Sunday, February 27, 2011

Sunday Morning


Cesar let me sleep in this morning which was nice, but then we missed the first hour of church.  Hugo informed me that he was "not going to church and I'm serious Mom."  I answered that he was going and I was serious too!  He told me that, "Sacrament is too long.  There are too many songs and it's boring."  I said, "Well, isn't it your lucky Sunday then.  We are missing Sacrament right now, but get dressed because you are going to Primary!"  It was a miracle that he didn't fight me about getting dressed.  It was actually smooth sailing all the way fast forward to the end of third hour.  Today was the Relief Society Visiting Teaching Conference and our meeting was nearly through when into the room burst Hugo looking for me.  He quickly handed off an item his teacher had given him to me so he could run, hands free as a bird, through the halls.  Reverence in the Chapel is not a virtue Hugo is in possession of.






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Saturday, February 26, 2011

Shadow Shot Sunday


This photo was taken last year at the start of spring.  I must admit that I can't wait to see the yellow blooms of the forsythia once more.  Spring, oh spring.... I'm right here waiting for you!

Click here to follow along and view more shadow shots.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Dressed In White


It snowed, again.  I hadn't kept up with the weather this week and as I opened the curtains in the nursery this morning, I was a bit shocked.  More snow!  I asked Hugo if he'd looked outside yet.  His response was of great annoyance as he muttered how he wants it to be warm when he plays outside.  He like the part about there being no school.  I felt bad for him.  He really hasn't had much fun in the snow this year.  It has been too deep for his short person and I have been stuck inside with the girls.  I could have made it more fun.  I really could have.  Next year will be the year of family fun in the snow.  Promise.  I just hope it will snow!  Next year that is, we really could use a break for the rest of the season.  I am worried where all this snow melt will go this coming spring.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Bathtub Watch Dogs


A sad story was told to me about a local woman whose baby drowned in the the bathtub a few weeks ago.  Supposedly, the mother left her child to answer the telephone.  I don't know more than this, nor do I care to fill my head with any more details of this tragedy.  But, I have thought of the poor mother.  And I've thought about how lucky I am to be a momma to three beautiful, bright children.  The thought of my girls in the bathtub brings a smile to my face because there is no way on God's green earth that Marlo and Sabine would even consider the slightest possibility of my leaving the bathroom while they are in the tub.  If I even make for the direction of the bathroom door, no matter how engrossed they are with bubbles and toys, they'll both jump, bolt up right and bellow at the top of their lungs while clinging to the side of the cast iron tub in dreadful fear of my leaving the room.  They don't act this way in any other room in the house.  Ever.  Only while they are in the bathtub and only if I seem to make for the doorway.  They're my bathtub watch dogs, not gonna allow their Momma to make a mistake.  I'm glad someone is watching out for me.


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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

A Post of Updates


"It is a great art, to saunter."  Henry David Thoreau

The kids are in need of a post of updates.  So here goes.

Hugo is our Billy Elliot.  He has always liked to dance and sing, but lately he has been a twirling, whirling boy.  He loves to shake his hips Elvis style, with bent knees and all, while at the same time, he'll jump in the air and spin about.  I'm beginning to think he might actually like a dance class.

We watched Cinderella one morning last week while in the midst of a two hour snow delay.   Hugo has been singing the Fairy Godmother song, which plays from his sisters pink Disney princess microphone, *all*wrong*.   You know the one, where she turns the mice into horses, a pumpkin into a grand coach, and in the end, Cinderella gets her gown and famous glass slippers.  Well, The Fairy Godmother sings "Bipitty, Bopitty, Boo" and Hugo sings "Hipitty, Hopitty, Who" soooo, we watched the movie.  Later that day, I happened upon Hugo singing in the quiet of his room and he wasn't singing "Bipitty, Bopitty, Boo" as we had practiced again and again, the little turkey was singing Cinderella's "O... sing, sing sweet nightingale, sing, sing aaaaAAAAaaaaaaa".  It was pure sweetness to my heart and ears.

Marlo.  She strongly dislikes having her face washed.  This girl has fuzzy, bed head every single morning.  She pats her tummy as she's being dressed, proud as punch at its roundness.  She steals shooshas from out of Sabine's mouth, even if she already has one occupying her own mouth.  She gives awesome, tight hugs around your neck.  She likes to hug and kiss her Hello Kitty dolls.  Just tonight she ruffled her lips with blowing air to make the snorting sound of a horse, surprised me to pieces.  She is still knee walking.  She loves asparagus.  And blueberry pancakes, and strawberries, and pretzels, and ham, and macaroni and cheese, and risois.  If Marlo doesn't like an item of food, check the expiration date, something must be wrong with it.  She pulls hair barrettes out in two seconds flat.  She does bring them to me.  She also pulls barrettes out of her sister Sabine's hair.  Her favorite room in the house, Hugo's.  She loves sitting in her new (Hugo's) forward facing carseat.   Marlo is her sister Sabine's side kick in the world of big smoke t-r-o-u-b-l-e, trouble.  Her legs are as ticklish as her Papa's.  She has the best, best belly laugh.  When she toots, she'll make eye contact with you and grunt/laugh like a boy.  Miss Marlo has a personality which people gravitate toward. 

