We did the birthdays.

We have this picture taken of Darin and the kids every year on his big day.

The requested Red Velvet cake for dessert. Turned out red, don't you think?! It was vERY delicious. After two days in a row of birthdays, and not meeting my 25 miles weekly goal, I am in serious trouble these days!

And of course, a guitar for the birthday boy. Perhaps inspired by Guitar Hero, Darin thought it might be fun to learn how to play the acoustic guitar. I turned to Craig's List to see what I could come up with, and sure enough found this beauty available in Colorado Springs. I met a strange, but friendly musician who had to sell his instrument to buy new tires. After serenading me in the Park-n-Ride parking lot where we agreed to meet, I bought his guitar. I think he was sad to see it go. But I am pleased to report that it will be much loved here. On the first night Darin knocked out "Twinkle, Twinkle", "The Inch Worm", and "Frolic", all tunes out of his "Teach yourself the Guitar" book that I gave along with the instrument. He is well on his way to making this guitar proud. Scott, next time you have a gig in SLC, please be sure and let Darin know. I'm sure he'd add a lot to the gigging. Thanks.

Anyway, birthdays now checked off the list, let's hope to get a few more things accomplished this week, rather than just partying and eating.

Before this day gets away from me

Let me just say that I think this guy is amazing. Always have, always will. Happy Birthday Darin!

Blowing Out Candles Three Times, When Turning 3.

It has been a day today! The ladies turned 3. The party started at 7am when George ran upstairs to wake them up to see the decorations and their presents. And it finally ended around 7:30pm after a Princess party at lunch time, and an after dinner party with dad. Non-stop fun, I am telling you.

The Highlight:

Opening a "treasure chest" of dress-up clothes at 7:45am. These became our birthday outfits throughout the whole day. However, as you will see during the birthday party, there were times of simply enjoying the birthday suit, on the birthday.

The Birthday Party:

The girlfriends, Rachel and Avery came over for lunch to help party it up by sharing Top Ramen (we pull out all the stops on a birthday!), princess dresses, tiaras and cupcakes. It was devine. All the girls were so sweet and happy that it truly was a joy. Lots of hugs and "Hank Yous" were shared.

The Conclusion:

Dad came home, they opened Dora backpacks with rolling bags, Barbie Thrones and a Princess Vanity.

And as the clock neared 7pm, you can see by the look on my face that I was beginning to wonder if the partying would ever stop?!

But with these girls, I have a tiny feeling that the answer just might be, never! Party on ladies. We sure love you!!

My Little Girls

A .

B.

I know many of my friends have pretty adorable kids. But today, I just have to say that mine are pretty adorable too. It isn't often that I match them from head to toe, and when I do, it's picture worthy. Thanks Old Navy for having these cute dresses on the rack for $2.99. Too cute!!

P.S. Do you know which is which? I've labeled the pictures A and B so that you can submit your vote. They don't really look identical, do they?

The Milestones Are Exciting!

It was another beautiful day on Saturday. With Darin feverishly re-organizing our kitchen, so as not to get in his way, I realized that I could take the boys out bike riding on the trail and get a run in at the same time. I have been waiting for this day for what feels like forever. I knew we'd get here eventually. I so much want to instill in my children the importance and joy of being outside and exercising. Of course, Henry instantly said he didn't want to go. It would be boring he told me. Of course, I knew it wouldn't be boring. We did five miles together. George and I were pretty much the same pace. He liked riding beside me because then I could push him up the hills. Our turn-around point was a dirt bike park where they got to ride over a few sweet jumps. It was SO great. I told them they were invited to come with me anytime and that we should make it a Saturday morning tradition. At the end, of course Henry admitted that he had no idea it could be so fun to go bike riding. They were so proud and surprised at their ability to ride 5 miles, which to them seemed very far. Mother always knows best. Oh, and you should see my kitchen cupboards and draws! Never have you beheld such organized spaces. Darin has so many talents!

Happy Valentine's Day.

Thank you for the flowers Darin. I love you the most! Looking forward to our date tonight.

Henry made a card for me at school. Inside it said: "Happy Valentine's Day. Get ready to say I love you." He told me it was a poem. I think it's his true sentiments. Saying "I love you" is something he has to prep-up for. What a lovely day. Have fun getting ready to say "I love you" to someone.

No "T" left un-crossed today.

8:50am. The girls and I are ready for the gym. We are going to be there first thing, because we have a Valentine's day party to attend at 10am. A lingering feeling as I am pulling my van onto the freeway, gets me to call my friend Kristine to verify the start time of the party. Of course, lingering feeling is correct, party is starting at that very moment. Exit freeway one stop up, u-turn back onto freeway. Show up at party with festively dressed little girls. Mingle and chat with the ladies. Make George feel supported and loved. Leave the party.

