Checking it Twice

Run a muck in RC Willey visiting Uncle Jeff: Check

Visit Santa while running a muck: Check

 Go Ice Skating for Free with Santa: Check
Kelsey has been taking lessons so I thought it would be fun to take the family. We decided Braden was too little and it would be difficult with Macy not knowing how to skate (it was her first time) so it was a girls day out. Macy was determined to teach herself to skate that day. I think I talked her into taking lessons. I think she can't stand Kelsey being better than her at something.

Not my favorite picture of me but I have very few with the kids that I actually like.

See Santa for a third time (second time in one day): check
Went to our church Christmas party tonight and Santa was the special guest. I think each time the kids have seen Santa they have asked for something different.

Making a List

Start using new camera: Check

Ears Pierced: Check

The girls have been begging for years and I had always said when they were 8. Well I caved because I originally said it could be their Christmas present but we didn't get it done in time for them to change out their earrings for Christmas. They were really scared but wanted earring bad enough that they wouldn't back out. They fought over who would go first. Kelsey even offered to pay Macy a dollar if she went first. I intervened and Macy volunteered to go first. She didn't cry but you could see the pain in her eyes. She is so stubborn that she will tell you it didn't hurt a bit. Kelsey had tears streaming down her face immediately after but no balling, maybe a few sniffles. We did this last Saturday.

 Gingerbread houses: Check
After 2 days we finally ran out of icing. I made the dough on Thursday. I rolled it out and baked it on Friday morning. After lunch I put them together. At 3 they went to town decorating and didn't stop until 5:40 when we left for dinner at the Gateway and movie at the Planetarium. They woke up this morning and said they weren't finished so it was back to work until the frosting was all gone.

 Mom's handy work. It is Santa's car (see him inside) when he isn't driving a sleigh. I had worked on Kelsey's house so Macy was mad and wanted some of my skill.

 More of my work. Braden wanted a train (his has the boy going for a ride) so then Kelsey wanted a train.

 Braden's house with the Santa's standing as sentinals.

 Kelsey's house. I made both of the girls a little large.

 The front door of Kelsey's.

 Macy's house. It has a marshmellow snow fort with a Santa throwing snowballs at the gingergirl sledder, more of my work. The kids actually did 95% of the decorating. I just didn't have my own house.

 The front door of Macy's.

 Put up Grandma Bonnie's Christmas Tree: Check

Kelsey's Birthday...

Was well over a month ago and I have wasted the little time I spend on the computer doing other things such as researching Christmas gifts. When I went to catch up I saw I missed documenting this precious little munchkin's birthday.

She had a grand week which started with getting the birthday pillowcase on her pillow. She got to go shopping with Grandma Carol one day and Grandma Wendy and Grandpa DeVon on another. I can't even remember what she picked out. From her family she received Mario Kart, a jumbo (ginormous) pillow pet (because we didn't have enough), and from Macy the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine. Braden thinks the Mystery Machine is his and has played with it more than her because he loves it so much.

This year we let her have another party because she was finally in an area long enough to have friends that lived nearby. We were able to move on from the Scooby Doo theme and she had a Teddy Bear Tea Party. She invited Jensen, Annie, Iris, Adyson, Kristina, Lauren and Macy. She got a ton more pillow pets, at least they were the baby ones. If anyone is keeping track of our families total, we have 1 jumbo, 7 regular and 4 pee wees. And Braden is still sleeping on 3 regular pillow pets.

I love my sweet Kelsey. I love to hear here giggle and play with Braden. She can be easygoing and lets most things slide. She lost 2 more teeth the same week and I even love her current goofy grin. The second tooth was hanging on by a thread until Macy's head knocked it out. I love that you wear skirts everyday. I hat that you have a drawer full of pants I bought you because you finally started wearing shorts this past summer. Love you babe.

Denver and Halloween

Did you know that "wx" is outside not "yz"? That is what Braden told me the other day. Just a tidbit of how cute that boy can be. But don't let him fool you. There are many days I am ready to rip my hair out. It is usually those days I have a lot to do and someone has decided napping is for the birds and that he should be up before the birds.

Anyways life has been continuing to move for us. Went to Denver over fall break to see my sister. We had a lot of fun and we have a lot more pictures and details than what is below but I will have to pray my memory will keep when I want to remember more about it in the future.

 Denver's State Capitol building and the 2 "one mile above sea level" markers. They had to make a second mark when they used GPS technology instead of the old by hand method. I guess you pick which one is right. Braden also is wearing his favorite coat (a handme down from a neighbor). That coat was a nightmare for pictures because of the reflective strips. He hardly ever took it off.

