the haws family

v a l e n t i n e s

2012-02-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day 2012!

{Thanks Heather for the pic!}

I love Valentine's Day. I always have. And now that my girls are old enough to enjoy it too it's been extra fun. We came up with pretty darn cute valentines for them to give to their friends:

Tyler and I are on a "no money" gift-giving this holiday. He has some secret surprise for me that I have no idea what it could be- I can't wait! Tonight we are going to see the scary movie "Lady in Black" with my sis and her husband. Because nothing says romance like clinging to one another in a dark movie theater because we're scared! :)

But so far my favorite part of this little holiday was when Caroline brought home a "secret" note from a boy in her class. She was acting all embarrassed and not telling me what it said so I was teasing her:
"Oh, he thinks you're cute!"
To which she replied: "No. Worse. He thinks I'm funny!"
And he did. The note, written on purple construction paper, reads as follows (in rather good kindergarten penmanship)...
Dear Caroline,
Your funny.
Shane

We agree Shane. We agree.

Technologically advancing ourselves.

2012-02-13T09:01:00.000-08:00

2012 has seen this Haws family officially leap decades in technological advancement:

Out with the small bubble television that has been our DVD-watching tool for the past 7 years. We bought it for $75 forever ago when we lived in California. Grace watched her beloved "Bambi" on it when she was 2. Back when we used to have to remember to rush in at the critical mother-killing time in the movie and hit fast forward...

In with a new, thin, 47" flatscreen! We can actually HEAR and SEE what is happening on the television now! And, since we bought a used wii for Christmas, now we can watch Netflix! Yeah! (No, we we still don't have cable or regular tv stations. We're not THAT advanced. And we don't care for it. Any tv watching needs can still be met with Hulu on my trusty computer. Also, don't worry: We still hooked up our VHS player to the fancy new flatscreen so the girls can continue to enjoy watching their favorite "Big DVD's.")

The girls have especially enjoyed playing Mario Kart with their Daddy and friends. It's hilarious to hear their shouts of joy and/or abject despair from upstairs as they race each other! I love craigslist- I was able to find games and wii equipment for a fraction of what it would cost new.

And, finally, the single most advanced thing we did this past Christmas? We gave each of our girls an ipod Touch. I now refer to those genius little devices as "The Nannies." You see, since we don't have tv at home, or a DVD player in the car, we thought it would be great to have individual little movie players for each of the girls with their own headphones. Now Lila can watch Barbie movies and Grace can watch "Chronicles of Narnia" and I won't hear a single squabble about sharing a movie! My girls aren't much into electronic gaming, but the ipods have a few games and their precious disney music on them, besides the few movies they each got to buy. NO, they aren't able to make phone calls and NO, they cannot access the internet. And NO, we did not buy new ones. One is Tyler's old iphone, and then we bought two other used ones off of Craigslist for cheap. Then I found three different colored sparkly hard cases for them to feel "new" to the girls. Also, they are mostly only allowed to use them when we're driving in the car. As a matter of fact, they stay in the car unless they need charging. This way the screen time is really limited AND peaceful tranquility has replaced mind-losing as we drive from ballet to piano to reading buddies to horse lessons to grocery stores and orthodontist appointments. Blissfully quiet. Just me and NPR now...

So that's our story. And I do think it's hilarious that Lila whips out her ITouch and I whip out my free contract-renewal samsung when we're sitting in the pick up lane at the girls' school...

Hello faces.

2012-02-08T10:11:00.000-08:00

We've had this giant empty space in our stairwell that I could never figure out what to do with. (It's the last gross brown in our house waiting on painting funds.) So when my friend Bethany decided she wanted to do something similar to this from Pinterest, we did a trial run with some pictures I had taken of my family. It doesn't SOUND tricky...

Tutorial:

Take pictures of everyone

Print 8x8 from costco

Cut foam board from Michaels

Spray paint foam board

Mod podge pictures onto boards

Hang with double sided tape

It was harder to do than it sounds. And honestly it doesn't look that great up close. But, now that it's up, all of us enjoy the shock of seeing our own faces big on the wall!

(Especially Lila. She's enchanted with her own beauty.)

Grace, however, asked me why we needed pictures of our family all over the place, and then informed me that when she grew up she would be living in a "plain" apartment.

I've scarred her with my rampant use of Mod Podge.

new

2012-02-07T07:37:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, Tyler had a Boy Scout training meeting at 8am. Which meant that his departure was met with cries of outrage from the three little girls he always makes pancakes with on Saturday mornings. He informed them they would just have to have cereal and hurried out the door.

