-documentid=15188306&imageindex=1

Where I was 5 years ago today...

2009-01-22T15:46:00.000-08:00

5 years ago today I was in a hospital enjoying the blessing that is Chach! Today she turns 5 and she is such a gift in my life! She is happy and kind and sweet. She is strong-willed and stubborn. She is funny and quiet sometimes and then other times, she is known to growl at us!

When she was 5 weeks old, she had surgery on her throat and was so small and fragile. To this day, Chach has colds longer than the rest of us. Last year she pushed M off the bunk bed ladder, which broke M's leg (so wonderful!). She has fabulously beautiful hair and eyes. A lot of people say she looks just like R, but the other night a friend told me she looks like me. Thank you. She is so beautiful!

So, today I am just basking in the glory of the person that Chach is! Kids are pretty amazing! Having a 5 year old in the house is going to be amazing/a patience-building exercise!

Just wanted to share!

Happy Birthday 'gurl!!!

Spongebob at... Church?

2009-01-17T11:11:00.000-08:00

Chach and I were getting our daily (hourly, minutely, secondly) dose of "the Sbob" (as we call him at our house). I was trying to catch a small nap and Chach was thrilled to cuddle up and enjoy. This episode had Sbob looking at his schedule for the day and he pulled up his Sunday schedule. On it, it said something like "Say Hello to every single person in Bikini Bottom". But then I heard little Chach pipe up and say, "And go to church!". I chuckled in my half-consciousness. And then she turned to me and asked, "Where is Spongebob's church?".
Oh, the pure and innocent mind of my little one! Of course Sbob will be sitting in the first pew in the Chapel singing at the top of his lungs. What else would he be doing on that "day of rest"? (cue the jellyfishes!)