Weeks 5 & 6

Week 5 (beginning July 16th) - This week we: spent a couple days at Great Waves Waterpark (fun, but I managed to destroy my point-and-shoot camera when a water bottle emptied onto it in my bag so our pictures are a bit limited); saw the movie Tin Tin in the theater (Liz liked it in the end, but it was pretty scary for all three girls so sorry for the trauma ladies); turned in the little girls reading logs (and started using the coupons immediately); started toilet training Lainey (it was against her will, but I'm horrified to think that she could still be in diapers when she reaches her fourth birthday so I said tough luck kiddo--so far we've had mixed results); Lainey attended a pirate birthday party (and loved it); Liz and I attended a "Youth Celebration" performance put on by our stake and six others (I was impressed by the Herculean effort it must have been to choreograph, instruct, and coordinate things for the 1,300+ youth that were involved); attended a couple library performances (by Mad Science & Uno, Dos, Tres con Andres and really enjoyed both).

Below is a look at what often happens when Ellie puts on her own shoes.  Right now she's going through a unique clothing phase.  She often wants to wear her butterfly pajamas all day (but she has two sets and she wears one piece from each so she looks a funky).  Tonight she is wearing her swimsuit to bed because I didn't think it was worth the fight to stop her.

Week 6 - Our recap: Liz spent most of the week at Burke Lake Camp (a Girl Scout day camp that she seemed to enjoy), we spent a pleasant afternoon/evening at Pirates Cove water park (Thursday of course because it's family fun night and dinner is included in the price of admission); Liz went ice skating (the little girls were ridiculously excited about watching her); the little girls and I attended Drew's farewell lunch at work (he's just moving to a new project, not a new company, but he'll miss working with/for his old client); and we celebrated pioneer day (by making butter as usual).  We also made replica wagons out of candy and graham crackers while I told the kids about the Willy and Martin handcart companies (Drew has an ancestor that was in the troubled companies and I had one that helped save them).

We celebrated some family birthdays, one of which was my brother Mike's thirtieth.  We sent him a lollipop bouquet with the note, "30 Sucks!" (saw it on pinterest).  Liz didn't get it which somehow made it funnier for me.

Along with the fun stuff this week I began my first round of meetings for some upcoming projects.  Tuesday morning I met with a friend to plan a baby shower (lots of work, but lots of fun).  Then, in the evening, I met with the new PTA board (I'm the second VP and after the meeting I feel very overwhelmed).  Wednesday morning I met with my Girl Scout co-leader (we're both newbies and we have no idea what we're doing--I guess we should have read the manual before meeting).  Finally, Thursday morning I met with another Activity Day leader to plan our day camp (that was the only meeting wherein we were able to complete everything we needed to in one sitting--hooray!).

The week ended with some unpleasantness.  Friday morning Liz said that her side hurt and we worried that it might be her appendix.  Her regular doctor's office was closed so I took her to the local stand-alone E.R.  Turns out she had a kidney infection.  Before we could leave Liz had to have a heavy dose of medication via I.V.  She completely freaked out--jumped out of her bed, cried, and begged for another option.  Finally the nurse and I coaxed her back into bed and she was to have the procedure without being restrained (but there were two other nurses lingering in the room just in case).  Lainey and Ellie were generally well-behaved during our almost three hour stay in the E.R.  They really enjoyed sitting in bed with Liz.  They also enjoyed it when the nurse handed out popsicles and turned on the t.v. (and I'm sure the people in the neighboring curtained-off rooms appreciated the decrease in noise).

Joy School Graduation

I'm ashamed to admit that Lainey's Joy School graduation was way back in May and I'm just now blogging about it (partly because I have been searching for the memory card with the video footage on it--still no luck).  The graduation was so, so cute.  Lindy did a fabulous job with it and the kids had a lot of fun.

It was rainbow themed (adorable, I know) so I made rainbow cupcakes.  We also brought fruit and veggies the same color as our graduate's cap (we brought strawberries and tomatoes).

Lindy made felt caps for the kids with rainbow tassels. 

Naturally the kids clothing and pom poms (also made by Lindy) had to match their hats.

We held our party at the church to better accommodate the families.

The kids sang a couple songs (including their "school song").

Then, they put on their caps,  .  .  .

said what they liked best about school (Lainey liked singing), and .  .  . 

received their diplomas:

Lindy made the diplomas and the awesome backdrop (Lainey's hands are the red prints of course).  She also organized the school in the first place. 

Group photo attempts:

Throwing the caps was a must (sneak peak to 15 years down the road).