 Stopped by the Museum of Nature and Science and they have some neat, fun exhibits.

 The theme of this trip could have been trains. We saw lots and lots of trains which made one little boy really happy. The girls seemed to enjoy it to. This train was in Idaho Springs. We saw one in Eagle, CO and also in one in Spanish Fork Canyon.

 Star Fleet Academy, aka the Air Force Academy chapel in Colorado Springs.

 Cave exploring near Manitu Springs.

Saving mom from being crushed by Balancing Rock in the Garden of the Gods.  All in all a good trip.

So you want more (maybe not but it saves me an extra post). Here is Halloween fun.

 Free Scary face pancakes.

 Sharpay and Gabriella. The wigs lasted a whole 5 minutes. Macy's actually lasted longer amd she even wore hers for the school parade. Kelsey's got some use when I wore it to a neighborhood party.

Wanting to be like his sisters. How do you like Scooby sitting over his shoulder?

Multiplicity

I finally did it. I bought 20 lbs of chocolate to dip stuff in this Christmas. It was a huge expense so I better put it to good use. I have always wanted to try coating my caramels in chocolate. On Saturday while at a candy store in Springdale I was reminded of my dream. Then my dream led to visions of dipping other things like graham crackers, Ritz crackers and fudge (oh my!). So today I wiped up the continuous drool since Saturday and bought myself some chocolate as incentive to fulfill my dreams. I cross my fingers that time will be on my side this holiday season. I also hope that I hid the chocolate well enough that it is still there by then.

You may ask why 20 lbs. Well I like looovvve dark chocolate and Brian only eats it under extreme circumstances (that is when there is nothing sweet in the house for a couple of days). So I needed dark and milk chocolate to save my marriage. Well only the 10 lbs packages were on sale at the candy supply place so I purchased one of each to save money, not my rear end mind you.

After this purchase while driving home I got to thinking. I have way too many things I want to do or like to do. My bucket list might require me living until I am 150 (while maintaining perfect health) and coming into a whole butt load of money. Then I thought if there were a couple more of me's I could enjoy almost everything I want to right now, kind of like the movie Multiplicity with Micheal Keaton. There could be a me that would learn to make beautiful cakes with yummy fondant (yes I love fondant so get over it). There would be a me that would learn to sew everything I want. Someone to cook wonderful new meals, breads and desserts. Someone that would take painting classes. Someone else to go to the gym for all of us. Someone to play with the kids, read all the books on my 10 mile list, design and plant the most beautiful yard including a magnificent vegetable garden, and finally someone can and keep up on my food storage. There would be a traveling me to go all over and anywhere. I think I would also need someone to work outside the home because I know I would enjoy that too. And someone to take all the college classes I think sound interesting. After that line of thinking a wrench was thrown into my thoughts. Would the central me be able to experience the pleasure, learning, hard work and satisfaction that all the other me's would feel accomplishing their topic? Deep, I know. So I guess I will keep being the one and only me. Maybe I will get to them all eventually by changing hobbies every year. Maybe I should a bucket list post one day so I don't forget about all things I want to do.

Kelsey's Wish List

1. a real dog
2. a real gerbil
3. IPod touch, no the big one (aka an IPad)
4. a phone (Hannah on the bus supposedly has one)
5. a real working camera
6. an airplane that flies in the air that has a basket that can pick things up like popcorn (she says she saw it on a commercial)

Does anyone else see a problem with this list for a 6 year old? What am I to do?

I Never Said They Were Normal, Just Cute

I am sure my kids are normal in a kid normal way. But have you ever tried sleeping on 3 pillow pets night after night? It hurts my back just watching Braden climb up on them each nap time and bedtime. Some times they are closer together and other times they are farther apart. I really cringe when the pets are further apart and his body is contorted and concave. As long as he sleeps, right?

And by the way, I never realized "farther" and "further" until I typed these two words so close together. Spellcheck didn't catch one as wrong. So what is the difference and what is correct? I looked them up. I don't see a definition difference. So English majors is there a proper way to use these words or is it your own preference?

I never said I was normal either. Since I produced such cute kids then I must be cute too.

One more comment out of the blue. Mainly because the little man just came in and asked if we are going to get in the car and get bamatoes. He then told me he doesn't like bamatoes. And he doesn't. Do you have bamatoes at your house? They might also be called tomatoes.

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round

This momma at home says hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray. All day long.

