Nice Conversations...

So we have a lot of nice conversations at our house.  The first happened in the car 2 days ago and began with Lillie cursing Emma...that she wouldn't have any babies when she grew up.  Nice right?  Emma was sad and said, "Oh! I really wanted to have kids." After scolding Lillie and telling her we never say such things, we got out of the car to go into the house.  Abby climbed out and told Emma, "That is okay Emma, I would still be proud of you even if you don't have any babies."  Oh! That is too sweet.  Emma replies, "If you have twins would you give one up?"  Abby's quick response, "No."  Apparently her sweetness extends only so far.

This morning Lillie stuffed a ball down her pants to hide it from her siblings and therefore ensuring she could keep it.  What she didn't count on was Emma seeing it and saying, "You look like a boy!" And then singing, "Lillie has peanuts! Peanuts!"  If you don't know what peanuts are you might refer to my last post.  I suppose it is time to have a "nice conversation" with Emma about getting older and things we should or should not say.

Spring Bunny

For those of you who don't know we don't have the Easter Bunny come to our house. We have the Spring Bunny come instead on the first day of Spring. We have all the traditional Easter activities but simply attach them to the Spring season rather than Easter. Here are a few highlights:

Lillie: This is the best Spring ever!

Emma: The Spring Bunny brought me everything I wanted from the dollar store! (Apparently she went the other day with a friend. I guess we now know where the Spring Bunny shops.)

Last night at dinner we were talking about how the 21st is the first day of Spring and Lillie looked on the calendar and told us all that it was on the 20th and asked why the Spring Bunny hadn't come. So of course, we told them the reason was because they forgot to put their baskets out and where did they expect him to put their stuff. So they quickly found their baskets and put them out and ta da...the Spring Bunny came that very night. Way to get it done Spring Bunny!

Santa

We had our ward Christmas party last Friday night and Santa happened to stop by. Here are some highlights.

Despite our continued protests against Santa bringing Lillie a real phone she still asked the "Big Guy" for one. After we told Santa we had already talked with him and said no, he asked her if there was anything else she might like. She said a "Cake Maker". Oh come on! Are you kidding me? Santa brought her a cupcake maker last year and Mom and Dad have been regretting it ever since. Thanks a lot, Santa for helping us out!

Emma asked for a lot of dolls.

Abby has a habit of sticking her hands up to her mouth when she is nervous.

Here is Ryan before our turn camped out next to the candy canes.

Yes, the elf has already given him one.

You would think after being at the feet of Santa for a while Ryan wouldn't mind being near him...guess again. Not even for a candy cane!

Birthday Girls

I know it has been forever since I have posted, and I am a bit late for this post since the girls birthdays were in November. I still wanted to record a few things though.

Lillie
Favorite-
Subject: Art and Math
Color: Every color
Food: Hibachi (we took the girls for their birthday dinner)
Thing to do: Ride bike and play with friends
Activities involved in- Competition tumbling team at Tanglewood, piano
Lillie likes to put (y) at the ends of all her words like juice(y), friends(y), etc.

Emma
Favorite-
Subject: Reading
Color: Every color
Food: Spaghetti
Catchphrase:
Thing to do: Play with my family
Activities involved in- Gymnastics, art class at Tanglewood
Emma has started learning to read. She is getting very good at sounding out words and learning her sight words.

Happy...Worried

I just wanted to write down how happy I am today about being the mom of a wonderful son. My son has not bitten, pinched, or hit anyone all day (victory is mine). We spent time rocking, sharing kisses, and cuddling before his nap. Ryan was being so cute and playful and NICE. Then after his nap I took him to get a haircut and he was being so cute. He kept pointing to the blonde hair on the floor and saying "What this?" Oh...so happy to be his mom.

On the other hand I am so worried about being a mom today....

Emma yesterday during church turns to the boy on her left in Primary and flits her eyes at him (many of you know what I mean when Emma does her "pretty eyes" as she calls them), then turns to the boy on her right and gives him the same eyes with a huge smile on her face. Oh boy...already! Then today before I send her out the door to walk to school she has 2 boys come to pick her up. The first boy says "Emma is walking with just me to school right?" I had to politely inform the poor sap that they would all be walking together. I look out to see Emma sandwiched between two boys on her way to school. So yes, I am a little worried about being the mom of three girls today.

Emma Graduates from Preschool

Emma had a nice little performance for graduation. The kids sang their songs they learned throughout the year and each had individual parts. It is so fun to see the kids growing up and becoming independent, although sad at the same time.

Emma with her teacher, Mrs. Francom.

Gymnastics Performance

The girls had their performances for gymnastics this last week. It was fun to see their improvement over the last year.

Stinky Pants

We have a tradition each night in our house before bed each of our children go to the potty. They then remain in their room until the morning (this is more or less the routine). Tonight Lillie called up to tell us that Emma had to go pee really bad, in fact Lillie said, "Emma says she'll pee in her bed and stink for days!" Well played, that is a pretty good argument. We let her come up to pee.

