"Mom! Daddy's wearing your mommy-thing!"

So Michael wore my "mommy-thing" on Sunday and Riley thought it was super hilarious.

plus, there is a mutilated balloon hanging on our fridge "so Kaylee can always remember the day she popped it."

Lily got her ears pierced

On January 7 the girls and I ventured to Idaho falls.

It was all Kaylee's idea. 

A few days prior she had told me that she reeeeeeaaaallly wanted to get her ears pierced. Lily followed suit and told me that she, too, would like to pierce her ears. I told the girls that we had to talk to Daddy first and see what he thought about it. When he came home from school we talked to him and he was agreeable, so we made plans to go to Idaho Falls on Saturday and get it done!

When we got to Claire's, Kaylee hopped up into the chair first. Then she climbed down and said she wanted Lily to go first. Lily climbed up and waited nervously but excitedly. They gave her a little teddy bear to hold and then the ladies made their marks, checked and rechecked them to make sure they looked perfect, brought their guns up to her ears, and fired away.

Poor Lily cried and cried.

Kaylee chickened out and announced that she would not be getting her ears pierced that day or any other.

"I will never get my ears pierced! Never, never, never!"

I think that Lily's tears were a result of shock and hurt feelings. I told her that it would feel like a pinch and that it might hurt a little. Perhaps she felt betrayed. Perhaps it hurt more than she actually expected it to.

She got over it in no time. She was happier than happy to have cute little studs in her ears. She loves to show them off. They just look so darn cute in her little ears.

...and maybe a little too grown up.

What happened to my baby?

before and.....

just before... no after.

she looks sooooo much like her daddy in this picture!

look at those cheeks!

I took these pictures with the intent of getting her hair cut and doing before and after photos. Once I looked at these I simply could not bring myself to let anyone bring shears to those locks!

and in case you're wondering... her hair never looks this lovely when it's down. but still.... I just can't do it.

Panch

this is Pancho. my brothers stole him from a girls' apartment.

I liked the harsh light that shone on him as he sat on my kitchen table.

we sang happy birthday to zach

outtakes

just some things I've heard around my house in recent days...

• {"We don't get tattoos because tattoos will KILL you!" -Lily}

• {"Hey! There's no reading at the North Pole!" -Kaylee}

• {abruptly, after 15 minutes of straight giggling: "okay... all that playing made me have to go poop." -Lily}

Conversation with Riley:

"Mom, look!"

"Awesome!"

"No. It's not awesome." (she shows me an empty movie case- Bedknobs and Broomsticks; uh-oh. not awesome. this is serious...)

"Oh, you're right. That's not awesome. Where did the movie go?"

"I don't know..."

then somberly:  "Do you think Zach did it?"

Zach is living with us this semester and he sleeps in the room where we keep the movies. She has a valid concern.

• {to Kaylee: "Did you just call me a codfish??" -a Very Offended Lily.}

Conversation with Kaylee

the matchbox got left in reach of the children (don't worry, Mom, it's hidden now!) and Kaylee lit a match. I said to her:

"Ooooh, Kaylee. Please don't do that again."
 
"Okay, but can I do it when I'm six?"

"maybe"

"seven?"

"yeah"

"eighteen?"

"eighteen for sure"

eighteen sounds like the perfect age to finally be allowed light a match.


a conversation between Lily and Kaylee:

after kaylee destroyed lily's castle:

Kaylee: "Lily, I made you a new sandcastle. Come see!"

Lily lovingly put her arm around Kaylee and Kaylee wrapped her arm around Lily. They walked with their arms around each other to the living room.

Lily: "(gasp) oh, it's beautiful!"

Kaylee: "and I'm verrrry sorry for knocking yours over."

Lily: "It's okay. I like knocking sandcastles over too."


I wasn't present for the original argument but Lily and my friend Mandy filled me in on the details. It went like this:

Lily: "Kaylee! Why did you do that? I'm so mad at you!"

Kaylee: "Well, I'm so mad at you! See ya later!"

Lily: "Alligator!"


If the is the worst my children fight I will be forever happy.


oh. and we can't forget this gem.

Riley is potty training (finally!). She still hasn't got the hang of the undies thing.

around the house (film)

one of my children took the next three lovely photos

not the best pictures ever but...

it doesn't matter because look how special!!

 august

january

We took this picture at literally, literally at the last possible second. I wish we hadn't procrastinated because it made for a terrible photograph and we had to take it in the same place. but just look at those precious babes! I still can't believe that once upon a time they were in our bellies!

I'm soooo happy that my sister and I have same-age babies!

just like jessie

Kaylee loves when I braid her hair like this because she looks "just like jessie"

yodel-ay-hee-hoo

mal at two months

I took these pictures a few nights ago so really she was more like 2 months + 1 week.

Here is my cutie Mally-Girl who brings so much love and joy to my life.

Oh, I love this baby girl!

Gramma's Howe House

that's what the girls call my parents' house... if you didn't gather...

 Uncle Zach with his babiest nieces

 waiting to go downstairs on Christmas Morning

not sure why Riley is so sad...

 me and Kaylee with the sister-cousins

watching a movie (water for elephants). pretend Geri is between Shane and me.

i want to squeeze her when she wears this outfit

nothing better...

...than this right here

wanna know why Kaylee's crying?

because as soon as Geri pointed the camera in our general direction Kaylee suddenly became very tired and just had to lie down.

I'm a mean mom so I made her sit up and smile for a picture

well...

I  made her sit up anyway.

today we...

...learned about a man named George Albert Smith.

...watched Fiddler on the Roof. "as the good book says..."

...had pancakes for dinner per Kaylee's request. I made some delicious buttermilk syrup to go with it. yum.


I love Sundays. I love attending church meetings. I love the teachings that inspire me to be a better person. I am so grateful that we are able to attend each week. I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

santa claus came to town

We spent Christmas at my parents' house in Independence, California. Every year Santa Claus and his reindeer (including  Ruldolf!) appear on the courthouse roof. The courthouse bells play "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" and then he goes downstairs and all the good little girls and boys who live in Independence and the surrounding area get to sit on his lap and his cute little elf gives each of them a present. Inside the courthouse they serve cookies and hot apple cider. It's so fun and cute. I love the tiny town I grew up in!

 My girls look like pale little ghosties next to my dad's brown face.

 Zach was insanely excited to see Santa. He was, like, freaking out man.

 The girls and I posed for a picture with Mr. Claus. Again, Riley was not interested in having anything to do with him.

Geri wore this cute little elf headband all night. Isn't she the adorablest??

geri and kenzie

I took some pictures of Geri and Makenzie while we were at my parents' in California. I love my sister and my niece. I miss them so terribly much; it makes my stomach hurt.