The trouble with long hair

These are Jovey's drawings of Dave and I.  Which is which?  She decided that after the hard work of doing one with all those details that she'd wait and finish the other the next day.  ;)

This is her self portrait.

Check the hair.  Maybe that is why she was too tired to give her Daddy a face, and well anything really.  Her hair is really long, or so she thinks.  ;)

So one morning she comes screaming panicking into my room, at the crack of dawn, of course.  I jump out of bed worried she was dying.  Dave doesn't jump out of bed so fast, so I beat him around the bed to the out of control child.  ;)

Jovey meanwhile turned to me and frantically asked if there was a spider or 'crotchcroach' down the back of her shirt. "Cause it tickles, Mom!"

Yeah, it turns out she wasn't used to having long hair, since I had twisted it the day before, and her hair was touching her back.

Thank you for the heart attack kid.

Randomly random

So here's some pieces of lately. . .

I may have sorted the girls' laundry incorrectly.  After dinner, while changing for bed, Miley said her pants were possibly too tight.  I asked what size they were. . . 4T.  And she wore them all day.  They may be too stretched out for Jo now.  ;)  And then Miley apologized to Jo for possibly farting in her pants when she wore them.  Doh.  My girls used to be so sweet and ladylike.

I hate traffic.  Detest to the highest level.  I may not be the most patient person.  Possibly.  With all the spring breaks in all the surrounding states, and then all the events that happen here in the spring, I've found myself stopped on the freeway more than once.  Grrrr.  Go home.  ;)  So I started collecting license plates to see where all these interlopers were from.  Within the week I found 22 states (not counting our own) and two Canadian provinces.  We are overrun.  I can't blame them, our spring is fantastic.  They'll all bug out, including the snowbirds, shortly for our summer of fire.  I can survive until then, and then I'll drive like Kramer (Seinfeld) on the open lanes of the freeway once again.

Jovey still tells strangers that her Daddy had a Star Wars Rebels birthday party.  I've stopped trying to dissuade her from the subject.  It is her crowning glory.  Miley's tennis coach told us to wish Dave a happy birthday from him, just yesterday.  I guess he'll stop celebrating when the Darth Vader balloon meets it's end.

We met with a contractor(s) to talk about adding onto our house.  That's right.  I am sick of looking for a new house!  I just want this house to be the house I need.  We'll see if it can work.  So far so good.  Fingers crossed.  I think.  I don't know.  Gutless flip flopper here.

I arm knitted a blanket while watching Conference.  I may be allergic to wool.  ;)  Or at least I am now, cause that was a slightly aggravating process.  Not difficult per se, but it did rub the skin off my wrist.  ;)  I found the tutorial for Miley, but after several attempts to do it herself without luck, I gave it a shot.  She picked out the bright red yarn with gold metallic threads in it.  It is all hers.  She's ok that I made it instead.  She has about as much patience as I do.  ;)

Miley wants a new bike.  Well, Miley needs a new bigger bike.  I want to teach her some responsibility, cause ya know the spoiling problem. . . so I want her to make money to buy it.  She has a good start, but her enthusiasm is waning.  Work is not so much fun.  And she can run really fast anyway.  ;)

We never push the number 6 on the microwave.  No fingerprints there, ever.

We are doing the green smoothie 30 day challenge.  Well, everyone but Jo, who has opted out.  I guess being 3 has made her extremely picky about her food.  This morning she cried cause her chocolate mini wheats were all gone and we didn't have time right then to go buy more.  She is on a chocolate kick, chocolate chex, chocolate milk, chocolate easter bunny.  It's her 3 year old theme.  Back to the smoothies.  So we've been doing green smoothies off and on for a year or so now, however now we're doing one every morning.  It's been really good, but my counter is now overflowing with produce.

I was able to renew my driver's license online.  I cannot tell you how relieved I am by this.  Thank you government for making something useful.  ;)  I am stuck with my LOVELY photo for another, however long driver's licenses last these days.  I don't know.  I think I had bangs at the time.

I overheard the girls playing house the other day.  They were the children, and their parents sounded a lot like the Peanuts grownups.  Hmmmm.  Or maybe that is what I sound like?  No wonder they need me to repeat myself so often.  ;)

Bought a huge drop cloth.  We are now ready to study Jackson Pollock.  I'm pretty excited about this, but I don't think Jovey will be.  Messy=bad.  Miley and I will have fun.

Miley's tennis tournament got rained out.  It was a bummer.  She's ready to go another session though.  It's become her new thing.  I love that.