About 20 minutes later as I opened my bedroom door and came into the kitchen, imagine my surprise when I saw our kiddos sitting at the kitchen table eating pancakes!

Caroline happily piped up "Grace made us pancakes! And they turned out pretty good!"

I was shocked!! Grace nonchalantly says "Yep. The instructions are on the back of the bag."

Let this be a lesson to all of you overly helpful mothers: If you never neglect your children, they will never learn to fend for themselves! :)

Oh Grace Kaffriend! You darling girl. Stop being so amazingly O L D.

p.s. She is 8 and the pancakes were delish. I am 31 and still can't make them properly...

Dare I say it?

2012-02-03T09:49:00.000-08:00

The Kitchen is FINISHED.

I never thought I would be able to type that sentence!

It's been a long, wild adventure.

Our giant space went from this:

To this:

To, finally, this:

A family gallery wall, new slipcover on the sofa, (if you live in the Boise area and need a slipcover, check out this talented lady!!) and updated upholstery on the home-made coffee table.

It's been a lot of work, but totally worth it. We truly LIVE in this space! It's the heart of our home and the hub of most activities. Big thanks to my sweet husband who applies and eventually applauds my wild ideas... and my crafting BFF, the wind beneath my home design wings, Bethany. (The unsung hero of such things as my reupholstered chair, golden book baby shower, and the collage wall in the kitchen!)

Now when I walk into this room I can say "What's cookin good lookin?" and mean it.

I love...

2012-02-02T14:18:00.000-08:00

...Pinterest recipes! We've tried some yummy ones this week!

...The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and his utter mockery of all things political.

...that Grace's teeth are already straighter and her smile flashes more often now that braces are on.

...how Lila only wants to be the villain of whatever "be-tending" game she is playing. The current favorite? The Red Queen from "Alice in Wonderland."

...having a husband who carefully budgets and plans for our future together. He's got big dreams and I am happy to be a part of them.

...that feeling of getting a craft project D O N E.

...not exercising.

...looking back at pictures of my girls when they were babies.

...how Caroline calls Tyler "Mr. Snoots Hot Lips" when he beats her at Mario Kart. Because it is the most vile sounding thing she can pull from her repertoire.

...being a homebody.

...February. So far, anyways.

just a little thing

2012-01-30T17:53:00.000-08:00

I love those magical mothering moments that surprise me on a regular old Monday. A reminder that the little things are the ones that matter most.

Today? It was the way that without looking or saying a word, my little daughter knows to reach up and slip her hand into mine while we are walking into a store. Like our two hands are magnets drawn to each other, they know just what to do.

I always want to remember that.

And this adorable face that lights up my day.

kitchen craftiness

2012-01-27T10:18:00.000-08:00

I've been seeing cute subway art floating around the blog world and thought that I could try making one out of a canvas. So I opened up trusty picnik.com (yes, another reason it's devastating that they are being closed down...it's my go-to craft maker!) and just used different fonts for all of the places our family has lived. I ordered a big cheap print from Costco, then modpodged it to a blank canvas. It turned out pretty good if I say so myself!

We had a long busy week and I am so happy it's Friday! I still need to finish the kitchen gallery wall and then pictures of the re-vamping can be shared!

a death in winter.

2012-01-22T20:46:00.000-08:00

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!

This is my cry of distress upon learning that because Google is a giant internet-eating monster who bought up Picnik.com (the BEST photo editing software site) last year, and has now over extended itself, and thus is KILLING Picnik in a few short months.

I have been a loyal Picnik user since 2008. That is FOUR years worth of blog pictures, backgrounds, graphic images, invitations, baby announcements, etc. etc. etc.

My creativity feels like it's been f r o z e n.

{insert long drawn-out sigh.}

Seriously, Picnik was one of the reasons I got into blogging in the first place. With a few simple clicks I had magazine-ready pictures that I *wanted* to write about and preserve for the future.

There isn't anything even close to taking Picnik's place. Are there any Photoshop geniuses out there who want to teach me their ways??? I can't find a class to take here in Boise.

And now I hate Google.

What the what now?

2012-01-20T12:33:00.000-08:00

Click here and read this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2050581/Brandon-Flowers-poses-family-bizarre-new-advertising-campaign-boost-Mormon-image.html

Now, someone please agree with me that this message is, in fact, the exact OPPOSITE of "bizarre"!!

