3 weird things happened today. 3 things that scared either Maddie or me.
It's funny that I turn to my blog to record this instead of my journal... I guess the thought of helpful responses is more enticing than writing it to sit on my bookshelf.
1. Maddie woke me up around 2 a.m. to tell me something was trying to get her. She has awakened scared before, but this time she was physically fearful of getting back in her bed. I had to turn the light on, pull back the covers, and assure her there was nothing there. She said it was like a person coming to get her. She said "I guess I was having a bad feeling in my dream." I had to help her think happy thoughts, like of butterflies, rainbows, and how Jesus loves her and protects her. She woke up this morning still talking about it and was even apprehensive going to bed tonight. I wonder what she could have been dreaming about?
2. Maddie played outside on her bike with a neighbor down the street for about 10 minutes this afternoon. I try not to let her play with this little girl too much. She is 4 and Maddie loves her, but she roams all day every day all over the neighborhood. It bothers me that her parents don't keep track of her, and bothers me even more when she lies to me and says her mom says it's okay if she plays in Maddie's room, or it's okay if she stays for lunch. It also bothers me that she manipulates Maddie and tells her to ask me things that she wants to do. Well, back to today... I went out to check on them and Maddie was riding home alone with a frown on her face. I asked if she was okay and she started crying. She said the girl told her that her Grandpas were dying because they have white hair, and that when she dies she is not coming back. (I should insert here that Maddie often talks about her Grandma Johnson in heaven, and is very aware of what we believe in the afterlife--that we will be resurrected like Jesus and can live with our families forever.) She was just heart broken that these things were not true. I got down to her eyes and told her firmly, "Sweetie, she is wrong. Your Grandpas will live a long time and you will get to see them a lot. And when you die you go to heaven, and then you'll be resurrected like Jesus, remember?" She was so relieved. She saw the girl across the street, and she yelled out, "You're not right!!!" Then we had to talk about how maybe the girl just doesn't know the things that we know. I was really surprised to be having this conversation with a 3 year old... first that she was so concerned about such deep subjects, and second that she is already facing opposition to her beliefs at such a tender age! It scares me a little!
3. We visited Mike's twiner Rachel tonight and her twin boys were chasing Maddie around. They were all laughing and playing, but a few minutes later I couldn't find Maddie. I searched the house and then asked the boys, who were looking out the front door. They said Maddie was in the car. Sure enough, Maddie was in the front seat with all the doors closed. Wow. Apparently she was trying to get away from her cousins, but that was NOT okay. I thought she knew that, but just to make sure she got a long and emphatic lecture about the dangers of being in a car without me. I tried not to scare her--okay maybe a little bit, but I didn't want her to have more nightmares! I'm going to be the one having nightmares about this one!!!
Hopefully these things come in 3's and we will have a break for awhile? I've had enough excitement!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
A Sunbeam
Evidence is stacking up that Ella is not a baby anymore.
Amazingly, incredibly, she has gone to nursery happily two weeks in a row. We don't know exactly what the turning point was, although I think familiarity made a big difference. When Mike and I did the handoff she actually reached for him and was excited to go!! It's a miracle!
Apparently she is learning something too, because she came home singing this.
Oh it just melts my heart to hear her little voice singing to herself.
Ella is talking so much lately! She says three word sentences:
"More noodles please." (or "Mac n' cheese please.")
"Mommy's shoes off."
"Maddie where are you?"
She also correctly recognized a piece of paper as green. She is really interested in colors.
She walks up and down stairs forward now.
Lately she has been asking for "ca-toons". The girls watch Dinosaur Train a few times a week but I was surprised to hear Ella point and say "Tiny sleeping" (that's a dinosaur's name). Maddie gets funny phrases from that show all the time--yesterday she told me to "cut a rug." They are little sponges!!!
I can't believe Ella is almost 20 months. When Maddie was this age she seemed soooo big to me... and I was eight months pregnant. This time around I just keep holding on to Ella as my baby!
Amazingly, incredibly, she has gone to nursery happily two weeks in a row. We don't know exactly what the turning point was, although I think familiarity made a big difference. When Mike and I did the handoff she actually reached for him and was excited to go!! It's a miracle!
Apparently she is learning something too, because she came home singing this.
Oh it just melts my heart to hear her little voice singing to herself.
Ella is talking so much lately! She says three word sentences:
"More noodles please." (or "Mac n' cheese please.")
"Mommy's shoes off."
"Maddie where are you?"
She also correctly recognized a piece of paper as green. She is really interested in colors.
