happy christmas

I'm happy to report that we have enjoyed yet another wonderful Christmas. We limited our purchases, and the girls are thrilled as ever with their bounty.

Among other gifts, Santa honored Lauren's request for a unicorn. He brought her a beauty. White with sparkled mane and tail, golden horn, and a pink and purple embroidered chest complete with a pink jewel. "I'm going to name her Julie!" Lauren proclaimed. When asked how she decided on that name she replied, "Because she has a jewel!" Jewely. It's perfect.

Santa also brought Ella her requested gifts, among them a map for collecting U.S. quarters. She gasped when she saw it. The day after Christmas, as I wrapped the girls in towels after their bath, Ella said, "Mom, I want to write Santa another letter."

"You do?" I asked. "What are you going to say?"

"Thank you."

surprise attack

As we sat in the mall food court enjoying Subway sandwiches with Grandma and Grandpa Humble, a gnat landed on the table.

"Uh oh," Lauren said, "There's a fly on our table!" Grandpa's response was a swift and effective bump of his fist. We watched as Lauren stared wide-eyed at the smudge that remained and said, "He didn't see that coming."

smile

On December 17th, 2009 Isabella Jane Moore lost her very first tooth. I will always remember, it was the day we were leaving for Christmas vacation. I picked up Ella from an assembly in the school gymnasium at 2:00 and there she was, waiting for me with her coat, hat and backpack on, holding a white envelope, and smiling. Really big.

short list

Tonight we watched The Polar Express, then settled in on the couch to write our letters to Santa. Ella wrote her own and I dictated Lauren's.

Lauren began, "Santa," then seemed to draw a blank.

I asked, "What do you want for Christmas, Lauren?"

"I don't know," she said, sounding surprised. She cocked her head in my direction, "What do I don't have, and what do I do have?" She paused. "I want something I don't have."

"What don't you have?"

"Nothing." She sat on the couch staring at her twirling ankles in silence.

Ella finished her letter quickly and read it aloud:

"Dear Santa, I want a bell from a rnder (reindeer) and a lipsik (lipstick) that you can eat and a panting (painting) set wth (with) a set uv (of) papr (paper) and a stat (state) map that has a plac (place) that you can clect (collect) qarts (quarters) in. Thank you, Santaclas. Love, Ella Moore"

It was all the inspiration Lauren needed. "Mom," she said, " I want a painting set, and a lipstick I can eat the same as Ella."

"Better put 'Ella Moore'," Ella suggested. "There are a lot of Ellas." I wrote it in.

"And," said Lauren, "I want a lollipop and a sucker."

"Aren't those the same thing?"

"No," she said , as if the notion were ridiculous.

"A lollipop is big and a sucker is small."

I reminded her that she mentioned she wanted a stuffed unicorn.

"Yes!" she beamed. And that rounded out her list.

How long will their lists be this simple? I'm going to enjoy it while I can.

sharing

I just want to record somewhere that Lauren Margaret Moore likes to share. The girl loves to share. I can hardly give her something without her suggesting that she share part of it with someone else.

At dinner, if she wants seconds, she'll first ask, "Do we have enough for Daddy when he comes home?" When the nice lady at the dry cleaner gives her two oreos she always saves one for Ella. Recently, she held the second oreo in her grip, showing incredible restraint, while we ran two or three errands before reluctantly letting me put it in my purse. (She didn't want it to get "crumbly.") When she got two suckers, instead of shouting hooray that she had two, she said, "Mom, look! I have two! Do you think Ella wants one?" She is always much more excited to see someone's reaction when she gives them something than she is to enjoy it herself. And she's three.

I can take no credit. Lauren was born a generous soul. And I think she is amazing.

dear santa

Ella and Lauren were in a particularly talkative mood at bedtime tonight. So, I decided to launch the inquiry.

"Lauren, what are you going to ask Santa to bring you this year?"

"A dog," she smiled. "A real one."

"We can't have a dog, Lauren. We don't have a yard." A familiar phrase.

"We can still have a dog," Ella pined.

"How?"

"Grandma and Grandpa can keep him at their house!" Brilliant, I told her. But the answer was still no.

"What else do you want Santa to bring you, Lauren?" She answered instantaneously.

"A huge eyeball!" She clasped her hands over her head to indicate its enormous size.

I asked the obvious question,"Why?" She wasn't listening.

"And it will have a nose, so that it can sniff me, like a dog. Dogs like to sniff my feet, or any part of me I put under the table. And especially my butt." Ella erupted into laughter. "I know!" Lauren continued,"I know a lot about dogs!"

"What else, Lauren?" She fired back immediately.

"A giant fan for our room!"

"You have a fan in your room."

"But it's not a giant one!"

"Lauren, it's a ceiling fan. How big do you want it?"

"Giant."

"Okay. What else." She didn't hesitate.

"A pogo stick," she said, then added matter-of-factly, "I want to have a collection of pogo sticks." I was so confused.

"Anything else, Lauren?"

"Underwear."

Satisfied, I turned to Ella, "And what would you like?"

"A desk for my room so that I can do my homework." She joyfully imitated herself writing and completing endless pages. "And a computer! So I can write my first story, and print it!" As I gazed at her with wonder and gratitude, Lauren interrupted,

"And I want a hairball!" She raised her arms above her head again, then laughed. "It's gonna be huge."

"And," Ella added, "I want my own bathroom."

Underwear it is.

when I grow up, again

At dinner Ella announced, "When I grow up I want to be a supermodel."

"Really?" I asked, wondering where she'd gotten the idea.

"Well," she smiled, "I've always had the poses, haven't I?"

For those of you who remember Lauren's last declaration of what she wants to be when she grows up, it will come as no surprise that she replied, "When I grow up, I want to be a penguin."

how do they know?

A few days ago, one of our primary teachers had a baby girl. Little Vera Harell was born at 24 weeks weighing just over a pound, and faces a long road ahead of her. Today we let the primary children color a banner that reads, "We love you, Vera!" and make cards for Vera's anxious parents. The children seemed to know just what to write.

One little girl wrote, "Dear Vera, my family fasted for you. Grow big!"

Ella drew a mother, father and baby and in bold capital letters wrote, "LOV IS WITH YOU."

My favorite was one little boy's inspired contribution. He cut out a small piece of green paper and simply wrote, "hope."

grandpa's girl

I picked up some Twizzlers for a treat. I gave one to Lauren and she beamed, "It's just not a good day without licorice!"

belonging

When I picked up Lauren from her preschool classroom she was smiling. That was normal. But as we walked to the car, I noticed the smile hadn't left her face.

"How was preschool today?" I asked her.

"Good." She stopped walking to look up at me. "Ava and her best friend like me now."

"They do?"

"Yes," she said, turning toward the car. "For real."

safari best

As we drove to church, I wondered to myself which shoes Ella had chosen to wear. Her brown mary janes would have been my choice, but she made it to the car before I could advise her. When we arrived, my question was answered. She climbed out of the car and stood there on the sidewalk before me wearing a darling purple, ruffled dress and . . . rain boots. Giraffe rain boots. I sighed. I decided it didn't really matter. And just as well. I only had time to say the same thing I say every Sunday morning when we arrive at church: "Hurry, girls! We're gonna be late."

marketing

I asked the girls what they thought of having pasta (farfalle) and a green salad for dinner.

Ella thought it sounded "okay," and Lauren yelled, "Noooooo!"

"How about . . . bats with blood sauce and weeds?"

"Yeah!"

Note: As I typed this Ella came downstairs requesting my attention.

"In just a minute, when I'm done typing something on our blog," I told her.