A young, talented musician who is a husband and father, and who wants to influence his listeners with good lyrics?

Yes, totally bizzare.

Unlike, say, a prominent politician who wants to have an "open marriage" with his wife and mistress. I guess Bill Clinton and countless others would call that just good old-fashioned values.

I have found the answer...

2012-01-18T07:35:00.000-08:00

...to the age old question: Cats vs. Dogs. Which are better?

True, cats can be stuck-up, self-righteous, spiteful, and shifty.

True, dogs can be loyal, sweet, good-natured, and trusting.

HOWEVER.

No self-respecting cat in this world would go outside into the backyard, get a piece of their own frozen poop, bring it into their clean BED, and chew on it as a tasty treat.

Thank you Rosie for finally providing the answer to a centuries old debate.

I rest my case.

Contraband

2012-01-17T07:20:00.000-08:00

We had the missionaries over for dinner on Friday.

As we sat down to eat the delicious feast I had prepared (roast, gravy, mashed potatoes, peas, homemade bread, and chocolate cake for dessert) I had to giggle about those last-minute preparations before dinner guests arrive.

I had yelled out to Tyler : "Make sure the beer bottles and coke cans are thrown away off the counter!"

I wasn't joking. The bread? Beer bread. The cake? Coke cake.

I told the missionaries I was surely their new best friend...

Here's the recipes, both fool-proof, both delicious!

Beer Bread

cups Self-Rising Flour
TB Sugar
oz bottle of beer (non-alcoholic will do)

Mix all ingredients together and put into greased loaf pan. Let rise 30 minutes in a warm spot. Bake at 350 45-60 minutes (depending on your oven) or until golden brown.

*I never, ever cook it for more than 45 minutes. As soon as it is just starting to get golden brown on top take it out. This isn’t good the next day, so eat it up!

Cracker Barrel Coke Cake

preheat oven to 350, and grease up (I like Crisco) a 9×13 (or so) pan.

mix:
2cups flour
2cups sugar
1/2tsp salt
1tsp baking powder**
1/2tsp cinnamon

** note: I have made this with baking powder or soda – mostly because I always mix the two up in my mind and guess what? Either way works.

in a saucepan over medium high heat stir this up good until it boils:
1 cup butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup coca-cola (from bottle is my preference!)
1/2 cup buttermilk

now take off heat and add that to the flour mix & whisk until combined.

Then add:
2 eggs
1tsp vanilla extract

mix, put in pan, bake it for about 30minutes. Yes, it’s a quick bake. Don’t over-bake it!

when cake is nearly done make the glaze by mixing in saucepan:
1/2cup butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup coca cola

once that boils, remove and slowly stir in 4cups of confectioners’ sugar until nice and smooth. Then add in about a cup of chopped pecans, and give it a stir.

once cake is done and out of oven (toothpick should come out clean), pour this warm glaze right over the top of the hot cake!

oh january.

2012-01-12T13:19:00.000-08:00

Why is this month so long? And boring? It's the ugly stepsister to December. So, in an effort to not lose my mind in the house with sick kids, I spruced up the computer area. I've really been trying to get organized this New year.

The computer armoire's doors are always open, so I thought I'd take advantage of that space. I put some stick on cork board on one side, and self-adhesive chalkboard decal on the other. (I used to totally despise chalk but after serving in primary for so many years and doing sharing time, I kinda got over it. Now I can stand to touch it to write up a grocery list or note to my girls.)

We are slowly working on the kitchen decor. I won't show pictures until it's done. But we love our new big table! The girls have been so cute wanting to set a "fancy" dinner every night.

I have also nearly lost my eyesight scouring Pinterest for wall collage ideas...

Something's gotta give.

2012-01-11T18:45:00.000-08:00

I think we are over scheduled. I'm just going to begin by throwing that out there. And I'm not really one of those Moms, but somehow we ended up only having FRIDAYS be our only non-activity day. And I know I'm not the only one because my kids ask for playdates with kids in their classes at school and no joke, we schedule them 3 weeks out! I guess this just happens when you have three small kids each with some sort of activity. As the girls get older, it is getting crazier. The summertime becomes this mecca of relaxation that I look forward to for 9 months out of the year. (I like to have ZERO schedule/camps/etc. during the summer- just endless lazy days to enjoy.) I mean, we don't do TV, (the girls watch movies in the car and on Saturdays, Netflix) Grace does horse riding and piano, Caroline does ballet and piano, and Lila has a little tap class. Grace is also playing YMCA basketball for six weeks again this winter. It's not that anything is excessive. But still, I think I'm going to pull the plug on Irish dance, as much as it pains me. Maybe one of them will choose it later on.

