Rollerblading

Blythe's besties, Lilly and Emma Bradford, have roller blades.  Blythe discovered my roller blades in the storage space under the house, pulled them out, and asked if she could use them.  She has taken to roller blading with gusto and really, really, really likes it.  Tuesdays and Thursdays have been designated "roller blade to school" days, Blythe is out in the cul-de-sac going around and around, and she's feeling rather confident on wheels.  I'm feeling astounded that her feet fit in my size 10 blades.  She is growing up all sorts of ways.

Miss B is Getting Married

Blythe's teacher, Miss Bingham, is getting married on March 2.  Throughout the school year, Blythe has heard all about Chad, Miss Bingham's boyfriend, turned fiancé, soon-to-be-husband, and she's so thrilled about the upcoming marriage, she wants us to drive to Arizona to be at the reception.  

Sadly, we aren't going to Arizona.  Blythe decided to make Miss Bingham a great big card/poster as a wedding gift, complete with Lifesaver flowers, that everyone in her class could sign.  She called Ms. B to ask what everyone's favorite colors are, and made a really fun, thoughtful gift.  I'm sure Ms. B loved it!

These pictures are pre-Lifesaver attachment.

She didn't want to have her classmates be trying to sign the card with the uneven surface

that would be created by the Lifesavers.

So, everyone signed, then she stuff the candies on.

Don't you love that she's pointed out it's "not real size?" 

I do!

Airborne

To celebrate Guy and Blake's birthdays which are both this month, we all gathered at Airborne, a trampoline place, to jump around.  It's a very open space with both trampolines and Ninja Warrior obstacles.  I was following Kal around and realized I needed to be able to get onto trampolines, so although I don't normally jump when we go to these places, I did today.  It was great fun for everyone, and I only peed my pants a little bit.  It was glow in the dark jumping night, so none of the pictures look very good.

Waiting in line to play chicken into a huge inflatable mat.

Brandt versus Guy and Cora.

Guy and Cora won. 

Very blurry jumpy Brandt.

Blythe with Thea

 

 

Bathtime, at 11am

Mikayla has a physical therapy appointment this morning, and so Mom and I went over to her house to help with all the children.  So many children!! (Just kidding Mikayla)  I was cleaning up the kitchen after breakfast, and Kal, who loves the water, wanted to help.  I put him on a chair next to me, and he grabbed two cups and began passing water back and forth between them.  Water was getting everywhere!  Rather than have water all over the floor, I filled the sink a bit more and put Kal right in.  He was delighted!  Then Cora came in and wanted to join Kal in the sink.  Who wouldn't?  Thing was, they wouldn't both fit in the sink, and to avoid the three-year-old meltdown, I suggested they get in the bath.  Why not?  Who's to say you can't have a bath at 11:00am?  They played and played, while Mom and I chatted, observing their splashings from the safety of Cora's bed. The only thing missing were bubbles.

First Bike Ride of the Season

It was thoroughly lovely outside this afternoon.  Blythe came home from school, pulled her bike out of the shed, and began to ride around the cul-de-sac.  She looked like she was having such a great time, I pulled my bike down from the garage ceiling where it has been suspended all winter, and rode around with her.  We went up and down the street, feeling the wind through our bike helmets, and the sun on our cheeks.  Here's to spring!

Cora Hangs Around

Cora spent the morning with me.

It was busy, as it always is with our favorite threenager.

8:41am  Cora is pouting by the drinking fountain at Rock Canyon because she wants to go to school.

No amount of cajoling can get her to come with me.

She just wants to stay with Brick, in his class, and do all the school things.

I've been telling her that she can't go to school because she doesn't go potty in the toilet, 

but she's been working on that, and feels ready.

She's got a backpack. She's willing.  Why not?!

Sadly, she's not yet five, and that's the other requirement.

She just kept saying, "I want go to school."

8:55am  We made it home.  

Cora is without leggings because she peed in them before she made it to the toilet.

Apparently she isn't quite ready for school yet.

Cora enjoys a back massage from Uncle Kent.

She kept saying, "It tickling me!"

But she liked it!

9:38am  We play Pie Face.

Well, little kid Pie Face.

No whipped cream involved, just an awfully cute girl and her aunt.

10:47am Cora does some stretching.

Fortunately, her nightgown (which is what she's been wearing all morning) covers her "bits."

What a morning!

Sunday Selfie

Today's Sunday Selfie was taken during church.  That's right.  During sacrament meeting, Brandt got my phone and took a selfie.  He's so bad!!! 

Cute though.

How To Train Your Dragon

We went to the movie today with Mikayla, Brick, and Cora.  It was the last installment of the How to Train Your Dragon movies.  It was a sweet conclusion to the series.  There were some really exciting parts, and then were fairly slow parts that capture Brick and Cora's attention.  Both of them ended up on my lap for the last forty minutes of the movie, and Cora fell asleep.  She wanted me to rub her back and her belly, and in the warm dark, on my soft and squishy lap, she went right out.  It was nice to be with my kids and Mikayla and her kids.  I had two errands to run after the movie, and while Brandt and Blythe did not want to go, I told them I gave them two hours of movie time, so they could bear up with thirty minutes of errands.