Sabine.  She loves having her face washed.  This girl has pretty curls at the back of her head. She has no tummy to speak of.  Isn't in love with the shoosha like her twin sister is, never has been.  She prefers her musical giraffe with its slowly bobbing head.  She wants serious snuggle time in the morning.  As soon as the day comes that she'll be free of her baby prison of a crib, I'm afraid she'll move into our bed.  Like, for forever.  Sabine love, loves her pink, gingham Hello Kitty despite the fact that she'll toss her to the floor once each and every nap and nighttime as I cover up Marlo in her crib.  I think it's her way of getting attention from me *one*more*time* before lights out.  She says "bok" for the chicken sound.  Is still topsy turvey with her walking skills and is quite accident prone, but a trooper.  Sabine has a love for books.  She also gives more attention to detail with her toys compared to her sister.  She loves strawberries.  She wont eat whole blueberries, but if I mash them into pancakes or muffins... poof!, down the hatch they disappear.  She also likes cheese, yogurt, pretzels, ham, banana muffins, risois, spaghetti, and steamed dumplings.  No asparagus for her.  Sabine is gentle.  She makes singing sounds with her breathy, Demi Moore like voice.  She yet has her birthmark on her leg.  Sabine's favorite room in the house, Hugo's.  She is a curious baby and gets into babyish mischief which neither her brother before her, nor her sister born 3 minutes before her, ever dreamed of.  She isn't quite sure of her new carseat.  Pablo, of the Backyardigans fame, is her boyfriend.


Sunday, February 20, 2011

CTR Ring


In Primary today Hugo's teacher Sister Bowers handed out CTR (Choose The Right) rings to all in her Sunbeam class.  He could hardly sit still through Sharing Time for the want of showing me his new ring.  I wonder how we can use this to our parenting advantage... bribery!  Every little bit helps.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Costume Party Playdate


 Loads of costume fun is taking place right here, right now!














Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Mailbox Love











A few days ago, this letter made it's way into our mailbox.  I really like personal mail.  I had so much fun sending and receiving Christmas cards this past December, that I've thought about creating a mid year letter and photo to send out.  Like um, this coming June.  Wouldn't that be a nice surprise in the mailbox?  A little letter love in the summery month of June. 

But this letter was a bit different.  It was sent by a friend from long ago.  She was cleaning out closets and came across my Christmas card to her from way back in 2006.  It was the last card that I sent to her since I lost my address book in a black hole of a closet of my own.  But then guess what... That card of mine from years ago made her wonder about my whereabouts and she Googled me.  Me!  She found my blog, looked at photos of my children, and read my words.  Then a few days later, she wondered if I'd posted a new picture and logged on for more.  When she read my little post about California Dreaming, she wrote that it was fate.  Her family was about to depart on a trip of their own to sunny California to visit one of her sisters and Disneyland.

She whipped up a handwritten letter addressed to me.  No blog comment.  No email.  No voicemail.  No "like" on facebook, or twitter tweat, or text message.  An honest to goodness, handwritten letter, tucked into a pretty sleeve with a hand addressed envelope to me.  Boy oh boy, did it feel good and right.  I have friends and family members who have sent wonderful packages full of goodies for my girls this past year who I have not publicly mentioned here on the blog, nor have I photographed their wrapped goodies.  I have felt that love, towards my girls, to be of a higher, more personal plane.  This handwritten letter brought me back to the days before I was married.  I used to be the queen of writing and sending letters.  I used to receive letters in my mailbox.  Now it seems the only cards I get in the mail are wedding invites, baby announcements, or Christmas cards.  I miss the letter.

One of my resolutions for 2011 I am making right here and now, it is to bring the handwritten note back into my life.  To be the giver of friendly love tokens in a mailbox coming your way oh, so very soon.  If you would like a note from me, and are afraid that you might be in my missing address book, please leave your contact information in the comments below.  Letter goodness will come your way!

Thank you Meryl!  I hope your trip is every bit of wonderful that mine was!

p.s. The letter arrived on Valentine's Day.  Couldn't have been more perfect.


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Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentine's Day


Happy Valentine's Day from our house to yours!  

Hugo helped me to "paint" the cookies last night.  I was surprised by how many he actually finished.  He even dragged his toothpick through the frosting to make the white hearts! 

May hugs and kisses and sweetness galore fill your house a plenty this day!

*Photo credit of Hugo goes to my sister Millie.  She shot this while we were visiting in Wisconsin this past September.  And it was her idea to turn the pic into a valentine, which we did.  
Thank you Auntie Millie!
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Saturday, February 12, 2011

Shadow Shot Sunday


This past week had only one two hour snow delay.  Amazing.  This past week the sun shone, which helped to melt, melt, melt our snow drifts!  So now, instead of a driveway, we have a skating rink in our very own yard. 

For your viewing pleasure, click on over to Hey Harriet to find more Shadow Shots.

Friday, February 11, 2011

California Dreaming


I peeled and ate an orange while I waited for Hugo to finish his supper tonight.  Hugo watched me and said that we shouldn't eat an orange if it were green.  This brought thoughts to mind, of the two weeks we spent at his Auntie Millie's house in Oceanside, California, two long years ago.  I thought of all the beautiful fruit and flowers on her property and how warm it had been.... sigh.  I asked Hugo if he remembered the fruit trees in Aunt Millie's yard and the groves of avocados that we ran and played in?

Hugo said he remembered his cousins Lucas, Emry, and Carley, and the ocean, and the fruit trees.  I'm not so sure he really remembered the fruit trees.  I then asked if he remembered a special place that we visited with his cousins.  Hugo paused and as a smile spread over his face he quietly answered, "Yes, the cups.  And my mouse ears are hanging upstairs!"  Oh Disneyland, we miss you. 
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