matildawrites

Marcus' Legos

2009-09-08T06:55:00.000-07:00

Marcus has been building a lot lately and when he asked for a photo yesterday I had to oblige. His creations are more and more interesting to me. It's wonderful to see what he'll come up with next.

My Birthday

2009-09-08T06:50:00.000-07:00

This year for my birthday the kids and Steve took down the painting of Marcus in the family room. They took it to be framed but didn't tell me. So I was cleaning the floor on Friday morning and I looked up and it was gone. I thought at first it had fallen off the wall or that Marcus had taken it to his room, but I couldn't find it anywhere. I couldn't imagine someone would break in and steal just that but I called Steve anyway. He confirmed my suspicions but I still had a really fun weekend lamenting the fact that we had been "robbed" and hearing the kids all snicker.
I got some really fun things this year, what a wonderful birthday and I just feel so grateful!!!!!! On my birthday I did a fun birthday singing time and then I made a peach pie in the afternoon. Marcus was disappointed because you can't frost a pie, but luckily that's when the Jones' showed up with a chocolate cake and the day was saved. We had dinner at Steve's sisters and that was really nice too. I still can't believe i'm halfway to 70.

Pack Meeting

2009-09-08T06:46:00.001-07:00

The boys were asked to bring something they collect this month. Neil said right away that he wanted to bring his coin collection. I knew that he collected quarters, but I thought that was because Grandma collected them for him. Then he started pulling out penny books and nickel books and a jar of coins that he had that were really special to him. I had no idea that he REALLY collected coins.
So, being brave, I ventured down to Las Vegas to a coin shop right by the airport and Sunset park and picked up cardboard coin holders and sheet protectors so he could organize all his loose coins. I set them all out on his desk to surprise him when he came home from school.
He was so excited. He set right to work putting the coins in, stapling the holder shut and organizing them in the binder. Sometimes I wish that I paid more attention. We could have done this a long time ago.

No Sense of Self Preservation

2009-08-15T17:23:00.000-07:00

Steve says she has a real strong sense of self preservation and that she's smart enough to stay safe. I disagree. I think she loves the thrill, has no sense of danger and has no idea about the consequences of gravity.
These photos were taken overlooking the Bingham Canyon Mine (Kennecott Copper) the worlds largest open pit mine, and we're about 3/4 of a mile up.

Dahlia loves Sammy

2009-08-04T19:27:00.000-07:00

We have watched Sammy on and off throughout the summer. Dahlia absolutely loves having him here and Carpe likes him too. She was so glad every time he came to visit and she spent a lot of time hugging him and following him around the house. She misses him so much!

Steve's Birthday

2009-07-15T06:26:00.000-07:00

This year for Steve's birthday:
Marcus picked: Skittles, pens, screwdrivers, and Diet Mountain Dew
Neil Picked: paper clips, pens, post it tabs and erasers that are shaped like keyboard keys
Dahlia picked: a stuffed shark, and a stuffed bear to go with the white one she got Dad for Fathers Day

These are the cards they picked - 50 cents each!!! So of course they could choose what they like. Dahlia's is the best (in my opinion) but they are all really good selections.

Marcus taped his gifts into a bag and he is writing the card.

Dahlia wrapping her gifts and Neil wrapping his.

As a tradition, on our birthday's, we take the children to the dollar store. They can choose whatever they wish and I don't have to say no, or tell them Dad doesn't need it or it's too expensive. It doesn't matter what they pick, it can be anything and Dad knows he'll love it because it was inexpensive. I usually let them pick two or three things. Then they come home and wrap them up. I think this year the kids outdid themselves picking things for Steve's birthday. The card that Dahlia selected for him is priceless. I can't wait for Steve to open them.

After the gifts were wrapped the boys made clues for a treasure hunt and taped them around the house. Steve has to go on the hunt to find his gifts. I can't wait!!!!!

This Is My Daughter

2009-07-12T13:10:00.000-07:00

As a little girl, maybe not so little, whenever I was upset about something I would go to my room and get out my big soft black blanket. I would put on my grandmothers old high heeled shoes, they were clear vinyl with rhinestones, cover myself with the blanket, and crawl out to wherever the family was. This way they would all be sure to know that I was upset, or needed attention.

Without ever telling my kids about these times all three of them have put blankets over their heads and paraded around the house.

Yesterday Steve's sister's family came over and Dahlia came marching into the living room covered in her blanket. She giggled and laughed and had all the attention in the room. She is definately my daughter.

