Three years old!!

I know her birthday was technically yesterday, but we decided to celebrate on Saturday that way we could make a day of it. We took the kids to monster vs. alien at the dollar theater, then we went to Mellie's favorite restaurant, 'Gatti Town. Then we came home and had our own little birthday party. I feel bad for my kids because my favorite part of my birthday was all of the family getting together just for me. I guess those birthdays that the family can be together will just be that much more special. I really can't believe my baby is already three years old! I keep hearing that the years go by so fast, but I keep thinking yeah right! I feel like the day will never end. Suddenly we're sitting here with our baby celebrating her third birthday! Can you tell I'm feeling nostalgic? I started putting together some pictures of Melody through the years and could hardly believe how much she has changed. There's a ton simply because my little girl is the cutest little girl in the world (well maybe she ties for first with Katie!) and I have way too many pictures to choose from. I also included a few videos in the bottom bar. They're long, but they're mostly for grandmas and grandpas anyway. Happy Birthday Melody!

1 month

4 months

5 months

Sealed as an eternal family

6 months

First Christmas

10 months

1 year old!

13 months

14 months

16 months

Second Halloween

18 months

Becomes a Big Sister

20 months

2 years old!

I adore her crazy faces!

Third Halloween

lost...

I. can not. find. my camera!
This is a REALLY big deal! I think I'm going to die! There have been several things that have happened and things we have done in the last few days that need to be documented. There was the laundry soap mishap where the liquid detergent I use fell off the dryer and emptied about half a gallon of soap onto the laundry room floor. I wasn't even sure how to go about cleaning that up, but on the up side my floor, washer and dryer are now really clean! Then there was the packing peanuts that came with Melody's birthday present (thanks mom!) that she not only dumped onto the floor but also spread all over and then just to finish it off broke into teeny tiny pieces. She's such an over achiever! Then there's the rockin' hair bow design I invented tonight. Well probably not, but I've never seen it before so I felt the urge to share! Precious moments are being lost and I can not find my camera!!! Just thought I'd share with you why there are no new pictures and probably won't be anymore until I find it. I'm sure it'll turn up in some random place like the pantry, but until it does bear with me!

Brain development

Sometimes I wonder if these children I incubated for 9 months ever got around to the brain development part of their gestation! It seems like my kids are the ones that have to touch the hot stove just to make sure you weren't lying, then after the unavoidable burn and tears they have to go back and touch it AGAIN... just to make sure! Katie is proving so far to be much worse than Melody, which if you had asked me 2 years ago I would have told you was impossible!

Example #1: Today I took the kids swimming because its about the only out door thing I can do with them after 8 AM. Our pool is right across the street from our building so I just carry Katie over there rather than wrestle with shoes. The pool is surrounded by stone instead of concrete and it seems to conduct heat considerably better. When you get out of the pool it literally steams the water off your feet and you then have 2.5 seconds to get your shoes on before the blisters begin to form. When we go swimming I usually let Katie stand on the stairs and play while Mellie does her thing. Inevitably I have to pull Katie back in the pool several times since the palm trees surrounding the pool hold more interest than the pool itself! Today I let her put her foot out and gave her a second to realize that it was really hot, then pulled her back in. She cried for a second and kept saying 'oweeee, oweeee' I figured she understood.

I turned to the nice older lady sharing the pool with us that day and started talking to her, while keeping half an eye on Katie. The next thing I know Katie is half way across the walkway staring at me with panic stricken eyes and what I can tell is scream preparing to be released. So then of course I have to run across the walkway, blistering my feet as I go, and rescue her. She didn't actually cry until I got her back in the pool. While I was trying to calm the heat in my feet Katie was screeching 'OWEEE!' at the top of her lungs and shoving her feet in my face so I could kiss them better, all while I was trying to prevent her from drowning herself in the process. Two seconds after I had finally calmed her down Melody finished our trip to the pool for the day by smacking Katie right in the face with a koosh ball water bomb! I guess at least the positive note would be Melody's aim is improving!

Example #2: As previous videos have shown Katie is rather adept at getting in and out of her high chair and up on the table. Nothing I do or say even slows her down. The other day I was making lunch, Melody was busy working on a project at her desk, and Katie was playing in her room. Before long Melody loudly announces that Katie needs help. I just looked at her wondering how she knew this from her desk in the kitchen while Katie was in her her room. Then she started pointing at the table saying, 'MOM Katie is STUCK!' I looked across the room to see my darling toddler dangling from the edge of our kitchen table. You need to understand that our kitchen table is little more than a frame with a large piece of glass on top so if she fell she it's somewhat likely that she could take the glass table top with her. After seeing that she had a pretty good grip and was in no danger of falling right away I gazed longingly at my camera knowing I'd never make it, so instead I sat down next to her wondering how long I should leave her there to get the point across. After about a minute I pulled her down and told her to stay off the table and sent her on her way.

