Grace had a birthday...shout hooray!

Gracie's birthday was a pretty small affair this year. We celebrated it on a Sunday after having everyone over for FHE. I made her a jello poke cake (and discovered that she doesn't like Cool Whip, if you can believe that!) and she absolutely LOVED blowing out the candles. She just keeps asking if it's anybody's birthday. Like every single day. For example, right now she's stuck on Aunt Meg. She asked me about 8 times yesterday, "When is Aunt Meg's birthday so she can blow out the candles?" So cute. Meg's birthday is in December, poor Gracie :) So, here are some pics from her b-day party...and some of her playing in her new splash pool.

Yesterday was one of those days where I just kept thinking, "Kids make life hilarious." Really and truly, I think that we bear children so we can gain a sense of humor. Can I get an amen? While I was getting ready in the morning, Gracie was playing with her plastic fish in the tub, but she was being abnormally quiet. So I turned and asked her what she was doing. She said, and I quote, "I'm sleeping with the fishes." LOL.

Then, we went to the library for story time. The theme for the summer is "Bugs" (which, by the way, is perfect because Gracie is obsessed with bugs these days.) So basically, all the stories, activities, etc. are about bugs. Well, yesterday they had the kids EAT bugs. I'm not even kidding. Gracie ate a bunch of fried meal worms with taco seasoning. L.O.L. I tried to catch a picture with my phone, but she was shoveling them in so fast, you could never see the deceased worm in the pic. Dang! Kodak moment TOTALLY MISSED :) Isn't that funny?

So later on, still at the library here, we were walking along the rows looking for an audiobook for Joe. We were on the outside row, so there were tables beside us and one guy with a laptop sitting there minding his biz. Well, Gracie has been kind of sick, so what happened next wasn't completely out of the blue...but are we really EVER prepared for what kids put us through? She just squated down and had explosive diarrhea in her diaper. Right there. Next to the guy. With the laptop. Seriously. It was SO loud and SO gross, I just picked her up and we walked away. I couldn't even look at the guy to see his expression. In hindsight, this was a big mistake because I'm sure it was...shall we say...priceless? "Taking your daughter to the library...$0. Interrupting a man's quite solitude with said daughter's explosive diarrhea...Priceless."

Honestly...if you're not laughing at my embarassing moment by now...I don't think we can be friends anymore. Sorry :)


Here's the poke cake and fun, fun, fun candles for blowing out!

I loved her happy face in the pic. It just screams, "I'm getting presents!"

Yep, she's a tech nerd, just like her Uncle Scot. They are watching Bugs Bunny.

Playin' on her new splash mat.

She has about 6 hand-me-down swimsuits from Andrea's girls and we are using every single one! :)

The only man a girl can trust is her Daddy...right? He wont kiss and tell :)

Awesome Weekend

Joey and I celebrated our 7th anniversary last weekend! April and Brad were awesome (fabulous, endearing, kind-hearted, merciful) enough to take the girls for us overnight and Joe and I hit the town, baby! It was AMAZING to get away from it all and spend some time together. We were both so relaxed and pleasant...hmmmm...so THATs how it used to be...I'd forgotten ;) We stayed at the Little America, which was really beautiful. They had two humongous flower arrangements in the lobby that were simply stunning. It smelled like stargazer lillies (my very favorite flower - they remind me of Davey) each time we walked in through the doors. We drove up to Park City on Saturday and rode the chairlift up the mountain and the alpine slide down. We shopped at the outlets, ate dinner at Ruth's Chris (culinary perfection, as usual), and played in the pool and jacuzzi before bed. We felt so unburdened...LOL! Sunday morning we went over to the Grand America for their brunch buffet (culinary heaven this time), and saw some movies before we came home. All in all, FANTASTIC weekend! April and Brad were just so adamant about how fun it was watching the girlies that we've already booked our room for next weekend...HA! ;)

Gracie started gymnastics last week and it was SO cute to watch. It is just her and a set of twin girls in her class, so that is awesome, They have special equipment for the young ones and they go around the room and do sort of an "obstacle course" of things. I think Gracie's favorite is the balance beam where she gets to shuffle herself across while holding her arms out. She's been practicing that move following a line on our big carpet in the living room :)