I don't know...am I being unrealistic in today's world? Is this just normal? Should I just suck it up and move into my car permanently?

All I can think of is to be grateful that my girls don't play soccer...

Rosie's favorite day of the month...

2012-01-11T07:48:00.001-08:00

The wednesday we host Lila's co-op preschool.

Four little girls to maul her?

Heaven.

daydreaming

2012-01-10T08:00:00.001-08:00

wish we were...

in no particular order

2012-01-09T11:39:00.000-08:00

*Does anyone else out there feel like Mr. Rogers during the winter months? I come into the mudroom, take off my boots, put on my slippers, take off my big coat, slip into a sweater jacket...I realized as I did it this morning that it was hauntingly similar to the opening routine of Mr. Rogers. That dude liked to be comfy!

*The Natives were resting...

*Grace was sick with some vomitous bug Sunday morning, so I kept all the girls home from church just to be safe. When Grace was feeling better and keeping food stuffs down, I let the sisters three enjoy some Chronicles of Narnia on my computer in the kitchen. Popcorn was the treat of choice. Such cute little movie-watchers! And seeing them all in profile? Nary a similarity! I am amused by Tyler and I's endless gene expressions.

*Christmas is being dismantled around these parts. It feels sick and wrong to have it over with already. So long colorful garlands of smiling families we love...until next year!

My favorite home-made Christmas gift...

2012-01-07T08:36:00.000-08:00

Forgive the not-so-great photos but I took them in a hurry before we left for our two week holiday break. BUT, do notice how AMAZING this craft is! You can print the vintage dolls and accessories out on photo paper and then use sticky magnet sheets on the back. My girls were already HUGE fans of magnetic paper dolls, so this was a perfect find. I made this set for my Mom and once she and my Grandma saw them, they were hooked too. I might have totally lost my mind over this project because of it's overall dream-fulfilling cuteness!! (My crafting BFF Bethany can attest to this, as she's the one who brought it to my attention and witnessed my insanity firsthand.) Go HERE for the tutorial and HERE for the Betsy McCall link. Love home-made gifts even though they are never cost effective for me!

bestill my heart

2012-01-06T15:55:00.000-08:00

As I am walking by the bottom of the stairs carrying a laundry basket, I hear Caroline shout at Lila "Get the hell outta here!" and then a door slam.

I almost fainted.

I grasped the wall for support, tried to collect my breath, and called Caroline downstairs.

As she gave me a cheery "Yeah, Mom?" I knew she didn't realize she was in trouble. My thoughts raced... why would my six year old yell such profane and rough language??

And then it dawned on me...
The favorite movie Christmas break? Home Alone.

So I had to explain to Pooks that in the movie that was a BAD movie Kevin was sneaking. He was making a poor choice and we should NEVER say bad words from movies.

After she apologized I sent her scurrying back upstairs.
And I had to stop myself from muttering...
"Keep the change you filthy animal."

The one where I ramble...

2012-01-05T08:44:00.000-08:00

Hello long lost Blog! It's good to be back! As you can see by the billions of photos in the previous posts, we had an awesome two week vacation from our regular life! Santa Barbara was so much fun, and all of Tyler's family was together (something that rarely happens) which made it even better. Christmas was joyous as usual up at the cabin. We ate too much delicious food and taught our girls how to play Scum...little card sharks all three. I am so proud. And now we are enjoying a lucky streak of 50 DEGREE WEATHER. In J A N U A R Y. It's been heavenly. No snow this winter and lots of sunshine! It's about time.

Here's what else is new around this place:

*Grace is getting braces in two weeks- eek! She is excited (because they are so 'grown up') and terrified (because they are scary & painful). Tyler and I can hardly believe that we will have a kid in braces for exactly those same two reasons! But it's also a relief- the poor girl can hardly eat without her chompers biting into the sides of her mouth or lip and she's starting to endure teasing by naughty boys at school. So we are ready to get it over with already!

*We are busy finishing up the kitchen. A new table in celebration of 10 years of marriage, some new upholstery, and finally slapping some pictures up on the blank walls. It continues to be our favorite spot in the house so we're loving how it's coming together and feeling more homey.

