Princess for a day

Shayla has been really into recruiting Josh or I into playing make-believe with her lately, and the other day it was princesses. Well, Ammon just wants to be a prince and drive his car around. And Liam the Horse just won't go where Princess Shayla commands, so that leaves me to be her BFF in princessland. She dressed up as Princess Annalise from the Barbie movie we have, and I was to be Cinderella. Hmm. Appropriate, at least the cleaning part. So we both got dressed up and played our parts until hunger got the best of the both of us and we broke for lunch, but it was really fun playing with my sweet little lady, and we were both able to pause long enough for Ammon to snap our picture.

Cleaning the house is fun to do, fun to do, to do to do

At least that's what Ammon and Shayla thought this morning! We were cleaning up a storm, windows, mirrors, walls, tables, bathrooms, everything, all while listening to Skip to My Lou and other gems that keep you working hard. I went to a seminar this weekend that was so great, and one of the things that stood out to me, was the guy said if you have young children your house should be clean. Of course we all laughed heartily.... but then he said how important it is to teach your children to work when they are young, and that they should be working hard and playing hard. That's what families do together. So that is what we did today, and I have to tell you, my house is clean, the kids are happy, and who can ask for more than that?

Happy Belated Chinese New Year

We celebrated Chinese New Year in our household this year with homemade fortune cookies and a fiery red dragon dance. Our celebration lasted one whole day...we're working up to the week long celebration that is traditional. I just don't have that much party in me right now!

The kids made a dragon that we danced around with, and then ate fortune cookies to our hearts content. We got some books from the library to see how the new year is celebrated in China, and I think I'd like to adopt some traditions into my own family's portfolio. Like cleaning the house from top to bottom before the new year comes. And all the food and candy all week long. That's ok isn't it? We are multicultural after all, right?

Another Six Weeks of Winter...surprise surprise!

Happy Groundhog day everyone! I love celebrating holidays, including Groundhog day, but I have to tell you. I have a friend who has a fancy breakfast and does all things Groundhog on this day, and I wish I could hang out with her all day long and be a part of it! As you may have heard, Punxatawny Phil predicted another six weeks of winter. What a surprise...I think I'd have a heart attack anyways if the sun shone for more than three days in a row.

Holidays are a great way to break up the everyday-ness of the weeks. Last week we celebrated Chinese New Year's with homemade fortune cookies (not too bad to make, fun to put your own fortunes inside) and a dragon dance.

As you know Valentine's is coming, and you guessed it. We will be celebrating to the nines! Hearts and red and candy and love...all things I adore. And the kids will love it too darn it!

One Year Older!

We celebrated Liam's first birthday today! Yay!! He had a fancy breakfast of cereal, and his favorite for lunch- macaroni and cheese. Dinner was to be something he loves, a banana, french fries and chicken nuggets (healthy, I know..), but he immediately dumped his plate of nuggets and fries and ate the whole banana. Good boy!

I made him a crocodile birthday cake, and he was reluctant to even touch the cake, until we gave him a fork, and he went to town on that thing! Cake was all over the place, every crevice of his body, and splattered across a three foot radius around his seat. What's a birthday without the need for a carpet cleaner?!

All in all it was a fun birthday, I think. Ammon and Shayla LOVED pampering him all day with balloons, treats, and presents. By the time my birthday comes, hopefully they will have the pampering thing down and I'll just be able to nap and snack on delicious treats all day. :)

Rub a Dub Dub

Feel privileged to witness this photo, because in about 13 years it will be perfect blackmail for all three kids. whuah whuah whuah... (that's my cyber-evil laugh)

I was trying to get them all to look at me and smile, but they each seem to be thinking of something completely independent of each other. I started out this evening by putting Liam in the bathtub, and he was in there enjoying his soak for about 3.5 seconds before I feel a tap on my back and turn to find two naked children begging to get in with little brother. They caught me in a weak moment and I gave in. I may sound like a bear, not wanting my children to all bathe together, save water, be efficient with soap, etc. but it always ends up the same. While I'm getting Liam dressed, a water fight ensues and the bathroom ends up a disaster, shower curtain on the floor and all. Shayla and Ammon promised to behave, and this time, they did. Whew. Maybe one of my lectures sunk in. I'll let myself think that and be happy...

Over the River and Through the Woods

We spent a week with my parents on the East side, and Rose and Jeff drove over with their girls so we could all be there together. (Except Uncle Matt....sorry brother) We stayed in a hotel with a hot tub and indoor pool, which was the highlight of the trip for Ammon. He wanted to spend 24/7 in that hot tub! Liam was loving it too, even though he had to sit on the edge and just dangle his tootsies in the water (too little still to dive in).

There was a white elephant gift exchange there too, and Josh and I ended up getting rid of some primo junko. Yay! But we inherited a bag of catnip, a CD called Hugs for Grandma, and the kids claimed a bag of tongue staining gum (thanks Aunt Rose) and a "collectible" (very subjective with that word) hippo plate. Shayla LOVES that plate and it is on her bed as I type this. While she's napping. We rang in the new year like real old geezers, going on Mountain standard time because none of us could keep our eyes open. As the clock struck twelve Josh and I were carrying sleeping kids into our hotel room. Pretty flashy huh. But we were together and that's what mattered. :)

And last but NOT least, my sister Amber got engaged to her boyfriend Mike, and they are tentatively planning a fall wedding. Observe the bling bling they scored in the white elephant game.