I was serving out the plates to the girls with their dinner on it and talking to them about what a good dad they have. And how lucky they have a dad like him and that he is the best dad ever...etc! Emily says, "Yeah Dad's the best, but so are you mom!"

Awww. Made my heart swell up! Thanks Emily.

Naughty or Nice?

We were driving over to the college for Madi and Avery's concert, when the kids were being a little to noise for dad's nerves.  "Hey, quiet down!" I said quite forcefully.  Emily in her little voice then replied, "Daddy, you be nice or the elf will tell santa you are being bad."  I got nicer.

A Protector of Right!

Madisen is so sweet and thoughtful. She puts up with a lot from her younger sisters and usually does so with much grace. We are so very proud of her. She has the potential to do and be so much in her life! Well last week on the play ground at school Avery had peed her pants a little bit and when one of Madisen's friends that saw that Avery had peed her pants-starting making fun of Avery then yelling out loud for all to hear around the play ground, "Avery peed her pants!!" Madisen right away told this girl to stop yelling that because she is being mean and embarrassing her sister."

Ryan and I were so proud that Madisen stood up to this friend, because it is hard to stand up to anyone especially friends that have louder personalities than her. So good job Madisen! Thanks for protecting your sister.

Kissing boys?

Emily told me that she had a new boy in her class. I said, Oh good! Were you nice to him? She said, yes. I asked her if she played with him? She said, yes. I then asked her if he was cute. She said, yes he is. Joking around I said, "Well as long as you don't kiss him though!" Emily replies, "I already did!" ...WHAT? You kissed him?! Oh boy! So it begins....the youngest one out before the older two...haha.

Avery's idea of Dinner

One night right before I was about to start making dinner Avery walked up to me and said, I want marshmallows, ice cream and scrambled eggs for dinner.

Interesting combination.

20 is the new 30...right?

Ryan and I went out for a date last night and got a sitter to watch the girls. The baby-sitter, Tessa put on a barbie movie for the girls. Avery asked Tessa as they were watching it, "How old is Barbie you think?"
Tessa replied probably about 25 years old. Which then Avery blurts out, "My mom wishes she was 25 but she is 30!"

Making others' day a little Brighter

Madisen gave me a card last week that said, I love you Mom. It was so very cute and dear to me. I appreciate her thoughtfulness to make other people feel good. Thank you Madisen.

Haggling

Today after school Avery was begging for a bowl of cereal. I told her that dinner was cooking and would be done in a while. I then asked her for a hug.

She then proceeded to try and haggle for a bowl of cereal. Ok mom. I will give you a hug if you give me a bowl of cereal...

No way! I said.

 She then said, Ok mom. How about if I give you a kiss AND a hug for a bowl of cereal?

I said No way! I will get a hug from you anyway! (And then chased her around the kitchen until I got me hug! Ahhhhh....nothing better than a hug from my kids.)

2nd Article of Faith

Ryan was playing around and wrestling a bit with Avery this morning when she stops dead in a karate position pose and says, "You are going to die of your own sins and NOT for Adam's transgressions!"  

Sweet Prayers

I showed up at Avery and Madisen's school to help out in their classrooms when I noticed Avery sitting at the nurses office as soon as I arrived. Avery had apparently thrown up on herself so the office was just about to call me to come pick her up. She threw up several more times that day and on into the following two days. It was really sad to see her sick. And she was so sweet at one point after she had thrown up she asked, "Mom can you pray with me that I will get feeling better." Of course Avery! So we said a prayer together and it was just another sweet moment I will never forget.

Our girls

I just wanted to quickly write today a few things about my kids today. Madisen is such a good sister and helper. She looks out for her sisters so much and helps them when they need help. She is a much better big sister than I ever was. I am so proud of her and the choices she is making. She treats her sisters like any friend would treat their best friend. She is so kind and tells us that she tries to find kids at recess that might need help and tries to help them. She is very mild and rarely upset about anything. She likes to be involved with many things, currently TaVaci, and Piano. And she loves playing softball and going to activity days. We love you Madisen!

Avery is so bubbly and fun. She is always wanting to be right in the action of anything we are doing, whether it's cooking, putting on decorations, gardening or whatever she likes to be right there by our side. She likes to check up on us a lot too, always making sure we don't leave her alone for too long. She is learning so much right now and it's great to see her enjoying school and her friends in her class. Avery is sometimes shy but once she gets to know people she breaks out of her shell and then you can't get her to stop laughing, talking and smiling. Avery is a goof ball and say some of the funniest things sometimes. We love you Avery!