I love my kids but I am happy when they get to go to school. Don't get me wrong I am sad because my play time is over too. But I am also a get-it-done type of person and that doesn't seem to happen as much when everyone is around. I also get excited for the knowledge my kids get to learn. I love to hear Macy read and see her accomplish math problems. I love to see Kelsey grow in courage and point out her letters. I was elated when last year she was able to point out the word "in" as we read. As Kelsey and I walked down the school hall to meet her teacher I was overcome with joy and excitement to know that my girls will get an education and that my girls are growing up. I absolutely love it. I am so grateful to live in the "land of the free".

I do admit I hate helping them with homework. It gets in the way of my to-do list or our play time. I do my best to teach them good habits even if I am groaning with them.

 Macy's first day was a week before Kelsey's. She is my big 2nd grader.

 Waiting at the bus stop. I am also grateful for buses. It gives me an extra 40 minutes a day and saves me gas. It also saves me and the kids the embarrassment of bed head in the drop off lane.

 Kelsey's is my little kindergartner. She has really changed in two years. I was a little worried that she would get nervous and not want to go. She used to be a little shy and more of a home body. There was a time when we first moved up when she wouldn't go to her primary class (however a couple of weeks ago she made grandma stay with her in class when they slept over and went to church with grandma). Not any more. She couldn't wait for the bus to come. I followed the bus to school but there was probably no need. She didn't even look back to say good bye and if I hadn't yelled it first she wouldn't have said anything. Come to think of it she never even gave me a hug. That is my big girl. Now my problem is she doesn't understand why she can't go in the morning with Macy. She wants to go all day.

 Walking to the bus stop with her best friend, her best friend's dad, and her best friend's little sister.

Of course Braden would not let me forget him. Here he is with his trucks. He loves his trucks. He made me take a picture of him every time I took one of Kelsey.

Kelsey's word of the day

The other day when Macy was at school and Braden was down for a nap, Kelsey and I played her favorite game. She called it "Remembory". She usually calls the game "My Little Pony Matching Game".

The Good Things in Life and the Ironic Ones

The Good Things:

• Lots of homemade raspberry freezer jam made with fresh Bear Lake raspberries. One batch with my secret ingredient.
• Death by Chocolate cake for Grandma K's 90th birthday party last night.
• 2 helpers in the kitchen to help make the items above. One likes to add a little chef drama/acting as she stirs and mixes. The down side to this is there is usually some mess that is created like pectin being spilled on the hot burner.
• Homemade salsa made with garden fresh ingredients. I wish they were from my garden, but alas they came from the crop sharing thing I did this summer. This was really my first time making salsa and it sure took a long time.

The Ironic Part of Life:

• Tragedy always strikes while on the toilet and usually right before getting in the shower. A toy needs to be fixed, someone was mean to someone else, starvation hits even though it has only been five minutes since the last course. Good thing the earthquakes and fires have decided to hold off. Maybe they could teach my kids something.
• Brian caught a nasty flu bug and he hasn't even seen the kids all week. He has been working late hours on a major project at work all week long. I am crossing my fingers, following him with lysol and praying the kids don't catch it. School starts tomorrow. There will be plenty of germs there. We don't need to add ours to the mix. I am also praying because this momma doesn't want to be cleaning anything up.

Another Hand Mixer Bites the Dust (plus some summer stuff)

So I am now down another hand mixer. I burned it out the other day. What is with the cheap kitchen appliances? Okay I have to admit there is some doubt whether it was the machine or the user. I might not have gotten the beaters put in all the way on some thick batter. But in my defense it had recently seemed to be slowing a bit. Also I may have installed everything correctly that last time. I just don't remember.

I am also out another camera. Cameras and sunglasses fall into the same category for us. We can't afford to buy the really expensive kinds because within a matter of months they are lost, broken or dropped. This may be the third or fourth camera we have owned. Last year in Disneyland Brian dropped the camera while it was on and jammed the lense. Well butterfingers did it again but this time at Bear Lake. All right he was handing it to me and there seems to be a fuzzy point in the story, again (just like with the mixer), where the camera dropped. And I just remembered I lost my sunglasses at Cherry Hill. I purchased those in June.

So needless to say I have no proof that we did exciting things during the end of summer and were not just couch potatoes. Well, we did do some of the that. The kids for sure did some of this at Bear Lake when they had an ICarly marathon with some cousins once removed or however those titles go. It isn't my favorite show to let the girls watch but it was awfully quiet and enjoyable when they were glued to the TV. It allowed for a lot of train playing (Ticket to Ride).

I tried to wear the kids out with the fantastic trip to Bear Lake. But Macy could not get enough tubing in so obviously she was not worn out. Brian and I hiked to Bloomington Lake while there and we stopped by the Oregon Trail Museum. Still the kids kept going.

