ha ha ha ha ha

Boys are kind of a pain in the neck - well, at least mine is. But even knowing this, I wouldn't trade my Adam for anything. He may be a stinker when it comes to nap time, potty time, and meal time, but I still love him (I think he was blessed with those big brown eyes for a reason). Plus he makes me laugh. Yesterday he was on a roll...

In the morning I told the kids I had to go to the store to pick something up. Here is how the rest of the conversation went:

Adam: What are you getting Mom?

Emily: I need to get some medicine (it was my birth control pills and I didn't know how else to explain it)

Adam: Why? Are you dying?

I laughed so hard. Of course I told him I was just fine. Then later he was climbing and jumping on me and I kind of lost my temper. Here is how this conversation went:

Emily: Adam, stop climbing on me...that hurts.

Adam continues to climb and jump on me.

Emily: PLEASE, ADAM, STOP. I am not a jungle gym...I mean seriously, what do I look like?

Adam: Uhhhh....you look like Mommy!

Once again I started laughing and was no longer angry.

He such a cute boy...he breaks everything within a 20 foot radius...but still a cute boy. I think we will get along even better when he is like five and figures out how to touch something without destroying it. Hopefully by then he will eat his dinner as well and go poop on the potty (I won't need to worry about naps anymore).

As a side note...you should know that potty training is coming along well. Slowly, but well. He is starting to slightly get the picture. Thanks everyone for your advice - Mares, you plan seems to be working..

Adam is "helping" me in the kitchen

oooh...look...its tinker bell

Today I took Lily to see Disney on Ice. My mom, my sister Jennifer and her daughter Rebecca joined us. It was a blast! I was so impressed with how well-done it was and Lily was so cute to watch. It was held at the Energy Solutions Center (where the Jazz play) and I was amazed at how many people were there. It was so cute to see all these little girls running around in their princess dresses. Wow - to whoever is the marketing director over at Disney, all I have to say is job well done! I think every little girl in the Salt Lake Valley had some kind of Disney-related outfit on today. None the less, it was so fun. I am glad I didn't miss it!

lily and adam too!

The other day as I was trying to put Adam down for his nap he kept saying he had to go and get the other Adam. I was so confused. Well, it turned out he named this teddy bear Adam. My children are such creative toy namers - a long time ago Lily named this doll Lily. So here we have Lily and Adam and....Lily and Adam.

I took this picture of Grace at the same time. She is just so CUTE!!!!

are they smile lines or crow's feet?

Once again the monumental day has come and gone this year. What day is that you may ask? Well, it was my birthday - a day that I really used to love until I turned, oh, about 18. No one loved being 17 more than me. I was young, thin, had lots of friends, a car, and very little responsibility. My parents trusted me (there was no reason not to) and so I had a lot of freedom. I could date without the pressure of getting "serious" and spend my summers playing softball and swimming. Life was great! Then I turned 18 and had what you might call and early-life crisis. It dawned on me that I suddenly had to move out of my parents' house, get a real job (I had only had a piddly little high school job that made no money), go to college, think about marriage, pay bills, understand credit, etc, etc, etc. It was all very overwhelming to me and I think I cried most of the day. I don't want anyone to be misled into believing that I led a charmed life with my parents - we had to work hard and do plenty of chores, but they took very good care of us and I really liked being with them. Well, it has been 12 years now and with a husband and three kids it is finally sinking in that I may have entered adulthood. AHHHHHHHH! My pores look huge and I have a nice inter tube sitting around my middle from these babies. BUT, after my birthday came and went on Friday I have been doing some evaluating. I actually wouldn't trade my life right now for anything. I love my babies and I love my Scott. I don't love my pores or the wrinkles around my eyes and I especially don't love admitting that I have turned th..thir...thir...well, you get the idea.

So a little run-down of my birthday... it was GREAT! I have a very sweet husband who took the day off work so that we could spend it together. Plus, as a bonus the weather was beautiful! We took the kids to the zoo, and then to Temple Square. Then my parents came down in the evening to watch the kids while Scott and I went to eat at Market Street Grill. It was really yummy and the atmosphere was really neat. When we got home I was surprised to see my sister Jennifer's car in the driveway. She had baked a decadent chocolate cake and came up with the kids. It was such fun. Plus she brought me a nice gift (Barnes and Noble gift card) and my mom got me the DVD of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat." Both of which are perfect gifts for me. And to top off the whole day Scott got me a day at the spa (I must complain about my pores a lot because he said a facial may be just what I need to feel better). It was a great day and I feel really blessed to have such nice people around to spoil me. I have a feeling that maybe my thirties may turn out to be alright after all. I guess I should contact the morturary and let them know that my life hasn't ended with my twenties and I won't be needing that burial spot after all.

how do you say grandpa chickens in croatian? (take two)

So when we got this news a couple months ago I tried blogging about it, only to have to delete the post a few hours later. Thus the reason this is "take two."