Emily is our little cuddle bug. She is so excited to come home and crawl into our laps for some snuggle time. She loves showing off what she made at school. When she gets home she will say, "Hi sisters!" She loves her sisters so much and looks up to them a lot. She sometimes has a temper though and can be pretty grouchy if she doesn't get enough sleep, but when she is rested up she is so fun to be with. (Her mom is the same way!;) Emily is independent and doesn't mine playing by herself. She loves to read books and watch movies any chance she gets. She is quite determined when she wants something and doesn't let you forget it. We love you Emily!

Peanut butter and Jelly Sandwich

We had just gotten home from church and the girls went upstairs to get out of their church clothes and afterwards came down  for lunch. I asked Emily what she wanted to eat for lunch and this is what she said,
"I want a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich, but with nothing on it except for the bread."

LOL! "Ok, Emily. So you just want bread for lunch?"

"Yep."

Little Blessings

This morning Emily woke up later than the other girls and they had already said a prayer and ate breakfast. After I poured Emily a bowl of cereal for her, I didn't think to say a prayer with her as we already said one. So as I was walking away to finish something, Emily real quietly says, "Mom will you pray with me?"

It melted my heart. Of course I will pray with you! Then she proceeded to give the sweetest prayer. It was such a tender moment and I am so grateful for that little blessing this morning. Thank you Emily.

"I like to look for rainbows...whenever there is rain...."

While we are Costco my girls were in the cart and they started to sing the song, "When I am baptized". It was really cute and I had people looking over at them with smiles.

STOP!

I had just dropped Madisen off at activity days to go swimming with her friends from the ward and I was taking the other two girls with me to Costco. I was having a good morning and feeling pretty good as a mom at that moment thinking that the mornings lessons and homework went pretty good when I completely ran a stop sign. I tried to stop but was already through the intersection before I realized that would be impossible, so I looked around real quick for cops and kept going, telling the girls that I was sorry I missed the stop sign. Emily yells, "Mom, we have to stop! Drive backwards and then stop at the stop sign!"

It made me laugh. Drive backwards? Could you picture it? haha.

Forgetfulness runs in the Family

The girls and I had just pulled into the garage from Madisen's softball game. I noticed right away she didn't have her glove and bat and asked her where they were. She quickly exclaimed, "Oh no! I forgot them and left them at the baseball field!"

I was tired and low on patience. So I kind of scolded her more than necessary, saying to her things like, "Well you need to be more responsible for your own things and not lose them and keep track of them as they are yours."

I told the girls to come inside and I will call dad as he was headed home soon from church to see if he could swing by the baseball fields and pick them up. Well I couldn't call Ryan because I couldn't find my phone. I looked and looked for about 5 minutes or so. I then asked the girls, can you please help mommy find her phone, it's around here somewhere, I forgot where I put it.

Madisen quietly says, "But Mom, isn't that YOUR responsibility as it is YOUR phone? You really should keep track of it."

OUCH. "Yes, Madisen you are right. I am sorry I got after you. You you right, Mommy needs to keep track of her phone. Thank you for pointing that out."

Lesson learned! haha. I got burned by my child. She sure does teach me a lot. I love her!

Who is the Poh-bah?

We had just arrived home, the girls and I to Ryan finishing up the dishes. I said, Thanks babe for doing the dishes! That is wonderful!"

Ryan:  Well I know I should help out more. I'm such a Poh-bah sometimes.

Me: No you are not. I can be the Poh-bah sometimes!

A second later and Emily says from out of nowhere, "No, I can be the Poh-bah sometimes!"

12 years old again

Madisen: Mom, you need to look in the mirror?

Me: Why?

Madisen- Because you look like you are 12 years old. And I am going to be 12 soon, so we will look the same!

(Wow. I guess I look younger than my age, if I can pass for a 12 year old! Sweet!)

A Child's Prayer

Avery was asked to say the prayer for lunch and it was just after we had gotten back from Kindergarten registration where she counted to 100 for the teacher. So in her prayer she prayed that she would learn how to count to a million!

"You can always count on me mom!"

I asked Avery if she could dust the upstairs TV area, and about 15 minutes later she came downstairs and said, she was finished. I told her Thank you for doing that. She proudly responded pointing her thumb to her chest, "You're Welcome. You can always count on me mom!" (I hope this is how she responds when she is a teenager too! That would be sweet!)

Our "Mormon"

For F.H.E. we were acting out ancient prophets in the scriptures as our activity and it was Avery's turn. She was pretending like she was writing the gold plates while making the funniest facial expressions. Yet, we weren't sure what she was doing! She finally had to tell us who she was. She said, "I'm Mormom. I was pretending I'm old with white hair popping out!"