10:10am. Now pull van into the YMCA. A mini melt-down drama with Jane about whether she should attend the 3 year-old class or the 2 year-old class. She thinks she should get to go to the 1 year-old class. Let Ruby decide. She chooses the 3's. Drop Jane off in a chair, crying. I'm in a hurry. 4.6 miles later back to pick girls up to be back to the elementary school to get George. Party is over.

11:25am. Pull into school parking lot. Aquire George. Quickly speed off to Subway for a lunch for Henry. I promised I'd dropped one off in time for lunch at 11:50 because he simply could not do with the scheduled grilled cheese the cafeteria was offering, nor did he like peanut butter today, which is what I was offering.

11:50am. Pull back into school parking lot. Find Henry at recess hand off Subway lunch, for which his smile was pay backs enough for the effort.

12:00pm. With a break in the schedule and some Subway sandwhiches to eat, we decide we owe it to ourselves to have a picnic at the park. Not to mention that it is 55 degrees as we pull up to the park. We think we should stay at the park the whole rest of the day!

Running endorphins in full swing, mingled with the vitamin D from the sunshine, I am feeling on top of the world at the picnic. Things are going well.... Look at the clock, remember a dentist appointment.

12:30pm. Pull van into driveway. Tell kids we will be inside the house for 18 minutes while mom showers and dresses. We will then return to the van to speed off to the dentist. The team agrees with the plan. We put plan into motion.


12:55pm. A little later than hoped for, despite the world's fastest shower and hair blow dry, none the less, I won't be defeated. To the dentist we go.

1:10pm. Arrive at dentist, and George is none too pleased. I promise to tell the dentist people that we will take a break from the dentist after day, and not return for one full month. With that, George enters the elevator. Me and my mini me's spend 45 minutes in waiting room. We venture to the bathroom several times. Eat marshmellows. Color. Talk. Talk. Talk. (That's them talking, not me. I just stare off into space as much as possible during this breif time sitting in waiting room.)

2:00pm. Leaving dentist. Remember Henry's valentine's day party is starting at 2:10pm. Tell the girls we will get them some chicken and fries on our way back to the school. Apparently the lunch picnic was not so satisfying to them. Drive through Wendy's and everyone feels festive once again.

2:20pm. Pull back into school parking lot. Just as Jane is telling me Ruby is sleeping. I would like to be sleeping too at this point. Ask Ruby to wake up. Promise all the children we won't stay long. But Henry wants us to come, so we are showing up for him. Ruby peps back up and puts on her party face. We mingle and chat again with the other mom's and make Henry feel happy.

3:15pm. Finally get to leave the Valentine's day party. Enough partying for one day. We are all feeling the drag. On our way out to the car, I remember that there will be nothing waiting for us for dinner tonight. Tell all the children we must run by grocery store on our way home. I pull into the 15 minute parking with Henry as my babysitter, I promise to be RIGHT BACK, in five minutes.

3:45pm. Finally pull van back into driveway. Jane has fallen asleep. We all walk in. Put dinner in oven. Walk up to Ruby's room, with shoes still on and lay down on her bed. She soon finds me and says she will lay down next to me, not because she is tired, just to play with me. Five minutes later we have both fallen momentarily asleep.

4:15pm. I wake up and remember that many things need to be cleaned up from having fled the house at 8:50 this morning! To myself I silently declare this the longest day.

And if you are still reading this, you are feeling that way too. It seriously kept on going. Dinner, cleaning up, playing, cub scouts, car pooling, back to the grocery store. It just kept going and going. But it is alas finally over! I get a moment to sit at the computer alone and the house is all quiet. I think I did it. I think I didn't forget anything today. A small triumph. Good night.

Wouldn't Play-Doh Have Been Better?

George and I were at Target while the girls were at "school". We had to pick up Valentine's, but George also saw about 25 other things that he thought we should pick up. I didn't get him anything, except the needed Valentine cards for tomorrow's party. Along the way, I had about three different play-doh sets in my hands for the girls. It was on sale, and I kept imagining an afternoon of them at the table, with me on the couch reading a book (yeah right, but that's why it was just a vision). George told me if he couldn't get anything, they shouldn't either. So I left. But now, I'm wishing we had some play-doh to pull out. Don't you think? And now that I'm home, I remember that I'm always right about these sorts of things. *Note to self, next time do not consult with 6-year-old brother!

Speaking of Sunsets...