My girls love weddings sooooooo much.  We really need more people to get married and invite us.  The girls did not want to leave the party.  Jovey followed Lindsey around cause she had the beautiful white gown.  Miley was pretty pleased that the groom danced with her.  Dancing is why they love these parties.  I couldn't keep them from the dance floor.  Miley does an impressive robot, and Jovey is all about jumping and twirling.  They both danced with whomever they could find on the dance floor.  It would be weird to have shy children.  I can't fathom it.  ;)

At the wedding reception, Jovey asked me if I had bought her wedding dress yet, from Target of course.  I told her that wasn't a good idea so soon because trends come and go.  ;)

The checker at the grocery store wished Dave a happy birthday.  Thanks Jo.

Sorry I asked

I was making my bed one morning and Jovey was trying to help. . . so I told her to go make her own bed and that would help me too.  This was her finished product. . .

I asked her why she decided to strip her bed instead and she told me it looked cleaner that way. . . just don't look at the floor.

Epilogue

Jovey found another rolly polly.  She's pretty sure it's "Sprinckles."  Zombie Sprinckles. (That is how Miley spelled sprinkles*, I know how to spell it correctly.)  ;)

And we all lived happily ever after. . . . until she realizes tomorrow, that it has crawled away.

Our emotional health is directly tied to these stupid bugs it seems.  ;)

a sad tale

Jovey found a rolly polly.  It was her best friend.  And then she dropped it.  And stepped on it.  It died.  She cried and cried.  She went into her room and said a prayer that Sprinckle Polly would be OK in heaven.  Then Jovey could smile again.  Miley drew her a picture to memorialize her best friend.  Jovey accidentally ripped it while admiring it.  She cried again.  Miley used some tape.  Jovey colored all over the picture and kept it forever. . . or until Mom found it on the floor.

The end.

in search of level ground

I feel like I'm walking uphill a lot lately.  Not always an intense incline, but still it's starting to wear on me.  I keep thinking, I'll wait for things to level out and then I'll do . . . . etc, and that includes updating the blog with something.

So far, no level ground in sight, but here I sit because I just can't wait for normalcy.  We may never have that anyway.  ;)  So here is what I have for you today. . .

Miley learned about Ben Franklin last year.  She has been terrified ever since that our house will get hit by lightning and start on fire.  Every storm that comes by I get asked over and over again if we have a lightning rod.  I may have lied after the 100th time hearing that question.  Now she wants to climb up on the roof to see it.  Crap.  I'm getting a lightning rod now.

(Badminton in the rain)

On Sept. 11, Miley learned about, well Sept 11th.  She painted a big flag at school and when released she came out of her classroom holding it high in the air with a very solemn face.  She turned every direction to show everyone her flag and walked slowly to my car with it raised above her head the whole time.  I wish I got a video, because it was so funny.  All the kids just looked at her for a second and then kept on running off to the buses.  Yeah, she's the weird kid, and I LOVE her so much for it.

(Her pick for shoes, totally works)

Trying to teach Jo some manners.  Well, sorta.  Jovey always says 'excuse you' after her unattractive bodily functions.  It makes sense, cause we say excuse you to her when she does it, so she does as well.  I tried to correct her and said, 'no Jo, say excuse ME.'  'Ok mommy,' was her reply.  The next time she burped she said, 'excuse you mommy.'  Doh!

Jovey is sooooo frustrated that she cannot read.  She yells it at me when she's got a book.  'I CAN'T READ MOM!'  She NEEDS to be able to read, because waiting for me, or Dave, or Miley to do it for her is just not my independent girl's ideal.  Dave was reading the girls a book and Jo was repeating everything he said.  After a minute she stopped and said, 'Mom, I can read now.'

(Jo did not approve of Miley's book choice)

Since Jo desires to read, she's very intent on learning the alphabet.  However, when we try to do it with her, she just wants to sing to G and then sing 'next time sing along with me.'  Yeah, she's not a patient kiddo.  She can count to five or she can count to ten, but not both.  It goes like this. . . 12345, or 16789 10.

They say things break in three's, so I'm hoping to use Jo's creative counting to mark this series behind us.

After my car died on me and we were stranded for too long in the desert recently, Miley continues to bring it up when we go some place.  Just as we're exiting the car she says, hey mom, remember when the car broke.  I'm getting really paranoid about it now.  Thanks Miley.

Dave fixed my office chair for me.  The leg broke and I had it set aside to be fixed at a later date.  I've been having back issues, so my bigger projects had been sidelined.  Anyway, Dave decided he could do it for me.  Shocker, and he did a really good job of it too.