Pie Face

We played Pie Face for a bit today.  Well, Blythe and I played.  Kent wasn't interested and Brandt wouldn't play because he "doesn't like whipped cream."  Sadly, no whipped cream got in anyone's mouth, but he was being weird and wouldn't do it. 

Essentially, to play, you place a blob of whipped cream on an arm, spin to see how many times you have to crank the arm, and then turn.  Sometimes the arm will release and splat whipped cream on your face, and sometimes it won't.  If it doesn't, you are saved and the next person has to spin and crank.  Blythe and I both ended up with whipped creamed faces, but it was all good fun.  Too bad Brandt didn't play!

While Blythe got it in the eye,

I got it on the nose. 

Brandt was willing to look like he was playing, even though he wouldn't.

A Lovely Bit of Pampering; and A First!

As I was finishing up skiing today, Mikayla called and said she was headed to get a pedicure.  She needed time outside of her house as she's going a bit stir-crazy.  She invited me to join her.  As I was still in Midway, I suggested she wait until after Blythe got home and we would both go with her.  She made an appointment for us, and when Blythe was done with school, we went to get our feet done.  It was the first time Blythe had had a real, true, full-on pedicure, and she quite liked it.  We got hot rocks, a leg massage, and cuticle trimming around our nails, plus our toe nails painted, of course.  We talked and laughed.  It was good to be together.  We followed up our pedis with a stop at Zao's for passionfruit limeade, then at Great Harvest for a slice of bread.  Then, at Blythe's request, we stopped at Mikayla's and fed Freya and Thea, because we needed a bit of a baby snuggle.  It was a lovely way to spend an afternoon!

 

Blythe chose mermaid toes.

Aren't they lovely?

Embracing Winter

When I woke early for spin, it was snowing.  The flakes glistened, illuminated by the street lamp.  It was quiet and cold and I really wanted to stay in bed, but Maureen was expecting me to pick her up, and I had a date with a stationart bike.  Mid class, I thought to myself, 'I don't need to help Mikayla this morning (Guy is home from work today), I don't have anything really scheduled, and while I certainly have lots to do, I think I'll go skiing.'  I texted four friends right then and there, pedaling as I asked if they would like to join me.  Linda Pugmire took me up on my offer, and at 8:45, I picked her up to head to Midway and Wasatch Mountain State Park.

Linda hadn't skied at Wasatch Mountain, and I really like it.  It's relatively flat because it is on the golf course, but it is still beautiful, with trees and ponds and wildlife.  Even though it had been snowing earlier, the clouds parted, the sun came out, and it wasn't too cold.  The trail was freshly groomed, there was hardly anyone else there, and Linda and I felt like we had the whole area to ourselves as we skied a four mile loop.  I'm not sure how it could have been nicer.  It was absolutely glorious. 

Linda bought some little mice dolls a while back, and she has been taking them on all her outings, then posing them doing the same thing.  She brought them along and we set them to ski.  Mid ski, we took off our skis, fabricated reed skis for the mice, posed them, then Linda took some great pictures.  I laughed at her getting down on her belly to get a good shot, but it was fun to have them participate. 

We went to lunch after our exercise and just had a marvelous morning talking and embracing the winter.  If it's going to snow, I figure I might as well enjoy it.  Downhill skiing is not for me, but Nordic skiing certainly is.  I hope to get out a couple more times before the season ends.

 In the park lodge, there is a large plaque with the following quote I just love.  It says,

Come all and find peace and rest in the arms of the mighty Wasatch range.  Listen to the song of the pines and the lullaby of the streams.  The everlasting beauty of God's great out of doors belongs to you.

Amen!

Potty Training

Mikayla has four children in diapers, which is a ridiculous number.  Cora has needed to start with the potty training, but there have been some emotional setbacks, as well as a very stubborn personality to deal with, and so it hasn't happened.  Mikayla and I have been talking about it, and we decided today was the day to start.  I went over to her house to help get people up and moving and out the door this morning, and Cora wanted to come to my house.  I agreed, but said that we were going to start going potty in the toilet.  She wasn't thrilled, but she didn't entirely protest either.  I brought home a couple pairs of pants and undies for her, which we put on to try.  I set the timer on the phone, and we began.  By the time we needed to go pick up Brick from school, we were 1-4.  She had peed on the floor three times, but did pee once in the toilet.  It felt like progress, and throughout the day, at home, she did really well.  She did pee on Kal and all over the floor, but she also peed a couple times in the toilet, and even pooped. 

Working with Cora took me right back to my potty training efforts with our children.  I'm so glad that part of my parenting life is over.  I didn't deal with it well with Brandt and Blythe, both of whom were difficult, and I'm glad it's someone else's real job now.  I've said a prayer for Cora and am fairly confident it will come quickly.

Brandt

This boy.

I know he's growing up.

