COOKIES

MJ has been acting really strange. She has been running a slight fever on and off. One day she will appear fine and two days later she is running a slight temperature again. She hasn't been sleeping well. Last night she was awake most of the night. I can tell her little body is in pain but don't know what is wrong. She isn't screaming just uncomfortable and fidgety. Today when her daddy came home from school she reach for him and snuggled right down on his chest and went to sleep. She loves her daddy.
CC made cookies today. My friend picked me up some frozen sugar cookie dough. First experience doing sugar cookies, not from scratch. I loved it. Little fuss, little mess, and a lot of fun.
Sierra got a little too excited and frosted the cookie before it was cooked. Silly girl.

COMB

Seriously honey, let's not do this again. Sigh.

THESE ARE THE DAYS OF MY LIFE

I forgot to turn on the garbage disposal before I hooked up the washing machine. The sink filled and then spilled over. Yeah. Sigh. I spent at least an hour cleaning it up.
The water filled the drawers as it slopped over the counter and ran down the face of the cabinets. Sigh.
Worst still. The girls had to go back to their room because they were wanting to make water foot prints in the carpet. They took their spagetti. (We were in the middle of dinnertime.) This was the result. Twenty more minutes of wiping up spagetti out of the carpet and the toy box. Breathe.
(This probably should be a seperate post. I had a better morning.) I finished this project this morning. My first ever re-cycle t-shirt dress. Two old t-shirts = a new dress for CC. She loved it. Yes, I tried a re-verse applique on the sleeve. I am not thrilled about how it turned out. I wish I had of put it on the top of the sleeve instead of the side, but I will know next time. All in all, a success.

FORGIVE A MORE PERSONAL POST

The CBS's evening news' last story of the night is called the American Spirit. They feature someone who has made an impact on America. The other night the person was Doris Buffet. I loved it and for those of you that missed it, you can click here. I wish I could have done the interview. First, I love old women and second, I want her to answer a million more questions. I guess she has a biography. It might be my next read.

While watching her story I thought about the many gifts our Father-in-Heaven has given each of us and what we must do with them. And that it should never occur to us not to utilize them to bless and serve others.

You may be tempted to think while watching the story, like I did, that you would love to do that. Run around blessing people's lives by giving them money. Then, you may be humbled, like I was as I reflected back on a poor mother of four who lived at Wymount, when Nate and I were a young married couple, she utilized all of her talents to bless the ward. She sewed thing and created things and donated things and there was nothing she wasn't willing to give, her time, or talents or anything that was required of her. Considering her, money may in fact be less a sacrifice, have less an impact, and ultimately less a blessing. We all can give of ourselves and be blessed immensely, we don't need money, just a willing heart.

I love the story of the talents and that God multiplies your talents when you use them wisely. I would say, from experience, as you use them to bless others. May we all be more like Him, our Savior, as we compassionately look for ways to reach outside of ourselves and give what we have. May this not be in lue of the season, but a renewed commitment inside each of us,... especially myself.

Dorris Buffet, you inspired me today. Thank you.

ICE CREAM

We had ice cream tonight. MJ really enjoyed her serving. Yummy.
My friend came by the other day and we made dolls together. MJ really enjoyed helping her stuff the doll. I thought they were so cute together.

MJ, WE LOVE YOU.

MJ, I love you.
MJ started walking last week. Sorry, I know. You think by now I would remember I can't video sideways and rotate the film. It is what it is. Enjoy.
Finally, she drinks regular milk. It took a while, but no more chocolate milk.
I love the massive grins MJ gives her Daddy.
She loves her sister so much. Sierra said today, "MJ is my best friend mom."

Some pictures Jess took a while back that didn't make the cut but I thought showed MJ's personality well.

GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS

Well, on Sunday Nate helped Sierra put the tree up while I made lunch. I thought it was cute how they worked together. Later, Sierra named all the ornaments. There is a baby, a mom, and a dad. They kept moving around the tree. Then they went into their box and then back out again. Then Sierra removed the tops and filled them with water. Water seems to go into everything lately.
This was the inevitable result. I think we have lost six bulbs in two days. I don't think there will be any left by Christmas. Oh, well. Sigh.
We made a carrot cake on Sunday. Yummy. MJ enjoyed licking the crumbs.

FAMILY PICTURES FINALLY

Well, we finally got family pictures, thanks to a dear friend. I am so grateful that she took time out of her busy day. Especially with what she had to work with, she got some amazing shots. My mother-in-law has been asking for pictures for sometime. I will be sending her a disc and some prints for Christmas. I want it to be somewhat of a suprise, so the best ones will not be included in the post. I will post them after Christmas. :(

CILANTRO

Please love,

Can we move to a place were all the grocery stores carry fresh cilantro? Where you can buy it year round. Where it is always fresh. Where we can have a garden and grow a whole row of fresh cilantro. Please?

Sincerly yours forever and ever,

A lady with an unknown future, but praying lots of cilantro is in it.

RUB-A-DUB DUB

Sierra tied this fly with her daddy's help. Nate let her pick out the feathers and strings.
MJ eating breakfast and watching a show her sister turned on, on a quiet Saturday morning.
Later that evening, CC and MJ took a bath. CC washed her own hair.

(So how is that for a random, slightly boring post.)

LIGHT UP NIGHT

Shandra's wish was to celebrate her anniversary with friends the same way her and Stephen use to. We went out to dinner and then to light up night. At dinner I laughed so hard. Shandra and her friends are hilarious. Then we went to light up night. I have never been. It was pretty spectacular. There were fireworks and then they lite up the tree on the point.

