Easter

Disneyland!

Since this is an important journal tool for me I have to blog backwards, sorry. In Feb we took a vacation to Disneyland with David's family. So here it goes.

How Grace saw Disneyland:



How Keith and Belle saw Disneyland:



How David and I saw Disneyland:



Worn out at the end of a fun time!

Quotables

Yesterday in the rain Keith went out in bare feet, shorts and short sleeves (of course) and...his life jacket. And went dancing through the water running in the gutters. Awesome. We went to get the camera but he got cold before we took a picture (surprise).

"Dad, your nose and ears and all college and blood. Did you know?"

"I can spell this game. S-O-R-R-Y-I. that spells Sorry!"

In case you were wondering...if you get away from the iron rod and get lost in the darkness you will fall into the water and get eaten by a bull shark.
(bull sharks are salt & freshwater and have been found in the Amazon and the Mississippi Rivers. So I guess that's why he chose the bull shark...it can swim up rivers.)

something I actually said to Keith

"Hey, Bud, it's time to brush your teeth. The toothbrush you've been using is starting to wear out. You need to pick one of your razors to start using as a toothbrush."


David noted how to someone who might not know the background behind this might think it a bit...well...odd.

Just in case you didn't know Keith is very opinionated. For example: He has to put his pants on before his shirt. Every. Time. No. Exceptions. If you manage to accidentally get his shirt on before his pants he takes it off and starts over on dressing.

There are a few pieces of flatware in the drawer that he likes. And he won't use anything else. Ever. If they're dirty and I can't wash them when he needs them (i.e. I'm taking care of the baby) he washes them himself. Regular scene at our dinner table is Keith getting up to go to the drawer and switch his utensils to the ones he likes.

And he also likes to preform his bodily functions in his birthday suit. Always. Then you have to get him dressed again. Pants first. Belle also has things she prefers but is a bit more, well...flexible.

So that's where this toothbrush and razor thing comes from. He pretends a couple toothbrushes are razors. He uses the back side and water to shave occasionally. And refuses to use them as toothbrushes. In case you're curious his razors are the Diego toothbrushes and the Cars ones he uses as actual toothbrush. You know, what it was made for. So what was the result of the aforementioned conversation? We used the old toothbrush. Again.


Well I'm telling Keith stories I'll throw in another one. At Grace's 4 month check up (14 lbs. 8 oz BTW) we happened to be in the exam room with dinosaurs on the wall. And the Dr. very casually asked Keith if he knew what kind of dinosaurs were on the wall. His jaw dropped to the floor as Keith started pointing and saying: Fabrosaurus, Quetzalquatlus, Parasaurolophus, Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops.... you get the idea. Then he elaborated by explaining which of the dinosaurs on the wall were carnivores and which herbivores, and that we, humans, are omnivores. The Dr. made him explain what a herbivore and carnivore and omnivore are not believing he really knew waht it meant, then looked at me dumbfounded and asked "how does he know that?" The short answer: "He's smart." The Dr. said he will be in the back of the room in 1st grade reading the newspaper. Which he very well might. Though I daresay the Dr. should ask that question to more kids. I can name a few who could have said the same things. You Moms know who they are :)

PS: And these are easy dinosaurs. You should hear him say Wannaosaurus, Chirostenotes, Xenotarsosaurus, Stygmoloch, Gravitholus, Pachycephalosaurus.....)
His enthusiasm for all things shark is spreading to dinosaurs. Today he was carrying around a Tiger Shark and a Triceratops, lamenting to me that he only has ONE dinosaur without wings that is a carnivore, the rest are herbivores. I know. Such a tragedy.

Yesterday I forgot to take Grace's bottle to church. David was working (in all that snow) and there is a sister in our ward who takes Grace with her to RS and SS while I am in primary when Dave's not home, and I like to send her with a bottle. Anyway since I forgot it I needed to go out in Sacrament Meeting to feed her. This sister was trying to keep Grace happy long enough for me to take the sacrament before taking her out. She made it through the bread, but then started crying so I took her out. Belle and Keith did really great sitting there without me, and when they took the water Keith saved me a cup! I got back 15 min later or so and there was a sacrament cup he had taken to save for me. It was such a sweet gesture. One of my friends, our bishop wife, was watching him and said it was the cutest thing! Well, it was!

Shark Cake Q & A

Well, It is supposed to be Bruce from the 'Finding Nemo' movie.

Actually, I traced the cake rounds on paper then cut out the shapes I needed to use as a pattern.

Yes, it is RED like blood inside, per birthday boy's request.

Yes, it also says "Bruce" on the side, also per birthday boy's request.

Yes, I stayed up til 2 am making it.

No, it's not perfect and wouldn't have won any cake decorating contests.

Yes, he loved it, it made him feel special, so Yes it was worth it.

