3 Funny Things

1. Last night we were talking about the birth of Jesus. Polly said: "Yeah, and now Mary lives in Idaho."

This Mary lives in Idaho.

She's more commonly refered to as Grandma Great.

Grandma Great is beyond wonderful and the girls love her. Every time we are leaving after a visit, Macy plans for us to move to Idaho to be closer to Grandma and Grandpa Great.

Polly was shocked and embarassed to hear this was a different Mary.

2. I was getting ready to go to the Releif Society Christmas dinner and Macy told me I looked "Nice and SAXY". Just what I was going for.

3. Polly was beyond excited to pick out a gumball machine for Macy for Christmas. (Top Secret). I told her the she had to keep the secret even if Macy asked. Ever since she's been trying to convice Macy she bought her a peice of carpet.

Ho Ho Ho

Does anyone else get nervous that their kids will spring a surprise while visiting Santa?

Maybe they'll decide they want something completely different from what they've been telling you for 2 months (and already purchased). Maybe they'll ask for something obscenely expensive. It's risky.

Polly braved Santa if Macy would go with her and mouthed to him what she wanted. She made no sound. A Ponyville house. Macy pulled a stuffed kitty out of left Field. Not obscenely expensive. Whew.

Catching up

These posts are mostly for me. I haven't blogged in a while. Can I blame it on being pregnant? Okay, I will. Thank you!

-

I just got my Blurb book done from my blog 2007-2008. It is awesome. And so I am dedicated to documenting everything I want to remember. You should all do one too.

-

We had a lovely Nativity re-enactment for FHE this week. The Smarts and Jones joined us to round out the cast. The kids loved it and rotated parts. You are all invited next year, but we might have to audition the kids. Your kids like competition, right?

-

P.S. Why won't blogger let me have hard returns to make spaces where I want them?

-

Dishwashers

Oh holy, our dishwasher broke.

It was only from the late 80's. Come on. It was probably only 10 days give or take before we had a new one, but my whole life turned upside down. Or at least my kitchen did. I understand the laziness of this problem, but I couldn't get in the routine of washing dishes every meal. And so they were usually piled in my sink and on my counter. It was gross. And I'm lazy.

These two claimed they were going to wash all the dishes, all the time. I wish.

-

Thanksgiving

We had a small, intimate Thanksgiving this year. It was lovely and delicious. I was in charge, but asked my madre if we could eat at her house (much bigger). Dad, mom, Jessey, Annie (she was in charge too), and her family. Small.

3 things

3 things that make my day

-

1. My house smells like fresh bread AND I have the bread to prove it (after two bread failures in 2 weeks).

-

2. I'm looking forward to a splendid weekend with my sisters. (Aren't they gorgeous?)

-

3. The calender tells me I'm officially out of my first trimester, leaving most queasiness behind, and I'll make you dinner to prove it. Baby Center tells me that at 13 weeks, my baby is at least the size of a lime! Nobody told my waist-line to grow in proportion to the size of a lime. It's thinking cantaloupe (at least).

Conference pancakes

One of our favorite family traditions is during conference weekend, making Grandpa D's pancakes between Sunday sessions. We've been doing it for as long as I can remember. My grandpa is a taskmaster, his way is the only way. Make sure the egg whites are at perfect peaks and DON'T pat the pancakes! These days he sits back and let's his posterity do it. But we still follow his rules.

(photo by little Miles.)

We flip and flip and flip...

The kids wait...impatiently.

The prefered topping is strawberries and whipped cream. Then we eat until we are sick. It's the best.

Halloween

Better late than never...

a renaissance princess

and a bumblebee

This is Macy's royal pose,

Polly didn't like it.

"MACY" the Musical

(This is and old photo that has nothing to with my post, I just like it.)

Scott has often said Macy's life is a musical and we are all just living in it.

There are two points two consider to illustrate this.

1. Macy loves to sing (original songs).
2. Macy loves an audience.

1.Today alone, Macy has started singing her feelings on 3 occasions. This is a welcome avenue for expressing emotions opposed to crying/whining/yelling. I hate to admit, I can be slightly oblivious to it at times as it happens frequently.

Today she sang about her breakfast, about going to school and about how she wished she was done with her homework so she could look at the American Girl catalog . All her songs are with feeling and dramatic bravado.

2. We had the primary program yesterday which was beyond lovely. Now, being in the Primary presidency means I see Macy sing every week. Sometimes she sings, sometimes she stares into space, sometimes she uses her chair as a bed. I honestly didn't know what songs she knew and what she didn't.

Cut to the program.

I was sitting behind her on the stand and could only see the back of her head sharply bobbing with the beat of the songs. The rest I know from family/ward members. Apparently she sang every song with gusto, mouth open wide, even faking the words when she wasn't sure. I shouldn't be surprised... she had an audience.

Quote: Body Parts

Polly's had a few funny ones lately.

