Alpine Downhill

We have been enjoying watching the Winter Olympics the last two weeks. Cameron and Julia have really gotten in to it and every night want to know what event is on that night. With it being Mid-Winter Break last week we allowed them to stay up late and watch. Cameron really enjoyed watching the skiing events and his new found hero is Lindsey Vonn. Every night he wants to know if Lindsey is skiing or not. This morning I was giving the girls a bath and Cameron was downstairs playing. He was saying, "Here comes Cameron Vonn the downhill winner! He wins the gold!" Oh, he makes me laugh. Last night before bed he told me "Mom, there is a Summer Olympics too, that has swimming and stuff." Can you imagine him watching Michael Phelps in the last Olympics? What a bummer he missed it.



Here is Cameron in his vivid imagination...




and his real hero!

30 Minutes Later

This darn bee would not get out of my house this afternoon and it was HUGE (almost the size of a quarter!) I spent 30 minutes trying to make it leave and now I can't get my screen back on the window. Ever since my little run in with a bee's nest last summer picking blueberries my kids FREAK out when they see a bee. Seriously.

Cameron's Little Piece of Heaven

Cameron's Wii accessories arrived today!

February or July?

The weather has been beautiful the last few days and the kids are enjoying playing outside and riding their bikes during the mid-winter break. This afternoon while I cleaned the kitchen Cameron and Julia played (nicely) together out in the backyard. As I was watching them play Cameron took off his shirt and continued playing, he finally came in saying that it was too hot outside to play. I looked at the temperature gauge outside and it said 60 degrees. I don't know if it is really swimsuit wearing, no shirt kind of weather but Cameron sure thinks so!

10 Years!

Today is our 10 year anniversary!

Here are a few pictures that made me laugh...

and a walk down memory lane...........

Valentine's Day

The kids loved Valentine's day and the parties at school. Cam's school had "twin day" on Friday also. Cameron and two of his friends from his basketball team wore their basketball shirts so that they would match.

Nemesis

Cameron told me yesterday that he had two nemeses on the Wii that he just can't beat. He makes me laugh.

A Reoccurring Day...Dinner Issues: Part IV

This is a reoccurring theme at my house. I feel like I am living the movie Groundhog Day. Every day I wake up and do the exact same things as I did the day before. Feed kids, clean kids, take kids to school, pick up toys, clean house, clean kids, take kids to school, pick up toys, feed kids some more, pick up more toys, put them to bed and crash into my own. For the most part I am a creature of habit and find joy in the routine of the day but with dinner....ahhh dinner....

Tonight I made a lovely dish that I thought would be not too controversial. To my pleasure Cameron and Julia sat down and ate it without a problem. After serving the kids and finally getting settled to eat, Natalie looked at me and said "Mom, dinner is is-gust-ing." I almost fell out of my chair. I should be shocked to hear these words from my two year old for a number of reasons. 1- Natalie is like the boy in the old Life cereal commercials "Mikey likes it" She eats just about anything. 2- She is only two. 3- How does she know the word disgusting and how does she know what that is? Her older siblings have taught her well.

The other day it was time to take Cameron to the bus stop so I told the kids to get in the car (Yes I drive to the end of the neighborhood, it is cold and I don't have the strength to get every ones shoes, socks, coats, etc. every morning...) Natalie looked at me stomped her foot and said "I stay home" I guess it is a good thing that I can physically dominate her because that is what you have to do to get her in the car when she doesn't want to get in. It is what my sister -in -law calls the "shove and buckle method" because you physically have to shove them in and buckle them while they are screaming and doing their best to be straight as a board. Natalie is definitely coming into her own.

( I added this picture for my own entertainment)

Happy Ground Hog's Day!

That pesky ground hog saw his shadow....six more weeks of winter!

Life Experiences

I found a check list of life experiences and was glad to see that I can now check off wisdom teeth from that list! I had them taken out last Thursday and things went good. I was truly blessed how smoothly the procedure went. They didn't have to go into the sinus cavity like they thought they would. This weekend was a little crazy with family things but I was able to attend and be involved in it all, granted a little swollen, bruise and high on Advil.

I just finished reading, The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. Makes you think about what is most important in life, definitely a good read....


(Click to enlarge)

Elder Schvaneveldt

We had a fun weekend with Dale and sure are going to miss him. He leaves for the MTC tomorrow morning!