"Don't write anything about us," she pleaded, then plodded up the stairs and whispered under her breath, "So embarrassing."

gig

Yesterday Ella said to me, "Oh, by the way, Mom. I have a gig tomorrow."

"A gig?"

"You remember! We take turns in music class. You can play an instrument or a song on a CD."

"Oh, right! And it's your turn tomorrow. Wow. What are you going to do?"

"I dunno. Which CD should I choose?"

"Why don't you play the piano?"

"Okay! I'll go get my book!"

She picked the song she wanted to play. It had five notes, but two hands. She was up for the challenge. She practiced it twice and declared she was ready. 

I waited all day to hear how it went. After school I asked her, "How was your gig?"

"Good."

"Did everyone clap?"

"Yes." She smiled. And I was so happy for her. 

trick and treat

While Audrey watched me do dishes from her highchair, we played peek-a-boo. Suddenly, she smiled a mischevious smile and said, "Boo!" It was adorable. And then she absolutely would not say it again no matter how I begged and baited her. 

w.t.

I fed the girls hotdogs and rice for dinner, and had convinced myself to feel pretty okay about it. (How much ketchup is a serving of fruit, do you think?) It wasn't until after dinner, as I finished applying both of the girls' temporary tattoos that I felt suddenly ashamed of what we have become. 

word problem

Today I opened Ella's school folder and reviewed the papers inside. Among them was a word problem: "If Max has 6 apples and Jane gives him 3 more, how many apples does Max have? Show your work." Instead of drawing the apples, then adding them as her teacher expects, Ella confidently "showed her work" by writing in the space provided, "I knew that 6 + 3 = 10." 

moment of silence

We were driving along the freeway when Ella explained that all of the classes at school have a moment of silence as part of their morning routine. 

"What are you supposed to do during the moment of silence?" I asked, curious. 

"Pray, think, or whatever," Ella replied.

"Do you ever pray?"

"Sometimes. When I'm having a bad day."

"That's a great idea. And you know you can pray when you're having a good day, too," I told her, "and thank Heavenly Father for all of your blessings."

"No," she said, decidedly. "I only pray to make sure nothing badder happens."

zoinks

As the conversation turned (yet again) to Halloween, Ella exclaimed that she wanted to be a villain. Lauren turned to me immediately, the tears already filling her eyes. "Mom. Please don't let Ella be a villain. I'm very scared of villain costumes."

"I don't think Ella's going to be a villain, Lauren."

"But if she is, please don't make her a green villain. I really don't like green villains."

"Okay." She perked up at an apparently comforting thought, then said,

"Could you make her a pink villain?"

"Probably." She seemed concerned again. 

"And what about the eyes, Mom? Can you make them . . . happy eyes?"

"Yes. Definitely. If Ella is a villain, she will be a pink, happy-eyed villain."

She laughed at the thought of it. 

Someone has been watching too much Scooby Doo.

changing tastes

We were walking through Costco yesterday when Ella turned to me and said, "By the way, Mom. I'm a vegetarian."

"Really?" I asked. "You don't want to eat hamburgers anymore?"

"Blech." I remembered our morning conversation in which she begged to buy school lunch because it was corn dog day.

"What about corn dogs?" Silence. 

"I only eat corn dogs."

"Who in your class is a vegetarian?"

"Rose." My suspicions were confirmed.

Tonight, after volunteering all day at Ella's school, I announced, "Girls, we're going to Subway for dinner. Put your shoes on."

Lauren demonstrated the effectiveness of advertising. "Subway? Eat fresh!" 

"I guess I could get a veggie sandwich," Ella said. "Or I could get tuna."

"Oh, you're a pescatarian?"

"Yes! That's what I am. A pescatarian." 

We arrived at the Subway counter and Lauren decided immediately, "I want a 'neatball' sandwich."(No matter how many times I tell her it's 'meatball' she has her mind made up.) I glanced at Ella. She was frowning. And I thought I heard a little whimper. 

"I want a meatball sandwich, too."

"I'll be happy to share with you, Ella, " Lauren said in that sing-song voice I love.

Ella was still frowning. "Thanks, Lauren."

I divided the sandwich between the girls. "I think maybe you like meat too much to be a vegetarian, Ella."

"Yeah," she said, taking a big bite. "I think so, too."

sweet justice

Our friend, Tyler Green, is clerking for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and generously offered to take our family on a personal tour of the Supreme Court. We met him and his family on a Saturday morning, when we would have the whole place to ourselves. It was an impressive tour that included the courtroom itself, the library, the rarely seen basketball court and gym and, of course, Justice Thomas' chamber. It was fascinating to see the items selected for the walls of his office and get a sense for who Justice Thomas is as a person. As we looked around, we noticed that the children had found the open file drawer of Justice Thomas' desk, which was filled to the top with candy. I instinctively moved to pull them away, but Tyler assured us it was intended for giving. So, I watched as my daughters each picked out a small handful of candies from a Supreme Court Justice's desk and thought about how fun it would be to tell them the story years from now, when they really appreciate it.

and she's off

Audrey is  officially walking everywhere she goes. It's amazing to see her little self traveling on two feet, and with a big smile on her face. 

diva see, diva do

Now that Audrey is walking (a few steps at at time, anyway) she's also begun carrying a prized accessory -- Ella's favorite hot pink Hello Kitty purse, complete with glitter and rhinestones. She holds it in the crook of one arm and grips the furniture and walls with the other. You know what they say: fashion before balance. 

faith of our fathers

One of the books Ella picked out at the school library today is about James Madison, which prompted this conversation: 

Ella: James Madison was a president!

Lauren: President Hinckley was an old president. 

Me: Gordon B. Hinckley was the president of the Church, and James Madison was president of the United States.

Lauren: I knew that. 

Ella: But almost all the presidents believe in God, Mom. At least, I know the first ones did. 

the graph

Lauren has the most adorable little laugh. It's kind of a grunt. I call it a graph. She makes the sound with her mouth closed and a smile on her face. She makes it when she's really happy about something in a quiet way. Like when she's amused by her own joke. Or sees the ice cream cone you're about to give her. Or sits on your lap and doesn't want to be anywhere else in the world. I love the graph. 

first annual

Tonight we had our First Annual Back-to-School Dinner, inspired by the remarkable Nielsen family. The tradition: Every year, on the night before school starts, have a fancy dinner at home and present a theme for the school year, give the girls their father's blessings, and let them don their selected first-day-of-school outfits in a family fashion show. 

This year was extra special because Uncle Steven and Aunt Krystal were visiting for the weekend. It was a beautiful night, so we decided to eat on our screened porch.  I pulled out the nice dishes and christened a pretty vintage table cloth I fell in love with at a flea market. I let Ella and Lauren pick out a fresh bouquet at Eastern Market, and set the table with the mod podge votives the girls made in preschool; they were so proud.

The menu: herb-crusted pork roast, chunky apple sauce, smashed red potatoes, asparagus, mandarin salad and vanilla ice cream with fresh peaches for dessert. 

After our fancy dinner, I read The Little Engine That Could, and presented the theme, "I Think I Can." It can be hard to tell when they're learning what Kim and I want to teach them, but I hope they hear those words in their heads whenever they face a new challenge this year: "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can."

It's so fun to have family traditions! I just love it. I hope the girls do, too. 

stairway heaven

No preposition necessary for Audrey. 