Black, White, or Pink

Yesterday was Human Rights day and Lillie was home from school. Lillie was enlightening Emma and myself on all the things Martin Luther King Jr. did while he was alive. I of course began expanding this into a moral lesson about how we are all God's children and how he loves us all the same no matter the color of our skin. Emma responded, "I just don't like it." I was a bit concerned as I am not trying to raise a racist and so I asked her "Why not? It doesn't matter what we look like we should love everyone." "Black just isn't my favorite color unless it is sparkly." Ahhh. Now the real issue comes out. She wouldn't be happy unless everyone were pink. What a cute, little innocent 5 year old mind!

"I'm a hug waiting to happen"

We bought her this shirt months ago because it is so her. I thought today was a good day for her to wear it...

Lillie walked out the door this morning at her normal 7:45, when Emma came around the corner complaining Lillie had not given her a hug goodbye. Seeing as how she was already in the neighbors car I told Emma Lillie would be home this afternoon and she could hug her then. Emma asked if Dad was still downstairs and I responded he was still finishing the wiring in the basement before the insulation company comes in a couple of hours. She goes downstairs where I hear her telling her dad, "No one has even hugged my today!" Dad was only too happy to oblige. Emma is our little cuddler. If you are ever having a bad day all you need is some loving from this girl. When Lillie was about 2 (no need to say more) and I was particularly stressed out, I would go get baby Emma and cuddle her close. She has such a calming little spirit she could always make me feel better. Emma has not outgrown her lovey cuddleness.

Dentist

The two little girls and I went to the dentist this morning. They both did such a great job, I was super impressed. Emma and Abby both got their x-rays taken and Abby even let them clean her teeth. I could hear her saying "ahhh" while I was in the next room and the girl telling her how good she was doing. Ryan did okay unless someone talked directly to him then he would cry-he is a people person! When Emma was done she came in to inform me she had "no calories". We are all happy no one in the family has cavities.

Mommy Moment

On our way to preschool a friend asked Emma, "What do you want to be when you grown up?" Emma promptly replied, "A mommy so I can stay home with my children." It feels so great to be appreciated. That was as good as a "Thank you Mommy!"

Kernel

Note to self:
Don't stick popcorn kernels up nose!
Emma says it hurts when you can't get it out without help from your mom.

Emma Goes to Preschool

Emma started preschool last week. She was pretty excited about it. Her teacher used to teach second grade at one of the elementary schools, so she is really cute with the kids.

This is our neighbor Kyle Parkinson...we are carpooling.

Daddy was Naughty

On the way home from gymnastics last night Brent turned right onto the main road from the freeway after glancing in both directions without coming to a full and complete stop. The policeman waiting just down the road wasn't too impressed with his methods and so he proceeded to pull Brent over. While the policeman was running our plates and Brent's license (Lillie complaining the whole time about how it was taking him too long), Emma was giving Brent a serious lecture. "Daddy, why did you do that? When the sign says STOP you have to do what it says! That was naughty, Dad!" The nice policeman let us off with a warning, but I think we all learned that no one should break the law with Emma around.

Hmmm.....

So I am taking cookies off the baking sheet and telling the girls in the other room,
"Please clean up the books off the floor so the house is clean when Dad gets home."
This is of course followed by moaning and groaning.
"Please don't give me attitude, just do what I ask. I want the house to be clean when Dad gets home, he has been working all day."
Emma says "to get Mom more money."
Hmmm...I hope she is saying this because we often tell our kids that we are grateful Dad goes to work so Mom can stay at home. Although, kids are pretty intuitive.

Temple Square

We went to Temple Square on Friday night with some friends. We all had a great time. Abby loved the lights and the nativity scene. When each new thing would light up she would say "wow" and point to it. We rode frontrunner and then took tracks. The way down was very pleasant and quiet. The ride back up took almost twice as long and was twice as noisy. The kids were exhausted so that did not help the situation (especially Abby). We didn't get back to Ogden until 9:30 and then had to drive an extra 45 minutes to get home. All in all a pleasant experience.

We went to the Joy to the World movie in the theater. After Jesus was born Emma turned to me to ask a few questions.
"Why is Jesus naked?"
"All babies are born naked." I replied.
"Jesus shouldn't be naked."
"It's okay he is just a baby."
That seemed to suffice her qualms about the modesty of baby Jesus.

Birthday Girls

Lillie had her 6th birthday on Friday and Emma had her 4th birthday on Saturday. We are just about birthdayed out. I thought I would write down some things about them.

Lillie
Favorite
color: blue
movie: Beauty and the Beast
food: Chinese food
animal: leopard
thing to do: play with Abby
t.v. show: Cyberchase
Best Friend: Erika and Braxton
Best thing about school: When teacher reads to her
Collects: seashells, rocks, Littlest Pet Shops

Emma
Favorite
color: pink
movie: Ariel 2
food: Ramen Noodles
animal: giraffes
thing to do: play games with family
t.v. show: Maggie and the Ferocious Beast
Best Friend: Chloe Cammack
Best part of joy school:playing with the toys at the end

Tender Moments

Some things just warm a mother's heart. Like when Emma came up to me this evening and wrapped her arms around my legs and said, "Mom, I love you so much...I won't get rid of you."

Is it Safe?

Regis and Kelly was on this morning while I was cleaning up the living room. They had a snip-it on about what is safe for children. They posed the questions...Is it safe for children to pick their noses? Is it safe for children to eat their boogers?
To which Emma replied, "I think my boogers taste good!"
Aah what a proud Mom!!

The answers are of course yes, so eat up children (and some of you adults).