Janie has been loving getting outside everyday now that winter is gone and it's a scorching billion degrees outside :) She loves to sit in the sandbox and throw out all the toys. She's figured out how to stand up and try to fall out of her high chair (much to my hair's dismay - it's turning prematurely gray!), and she has also found that if she just pulls open the kitchen cupboard doors, there are lound, shiny silver toys to play with hiding in there! I just know she's upset that Gracie held out on her for so long with that secret :)

Joey's started his own blog. Check it out...http://joebags.blogspot.com/

I've been digging into good books left and right these days! I just finished The Wednesday Wars, The Book Thief, and The Host in the last week or so. Wierdly enough...they were all really exceptional reads! I recommend each one of them. Don't you think that's so rare to read multiple books in a row that are just great? I feel pretty lucky! Have you read anything great lately????? I'd love some new recommendations! Come on people, show me love!!

The Spout Makes A Comeback

Okay, so there really needs to be a picture with this post, but I'm on Joey's computer so I don't have one. So shoot me! I'm really sorry that I don't post more often, but seriously, I do it as often as I can. I've got two tots, okay?!

Janie sported her first "spout" hairdo today. She looked so much older, it was scary! She's pulling herself up on everything in site. Today she even pulled herself up on the tub and watched Gracie take her bath :) Cute, huh? She says, "Thank you" now, which is darling. It's more of a "thangoo" in her sweet, high voice.

Gracie starts gymnastics Thursday and I'm really excited to see how she likes it. She's been rolling all over the house doing summersaults lately, so I think she'll be stoked to have an instructor to actually show her how to do tricks, etc. I'll be sure to take some pics to post.

Back To Normal...

It seems like "normal" for our family is when there is just a bit of chaos. Why is that, I wonder?

Mom started her first round of chemotherapy yesterday and was a trooper, of course. She hasn't felt sick yet, just kind of headachey and has a yucky taste in her mouth, she says. I think she's so brave and strong and I also don't think she realizes just how many people are in awe of her positive fighting attitude and her submission to the will of our Father in heaven. Mom, you're awesome lady!

My brother Rob had surgery yesterday for a ruptured disk in his back and I just wish they were here in Utah so we could do something more to help them out . They were on vacation in California when it ruptured, so he's at Long Beach Memorial. (Hey, that's where yours truly entered this world!!)

But enough of the downers...how 'bout some good news? Joe is applying for a different job within his company that he thinks might suit him better. I think it's a systems manager type position, but I'm not completely sure. I don't speak "recruiting software." I'm so proud of him and how his career is advancing. He's more than I deserve in so many ways.

Gracie's doing a bit better with her potty training. Last night she told us herself that she had to go potty and went up and did her biz (with her daddy's help). We were SOOO proud of her! That was a first. Normally I just let her run around nakey after her bath and that's when she uses the potty, but last night she actually told us she had to go. I've got to tell you, I'm so nervous about this whole potty training thing. I don't know the first thing about it and I really don't want to mess it up by pressuring her. I think I'm kind of sitting back and trusting nature to take it's course here...we'll see how that goes!!! Yikes.

Is anybody out there obsessed with Twilight like me and Mom and April and Meg are??? LOL. I read parts of the books everyday when I do my hair and makeup. Seriously. Obsessed. :) Just ask Joe :):)

Well, this post is long and boring, so I'll just end the misery here. Have a great day!

Happy Happy Birthday Janie Dear...

I know it's been almost a month since Jane's birthday, but I've finally uploaded the pictures for your viewing pleasure! She's such a little pixie pie that I still can't believe she's a year old! Her birthday party was really low key and relaxed, which was so nice. Thanks to all who came to celebrate with us!


Daddy helped her open all her fun presents!

She LOVED the cake :) She got way messier than Gracie did, I think!

She's double fistin' it here :)

Auntie and Gracie-lou!
"The men" hangin' out by the food :)