Spring Break Fun

We went to Eagle Crest for Spring Break and it was SO much fun. It always amazes me how much more fun I am on vacation. The kids dont' irritate me, there is less fighting and whining and impatience from me. What does that mean? I wonder if I am just too stressed and perfectionistic at home so I am the cause of all the grief we have on a day to day basis. I really wish I could learn to relax and enjoy regular life as much as I relax and enjoy vacation! For me, the appeal of a vacation isn't just the exotic location (which didn't qualify for this vacation, though it is certainly a nice place, we had a hot tub in our house and it held to about 60 degrees and sunny the whole week...quite a step up from 45 and raining at home), but just the shutting off of outside pressure and life! No phone, calling, homework, and who cares if the kids watch more TV than usual? I don't get paranoid when they eat some candy in the afternoon. Wear your swimsuit all day. Sleep in. Don't clean up your room. Who cares if there are a few dishes in the sink? NO GUILT! Ahhh...I love it.

Quick Catch up

My mom and I at the Oregon Culinary Institute after our appy class. We made Louisiana Shrimp, Caviar Torte (yikes), and salmon cakes. It was so fun!!

Kiara came home from school before the night of the school Talent Show and said "Mom I have to make a bug costume for our bug parade" and I with Levi's homework and running kids to everything there was just no way that I could make anything. Meanwhile, she spent hours in the office cutting and gluing away. I let her have at it till I had two minutes to help her. Before that two minutes arrived, out she comes dressed up in her paper bug costume that was probably 10 times better than what I would have made for her. It had sleeves and everything! So fun when they can start to take care of themselves (occasionally). I personally thought she was the cutest bug there...

This weekend we went to see the much publicized "Wicked". I was a little skeptical just b/c of all the hype...but after, thought it was awesome! We went with my parents and Derek and Jaymie and had a great time.

In an effort to win "Dad of the Year" Spencer not only made a Pine wood derby car for Levi (who took 2nd place by like 1/100th of a second or something ridiculous), but to be all-inclusive, made one for the girls too. They only got to race theirs one or two times, but both of their cars won as well. The girls and Levi were thrilled with their derby cars. (Grey car is Emma's, Camo is Levi's, Orange is Kiara's). Such fun.

Boy Crazy?

While Levi appears to abhor all women of any age, size or adorability (excluding his mother, of course), Emma will be giving us a run for our money.

Due to a number of factors, I decided to switch Emma from morning preschool to afternoon preschool. The transition has gone virtually flawlessly, except for one small glitch...Emma has fallen for a boy in her class. She seems to have fallen pretty hard too. First day, she starts naming her dolls after him (much to the poor boy's chagrin), then the next day of preschool when I come to pick her up, both teachers are nearly in tears telling me the story of Emma's persuit tactic of the day. She changed from her preschool clothes into a revealing little princess dress (that is a gripe for another entry...why in the world do they make clothing for toddlers so skanky?) and kept putting her cheek to her shoulder (see picture) and batting her eyes. When the teacher asked Emma what she was doing, she replied that she was "calling for her Prince". They asked who her prince was, and she said "Sam". Emma explained to them, quite frankly, that if you want to get a boy to be your prince, you needed to "call them. Like this." (again, see picture). Later that day, I asked her what Sam thought of her provocative come on and she said very matter-of-factly and with zero remorse: "He just threw a stick at me." AHHHHH!! Not only boy crazy, but NOT READING REJECTION CUES. Does it get any worse than this?

At church today, the same boy (Sam) has an older brother (also a very cute boy) who picks up our fast offerings, and passes the sacrament. She would not stop bouncily waving to him and I was practically threatening her with her life to be reverent, when by some stroke of bad luck he ended up passing it to our row (with Emma sitting at the very end...more bad luck) and handing Emma the tray. She literally looked star struck. She blindly grabbed the bread as she could not take her eyes off him and her grin was nearly bursting her face. I tried to ignore her bubbly bouncing in the seat, and passed the tray down, but after the poor guy (who handled the whole thing remarkably well) moved to the next row, she puts both her hands together and squints her eyes while smiling (again, rather wildly) and says: "This is the best day EVER! Dallin gave ME the sacrament."