Keith's To-Do this week

--Turn 4 (check) --don't have any friends over to break open my shark birthday pinata. I don't want to have to share the loot. (check)

--be super cute on my birthday and exclaim "this is the BEST present!" after each one. (check)

--play with birthday toys all day for 3 days straight. (check)

--read Belle's sight word flashcards from kindergarten (check) --explain to the neighbor that he is an Allosaurus, I am a Tyrannosaurus, that we are cousins because we're both Therapods which are carnivores that have long tails and walk on two feet but we come from different time periods. (check) --make sure everyone knows that whale sharks and basking sharks are filter feeders. Still carnivores, but they only eat tiny shrimp and fish by swimming slowly with their mouths open and eat what they catch in their gills. (check) --put mouthwash, handsoap, and hand sanitizer in the neighbor girl's hair while Mom is holding her baby brother and Grace both on her lap. (check) --give lots of hugs and kisses (check) He had a fun birthday. We went to the Museum of Natural History the week before for his 'birhtday outing'.

We're so glad he gets to go to Sunbeams now and he enjoys it and doesn't have to worry about nursery anymore. Now I get to start worrying about what we're going to do with him when Belle goes to school all day next year. Preschool for sure but that will take up what? 6 hours a week?

Gracie's Favorite Things

These are a few of her favorite things: girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, snow flakes that stay....no just kidding. Ok so that was a bit cheesy. For real she loves this little teddy that is so soft, she digs her fingers into it's fur. I've started hauling it around with her, encouraging the attachment...maybe it will help be a sleep comfort thing. When she wakes up she will lay in the crib and play with her teddy. She also loves her binky, which thanks to Belle is still called a puta around here, her fingers, razzing, Mom (lucky me), and milk. Actually she takes to David a lot better than our other two babies did, which he loves, and at meal times she watches us all eat very intently. I think she'll be ready to try some rice cereal at 5 months! :)

Mom maybe you recognize this little outfit she has on :)...

I guess we should have put it on her a few months ago, but we had to at least take her picture in it. for those of you who are lost....this little pink jumper was mine as a baby. And a shout out to David who always helps with the kids whatever I ask him to do...even if he puts the outfits on backwards :) hehe.

Can't say that Belle and Buggie are her favorite things--she does smile and laugh at them when in the right mood, but most of the time she gets overwhelmed by their loudness. Never realized how LOUD they could be til we had a baby around. But this was a cute picture anyway. Sorry it's sideways, I'm slightly inept at these things.

changed the youtube video of Grace talking to "unlisted" instead of "private", so if you use the link in the post below it should work now.

Rare who roast beast

For dinner last night: Rare who roast beast, who hash, and who pudding :) The kids loved it!! When asked a few days ago if the Grinch stole the who's Christmas Keith answered: "no he didn't" Christmas still came. I guess he get's the message :)

David doing the honor of carving the Rare Who Roast Beast

And the Christmas Cactus is blooming!!

Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without

Most of you have seen David's phone and joined in the teasing. It's older than gun smoke. A dinosaur. A fossil. All those phrases used to describe something old and out of date. It's the phone he got for free 8 years ago.

You might have even seen him wear his patched-up jeans. He likes me to patch his jeans rather than buy new.

But you probably haven't seen the bottom of his shoes. At one point he mentioned to me his work/dress shoes were starting to wear out and we needed to buy him new. So we did. That was in the summer of 2010. Over two years ago. And what have the new shoes been doing this whole time? Being worn? Um...no. Sitting in a box, waiting. Waiting for what you ask? Waiting for the old shoes to finish wearing out. Yes these pictures were taken while they were on his feet, on his way to work. Friday. Today however, it has snowed, and I believe the new shoes will get worn finally or his feet are going to get wet. :)

Love you, sweets. I'd much rather have this problem than someone who needs the latest and greatest all the time.Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.

Isabelle's Dance Recital

Belle had her 1st dance recital yesterday. She was so excited she was dancing around the kitchen all morning! She was so cute! All my friends who saw her commented the same thing--that she was so focused, concentrating very hard! They did a tap dance this time, in the spring they will do a ballet and a jazz.

Dave and I were both impressed with the dance studio--all the girls wore the same t-shirts and black pants--all 20 dance teams--all modest and every dance tasteful. They also were impressive and had the whole thing done in less than an hour and a half! And the recital was free....anyway, we like how they do things at Grantsville Dance!

Grace Remembers

A video of Gracie telling us all about what she remembers from heaven. You have to copy and past this into you browser. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyhrXt_nzKE

My Little Aggies

Oh, and a BIG Aggie, too. :)

Two Months old!

I've sat down several times to write about our sweet Gracie and have never been able to finish. Here's a couple pics at least. smiles and blessing day. she has the BEST huge smiles!