The letter R

Hailee likes to play a computer game online at www.starfall.com. It teaches early reading skills and things for kids. The thing about Hailee is she likes to discover things on her own. So she just sits up to the computer and clicks away for hours. She has found stuff that I don't even know where they are. Last night we were sitting in our room and she was asking us things like "What does Ariel start with" so I sound it out and say "I think it starts with D"and she yells out "no it starts with A" "What does Max start with?" then she says "M" and on and on it went through all of her favorite words. We came upon a word that started with R and this is how our conversation went...

Hailee: R is kind of angry mom
Nicole: Why is R kind of angry
Hailee: Because R says "RRRRRRRRRRR" (making the R sound with her best grumpy face)

Todd and I just started laughing. What a funny little girl. I never would have though of letters having emotions. She has loved her computer game and has learned so much. She is starting to sound words out on her own and she loves learning all the things they have on there. Before coming to Oregon she learned about Idioms. The example they used was "Ants in your pants." A few days were were driving to Coscto and a lady was in a big hurry and cut me off. I said "Wow she is in a hurry" and from the back I hear "She must have ants in her pants."

Final days in Oregon

Coach Ian, Hailee and Coach Erin

Well we've been having a lot of endings this week, Friday was Hailee's last day of soccer and Todd's last day of work. Both very sad occasions. Friday we went to Hailee's soccer class and she had so much fun. She got a little certificate saying she was moving on to the next level of soccer. Her coach told me she was the only one they recommended to move to the next class. She was in a class of all boys, one was a little younger, and the other two were older. I'm so proud of her and all the things she has learned. At the beginning she wanted me right by her side and by the end she would occasionally wave and tell me to watch her. She became quite independent.

This is one Hailee's favorite game to play. They drive their little motor boats around honking the horn and looking out for sharks. As soon as the coach yells "SHARK" the have to drop their boats (little blue rubber circles) and jump on top.

Todd's last day of work went well and was very sad for him at the same time. He has enjoyed HP and the people he got to work with. Thursday night Sue, Todd's manager, had a salmon BBQ at her house to say good bye to us. It was a lot of fun to get together with everyone one last time. We'll have to see where this next year takes us. I'm sure it will be a fun adventure. Now it's time to get packed and ready to go.

Spicy

Today Hailee was helping me take out the recycling. Inside there were a number of vanilla coke cans and one orange fanta drink. Our conversation went like this.

Hailee: Mom that drink is my drink (pointing to the orange fanta)
Nicole: Yes it is, we're going to go recycle the can.
Hailee: Mom that drink is your drink (pointing to the vanilla coke)
Nicole: Yes that is mommy's drink
Hailee: I don't like that drink, it makes me kind of spicy
Nicole: Really?
Hailee: Yes just a little spicy

I have no idea where she got that idea from. We've talked about it before, I always said that it wasn't good for little girls. I don't know where she got spicy from, but it made me laugh so hard this morning. It's so funny to hear what little kids come up with sometimes.

Denial

So I think Hailee and I are living in denial about leaving Oregon, neither one of us is really ready to admit that it's almost time to go home. This morning we got up and decided to go pick blueberries at a place just outside of Corvallis. We had so much fun. The blueberries were only $1/pound so we picked tons and it only came to 2 1/2 pounds. I really should be packing and getting ready, but on the other hand there aren’t any places in Utah to pick blueberries. Now I'm just trying to decided if it's possible to take blueberries home to Utah. Hmmmm..... definitely worth trying.



Later we went to our last picnic in the park with our ward. Hailee had such a good time playing with Livvy. She is going to miss her new little friend and we're all going to miss our friends that we've made here. Of course Hailee and Livvy didn't want to stop to get their picture taken so I had to take it when they were off playing.

Balance in the Universe

According to Todd there has to be balance in the universe. So whenever something good happens he likes to tease that something has to go wrong later. Well on August 20th he went to the internship meeting with HP. They had a drawing and Todd won a 24" flat screen monitor. He was so excited. (When he went to HP's information session at BYU he won an iPAQ. For some reason he has been really lucky with HP's drawings). Well his "balance in the universe" theory came into play this week. The next day he was busy getting is presentation ready and his computer crashed and his presentation and project files were corrupted. Luckly after a few hours with IT the were able to recover some of it and he was able to finish the rest. He stayed at work late and went in at 6:30 the next morning, but he was able to get things finished. His presentation yesterday went really well. He has one more today and then it looks like he'll just have a few more things to wrap up. His last day is Friday and Hailee and I are so proud of him. He is doing such a great job.