I can practically watch him sprouting, getting taller and taller all the time.

But sometimes, when he plops down on the floor and plays with his cars,

It still seems like he's my little boy.

Growing up is good, and staying young is too.

A Day at the Movies

Yesterday the kids were off of school for President's Day, and today they were off of school for a professional training day.  It was cold and I decided to take the kids to the movie.  Along with Brick and Cora, Christopher, Tysen, Lyla, and Rowan, we went to see The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.  The animation was amazing and the story was relatively engaging.  Everyone seemed to like it.  It was a good activity for a winter afternoon, and always fun to be with cousins.

Head's Up

Tonight, for our family home evening activity, we played Head's Up, a charade-like game where one person has to guess a word while others either give verbal clues or act it out.  It's an app on my phone, and the kids love it because they get to use the phone.  They are getting really good at giving clues and charade-ing, and pretty much want to play every evening.  We can do several rounds without it taking a huge amount of time, and Brandt and Blythe both really enjoy it.  Our record number of words is 9 in one minute.  That's not too shabby.

Little Women

I am currently reading Little Women aloud to Blythe.  Recently, we saw an updated movie version of the book with my mom, Mikayla, Tysen, Ava, Sharae, and Makenna.  Blythe and I had just finished a book, needed something new to start, and I thought we should start Little Women.  Blythe has been enjoying it, even reading ahead of me once or twice.  It's a wonderful story and has led to great discussion about various topics.  Blythe stops me regularly to ask what words mean, as Alcott uses big words and interesting phrases.  I'll write down some of those words for Blythe to take to school to possibly use for their vocabulary exercises. 

As we've been reading, I've been delighted with a couple of quotes, both from Marmee, of course, about life and love.  I wanted to record them here.

Chapter 8   "My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning, and may be many; but you can overcome and outlive them all, if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthly one.  The more you love and trust Him, the nearer you will feel to Him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom.  His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but may become the source of lifelong peace, happiness, and strength.  Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother."

Chapter 9   "I want my daughters to be beautiful, accomplished, and good; to be admired, loved, and respected, to have a happy youth, to be well and wisely married, and to lead useful, pleasant lives, with as little care and sorrow to try them as God sees fit to send.  To be loved and chosen by a good man is the best and sweetest thing which can happen to a woman; and I sincerely hope my girls may know this beautiful experience.  It is natural to think of it, Meg; right to hope and wait for it, and wise to prepare for it; so that, when the happy time comes, you may feel ready for the duties, and worthy of the joy.  My dear girls, I am ambitious for you, but not to have you make a dash in the world, --marry rich men merely because they are rich, or have splendid houses, which are not homes, because love is wanting.  Money is a needful and precious thing,--and when well used, a noble thing,--but I never want you to think it is the first or only prize to strive for.  I'd rather see you poor men's wives, if you were happy, beloved, contented, than queens on thrones, without self-respect and peace."

Brinkerhoffs in Town

Annie, Charlie, Tess and her boyfriend Jamison, all came up to Provo for the long President's Day weekend.  We love the Brinkerhoffs and were delighted to be with them.  They came to church with us.  Brick and Cora did, too, so we sat on two short pews, one behind the other.  Brandt and Blythe sat with their big cousins, while Kent and I entertained Brick and Cora.  After church, Brandt and Blythe went back to Brenda's house to hang out with the Brinkerhoffs.  They returned to our house at 5:00.  Lee, Cammie, and Aaron came over, and we all had dinner together.  Brandt and Blythe were so happy to have the Brinks engaging with them, talking, laughing, looking at stuff on their phones, playing games.  We wish they were closer and we could see them all the time.  Here's to weekend visitors, even if those visitors don't actually stay with us.

Brandt, Blythe, and Jamison playing Clue

Sunday Selfies

Brandt and selfies.

A Sunday edition.

This week's selfies feature a squishy toy taking a prominent place in the center of Brandt face.

He's a strange kid.

Being Cultured

We had an artsy afternoon.  We attended BYU Young Company's production of Comedy of Errors.  It was set in a 1960s beach town and was funny and engaging.  Both Brandt and Blythe really liked it.  We got sprayed with water, had an actor climb over our seats right between me and Brandt, and Blythe got bopped on the head by a beach ball.  There was a fun set complete with a photoboard I wanted to have the kids stick their heads into, but neither was willing to humor me.  More's the pity.

Blythe wouldn't stand with us to take a picture.

Antipholus of Ephesus, his wife Adriana, and Antipholus of Syracuse

Dromio of Ephesus, Adriana, and Antipholus of Ephesus

Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Ephesus

After the play, we walked across the way to the MOA to check out an exhibit by the artist Patrick Dougherty entitled Windswept.  Doughtery creates works out of willow branches that he weaves together to make large, immersive installations.  They are super cool, and the exhibit in the MOA is really fantastic.  You can walk all around and through it, it towers to the ceiling, and it smells really good.  The saplings were hauled in by a semi-load, and Doughterty had students and community members help him weave the piece.  We all loved it and wandered around and through it with much delight.