So we did some swimming at my grandma's condo's pool. I love that pool. They keep it at around 88 degrees. Still not tired. Instead the kids started growing gills. So I gave them more water. We spent 3 whole days at Cherry Hill with my family. The kids only came up to breath when it was time to eat and when the big bad mom said it was time to go to bed. Kelsey spent hours in the lazy river (ask my mom about that). Macy could not get enough of the rapids ride and loved being a big kid. She never wanted to hang out with me unless there was no one else to ride with. And Braden mixed his time between the lazy river, Pirates Cove (the little kids area) and the pool. He also enjoyed closing the pool down with a pooping incident. Don't ask. It was embarrassing especially when you do not realize it was your kid.

There have grandma sleepovers and great grandma's birthday parties. The party was even complete with big blow up water slides and bounce houses. There have been some Scales and Tails visits. The semi-annual visit to the dentist. This time there was success. Kelsey actually opened her month and let them clean her teeth. Macy also started piano. Maybe one day I will have the energy to describe the joy (dripping with sarcasm) of helping her practice. We have gone back to school shopping (hurray!). And tonight Macy gets to meet her teacher. I am still trying to figure out how to take first day of school pictures without a camera. I am not great at pictures but it is Kelsey's first day of elementary school in a week.

For me I am trying to get the motivation back to wake up early in the morning to exercise before I have to get kids up for school. I am also lacking in general motivation to get my to-do list done. It has grown considerably while we were out having fun. Even blogging was better than accomplishing anything this morning.

From the Mouth of Braden

Dad: "Who's da man?" (hoping it is dad)
Braden: "Jesus"

Braden: (running into the girls room with a shirt and diaper on) "Hey guys, I'm naked."
Don't worry he loves to say this when he has even less on too.

Braden: "Slug bug blue one, I got that."
Kelsey: "No I got that one."
Braden (the parrot): "No I got that one."
Kelsey: "No I got that one."
Braden: "No I got that one."
Kelsey: "I got it."
Braden: "I got it."
Kelsey: (in tears now) "I got it."
Mom: "Kelsey, Braden is just copying everything you say. It is how he learns to talk and communicate. Just stop saying anything and know that you got it."
Kelsey: "Braden, I got that one."
Braden (still the parrot): "I got that one."

I call the game up above "Let's annoy mom in the car" game. I am now really sorry I put my parents through this game. After five minutes in the car I am ready to pull my hair out. The worst part is there are no clear rules except the Queen of Hearts knows all the rules (aka Macy). This means Kelsey will end up crying every trip.
Here are some of the rules that I believe I have picked up on before I start to shout and tell them they are playing the game separately.

1. They have no added "bingo" to the beginning.
2. You must shout.
3. There isn't just slug bugs anymore. They have added other types of cars such as: tahoes, suburbans (unless you are Braden then it is a burbon), Stef's car, buses, dad's car and jeep's.
4. You must also say whether it has a top or not (a convertible) and the color.
5. You must end with "I got that".
6. You must include everything to get a point. For example: "Bingo, jeep, black one, top on, I got that." 
7. I believe if you finish saying everything at the same time then you have to share points.
8. If you forget a part then Macy gets the point.
9. Macy will always get 2 points to Kelsey's 1 point. She will always win.

At least no one has told them about the slugging part. If anyone does, you better watch your back.

Braden has peed four times in the toilet. This has nothing to do with talking but I wanted others to share in the celebration. But alas, this mother is not ready for toilet training a two year old that still can't pull down or pull up his own pants. So I will let it be and encourage him when he wants to sit on the toilet himself. I have my fingers crossed he will be like his sisters and one day he will magically be potty trained.

Another note about Braden. He is for sure two and very much like Macy. He is stubborn and independent. There are fits about doing it himself in nearly every aspect of life. I pray for patience.

A Piece of Advice

Just in case you were wondering, I did find that missing sock. My still stands at 1.000. Do you want to know where it was? Someone mysteriously put it in the whites. I blamed the owner and the owner blamed Braden. Who knows and who cares.
Again we have been busy doing summer things like swimming lessons, trips to the pool, one glorious boating trip (hopefully more to come), two hikes with the yahoos, a visit with AZ/BYU friends, a preschool reunion party (Ms. Patti is such and amazing teacher) and Fourth of July celebrations that included a little parade and some wonderful fireworks. Oh yes and one over due library book that I found today that I had no idea we still had. I am sure that is not all we did but I don't want to be boring. It has been the good life. The girls have even remembered how to play with one another. If I am not around they play for hours. If I am in ear shot then there is screaming and crying from Kelsey every five minutes. But Macy is not the only culprit. Kelsey likes to make things known through her lungs and Macy keeps it under her breath with a little pinch or squeeze.

