Grandma Lisa

Chandra has a very special place in her heart for Grandma Lisa.  They just "click." In the past when she has been completely unreasonable with anyone else, she could have a heart to heart with Grandma Lisa, either in person or over the phone, and her behavior would drastically change.  Chandra loves playing baby dolls with Grandma Lisa, snuggling with her, and how Grandma Lisa always blow dries her after a bath (as well as each item of clothing).  She asks for "Grandma Lisa eggs!" (poached) every morning, and tries to get me to feed them to her like Grandma Lisa does.

My mom has been staying at our house while attending some conferences a couple of weekends this month, and the kids have loved having time to spend with just her.  Bracken's usually running around with Dallin and Tyson whenever we're at my parents, so it was nice for him to get to spend time with Grandma too.  She read the kids stories each night, and watched the kids for me one day while I went to a morning class on Body Language. While I was gone they had fun playing outside and practicing riding their bikes:  Bracken practicing without training wheels, Chandra getting the hang of moving her pedals in a continuous circle on her new birthday bike.

Last weekend Sarah came too, and I don't know who enjoyed her more, the kids or me!  She is a huge help, fun, smart and happy.  The kids love playing with her so much, she probably felt exhausted when she left. Love you Mom and Sarah! Come visit again soon!

"Mommy Can I do the Dishes?!"

"Mommy, can I wash dishes?" I hear her hopeful voice beg at least daily. For a long time I told her, "not this time," or "wait until I can help you," because I'd end up not only re-washing all the dishes, but cleaning my cupboards and mopping the floor as well.  But she asks so often and gets so excited when I let her, that I finally decided the happy child was worth the extra work.

A funny thing happened.  Not only does she still get ridiculously excited every time I say, "Yes you can!" but she's started finding other things she can do to help.  Whenever I take out the garbage she runs to put a liner in the garbage can and then hides so I don't know who did it.  She tries to be super sneaky and get her diapers in the garbage without me seeing her, then tells me, "It was a diaper helper!  The diaper helper was me!" You're a super cute big helper Chandra!

Happy 3rd Birthday Chandra!

This adorable little girl is 3 years old!  Bracken helped her plan (aka planted all the ideas for) her birthday.  By the time I asked her what she wanted to have and do for her birthday there was a list: Mountain eggs for breakfast, go bowling, pepperoni pizza for dinner, and a pink princess cake. She hardly ate the pizza or the mountain eggs, in fact, she ended up eating oatmeal for dinner because she wanted that instead of pizza.  But the cake was a total hit, she "ooohhed and ahhed" and couldn't wait to eat it all day, then was ecstatic when we cut it open and it was a pink cake.

She was super excited for her presents too: homemade binoculars with an attached flashlight from Bracken, the Frozen movie and soundtrack, and a pink and purple bike.  She had a blast bowling, and she'd strike a pose and say, "Oh yeah" with every bowling pin she knocked down.  

Here's a few pictures of our three year old!  She had a perfect, happy, busy day, which ended with her falling asleep in Brian's arms as he read her stories.  So cute!

He did it again...

 Brian and I decided not to eat sugar for 30 days.  A week or so after we started, Bracken decided he wanted to join in.  He wanted a special water bottle when he finished.  I am so amazed by this 5-year-olds perseverance when he decides to do something, even if it's hard.  He'd say "no thank you" to every sugary treat from primary, Costco samples, or friends.  When he got his prize he said, "It was totally worth not eating sugar to get this water bottle! After a while it wasn't even hard not to eat sugar!" Way to go, kiddo.

"Mom! Take a picture of us!"

You're asking?  Sure I will!  These two love each other.  And I think they're adorable.

Thanksgiving Point Farm

Last Saturday we went to the lamb and wool festival at Thanksgiving Point as a family. Bracken and Chandra loved getting to pet baby lambs, see a sheep sheared, make their own wool bracelets, watch dogs herding sheep, and of course, ride the ponies.  Having sunshine and warm weather again has been AMAZING.