HP Picnic

Saturday we had a great time at the HP summer picnic. They had so many fun things to do and so many yummy things to eat. It was like going to a fair, except you didn't have to pay for anything. The highlights for Hailee were the bouncing things and the fire truck. We stood in line for the pony ride, but when we got to the front she decided she didn't want to ride. What a funny girl. In the morning Todd had to go into work for a minute and told Hailee that we would go on a picnic when he got back. She was even more excited to find out the picnic was going to be at daddy's work. She was bouncing around all morning and so sad to come home that evening. I guess it lived up to her expectations. I couldn't believe all the people and all the things they had going on. It was so much fun.


Hailee bouncing. Todd said when she first went inside (I was in line for the pony) she wasn't sure she would like it. Then she took a bounce and loved it and didn't want to stop. Even after going in a few times she wasn't ready to leave.
Hailee going through the fire truck.

Pickle races

We only have one more week of soccer and I'm not quite sure how to tell Hailee that it's almost over. She has loved going to class every week. The last couple of weeks it's been all on her own and I get to watch from the sidelines. This video is of her running pickle races with her coaches. I think this one she would have to eat pickles and chocolate ice cream if she lost and if she won her coaches have to eat the pickles and chocolate ice cream. She loves coach Ian and coach Erin and has such a fun time playing soccer.

Blackberries

Today I woke up and decided I was going to eat blackberries everyday until we head back to Utah. I'm hoping that it will make me tired of the delicious fruit so when I do get back to Utah I won't have to spend a small fortune buying berries there. Once Hailee woke up and she was dressed in her beautiful dress we headed out to the front of the apartment complex and picked berries. I don't think there is anything more enjoyable. No matter where we live I want to plant berry bushes. We came back in and I made a little blackberry crumble and Hailee and I enjoyed blackberry crumble and ice cream for breakfast....how divine. I don't think I could be more spoiled.

During breakfast I also found on lds.org President Faust's funeral services. I was so sad to find out he had passed away last week. He is definitely one of my favorite general authorities. He is just so wise and loving. You could just feel it when he spoke. Hailee and I enjoyed watching the service where I cried at times and laughed at others. He is such a great man and I will miss hearing him speak in General Conference.

In other news Todd is busy finishing up his project. I can't believe that we are down to almost a week left of our internship. It has gone by too fast. Todd is busy working and is doing a great job with everything. He has had a busy summer and we are just so thankful that his health has been good. We have been truly blessed.

Back to Utah

With just two weeks left on our internship I decided it was time to start prepping Hailee about moving back. Today at dinner I asked her if she was ready to come back to Utah. This is how our conversation went.

N: Hailee in a few weeks we are going to move back to Utah

H: Utah?

N: Yes, Utah.

H: Oh I remember that place.

N: You are going to have your Aunt Kristy and your Aunt Ruthann when we move back.

H: Okay, is Lexie girl going to move back to Utah too.

N: Yes everyone will be back.

H: (thinking about things for a minute) I don't want to move back to Utah mom.

I can see this is going to take a little more convincing, if her favorite people (her two aunts and Lexie) isn't enough incentive for her to move back we might be in trouble. She has loved living in Oregon. Any time we're driving around and there are big trees on either side of the street she always says "Oh we're in Oregon." We are all a little sad that are time in the Northwest is ending for the time being. We would love to come back.

Breakthrough

Friday we had a very busy day. It started off with taking Todd to work at 7:00 a.m. He and a few other interns went to the Vancouver office (just outside of Portland) to meet with some VP's and check out that HP location. As soon as we got home from dropping Todd off Hailee insisted on putting on her dress. When I told her it was time to get ready for soccer she informed me that she needed to get her red shorts on. I assumed she would just want to put them on under her dress, but I was wrong again. She actually wanted to wear just her soccer shorts. What a breakthrough. She had an absolutely lovely time at soccer. They have worked up to the point where I'm not on the field helping anymore and she just loves it. It is really cute to see her run around and have a great time. Soccer has been a really fun thing for her. I was sad I didn't get any pictures of her this time wearing her soccer shorts.


After soccer we went up to Susan's house. Of course she has been busy spoiling Hailee. She made her two little night dresses for her to sleep in. (We did have a problem with her not wanting to take off her dresses at night.) She was so pleased to get a new dress and was surprised to here she can actually wear it at night. Susan also taught me a lot of fun little sewing tricks. Hmmm... maybe I'll try sewing again. Right now I just like picking out fabric, and have a hard time making anything out of it.