She walks up and down stairs forward now.
Lately she has been asking for "ca-toons". The girls watch Dinosaur Train a few times a week but I was surprised to hear Ella point and say "Tiny sleeping" (that's a dinosaur's name). Maddie gets funny phrases from that show all the time--yesterday she told me to "cut a rug." They are little sponges!!!
I can't believe Ella is almost 20 months. When Maddie was this age she seemed soooo big to me... and I was eight months pregnant. This time around I just keep holding on to Ella as my baby!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Wild Wild West
We celebrated our heritage at true Utahns this week. It's been awhile since we were in the state for the Pioneer Day celebrations, and boy do they take this holiday seriously.
We began with the clothespin drop. This is one from my own youth--my mom did this at many a birthday party growing up.
Maddie was surprisingly accurate.
Ella actually made the first few from her chair, but then decided it was much easier up close.
The girls spontaneously pretended these pillows were bucking broncos.
We've got us some cute little cowgirls.
We enjoyed making these easy little covered wagons.
A few other themed activities included:
-This treasure hunt
- This video about 3 times. I tried to explain each part to Maddie but ended up choking up and having to replay it. There is something stirring about the MoTab combined with imagining a mother's feelings on a journey across the plains...
- Pioneer story time/ puppet show with friends at the Provo Library
On Friday night we had a cook out in Dana & Landon's backyard--the inaugural use of the awesome firepit!
The kids sure enjoyed getting dirty. We had to strip them and hose them down before we went home.
Maddie is a chocolate fanatic--we must be related!!!
I borrowed a dutch oven to try some authentic pioneer cooking. Here's the fresh peach and blueberry cobbler (no canned peaches, cake mix, and sprite for me :). Let me know if you want the recipe. It was to-die-for. Especially with Dana's homemade vanilla ice cream.
On the actual Pioneer Day, we opted to avoid the crowds at the parade and instead participated in D&L's ward 5K and pancake breakfast fundraiser. Mike was hard core and ran with the jogging stroller (flat tire and all) almost all of it, after not having run in about twenty years (no lie). Afterward we watched the parade on TV and were quite happy with ourselves.
Even though Ella cried through it, I enjoyed singing a Pioneer hymn medley with the ward choir today. I am truly thankful for those who have come before and paved the path that brought my family to the restored gospel. A favorite verse:
"Those marvelous Saints who embraced this great work and shared it in lands far and near;
Who gave all their heart, mind, and strength to the Lord with wisdom and vision so clear;
Now stand as examples of virtue and faith, of souls prepared to hear,
Of knowledge sure, born of humble heart, and love that banished fear.
With faith in ev’ry footstep, we follow Christ, the Lord;
And filled with hope through his pure love, we sing with one accord."
K. Newell Dayley, “Faith in Every Footstep,” Ensign, Jan. 1997, 15
We began with the clothespin drop. This is one from my own youth--my mom did this at many a birthday party growing up.
Maddie was surprisingly accurate.
Ella actually made the first few from her chair, but then decided it was much easier up close.
The girls spontaneously pretended these pillows were bucking broncos.
We've got us some cute little cowgirls.
We enjoyed making these easy little covered wagons.A few other themed activities included:
-This treasure hunt
- This video about 3 times. I tried to explain each part to Maddie but ended up choking up and having to replay it. There is something stirring about the MoTab combined with imagining a mother's feelings on a journey across the plains...
- Pioneer story time/ puppet show with friends at the Provo Library
On Friday night we had a cook out in Dana & Landon's backyard--the inaugural use of the awesome firepit!
The kids sure enjoyed getting dirty. We had to strip them and hose them down before we went home.
Maddie is a chocolate fanatic--we must be related!!!
I borrowed a dutch oven to try some authentic pioneer cooking. Here's the fresh peach and blueberry cobbler (no canned peaches, cake mix, and sprite for me :). Let me know if you want the recipe. It was to-die-for. Especially with Dana's homemade vanilla ice cream.
On the actual Pioneer Day, we opted to avoid the crowds at the parade and instead participated in D&L's ward 5K and pancake breakfast fundraiser. Mike was hard core and ran with the jogging stroller (flat tire and all) almost all of it, after not having run in about twenty years (no lie). Afterward we watched the parade on TV and were quite happy with ourselves.
