Breakfast in Bed

When Emma and Isabelle woke me up early Saturday morning with a big homemade breakfast, it took me a minute to process what the special occasion was. Did my birthday sneak up on me? Did I go to sleep in the fall and wake up to a springy Mothers Day? Am I recovering from surgery? Nope. Nothing like this. They just love me. With the help of the best Dad around, they made french toast and eggs (just the way I like them). Even though I love to sleep late on Saturday, I didn't mind at all having a early wake up to the best girls ever, my greatest blessings!

A card from Isabelle.

A card from Emma

A picture of me drawn by Emma. A spitting image if I do say so. (Those are shoulders in case you were wondering).

My terrible two

I'm talking about my two "twins". Isabelle and her BFF Kaylen. These two are inseparable and often times partners in crime. --- I just have to preface this post by saying that I love Kaylen like my own and love her friendship with Iza. These girls love each other like sisters and treat each other like the best friends they are. The best part of this friendship is that these two look like they could be twins. If I'm not paying close attention to them I can't tell them apart. I'll never forget the day they realized how identical they could look and switched clothes. This was the day that I sent Iza home and yelled at Kaylen. They both thought this was funny and since then have tried the old switch-a-roo again. Fool me once shame on me... I pay better attention now.

Well, yesterday these two decided to play beauty parlor. Off came inches of hair here and there. Erin (Kaylens mom) didn't notice at first but became suspicious when she saw the evidence of a haircut on the carpet and later found a big pile of hair hidden under the bed. Isabelle and Kaylen were very good at hiding their home made hair dos by cutting the underside of their hair. I didn't even notice until Erin called me early this morning to apologize. I found very quick what I hadn't seen the night before. Iza is sporting some pretty sweet bangs, new layers, and she almost has a bald spot in back. Poor Kaylen got the worst of it. she lopped off one side of her braid.I think she is going to have to get a pretty drastic makeover to fix it.

I don't know who's hair is who's but I think most of it is Kaylens

As punishment for this little stunt I've grounded them from playing together for the week. {This is much harder on me than it is on them.} Isabelle was in tears when I told her that now she and Kaylen won't look like twins. They will have different hair cuts for the first time ever.

These girls are usually very well behaved together. But I guess girls will be girls.

and they look so innocent...

Redneck DNA

Is it possible that my family's redneck ancestry is so dominate that my child can grow a mullet without any help from the local Fantastic Sams? Poor Lucy Jane... no matter how many hair cuts we give her, she always ends up growing a mullet. I hope this isn't a glimpse into what her future holds. But never the less, I will continue to take her to (as Brent calls it) the "beauty parlor" as many times as needed to save her from this well known "fashion don't".

The Mullet... yes it really is this bad.

You can thank The La Villa Salon for helping our redneck baby.

Goodbye mullet, we'll see you again in a few months.

Mom JEANS

I don't mean to offend any mom's out there who may be reading my blog. But if you happen to fall into the category of wearing "mom jeans", then please head over to The Gap and pick up a new pair of pants! If you don't know what mom jeans are, then watch this clip from SNL. It's so stinking funny!
Cut and paste this to your URL.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=29142171&searchid=bc3a037f-00c2-4f00-a85d-0a6401b35777

Fashion Police

Mom- "Isabelle put on your shoes."

Isabelle - "I don't know where they are."

Mom- "They're upstairs in your room."

Isabelle- "I can't go all the way up there. I just got downstairs!"

Mom- "Here. Wear these ones." I handed her her brown tweed flats with the pink bow.

Isabelle- "MOM! I can't wear these! They're fall shoes and it's still Summer!"

Oh my! I've created a premature teenager!

It's HOT!

On Saturday I discovered how dangerous jalapenos peppers are. It's not a very good idea to play with one and then itch your eyes (obviously). I picked a pepper out of my garden and proceeded to play with it for a few minutes while I was talking with Brent and Kim. I sliced it open with my finger nail and pulled out the seeds. I tried to get Walter to eat it but he was smarter than that so I tossed it over the fence. A few minutes later I itched my right eye and well, you can imagine what happened next. It felt like lava hot eyelashes were stuck in my eye. I ran to the sink and stuck my head under the faucet and let cold water run through my eye. I washed my hands several times with soap and water. I laid down on my bed with a cold rag over my eye for a few minutes when I did something very stupid. My left eye was itchy so I itched it. There must have been more pepper juice left on my fingers because I totally blinded myself for the next two hours. I ruined my entire afternoon (which was supposed to be spent painting and finishing Isabelle's room). I think this is how a raper feels when he gets pepper sprayed. My neighbor suggested I teach an enrichment night on "how to make your own pepper spray". If I was a rape artist, I'd have no chance if I got hit by the stuff. I would have taken a picture of myself but I couldn't see to find my camera.