*New Years Resolutions. It makes me tired to even TYPE that phrase. But I've made a few:
1. Get more exercise. You know, the usz.
2. Be a better example to my kids. (Like not being a poor sport when I lose games to their Daddy and then telling them to not be such poor sports when they lose to their sisters. That sort of thing.)
3. Reading the Book of Mormon daily as a family. Track record so far: 1 out of 5 days....we always end up reverting to memorizing the articles of faith in a pinch! (I call kids-still-awake-at-eight a "pinch".)

*Tuesday night Tyler and I enjoyed a little "Broadway in Boise" watching "My Fair Lady" on stage. I love musicals so much. Almost as much as I dislike 'Enry 'Iggins. I love a date out on the town with my love. He's a tall drink of water escorting me around!

*Lila's love of food related words continues...
Kitchen= chicken
Batteries= cranberries
Suit= soup
This is why I don't exercise. Because hauling one fell-asleep-in-the-car 3 year old who weighs 44lbs. two blocks (and a flight of stairs) into her sister's ballet class qualifies as all the daily cardio this lady can handle!

*Caroline is currently residing in a teepee. No, really. She's renounced her Judaism (or at least no longer sleeps with a yarmulke on her head) because Santa brought her a kid sized teepee, so her Native American phase has been extended indefinitely. Last night I went to check on her and she was sleeping shirtless. Because you know, that's how Natives would have slept. It's so much fun watching her creativity- I love it!

Ok, I am officially caught up. I hope everyone had a fantastic break. I am so sad that my kids are back in school- I love just hanging around the house all day hearing their chatter as they play! But I do enjoy a routine and at least eating vegetables for dinner once more...

Santa Barbara visit December 2011: part eleven

2012-01-04T20:15:00.001-08:00

Santa Barbara visit December 2011: part ten

2012-01-04T20:14:00.000-08:00

Santa Barbara visit December 2011: part nine

2012-01-04T07:40:00.000-08:00

Santa Barbara visit December 2011: part eight

2012-01-03T15:33:00.000-08:00

Santa Barbara visit December 2011: parts five, six, and seven

2012-01-03T14:05:00.000-08:00

Santa Barbara visit December 2011: part four

2011-12-23T12:49:00.000-08:00

Santa Barbara visit December 2011: part three

2011-12-23T12:15:00.001-08:00

Santa Barbara visit December 2011: part two

2011-12-23T10:50:00.000-08:00

Santa Barbara visit December 2011: part one

2011-12-23T10:43:00.000-08:00

T + J = 1 0

2011-12-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

For the past ten years, I have had the good fortune to be the wife of an incredible man. We were college sweethearts who didn't know a blessed thing, other than we were meant to be together...

(visit here for a reminder of our prideful and prejudiced beginnings.)

A decade ago on a frigid December day in Salt Lake City, Utah,

we bound ourselves together for all time and eternity.

And I think that will just barely be long enough...

We used to lay in our bed in the dark and whisper out loud our wonderings of our future...dreams about where we hoped to be ten years from then...

And now that we're here, we see that even though some things were more difficult than expected, our current reality is more wonderful and happy and blessed than we dreamed up for ourselves all those years ago...

Here are just TEN of the things I adore about my sweetheart:

Dear Tyler...

We laugh. Oh do we laugh! Endless quotes, memories, kid-isms, songs, etc. etc....you name it, we quote it and laugh over it. You are a good sport to my love of teasing you! You always remind me that you married me because of how much fun we have together- and it's true, you are my best playmate!
Hello Good Lookin'! Is it possible you are more attractive to me now than your boyish good looks and charm were in to me in college? YES! Because you still have the same gorgeous sea blue eyes and incredible height to make me feel small...but now you also have beginnings of salt+pepper Romney-esque dark hair, and 20lbs. of new muscle now that you are a mature 30 something...or are you more attractive to me now because of your ten years of diligent dish-washing and child-wiping? Well, let's just say you are the whole package.
You love being a Dad. And your three little princesses think the sun rises and sets with you! You are a hands on Dad- you are in the trenches, taking on bath duty and teeth brushing every night you're home. You are an excellent rough-houser, teaser, and bedtime story reader. You help with homework and piano and answering endless questions. I admire your loving ways with our kiddos. Plus you made some dang cute babies, which I'm thankful for.
After ten years you can still make me stop in my tracks to be really good and kissed. I appreciate your mad kissing skills.
Despite all of the teasing about my superior spelling skills, you are a smart dude. You understand stuff that I have no hope of comprehending. I'm thankful that our "smarts" together neatly form one genius person.
I would have married you no matter what your future vocation was because you are a very hard worker. I take pride in how you walk out the door to your job every morning and give it your all. You support this family and enable me to do my work in our home with our girls. Thank you.
You are a most excellent son. One of my favorite things about you is the wonderful family you were born into. You are so close to your excellent parents- you set a wonderful example especially in how you treat your sweet mother.
I count on you to be the righteous head of this household, and you live your testimony daily. You serve others and give of your talents in many ways. And you are freakish in the way you NEVER COMPLAIN. (Apparently I do enough for the both of us.) You are self-disciplined and moral.
I think it's funny how you love AND hate doing house stuff with me! You are the perfect foil to my redecorating schemes, but I know you secretly have fun sprucing up our fixer-upper.
You cherish our relationship. I love how you find the babysitter, plan activities, and still ask me on dates... Of course, I put out more now than when we were dating, so maybe that has something to do with it...