Even since I witnessed such a glorious sunset the other day, I have been thinking of this book that I read during the summer. The main character, Elner Shimfissle holds a nightly club called the sun setters club. All her neighbors bring their chairs and they all sit together on her back porch to catch the sunset. It got me thinking, that a sun setters club would be a wonderful idea. Anyway, this was a great book. I know that many of you are feverishly working to finish my previous book suggestion.

Oh wait, for one minute, I thought I was Oprah, and that you were all in my book club, and you were feverishly reading my book suggestions. Anyway, if you are looking for something sweet to help you remember to slow down a bit and savor the simple pleasures of life, than this is the book for you to pick up right now. I had never read any other books by Fannie Flagg, so do not think that that is a pre-requisite. Just go for this one, and enjoy the moments along the way. And by the way, do you have a good book suggestion for me? I just finished my ward's book club selection. What should I read now?

P.S. Thank you Kathryn for coming to visit today. I regretted the moment you were pulling out of my driveway that we didn't even snap a single picture of the kids. Next time...Your girls are sweet. Mine were not so sweet. But you will still be my friend anyway, I am sure of that.

It Was Time To Make Dinner...

First of all, it was time to make dinner. Possibly the busiest and potentially most frustrating time of the day for a mother. Secondly, it was FREEZING cold outside. Thirdly, I had no shoes on and a short sleeved t-shirt. But Jane came to me and wanted to swing.




First of all, I told her she was in her night gown. (That's because sometime in the late afternoon she was playing a game with a sleeping bag and thought a nightgown would be the best outfit choice for the game). So she went and put her sweatshirt on, all by herself, inside out.







Secondly, I told her it was time to make dinner. To which she replied, "Look mommy, the clouds are pink. That means we are happy." That got me to take my first step outside. She knows I love the view of the sunset off the back porch. I'm the one who taught her to look at it in the first place.








Thirdly, I told her I had no shoes or coat on. So she ran around the house and found my shoes, and brought me my red coat. She told me it was pretty. And even told me that the stairs were all clean, so that I would be even more willing to go out there with her.








At which point, I had nothing left. A little girl who had worked so hard to get her mother's attention, who just wanted to go outside and swing, deserved to have a mother who would stop what she was doing and go outside to help her swing.










Thank you Jane for helping me not miss the sunset tonight. Thank you Jane for making me stand for ten minutes in the freezing cold in my red coat that you think is pretty, so that I could breath in the cool winter air and be reminded so positively that not only are you a child of God, but that I am too. And that at that very moment He loved us both so much that He turned the clouds pink so that we would step outside and remember Him. Even though I thought I was too busy. Because had I been too busy for even two minutes longer, I would have missed the pink clouds entierly. And that was my lesson in life today.

Super Duper Tuesday

I hope it was fun for you. I received a huge civics lesson as I went to my Precinct Caucus, precinct 271, in case you were wondering. We participated in a "straw poll" for our choice in a national cnadidate. There were 105 people in the room. 83 voted for Romney and 13 for McCain, a few for Ron Paul and 1 for Huckabee. We then elected people from that room who will go up to the next level of convention and will either become, or elect our delegates to the National Republican Convention. Anyway, it felt like a good thing to do. I hope it helped. At least it made me feel like an active citizen. They say that it was the largest turn out in years! Last time they had a caucus meeting, I think they said there were about 10 people there. So as you can imagine, there were lots of people there who were fired up. It was fun.

Otherwise, I spend my day at home, waiting out a two-hour delay start for school, and then realizing that Ruby was sick and we would need to wait out the rest of the day as well. Hopefully we will be on the mend tomorrow. Good night!

Hair Cuts.

It was time. Ruby needed a trim, and Jane needed a little something new. I wasn't going to give her the exact same hair cut as Ruby, but Darin won that coin toss. Of course, as soon as Jane walked into nursery today, we over heard them say to her, "Oh no, you got a hair cut too?!"

A Chocolate Cake Sort of a Day.

When it was 1pm on Thursday and we were all still in pajama's playing video games and lulling about (no school for the boys because they were "sick"), I decided it was time to take action. On Wednesday morning at the gym I had watched on the "Today" show while they made what they called the Ultimate Chocolate cake. A cake so delicous that your family would love you forever if you made it for them. So that's what I decided we needed on Thursday.

Too bad it took until 10:34 pm for it to be finished. Mind you I get distracted here and there, so it might not take you seven hours to make the ultimate cake. And even though it violates every rule of healthful living to eat a piece of chocolate cake at 10:34pm, I did! And it was ultimate. Try making one for yourself.