OKAY...So you did read correctly; I said Croatian. Scott's dad has been called to be the mission president of the Slovenia/Croatia mission. We are really thrilled for them, but more thrilled for the people in the Balkan region, for they will get his great parents for three years. Lucky! They are such neat people and we have no doubt that they will be wonderful mission leaders. I am especially excited because now Scott and I have a reason to travel to that part of the world - I have always wanted to go to Italy and Greece and the mission is nestled nicely between those two areas. The saddest part is that my kids won't get to see Grandpa and Grandma Chickens for a while, but with the conveniences of the modern world hopefully we won't be too out of touch. They enter the MTC at the end of June and are right now trying to get a jump start on the language (they will be speaking Croatian). We are really happy for them and know they will do a great job! We love you Mom and Dad!

P.S. The kids have named them Grandma and Grandpa Chickens because they have chickens. My parents are Grandma and Grandpa Goats, I bet you can guess why.

Explanation of pictures: Top picture is of Dave and four of the boys on our Grand Canyon trip last Thanksgiving (Darren, the fifth son, is on a mission in Jamaica right now).

The bottom picture is of Dana, Scott, and Karen (Karen is the only daughter and just took the California State Bar Exam - she is amazing. She live in D.C. with her husband)

oh poop!

HELP! I seem to have children who are potty rejects. Lily didn't really take to potty training until she was three and a half and I am seeing the same pattern for Adam. I have tried everything to get this boy interested in going potty like a "big boy" and he just isn't going for it. He turned three in November and since then his interest has actually declined. Plus, he has the stinkiest poop EVER. I kid you not, people who have been around him have even told me that they have never smelled a stinkier kid. Not only that but he goes like four times a day (on a good day). It is disgusting and I am getting so sick of changing his diapers. So here is what I have tried so far... please let me know if you have any additional ideas.

A sticker chart - with ice cream rewards (FAILED)

I let him pick out some big boy undies and then wear them. When he had an accident I let him wear the wet undies hoping he wouldn't like the wet feeling on his bum. He didn't seem to mind. (FAILED)

I taped candy bars high on the bathroom wall and told him he could have one once he went on the potty. He still hasn't gotten one, although my guests have really liked having a treat after they use the potty. (FAILED)

I told him he is a baby because he is still in diapers and that maybe we would move him back into the crib. I don't think he believes me - after all, Grace is in the crib (dang those empty promises). (FAILED)

I have gotten just down-right angry with him. Obviously this didn't work. (FAILED)

I have tried to lay off and not put any pressure on him. After all, he will go when he is ready -- unfortunately my nose is feeling different. I think he has liked this method, but again, no results. (FAILED)

He went bottomless (no pants or diaper) for a while. He hated this, but still didn't go on the potty. Eventually I had to put pants on him to run an errand. Of course he let it all go then. I may try this one again on a day that I don't have to go anywhere.

Okay, so there you have it. If you have any great ideas about how to get this kid to go on the potty, please let me know. I am willing to do anything at this point - singing potty seat, hypnosis, psychic, magician, letting him join the local circus (they would return him once they had to change a diaper)..... I am desperate, so please HELP!!!!!

look mom...no hands...or knees!

It is official - Gracie has started walking on her own. She still only takes a couple tentative steps at a time, but none the less she is walking and just shy of 13 months (that is a record for my kids).

On another note, Gracie has started a new fashion trend. She likes to get into her socks and pull out the tights and drape them around her neck like a shawl or scarf. It is very stunning, let me tell you.

AND...she just looks so darn cute in pig tails.

happy birthday neener!

Today is my little sister Renee's 28th birthday. I have decided that in honor of this day I will list 28 things I love about Renee. Here goes....

1. She is the funniest person I know, seriously. She could make a suicidal person laugh. She is hilarious!
2. She is a sweet mom to Isabel
3. She makes the most awesome cakes I have ever seen (by a non-professional)
4. She loves mate (pronounced ma-tay) and visiting with the fam (they go hand in hand)
5. She is a great lip-sincer
6. She has really pretty hands
7. She doesn't put up with any crap from anyone
8. She works really hard at her calling and takes it very seriously
9. She speaks Spanish
10. Speaking of which, she does a great Mexican person impersonation (think Speeding Gonzales).
11. She is addicted to Wii
12. She went on a mission (something I am really jealous of)
13. She was my traveling buddy all those years my parents drug us around the world (I know, oh boo hoo - you got to go around the world - it wasn't bad, I just liked having a buddy).
14. She has great hair and perfect teeth
15. She saved me from Roger's hip jerks at the dance club in South Africa (inside story - don't ask)
16. She river rafted the Zambezi with me for Christmas one year
17. She let me borrow her car so that I could drive Scott home for Christmas when we were dating. We fell in love in that car.
18. I taught her how to drive stick shift (in that same car)
19. She was a phlabotamist (I have no clue how to spell it) - yuck. And apparently she is really good at it.
20. She is really good at taking care of people in general - after I had Gracie, I was a mess and she came up to Washington with her little 4 month old Isabel and took care of me for a week. What a saint. I am pretty sure I cried to whole week and then sobbed as I dropped her off at the airport.
21. When she was little she used to play tricks on the mailman. It was always really funny
22. She always had short hair when she was in grade school and the cross walk guy (who lived with the dinosaurs) would always call her, "young man." She hated it! So she started wearing huge earrings - he didn't seem to catch on.
23. She is a great housekeeper
24. She is a lot of fun to hang out with
25. She recommends good books
26. All her life she has been complaining about her knees and I always just thought she was looking for attention. Then after her mission she went to see a doctor about them and he said she had the knees of a 70-year-old. She had to have double knee surgery. So, I guess she wasn't looking for attention. Oops.
27. She is a really talented piano player
28. She is one of my favorite people in the whole world. When were in Africa and Taiwan people used to ask up all the time if we were twins; I would have loved to have been her twin. We were the best of friends and still are. I love you Nay, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Please Note: This picture was taken about ten years ago. Don't we both look so young and spry? Actually as you can tell these were a bit chubbier days for me. Renee and I call this particular picture "The Engagement picture." It just looks like one. Sadly, I could hardly find a pic of Renee - what a loser sister I am.

