Maybe Back

So every time the thought of blogging crossed my mind I'd think, "Self, you haven't blogged in years. It would be weird to just jump into life as it is now. You need to go back and document some things..." Well self, that's just not happening. I don't think it's going to happen. Onward.

Our last entry featured young Claire and young Lily. They are still youngish. Enter Thomas. He's crazy. We love him.

Born in June 2011, he is a bundle of awesome. Still. Always.

Annnnd Halloween! My segues are so SMOOTH. And NATURAL. I am a pro at this.

So Claire is 6 now. And in the first grade. Mrs. B to be somewhat specific. We love her. And here she is with her pumpkin. She named it. I don't know what. Blogging is hard.

Lily is 5 and in Kindergarten. Mrs. H. Claire also had Mrs. H. We LOVE her. Lily is picking up a bit of a southern accent from her 1/2 days at *the elementary school that shall not be named* with Mrs. H. I LOVE IT. Here? She is a magical princess with the sparkly tattoos from hell. True story. They don't come off. She sparkled for a month after this picture was taken. She is not a vampire.

And Thomas! He's a dog? There were ears. He wasn't having any of that non-sense. He started walking on Halloween. At 16 months. He's a little slow. And so cute I could eat him.

More to follow. Maybe. I can't make any promises.

More isms

When I was preparing my lesson for yesterday I took a picture of Christ we have in the hallway off the wall and went to load it into the van. Claire FLIPPED out. "Noooo!!!" she screamed. "Jesus loves our house! He doesn't want to go to church! Jesus doesn't want to go to church!!" I tried to explain to her that He wouldn't mind and that He would be returning home with us, but little I said consoled her. Later, after primary, she was dropped off at the room I teach YW in and she ran to the picture. "Oh!" she exclaimed jubilantly. "Jesus, is SOO happy to see me!"
Yes baby. Jesus is always so glad to see you.

Yesterday also in church Joseph and I were a two man circus trying to entertain the two monkeys during sacrament meeting. Chaos really. Anyway, during the sacrament prayer Lily realized what was going on, and since she loves to pray along with us when we prayer and couldn't hear what they were saying all that well, she just started belting "Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ." Over and over again. Awesome.

Lily loves to sing and will sing "Harry had a wittoh wamb" for hours.

Both girls can't understand why our tree is gone and why on earth Santa took it. We're letting the big guy take the hit for this, because if he gets credit for the presents, well he can steal trees too.

Claire tried to put out milk and cookies the other night in attempt to lure the big man back.

Claire's favorite little friend these days is Sariah Beverley. She calls her Riah. "Riah is my very favorite friend," she tells me. Sometimes she'll stuff her backpack full of random things, and the other day when I caught her doing so she explained that, "Riah will really love this." She's collecting things for Riah. I think she loves Riah about as much as I love Riah's mom. :)

We were driving home from Riah's house the other night and Lily started getting anxious. "Mom! I do not like this spooky forest! This forest is too spooky!" Claire concurred. And as such had nothing to console her with. Thankfully, Harry had a widdoh wamb proves to be a great distractor, even during times of great spookiness.

More to come.

Fun for the whole family

Joseph and the girls went to Walmart this morning while I stayed in bed. I know, my life is hard. Anyway, on the way home Claire would NOT unclench her fingers from the bag of unripened pears as she was strapped into her carseat. Because they weren't pears! They were DINOSAUR EGGS! And for the love of all that's holy she was NOT going to let Swipper swipe those eggs!! (For those of you not living in the land of toddler that's Dora the Explorer. Slow sarcastic clap for the genius who writes for that show.)

And yes, we have our Christmas tree up already. Before Thanksgiving. But please understand it was the ONLY way I could get my Halloween brainwashed children to cease in the begging to go trick-or-treating or dress up in costumes. I'll take sparkly lights over a holiday celebrating they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth anyday. But that's just me. That and the fighting over who got to wear the dinosaur costume was wearing thin on mom's nerves.

