Lovely Summers make for Lousy Blogging

At least, in my case it does.

It is humid and warm today. A true rarity in these arid parts. It is lovely.

My Elliot will be FIVE on Friday. She wants a backpack she can take to kindergarten, and a Harry Potter cake. She is trying to plan a surprise party for herself (that kid.) And she wants me to invite her "boyfriend" Zach. He is 18 and was a senior on Blair's basketball team last year. She's already told me she's going to marry him when she grows up. (sigh... that kid.)

We spent our Independence Day in Parowan, where Blair and his incredible assistant Roy hosted a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. It was a more of a success than we'd even hoped for. But let it be a reminder for next year: Shoes should probably be a requirement. Just sayin'.

Pirate Smile

So, it turns out that I'm not quite as terrible of a mother as I'd imagined. We discovered that Elliot's mouth full of tooth decay was caused by huge gaps in her enamel that didn't form correctly when she was growing in my tummy. I seriously couldn't figure out why I had only one kid with teeth like an old prospector, when they all have the same brushing/eating habits. This explains a lot. The gap though probably wont be fixed till she's a little older. Like her daddy she has a long frenulum that extends all the way down between her front teeth. Genetics are so weird. Anyway, thanks Dr. Albrecht (p.s. best pediatric dentist office EVER. they are AMAZING)

 

Elliot did amazing at the surgical center. She can be pretty dang well-behaved and sweet when she puts her mind to it. :) And she's pretty proud of her new "pirate teeth". And maybe someday she'll be a seamstress for the band...

        Hold me closer tiny daaaancer...
             Count the headlights on the hiiiiiiwaaaaaay...

I do like my daughters so very much

How have I come this far in life having never listen to Muse? Tell me this.

Anyway. It is rather apparent that I need a real camera.But maybe it's for the best. Most of the pictures I take of these girls are a blur, which fits since that's pretty much how they look in real life. Elliot in the last week has finally got a hang of potty training, and is even dry through the night. Whew! I was seriously starting to get concerned that she would be the only kid in preschool still in a pull-up. Thank goodness she finally got it all figured out. Since i finished her blanket, she's been telling me that when she grows up and is a mom that she is going to make me a blanket too. Sweet. I like her.



Last night in sorting laundry, I started a box of newborn clothes that Rou no longer fits into. Not fair. Can't she just stay tiny for a wee bit longer? She scoots all over the place, hunting for paper to shove in her mouth. She still won't eat ANYTHING but what i can provide for her, but she will eat paper. Nice.


Also, the more I hang out with Stori, the more I realize that she is more like me than I previously realized. She is obsessed with books. Not just interested. OBSESSED. I hear the phrase "weed it, mommy, weed it! Oh Pweese mommy, weed it!" more than almost anything else. (except maybe "can I? can I?" it's adorable) We probably read at least 15 books a day, minimum. It doesn't matter what i'm doing, she will find me, shove a book in my lap, and insist that I read it to her. The funny part is that halfway through the book she usually takes over, pausing only when she encounters a word she doesn't know ("mommy, what does this says?"). She can read more words than Elliot, easy. I also was an early reader. She dances whenever she hears the smallest snippet of music, and is not only fiercely competitive, she has a bit of a mean streak (also a lot like me).

In summation: I think my kids are pretty awesome.

Down with Winter. Thermophiles Unite.

I probably just made that word up.

Therm = Heat
-Phile = One that loves or has a strong affinity for

But in all seriousness, I live in the wrong climate. Nevertheless, I'd rather not indoctrinate my kids with this hatred of winter, soI made them go outside and play in the snow. They, of course, had a marvelous time dancing



catching snowflakes

making footprints

and check out my super-fake smile:
This Sunday Blair blessed our little french woman. I wanted to take some amazingly adorable pictures of her in her pretty blessing dress (made by Grandma Maureen), but all I had on hand was my phone, which attempts to take photos, but really I don't classify them as photos more like blurry representations of what a photo would look like when painted by Monet... or something.

She's still pretty cute though huh.

Even when she's yawning at me. (or growling like a dinosaur... can't really tell)

Elliot and Astoria: Also cute.

I want it to be spring so badly, that a flower spontaneously erupted from my head.

The End.
I love you.

My Little Lady

It's only 8:30 in the morning and it's already shaping up to be an eventful day.

First things first.

Three years ago today I became a Mamma for the very first time. Happy Birthday my sweet Elliot! I love you so!

some fun things about Elliot Anberlin:

• She was named after the musician Elliot Smith, as well as the poet T.S. Eliot, and the band Anberlin
  
• When she was little she would watch Winnie the Pooh and grab her head on the part where Pooh bear bonks his head on a tree.
• Elliot is SO incredibly thoughtful. She always gives me hugs and kisses when i'm feeling down and is eager to "kiss it better" if someone gets an owie.
• Elliot may be diminutive in size, but she has a personality (and a temper) bigger than most adults i know.
  

For her birthday my bff Katie and her two precious daughters are coming up to play, as well as my parents and sister.

OH... and i'm making these. :)
http://conversationswithacupcake.blogspot.com/2009/05/split-personality.html


In other happenings. I put my jeans on today and found 8 or 9 Hungry Hungry Hippos balls in my pockets. I think one of my favorite things about mommy-ness is finding random things in strange places.

I once found my cell phone in a box of Frosted Flakes. That is not even a joke.
:)

Snow Day

Try as I might to ignore the fact that winter even exists, there are occasions where taking the kids out to have fun in a snowy backyard can be rather enjoyable. So last Sunday morning before church, (1:00 meetings are the best) we got dressed all warmly and had some adventures.


Getting ready to go. With matching hats.


Making footprints.


Some serious posing. Kevin? I found you a model for your next TEP class.


Exploring in the trees.

Drama Drama

I am in some serious need of advice.
The basic question is i guess: How can i not suck as a parent?
More specifically, my precious little two year old has done nothing but fuss for about a week. She is queen sassy-pants and says some things to me that are rather shocking. For example:

Elliot dumps all her markers out on the carpet.
"Elliot can you pick up your markers please?"
"NO! Mommy, you do it!"
"Mommy didn't make that mess, honey, can you pick them up please?"
"Mommy! Clean it up!"
"Honey, if you can't pick up your mess, the toy monster is going to come and take your markers away. Can you please pick them up?"
"NO! (screaming fit, followed by a bump on the head from tripping over her feet in the midst of tantrum.)"
The toy monster took the markers away.
Something similar seems to happen every couple hours or so when i'm home with her.

Really. what on earth am I doing wrong?!?

And then there's the food issue. I know a million other parents have gone through this same thing but i'm getting concerned about Elliot's diet. Or lack thereof. She hardly eats, and hardly ever eats what I make for dinner. I know it's probably my fault because i'll give her peanut butter sandwiches because i don't want her to starve, and she snacks on way too many unhealthy things. I'm trying to move away from that, and i haven't bought fruit snacks in about a month, but still...
I don't know. i'm just frustrated with myself right now. Boo.