Marcus' Birthday Party

2009-07-11T18:29:00.000-07:00

Why do the pictures always load backwards. It drives me nuts, so scroll down and start at the bottom, then work your way up.

The main part of the volcano base.

I made a Volcano Base from Lego Agents Mission 8. I borrowed some of Marcus' pieces and put them in, that was fun. I made both sections of the cake, but I didn't even attempt the helicopter.

Marcus and Jarrod.

Pizza and Rootbeer.

All the kids and their racers.

The card from the Brinkerhoff's. It had pop out Lego men. Marcus loved it.

Daniel's car.

Sylas with his finished car.

Maddie and Rebecca working on Maddie's car - The Thunder Racer.

We started by having a treasure hunt to find the racers, then the building commenced.

Agents Robo Attack Birthday

2009-07-07T14:34:00.000-07:00

Do you think he knows what it is? All he has to do is shake the box - it has the tell tale sound of a box that comes from Denmark.

Marcus is 7. He is so excited. He opened his gift from Grandma and Grandpa and was super happy. He sat and built it all through the afternoon. He is also sitting with his m&m's that he got from the Bishop for his birthday. He now has it posing in his Agents display on top of his dresser. He wants a volcano base cake for his birthday too....so more photos later.

Dahlia, the scissor lady

2009-06-29T19:45:00.000-07:00

It doesn't seem to matter how many times we tell Dahlia that only Veronica and aunt Erin can cut hair. She still finds a way. She was snipping up parts of her bathing suit today and I took away the scissors. She found another pair and disappeared into the bathroom with Jacob while I was helping the boys with their homework. I noticed how quiet it was and went to investigate. The bathroom door was locked. Bad sign. Nobody answered when I knocked, then I knew there was trouble. I even counted to three before unlocking the door. Jacob sat curled up with his hands over his face in the corner and Dahlia was hiding in the tub. There was hair everywhere and an obvious attempt to clean up the hair with a bunch of very wet towels. Jacob looked terrible, but he proudly showed off his Dahlia haircut. Mary said it was okay, but I still feel bad. Poor Jacob will need to be buzzed to the scalp.

Dahlia, the nail artist.

2009-06-21T14:19:00.000-07:00

Dahlia loves to paint her nails. I laid out a towel in the bathroom and let her go at it. After all how will she learn if I don't let her try. Rebecca walked in to see how she was doing, and she got roped into letting Dahlia do her nails. Aren't they fabulous. Dahlia was so proud. Aren't they gorgeous girls!

Vomit, Vomit, Vomit (Of Course there's no picture!)

2009-06-15T06:40:00.000-07:00

Why is it all my vacations have vomit in them somewhere. Take this last week. Grandpa took us to dinner at Hires in Salt Lake, Marcus throws up. Neil throws up on the drive back home and then again at home. (blue on the carpet, why is vomit never clear?)
When we went to Disneyland last year, Marcus threw up his $15.00 lunch as soon as we left the restaurant. Of course, not to be outdone Neil threw up the first time we went to Disneyland.
I can't even count the number of times we've had to turn around 10 minutes into our trip because someone threw up in the car. They don't throw up when we go shopping, or to Costco, but somehow thier little bodies know that it's not just a trip to the store, it's a road trip so there must be vomit. I wonder if they draw straws to see who should do it. Whatever happens, we never travel without an empty bucket, towels, handy changes of clothes and now paper towels too. Vomit, Vomit, Vomit!

Marcus takes some pictures

2009-06-05T09:53:00.000-07:00

This is Marcus with his new Bionicle. He had to have a picture but then he wouldn't smile. It took 10 shots to get a decent picture.

I went to upload pictures yesterday and discovered that the camera had been "borrowed" by Marcus. I know it was him because of the subject matter of the photographs, Neil would have photographed his own stuff. Marcus took pictures of all kinds of things in his room. It's interresting to see the kinds of things he treasures, based on the pictures he took.

Pee Wars

2009-05-31T06:38:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Steve's BNI group held a picnic for families. I made cupcakes and we all went and had lunch on the lawn of an office complex. It was nice and shady, and the temperature was perfect. The kids filled up on soda and by the time we left they had to go really bad. There was of course no bathroom. Neil found a private bush and excused himself and the next thing we knew he was screaming his head off. "Marcus peed on me!" he screamed. Marcus came running back saying he didn't pee on Neil, he was trying to have a pee war. Apparently, this is when your pee tries to battle someone elses pee. Neil kept moving away and Marcus kept moving toward him as they were peeing. Neil got a little pee on his leg and was so upset. Marcus felt very misunderstood. Neil was wiping hand sanitizer all over himself. Marcus just wanted to have a pee stream battle. Needless to say, Pee Wars have been officially banned.