Goodbye Old Friend

Last night I had to say goodbye to a dear old faithful friend. Jettadiah. My very first car. I fell in love with that car the moment I saw it. A bright red 1994 VW Jetta! I bought it in August 1998. 10 years ago this month (happy cariversary!) I was 19 years old and a few weeks away from starting my sophomore year at Southern Utah University. It was the perfect college car. I paid $9,000 for it and my monthly payment was a whopping $190 a month.
I'm a nerd for being so upset over selling the jetta. But really, it's not the car I'm sad about. It's more of me being sad over a time in my life that has passed on. A time that was absolutely amazing. That car was a symbol of my youth and freedom. It was a symbol of becoming an adult and learning responsibility. That little red car holds a decade worth of some of my most cherished memories:

Meeting and falling in love with Brent
The winter spent at Brian Head snowboarding
Trips to Cali, Vegas, Oregon

Moving back and forth from school to home during the Summer
Driving back and forth from home to Cedar City to see Brent during the Summer

Getting engaged and married

The Bear attack on Mt. Whitney!!!

Driving to the hospital to give birth to Emma

Moving to Colorado

Buying our first home

Buying our second home
on and on...

Every time I would move from one apartment to another during college, I would buckle my big pooh bear in the front seat. It would get a few laughs from other drivers on the road. It's been years since I've done this. Pooh now lives in Lucy's room.


I was always so happy to go on long road trips. I could sing at the top of my lungs with the Indigo girls or any other angry girl music that I had in my CD case. Now, I'm lucky if the kids will let me listen to talk radio. It's a mini van and Hannah Montana for me now.

Here is proof that I did let Brent drive my car once while we were dating. He says that I NEVER let him. Why should I have? It was my car! (Some things never change. I'm still the driver in this relationship.) And by the way Brent, quit your crying. Over the last 10 years you've gotten plenty of time behind the wheel. Geesh. I believe it was you who drove over 190,000 miles on it.

My roommates and I spent a lot of Saturdays driving to Brian Head to snowboard. Once we let Brent come with us. That year he was around so much he became one of the girls. Apparently I think I'm pretty cool. But I'm pretty sure I must have been a dork. Why else would I pose like that.

Thank you Joey for the great deco on my car. Yes, that's a condom that I'm holding. If only I had used it! Just kidding. Emma came many months later. Instead of heading straight to the honeymoon room, we stopped off at the car wash so the paint wouldn't get ruined.

I'm very aware that this is a long post. I just had to take a trip down memory lane for my own healing. It can be hard for me to move on. Buying that car has been one of the best decisions I've made. It's never had a single problem. If Brent had wanted to, I'm sure that we could have driven it for another five years. But we're moving on to bigger and better "things"... I guess. New memories and new adventures await!

Family Picture Day

Last weekend we went up to Little Cottonwood Canyon, with Brent's family, for family picture day. I took my own camera and Brent and I snapped a few pics of our own before the battery died. I haven't seen the professional ones yet but I was pleased with the way these ones turned out. It's not very often that I hop in the pictures with my kids. But on this rare occasion I was pimple free and not wearing "P.E." clothes so I figured why not!
I could very well have the worlds cutest girls!

My very own McDreamy.