Next I wanted my dryer vent cleaned out, cause Miley's talk of fires had gotten to me.  I was going to pay someone to do it, but Dave insisted we could do it ourselves.  So we did.  Which by the way, isn't that hard and is WAY cheaper than paying someone.  Now Dave is on DIY kick.  I may be slightly worried.

Our condensation pipe was plugged, so we fixed it.  With help from a call to a friend.  Also, not so hard to do and free.  My suggestion was selling the house and moving cause stuff breaking seems like a bad sign to me.  ;)  Time to start over, and I really would love a bright and brand newly clean house.  I guess I'd have to really clean this one before we sold it anyway.  My plan has it's flaws.

My carpets look like new after a good cleaning.  I don't want anyone to touch them now.  Or ever again.  That may be unreasonable.  All I want to do is make carpet angels, that's a thing I'm sure.  ;)

(the carpets are pretty, so everyone must lay on them)

When we had the carpets cleaned I decided to ditch Jovey's dresser and toddler bed.  She's ready for a big kid bed, but so far I haven't found one I like so instead she has a big kid mattress. . . on the floor.  Don't call it a bed, she'll correct you.  It's just a mattress.

Miley's tennis lessons are turning out to be two for one.  Jovey watches Miley and mimics her.  I totally got a deal.  Miley is loving tennis too, and she hasn't been hurt.  I feel like I should knock on wood for typing that.  What is wrong with me?  Curses!

Miley frequently comes home from school with bandages or ice packs on something.  It's rubbing off on Jovey.  One night after family prayer, Jovey said 'Dad, you forgot to pray for my finger.'  She had a hangnail.  So D prayed again.

(cool enough to be outside during the DAY now, well some times)

I'm hoping another trip to the chiropractor can solve my back.  Or maybe three.  I'm starting to forget what a normal back feels like.  Jo has started to complain that her back hurts when she doesn't want to do something.  Maybe it's my influence that has made my girls so sensitive to injury?  ;)  Nah, has to be Dave.

I broke my toe.  Moving furniture.  I can't bend it.  It's black and blue.  I heard there is nothing you can do for it, so I didn't go to the doctor.  Hopefully it heals straight.  ;)  Crap, this does make me seem like the one at clumsy fault in our family.

I started my giant canvas in the living room.  I don't have a definite picture in my mind for how it will end up, but it's been fun to experiment with.  I may eventually regret that, but for now it is partially finished, or partially started and yet still displayed.  Jovey so far is not a fan.  But what does she know.  One Monet painting and she thinks she's a professional now.  Whatever.  ;)

( I asked her to do her critic face again, when I had a camera pointed at it, this was the result)

Miley said something to me, and just before I replied, she said, 'Stop, I know what you're going to say.'  And she did.  She then told me I was 'predictable.'  Oh crap.  I am.  I may never speak again.  ;)

chit chat

Jovey was having a meltdown over something.  I picked her up.  Dave started to talk to her and she put her hand up to stop him and said, "Mommy is handling it."

I was talking to D and said that I was disappointed, Jovey the eavesdropper quickly asked, "in Miley?"  I wasn't talking about Miley, but now I'm wondering what she was hiding.  Guilty much?

I asked Jo what she wanted to give Miley for her birthday and she told me, a snake.  A live one.  I asked her why she would want to give a snake to Miley and she said, "Mom it's funny."  I asked her to think of something Miley would actually like and she then decided she needed to buy her a horse for her sis to ride, and it could live in her room, but she didn't know where Miley would sleep then.  At least it was something Miley would like this time.  ;)

Miley said to Dave, "I would be very honored if you would clean my room."  But he didn't.

We were having family prayers and at the end Jo looked up to Dave and said, "pray for my thumb?"  She had a little hangnail and wanted him to pray it better, so he prayed again and she was happy.

Conversate

While in the car the girls were discussing life when they are grown up.  They decided it would be best if they always lived together.  So they will have a big house for both of them and their husbands.  Jovey asked about where Mom and Dad would live and then they amended their plans to build a bigger house for us as well.  Guys it's going to be ginormous.

Dave and I needed our yearly doc check ups and so in an effort to save time we scheduled them together and then had to drag the girls along as well. . . so maybe not the best thinking after all.  Oh well, it worked.  When the doctor saw us he said, "wow you brought the whole family."  Miley quickly said, "no we left Nilla and Bear at home."  That's right, our dogs are family.

After watching Tangled, the girls were talking about things they wanted when they grew up (wait for it, this is a recurring story, frequent topic lately).  Miley said she wanted a horse.  Jovey said she wanted a castle.

