Hi and Goodbye

It's never too early to start inflating your child's ego.

Stupid Amusements

Type into Google search:

"find Chuck Norris"

then press "I'm Feeling Lucky."

Type into Google search:

"french war victories"

then press "I'm Feeling Lucky."

Also,
today I created this chicken:

<*)
(__/

Sadly, I am proud of myself.

The end.

Go back to your real lives.

I am AMAZING!!

On Tuesday I:

1. Dropped GQ on his head.

2. And allowed all my children to get sunburnt.

I blame it on Spring Fever.

******

Today I teach my last ballet classes. I am very excited. Except that I know next Fall I will not be excited.

******

One problem with watching Perry Mason late at night:

When you fall asleep you can't call anyone to ask who did it. Because no other normal person watches Perry Mason at night.

******

These random thoughts were brought to you by the fact that I don't want to do the next thing on my list.

A Letter to Dad

ElLiE DAD
FUM TOO

I LUV YOO
ElliE . DAD

DAD

BALRENU
ElliE S

****

E wrote this herself during quiet time. For translation purposes, it is helpful to know E writes a lot of things backward, just like I did when I was little.

So this note says:

From Ellie, To Dad.
I love you Dad. Ellie
Dad. Ellie is a ballerina.

Impending Disaster???

Over the past year or so I have spent some time loosely investigating homeschooling.


Don't hyperventilate!!! Besides, you already knew I was weird. And anyway, Justin and my mother are hyperventilating enough for everyone.

First, I did it simply because I read Pioneer Woman and it was fun to read about projects, and office supplies, and interesting books.


I think this dates back to walking around "Perry's" in the Cottonwood Mall and trying out all the nifty pens they sold there. Or maybe it comes from all the stationary I made my mom buy me as a child. Even though I had no reason to own it. Or maybe it comes from stalking bookstores and libraries from a very young age.


Second, I joined a book group with a friend from MBASA who homeschools her kids, and we read "A Thomas Jefferson Education."


I agreed with many of the author's points, but thought he was slightly insane due to the foreward of the book. I also didn't think a person could really learn math and such just from reading classic books.


But, reading the book did make me check out different books at the library for E to read, so I figured it worked out okay.


During this particular homeschooling storm, Justin just closed his eyes and hoped it would all blow over. Luckily for him, it did.


But, you know, Pioneer Woman still posts some really interesting posts about supplies.


And oh, how I love supplies.


First, it was the Usborne Books.


These aren't actually sold at stores, but they are great non-fiction books on about a gazillion bazillion topics. Yes, that number is exact.


Then, it was a four part series that tells the history of the world in narrative form: "The Story of the World." I read a few pages on Amazon, and knew E would love it because it was simply a story. And let me tell you, that girl loves a good story.


This series led me to the author of "The Story of the World" : Susan Wise Bauer


and to a book of hers called: "The Well Trained Mind, A Guide to Classical Education."


This particular book takes the classical slant I liked so well from the Thomas Jefferson book and actually sets out a real learning program that makes sense to me. It makes it seem conceivable that a person could homeschool their children and have them come out knowing more than they would from a public school.


And it has supply lists at the end of every chapter.


Uh oh.


I should say, I don't think public schools are horrible. My sister is the best Dang Math Teacher in the World... and I exaggerate not. Ask anybody who's anybody. My cousin is an amazing elementary teacher. They put on almost 80 plays a year and do art projects and learn math by road trip and other such exciting things.


But I was in public school once. I was even in the "gifted" portion of the public school system. And I know the names of the elementary teachers that fell asleep at their desks for the majority of the day. And I know that the majority of a class of "gifted" students failed their AP History exam because our teacher was more interested in us raising our hands and asking a certain quota of questions per day than in making sure we were actually knew our history. It just seems like a crap shoot to me, as to whether you get a good teacher or not.


Justin thinks the crap shoot is necessary. He thinks it builds life skills with dealing with inadequate situations. I see that, I do. I'm just not sold on it.


I should also say this is not because I am afraid to let E out of the house. I was the one that insisted E go to preschool this year because I thought she needed it, I thought I needed it, I thought our house would stay standing longer if we did it. The idea of homeschooling being done at - I don't know - home, is slightly disturbing to me.


But, I still can't get it out of my head. Because I know that people are capable of learning so much more than they do. And I want that for my children.


And, lets face it, I want all the books on the supply lists.


But I swear that's not the only reason why.

Too bad everyone thinks I'm crazy.

GQ and the Army Crawl

GQ is an interesting fellow.

For the longest time, he had ZERO interest in sitting up. He could, but he didn't feel the need.

Then, he got pretty close to crawling, but gave up all efforts when he mastered the army crawl. Who needs crawling, after all? It's rather cute to watch. I don't actually remember E crawling, she walked so quick. And M pushed around on her head for locomotion.