Despite the baby gate we installed, she makes it upstairs several times a day. It's as though she consciously waits for someone to leave it open, then seizes the opportunity. When she does, Ella yells her now familiar warning: "Baby on the loose!" 

the dark side

At breakfast this morning the conversation turned to Halloween costumes. Lauren announced, "I want to be a bat. A scary, scary bat. You can make my whole face black and make tiny ears." She pointed her index fingers on either side of her head. 

As I imagined this hideous costume, and wondered how to talk her out of it, I saw her face light up. "Or," she said, " I could be a bunny!"

"Oh, you would be a very cute bunny," I said, relieved. 

"I would be a bunny who wouldn't go in her cage," she whispered, "because I would be evil." She narrowed her eyes in my direction, "An evil bunny."

bare necessities

As we watched Jungle Book today I was reminded again that Lauren (especially when wearing her little orange undies) looks exactly like Mowgli.

queen for a day

Lauren turns 4 today! Unfortunately, it is not the happiest of birthdays.

She's a sick little girl, with a fever, congestion, and laryngitis that sounds so sad you have to give her a hug every time she utters a sound. Our good friend and physician, Jeff Poulsen, made a much-appreciated house call and told us how to help her get better and stay comfortable. We decided that, since we couldn't go to the Baltimore Aquarium as planned, we would make her "Queen for a Day." She could eat ice cream any time, day or night. She could have the whole couch to herself. She could watch Mary Poppins three times in a row. Whatever.

She went along with it until about 10 o'clock. When I asked a question of Her Royal Highness she frowned and, in her loudest possible whisper, said, "Don't call me 'Queen.'"

The day did have its high points, however. She perked up when she opened her doll house accessories, doctor kit, snazzy new outfit, and her very own, beautiful, extremely purple bike -- all of which we hope will bring her lots of birthday happiness in the days to come.

baby steps

Audrey took her first steps today. Hooray, Audrey!

touche

Lauren didn't want to eat her dinner. To be fair, it was a veggie-stuffed portabella mushroom, but the rest of us thought it was pretty tasty. I told her she didn't have to eat it all, just as much as she thought she would need to last her until breakfast. She barely touched her food and, predictably, two hours later, she shouted down from her bed that she was hungry.

"I'm really sorry," I told her. "Next time remember to eat more at dinner, okay?" Her reply was swift, and her request sincere.

"Next time, remember to make a better dinner."

hello, goodbye!

This morning Audrey introduced us to her wave and said, "Bye, bye!" 

social climber

As I finished the dishes, I thought to myself how nice it was that all three girls could play happily in the basement where they're surrounded by safe toys, and where Audrey can be contained. At about the same time, I glanced through the kitchen doorway and saw Audrey appear at the top of the stairs, quite proud of herself. I wanted to see for myself how she got there, so I put her at the bottom and followed her up the full flight. Took her about 15 seconds. 

The baby gate has been installed. 

sabbath

Today from the backseat, out of nowhere, Ella announced, "Daniel had his birthday party on Sunday because he doesn't go to our church. He's a little bit Jewish."

body language

We arrived home and were piling out of the van when Lauren slipped and fell onto the driveway. I was powerless to help as I watched her fall, but felt better when she immediately cried, "Oh! My body! My cute little body!"

ladies and gentlemen . . .

Tonight I tried a new arts & crafts idea with the girls. I gave them each a few sheets of paper, two ink pads and (drum roll please) permission to put their fingers in the ink to their hearts' content. You should have seen their faces.

I demonstrated how they could press their fingertips into the ink, onto the paper, and then, by drawing on simple ears and a tail, make mice! Oh, they were thrilled. They immediately went to work, pressing and drawing. I joined the fun for a few minutes, and then slipped out to finish the dishes.

About 20 minutes later, Ella came to me and declared, "I GIVE YOU . . . MICE ON A SKATEBOARD!" She flashed another paper, "AND . . . MICE ON A TRAPEZE!" The drawings really were comical, and I complimented her on her creativity. "Thanks, Mom," she said. "All I do is draw something really scary, then put in the little woodland creatures." She disappeared.

A few mintes later, I checked the girls' progress. Ella held up more papers as her voice boomed, "I GIVE YOU . . . MICE ON A TREADMILL! AND . . . MICE SHOOTING OUT OF A CANNON!"
"Very impressive, Ella. Maybe two more, then it's time for bed."
"This is so fun, Mom. I could do 100."
"I think you could, Ella. I do believe you could."

techie

Ella descended the stairs as she announced to me, quite emphatically, "I absolutely love Google."

play kitchen, real technique

I love that when Ella cooks in her play kitchen she browns her memory cards in a saute pan before lining them up on a cookie sheet and baking them off in the oven. 

observation

Ella eyed the cupcakes on the counter left over from Audrey's birthday last night. 

"Can I have one for breakfast?" she asked. Lauren was quick with the answer, 

"Only grown-ups can have cupcakes for breakfast. Right, Mom?" 

what a trip

After tripping and rolling my ankle on the stairs, I limped down to the couch and Kim brought me my usual bag of frozen vegetables. Lauren came to my side and asked, "What happened, Mom?"

"I tripped on the stairs."

"And then you fell on the stairs?"

"Yes."

"The same stairs you tripped on?" She giggled.

"Yes."

"And then you fell down in a knot?" She giggled again.

"Yes."

"Like a pretzel?" 

"Kind of."

She laughed out loud and walked away. 

one year ago today

That's when Audrey was born. Happy birthday, sweet girl. We adore you so. With your happy eyes, drooly smile, grunting little giggle, lovely locks, incredible "Go, go Gadget" arms, and chunky thighs. We think you're the very best baby girl in the whole wide world. xo

grandma

We spent a great week in Mesa visiting family and friends, and staying with the always generous and incredibly fun Pearce family. Kathy and Lester were gone most of the week, but spoiled us rotten at every opportunity. This conversation tells the story:

Lauren: "Where did grandma go?" (Mom had not yet arrived from Washington.)

Me: "Which one?'

Lauren: "The one in the pink shirt."

Me: "Sister Pearce?"

Ella: "Actually, Lauren, she's really more of an assistant grandma."

S.O.S.

It all could have been avoided with better planning. We had a busy day, no naps, and 4 p.m. swim lessons. We were destined for drama. 

Sure enough, Lauren and Ella both shed tears during their swim lessons, and Ella was particularly unreasonable. She resisted nearly every request made by her very nice and capable teacher, and finally broke down, refusing to swim at all, sobbing, "I can't, I can't." I apologized and took Ella to a poolside table for a chat. She wrapped herself in a towel, sat down forcefully in her chair and, before I could say a word, blurted out, "I need a swim teacher who respects me!" 

perfect patient

It was a busy afternoon on the 4th of July. To get everyone ready for the firm's annual rooftop party, we put the girls in the shower together as usual. It was just a few moments later that Audrey started crying and we saw the blood. She'd somehow manage to grab my razor and, in doing so, had sliced off the diagonal tip of her index finger. We applied pressure to stop the bleeding, but without success.

Kim dropped Audrey and me off at the ER and took the girls to the party. (There was no reason for all of us to sit in the waiting room on the 4th of July.) Amazingly, even as I applied firm pressure to her wound for over an hour while we waited to be seen by a doctor, she didn't make a complaint. The people seated around us were amazed, as was the doctor who took care of us. One-year-old Audrey sat patiently while the doctor examined her and applied a styptic gauze that would eventually stop the bleeding. A half-hour later, she held her hand perfectly still while her hand was bandaged and wrapped up to look like a little white mitten. And when it was done, she clapped. The nurses declared her their best little patient ever.