In news of more cuteness:

-says "nook at dat!" "bwankee" and "chokowat!" all the time.

-They both watch "shishi" when thanking us now. (Thank you Ni Hao Kai Lan)

-Stephanie has taught them words and phrases in Spanish that neither Joseph or I understand. I don't know if I'm proud or concerned.

-Both girls would walk to the edge of the earth for a cup of ice-cream.

-Claire comes to me sometimes and laments that, "she really needs a coke." Heh. Joseph LOVES that one.

-Lily is Claire's shadow. She does EVERYTHING big sis does seconds after Claire does it. Trip over the carpet? Done. Claire needs a spoon for her food? So does Lily. Claire accidentally lets go over her balloon sending it to heaven? Lily's is gone .2 seconds later.

-If you ask one of them to apologize to the other, more often than not the wrong one walks up to the other and says sorry and then issues a hug.

More to follow...

Cutisms

My dad's been encouraging me to write down all the funny things the girls say for future use, and like a complete bonehead I have for the most part ignored such sage advice quite impressively. From time to time I'll jot something down, on something random, never to be seen or heard from again. Niiice.

Yesterday I cut the girls' waffles in half because they're easier to eat that way. Lily looked at her half, then back at me, then back at the waffle. She raised her head and plaintively explained that "This is a moon." You half-wit. "I want FOOOOD." What would I do without her around to explain things to me? I shudder.

We watched "The Land Before Time" for the first time with the girls a few nights ago. Hooboy. I never remembered how many crying scenes there are in that movie, but I have to thank Lightfood for being such a pansy arse. Because everytime his eyes filled with tears, my sweet Claire's welled and gigantic tear drops would fall down her cheeks while she buried her head in my lap and SOBBED at the unfairness of it all. She does NOT remind me of anyone I know. Nope, she doesn't.

Ever since Halloween (night of horrors on so many levels. as a parent you really need to balance the fun with your kids against the suck, and if the fun wins, even by just a little, it's a success.) Claire's wanted to dress up and go trick or treating. This whole ask for candy, get the candy, WHILE wearing a costume was a little to much for her mind to comprehend. The awesomeness just seemed so overwhelming and ever since, can't understand why such awesomeness can't be apart of our DAILY bedtime activities. Good times.

Last Sunday when the girls and I were driving home from church, Claire kept asking where "all the lost girls" were. I still don't really have an answer for that.

Both girls have started asking where their little brother is these days. Sleep through the night dear ones and I'll think about it. Until then, little brother is up in heaven and he is VERY happy there.

Violin LOVE

What can I say? She just loooves her "Biolin." Why does she have a plastic violin you ask? Well, I'll tell you. She took to my very first violin (you know, the one with absolutely no keepsake value) with a SCREWDRIVER. For the love of all that's holy... Thats why she has a plastic violin. I've hidden my old one and at night I can still her it crying in the closet. Someday sweet first fiddle, we'll get you fixed up. And I promise you, we'll never let that master of destruction near you again. (In the event of full disclosure, I think it was Lily's idea. She's kind of the mastermind behind all evil plans. Claire is but her willing pawn.)

May-June Birthdays

Happy Birthday Claudia!! She enjoys balloons, but not quite as much as Claire. So we got her something else instead. A BIGGER jump jump. No, just kidding. But she liked it nonetheless.

Claudia got Claire her FIRST BIKE. All mom could think was "DANGER! DANGER!" Apparently dad was thinking much upon the same line because the next day he went and bought a VERY sturdy helmet. You know, to protect her from those death defying falls. On her pink bike. With those training wheels, That she can't really work yet. Safety first people, safety first!

Birthdays are the best! And all so overwhelming all at the same time. Claire (and Lily) got a jump jump and BALLOONS!! Favorite gift? Toss up.

Photos from uhhh.... okay don't get mad... May.

They're cute! And they love them some jump jump. Loooooove. Thanks grandparents and great-grandparents for the awesome birthday and christmas present!!