Emily was riding her bike with intensity. She is a really fast pedal-er on her little trike. She skids to a stop on the sidewalk, turns towards Ryan and gives him a cheesy grin and pumps her hand with a thumbs up. Then turns, and rides off in the wind. :)

Relief

This is what I heard from my bedroom just a few minutes ago from Emily..."I have to go potty... I have to go potty... I have to go potty...I have to go potty..." As she is pulling down her pants to go then she stops chanting that and I hear her say, "AHHHHHH....AHHHHH...AHHHHH!"

Kissing Button

Emily came into the room and asked me if she could play in the garage. I told her not yet, it's too early and too cold. I then said to her, "Ohhh, you are so cute! I am going to kiss you Button!" Then Ryan said, "No, I am going to kiss you Button!"

Emily responded, "Nobody's going to kiss Button!" As she runs out of the room.

Pine...something!

Went grocery shopping today and got tons of fruits and vegetables as Ryan and I are tying to improve our diets. Avery runs in the kitchen, sees a pineapple and says, "Oh Yum! A pine cone! I love pine cones!"

Ballroom pants

I stayed home sick today from church, and Avery and Madisen came home and told me they were invited to a Ball. There is stake family dance coming up. Avery said, "I am so excited, I am going to poop my pants!"

Bum Cracks?

We had a friend come over for a play date the other day. This little girl has been over many times, but today she turned to Emily and said, "Emily I see your butt crack! haha-ha!" I was shock that this little girl said this, but then Emily turned to her and said, "I don't have a crack!"

I then told the girls everyone has a bum crack. Emily then said, "But where's my bum crack? I can't see it!" 

"It's there, it's small but it's there." I told her. Emily said to her friend, "Don't look at my bum crack!" 

Never thought I would ever say the words, bum crack to my kids. There's a first for everything I guess!

"O-kay" times 3

Avery didn't know where her balloon was, and Emily told her it was upstairs. Well, Avery complained and said she didn't know where, and Emily annoyingly said, "O-kay. O-kay. O-kay! I'll show you. Come follow me Avery." As she proceeded to march up the stairs in a huff. Emily has been doing this a lot lately, and sometimes it just cracks me up. I should probably put a stop to it as she even does it to me when I tell her to do something. Like put on her shoes..."O-kay, O-kay, O-kay!" haha.

Very Formal

 Madisen came into the house after school today and I hugged her and asked how her day was like I do everyday but today I thought I would record our conversation.

Me: How was your day?

Madisen: It was good.

Me: What did you do today? Would you like a snack?

And then this is part of the conversation is what made me smile because she was so proper and funny when she said it...

Madisen: Well, there's something I need to tell you Mom. Uh, maybe not right now.....

Me: What's that?

Madisen: For specials today I had music. It was great. And I didn't get passed "N" today on rocket math, but I was close.

Me: Uh, that's ok, you will get it. We will keep practicing. What is it you want to tell me?

Madisen: ....Well, I couldn't find my lunch bag after school. I think it's lost!  But I have a friend that lost hers too and she got another one....

Me: Ok. Well that's ok. We'll find it eventually. And if we don't, no big deal. Is that what you wanted to tell me?

Madisen:  Yes. Well, anyways. Let's get back to that snack you were talking about. May I have one of those fruit snacks? Not the Tree top kind, the other kind, please?

Me: Uh, sure. (Kind of taken aback at first. It was so funny! I guess it was another one of those moments where you had to be there. It seemed to me she had just finished watching Pride and Prejudice the way she said everything! haha!)

Super Hero Emily to the Rescue!

Emily has been really into Super Heroes as of late, and I didn't know why until last week when we were over at our neighbors house for dinner and she dressed up in Caden's Spiderman outfit. She loves super heroes because Caden does, and I think she has developed a little crush on him. For Christmas she took her gift card to the store and wanted none else than the Super Hero Grover. She loves it! And just the other day she was saying how she wants to be a Super Hero for Halloween and even wants a Super Hero for Christmas.

Whatever she likes I guess, but then today while shopping at a craft store she picked out, what else, but a Super Hero coloring book and stickers.  It took some time getting used to playing and being dinosaurs with Madisen through the years, and now super heroes?? I just assumed my girls would like playing with dolls as I did. But no, it's all boy stuff. (Well, with Avery it's not. But 1 out of 3 is odd!) Not obviously there is nothing wrong or bad playing with boy stuff, not at all. It's just different than what I expected when I gave birth to my girls. I love them more than anything and maybe not having Ethan with us it gives me a glimpse of what it could be like having a little boy around. So thank you girls for being you and playing with whatever interests you.