Pillow Talk

Tonight was a hard night. Mitch had to work late and the kids were crazy and driving me crazy! Cameron threw a tantrum of enormous portions, something I haven't seen in quite some time. So by the time it was bedtime I was D-O-N-E with children for the night. Of course there is the multiple potty trips, drinks, and Natalie's throwing all her blankets out of the crib shenanigans before everything finally quiets down each night. On one of my trips up to Natalie's room I heard the kids talking to each other. As I paused to listen to them talk my Grinch sized heart grew (I no longer wanted to beat the tar out of them.) Their conversation was so cute, I was dying.

Cameron: ".....Rosa Parks sat on the front of the bus...."
Julia: "What?"
Cameron: "Rosa Parks sat in the front of the bus, she didn't care what others thought. I think that the bus driver had to call the police or something. She just wanted to ride. I don't know what they did....."

A few minutes later they start having a conversation about wisdom teeth.

Cameron: "Mom is getting her teeth cut out tomorrow. I think she isn't going to feel well. I hope it doesn't bleed. I don't think band-aids will stick in her mouth, I don't know what she is going to do."
Julia: "I think she is going to sleep tomorrow, it is going to hurt her. Dad will be home to take care of us."
Cameron: "I am nervous for her, that isn't good. I think that will hurt. I would be nervous if that happened to me. Mom said dad doesn't need his teeth cut out. I am glad I am a boy and am growing up to be a dad. I am not going to have that done to my teeth. Sorry Julia that is going to be a little nervous and scary, your a girl and are going to be a mom. Your teeth are going to get taken out when you are older."
Julia: "Hmmm.... I don't know about that. I think I will talk to dad about that tomorrow. "

I think for entertainment I might set a recorder in their room every night to hear the thoughts of my 6 and 4 year old. Hours of entertainment..................

Monkey Ears

The other day at church Julia saw a girl with a hairstyle that she just had to have. When describing it to me she said "The girl's hair was monkey ears!" After a better description of what she wanted I realized she wanted pigtail looped braids. Unfortunately for Julia, her mother is not good at hair and Julia's hair is so thin and not long enough to get the look she was hoping for. After the making the "monkey ears" she said it didn't look much like the girl's at church. The next day I tried to variation of the monkey ears that looked a little better. I wish I was a better "girl hair mom".





A few weeks ago we tried curlers the night before church. Natalie left hers in for about 1/2 hour before pulling them out. Julia's hair was curly when she woke up the next morning but by the time 1:00 church rolled around it pretty much looked normal, curly on the bottom straight on the top. They looked cute with them in though. Mitch thought it was "a little much" for him.

Zhu Zhu Pets

The newest additions to the family
"Chunk," "Num, Nums," and "Nugget"

These silly hamster were bought last night at Wal-Mart. They were the hot toy this past Christmas and were near impossible to find and buy. Now Wal-Mart's shelves are full of them. Cameron really wanted to buy one with some Christmas money that he got so I told him that it would be okay. Natalie fell in love with them the minute she saw them. Julia was really interested in some plush horse in a purse item that was extremely expensive so I convinced her that she really wanted a fake hamster too. Knowing not much about them, we bought them and brought them home. There are about 12 warnings on the box to "Keep away from hair" so what happens? Natalie has the hamster for less than 30 seconds before it was completely caught in her hair and she was crying. Fortunately there was no need for a hair cut but a few minutes of panic as we tried to get it out. I think she understands now not to put it by her hair. Thank goodness! It really isn't a toy for a 2 year old so what kind of mom am I? One that wanted to get out of Wal-Mart without a show stopping tantrum at 7:50 pm. After the hair incident I read the rest of the warning labels more seriously. No sleeping with your Zhu, Zhu and not intended for use with live animals." Natalie wanted to do just that...sleep with her hamster. She spent a good 15 minutes after we put her to bed crying "Nugget, NUGGET...." I think you get the picture. The hamsters are pretty cute and "run" all around on the floor. Maybe this might do for a pet for the time being......well Mitch and I can only dream!

PS-

While at Wal-Mart I saw my one and only Barbie I had as a girl, Peaches and Cream Barbie. She is being sold as a collectors doll now. That doesn't make me feel old or anything. :(

Wal-Mart wants $50 for her! When I saw her it felt like a time warp back to my childhood. So weird. She was beautiful and I loved her.

Our Family

By Julia


Natalie, Dad, Julia (dressed like a reindeer), Cameron, and Mom

I love how little girls know how to draw flowers, grass, suns, and rainbows in all of their pictures!