Less than 5 minutes passed before Melody again announced, 'Mom, Katie's stuck again!' That little turd had done it again! This time I let her hang there until she got upset, staying out of sight so she wouldn't get the idea that mom was always going to save her. After getting her down for a second time I stuck her in her highchair since lunch was almost done. I didn't even get half way to the kitchen before she was attempting to get back on the table!

Somedays I'm not sure if I should, laugh, cry or just tear my hair out! Durring the writing of this post I had to get up 4 seperate times to pull Katie out of one thing or another. Where on earth did this child come from!

For the grandmas

Here are a few more pictures to appease all of the many Grandmas and Grandpas. I know you all look forward to them so I'll try to start including more!

And here's the pictures we had taken for Fathers day. I'll try and get them sent out in the next month or so. Gotta give myself lots of time so I don't feel bad when it's not done in a week!

The recent tragedy

A few days ago the screen on our T.V. started going all wonky. I thought Jared was going to have a heart attack, but he actually handled it pretty well. We're pretty sure the reason our T.V. no longer works is due to a certain little girls penchant for running at it full force and slamming her hands into it. However we will be naming no names *cough, cough, Katie, cough*

Jared and I immediately went looking for the warranty information. Thankfully my husband is one of those that would buy a warranty for his sandwich meat if it were offered. Unfortunately, we were unable to even find the receipt, we were convinced that we had bought it from Best Buy so that was the receipt we were looking for. After some more thought, however, we came to the horrible realization that we had actually bought it from Circuit City. Not only had we bought it from Circuit City, but when we bought it they were out of the warranty packets so we didn't get one. Of course we were supposed to go back and get one, but neither of us seemed to remember that detail! After my wonderful computer geek husband Google searched for a while he came up with a phone number to call. After spending 30 minutes listening to bad opera hold music (who uses opera for their hold music?) and being told I had called the wrong place, I finally found the person who could help us. They sent some nice man out today to take the T.V. away and bring it back to us in working condition.

In case you were wondering this story has been leading somewhere. I am one of those moms that uses the T.V. to baby sit her kids while she showers, cleans, cooks, ect. I admit it, I am a bad mom! My kids are so crazy that if I take my eyes off of them for even one minute they will have completely destroyed some section of the house. The only time can be sure that they will stay mostly occupied is when they are watching T.V. Keep in mind that while I use the T.V. as a baby sitter I am discretionary about what they are allowed to watch. Not having cable pretty much limits their options to PBS or Disney movies. Pretty safe ground I should think.

These last few days the girls and I have had to get a little more creative in ways to occupy our time. We go to the park every morning and swimming nearly every after noon, but then there is that time when Katie is napping and we have to do something that will keep Melody happy, quiet and busy. Those three things at the same time is a tall order! She absolutely LOVES to cook so I knew anything in the kitchen would be a winner. I Googled a recipe for play dough (really how did people even live before Google?) and we whipped up a batch. Then while I started dinner Melody practiced her cookie cutting skills. Before too much longer I should have a quite the kitchen helper on my hands! The following is a tutorial on how to cut a candy cane out of play dough. I don't understand most of what she said, but I found it to be very informing!

EDIT: Play dough recipe

1c cold water

1c salt

2T vegetable oil

2c flour

2T corn starch

food coloring

In large bowl mix together water, salt, oil and a few drops of food coloring (the paste makes more vibrant colors, but the liquid works just as well). In a seperate bowl mix flour and cornstarch. Add 1/2 C at a time to the water mixture stirring constantly. Knead for a few minutes. Store tightly sealed in ziploc bag.

*sigh*

Can anyone tell me why my bread bowls keep turning into bread PLATES!?

Seriously, I need some help! I've tried these bread bowls four or five times and this happens everytime!

why our daddy is the BEST daddy!

With the lack of funds we have been experiencing lately holidays have kinda been put on the back burner. However, being the sentimental person I am I can't just let Father's Day go by with out acknowledging Jared in some way. So I decided to consult my expert and she has given me a list of reasons why her daddy is the BEST daddy!