We took a taxi home, had something to eat, and then I put Audrey to bed. I went to check on her a few minutes later and was amazed by what I saw. She was asleep on her back with her her forearm resting against the bars of the crib, and her wounded hand elevated. A perfect patient, indeed.

wax on, wax off

If I can get it on video, I will. 

Lately, if you try to put Audrey's binky in her mouth while she's still in her crib, she'll bat away your hand with surprising speed and agility. It's as if, with every circular swipe of her hand across her furrowed brow she's saying, "Don't. Think. I. Don't. Know. What. You're. Doing. I'm. Not. Going. Back. To. Sleep." The instant you take her out of her crib, she smiles and opens her mouth.

artistic direction

We were driving along a dirt road in the Virginia countryside when Ella, who was coloring in the backseat, yelled, "Thanks for making all these bumpy turns, Mom!" 

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"It's really helping my artwork," she said. "It's making it fascinating!" 

let's make a deal

In our desperate search for Ella's other black ballet flat, I offered a reward. "Whoever looks very hard for the shoe gets some Swedish fish. And whoever finds it gets a dollar!"

Ella was distraught. "What if Lauren finds my shoe!" she cried. "I won't get the dollar!" 

"Just do your best," I said, "Maybe you'll get it." She sulked to the basement where I heard her say,

"Lauren, if you give me the dollar, I'll give you 25 cents." 

Update: The shoe was located two days later, inside a giraffe boot. Ella found it and very happily claimed her prize. 

cake points

For this year's Independence Day barbeque, I decided to make Ina Garten's flag cake -- a vanilla sheet cake decorated with (a lot of) buttercream frosting, blueberries and raspberries to resemble the American flag. I was placing the berries on the cake when two kitchen chairs with little girls on them appeared on either side of me. "Wow," Ella said. 

"That is amazing," added Lauren, "You are a good baker." 

"Thanks, girls," I said, continuing with my work.

"No, really, Mom," Ella assured me. "You are a really good baker."

"The best," Lauren beamed. "And you are the best mom!"

They went on, and on, and on until it was finished. And while I ordinarily would have been a bit annoyed trying to work in the midst of their incessant chattering, I have to confess: I loved every minute. 

At the barbeque, I mentioned to Adrienne that the girls really enjoyed watching me make the cake and she said, "Oh, I know. Ella came up to me and said, 'Did you see the cake my mom made? Isn't it extra-ordinary?'" 

A tradition is born. 

happy birthday to me

Today I'm 33. Not much to celebrate, except the love of my sweet family and friends. My favorite gift this year was from Lauren. When I woke up, she was standing next to the bed, waiting to give me her homemade card. I rubbed my eyes and could just make out a couple of stick figures underneath some circular scribbles. "Who is this?" I asked.
"You and me."
"What are we doing?"
"Just looking at the clouds."

I took the girls to the park to read a book about clouds and watch the clouds go by. Once. Four months ago. It's the little things they remember. And being reminded of that fact is a wonderful gift, indeed.

food network star

We were in the produce section when I saw some nice broccoli. I said to the girls, "How about some homemade macaroni and cheese with broccoli this week?" Ella stood with one arm on her hip and the other extended toward the adjoining display.
"How about we shake things up a bit . . . and go with cauliflower."

have you ever . . .

Lauren and I were snuggling on the couch when she said, "Mom, have you ever seen a caterpillar knit?"
"A caterpillar net?"
"No. Not a net, like a capture net. Knit."
"Oh. No, I haven't seen a caterpillar knit. Have you?"
"Yes."
"Really? Where?"
"On TV."
"Oh," I said, imagining Slimy on Sesame Street. "Was he using knitting needles?"
"Yes!"
"That's so silly. Caterpillars don't knit with knitting needles do they?"
"No!" she said, laughing at the ridiculousness of it all. "Sometimes they use their hands."

happy father's day

Kim purchased two fancy, new golf clubs for himself for Father's Day, but I think the cards the girls made him are even better.

The card Ella made at school is absolutely covered in glitter (picture hopefully coming soon) with multi-colored zig zags decorating both sides. As I admired every garish detail she explained, "I tried to make it as Mexican as I could."
"Really? Why would you do that?" I smiled.
"Because Daddy's Mexican."

The card she made at home shows the growing creativity that's been really fun to see in her drawings lately. On the front, she drew a Jetsons-inspired space vehicle, complete with bubble canopy, powered by rockets and suspended by a huge bunch of balloons. On the inside, it says, "I love you to Mrse -- anD Back."

The dictated content of Lauren's card included heartfelt appreciation: "Thank you for inviting me to go with you to your work house. I hope you had a great day at work with me, and another day when you go to work. I love you giving me some hugs and kisses. And thank you for letting me watch movies all the day. From, Lauren." When we finished she said, "Oh, and we can't forget thank you for making homemade bread!" I suggested she draw the bread, so she did -- a lovely, purple loaf.

Today after church we had a U.S. Open barbeque picnic in the living room, complete with Kim's favorite cheddarwurst, kettle chips and Dr. Pepper in his new, huge plastic cup big enough to fit an entire tray of ice.

Happy Father's Day. We love you, Kim. xoxo

hardware

As I cleared some clutter from the bookcase, I picked up Ella's recently acquired t-ball trophy -- a small figure with raised bat, standing atop an engraved base. "Do you want to keep this?" I asked.
"Sure," she said. "It's a ring holder."

school's out

Isabella has had a great year. In fact, a few days ago, she asked, "Can I do kindergarten twice?" I'm really happy she's enjoyed herself, and started her school career with such a good experience.

Today we said our thank yous and goodbyes to her teachers, and then, as we have on every other mild day, settled down for an hour on the playground. "Well," I said, "You're done with kindergarten. Is that exciting?"
"I'm happy to be done with school," she said, then paused. "But it's hard to let go off your teachers."

The girls played for awhile, then I watched as Ella trotted to the school entrance and disappeared inside. I waited for her to emerge from her unannounced drink or restroom visit, then asked her where she'd been.
"Ms. Carter's classroom," she said. "I just needed one more hug."

feeding frenzy

Audrey has officially reached the phase where no meal is complete until she has wiped the remnants of her food completely from both hands onto both sides of her head. On any given day, she conditions her lovely locks with oatmeal, applesauce, yogurt, sweet potatoes, bananas, and chicken with vegetables. Mmmmm, fun. For her.

gratitude

I love it when Lauren thinks out loud; especially when she shares how grateful she is for someone, or something. She'll often surprise us by proclaiming, "I love you!" or telling us how much she enjoyed something we did with her.

Today on the way home from church (two days after our first-ever trip to Chuck E. Cheese) she said, "Thanks for taking us to Chuck E. Cheese. And letting us get pizza. That was really fun."