California Part 1

2009-05-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

We drove down to California to visit Rob's family. Dahlia asked for the dress-ups right away. Thankfully Rebecca got them out and Dahlia started dressing up. Marcus got in the act too, and thought it was hilarious.

We went to see Trevor's soccer game and on the way home Dahlia fell asleep. She's wrapped up in Rebecca's jacket.

We walked up the hill at Rob's house to go for a walk. Dahlia loved the horses, and she tried to feed one her cheese.

Out on the ridgeline, we had a great time overlooking the valley. You can even see the ocean in the background.

Steve let Dahlia ride on her back. She loved being up high. She also liked looking at the spider webs. Oooh fun.

Zion National Park

2009-05-18T09:58:00.000-07:00

Fathers and Sons Campout

2009-05-18T06:38:00.001-07:00

Steve and the boys went to the Fathers and Sons campout this weekend. It was up on some property the Church owns that used to be a home of Howard Hughes. Steve said it was like an oasis with grass and pools. In the photo above, Neil is in front and Marcus is underwater pretending to be a shark.

Neil

Marcus

Preston, Marcus and Jarrod

Marcus and Jarrod

Marcus

Neil

Marcus

Tige, Marcus, and Neil

The boys went up with the Jones' and camped with them.

It's always more fun to go with friends.

Star Trek Cereal

2009-05-11T06:28:00.000-07:00

I was innocently walking down the cereal aisle last week when when I came across Star Trek cereal, and other cereals which have gone "Trekkie". Star Trek cereal appears to be a form of Lucky Charms shaped into little galaxies and insignia badges. Well honestly, what kid wants to eat that. Obviously I purchased the cereal, but not to eat it! I thought that the kids would want to eat it and I could look at the box. But the kids sneered. This is not something they want to eat. They want Harry Potter Cereal, or Strawberry Shortcake cereal, or Star Wars cereal (which I remember well and was also a form of Lucky Charms). So I want the box, but not the contents, and they are interrested in Lucky Charms but not Star Trek. What genius thought up this cereal. The contents should actually be Muesli, or mini wheats, I can't eat cereals like this anymore. Of course Kellogg's will never figure out that I don't actually want the cereal because, stupid me, I bought it so they win.

Mother's Day Cards from Primary

2009-05-11T06:20:00.000-07:00

We talked about Mother's in Primary yesterday (no surprise) and the Presidency had each child make a card for their mother. In order to help them out she put prompts on the board so the kids could just fill in the blanks:

I love it when you cook __________

You make me feel good when ______________

Thanks for helping me _________________

Both boys seem to have taken the food prompt to heart because Marcus wrote that he loves it when I cook Top Ramen and Neil likes grilled cheese so much he apparently wants more than one when I cook them. Happy Mother's Day to me!

(And yes I know the pictures are bad - red paper! Don't even get me started!)

Photos by Neil

2009-05-03T21:16:00.000-07:00

Neil loves to take pictures, so at the temple today, we let him take some.

Need I say more?

At the Temple - May 2009

2009-05-03T18:53:00.000-07:00

Lunch with the Students on Field Day

2009-05-03T18:36:00.000-07:00

We had pizza and cupcakes. Much better than school lunch. Yummy.

Brown Eyed Susan Cake

2009-05-03T18:33:00.000-07:00

My latest attempt at creativity - the famous Brown Eyed Susan cake from the 1950's. It's an orange and chocolate combination that was fantastic. Even the kids ate it right up!

Easter Egg Dye and a Black Eye

2009-04-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

What a weekend! It started off with Marcus' scooter getting stolen on Friday after school. He was devastated. Marcus was invited to Daniel's birthday party on Saturday afternoon so he and I glued candy to the top of the box, like a candy bow. It was a lot of fun. Miriam came over to play while Marcus was at the party. Dahlia and Miriam got hold of an Easter Egg dye kit and ate the tablets. I admit, I panicked a little bit. Their mouths were stained and they both said how horrible the tablets tasted. I wondered why they had kept eating them but they both proudly kept sticking out their tongues to laugh at the colors.