1. He gives me lots of loves and kisses!
2. He plays dinosaurs.
3. He sings me songs to help me go to sleep.
4. He reads me stories.
5. Because he's MY daddy!

She was burning out on me toward the end so I told her I just need one more. Can you tell me why your daddy is the best? She looks at me and said, 'Well because he's MY daddy!' I thought it was pretty cute. The way she said it made me feel like it should have been so obvious why he's the best!

Now for my list of why my husband is the best one around...

1. He makes me smile when all I want to do is cry.
2. He makes dinner when it's been a crazy day and I have no energy left.
3. He lifts me up and encourages me when I'm feeling discouraged.
4. I know that no matter how bad my recent kitchen experiment has gone he'll eat it!
5. He's understanding of the fact that I am incapable of putting away clean clothes.
6. He's completely accepting of all my short comings and always encouraging me to rise above them.
7. He has the biggest, most loving heart and is always the first to lend a hand when he can see one is needed.
8. He loves his girls with everything he has and is a big advocate of teaching by example.
9. He is a dorky techy geek and can fix any technical problem we may encounter.
10. He is always willing to share the knowledge he has with anyone who wants to learn.
11. He has a great love for the gospel and his testimony and faith are an inspiration to me.
12. He has made so many changes in the last four years all for the sake of helping our family be a better and stronger one.
13. He forgives easily, even when it's one of his children breaking our TV!
14. He has a goofy and lovable sense of humor
15. He is MY hubby!

I could probably go on, but I'll spare you. I just wanted everyone, and him especially, to know what a great daddy he is and we love him more than anything! Love you babe.

Momma's little helper

I was in my bedroom trying to make some headway on the tower of boxes when Mellie comes to my door and informs me that Katie is 'into stuff' I asked her what stuff? Her response was just some stuff. I head in to find out what kind of chaos my little girl is bringing down on us and find this. Apparently I didn't get to the dishes fast enough for her liking.

Then after I shooed her out of the kitchen this is what occurred.

She's such a handful! It's a wonder I EVER get ANYTHING done!

cutest 'green' bags

I'm all about saving the environment and keeping our planet happy, however, I'm also one of those people that if it's too inconvenient I just won't do it! I use plastic bags at the grocery store partly because I later use them as garbage bags in my bathrooms, but also because I'm simply too cheap to buy those 'green' totes you see everywhere (blame my husband, or his father who taught him, which ever you prefer!). I had thought about making them, but there again, too cheap to buy the heavy duty fabric I would want. When I stumbled on this tutorial in my many blog wanderings* I knew I had to make it! I mean it appeals to me on so many levels. I can make it, which I love! It's practically free, uses the plastic bags that are threatening to take over my kitchen. And mostly it's too cute! I'm going to make mine all pink and girly just for the satisfaction of seeing Jared carry them out of the store! Click on the picture to go to her tutorial.

* The blog is called sew take a hike which in itself is cute, but she really has some cute sewing ideas if your into that. You should wander over and kill some time after the kiddies are in bed!

The FUN part of moving!

I was informed by my hubby that I hadn't posted pics of the girls in almost a month and I know you Grandmas live to see them so here I am getting my tail in gear! First of all in my defence we couldn't find the camera, then we had to find the battery charger, then we had to find the card reader. Now that all is right again the posts should be more frequent and riddled with pictures!

Here we see all that is good about moving!

If you think about it moving while still very little has got to be exciting! You get a new room and a new house with lots of new things to explore, not to mention the house is a wreck so you have access to things mom would have NEVER let you play with before (see elephant pics at bottom). And then there are the boxes. Sweet lovely boxes. What I wouldn't give to find as much joy and excitement in a simple box as my girls do!

They had so much fun and are still having fun. We have a pretty big balcony so I've moved most of the boxes out there and they've made all kinds of neat things. So far the only ones I've been able to eaves drop are a doctors office and a kitchen.

I love how much fun they are being able to have together. Katie is going to have an amazing imagination thanks to Melody! She just runs and climbs and follows Mellie everywhere. And when she's tired of following Mellie around she goes to the door and bangs on it and Mellie lets her back in.

In all these pictures you see the girls laying their claim on my dish pack. I really wanted to save this, since it did cost money and still had a lot of life left in it, but really how could I deny them? After the girls started playing it took Jared all of 5 minutes to get involved too! It's almost like he couldn't help himself, he had to play! There is also a video in the bottom bar, it's kinda long, but oh so funny!