Miley was helping Jovey say a prayer.  Jovey may not have been listening to her sister's cues.  At one point Miley told her to bless the food and Jovey said, "help Nilla feel better."  Yeah, Nilla has been sick and hearing Jo say that was the sweetest thing ever.

We went and saw Inside Out.  Mie's favorite character was Joy.  Jovey's fave was Anger, cause it was "funny when he freaks out."

I was displeased with Miley and gave her the appropriate face for such an occasion.  Miley said, "hey don't give me the growl eyes."  I think that name fits.

At lunch Miley decided when she grows up she wants a horse and a chameleon.  Jovey said she wanted a kitchen so she can have snacks.

I painted the girls' nails.  Jo always picks off the polish on her fingers, practically as soon as it's dry.  She "promised" not to pick it off this time.  She went outside to play for a second.  Came back in with most of it missing and then told me a story about how she was climbing a tree and fell out and it all came off.  Yeah.

lime and coconut

The House:  So we're looking to add more stone to the house, as I mentioned before, but we can't find the same stone we already have.  Yep, goners.  My eyes may have sustained damage from scouring all the pics of stone to find a match.  I think this means my house is too old and we must move before nothing can be replaced.  Yeah right, I'm too lazy to do that now.  It's getting hot.

This is the stone, isn't it nice, so I don't want to replace it to add more.  Ugh.  Maybe I'll scrap this plan and get a blender instead.

We put up a windmill type thing on the back hill.  You know those metal spinning artistic something type decorations?  I was hoping it would scare the birds away from the plants and also flying into my windows.  So far it's been pretty good.  Except when we got down from the hill and noticed we put it in the ground crooked.  It didn't want to be straightened, so I walked away.  It turns out I do not have OCD, cause the thing is still crooked and I still haven't had a go at fixing it again.

The hole in our wall is now a door in our wall.  It's been very handy.  I didn't want to admit that, but Dave was right we needed this door.  Life is so much better because of it.  Angels singing, and everything.  ;)  Or, it at least got the garbage cans out of my way and it got Dave to help me spring clean the garage.

One day on our afternoon stop at the park a kid there told me I looked like Gru, from Despicable Me.  I said thank you, and . . . how?  She told me we had the same nose.  From the mouth of babes. . . Careful, I may poke your eye out with this thing.  ;)

Miley is sure she would make a great secret agent, and has made business cards to that effect.  I'm not sure business cards are so useful for secret agents.

Jovey says 'WHY' about a thousand times a day now.  I am dying.  It used to be my favorite question, cause it is always the first one that pops in my head, but now I never want to know WHY again.  I can't take it.  Another thing she says most often is 'pinky promiss' when I ask her to do something.  I assume Miley told her that one.  I don't know.  She remembers things much too easily.

When Miley was asked what her favorite sport was, she said, 'Soccer. . . and I really like to knit.'   Ha.  Gymnastics is over for the season and I'm happy that she persevered even when it wasn't so easy for her.  She worked hard, and we saw improvement which was fantastic.  She's crazy enough to even want to do it again.

It's wedding season, and so far we've only been able to attend 1 out of 3.  Sad.  But so happy for all these lovebirds.  This is Chandis, a girlie I've known since she was 13.  She was our go to babysitter for years and we are going to miss her guts now that she's all grown up and married.

The little girls LOVED her party.  I had to drag Jovey off of the dance floor.  It wasn't easy.  She LOVES to dance and appreciated the audience watching her as well.  Miley loved seeing Chandis and Kristyon swap cake and have their first dance.  I covered her eyes when they kissed though.  ;)  She thought it was all sooooo romantic.

I showed Dave these rings and he got them for me for mother's day.  Miley loved them.  The girls also painted me some plates which I didn't take a pic of, but Dave did on his instagram.  They loved painting them and loved giving me them and telling me about every step and brushstroke.  I don't love mother's day, but I do love my girls and how much they loved celebrating the day, so it was definitely worth it.

We had sushi one night last week and I told Miley I'd give her a dollar if she ate a piece of wasabi.  She agreed, even after I warned her it was spicy hot.  It was a small piece and after she ate it without crying, Jovey wanted to try it too.  I tried to talk her out of it, but she persisted so I gave her a piece.  It was the funniest thing to watch.  I had to force her to drink something to get rid of the spiciness.  I gave them both dollars, and then offered Miley another $5 if she'd eat the rest of the wasabi.  She declined.  ;)

Yesterday I offered Jovey a slice of mango and she totally freaked and wouldn't take the food from me.  I think I may have scarred her for life.  ;)

denial and other things in my head

My kid is almost a second grader.  Her first year of all day school is practically over.  She asked me how many more years until college.  I don't know what she thinks college is, or why she wants to be there so soon?  Maybe we need to challenge her more.  Thankfully, first grade was survivable. . . for me.  I think that means it will be easier come next school year.