After the party Neil and Marcus were out riding bikes and scooting when Marcus cut Neil off and he fell over. He got a black eye (no photo available - he absolutely wouldn't let me take one). So after that I was worried about Neil having hit his head, I moved smoothly from one crisis to another. My nerves were frayed though, I got out the cookbook and started looking at cakes. Sunday I made a Brown Eyed Susan Cake and I admit, I had a HUGE piece. I deserved it.

Poison rings and other things

2009-04-23T19:40:00.000-07:00

Neil has been watching "How to Eat Fried Worms" and he asked me for a ring with a stone in the center - but not a girly ring! Well, honestly all my rings are somewhat girly, I am a girl. After going through drawers and Dahlia's room we settled on a Halloween spider ring with the legs cut off, and a little red nail polish on the top. Now he has his very own poison ring. And as you can see from his face, he is utterly thrilled (this is the same face he makes on roller coasters - pure glee).

Marcus was very unimpressed that I was making zero point soup for dinner. He asked if he could make his own dinner, and only half listening uttered the fatal words "sure". Well, he got right to work on his peanut butter, chocolate chip and jam creation. Needless to say, he ate the whole thing. I think there was 1/4 cup of chocolate chips on that sandwich but once I pulled out the camera he knew it was his and I was going to let him eat it. Hey, he made his own sandwich!

Dahlia's Birthday Cake, and Bear

2009-04-19T20:55:00.000-07:00

Dahlia wanted a chocolate cake, I spiced it up with cherry flavoring and cherry seven minute frosting. The frosting turns out with the consistency of merengue, but is sweet, smooth and well worth the effort. It looks pretty too.

Steve took Dahlia to Build-A-Bear for her birthday. He thought it would be nice to do something without her brothers, something she would really like. This seemed like a really good fit, something she would like, and something her brothers would have no interest in doing. Dahlia picked a pink bear, with pink clothes, pink shoes and pink bows and named her Rosabella (incidentally that's also the name of all of her barbies, most of her other stuffed animals, and her name when she's pretending to be a princess).

Dahlia's Birthday

2009-04-15T20:25:00.000-07:00

Dahlia's birthday started early, about 6:30am. She knew as soon as she opened here eyes it was her birthday and she wanted to open presents. The boys left them on the table last night. We gave her a unicorn, made by Kat Hardy that was gorgeous!, some pet shop animals and a new jewelry box (which she quickly filled with pets).

She spent the day with her best friends - Miriam and Katie. She is so glad to be 4!

What my kids do on vacation

2009-04-11T07:37:00.000-07:00

This has been a really strange trip to Salt Lake. First Marcus was sick, then we had about a day and a half off and Neil has been sick since then. So this trip Marcus has been building lego's, Dahlia has been dressing up - she's freezing all the time but fashion comes first, and Neil has been wrapped in blankets reading books and sleeping through the fevers. Last night I thought Neil might really be better when the cousins came over and we took their picture, but he was back on the couch with his blanket and a fever right after that. It's been a long week, but at least he isn't missing any more days of school.

Tracy Aviary

2009-04-08T16:41:00.000-07:00

Ella and Dahlia really liked the Ibis and the flamingos. Dahlia kept calling to them so they would see her.

We made a quick trip to Tracy Aviary so that Neil could pass off the Aviary requirement in his Bear book. The girls really liked feeding the ducks, and Neil and Annika were running to see everything. It was really nice and warm, and a lot of fun. Afterward we went over to the playground and let them run around.

Schokoladen Kranze

2009-04-08T16:32:00.000-07:00

Mom keeps these chocolate wreaths in her desk drawer. I think she thinks nobody knows about them. On Sunday night after dinner we counted 11 packages of them. So we shared some around, and then the fun began.

Nat, of course got everyone started, and then we all had to do it. Fun.

Parowan Gap

2009-04-08T15:20:00.001-07:00

We drove out to the Parowan Gap on Sunday morning. Neil took a whole bunch of pictures, like the Indian's face in the picture above.

Neil and Grandpa hiked around a bit looking at the pictograms. Neil really liked the map of the gap. Marcus was sick and stayed in the van. It was windy and Dahlia was cold in her open toe shoes. This is Dahlia, Neil and Grandpa standing in the Parowan Gap.

Neil and Grandpa were looking at the pictograms, and Dahlia was looking for a bunny that Grandpa had seen as we pulled up. We never did see another bunny, but that's all Dahlia wanted to see.

It's Spring!