After lunch and naps we went on a little walk along a trail in our neighborhood, and at dinner, in the middle of an unrelated conversation, Lauren said, "Thanks for taking us on a nature walk today. And letting us play on the playground." I said,
"You're welcome, Lauren. It's really nice that you say thank you."
She replied, "Thanks for saying you're welcome, Mom." Then she raised her little hand in congratulations. "High five!"

photographic memory

Today at lunch I asked Lauren what she learned in Primary. She replied, "Sister Betsy told us a story."
"Oh, fun. Tell me about it."
"I don't remember."
"Okay."
"Except there was a picture of a little boy who was playing on the train tracks and he had his shoe stuck in the tracks and luck-i-ly (she slowed for dramatic effect) he was a very smart boy and he undo'ed his shoe so he could get away before the train came."

new tricks

In an effort to keep three little girls busy while I finished getting ready to leave the house I suggested Ella and Lauren play with Audrey by letting her crawl after our new bouncy ball. "Look," I said. "If you roll the ball, Audrey will go get it." Ella's face lit up.
"Audrey plays fetch! My first dog is a human!"

licked

Lauren chose a push-pop sucker from the check-out stand and patiently, over the course of almost an hour, worked its original cylinder shape into a small triangular mound. "Look," she said. "I turned it into a mountain. I'm a genius."

flight plan

We were on our way to the airport to pick up Grandma and Grandpa Humble. Ella said, "When we see Grandma and Grandpa, let's run to them!" Lauren replied,
"Okay. But, remember, we have to run slowly because Grandma and Grandpa are really old."

crush

We were driving up to Lauren's preschool "graduation" (she'll go one more year, but everyone is invited), when we spotted Lauren's best friend, Annie Poulsen. Lauren said, "Look Ella, it's Annie."
"Why is Annie here?"
"Because her brother, Nathan, is in preschool," I explained. And then I heard Lauren add, mostly to herself,
"He's so cute."

edited for tv

Ella knows she isn't allowed to watch any of Disney's "tween sensations" because, as I have explained to her, she isn't a tween. Unfortunately, I can still catch her gazing admiringly at some obnoxious young actress or another, as I did (yet again) recently. I turned off the tv and asked her what her consequence should be. She thought for a minute, then exclaimed, "I know! Take away my very, very, very, very, very . . ." She pressed her lips together, shot me a worried look, and said quietly, "Never mind."

turning the page

Ella started reading her first chapter book today! A neighbor, Betsy Burke, who has grown boys, gifted us with an old cardboard box filled with dozens of wonderful easy readers. Among all the fascinating titles and covers, Ella selected "Dolphins at Daybreak," by Mary Pope Osborne which, she proudly announced, has ten chapters. She sat down to read and had just turned the first page when it dawned on her.
"Mom."
"Yes?"
"I need a bookmark! Can I make one?"
"Sure," I said. "Great idea. In fact, why don't you make one for your scriptures so that you can mark your place during scripture study, and one for whatever book you're reading?"
Ella ran upstairs to gather her craft supplies and settled down at the kitchen table while I bathed Audrey. When I came downstairs a few minutes later, she was finished, but only had one bookmark.
"I thought you were going to make two."
"I only need this one," she said, proudly. "It's reversible."
Sure enough, she had decorated one side with several bits of paper for a patterned effect -- for her readers -- and the other side with a crayon drawing and the word, "Gob" -- for her scriptures, obviously.

jolt

I walked into the kitchen to find two little girls with wide smiles.
"Daddy let us drink some of his brown soda," Lauren said.
"With caffeine," Ella explained.
"Mmmm," Lauren said, "Yummy caffeine."

my grandma is stonger than your grandma

I asked Lauren if she would like to make a card for Grandma Humble for her birthday. 

"Yes! I want to make her a picture."

"What are you going to make a picture of?" Her reply was instantaneous.

"A gym."

"A gym. Wow. That sounds great. Why a gym?"

"Grandma LOVES the gym." True enough. 

And so, Lauren created a lovely watercolor of a fully equipped gym, which maybe is completely filled with pink and grey fog. Grandma will love it. 

infamous

Ella was worried about becoming a famous T-ball player (as described in an earlier post). She maybe should have been more concerned about infamy.

She spent most of tonight's game close to the mound, where she literally chewed a hole in her glove, put her glove on her head and then wandered up and down the third base line asking all of the parents, "Have you seen my glove?" and dancing. And when I say dancing, I don't mean stepping side to side waiting for a ball to come her way. I mean closing her eyes, twisting her hips, and pointing her hands to the sky while singing her own background music.

cooking lesson

Kim made dinner for Mother's Day, which involved boiling some pasta. Lauren watched as he filled a pot and put it on the stove. I heard her little voice from my seat in the living room.

"You have to cook the water? HA! You have to COOK the WATER!"

wild ambition

Lauren and I were snuggling in our big chair when she announced her plan.

"I'm going to make you a card for Mother's Day."

"You are? What is it going to have on it?"

"You. And me. And our house."

"Oooo, that sounds nice."

"And a zoo."

"A zoo?"

"Yes."

"That's going to take a long time to draw. What do you think will take the longest?"

"Mm. Probably the jungle."

stream of consciousness

In our dining room I have a chalkboard that I write different things on, depending on the holiday, the dinner menu, or my mood. Right now it says, "Carpe A.M." And below that is says, in very charming scrawl, "Love ceps coming." I said to Ella, 

"I like what you wrote on the chalkboard."

"Thanks."

"What made you think of it?"

"I don't know. That's just what was in my mind."

I'm so glad. 

mischief

Audrey crawled her way to the DVDs and made her first big mess. Is it coincidence that today is also the day she clapped her little hands for the first time?

the truth comes out

We were on speaker phone with Dad when Ella and I had this conversation about T-ball:

"So, are you liking T-ball, Ella?" 

"Yeah."

"What's your favorite part?"

"Batting."

"That makes sense. Batting is fun."

"It's my only chance to rest."

matinee

I was actually updating this blog and waiting for Lauren to finish her lunch when I watched it: Lauren, sitting at her requested plate of cheese, crackers and grapes, resting her arm on the table top and holding one little piece of cheese in her hand. She was, apparently, talking for the cheese, because she bounced it on the table with each word. What did the cheese say? It said, in a high-pitched voice common among string cheeses, "I want my grandma. I want my grandpa. Maybe they're in that mouth? Let's go see!" Gulp.

pants on fire

I was making mini pizzas for the girls, using some shredded mozzarella I'd had in the freezer. Unable to resist, Ella stole a few shreds. "That tastes rotten!" 

"It's not rotten," I explained. "It's still frozen." 

Before I knew it, she was sneaking a fistful. "Hey!" I scolded. "I thought you said it was rotten?"

"I meant . . . rotten in a good way."

I'd promised Ella and Lauren an ice cream sandwich for dessert. But before I could even get the dishes cleared I caught Lauren peeling open an apple sauce cup. "Is that your dessert?" I asked. 

She paused for a second, then cheerfully explained, "I was just getting this for Ella." She thrust her arm toward her sister, who looked very confused. "Here, Ella!"

i'm lovin' it

So, we were in the McDonald's drive-thru. I yelled to Lauren in the backseat, "Nuggets or burger?"

"Nuggets!"

Insane laughter.

"Nuggets!"

More laughter.

For whatever reason, the word "nuggets" was pure hilarity to Audrey. The more Lauren said it, the funnier it became.

At bath time we decided to try it again for Ella, who had been at school during the day. So Ella said, "Nuggets," and Audrey laughed again, right on cue. The girls went back and forth a few times, amusing each other until, defying all expectation, Audrey yelled back, "Nuggets!"

I know what you're thinking. Audrey is nine months old. She cannot say "nuggets." And maybe she can't. Maybe she's just a baby incredibly lucky enough to say something just like it at just the right moment. But whatever she said sounded close enough that Ella, Lauren and I dropped our jaws, stared into each other's wide eyes, then burst out laughing.

You may doubt it. But we don't. We were there.

watch out world

. . . here she comes. Audrey is crawling! 

thanks, coach

We all piled into the van and commented on what a warm day it was. Kim cranked up the A/C and over the whir of the fans we could just hear Ella from the back seat: " Mu-u-u-u-ch better, Dad. Keep up the good work!"

yogi

So, it turns out Audrey can hold a pretty impressive plank position. She loves to be up on her hands and feet. When she needs a break, she puts her knees down and rocks back and forth. And when she gets tired, she slides onto her belly. When she's bored just lying there, she tries to "reach-n-roll" her way to somewhere else.

