Crying

Everybody cried today.


Even The Hulk.

My Secret Pleasure

I keep a stash on the left hand-side of my pantry.
Guess its not much of a secret anymore.

Food City

We love Food City's tortillas. It is the only reason we ever go there and its the only thing we ever buy. Well last night the kids and I made a quick run for tortillas, and while standing in line to check out Kode saw a little boy about his age. Kode tried to make conversation with him but soon found that the little boy only spoke Spanish. Next thing I knew Kode was spouting off nonsense and Lyda said to me, "Mom, Kode is speaking Spanish!" I think her comment must have been empowering to him because he continued his "Spanish" up until the moment he bit his tongue.

Where did my baby go?

Has anybody seen my baby? I used to have this teeny little girl who was so dependent on me for everything. She cried for everything (sometimes still does), she had no opinions, she was just content to sit back and watch everybody. So now there's this little bit bigger girl with more hair waddling around the house talking (mostly baby talk) and happily screaming up a storm, following simple directions, and joining in everything that her brother and sister are doing. She thinks she's big and I'm afraid that she's right.

Grandma & Gardening

Every year for my birthday my sweet mother-in-law plants new flowers in the front yard flowerbed. I love this gift. Recently she came over with a rose bush and invited the kids to help her plant it. They love being out there working with grandma. And she is so great to let them help her. I'm sure the job would be much easier alone. I snapped a few pictures of them all working so hard.

Amazingly Ruby didn't eat much Miracle Grow.


We are fortunate enough to have Avatar Aang do a little yard work for us from time to time. How many people can say that?


Lyda loves helping grandma with anything. She is constantly inviting herself over to grandma's house to "help" with whatever grandma needs.


I love these hard working kids and my wonderful mother-in-law.

I think she's gonna pull through

So Lyda is running a little fever tonight and complained of a headache. So I was giving her a foot rub, like my mom always did when I was sick, and she opened her eyes and very seriously asked, "Mom, do you think I'm going to live through this". I tried very hard to keep a straight face as I reassured her that she was going to be fine. I hope my little drama queen feels better soon.

Wild and Crazy New Year's Eve

We were party animals this year!

Our Christmas

Christmas Eve

This Christmas Eve was spent with Steve's family. We had wonderful food and company that night. We exchanged a few presents and Grandpa read the Christmas story out of the Bible.

Ruby has learned very quickly that grandpa will share every treat with her. They are buddies.



I love this picture of Ruby and Kode. Ruby because it captures her perfectly as she excitedly watches the disney characters play their little instruments. And Kode because he is just so darn serious about some things. He was around this table so much that night making sure that everything was in order. (Just a little side note, this Mickey Mouse Christmas band has been around since Steve was a little kid).



Sweet Lyda loves her daddy so much. She's always so quick to give out hugs and her dad has such a soft spot for her. We loved having so much time with Steve this holiday.



Christmas Day

The super desirable swimming baby doll at the top of Lyda's list this year has finally arrived in our home.



This stroller was the best $10 I ever spent. Ruby loves it.



Star Wars and light sabers. One for Kode and one for dad. Two very happy boys. Kode sleeps with his every night now. Fortunately Steve doesn't.



Ever since dressing up at Zoey's house, Lyda has dreamed of having her own Snow White dress. Thanks to grandma and grandpa, her dream has come true.



Avatar Aang toys were a hit. The bad thing about pictures is that you can't hear the excitement as he is opening the gift. This kid was so fun to listen to opening presents this year.



Ruby has a little shoe fetish. She's had her eyes on her brother's flip flops, but they kept falling off. So she got her own and was anxious to put them on, thus the diaper only shot.



We spent the afternoon at my parent's house. Its a tradition in my family to have a huge prime rib dinner. My mom and dad work so hard to make a nice meal, and once again it was fabulous. And I totally forgot to take pictures. Overall we had a nice Christmas. It was a nice break for all of us and we really enjoyed having so much time to spend together.

Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbean

I just found out that I have been calling the 3 year old class in primary by the wrong name for so many years. It's not sunbeam, it's sunbean. Or so says Kode, and he's never wrong.

When I look down

This is what I see.



I shouldn't always give in and pick her up, but I think that dinner tastes better when prepared with a baby on the hip.