2009-04-02T10:01:00.000-07:00

My garden is growing! The roses are blooming, the carrots are up and there are teeny tiny pomegranites on the tree! I can enjoy the garden until the heat comes, so i'm going outside.

Blue and Gold Banquet

2009-04-02T09:38:00.000-07:00

Seth, Neil, Kapono and Brian
Last night was the Blue and Gold banquet. They served baked ziti, salad and rolls. The boys ate pretty good but Dahlia mostly ate butter, with a little bread underneath. The theme was careers so they had several people come and talk about their careers, a dentist, a corrections officer, a Thunderbird mechanic and Dr. Phil, Neil's podiatrist. He showed slides of people's feet, while we were eating. Steve was supposed to speak too, but they ran out of time. They passed around cake at the end and Dahlia ate the flowers off the top of mine, Steve's and Marcus' so basically she ate frosting and butter. A huge success all around.

Jango Fett

2009-03-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought the Star Wars phase was really gone, it's back. Both boys are bounty hunters now though, as opposed to being Jedi for years, at least there is some change. Neil has been making his own costumes and was very proud of this one. Marcus is still working on his, he is a little more methodial and he's taking his time to make sure he thinks it's perfect.

Snow White

2009-03-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Dahlia went out into the yard and came in with two fistfulls of grass. She put some inside the top part of a Polly Pocket skirt, like a vase, on the table. The rest she scattered across the kitchen floor. Then she went to get her little broom and started sweeping. Pretty soon she had a pile of grass so she lifted up the edge of the mat/rug in the kitchen and swept it underneath. She was so proud of herself, she cleaned up just like Snow White. I watched this whole thing while working on dinner, my hands covered in dough, I was only able to watch this happen. So I called for Steve and let him know what HIS daughter was doing. Thankfully he swept it all up. Snow White's dad saves the day.

Deluge

2009-03-19T15:47:00.000-07:00

If Dahlia turned on the water about 9:30 am then it ran at full until 4:45pm. At 6 gallons a minute that's over 2000 gallons of water that filled the backyard. When we were more than halfway done emptying the yard Jamie said we should have been taking pictures. I dug a hole in the low spot and then I started trenching out a river for the water to flow around the side of the house and out to the street.

This is the side of the house, the water was running downhill.

Me standing over the "river" of water. The lawn was totally submerged.

There was just a lot of water, between 3 and 4 inches of standing water when I shut it off and started calling for help.

Today it's still really wet, but most of the water drained away. And of course, I forgot to shut the sprinklers off yesterday and the lawn got watered this morning. Naturally.

Like Mother Like Daughter

2009-03-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

While waiting at the church building to get on the busses to go up to the tour for the Draper Temple I happened to look down and realized that my mom and I were in matching footwear and we both had stripey socks. I had forgotten to bring clothes to go through the Temple in so I had to borrow a dress, but nobody has feet the same size as I do, my mom's are too small and Celesita's are a little bigger, I just wore my Birkenstocks. This was really funny no only because there we were in our long dresses and our Birks but because we matched. I really love this picture, Mom and I have lots of fun together and this is just one of those things that reminds me I am a lot like her in so many ways.

Pajamas

2009-02-18T10:24:00.000-08:00

When Dahlia goes to Miriams the first thing she does is take off all her clothes. She's usually in her underwear by the time she gets to Miriams bedroom and she heads straight for the dress up bucket. Today she donned not one, but two pairs of pajamas.

Dahlia never wears one of anything. Right now she's wearing a purple dress under a blue tinkerbell dress under a pink sweatshirt. She looked so cute in these pajamas though, with Shannon's hat I had to take pictures. Unfortunately she wouldn't pose. I wish her pajamas were this cute, but if they were hers she wouldn't wear them.

Cousins Part 4

2009-02-16T12:12:00.000-08:00

These things always load backwards, sorry. This is total exhaustion on the floor of the Bellagio. Apparently it was a lot of walking since we parked there, saw the fountains, walked to the Mirage to see the Volcano and then walked back to the Bellagio. This was about 9:45pm.

The end of the volcano.

Dahlia didn't like the volcano, at all. But she tolerated it better than last time.

They were very excited and asked every minute when it was going to start.

In front of the volcano, the kids gave their review. Marcus thought it was too hot - good thing we didn't go in July.

Cousins Part 3

2009-02-16T12:03:00.000-08:00

Here are all the kids sitting on the wall at the Bellagio. They watched the fountains, it was great, and not too windy. We only got a little wet.