It's so fun to watch her do her thing.

in case of emergency, or whatever.

I was working at the computer when Lauren asked me to go upstairs and untie a ribbon she'd tied around the neck of her stuffed poodle. I said I would, as soon as soon as I finished. A few minutes later I heard my cell phone ring. I picked it up and saw our home number on the caller ID. Curious.

"Hello?" I heard giggling upstairs.

"Hi, Mom," a voice said, nonchalantly.

"Who is this?" More giggling.

"This is Lauren. I need you . . . to . . . untie my poodle?"

I taught the girls my cell phone number in case they get lost so that someone can help them contact me. Obviously, Ella used it to help Lauren get my attention. Good practice!

record. play.

I gave Lauren her PB&J and she asked me to cut it in half. I said I would, then left to get the orange juice she'd requested. When I brought her the juice she said, "I asked you to cut my sandwich in half."

"I'm about to, Lauren."

"Well, next time just do it the first time I ask."

Moments later . . .

"Mom, did you get all of the food I like to eat at the store?"

"No. I got some of the food you like, though."

"Ma-ma . . . if you get me all the food I like, I'll give you a tre-eat."

We had a little talk.

yum

I would just like to remember that to hold a freshly bathed Audrey in her soft, yellow sleeper pajamas is to hold the world's most perfect baby wrapped in a cloud. I could hardly make myself put her to bed tonight -- with that Johnson & Johnson fragrance; the yellow fuzziness; her soft chunkiness; those happy, expectant eyes; and that helpless laugh when you nuzzle her neck? Try to put the freshly bathed, fuzzy pajama'd baby to bed. I dare you.

eau de fuzzy

At bedtime I tucked in the girls and told them I'd find their blankies and bring them soon. Ella suggested looking downstairs in the basement. 

"I looked there, " I told her. 

"I'm the only one who can find it," she replied, and then, in all seriousness informed me, "I find it by scent."

by small and simple things

As I cleared the breakfast dishes, Ella sat down to do some writing practice. A few minutes later, she brought me a sheet of lined paper that read: I bleve that the Gospl is troow. I bleve in Gob. I Love subbas. I Love to Go to trch. I Love (heart) to Go to here the Profts.

She read her translation: "I believe that the Gospel is true. I believe in God. I love Sundays. I love to go to church. I love to go to hear the prophets."

And she meant it.

high expectations

It's Spring Break! Ella is home with us (hooray) so we're trying to do something fun every day, even though we're not going on vacation. Today we joined three other families for a play date where we had lunch and dyed Easter eggs. After coming home the girls took naps, then woke up looking for something to do. I suggested reading books, playing in the basement, coloring, or helping me fold laundry. Ella had something else in mind: "I was thinking . . . maybe you could set up  . . . a trapeze."

mvp

On the way home from our first T-ball meeting tonight, I noticed Ella tearing up in the back seat, and we had this conversation:

"What's wrong, Ella?"

"What if I become  . . . famous?"

"What do you mean?"

"What if I become a famous T-ball player!" (sniff)

"How would you become a famous T-ball player?"

"You know. One person likes me, then they tell another person, and they tell another person, and, you know."

"I don't think you have to worry about that, honey. But why are you worried about it?"

"Because I'm just shy. I really don't want to be famous."

"Well, don't let that stop you from doing your best."

Pure ego, I tell you. I would write a book about building self-esteem in little girls, but I don't know how this happened. 

gentleman caller

The phone rang and it was Brother Calhoun, a sweet elderly gentleman from the ward.

"Hi, Brother Calhoun, how are you?"

"Really well, thanks. Calling for Audrey."

"Audrey! Really?"

"I sure enjoyed seeing Audrey at church today. She's such a doll. She looks at you with those eyes and smiles that smile." We exchanged admiring comments about Audrey for a minute or two before I said, 

"Well, Brother Calhoun, as much as I know you called for Audrey, I'm sure you need to speak to Kim."

"Nope. That's all. Have a great night."

Bless his heart. 

wallie talkies

(waw-lee taw-keez) noun: air vents that allow two little girls to talk to each other, from one bathroom to another. ex: "Look, Mom! We have wallie talkies!"

obamanation

Kim and I were discussing politics when Ella entered the room. In his frustration, Kim said, "Ella, when people at school talk about Obama, you tell them he's wrong."

"I can't, Dad," she explained. "It's against the laws."

top o' the mornin' to ye

We started the morning with Celtic music. Predictably, Ella ran downstairs and did a caeli in the kitchen. I'd planned on Irish oatmeal, but in the interest of pure St. Patrick's Day glee, decided on Lucky Charms instead. With green milk. And green apple juice sipped through green-striped straws. The girls loved it all, but my personal favorite was Ella's very sincere prayer: "And please bless us to have a leprechauny week." 

Of course, the girls wore green to school. Before Ella left, she said, "Mom, if you could find me a dress with a big rainbow, and a pot of gold, and a leprechaun, that would be really great." 

"I'll keep my eyes open, Ella."

funny friday

Every day is different, but some days are just strange.

Today began when Audrey woke up unusually early at 6 a.m. I fed her and put her in her exersaucer, where she began playing quite happily. When I checked on her a few minutes later she was sound asleep! Bless her heart. 

I decided to give the girls a treat and break out the contraband Captain Crunch Kim brought home recently. They were thrilled.I I poured it for them and a few minutes later, from the kitchen, I heard Lauren yell, "Hey!" and saw her emerge from the dining room with bits of cereal and milk spattered all over her face and hair. "Ella spit on me!" It had been an accident. A sneeze, apparently.

I got Lauren cleaned up and she declared that she does not like Captain Crunch (Is she the only three-year-old in the world who doesn't?), and wanted Cheerios instead. While I poured the Cheerios, Ella informed her, "You're really missing out on a lot of fun-ness." To which Lauren replied, angrily, "No, I AMN'T."

Ella remarked about her "dress" and Lauren told her, "It's a nightgown."

"No, it's a dress."

"Nightgown."

"Dress."

"Nightgown!"

"Dress!"

I broke it up; it's a nightgown.

Moments later, Lauren said, "Look! My Cheerios made a "C"! And upon consuming the "C," patted her belly and proclaimed, "My tummy is FULL of Cheerios. Heh. That's cool."

I wonder what the rest of this day will bring.

Update: Just realized this post was written on Friday, the 13th. It's all making sense . . . 

daily observer

I've been listening to a lot of talk radio lately, and the news hasn't been good. Today I listened as I did dishes, and must have seemed frustrated about something because Ella came in, propped her elbow on the counter and sighed, "What is it, Mom? Taxes again?"

somebody's got the giggles

Tonight at bath time I held Audrey while Ella got undressed. For some reason, it was (quite literally) the funniest thing Audrey had ever seen. She started giggling and could not stop herself. Ella's every move was hilarious. Every article of clothing removed made her laugh even harder. For a moment, I thought the whole episode might damage Ella's self-esteem, but then I remembered, that would be impossible. 

a balloon half-full

As we left a recent birthday party, we were given some helium balloons. Today I decided the last balloon floating around the house could be the source of some amusement. So, I gathered the girls around, cut the end off the balloon, exhaled, inhaled, paused dramatically, then proceeded to sing, "Happy birthday to you/happy birthday to you/happy birthday, do I sound/like I'm in a cartoon?" I should have filmed their faces. 