#1

She climbed in my bed one morning. As I was tickling her arms and legs, particularly the back of her knees when she shouted her discovery:

"MOM! I know!!! We all have armpits AND leg-pits"

#2

This morning as we were brushing teeth and I wiped her nose for the up-teenth time in 3 weeks. I said (not knowing she would have such a strong reaction)Polly, I hope your nose stops running sometime soon or we might have to go to the Doctor. She started crying hysterically (as though the Dr. meant toddler torture and/or certain death) and at the same time saying:

"I don't even WANT a nose! I don't want it, and I don't like it even at all!"

As though eliminating the nose entirely would solve all her problems. I find it to be a cute nose.

P.S. Have you tried Rollip? Super fun.

Polly

This is how the ladies relationship looks like sometimes:

Macy had gone to her room in a charmingly bad mood and shut the door. Polly, who was playing by herself walked into the room for something, and when she left, she dared to leave the bedroom door open. This is what I heard from the next room:

Macy- "Polly, shut the door!"

silence

M- "Polly, I said SHUT THE DOOR!"

silence

M- "POLLY, SHUT THE DOOR RIGHT NOW!!!" (lovely, I know.)

Polly- (in her sweetest voice) "I can't hear you, Macy."

And Repeat the last two lines over and over and over.

S.I.X.

My darling Macy is 6.

Scott and I tried to tell her we were skipping her birthday so she would stay 5. It didn't go over well. She turned 6 anyway. It's too soon.

The highlights:

A hat like dad,

A pet fish. She has been asking for either a pet fish or a horse for some time now. As good parents we listened, weighed the options, made a pro and con list and the fish won out. In this economy... well you understand. The fish has been named Coral, Flounder and now Nemo.

Now if I could just keep Polly 3...

She Rides!

Two-Wheeler

Our family's end of summer reward was Macy's new skill. She's very proud. Have you seen her yet? Because if you haven't, come on over and she'll show you. The ultimate was when our neighbor, who had been watching her practice, gave her a round of applause when she finally got it. Then watched her ride off to school a few days later. Macy always loves an audience.

By The Way

This deserved a post of it's own.

Summer Recap

Sit down, this is a big one.

I will document all the happenings of summer now.

I missed a lot.

We had a super awesome Primary Pioneer Day parade and breakfast.

Being in the Pimary Presicency means I got to dress up and walk this year.

And make the completely authentic covered red wagon, or it could have been Scott that made it.

Hiking with grandma and grandpa.

At the end of August we took a Morton backpacking trip to the Uintahs. Yes, the kids backpacked. Less than a mile. Be impressed.

All the rest. Boating with the Jones, Park City with the Mortons and more.

First Day

I know everyone does a post about their child's first day of school, but I don't care, I'm doing it anyway. Last night after careful consideration of what to wear (0nly to try on 3 different outfits in the morning before deciding), Macy told me she wanted a special school breakfast. Pancakes. (we don't have eggs) with strawberries (no strawberries).

Luckily I can count on my neighborhood grocer, Lee's at 6:00 AM.

As always, Macy was more than happy to show us her stuff. This photo in the middle she says she is doing

"Whoo-hoo for school"

The Future

Polly has her path in life figured out. It took her a while to hammer out the order, but I think she did a good job.

She wants to be

a ballerina

a princess

a mom

then a dad.

Hmmmm

She also wants to marry her little buddy, Lincoln.

I'm not sure where he fits in, but they make a cute couple, don't they?

Milestone

They did it

It's major
I'm amazed

These two cleaned the play room start to finish without my help.
For those of you who have seen our playroom in it's regular state will agree with me in it's major-ness.
More importantly, without whining.
(I know... I'm tearing up just thinking about it.)

Wait... Macy is almost 6?
She should have done this by now, hasn't she?
Crap... In my defense, this was taken at least a month ago.

Sweden

Okay, most of you don't care, but I do.
I'm talking about the 30 pictures I'm about to post.
It won't hurt my feelings it you don't look.

Sweden was superb!

For those of you who are going to look. Here's the lo-down. We went to Sweden because my genealogist mother made contact with long lost relatives and we all wanted to visit. All includes my mom, her sister, myself, my 4 sisters and my newborn niece, Piper.

Yes, eight.

We stayed in fabulous hotels/manor, took some boat rides.

We ate delicious food (lots of ice cream)

We saw awesome sites.
(Carl Larsson's (famous painter) house)

(Orebro castle)

(Brahehus catle ruins)

(Annie and Erin in the outdoor museum Skansen)


(Annie and Holly in Stockholm)

We met lots of wonderful relatives.

Everyone was very welcoming and they all made delicious meals including Swedish meatballs, Swedish pancakes, pickled Herring (did not partake) and moose.
(This beach was covered in jellyfish and ladybugs.)

We shopped.
There was an H&M (started in Sweden) and a McDonald every four blocks. Once, next door to each other.

We stayed a the cottage of my great, great grandmother.

It's right on a beautiful lake, where we rowed boats and took a bath.
It has been decided that Sweden is so wonderful, I must summer there with my family. Everyone who lives there has a summer home, why can't I? 2 months a year will do. Warm summer only.

Fun facts:
It was light as day at 3:30 A.M.
All women in Sweden work and get 1 year paid maternity leave.
Husbands get 6 months paid.
Everyone has a summer home.
All houses are red or yellow (charming).
Everyone drives a volvo.