Happy 10th Anniversary Lover!

I cannot wait to see what the next decade of life together brings us!

wrap song

2011-12-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

So, I'm not really thrilled by shopping. I dislike it for the most part. But I do thoroughly enjoy WRAPPING presents! I'm sure it has something to do with my love of paper products!

You can now understand my sheer delight when at the dollar store I stumbled upon the cutest collection of wrapping paper, bows, and little gift boxes. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the charming fixer upper...

Who says everything has to be green with santa on it?

Good King Wencelas & Angels we have heard on high

2011-12-14T08:59:00.000-08:00

I love little holiday piano recitals. We are so proud of our girls! This was Caroline's first recital and she was so cute with her deadly serious expression while playing!

cozy II

2011-12-13T17:46:00.000-08:00

Rosie is so cute as she enjoys a nap basking in the glow of the

Christmas tree lights...

cozy

2011-12-12T18:35:00.000-08:00

I do love how cozy it is inside our house...especially when it's freezing and I walk my girls home from piano lessons a few blocks away, and we bustle back into the warm kitchen, aglow with lights, smelling of hot dinner and pumpkin muffins that we've been giving to our neighbors for Christmas. How you can see the lights from the Christmas tree from most rooms of the house. It makes me grateful that we do have winter months here. It's like you can't appreciate the sweetness without a touch of the bitter.

Mother FAIL

2011-12-06T09:35:00.001-08:00

Yesterday after I went to pick up Caroline from kindergarten at 11:30 I left my phone in the car. I didn't even think about it until it was 3:15 and I went to pick up Grace from school. As I was driving to get her, I glanced at my phone and saw that I had a bunch of missed calls and new voicemails...
How awesome of a mother am I that I ignored my third grader and the school secretary's frantic messages so Grace spent the afternoon in the nurse's station sick??

I didn't even have a good excuse like "Oh sorry, I was in a REALLY important meeting and couldn't take any calls!"

Unless you count eating caramel apples, folding laundry, and watching netflix while my two little girls had a playdate as a "really important meeting."

sisterly love

2011-12-05T11:54:00.001-08:00

This morning Lila told me all about how the three girls were upstairs watching the movie Hook last night and during the frightening parts

"Gwace snuggled me under her blanket so I wouldn't be too 'cared."

When they are sweet, they are very sweet...

Breaking & entering...

2011-12-02T13:38:00.000-08:00

I cut my hair off...

(Short for me, I should disclaim...with bangs and layers but still well below my shoulders...)

And apparently it took all of my brain cells with it, because this morning I straight up walked into Miss Heather's house to drop Lila off for preschool. The problem? TODAY IS FRIDAY and Lila has preschool on tuesdays and thursdays. It's a good thing Heather is a BFF or else the police could have been called! At the very least I gave my friend a heart attack, waltzing into her living room just before 9am when she least expected it! Lila was so confused when she had to get back into the car after Heather and I had a good laugh and chatted for a bit! Oh man, that was 45 minutes of driving time wasted! I told Heather she's lucky that in the five years I have been dropping kids off at her house, that this is the first time I've ever done this stunt!

Who knew my intellect was directly related to my hair length? It sounds like a Seinfeld episode...

Merry & Bright

2011-11-30T07:00:00.000-08:00

We are enjoying an excellent November around these parts...
mostly 50 degree days, hallelujah!
So this afternoon I bribed my two little buddies to model for me {notice the candy canes in their hands?} and take advantage of the nice weather.
We headed downtown where the leaves from the big trees are crunchy underfoot, and made sure to bypass the Occupy Boise tent city a few blocks away, and sat down these two cutie sisters to enjoy their sweets in front of an old historic building.