Of course, they immediately wanted to do what I had done. It turns out, the exhaling and inhaling are difficult concepts. Both girls ended up breathing into the balloon instead of inhaling the helium, with predictable results. Ella did manage a cartoon voice, but it was of her own making. I thought she might be disappointed, so I started to explain that it just takes practice, but Ella interrupted me: "Did you hear my voice? I don't need the balloon! Wahoo!"

magic cart ride

Today was a big day! Audrey sat in the shopping cart seat for the first time! Sat up in the Costco cart, perfectly content with her little toys for over an hour. We finished up just as her noggin, and her eyelids, started looking very heavy. Good girl, sweet Audrey. And hooray for me. One aspect of my life just became a lot easier. 

da da

Audrey said "da da" for the first time today. The fact that she said, "da da" even though she hasn't seen her daddy except on weekends for the past month supports the theory that children her age do not yet associate sounds with meaning. Or maybe she just misses him?

ella home evening

We've started using the Church's new children's manual for family home evening, and it is wonderful. We're using the scriptures more and, whether reading or listening, Ella is proving herself to be an enthusiastic little scriptorian. Lauren enjoys herself, too, but so far most of her participation involves sharing completely unrelated comments about Jonah and the whale. She knows they're unrelated; she just can't get over it. "He was in the whale! And he spit him out!"

Last night I read the story of the loaves and fishes, then asked Ella if she could tell me what had happened. We were pleasantly surprised to hear her retell the entire story without missing a detail. She even quoted the scriptures a few times! It was so fun to watch, and helped us realize that it's time for the Moore family to (sometimes) move beyond simplified Gospel basics. 

Equally amazing, I learned that one can be inspired to snatch cherry Nibs and Swedish fish on the way to the Target check-out. Loaves and fishes!

let them be little

Lauren is going through the same phase Ella did, refusing to wear pajamas. She stays amazingly warm running around the house in her undies, and in her little bed where she usually kicks off the covers. But most nights, at some point, she wakes up, she feels cold, and she seeks the warmth of our bed. She likes to crawl in and lie back-to-back with Kim, and stay there as long as we will let her.

There was a time when I would return little gypsies to their own beds as soon as their flopping arms and sharp heels made their presence known. And then I heard a song that changed my mind. It says:

Let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while

Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day

Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle

Oh just let them be little

So, for now, we'll just try to get comfortable . . . and enjoy it.

Update 3/5/09: Last night Lauren came into our bed, peed, and then went back to her bed. Is there a song about that?

the new girls

I picked up Ella from school and she promptly announced, "There's a new girl in our class! And guess what her name is."
"Isabella?"
"No! Ella! Now I'm Isabella!"
"Really!"
"Yes. Ms. Carter asked if I want to be Ella M. or Isabella and I said I liked Isabella so we changed my name on everything except my cubby."

So, Isabella it is. I'm happy for her to try it on.

lauren the libertarian

As I prepped the girls for bed, it seemed a good time to prep Lauren for her first political rally tomorrow. She and Audrey will join me outside the White House for a "Washington Tea Party" event to protest the rampant spending and abuse of power going on around here. I asked Lauren, "What do you want to say to President Obama?" and taught her to reply, "Barack Obama! Stop spending my money!" She was doing pretty well, then said, "Mom, let me say it my way. Barack Obama! You've GOT to STOP SPENDING MY MONEY. You're making me LOSE MY MIND!"

That's my girl.  

precocious request

Lauren asked if she could help feed Audrey her lunch of strained carrots. As I debated, weighing the pros of letting her help with the cons of removing orange stains from carpeting and several fabrics, I heard her say, "C'mon, Mom! Let me have a go." 

choppers

Audrey has teeth! Two of them. On the bottom. Just so you know.

love language

Ella, Lauren and I worked together to assemble the valentines for Ella's classroom exchange. Lauren's job was to lace a ribbon through a hole in each valentine. She asked me to tie the ends of one ribbon together to make a "necklace valentine."

Ella asked, "Do you have a Nicholas in your class?"

"I said NECKLACE, Ella," Lauren replied. "Can you say that? Neck-lace?"

excuse you

Lauren seems a bit confused. Most people say "excuse me" when they have been unfortunately discovered doing something that is considered rude. Lauren routinely says it to draw attention to something rude that has gone undiscovered.  "Excuse me, " she says, and then waits with a smirk on her face until absolutely everyone in the room is looking at her expectantly, "I just tooted."

report card

Ella brought home her first report card today, with all good marks. Her teacher wrote, "Ella is a sweet, cooperative and involved student. She has an excellent attitude and always takes pride in her work. Ella appears to enjoy school and is well-liked by her peers. In reading, she is reading texts with repetitive patterns to promote sight word recognition and to learn strategies to decode unknown words . . . She has demonstrated a solid grasp of all math concepts presented. I am very pleased with Ella's progress. She is a real joy to have in class."

We let Ella choose where we would have a celebratory dessert. She chose Dunkin' Donuts and selected a delicious cake donut with pink frosting. Lauren opted for the chocolate frosted donut with candy hearts.  Ah, the sweet rewards of academic success.

Congratulations, Ella! You are a great student, and we're so proud of you. 

half birthday

Audrey Marie is six months old today! She also had her six-month check-up. She weighs 17 lbs (75th percentile), is 27 inches long (90th percentile), and has a noggin that measures 17.5 inches (95th percentile). She's a gorgeous, chunky, rosey-cheeked girl and we love every inch of her.

pretty good, what there was of it

Audrey hasn't seemed too keen on rice cereal, so I wasn't sure how the sweet potatoes would go over. I need not have wondered. From the first spoonful, she absolutely loved them. Opened her mouth for them like a little bird. Ate the entire container, and then cried when it was empty.

declaration

It was just a routine car seat unbuckling when, suddenly, Lauren said, "You're the best mom."
"You think so?"
"You both are," she said. "I mean, Dad is the best dad."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I LOVE YOU!" And she made it sound like the happiest, most obvious thing in the world.

I think it probably is.

standard usage

I'm amused by a couple of things the girls say, that we now say as well. 

Ella coined "hanetizer." As you may have guessed, it's a far more efficient way to communicate "hand sanitzer." So many syllables! Who can stand to pronounce all of them? Not us. 

Lauren started "han-de-burger." We thought it was just a mispronunciation at first, but soon realized it's a more accurate description of a hamburger you hold with your hand. 

Clever girls!

lunch break

Half-way through with her daily peanut butter & honey sandwich, Lauren abruptly got up from her chair and ran into the kitchen. She opened the cupboard, pulled out a dish cloth, then hurriedly draped it over her seat.

"What are you doing, Lauren?"

"Just covering my chair so I don't pee on it."

"Lauren. Go to the bathroom."

She took off like a shot.

just want you to know

We were driving in silence when Lauren spoke up.
"Mom."
"What, Lauren."
"You're my pal."

bonnie jumpers

Last week my Scottish Aunt Liz emailed to ask for our address so she could send us "a wee something." Well, it arrived today and turned out to be a package with three beautiful aran sweater vests inside -- one for each of my "lassies." When I called to thank her she said, "I didn't have time to do it for you when you were wee, but now I'm an old lady, I have time to do it for your girls. Just knitted at night while I watched me soaps." They fit perfectly, and they're absolutely gorgeous. Treasures. Heirlooms. We love them. Thank you, Auntie Liz!

progress report

Ms. Lynn sent home Lauren's progress report today:

"Lauren is an exceptionally sweet and good-natured child. She seems to enjoy school and is always busily engaged in productive play. She loves the housekeeping area and dolls, she enjoys arts and crafts, but she explores all the various activities available in the preschool room. I have no concerns about her development. She has made a very good adjustment to school." 