On Todd's way back from Portland he had the people drop him off at Susan's exit so we got to drive home together. He had a good experience in the Vancouver office and got to meet with 3 VP's and a director. We stayed at Susas a little bit and about 7:00 p.m. Hailee and Todd decided they had a full day and went to sleep. Shortly after I took them both home and we all went to bed. Hailee was sad to wake up having not told them goodbye, but then was pleased to still be wearing her beautiful dress. Walking down the stairs this morning was an adventure as well. Hailee discovered her dress trailed behind her just like Sleeping Beauty's dress. She was so pleased.

Blueberries

Last weekend we were invited to Todd's managers house for dinner. She made the best chicken and blueberry crumble so I decided to pass along the recipes. Blueberries are now my favorite fruit.

Grilled Chicken with Blueberry Mustard Sauce

4 Tbs. Lemon juice
3 Tbs oil
lots of garlic
4 boneless chicken breasts

1 cup finely chopped onion
2 tsp. dry mustard
2 Tbs. Dijon mustard
2 Tbs. Honey
4-6 Tbs. White wine
2 cups blueberries
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Marinate chicken breast in 2 Tbs. (I use more) each lemon juice and oil for 2 – 3 hours.

For sauce, sauté onion if oil until soft. Add dry mustard, 2 Tbs lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, 4 Tbs wine, blueberries, cinnamon. Bring to a boil, reduce to low and simmer 10 minutes. Thin with wine if necessary. Grill chicken basting with marinade. Serve topped with warm sauce.

Blueberry crumble

1/3 c. softened or melted butter
1/2 c. oats
1/2 c. flour
2/3 c. dark brown sugar
3/4 tsp. cinnamon

In an 8x8 pan, spread 3 cups blueberries plus 2 tablespoons lemon juice (or more). Spread above mixture on top (crumble with hands)

Bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until brown and bubbly

You can increase size proportionally. I sometimes make more crumble. Also if you like a less runny crisp, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of corn starch over blueberries.

Signs you are watching too much Charlie and Lola

Hailee, Lola, and Charlie enjoying some pink milk.

“Charlie and Lola” is an adorable show from the UK that we can watch here on the Disney channel. This summer since we don’t have TV we have been collecting the DVD's. I don't mind Hailee watching this show because I like it as much as she does, it shows kids working through every day problems, and I love hearing their cute little accents (the voice acting is amazing). But I was realizing that we might be watching a little too much Charlie and Lola. Here are some signs I’m starting to recognize:

1. Hailee has to give three tigers pink milk, brush her teeth with one lion, chase a whale down the plug hole, and telephone two dancing dogs about pajamas before she can go to bed. (see book “I am not sleepy and I will not go to bed”) This one I am really grateful for this because it has turned bedtime into a fun game and she enjoys going to bed now.

2. Things she likes are her “favorite and her best”. The other day when were making berry pie she informed me that berry pie is her favorite and her best. (see book “Snow is my favorite and my best”)

3. Hailee is acquiring a British accent. Words like “tomato” “can’t” “yogurt” “dog” along with others are now all spoken with a British accent. I sometimes wonder what people in the grocery store think when they here her speaking some of her words with an accent.

4. She is starting to say “fish fingers” instead of “fish sticks”, “shopping trolley” instead of “shopping cart” and phrases like “easy peasy lemon squeesy” "I'm just not keen on...."

5. She likes to act out her favorite scenes from the DVD’s. Some favorites are “I am not the sun” “I am not sleepy and I will not go to bed” and “I will never not ever eat a tomato”

6. We have 4 DVD’s with 7 or so episodes on each and she can tell you exactly which episodes are on what DVD.

7. Pink milk is all she ever wants to drink anymore.

8. She wants a pink elephant named “Ellie.”

9. She loves her stripy dresses because Lola has lots of stripy dress and they are her best smartest party dresses.

10. She really wants an imaginary friend like Soren Lorensen.

Finally enjoying the sand

We went to Newport on Saturday and this time we went a little better prepared for the beach. We had a beach blanket, bucket and shovel for Hailee and treats. We stayed longer than the previous two times since we had a place to sit. It was a little windy, but by the end Hailee was loving the sand. She had a great time and Todd is so pleased she likes the beach so much now. If we move here the beach is definitely going to be a favorite place to visit.


Todd showed Hailee how to jump off the sand dunes. She loved that game.