They were somewhat cooperative...

And then not so much...

But still adorable...

Then Caroline tried to kiss Lila Loo, and the giggles overcame them...

Can I just say...
I. Love. My. Job.

Riddle me this.

2011-11-29T09:02:00.000-08:00

This morning I have the following questions:

1. How do I cure static hair? Four out of four girls in this house are suffering from it. Dry weather plus scarves and coats makes for some pretty hair-raising events around here. Someone help us! I was so desperate that I applied lotion. To our hair. LOTION.

2. Why would Tyler open the refrigerator and exclaim "OH wow- who cleaned out the top shelf of the fridge?" There are so many things wrong with that question. I will answer it with the following questions: Who else besides me would clean out our fridge? and... Why the heck would I only clean out the top shelf and not the rest of the shelves (which I did)?

3. How on earth did Rosie know that the only way she could redeem herself from her unfortunate "kitchen island chewing incident" was to become this sort of highly skilled bug warrior? Last night she went all ninja on a spider running across the kitchen floor. She barks, paws, kills, and devours...it's amazing. And hilarious. And I guess we'll keep her around!

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-28T12:13:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful trip to Utah for Thanksgiving this year. The weather was gorgeous, the food was delicious, and the company was perfect! We were able to stay with the Hellewells who live close to my Grandma, and have a great time. I did not capture very many pictures because I was too busy having fun myself! Our girls ran amok with cousins and friends. We had our friends the Smithsons join us as well (why didn't we take a picture?) and we played some rousing games of scum with a ton of people. Then on Saturday Grandma Cele held her traditional Christmas Bingo which was a huge success, as was the game of 21 we played in the church gym afterwards...I got Tyler out. Enough said. (It was a Christmas miracle.)

And when old college friends get together and devise pillow-throwing games where you try to either protect or knock down a tower of stacked baby blocks, a bunch of 30 somethings turned into children.
It was spectacular.

The kids were sleeping in the basement and they kept asking
"What were you guys doing up there?"
Oh....nothing.

I am grateful.

2011-11-22T11:00:00.000-08:00

Five years ago our then 3 year old Grace was diagnosed with Celiac disease. I cried all the way home from the pediatrician's.

"My baby girl will never get to have pizza in college!" I wailed to a consoling husband. It was rough too that her diagnosis came right before the biggest food holiday of the year. I was determined that she would not get shortchanged when we gathered around the family dinner table. My Mom and sister pitched in and worked hard to make the familiar dishes in gluten free form- no easy task. I naively said I would make the pies (I am NOT a baker) so I rolled up my sleeves and got to work. As I was attempting to roll out the super thick and crumbly gluten free dough, I noticed that my wedding ring was getting totally caked in gunk. So I wiggled it off, and for the first time since Tyler put it on my finger, set it in a paper towel high up in a cupboard in the kitchen so nothing would happen to it.

Long story short: The pies did not turn out. Pie crusts are hard enough with regular flour..the gluten free ones were a hot mess. And my ring? When I went to put it back on a few days later, it was not in the cupboard. The paper towel was no where to be seen. I turned the place upside down looking for it, but no luck. It was gone. We never found out what happened to it. I was (and still am) so sad. It wasn't a big expensive diamond, but it was mine. We've never replaced it.

So as I think back to that Thanksgiving five years ago, I am grateful for the happiness that is currently ours. Grace is thriving with her gluten free eating (I know enough not to try to make certain items, but rather to buy them from the professionals) and I know that a sparkly ring doesn't make or break a happy marriage as we are about to celebrate a full decade of bliss.

I am grateful for my little bit of life. Ten+ years enjoying a love-affair with my super handsome college sweetheart, three lovely, talented, growing and healthy daughters, knowledge of a loving God in heaven, and faith that gets me through gray and sunny skies alike. I have an abundance of beloved family members and cherished friends, a warm roof overhead and food to sustain us, and the freedom to make what I can of my days.

I am grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Nollaig Shona Dhaoibh

2011-11-21T18:23:00.000-08:00

That is Gaelic for "Merry Christmas"...fitting since this past weekend Grace and Caroline danced in their first ever Celtic Holiday recital. They were terrified, but did really great considering they just began lessons in October!

The video is too large to upload on here, but they looked so tiny up on the big stage with the older dancers. We were really proud of them.