Danelle took lots of pictures at the graduation (most of the shots on this page).  When she took Lainey's individual shot, Lainey immediately turned sideways with her hands clasped behind her back and her heel kicked up a little.  Not sure where that pose comes from--maybe Lizzie.

Week #4

I can't believe Week #5 is almost over and I'm just now recording Week #4.  The summer is getting away from me.  So much fun to be had, plus I'm already prepping for my fall responsibilities.  I'm starting to feel like I might have taken on too much, but we'll see when September hits.  Anywho, on to week #4:

I spent most of the week with my parents and two of my brothers.  Thankfully a couple friends watched my kids during the day.  The girls enjoyed an afternoon with the Pomeroys and three days with the Blacks (pics below from Jessica & Sarah).  From what I hear they had a fabulous time.

 They also enjoyed time (and of course a lot of pizza) with their father.  Below they are dining at Cici's Pizza.  I'm glad they went without me.

While I was with my family we celebrated Mike and Dad's upcoming (next week) birthdays.  Mike made crab legs (so tasty, though somehow I managed to cut my finger on one).  Since neither Dad, nor Mike cared much for cake we put their candles in a bucket of mint chocolate chip ice cream (which figures prominently in my childhood memories).  Unfortunately I didn't realize I had a smudge on my lens until long after the festivities.

 We put an 89 on their "cake" because that's their ages combined.

 My brother Dave:

 It didn't occur to me to take pictures until the night before I left.  I guess without kids around people just don't think to pull out their camera.

More sibling pictures (sorry about your head Dave):

Two Year Old Ellie

I'm a little late on this update since she turned two nearly two months ago, but better late than never.  

Gabrielle continues to be cute, sweet, and sassy.  She still uses her binky, naps once a day, and wears a diaper (we've begun to work on the diaper and binky situations).  She's 50% for height (I forget the exact measurement) and nearly 90% for weight at 29.5 pounds (I think Lainey is about 33 pounds).

Ellie loves doing stuff with her sisters and has lately began copying them a lot.  She also likes to hug them.  Sometimes when Gabrielle hugs Lainey it turns into a tackle.

Her love of shoes continues, though she prefers her sister's shoes to her own and often runs around barefoot outside.

She responds to her name, but usually won't say it.  When we ask her what her name is, she usually says "my baby" or "name."  She knows her sisters names and her body parts.  Her hair is often in her eyes because she removes whatever I put in her hair.  Often she has an Ikea chip clip in her hair (thankfully it kind of looks like a giant barrette).  My brother used to use chip clips to hold his daughter's hair back at breakfast and I thought it was silly that he was too lazy to go upstairs and get a rubber band.  Now, I'm doing the same thing at breakfast and once it's in her hair it usually stays in all day (sometimes she fishes them out of the drawer and asks me to put them in for her).

She likes to climb on and hang from things she shouldn't be on.

Ellie likes to dance (normally involves running in circles or placing her hands on her hips and swaying her upper body back and forth).  She also likes to do this:

Seriously, she seems like my naughtiest child so far (but I'm unsure if she really is naughty or that's just my perception because I'm so old and tired).   She hits and pushes Lainey, snatches toys (and runs away), throws stuff, spits (really it's more of a raspberry), and sticks her tongue out.  If she has something she knows she shouldn't have and you make a move toward her to get it, she'll throw it.  A couple days ago she left the table with a bowl full of cereal (no milk, thankfully).  I told her to come back, she refused, I took a step toward her, and she tossed the bowl aside, as she raced to hide behind a chair.  Cereal literally covered the carpet I had just vacuumed moments before.  She's also thrown my phone, my iPad, cups of water or milk, and other food items along with the usual array of toys she swipes from her sisters.

Elles is a messy, but usually "good" eater.  She particularly likes cheese, yogurt, bread with honey on it, and fruit (apples, bananas, strawberries, and oranges).  She likes to do stuff by herself now: retrieve things, buckle the top of part of her carseat, put on her own shoes (always on the wrong foot).

Ellie calls cats "meow meows" and horses "he hes" (below she's trying to ride a stuffed one, but she also loves our stick horse).  So far she insisted attached to any toys at bedtime like Liz was/is, but she really likes her Spanish phrase book and has certainly taken that to bed with her.  She also likes to sleep with a handful of all her binkys (and of course she still puts her finger in her belly button).

Lately Ellie has been pretending to be a dog.  She crawls around on all fours and lets her tongue hang out.  She doesn't bark, she just pants (and sometimes she tries to lick people).  She also likes to color, pretend to read, and sing songs.