The First day of Second Grade

I get so nervous on the first day of school. I think it's harder for me than for Emma. What mom wants to see their kid cry into her breakfast so afraid that no one will sit with them at lunch? Such drama. But, since Emma's still young enough, I still get to take her to school and walk her to her class without her being embarrassed. I have to admit that I'm a bit of a mom stalker. After I dropped her off, I'm afraid I lingered around her class longer than I should have. I don't know what I was waiting to happen, but it never did, so I slowly went home. I'm getting better though. Last year when I decided to let her ride the bus, I did the unspeakable. I actually drove to the school to make sure she got on the right bus and then followed it on its route to our neighborhood. After about a week of tailing the big yellow beast, I felt like she had the hang of it and quit. Will this parenting thing ever get easier? In case you were wondering about her first day I think it went well. Of course little miss social didn't eat alone. She had plenty of friends for her to eat with. She likes her teacher and she didn't even pee her pants. (She was worried about this because of the stories I've told her about my second grade year. It wasn't my best.) So, one more year is on the way. Even though this parenting thing isn't getting easier on my nerves, it's sure going by way to fast for me. Can I just freeze time with my babies before they get any older?

Family swim

Last Monday we were invited to go to a surprise party for Brent's cousin. As you can see it was a pool party at this amazing backyard pool. I didn't go cuz I'm a nerd and wanted to finish reading my current book. I get so wrapped up in them it's hard for me to do anything else. If I'd known how awesome this pool was going to be I would have been more than happy to drop my book and join the rest of my family for some swimming.

This backyard pool rivals any I have ever seen. I really want one! I'll start saving now.
Emma has goggles that fit but she likes these ones the best.

Lucy and her grandma Marie

This pool has every thing... Brent, Emma and Lu. (I have no idea where Iza was this whole time because Brent didn't

take any pictures of her. Way to leave out the middle kid Dad!)You might have to do a double take on this picture. It's Emma and Craig. He looks just like Brent.

Outdoor Movie Night

Friday I hosted our 2nd annual back to school night outdoor movie. All the neighbors set up chairs and back up trucks for our home-made drive in movie. All Brent does is put a sheet on the garage and hook up the projector ... Instant fun. I chose The Smurfs for our preview movie and Alvin and the Chipmunks as the feature film. It was a perfect night. Just cool enough to need a warm blanket to cozy up in. It's become one of my favorite neighborhood traditions. One last night of Summer fun with the kids.

Happy Birthday Emma

Seven years ago today at 10:42 am I gave birth to an 8 lb. 2 oz. baby girl. I had finally become a mother. This one event has changed my life and its meaning more than any other I will ever experience. Obviously I love all my girls equal, but I feel something very special about my first. Emma is my only child who has had me all to herself. For three years it was just the two of us. We did every thing together. I had never felt so much joy and unconditional love before. Those first years required me to grow and learn more than any others since. It was also in those first years that my testimony of our Heavenly Fathers love for us grew and became so firm. I can't think of any other way I could have understood the role of loving parent and child better. Seven years have gone by so quickly. It really makes me very sad. But, I love all the new experiences that we share. Happy Birthday Emmy! You are my sunshine!

Here are some pictures from Emma's seventh birthday...

I took Emma to Build a Bear Workshop with her two best friends. Megan and Isabelle.

We had lunch at the food court.

and later a little family dinner to celebrate and she got to open her presents.

It was a great day!

Domestic Diva

It's me. I'm the domestic diva! This last week I (with help) not only pickeda ton of apricots, but I also made jam, fruit leather, and canned over 20 quarts of apricots. I may be clueless in the kitchen on my own but with my talented mother-in-law taking me under her wing, I was able to domesticate myself and do what women for years and years have done. Store food for the winter. (I feel like such a grown up.) And it really didn't suck that bad either. Along with feeling some what sticky, I felt rather accomplished after it was all said and done. I think that this is something that I may be able to do on my own now and not completely and utterly fail. But, I can't totally celebrate my perceived accomplishment yet... we've yet to taste the final product and see if any of us die of salmonella poisoning.

Behold nature...

Mary Kay... the talent

My Mom... the lady who let us pick her tree for free.

Lucy Jane... the baby who took little bites out of a lot of apricots and put them back in the box

Emma and Iza... Partners in crime. They made about $10 selling bags of apricots to neighbors for $2 a bag. Emma pulled a wagon full of apricots and Iza pushed a stroller with stuffed animals and the money. It was the cutest thing ever. Emma's sales gimmick was this. "I'm selling apricots for $2 a bag or $1 if you don't want to pay $2." The best part was how they looked. They were all dirty with messy hair and wearing scroungy clothes. It was classic.

My three

Ahoy, the final product! Delicious. Can you guess what you're all getting for Christmas this year?