Way to go, Lauren!

happy birthday to daddy

He's 31 today! To celebrate, we went out for Mexican food and gave him his gifts. The girls made him cards (Ella's included a piece of gum taped on the front and Lauren's featured a very good drawing of "Mike" from Monsters Inc.) and we gave him some of his favorite golf balls emblazoned with the words "PRACTICE MAKES AWESOME." After a nice dinner we went home, built a cozy fire, and roasted marshmallows for dessert. It was a fun night.

Happy birthday, Kim!

ma . . . ma

Lauren rushed into the kitchen with that wild excitement in her eye. "Mama! Audrey said your name!"
"She did? What did she say?"
"MA . . . MA. She said it, Mama. Your name."
Ella confirmed it, so I guess I missed it. But I will be listening for that sweet sound. I love that my girls call me "mama." I hope they always do.

you what?

I explained to Ella that we were having a family over for dinner so that the missionaries could teach them about Jesus. She immediately volunteered, "I can help! I can read the First Article of Faith. It was really hard at first, but I persevered."

bling

Tonight Ella came to me and said, "Lauren said she wants two of her baby teeth to come out, and they aren't even loose!"

"Really, Lauren? Why?"

"I want to go to the doctor so he can take two of my white teeth out. And put in golden ones. Just like Grandpa."

"Really? Which ones do you want out?" She pointed to her molars.

"These ones. It won't hurt."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know I'm brave."

practically perfect

The girls were watching Mary Poppins while I worked in the kitchen. Suddenly, Ella burst in and announced, "I can say it!"

"What?"

"Supercalafrajalisticexpialadocious!"

She certainly can. And she does, quite often lately. It's fun to see Ella fall in love with one of my favorites and find, as I did, that Mary Poppins is practically perfect in every way.

mind your manners

I tried a new recipe for homemade whole wheat pizza crust and it didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped. Still, it was edible, so I sat the girls down for dinner and this conversation ensued between Ella and me:
"MOM! I TOLD YOU! You should have just ORDERED a pizza!"
"Ella, that's not polite. Don't speak to anyone that way, and especially not your mother."
"Sorry. Next time, I would pre-fer not homemade."
"That's a much nicer way to say it."
"But really, Mom. It tastes horrible." I shot her a look.
"Just kidding! It's . . . just . . . a little bit good."

roll over

Today Audrey surprised us all by rolling from her back to her front. Lifted both her legs, threw them to the side, and over she went. Ella lured her with some toys and she practiced a few more times before she got tired of finding her face in the carpet. But hooray for Audrey! She's on the move.

destiny

We returned from a fun dinner out and turned on the TV so that we could watch Kung Fu Panda (On Demand) and there, on Animal Planet, was a program all about the origins of kung fu and the inspiration drawn from the various animals that lived near the monastery where it was developed. Did you know that each of the animals in the Furious Five is an actual style of kung fu? Neither did we! But our newly discovered wisdom made it even more fun to watch Kung Fu Panda. It was like adding . . . a secret ingredient.

hope chest

As a young beehive, I set a goal to create a hope chest and put to good use the beautiful, antique cedar chest left to me by my grandmother, Marie Humble. As the decorated 3x5 notecards (from my Evening of Excellence presentation) still inside the chest explain, it was really a fun experience. Today I took out the remnants of the hope chest, and a few other sentimental items I've stored inside, to make room for bed linens. And I have to say, I think it was even more fun taking things out than putting them in. The chest's contents included the following:

Some of Grandma Humble's porcelain dolls. The girls gasped and put both hands to their mouths when they saw them, so awestruck were they by their beauty. I think they look lovely on a high shelf.

The Madame Alexander dolls given me by Grandma Humble. Their posable limbs may prove too tempting for awhile yet, and I'm out of high shelves. I've chosen another safe place for them in the meantime.

A note card revealing the steps required to make one of the girls' most favorite quilts. They couldn't believe I'd made it for them when I was just a young girl.

Two framed embroideries my mom stitched -- one of a little girl kneeling at her bed and another of a little boy with a fishing rod. When she saw them Ella exclaimed, "What's going on here? Why aren't you giving these to me!"

And, finally, a tooled leather belt made for me by my dad when I was Ella's age, along with two belt buckles -- one with flowers and the other with a horse head in turquoise inlay. Judging by her reaction, I think she loves them as much as I did.

So, it turns out that my hope chest is a treasure chest. And not bad for storing linens, either.

when i grow up

Today I overheard this conversation between Ella and Lauren:
"When I grow up, I want to be an opera singer and an artist."
"When I grow, I want to be a fish."
"I don't think you're going to get that wish, Lauren."

a likely story

While the girls were at school I decided to do them a favor and tidy their room. Just an hour after they returned home there were clothes and toys everywhere. I asked for an explanation from Lauren.
"What happened in here? I left this room nice and clean, and now it's a mess."
"I don't know, Mom. We didn't do it. It just . . . pooped out."

lost and (really) found

Blankie was under the couch cushions. How did we not check under the couch cushions? Lauren hasn't stopped smiling, but did say she wants to sleep with her old blankie AND her new blankie. Maybe there's still hope.

observation

Today at church, Ella said, "Look at Audrey. She's so cute, and fat, and round and squishy. All that milk is really paying off!"

chatter box

Tonight in the car Ella asked me, searchingly, "Mom, do penguins and polar bears live in the same place?"
"Um, I think they do, honey. But I don't think they're friends." I had barely uttered the words.
"They ABSOLUTELY do NOT! Penguins live on land and polar bears live on the ice." And then, sounding quite disappointed, she added, "I thought you knew everything."
"Well," I said, "I certainly don't know everything. And I think you are a clever girl for teaching me something."
"All of my favorite animals are going extinct."
"Really? Like what?"
"Elephants and Giant Pandas. The pandas are dying because people are cutting down their habitat. I want to go to China and talk to those people. And then I'm going to plant some bamboo."
"Well I think that's a good way of thinking, Ella. When you see a problem, do something to fix it."
"I had pizza for lunch today. Very yummy. And green beans and peaches. NO ONE ELSE wanted to eat the green beans! Can you believe that? Ha."

Q & A

Today as I was feeding Audrey and flipping channels, I paused on Oprah at exactly the wrong moment. A preacher pronounced, "Being gay is a gift! People are born gay!" I turned off the tv and was about to begin a brief line of questioning when Ella asked, quite seriously, "Mom, was I born hungry?"

lost and found

Last Sunday as were walking out the door to church Lauren asked, "Can I take my blankie? I'll leave it in the car." Those of you familiar with said blankie know that it more closely resembles a loose pile of pink yarn. I agreed it should be left in the car, and off we went. When we arrived home at noon, Lauren was tired and wanted to take a nap. Where was blankie? We searched the car, and then the whole house. It was nowhere to be seen. We tried to console an exhausted, sobbing Lauren and she eventually, reluctantly drifted off to sleep. We were sure blankie would turn up, as it had countless times over the three years of its precious existence. But the days went by and still, no blankie. We offered a substitute -- another pink crocheted blanket. She would sometimes snuggle it a little, sometimes throw it angrily to the floor, depending on her mood. Well, tonight as we were leaving the house to run errands Lauren brought me the substitute blankie, held it up as high as she could, and with a big smile on her face said, "Smell it." I held it to my nose and breathed deep. Sure enough, it had taken on a familiar, slightly stinky fragrance. "It smells great," I said. And she replied, "Can I take it with us? I'll leave it in the car."