Annika, Thomas and Neil at the Bellagio.

Marcus' lego set, he loves it, you can tell because of the gold smile.

Wrestling with Thomas.

Ella playing princesses.

Cousins Part 2

2009-02-16T11:56:00.000-08:00

Marcus and Thomas wrestling. Dahlia and Ella played princesses, but neither of them would pose. Dahlia kept rolling over and closing her eyes.

Marcus building his pirate lego set that the cousins brought back from Legoland.

Nat and Thomas building Annakins starfighter.

Annika building Asoka's ship and Neil building the Castle tower.

Cousins Part 1

2009-02-12T14:12:00.001-08:00

We had a lego building challenge. Neil had to build a vehicle.

Thomas built a space station with a ship and rover, Marcus built a park, and Annika built a house.

Playing tennis.

Marcus eating dinner (he rarely sits).

Panda for everyone, and everyone was happy.

The cousins are here! The kids ran out into the road last night to see if they had come, and by chance, they turned the corner right as the kids went out. They went crazy, yelling and hugging and running around. We took the kids to Panda, a place where all of them will eat. Then they played wii, it's more fun when more play. They stayed up really late and got up really early this morning for frozen waffles.

Friend Brothers

2009-02-12T14:07:00.000-08:00

Marcus has called Jarrod his "friend brother" for years. This was taken at the Pinewood Derby last week, check out Jarrod's awesome car - complete with lego engine. They always have a great time together and seem to have everything in common.

Ornamental Grass

2009-02-03T19:53:00.000-08:00

Who likes ornamental grass? Somebody obviously, they put four of them in my yard. But I have happily dug three out today, leaving only the least offensive of them, the one that actually looks ornamental. The others are now on the curb waiting to disappear. I have big holes in the yard now, which I will happily fill with lovely plants after my visit to Star Nursery later this week. Aaaaah, the air feels better already just having them gone. Those things were a pain to maintain, a huge mess to trim and they always looked like a giant weed that was dry enough to start an instant inferno.

A Birthday Party

2009-01-28T06:57:00.001-08:00

We went to the birthday party of a girl in Marcus' class. It was a lot of fun, Dahlia and Marcus played and played at the bounce place. Marcus was everywhere, like a whirlwind, but would stop to help Dahlia up or down. Dahlia liked the giant slide, she would go up and then slide down face first. I couldn't believe it. Once we got to the party room, Dahlia went right to the throne and started posing. The poor birthday girl, I had to try to get Dahlia out of the seat. She just loves parties so much.

P is for Pajamas

2009-01-25T19:02:00.000-08:00

In pre-school today the letter of the day was P. I wanted to make something since it seems like we haven't done a project in a while. I had the idea for pancakes (which they maybe won't eat) or pajamas which take too long to sew. So, I took some t-shirts and we made pajamas. I let the kids use sharpies (yes I did!) and they colored all over those things. It was really fun.

Blender Wheat Pancakes

2009-01-17T19:53:00.000-08:00

Kira left a bag of blender whole wheat pancakes for us for Christmas. I absolutely love these things, I feel like it's power food and make these when I need breakfast to last a long time. You take the bag of wheat and mix it up with water in the blender. The instructions say for 4 minutes, and truly 4 minutes is what it needs. If you blend for less time you get really crunchy pancakes, you want to blend them until it's smooth. Then you add the bag of flour and baking powder, blend a little more and you are ready to cook. One thing the instructions don't say though is to let them rest a few minutes before you cook them, for some reason they are really runny if you try to cook them right away, but if you wait 5 minutes they are beautiful. Thanks Kira for a fabulous breakfast!

Johnny hugged the tree

2009-01-06T18:04:00.000-08:00

Johnny hugged the tree. And then it came down, luckily it didn't land on him. He looked over at me in surprise. He kept looking from me to the tree, back and forth. I think he was waiting to see if he was in trouble, so what did I do? I grabbed the camera. What I learned was, if you want to get ornaments off a tree real fast, have Johnny give it a hug. Christmas cleanup was super fast and easy.

Murder in the Dark

2009-01-06T16:02:00.000-08:00

Ella and Dahlia are inseperable. The entire time we were visitng the two of them were together as often as they could be. We played murder in the dark one night and Ella got to be the murderer. When she realized she was supposed to wink to kill she stood up and winked, the cutest wink, and proceeded to "kill" everyone. She was so cute no-one could accuse her. It was marvellous. I got her to wink for me so I could always remember.