I called for Dave to come and help me with something in the garage.  Jovey jumped up and said, 'Mom, I help.  I strong.'  Then she showed me her impressive muscles and carried her crib parts to load in the car all by herself.  I didn't have the heart to tell her that I needed her Daddy cause he was tall, and he could reach something I could not.  I think he appreciated Jovey assuming I was calling for muscles as well.

The new garage door to the backyard is working out fabulously.  We spring cleaned our garage last weekend and I am loving the feeling of less crap in there.  My Halloween stores are impressive though, and may need to be pared down soon.  The orange lids are taking over.  It appears we don't celebrate any other holiday.

I found a big tupper of winter coats and snowboarding supplies in the garage.  That thing hadn't been opened in a lonnnnnggg time.  Do I need to keep it?  I plan on never wearing a winter coat again.  It's my goal in life.  I hate saving stuff that undermines my goals.  ;)

Dave's on a upgrade kick. . . with the house.  He thinks we need more rock on the front of our house.  I agree, it would look nice, but it's not a need.  We keep going back and forth on whether or not we'll move to a bigger house.  Right now, we're thinking stay here and have Dave go part time sooner.  That sounds nicer than cleaning more of a house anyway.  Ok, rock it is then.

I finished our 2014 scrapbook.  yeah.  I'm glad I have them, but I really wish I could come up with a different way to do it.  No epiphanies on that one yet.  I bought a little album that was advertised to hold polaroids, yeah but it doesn't.  Nothing fits in it.  So sad and frustrating.  Now I don't know where to put my polaroids.  I may have to stop taking them cause they are piling up.  Boo.

Jovey thinks her bed is the same as her crib.  When she wakes up she yells for us to come and get her.  She won't come out of her room on her own.  I don't know.  I don't want to clue her in to her freedom yet, so we're just going with it.

A friend of mine died last month and I don't know how to move past the denial stage.  The thing with suicide is that it leaves so many questions.  Even if I had the answers I don't think it would help me move past denial.  I don't believe she's gone yet.  I just talked to her that week and she told me about a dresser she refurbished and loved but traded to a friend for blonde hair.  She was funny.  I wish she would have talked to me about what was really going on instead.  I want to be a better listener.  Maybe that's how I'll get past denial.

I don't like updating the blog with sad things, but I just felt I had to type that to get it out of my head.  It's hard to mourn things with little kids.  You don't want to upset your kids with problems that are not theirs.  Especially my Miley, who is tenderhearted.  She bawled on Sunday when they put in a new primary presidency, because the president was moving.  She's my sweetheart.  I really need a bubble for her.  ;)  We've been preparing her for the end of the school year for weeks now.  Hopefully that helps her not to meltdown like she did at Kindergarten graduation.  We will appreciate your prayers when she becomes a teenager.  ;)

My front yard is all plants, and they are in control of it now.  I think it's time to take some out.  Our jungle is getting thick, thanks to the fertilizing.  I think I'm going to cut out an oleander and a rosebush to start with.

Yeah, those plants I bought from Costco, well they're still alive.  I repotted them and gave the responsibility of caring for them to Miley.  That way I'll feel less bad when they don't make it.  It won't be by my hands directly.  Fingers crossed for them.

I'm ready to paint every room in my house now.  I think this spring weather is really doing a number on us.  We want to change and clean everything up.  After painting the garage and it's ceiling you'd think I'd be very much against doing any more, but surprisingly that isn't the case.  I think the paint fumes damaged me.  Or maybe we'll leave for a week and have someone else paint the entire house.  Yeah, that sounds better.  Well at least maybe I'll get our front door painted.  I wonder if the HOA will freak when I don't ask them to paint it red.  ;)

Miley has been practicing her handstands for months now, and I can see progress.  I am now no longer afraid to see her perform at her gymnastics showcase this month.  I really needed that bubble for her last time around.  This time, I don't think I'll need my fingers crossed as intensely.  My girl has a talent for falling.  But not this time,  positive thoughts will work.

Jovey gave up on potty training.  Yeah, she's a quitter.  I don't know why, but she decided that she doesn't want to pee in the potty anymore.  Not interested.  Her exact words were, 'no way.'  Even for stickers and a big bike.  Nope, doesn't care.  She's over it.  Stinker.  At least she didn't give up on #2.  Then we'd have to have words.