Even though Ella cried through it, I enjoyed singing a Pioneer hymn medley with the ward choir today. I am truly thankful for those who have come before and paved the path that brought my family to the restored gospel. A favorite verse:
"Those marvelous Saints who embraced this great work and shared it in lands far and near;
Who gave all their heart, mind, and strength to the Lord with wisdom and vision so clear;
Now stand as examples of virtue and faith, of souls prepared to hear,
Of knowledge sure, born of humble heart, and love that banished fear.
With faith in ev’ry footstep, we follow Christ, the Lord;
And filled with hope through his pure love, we sing with one accord."
K. Newell Dayley, “Faith in Every Footstep,” Ensign, Jan. 1997, 15
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Roughin' It
We went camping last week with Rebecca (Mike's sister) and family to Willow Creek up above Mapleton.
I probably didn't dress my girls quite appropriately... pink is cute and all, but flip flops were not the best idea. Hey, at least we remembered the pillows on the way out of the driveway. When you only camp once a year, you never quite master the little details.
Ella was all about helping Daddy put up the tent. She was pulling and lifting and working away.
Apparently she knew right what to do on the inside too--she plopped down and started her pretend snoring sounds.
Our tent is small but I love the kid (I mean doggy) door.
We went on a walk before dinner to occupy the kids and Daddy taught them to hold grass in their mouths.
We had a fun time around the campfire that night with the whole clan.
Before we left camp the next morning we went on a little hike.
I don't love the back view of me, but check out how close we were to this deer! Ella kept saying "Deer, where are you?"
Maddie was enthralled with the binoculars. Not sure if she ever figured them out, but she sure thought they were fun.
She spied this rolly polly in the middle of the rocky trail. Little kids have an eye for detail and a sense of wonder about the world. They loved campin'!
I probably didn't dress my girls quite appropriately... pink is cute and all, but flip flops were not the best idea. Hey, at least we remembered the pillows on the way out of the driveway. When you only camp once a year, you never quite master the little details.
Ella was all about helping Daddy put up the tent. She was pulling and lifting and working away.
Apparently she knew right what to do on the inside too--she plopped down and started her pretend snoring sounds.
Our tent is small but I love the kid (I mean doggy) door.
We went on a walk before dinner to occupy the kids and Daddy taught them to hold grass in their mouths.
We had a fun time around the campfire that night with the whole clan.
Before we left camp the next morning we went on a little hike.
I don't love the back view of me, but check out how close we were to this deer! Ella kept saying "Deer, where are you?"
Maddie was enthralled with the binoculars. Not sure if she ever figured them out, but she sure thought they were fun.
She spied this rolly polly in the middle of the rocky trail. Little kids have an eye for detail and a sense of wonder about the world. They loved campin'!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The Circus Was Here!
I found myself a couple of clowns this week.
The honking nose was a hit.
We played lots of games inside, which was perfect because it was really hot this week. We-jumped through hoops
-played Ringmaster May I? (This was fun because we had to be creative... "May I walk like a bear?... hop like a bunny?... take two giant steps?... twirl over to you?" I also appreciated the politeness training.)
-sorted balloons by color (Ella is learning her colors too! She takes random guesses still but knows many of the names now.)
Maddie's bunny magically popped out of a hat!
We made clowns of our own. They were supposed to be on paper plates but I was out so we traced plates onto cardstock and decorated them.
I was so impressed with Maddie! Of course I gave her the props, but I didn't touch her paper. She did it all herself!
Ella helped me glue and scribble.
We had an animal picnic.
We got out our circus finger puppets.
We practiced tight rope walking.
When we went hiking we really practiced keeping our balance.
The monkeys practiced their circus acts in the trees.
We tried out our new circus waffle maker, thanks to Grandma!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
I'm an Idaho Girl
I just love going home to visit. I'm lucky that Mike loves it too. In fact, this trip originally hatched as a visit for just me and the kids for a week so Mom and I could do girly stuff like sew and garden together. But when Mike heard about it, he just couldn't be left behind. We did end up gardening a lot (see here), and Mike was able to hit golf balls, ride his road bike, and watch the Tour de France every single day we were there, so I would say it was a successful vacation!
I am not good at condensing things... I want to remember each moment captured... so it's a little long winded.
My dad used to do this when we were little... he in fact gave me a ride before Maddie jumped on!
My girls loved the back of Grandma's new (old) Mercedes convertible. Talk about style!
Grandma gave Maddie a really fun new project. I think I might need to get more of these.
Of course the girls were infatuated with Ozzie.