I love Celtic dancing, but Tyler wanted to jump out a window half way thru the recital. I just leaned over and whispered "You better get used to this...or imagine yourself sitting out in the cold and rain at a soccer match..."

Since the girls are so new to this dance class, they didn't even have costumes to wear, so I didn't snap pictures of them beforehand.

I was really proud of myself though- for doing Pooks hair in such a fabulous way. This was my first attempt at a "Heidi" braid and it looked adorable on her! My sister is right...there was a mix up in heaven and they sent us a little Swedish milk maid on accident.

We're all holiday-ish up in here.

2011-11-18T15:06:00.000-08:00

Pandora is cranked...the Christmas cards are finished & ready to be mailed...most of the purchases have been made... Score one for the Mom!

Now my attention can be focused on more important things...

*Like a Thanksgiving feast today at school were instead of the usual Pilgrim story my kindergartener sang a rousing rendition of "We are the world" with her class as part of their Friendship Celebration. I thought it was hilarious. My Dad? He would say it's all part of a liberal conspiracy to kill tradition.

*Our first Irish Dance holiday recital this weekend. Grace & Caroline are loving the class, and I am loving watching them do their step-two-threes and kicks. For anyone looking for a great extracurricular activity that provides lots of exercise for kiddos during the dreary winter months (the class is also inexpensive) I highly recommend it!

*We found a new riding instructor for Grace! Her life is no longer "doomed" (her words) and it was a true Christmas miracle! It is also 15 minutes away- what will we even do with ourselves with all of our free time? Ms. Kruger is around my age, and lives on Warm Springs Ave. where her lovely ponies are kept in the same area that has welcomed horses since 1900 on the property. We are so so happy.

*Another miracle? We are currently awaiting the delivery of pizza for dinner. PIZZA. DELIVERY. Do you know what this means to a gluten-free girl? Thank you Chicago Connection! For the first time in our history as a family, we can order delivered pizza for all.

*We are all so excited to head to Utah for Thanksgiving with my Grandma and relatives, and to see old friends and go shopping, and to have Daddy with us for five days! Woohoo!

Even though these months are insanely busy, it has been a lot of fun this year with our girls being old enough to really get into the spirit of the holidays and to have special activities to attend.

Sometimes I just pause in my crazy day and think:

"This is it. This is their childhood.
They will remember today, and feel blessed and loved."

It gets me through one more trip out the garage door and into the car...

This girl.

2011-11-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

This girl. This three (and the half) year old girl makes me laugh.

Every. Single. Day.

The other night at dinner she complained loudly

"I don't like this yucky chicken!"

Her complaint was garbled due to the

large amount of said chicken in her mouth.

Her dinner plate? Almost empty of dinner.

But you see, she wants to be just like her big sister.

You know, the one that doesn't eat?

And Caroline had just uttered that exact same phrase with much disdain-

so Lila felt compelled to agree with her mentor.

Yet she was torn- her love of food clearly putting her in an awkward position, so she hedged her bets:

She ate every last speck of her chicken as she joined in the complaining...

I heart winter sunday evenings...

2011-11-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

Daddy's famous School of the Prophets in front of a toasty fire eating warm and melty chocolate chip pumpkin muffins with cold milk...

I wish you could hear his awesomely campy British accent...

Pooks is thinking...thinking...she almost knows the answer...

Success! She's remembered!

I hope my little girls will cherish their childhood memories of their Daddy who loved spending time with them, the guy who never once wished for blue instead of pink...

A little golden book baby shower

2011-11-14T07:38:00.000-08:00

Our good friends the Ericksons have been blessed with three adorable little girls- same ages as our girls. Now they are expecting a BABY BOY in January and we are so thrilled for them. (We're watching them to see how a boy turns out with four mothers...) With a lot of help (bethany, christy, kris, heather!) I threw Emily a baby shower with a Little Golden Book theme (ideas from here) and it turned out really cute! Emily and I are share a love of reading as well as three girls, so it seemed a fitting way to celebrate a fun day.

Purple Autumn...

2011-11-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

Pooks looked so darling and very "scottish-countryside" so I had to take a few pictures of her as we rode our bikes home from piano lessons. Notice that she stole my hat that I got last year? It looks cuter on her! I got a new hat too- gotta love Tuesday Morning fashions for $10! It's shaping up to be a purple autumn...Lila is so pleased. Everytime she sees one of us wearing purple, she points it out and shouts "That's my best-est color!"