She was crazy from the start.

GQ also has no desire to pull up or stand or move his feet in walking motion.

He does, however, try to climb the stairs. Apparently it irritates him that the rest of us just walk up the stairs and leave him all alone. I think it's funny to watch him try to crawl up the stairs. Perhaps I'll get a video of it sometime too.

Anyway, it's clear that GQ definitely has his own priorities. Right now he's tickling M. They both think it's hilarious.

Jesus wants M for a Sunbeam

I did film one the right way, but it wasn't nearly as cute, so just deal with it and turn your head to the side. I'm sure you'll survive.

E's School Program

On Tuesday E had her school program. Our video camera was out of batteries, but I did get some short videos and some pictures. She did a great job. I am glad that her experience at ballet keeps her from being frightened about standing in front of others. It was pouring rain outside during the show. If only it would actually decide to get warm.

Useless Trivia

I did send the lease for our home last Friday. We did get the townhome we wanted, so that is a good thing. Hopefully it will be all we wanted once we arrive. If not, I can always dig a hole out back.

****

I have jam in my hair from where GQ left me a present this morning. Slightly irritating.

****

I forgot my camera for Lucky Lilacs, but since most of you were there that's not a huge problem. Other than the fiasco when I gave GQ a creamie... a little too cold obviously... our family had a great time.

I believe M's dinner consisted of olives and watermelons.

E ate carrots and cake.

When I put GQ to bed I realized he'd had no solid food since that morning... other than cake.

Sounds like a party to me.

M on the Mountain

Wanna see M waddle up the mountain? You know you do!!!

Later she starting running down the mountain. Scared me to death! Boy does that girl like getting a rush. Could be problematic.

Mother's Day on Saturday

On Saturday our family had a rare treat: a Daddy for a whole day! The girls couldn't have been happier. They got to:

1. Eat doughnuts for breakfast!
2. Play at the park... with Daddy pushing the swing, instead of Mommy with her weak muscles.
3. Hike Y Mountain... and eat more doughnuts at the top.
4. Watch a movie.
5. And go to a "ball" at the local stake house.


By the time we packed and got to the mountain... M had fallen asleep.

So had GQ.

All us girls at the base of the mountain.

E's favorite part of the trip was when a ladybug flew along and landed right on her. I think this is probably because we were walking so slow the ladybug thought we were scenery.

She was a little concerned that it was orange instead of red.

At the top of the mountain the girls sat and put rocks in an empty water bottle. M was so entranced that Justin had to tell her I'd found her a bug for her to even remotely look at me for a picture. Once she saw I had no bug, she went back to what she was doing.

She also asked if she could have the food another family had brought instead of ours. They had strawberries and M LOVES strawberries.

"Mommy, I want that food!"

GQ and Daddy. I carried GQ up in the sling, so it was nice to have a break. Both of the girls walked all by themselves without being carried. They didn't even whine.

So, I suppose the apple did fall far from the Jamie tree. Just ask Uncle Mark.

GQ wanted to eat rocks.

The girls really enjoyed each other on the trip... which was great considering the usual bickering.

E insists on growing up. Come on. Really?

Hanging out in his sling.

A stop along the way.

Hiking with Daddy.

We had a great time. I'd never gone before because someone told me my freshman year that I "had" too, and I have this thing with people telling me I "have" to do something. Anyway, I finally decided to go since we're leaving the valley soon. Justin was quick to jump at the chance. It was a great day, and only got better than night when E insisted on wearing her red flamenco dress-up to the ward party.

Didn't have a problem finding her in the crowd.

I wish we had video of THAT... but I didn't think we'd need it.

Seeing E at moments like that makes me think she'd really love a beauty pageant: dressing up, talking, doing a dance, having people clap for you.

Heaven forbid she ever finds out about one of those!

The Boy in the Green Pajamas

This story actually began on Tuesday.

Or Monday.

Or last year.

But mostly on Tuesday.

You see, on Tuesday, Justin and I had some interviews at the Stake Center. When I went to get dressed, I found an empty closet. (All my clothes were in the laundry basket downstairs. I'd put them there after pulling them out of the dryer, and was allowing them to fester in wrinkles for fun and sport.) Anyway, I ended up wearing: opaque black tights (my other nylons had a run in them), a black skirt, and a grey and purple sweater. Styling, I tell you what. Over the top, I wore my blue coat in an effort to cover it all up.

By the way, this is one of the few times this week that it has not been Winter in Orem. So, I was hot.

Sitting at the Stake Center, I was told that they needed to take a picture of my family.

While Justin, E, and GQ were dressed normally, M and I were not. She was sporting some "leggings" under her dress. These were sparkly white with lace on the edges and had been stolen from the dress-up box. (They are supposed to be princess gloves - though they have no hands.. myself I've never understood that).