If you ask Jo where she was born, she says, 'Opia'.  Close enough.  If you ask her to do something she says, 'I promisss, Mom.'  In the car she's an expert back seat driver, constantly yelling at you to go, and the other cars to get out of the way.  She yells out 'popeye' at random while we're driving, and then says, 'oh yeah, I win.'  She really wants to win that game.  And whatever else you say to anyone, she repeats the last phrase.  We all have the cutest little echo.

untitled, that's right, I'm out of ideas here

Sleeping Beauty - I took down the crib.  I know.  I don't know if I'm ready for this either.  Jovey is though.  She's had to take naps in my bed or Miley's bed during the construction in the garage and she did just fine.  She's thrilled to be in a big bed, which is really just a toddler bed.  No more cages.  So far so good, though if she's as crappy at staying in bed as Miley once was, we'll just send her to her sister.  That's what we call karma. ;)

Simplify - The way Miley was talking about Easter (pre-Easter) was driving me crazy.  It sounded a lot like Christmas with an extra perk of possibly getting a real bunny.  Yeah no.  So, I took every thing I bought her and shelved it.  It's not like I buy a lot, but I thought this year we could do with A LOT less.  So the girls got a couple church books and a chocolate Olaf, cause I didn't think the chocolate would shelve well.  ;)  I didn't do a scavenger hunt to find their baskets either.  I know, the world will end because no pinterest event was staged.  ;)  The girls were thrilled with what they got and it was a nice stress free holiday.  Feeling less like I've created two monsters now.

Too many eggs - Jovey didn't really understand the whole hide/find eggs thing.  It felt too much like cleaning up to her, so she opted out.  We asked her if she'd like to hide them instead.  She took her basket full and put it behind the couch then told Daddy to go and find them.  Lazy or genius?

Naked - We watched a bunch of the videos on lds.org about Jesus and Easter.  They were really good and the girls loved them too.  So, a few days later I was working on last year's scrapbook and Jovey saw the picture of the Christus from Temple Square.  She told me, "Mom, look Jesus.  Jesus died. . . naked."  And then she kept saying naked.  At least the videos had an impact, I guess.

Construction/Destruction - We put in a door in our garage.  By we, I mean the contractor, and then I went and fixed what I felt wasn't great.  It took forever, or it felt like forever.  Maybe it was just four days.  Found out that we have no idea what color the garage is painted.  I got to try out all the paint I own though.  Maybe time to purge that collection.  My garage door has been open all week during the work and I feel oddly exposed because of it.  My garage clutter is enjoying some fresh air and I am feel dirtier because of it.  ;)  Definitely time to purge.

It's a jungle out there - I bought some plants in Costco.  I don't know why, I don't need any more plants.  They looked cool and now I have to find some place to put them outside.  I have no place.  Stupid impulse buys.  I'm really not good with plants, so I have no idea why my impulses let me bring them home.  I'll be so sad when I kill them.

Lemonade - Dave bought a lemon tree for me.  For my birthday.  Let's hope I can keep it alive until my birthday, and thereafter preferably.  Apparently we both have bad impulses.  ;)

First out the gate - I want to start making Halloween costumes.  I know.  It sounds fun and I'd rather be doing that than finishing last year's scrapbook.  I blame Jovey.  She keeps talking about Halloween and dressing up again.

Bowel health - I was reading some nursery rhymes to Jovey and we got to Little Jack Horner, who sat in the corner. . . he put in his thumb and pulled out a plum. . . and that's when Jovey said, "plum get poops out."  She may have experience with that.  ;)

Anyone's game - So Tiff's phone is being weird and she's not able to comment on my posts so much.  Now is your chance to take over the comment count from her.  It will be a lot of work, but just ask Tiff, it feels good to be on top of the world like that.  ;)

a wrinkled heart

Miley loves Valentine's Day.  It's her favorite holiday.  You know, tied with every other holiday.  She's our love bug.

At school they exchanged valentines on Friday.  One girl in her class brought special valentines for her BFFs.  She brought valentines for everyone and then little stuffed bears for her favorites.  It turns out her favorites were quite numerous making her not favorites quite obvious.

Miley did not get a bear.  She was heartbroken.  She says everyone is her BFF, cause she is the friendliest kid I have ever seen.

She came home from school feeling pretty down.  It broke my heart in a different way.  The angry kind.  Why would a parent think that was a good idea?!

I don't know.