Now on to the Halloween in May pictures.

Melody came across her Halloween costume while we were trying to make sense of the chaos the day after we moved. She BEGGED me to wear it. She was actually pleading with me, following me around the house with a continuous please please please. I figured it's not likely to fit her next Halloween so why not let her get some use out of it.

We put it on and sent her on her way. It was a humid 85 degrees that day so I didn't think it would last long, but it was several hours before she decided to take it off. She even brought me Katie's and asked me to put hers on. Unfortunately Katie's is a 6-9 month so only the top fit and just barely. I wish I had gotten a picture of the both of them running around, but just didn't think about it! Can you tell how much she loves elephants? She was an elephant for Halloween and you can see her elephant from aunt Whitney in the corner there. If we lose that elephant we are so screwed! She takes that thing EVERYWHERE! Bed, church, car, you name it and her elephant is with her!

The desk you see here is a nook in our kitchen that I'm sure is meant to be a computer desk, however we have Jared's gigantic desk in our room so we have no need for it. I have turned it into Melody's project center. I have all of her crayons, markers, pens, pencils, glue, scissors, and paper there within her reach. She gets up there from time to time and does her thing and then goes on to the next thing that catches her interest. It's nice for me since I now do not have to drag everything out of the craft room and put it all out then put it all back!

Decisions, decisions...

Jared and have been talking over the last year about what he'd like to be when he grows up. He's kinda bounced all over the place: flooring, police force, and now IT. He told me he knew he didn't want to do IT forever to which I responded 'read your patriarchal blessing, do some praying and FIGURE IT OUT!' If you know me at all you know I like consistency. I blame my parents. We only moved three times in my entire life and I went to the same school with the same kids for 13 years (some of us went to the same daycare!) and my parents had the same jobs for most of my life. Since marrying Jared I have moved 7 times, lived in 3 different states and lived through three major career changes, and had two children all in 4 years! I can't believe I haven't completely lost it yet. However I have to admit that it has been exciting. Him calling one day and saying 'hey I got a job offer in Texas, you game?' is kinda nerve wracking, but exciting nonetheless!

So after him doing his part and us discussing a lot he has decided to go back to what he wanted to be in high school, a composer. Some day he would like compose for the big screen or digital media. I'm really excited about this since it was his love for music that drew me to him to begin with! Right now we're looking into schools and trying to get a 4 year plan of action put together.

We had heard about a government grant that will forgive so much of your student loans if you get a teaching degree and teach in that state for two years. I know Utah had one and I know Texas does, but I don't know about any other states. We thought he could either do a double major, or just major in composition and get his teaching certs on the side. Then he could teach music while he got the composing off the ground. We have a lot to figure out and decide still. What school being the first thing!

We'll let you know when we know!

Mormon humor

I found this in my internet wanderings. It cracked me up! They really should have a book out lining all the mormon lingo.

I work part-time as a teacher of family doctors. The program provides training on psychiatric disorders and emphasizes the importance of emotional support. The new doctors are given plenty of time in clinic to visit with their patients and learn about their challenges.One of our interns who has never lived in Utah and knew nothing about Mormons is still struggling to understand the cultural climate here.

Last week he was interviewing a new patient and stumbled on what he thought was a raging psychosis.

Doctor: "Well, Mrs. Olsen, we've talked about your high blood pressure and your medications. Are you experiencing any particular stress in your life?"

Patient: "Oh, yes! It's the Sunbeams. They're driving me crazy."

Doctor: (very surprised) "The Sunbeams?"

Patient: "Yes, I've never had trouble with them before, but this group of Sunbeams won't settle down. They bounce all over the room, and run out the door and up and down the hallway.

Doctor: (reaching for a pen) "Have you told anyone about this?

Patient: "Of course, I told the president."

Doctor: Really! And, what did the president tell you?"

Patient: "The president said Sunbeams are like that. I'm just going to have to learn to deal with them."

Doctor: (concerned that he may be missing something) "I know people who are sensitive to sunbeams. Do they cause you a rash or anything?"

Patient: (confused) "A rash? No."

Doctor: "What's the problem they're creating?"

Patient: "It's the noise. They just won't quit talking."

Doctor: (astonished) "The sunbeams are talking to you?"

Patient: "Well, yes. But mostly they talk to each other."

Doctor: (scribbling furiously in the chart) "I see. Can anyone else hear them talking?"

Patient: (after a moment of stunned silence) "You're not LDS, are you