La la la la laaaaaaa!

Imagine for a moment, if you will, me dancing around my house singing and then prancing outside taking a deep breath and singing some more. Anyone who knows me well will have no problem with this vision. Why am I singing and dancing so delightfully you ask? Well, I will tell you....it is so beautiful outside and I can hardly contain my giddiness at the hopeful onset of spring! Now of course, I am a smart woman and a bit of a realist, so I know that spring could not possibly be here, but none the less, I am happy to delight in this beautiful, sunny day! So la la la la laaaaaaaaa!

P.S. Please note how the snow is slowly starting to melt. Isn't it exciting!

kids are funny little creatures!

Ready for a flood

Lily's safety tip of the day: It is always important to wear protective eye goggles when cutting paper into little pieces.

YeeHaw - riding a rocking horse is always better when shirtless!

i heart scott

In honor of Valentine's Day I thought I would make a little entry shouting out my love for my Scottith. So here are the top ten reasons I love Scott...
10. He works really hard and provides such a nice life for the kids and me.
9. He is a great cook (probably better than me, although I am a really good cook as well)
8. Even though he teases the kids relentlessly, he really is a great dad - I love to watch him with them (most of time - sometimes he teases them to tears and I don't like that). AND they really adore him - Lily still calls him Prince Charming on occasion.
7. He is always learning something new
6. He is always trying to be a better person
5. He takes my constructive, sometimes honestly harsh, criticism very well
4. He can fix or make anything - really
3. I like the way he dresses and the music he listens to
2. He loves me a lot, a lot and tells me all the time
1. He is the dreamiest person I know.

BONUS: He sings really nicely and is so shy about it. Sometimes he will get his guitar out and sing me a little song and then get all embarrassed. It is very endearing.

one more BONUS: He is really good at cleaning the kitchen for me when he knows that I have had a long day and can't look at one more dirty dish.

last BONUS: he is very debt-conscious. He refuses to buy anything unless we can pay for it with cash. The only exception he will make is buying a house. (Sometimes this can be a bit frustrating, but in the end I am grateful to not owe anyone anything).

Okay, so I should have made it a list of thirteen. I love Scott so much and everyday I feel so blessed to be married to him. I look around sometimes and think to myself that I really couldn't have found a better guy. He is perfect for me. So....Happy Valentine's Day Scott - I love you!!!!!

P.S. I also woke up this morning to a dozen roses sitting on the table. I thought that was nice.

posing for norman rockwell

Well, we had another lame attempt at a family picture - the result........a very Norman Rockwell-esque picture. I took this to practice the self-timer on the camera and I thought it looked so much like something you would see painted by Norman Rockwell. We never did get a decent one. We may have to break down and go to a professional one of these days. Darn, I hate being a cheap-skate.

the zoo

Cousin William

The kids and I had a last minute outing to the zoo today. Aunt Jen called because she was in Salt Lake City and since the weather was so nice she thought it would be fun to meet up at Hogle Zoo. So I loaded everyone up and made our way over there. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time.

P.S. Yes, Adam and Lily did both get haircuts. Adam's was not intentional - he and his cousin decided to be hair dressers for the day. Now he looks like he belongs to "the Make a Wish" foundation. Lily's haircut was prompted by some old pictures I was looking at. She just looks so cute with a little bob.

the amazing football cake

If you remember back in October I posted a blog entitled "the amazing polka-dot cake." It was about a cake that my sister Renee made for her daughter's birthday. Well, Renee has done it again. In honor of the Super Bowl she made a football cake. On one side was the Giants logo (which up until Sunday I thought were from San Francisco - how was I supposed to know that there are Giants in both baseball and football) and on the other side was the Patriots logo (I think those were to two teams - I'm not really into football, so I am having a hard time remembering). Anyway, it was a great looking cake. Well done, once again, Renee!

P.S. I only have a picture of one side. It started getting eaten before I remembered to take a pic.

happy birthday to gracie!!!!

Yesterday was Gracie's first birthday! I can't believe it has already been a year. I am so grateful to have her in our family - she is like this bright little ray of sunshine. Happy Birthday Gracie Lou - we love you!

Uncle Eric and Grace

Getting started

Mmmm, ice cream...

That is a big pile of snow outside the window behind him.

Topless...her shirt got a lot more chocolate on it than I thought it would.