Today we talked about how our actions and words can affect someone's heart.  We folded our paper hearts as we talked about things that could hurt them.  Then we talked about how we could fix our mistakes and unfolded our hearts.  We tried to flatten them back out, but we couldn't get rid of all the wrinkles.

The moral. . . Before you speak, think and be smart.  It's hard to fix a wrinkled heart.

You want to protect your kids from every hurt, but maybe these little ones will be beneficial in a way too.  Here's hoping.

onset of amnesia

I made a list in my head of various things I could post to the blog.  I even thought maybe I should write such things down before I forget. . . and because I jinxed myself by thinking the word forget, I did.  It was a good list.  I remember thinking that at the time, but now have no idea what it contained.  Here instead I have some things I scraped together. . .

Jovey sang 'Let it go' the whole time we were shopping in Target the other day.  She has a very dramatic face when doing so and does not sing quietly.  The only words you can understand are. . . let it go, and anymore.  It was a fantastic performance.  You can catch it again any time she sits on the potty.  For girls who only saw the movie maybe three times, they sure can't get anything about that movie out of their heads.  Well done Disney marketing.

Miley handed me her coat one morning this week before school and asked for her hoodie instead.  She said that the coat is for 'winter use.'  And by coat, I mean jacket of course.  I have no idea what season we're in.

We had a cold spell there for a second.  Nilla likes to drink out of the waterfall.  The bottom of the waterfall.  She came in wet and freezing.  She started dejectedly drinking out of her inside dish then,. . . until she had an epiphany and I saw her up on top on the waterfall drinking.  Genius, she's so proud of herself.

I've heard such mixed reviews for the new Annie movie.  Adoption people say to be careful taking your kids to it because it is heavier than the original.  More serious, less funny.  It will prompt some emotional discussions possibly.  Some critic type people say it's one of the worst movies of the year.  Friends say that they thought it was "cute" and their kids loved it.  Difference of perspective I guess.  After visiting orphanages, I tend to have a harder time watching kids sing and dance like it's fun being there.  I wanted to see it, but I may end up skipping this one.

Speaking of movies, we saw Into the Woods.  It was interesting.  The music was fun and the first half of the story was entertaining.  The characters took a weird turn in the second half.  I can see what they were going for, but it seemed like their characters weren't realistic enough for the second half of the movie to make sense.  So I was just left confused and disappointed.

I'm trying to leave my phone, anywhere where I am not.  You know, for distance, less technology, blah blah blah.  Anyway, after succeeding at doing so for awhile I've realized I have more time on my hands. . . because I'm missing the texts asking for favors (my phone is always on vibrate).  Apparently no one thinks to call my home line when they need to me do something for them.  I may say no out loud and then that'd be awkward I guess.  ;)

I read fewer books this past year than previous years.  I blogged fewer posts as well.  What did I do instead, I wonder.  I think I made lots of stuff, but I must have given most of it away cause I don't have a lot to show for it.  I don't know.  Weird.

We're only in January and Miley has already ripped holes in the knees of all her jeans.  I swear we barely started wearing them here.  I asked her how she managed it and she told me that they play 'cats' at recess on the sidewalks.  Oh good, at least it was for something worthwhile.  ;)

I am on the third year of my 365/5 year journal.  I am wondering why I decided this would be a good thing.  ughhhhhhhh.  It's the middle year problem of not feeling new and exciting or ending and accomplished.  I may trudge my way through this one.  There is no light in the middle of the tunnel.

Would it be wrong of me to start Halloween costumes and Christmas cards in April?  I don't have much going on in April, but my end of the year is packed.  I'm trying to think of a downside before I put this plan into action.  What else can I get done out of sequence?

Miley's birthday is always hot, Jovey's birthday is always not.  Therefore to go outside for Miley's, means it has to be a swimming party, no exceptions.  Jovey loves to swim, but that doesn't really work in November.  My birthday is in the summer, which meant I never got to celebrate it in school, and most of my friends forgot about it every year.  Dave's is during spring break, so he can't complain about anything.  We're thinking we may just celebrate our birthdays at random this time around.

I was asked the question. . . would you change your name for $10,000?  After thinking about it for a minute I'd say I'd need a lot more money.  It would take too much to reprogram my brain into answering to something else.  I don't know what name to use instead either.  Yeah, too much work.  Who knew I was that attached to my name.

Miley had a head on collision after school.  She was running, another kid was running perpendicular, no line of sight due to a building and yeah it wasn't pretty.  I'm actually surprised this hasn't happened to her before now.  I bought her teacher more bandaids for Christmas.  Miley used them all I assume.  My poor baby.  Then I got an email today from Parents magazine about identifying symptoms of concussions.  What the freaky coincidence?  She's ok.  She could do her math homework just fine.  ;)  No really, she is ok after all the drama wore off.