It turned into a party weekend when Emily and Ren came too. One night we got out a new yard game called golf toss, and it reminded me of my mom's Poi balls from her Polynesian dance days. (When I was little she was in a performing group for about 5 years that did all the authentic dances, like the Hawaiian hula and Tahitian hip shaking with the big grass skirts.) So she got out her Poi balls and gave us a lesson. She is still amazing!
Of course we enjoyed some fun in the sun.
The girls chilled with Grandma...
And made a great big mess. Good thing it was all hose-able!
My dad got out the power toys and we tested them in the yard.
Later that night we took them out the canyon rim for some riding. The girls were so funny--we beat the trailer and toys, but when they got out of the car and saw the dirt, it was like they thought that was what we came for and they were thrilled!
Me and my Pops with the Snake River Canyon in the background. Isn't it beautiful?
Maddie and Ella both went for little spins with Daddy.
We took turns on the dirt bikes too--I tried it for the first time and actually drove around a little!
This is really gross but there were TONS of filed mice. Seriously, hoards of them on each trail. Ella thought they were so cute (kind of like she loves ants and spiders?) and she spent most of the evening following them and calling, "Mousy, where are you?"
A little dirt never hurt anybody. But the dirty bath water that night was pretty gross.
While I was in Twin I also met up with Tasha, a best friend from high school. We always had so much fun together. It was awesome to catch up with her and meet her newest daughter, Sofia.
Our kids had a great time together too. Wish we lived closer and could do more playdates!
Check out that poser!
The kids got a hold of the camera and took this hilarious shot of Ella's snaggly teeth. I just love it! It shows how her incisors are really about to burst through on the bottom, and you can see the tip of one on the top. Just wish they would come in already and leave us alone!!
A quick word about Ella Bella... she has seriously changed in the last month and all of a sudden she is not my baby anymore. She says multiple new words every day and mimics sounds for things. A few days ago she finally mastered "Maddie" (she has always called her "Yaya") and is just made Maddie's day! Maddie is constantly asking Ella to say things and is so proud of her when she can do it. Another example: yesterday she woke up and asked for the "bucky balls" clear as day. She astounds us! We just love her!
I am not good at condensing things... I want to remember each moment captured... so it's a little long winded.
My dad used to do this when we were little... he in fact gave me a ride before Maddie jumped on!
My girls loved the back of Grandma's new (old) Mercedes convertible. Talk about style!
Grandma gave Maddie a really fun new project. I think I might need to get more of these.
Of course the girls were infatuated with Ozzie.
It turned into a party weekend when Emily and Ren came too. One night we got out a new yard game called golf toss, and it reminded me of my mom's Poi balls from her Polynesian dance days. (When I was little she was in a performing group for about 5 years that did all the authentic dances, like the Hawaiian hula and Tahitian hip shaking with the big grass skirts.) So she got out her Poi balls and gave us a lesson. She is still amazing!
Of course we enjoyed some fun in the sun.
The girls chilled with Grandma...
And made a great big mess. Good thing it was all hose-able!
My dad got out the power toys and we tested them in the yard.
Later that night we took them out the canyon rim for some riding. The girls were so funny--we beat the trailer and toys, but when they got out of the car and saw the dirt, it was like they thought that was what we came for and they were thrilled!
Me and my Pops with the Snake River Canyon in the background. Isn't it beautiful?
Maddie and Ella both went for little spins with Daddy.
We took turns on the dirt bikes too--I tried it for the first time and actually drove around a little!
This is really gross but there were TONS of filed mice. Seriously, hoards of them on each trail. Ella thought they were so cute (kind of like she loves ants and spiders?) and she spent most of the evening following them and calling, "Mousy, where are you?"
A little dirt never hurt anybody. But the dirty bath water that night was pretty gross.
While I was in Twin I also met up with Tasha, a best friend from high school. We always had so much fun together. It was awesome to catch up with her and meet her newest daughter, Sofia.
Our kids had a great time together too. Wish we lived closer and could do more playdates!
Check out that poser!
The kids got a hold of the camera and took this hilarious shot of Ella's snaggly teeth. I just love it! It shows how her incisors are really about to burst through on the bottom, and you can see the tip of one on the top. Just wish they would come in already and leave us alone!!A quick word about Ella Bella... she has seriously changed in the last month and all of a sudden she is not my baby anymore. She says multiple new words every day and mimics sounds for things. A few days ago she finally mastered "Maddie" (she has always called her "Yaya") and is just made Maddie's day! Maddie is constantly asking Ella to say things and is so proud of her when she can do it. Another example: yesterday she woke up and asked for the "bucky balls" clear as day. She astounds us! We just love her!
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