So after all this I have one piece of advice. Walking to the grocery with your kids is a great way to incorporate physical activity into everyday living. However, going to the grocery store to get a watermelon because you think it will fit under the stroller is not a smart idea. Mainly because it won't fit under the stroller like you envisioned which means you will be caring the watermelon in your jumbo reusable Costco bag you luckily grabbed for the other few items you picked up. I at least grabbed the bag with the big long straps so I could at least carry it on my shoulder leaving red marks that lasted a couple of days. My advice use the car to get the watermelon.

The only way to hike to Donut falls, as long as you are on top.

The closest we could get to Donut falls because of all the water this year.

Yo, Peace out. Which is what we said when we tried to hike to Lake Mary on July 2! There was too much snow for the kids to make it.

Where, Oh, Where has My Veggie Peeler Gone

So I pride myself on the fact that my washing machine doesn't eat socks. If it does it eats them in pairs. Oh what, I just lost one but I don't count that yet because I really haven't taken the time to look for it. Maybe tomorrow I will remember to take a peak in the dryer. But that is not the topic of this post.

Right now I have to ask, who snags a vegetable peeler? I have looked in every drawer, cupboard, pantry and even the fridge. There is no sign, no clue. I understand how socks disappear because they go everywhere. They go on vacations, to school, to parks, through puddles, etc. But a vegetable peeler only works in the kitchen. Seriously, where would it have gone. It was such a nice instrument especially compared to my two previous, really cheap ones. I am at a loss. So it is off to the store to buy a replacement. Sniffle, sniffle :(

Thinking of cheap, anyone else notice how cheaply made small appliances are made these days. I have been through 3 hand mixers, 2 toasters and 1 blender. That is ridiculous. I remember my mom's blender from working forever. In fact, it would probably still be use if the jar part hadn't broken. It was so old she didn't feel it worth scouring the country for a replacement.

Dance Recital

Last weekend was the girls dance recital. I did much better than last year. No embarassing mom moments for me and I really enjoyed the show. The older girls at this studio did a really good job and it was fun to watch their talent. I can't say that I wasn't a bizerko mom. I never danced and my talent does not lie in make-up and hair dos so the stress of trying to do precisely as I am asked and get the girls to a location on time does not bode well for me. I got a tiny bit stressed. Oh well. At least there was improvement from last year. I remembered everything including make-up and flowers (those were two of the things I messed up on last year).

Macy and Kelsey did fantastic too. Kelsey smiled the whole time on stage. After dress rehearsal Kelsey ran to me and said it was so much fun. She told me she got to go on the real stage and now she wants to do dance next year. (As if I wasn't watching the rehearsal.) Then she asked if was going to get flowers after the real performance.  Macy says she is done with dance. It is softball and soccer for her next year (that is what I overheard her telling a little dance friend during rehearsal).

Frogs and Toads and Snakes? Oh My!

So my sister is friends with a guy who owns a company called Scales and Tails. This company does animal shows with all sorts of interesting creatures. None of which are my favorites, but Stefanie loves them. I guess about monthly they do these little shows/exhibits for kids and she wanted to take my kids to one. I went along because Braden wanted to go.

Kelsey enjoyed herself and went because she wanted to hold some snakes. Yes she wanted to hold snakes. A few weeks ago she asked me if she could have a pet snake after she played with her cousins new pet. The immediate answer was no. She followed up with "one day she would let her kids have a pet snake." I said that is fine as long as you are not living at my house.

She was a little hesitant with these snakes because they were a little larger than what she was expecting. This place has a snake that currently weighs 113 lbs but at one point the snake weighed 140 lbs. I guess the snake had been sick and so lost some weight, but I was assured that she is all well now. Whew! I was worried.

Braden didn't really get it and didn't really care one way or the other. He touched a frog and looked at salamanders (the show that night was about amphibians). But mostly he just goofed off.

Macy on the other hand pretty much freaked out. It is not her thing. She was a good sport and sat by the play pool when they let loose a bunch of hopping frogs. She called it quits when a frog hopped right in her lap. Kelsey came to the rescue and grabbed the frog and put him back.

Here they are after the show playing some games.

 This little froggy hopped 3 feet.

 This tiny frog hopped just shy of 1 foot.

And look at this little froggy in action who hopped a whopping 5 feet.