Did my child turn 13 overnight or something? Have we watched too many Princess movies? I am in awe of her sudden fascination and pray it is a short phase that she will soon grow out of. Please little girl, start star gazing over soccer balls and Nancy Drew books...and by all means, NO MORE PRINCESS MOVIES!

Treats at the Temple?

In the car today Emma asked if we get married in the church. I said some people get married in churches, but that I got married in a temple. She thought about it for a minute and then I told her I was married in the Portland Temple and asked her if she wanted to be married there. She is still quiet and thinking about this (if you know Emma, she is NEVER quiet). Finally, she says: "Well, mom, I am not sure. Lots of people get married in churches." I said, yes, they do. She then said: "Will there be treats in the temple?" Hmm.... "No, no treats in the temple, but you can go to a restaurant across the street afterwards, if you want a treat." At this point, she sighed in relief and said "yes, I want to get married in the temple too."

It is what makes you you...

On Friday after school Levi had a dental appointment. As I am getting kids into the car and ready for the appointment, my mom surprises us and knocks on the door. Not trying to be rude, I chatted for a bit before she hit the road but we really had to leave. When she was gone, I looked at the clock and it was less than 10 minutes till we had to be there. Well, we are frantically loading, I am shooing everyone, throwing purses, shoes, after school snacks, etc. into the car and we go on our way. I say, after we are all buckled and the engine is running with a sigh: "Just imagine a time where we are not rushed to an appointment or activity." And Levi says, "Mom, it is cute. it is what makes you you. We will always look back and remember you saying 'hurry up guys, get in the car'." It made me laugh at the moment, but that is certainly NOT what I want my kids remembering about me. Rarely do we just chill as we casually get in the car and casually arrive at any activity, we pretty much always do so half hazardly as we run from one thing to the next to the next to the next... We are just a little overscheduled, or things seem to come up last minute. I guess as long as he looks back on it fondly, it won't be too bad. Right?? :)

Defiance

(Emma and her cousin Ashley at Out of this World Pizza yesterday for her bday)

Help! I am running out of patience with my adorably defiant FOUR year old. I never dreamed her strong-willed, stubborn-extraordinaire personality would extend beyond the three's. Okay, so she turns four tomorrow...I will give her a few days to transform into a mild, well-behaved four year old.

Today at church, my sweet little thing adamantly refused to go into sunbeams. "It is boring" she says...out loud...to the teacher...who, I might add, MIGHT just be the sweetest, most creative, wonderful teacher to walk the earth. How can she be my child? Seriously, I am a person who gets myself into trouble b/c I am terrified of offending anyone. I am a people pleaser. Emma is NOT. To illustrate, we will go back to my blessed Sunday morning. I finally peel her off my skirt (I am the primary chorister teaching music in the front of the room with a 4 year old leech stuck to my leg) but she won't sit in her chair b/c she doesn't want to sit by anyone. At one point, I peer over my music stand to see her sprawled on the floor. After plunking her (forcefully) back into her chair, I turn around to tears and near tantrums. THEN, the counselor in the primary tries to take her to class (b/c clearly peeling her off of me wasn't working very well in singing time, let alone to get her to class) and she openly rebels! My tomorrow- is-going- to- be- a -four- year old child threw a tantrum IN THE HALL!! IN THE CHURCH! I really might die of mortification.

Luckily, the counselor got Spencer (as I might have just started to cry in the hall with her) who quickly plunked her in her carseat, where she and he remained for the remaining HOUR of church. We are really good parents, right? :)

I am sure the rest of the blogger moms out there have perfectly behaved almost four year olds, ESPECIALLY at church, so I'd love some advice. How can I get my sweet as sugar (but only when she wants to be) child go to Sunbeams? I am perfectly open to bribary, threats, and punishment, just give me some ideas!

The Big Arctic Blast 2008

Okay, so it doesn't compare to anything in the midwest or east coast, but wow was it fun! (Well, at least for the first few days...then when we had THREE, yes, three weeks of no school and were virtually homebound due to the road conditions, it got a little old...). Anyway, I am determined to be more vigilant in my blogging efforts in 2009, be ye warned.