REFLECTIONS AND WALDO

Lately, CC has really enjoyed the "I SPY" series at the library. This time when we went, she insisted on getting "Where's WALDO." She has spent hours looking for Waldo.

MJ really enjoys sitting or standing in this spot in my bedroom, where the window reaches the floor. Today, instead of just looking out on the beautiful view below, she was more interested in her reflection. I thought it was super cute when she kissed herself.

CAULIFLOWER SOUP

I made cauliflower soup for dinner. I thought it was amazing. Sierra took one big bit and proclaimed loudly, "yuck, " and pulled a really silly face. I puckered my lower lip and gave her a look that said you hurt my feelings. She rubbed my arm and said, "That's okay mom. This is just a yucky dinner but you will get better at it. The next dinner will be a good one." I thought the soup was to die for. I could have licked the bowl. If you dare to try the recipe and if your family is into cauliflower, here it is.

SLEEPING BEAUTY

There is nothing better than a sleeping baby. MJ crashed at 3:30pm after insisting all day she didn't need a nap. She slept for thirty minutes and was ready to go again. I don't know how my children live on such little sleep. They are little energizer bunnies.

LITTLER HEADED MAN

We enter the elevator and head down. A man from our same floor climbs on to the elevator with us. CC is staring at him like he is a statue. The man is standing still like he is a statue.

CC: Mom that man has a little head, Wow.
ME: (Silent. I don't know what to say.)
CC: Wow, isn't that man's head little. It is way littler than yours. Look at that man's head mom. (All the while circling the man like she is observing a piece of art.)
ME: Yeah. I see it.
CC: Mom you have a way big, big, big head and that man has a really little head.
MAN: Chuckled.

He really did have a small head or maybe I just have a massive head. Nonetheless, there was a big contrast.

POLLY WARS

MJ and CC. MJ wanted to play Polly Pockets with CC. CC didn't want to play Polly Pockets with MJ. MJ threw the Polly Pocket CC wanted under her tummy and laid on it. Classic move. MJ giggling those hard belly laughs the whole time. CC screetching at the top of her lungs. Mom laughing.

PINK STONE

Monday for family night we went to Cabela's. Nate was on the look out for some fishing gear for CC. Well, on the way he was trying to convience CC to want to move to Montana. (No, I am not saying we are moving there.) I told him that if he gets a job, we will go. He was telling CC how great it would be to live in Montana.

He said, "Squirmage we can go fishing. We can have a couple of acreas and you can have a horse. (Yes, he was bribing her with a horse. No, she is not getting a horse.) We can go to Yellowstone and go camping whenever we want. Wouldn't that be so fun Squirmage? Wouldn't you love to go camping in Yellowstone?

She said,"No, let's go camping in Pink Stone instead, okay daddy."

Nate and I are still laughing about it.

APPLE SAUCE

If you take a break from feeding me to run check on CC, I may just climb out of my high chair and onto the table. I may then steal the spoon you used to dish the apple sauce out with, because it is bigger, and feed myself.

RANDOM PICTURES of our SUNDAY

I love MJ's smile in this pictures. It makes me so happy. We ate eggs and toast for dinner last night (Saturday) because Dad was gone fishing.
Sierra wore her so cute outfit again today. I never did get a clear picture of it, so I was determined to do so today. She wouldn't stop squirming and making faces.
CC woke MJ up early from her afternoon nap. She supposedly had to get her pajamas because she couldn't stay in her dress all day. I wasn't happy. MJ wasn't happy all day. She fussed and fussed. I finally took them for a walk thinking the evening air would make them feel better. It didn't work. However, I got some really pretty pictures over the reservoir.
When we got back to the car Sierra found her Dad's flashlight and made some ghoulish faces.
MJ won't drink milk in her bottle, but I discovered she will drink chocolate milk. Hmmmmm. Definitely her Grandpa Craven's granddaughter. (Not that he likes chocolate milk, but he does like his milk and chocolate.)

FRIENDS

Sierra's friends came over to play last night. They watched a few movies together and ate pizza. They had a great time together. I don't know if Sierra can ever get enough of Brooklynn and Jennifer. This morning they went to the zoo together and before they walked out the door she ran back to her bedroom and said, "Mom, I need my pajamas, get my pajamas." She was ready to spend the next 24 hours with them. I told her no. She did say that Shandra spoiled her and got her a hotdog at the zoo. She had a lot of fun. We love you.

THIS PUT A SMILE ON MY FACE.

ENJOY.

ARE THEY LISTENING?

Sierra said something sad to me the other day. She said, "I don't want to go to primary anymore." I asked her why. She said, "Because all the other kids know the answers, but I don't know any of the answers." That made me sad. I have been trying to do more of this.
Which resulted in some of this.
And some of this. (She is stuck in my elliptical.)
Later on in the day, I did enjoy the spirit and felt blessed when I looked on this.
And this.

HOW MANY LICKS TO THE CENTER OF A TOOTSIE POP?

MJ was pulling up the back of my shirt and putting her little patty-cakes on my lower back. I was squirming to get away. It made MJ laugh really hard. It was in the middle of prayer. CC was praying and she added these words,"Thank you for MJ's laugh. Thank you that MJ has cut hair like a boy cause that makes me laugh."

CC put her PJ's on backwards. I pointed it out and started laughing. She started laughing harder. Then she ran to the bathroom shouting, "Mom, I was laughing so hard it scared my pee out."

CC keeps taking a few licks of each piece of Halloween candy and then placing it in the fridge. I think she gets bored with the things you have to suck for a long time and apparently gum as well.