I took Jo into the insta-care over the holiday break. . . and the receptionist asked me if we'd been out of the country in the past 21 days.  I don't remember ever being asked that before.  Anyone?  Is it in reference to Ebola?  That lady was annoying and unhelpful.  I wanted to say yes and then sneeze on her, but I didn't.  That's some amazing self control.  ;)

Jovey pulled out one of Miley's teeth.  Miley had a bag or something in her mouth and Jovey pulled on it.  Out popped a tooth, painless. . . and therefore Miley only wants Jovey to pull out her teeth from now on.  I'm not sure this is a great plan.

I didn't finish my 2014 scrapbook in 2014.  Yeah, it was a lofty goal anyway.  I did however, get further than March, which has been the most I've ever completed in a current year.  That's right the new record is June!  We celebrate most anything here.

I found a letter from my Grandma in my baby book recently.  It was awesome, and I cried.  Miley was, of course, very concerned.  I told her about the letter and she said that she can't wait to see Grandma Great in heaven again someday so that Grandma can show her all her flowers and cactus gardens.  She remembers things I tell her about my Grandma because she loves her like I do.  My heart is full.

and her heart grew three sizes that day

 I have to say that this Christmas was the best one.  Hands down.  No contest.

Here's why. . .

1.  These two were the most excited little stinkers.  They loved all the Christmas traditions and only had to be threatened a little bit to behave.  ;)

 2. As you probably know, we do not believe in Santa.  Miley had lots of questions this year about why her friends got email videos and letters and what not crap from Santa leading up to Christmas.  She couldn't understand why so much effort was put into lying.  I have to agree with her, it's too much.  We had some talks about it, but mostly we talked about Christ.  My girls loved watching The Nativity video over and over again.  They played with their nativity sets and on Christmas eve a baby in a manger was left on our doorstep.  Neither one of them could be taken away from it.  It made this Christmas season filled with the best spirit.

 3.  I like to do a little extra for holidays, and last year I hung paper snowflakes because Miley really wanted snow for Christmas.  Well, this year I hadn't planned on doing it again, until we were cutting them out for fun and Miley mentioned how she'll be so excited to see them hung up on Christmas morning.  I love that she remembered and appreciated the effort. . . . so I think it has become a new tradition.

4.  I brought back a little tradition from when I was a kid.  My mom wouldn't put our names on our Christmas presents, so if we found them, which was easy enough, we wouldn't know who they belonged to.  They would have a color or shape on them and she had the key hidden away from us until Christmas morning on our stocking.  I bought a big roll of black paper and wrapped all the gifts and then drew on them with white markers, so it looked like chalkboards.  Anyway, on Miley's I drew snowflakes and on Jovey's I drew snowmen. 

5.  Of course I didn't get a picture of these things, cause I wasn't even thinking about my camera this year.  I got a couple of pictures of them with their stockings and that's it.  I think that makes it to the 'why this was the best Christmas ever' list because I wasn't worried about taking pictures of every present, every expression.  I got to actually be there and see it for myself.  Totally worth it.

6.  I did not miss having presents under the tree AT ALL.  It was awesome actually.  I got one from my sister (we pick names in my family) which was fun and Dave's Mom sent us some more pieces for our nativity, perfect.  Other than that, our money and my parents went to a charity.  We decided to give our money to a family traveling to Peru through a great organization that helps feed children.  It's amazing.  Miley saw some commercials about hungry children on TV and asked me about it.  I was able to tell her about what we decided to do for Christmas instead of getting stuff for ourselves.  It made an impact on her.  It has been the best experience.

7.  We got thousands of THANK YOUS from our girls.  They were so good at showing gratitude.  Miley has said thank you to me every day since Christmas for something she was given.  My girls loved everything they received from all of their loved ones.  A big THANK YOU from us for loving our girls.  They were thrilled with it all!  Not even an exaggeration.

8. The weather was nice enough that the girls got to use their very own trampoline!  And then it started to snow a little, so they got to see a little snow on Christmas too.  Perfect, especially since it didn't stick around or anything.

9. We enjoyed our facetiming and phone calls with family. . . and then got to spend some quality in-real-life cousin time as well.  Not to mention a fantastic Christmas dinner, thanks to Anne.

10.  And finally, Dave pretended to be the Grinch while we took the Christmas decorations down.  Priceless.

Now I'm trying to remember all these good things as we enter my least favorite month.  Happy New Year to you all.  This one went by too fast!