I know, I know . . .

Another post about the amazing things my children say.

They were getting ready to brush teeth, Emory let Tessa up on the stool in front of her and said, "For you, my Beloved Sister." In return Tessa said, "Thank you for your Righteousness." It was all very regal, and I couldn't stop laughing! (I figured out the "new" words were from something we've been trying to be better about - reading the Book of Mormon.)

This is something I hesitate in posting, because it was a parenting moment when I literally was speechless. They were bathing and I was having my "computer time", when I heard a lot of splashing water. Emory kept saying, "Stop barfing, Tessa. Stop barfing, Tessa." They were laughing though, so I figured they were spitting water as usual. A few more minutes of giggling and water splashing pass, Emory's pleas for the "barfing to stop," become a little more intense. Tessa is still laughing. I figure the classic bug-you-sister-till-she-cries was happening so I yelled, "Tessa, STOP barfing!" They quieted for a minute, then more splashing and Emory screams, "I'm going to fall in the barf!!!" I run in to this:

Emory is up on the edges of the bathtub, trying to stay out of the water. Tessa has her finger half way down her throat and proceeds to dry heave in front of me. The room's smell hits me - vomit. I walk closer to the tub to find hot dog chunks and pieces of carrots floating in the water that Tessa is still bathing in. "What is going on here?," I say. "I'm just barfin'," Tessa says, with a smile. Emory pipes in, "She's done it like at least 5 or 6 times, Mom. And I'm not getting back in that gross water!"

I seriously didn't know what to say. This child has more spunk, passion, and weirdness than most adults I know. And it scares the CRAP out of me! In fact the barfing seemed like a walk in the park, because the next day she told me she didn't "like penises".

Sweet Emory, who is not always sweet, asked me the other day if she could, "Do equations on her Magna-Doodle?" I laughed and said yes. Then I went in, expecting to see 2+2=4 etc. and found 1000+2000=3000 and other such thousands. Not really difficult stuff, but I still don't know how she figured it out. Now she's obsessed with figuring out the 10's and 100's of thousands, it's all she talks about!

Cory's just finished his last day of IM and begins his last 2 weeks of Internship (ER) on Tuesday! We're moving not too long after that and very excited about what the last two weeks of June hold . . . vacation!

It went like this . . .

I'm always texting and calling to tell my family the AMAZING things my children say. This is the latest and greatest.

(Emory and Tessa playing in their bedroom. The "fun" they're having is sounding more and more like fighting.)

Emory comes running out, defending herself with this, "But she keeps attacking me and attacking me!"

Tessa follows with, "But she was trying to DESTROY my head!!"

A's for both of their attempts in ultra-descriptive verb usage.

Here is some recent Emory art as well, it always makes me smile.

"Tessa and I turned into centipedes."

No description.

(That white in the middle of the green stuff, coming out of Tessa's mouth, it a hole worn in the paper from coloring too hard. ???)

Time out

Cory had a whole week off and in the end of April, so we did some serious relaxing and house hunting. I will be so glad when I never have to move or look for places to live! We explored Riverfront Park and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery, playgrounds and Carousel.

During that week, we were still house sitting and the girls loved being outside!

They built this "fort" from mossy branches that had littered the yard in a recent wind storm.

I also caught them like this the other day . . .

The explanation was, "We need to go to the bathroom at the same time." We're so converted to Oregonism-Conservation we want to flush the least amount of times possible. That's commitment, girls!

Sadly, the YW Pres. and I were released because we're both moving. I will sorely miss these girls. They have been tremendous babysitters, crafting partners, "Movie-game" players, and friends.

Easter

We had a really good Easter this year. Different, but good. Usually we try to follow the sun/warmth and head down to St. George, but the 17 hours it would take to get there didn't sound super fun to me. Instead, my family followed the clouds/rain and came to see us! It was a super fun and relaxing weekend, with a ton of sunshine surprisingly.

We met them in Portland on Thurs. and enjoyed Stepping Stone Cafe, Powell (I can't go to Portland without visiting this store. Doesn't hurt that Anthropologie is across the street.), and that VooDoo place (My girls think we have to go there every time we're in Portland.). We showed my parents around the Derm Office that Cory will be working at, and took the scenic way "home". "Home", in parenthesis, because we were house sitting for some amazing people, that let us use their gorgeous home as a hotel! The rest of their time here was filled with golfing, playing at the park, soaking up some sun, Easter Egg Hunting, Vietnamese Sandwiches, playing Ticket to Ride Europe, Easter dinner with the Wallaces, and a lot more.

It was so fun to see them and I forget how easy my life gets when my mom is around. She makes food, she wipes my kids butts, she totally prep-ed the Easter Egg Hunt and Dyeing stuff, and made my girls the cutest scripture totes. I think I need to hire her!

The gigante house we stayed in.

The VIEW

Avery Park; finally playing Kubb with the amazing set my brother and sister-in-law made us for Christmas.

Hunting

Oh, Cadbury Eggs . . . while do you have to be so delicious?

Don't ask.

My mom bought all the stuff to do these cute Twinkie chicks in Chow Mein nests, but we ran out of time and did them after she left.

Spring Break

A way back in March, Emory had a whole week off for Spring Break. I still had to babysit/tend/watch some other kids, so we tried to do at least 1 new thing everyday. It was exhausting.

Here's some of the stuff we did:

Emory had to read to Tessa each day.

Played A LOT of Rivers, Roads, and Rails - a new favorite.

Made Root Beer rock candy, and learned about super saturated solutions.

Went to McDonalds for Ice Cream Cones and the Play Place.

Played at the park and made Fairy Houses.

Put a tent up in the living room and watched a movie.

Tessa was tuckered out from all the other activities.

This was also "twinner day" with one of our favorite little chicas, Maria.

She doesn't usually look this way when she smiles!

Made a volcano with salt dough, and made it explode!

Glitter Toes.

Made Pinwheels.

Climbed the walls! She's getting braver and goes higher and higher each time.

Went to Wings of Wonder with our Girl's Squad. I think us big girls enjoyed the butterflies and warm air more the the littles ;)

(Random snake.)

(Taken by aspiring photographer Tessa.)

What a fun week it was, and it made me (and Emory) excited for summer.