By the time I was interviewed, I was so flustered (GQ had needed his diaper changed, and had left with Justin, and I was being interviewed with E and M in tow) that I couldn't stop blinking. This made it seem as though I answered every question with a full-out lie. And, that I was a horrible liar.

Great.

So, on Wednesday when it was time to get ready for a family wedding I was in the mood not to look like an idiot.

The best laid plans of mice and men....

First, I gave the girls a bath. Then, I dressed them in regular clothes and packed their dresses. Since it was nice and sunny outside, I picked two of their summer dresses. We were going to Grandma's first, so I didn't want them to get dirty.

Oh, I was planning ahead.

GQ, on the other hand, does not play outside, so I dressed him in his semi-nice overalls and a collared shirt. I even "did" his hair. Done. Check. Double Check.

Then, I got dressed. I actually did my hair. I actually picked something cute. I actually shaved my legs. Wow.

Then, we went to Salt Lake and visited.

Grandma had bought a new high-chair for GQ, so we put him in the eat and fed him. In true infant fashion, he used the moment to complete some of his own business. So, after a while, I took him out to change his diaper.

But first, in an effort to save my mom some vacuuming time, I held him and shook him over the garbage can.

Up. Down. Up. Down.

Yes, this is important.

Then, I discovered poop running down his leg.

On his clothes.

On his shoes.

And then, I noticed it on my dress and leggings too.

Up. Down. Up. Down.

Just where I'd shook him.

This, of course, meant that the only two individuals without a change of clothes, were now covered in poop.

Lovely.

It was about an hour until we should leave for the wedding, and I was an hour away from my house.

So, GQ was cleaned and smartly dressed in:

his green froggy pajamas.

And I got to check out Olivia's closet, which is actually much more exciting than mine.

I think my favorite part was how no one at the party dared to ask why I had brought GQ in green froggy pajamas.

Or why my shirt had pink pom poms on the front.

Useless

Actually, this picture is fuzzy.

And actually, I realized it's from before his haircut.

Oh, well.

I'm sure I'll take another picture sometime soon.

But, for now:

... take that.

Haircut

On Sunday morning, I got an itch to cut GQ's hair.

Now, it's true that GQ doesn't have much hair, that is if you're talking about volume. And certainly his hair has no color to it... kind of an invisible brown blonde type of thing. I suppose it has slightly red glints in extreme light - but those may be a complete trick of the eye. Anyway, the hairs he does have, regardless of amount or color, were getting long.

They dragged in his eyes - all two strands - and hung on his ears.

So, I decided to cut it.

And if you think I'm paying someone else to cut his hair over the next six years instead of doing something much more useful like buying myself lunch, you should kid yourself no longer. If he has any hope as a seven-year-old, I've got to start practicing now.


We got in the bathtub for the experiment since it is apparently STILL winter in Utah, and we could not go outside. This was slightly problematic since all GQ had to do was look down to keep me from making the cuts. I will spare you the pictures of myself in all my morning glory.

M was obviously skeptical about the affair. I have actually never cut her hair. I have only cut E's once. I also got E's cut once for free with a coupon. I have been planning to "trim" E's hair - she won't let me cut it - and cut off M's baby mullet for sometime but.... it is STILL winter in Utah.

As for the end result:

If you ask Justin, I cut it too short in the back. And it's true, we did have to use the razor to do some cleaning up back there. So, next time I won't go quite so short there. The front and top looks good though. I'll post a picture of it above... I don't want to mess up all the spacing in this post and I'm still to lazy to follow Anna's advice and download Moxilla.

GQ seems fine about his hair. He does rub his neck on the floor often... kind of like a dog who has had it's hair cut.

Congratulations

This is the only picture I have of my sister. It is from my wedding. You see, we don't take pictures in my family. Anyway, under danger of death, I am posting this picture because today my sister is officially finished with her Master's program.

Wow.

That is an achievement.



So, congratulations. And I promise not to post any more pictures of you from six years ago ever again.

Once Upon A Time, May 1st Was Warm

The first year we were married, we learned not to fight over whether or not it was good to clean the house with Windex.

The second year we were married, we promised to recite over and over the mantra: "Never buy a dog, never buy a dog, never buy a dog."

The third year we were married, we discovered who was really in charge. Just in case you were wondering, it starts with an E and ends with llie.

The fourth year we were married, a red-headed snippet arrived to give E a run for her money.

The fifth year we were married, we apparently learned nothing, since I can't think of anything clever at this point.

And the sixth year we were married, we got a GQ to squirm about the house.

I'm glad it was sunny then. It's been a fun six years. For the next six we'll be discovering Iowa.

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As an aside: look how cute these two were. Now, they're all grown up.