lonely gangster

I'm thankful (it is almost thanksgiving) that my kids have a new found love for the basement...I am. Even the girls are on board. They love the ramp. But I have to wonder if that finished basement I had envisioned in my head will ever happen now. The other day when I told Canyon he had to stay in his room until it was clean he responded. "When you make me do this... you make me feel like a lonely gangster." What!? For reals. I couldn't help but laugh. Now it makes perfect sense why all the new tagging in the basement looks totally pro-fess-ion-al and shockingly gangsterish. My lonely gangster has been busy. My visions of "finished" don't stand a chance. This isn't my hood anymore. I hardly recognize it.

in all the universe

A couple of days ago Lucy threw the most epic tantrum I dare say the universe has ever seen. When every trick in the book failed to calm her little soul, I could tell it had escalated past the point of no return. So I did what any good, wise, mature mother would do. I walked away and hid in my closet hoping to not be found. I know...I know, best mom ever. I sat on my closet floor with the door shut with one headphone in and flipped threw the entire Crewcuts catalog just staring at all the beautiful pictures, blocking out sounds of terribleness and dreaming of all the clothes I would want to buy for the child making me hide in my closet (it must be love). I wanted it all! Every bit of that winter wear, but seriously that won't happen. When I finished my catalog it seemed safe to come out. She was asleep and I had survived. It is down right amazing how on occasion she can switch from such a dreamy little thing to big terrible thing so fast. It is miraculous...it is.

***did i mention I loved every photo and every outfit because I did. ***

dead men tell no tales

This Halloween Ellie had a inner struggle between a cowgirl with pink boots or a cheerleader. In the end the cheerleader was the winner. It helped the cause that her BFF had the outfit to lend us for the night (thanks Jada).

We really had no choice with Lucy remember her obsession with the pirate ride. Well it is still in full swing. She was going to be a pirate and a cute little scallywag she was. She was in full character in her outfit and got to sing her theme song a million times to anyone who dared look this pirate in the eyes, including grocery store patrons.
YO HO YO HO a pirate life for me.

Being that Canyon was "snake eyes" he was a little to stealth for some indoor pictures. I guess nearly 10 year old boys don't care to much for photographs of themselves in full body black spandex...maybe next time.

little wild horse canyon

Every time we come here be it the first, third, or sixth. I come away amazed at how incredible this place is. The tall winding narrow stretches, delicate shapes, soft sandy bottoms, the feeling, the color. I love it all. At the end, I am always, always just blown away at how great it was. It never gets old.....only better.

broken heart

Lucy had her first broken heart.
Her beloved bottle didn't show up like it has every night before.
And when I told her the bad news that it had left and wasn't coming back.
Her bottom lip quivered
Giant tears welled up
And with the saddest voice I have ever heard she said
" ma ma...please. please.. ma ma.. please."
Her heart was broken into pieces.
I felt so bad, my heart was broken too except probably into a little less pieces.
I'm not going to lie. I almost gave in.
But instead I rubbed her little head until her sobs became wimpers.
Then I whispered "I love you" and she said it back.
I am glad she thinks that bottle broke her heart and not me.
And when I packed up all the bottles away to never return.
It made me sort of sad...a little teary.
I still can't explain exactly why.
I think It has something to do with that no diapers and no bottle equals no longer a baby.
A new phase in life.
A part of me is going to miss that baby in her.

goblin valley

This was our first day on our road trip to Southern Utah. The kids kept requesting Thriller over and over again. It was fun at first and then after the millionth time.... not so much. We kept giving into their demands. We were going to Goblin Valley after all so Thriller seemed sort of appropriate.

bathing in a witches brew

A spooky Halloween bath

We were faced with the tough decision of what to do with the dry ice left over from the pumpkin carving festivities the night before. Meanwhile, it sat dissolving the the brown paper bag we brought it home in. When the girls got in the tub we or I should say he had a grand idea. The Dry ice would make a spooky bath perfect for Halloween. For a split second I worried that maybe there would be adverse side effects to bathing in dry ice. Like maybe their hair might fall out or hives would take over their little bodies. In case you are wondering all hair remained intact and Halloween was hive free. Dry ice has always been a friend of the family starting way back in the day when we lived in city house # 7 and dial up to get on-line. "What should we do tonight?" Response...."Lets go get some dry ice". Oh, the things you find to entertain a toddler and Canyon loved it (he still does every time). In Kindergarten when he was to bring something for show and tell that started with a D he talked me into bringing dry ice.. ha ha. I still remember how cool he thought that was. I wonder what else we will do with dry ice over the years. Long live the powers of dry ice.

p.s. For any of you wanting to play with dry ice the trick is to put it in a big bowl and then add some dish soap here and there. Not to much but not to little. Give everyone a cup. Then let fun will begin.

new things to come home to

Upon my arrival home from New York City there were some new things waiting for me.

#1 This new screensaver/picture that was taken while I was gone. How could she look 2 years older? I was only gone for 3 1/2 days. Crazy! I had to go look at her in her sleep and stare for a while.

#2 This skateboard ramp was assembled in my basement in my three days away. I guess the kids pitched in and helped, a team project. I might need to get my hands on some ear plugs. It's kind of noisy. Canyon is pretty stoked to say the least.

#3 This one is probably the most exciting. A fully potty trained toddler. I guess when she says she wants to wear panties she means it.

A lot can happen in 3 little days.

New York City

I loved every second of this trip. It was a complete dream.
Thanks Miki for inviting us to come visit. It was unreal.

Brooklyn

Heather found someone special in Brooklyn....we call him Mr. soft lips.

We wondered around Brooklyn I loved all the old buildings and the character it had.
When we were at the Brooklyn Flea Market Martha Stewart was filming one of her shows.
She was in line right behind us to get a pizza with her film crew. It was pretty funny.
Somehow she got her pizza before us. She is tricky that Martha. :)

Central Park

I LOVED Central Park. It was so pretty this time of year with tons of trails and trees everywhere. It's cool you can see the big buildings in the city from there but you feel miles away. It was really peaceful.

discovering NYC

I loved everything about this trip! Some of my favorite times were just exploring the streets and neighborhoods. Just walking around to see what we would find. I also loved eating and shopping at all the cute little shops, cafe's and bakery's. Everything was soooo good and the atmosphere everywhere was amazing. We were lucky to have a local with us. We would have never have gone to such great places without Miki....Thanks Miki!




Upper West where we stayed.

NYC (subway)

I just got back from NYC. Me and the girls headed out on the red eye to visit our friend Miki. We did not sleep a wink, but somehow managed to explore all around that city that never sleeps all day and night long. It was all of our first time there. While Miki worked our first experience in the big apple was the subway. We took the subway all over. It was fun to see if we were lost and what it was going to look like when we surfaced up from below. I have to say getting around the city was much easier when Miki was there to show us where to go. :)

"mini mouse club panties" and purple socks

fall picnic

Today was dark gray and cold. Which was actually fine I guess because the little miss has decided that diapers are not for her. So I guess it is potty training season rather I like or not. So confined to the walls of my house the fire went on and the diaper went off. I have to admit she looked pretty cute strollin around in nothin but "mini mouse club" panties and a pair of purple knee high socks. Inside looking out the window at the gray it's hard to believe a couple of days ago we were basking in the golden beauty of fall farm picnic. This is my good friend Ali's backyard playground isn't she lucky. The kids loved romping through the pastures and building forts in the creek beds. Ellie unfortunately got bunches of burs in her golden locks and when she tried to get them out on her own they turned into a big dread lock. This did not put her in the best mood so when she came to me for help she got really mad for two good reasons. 1. I was laughing at the dread lock. 2. I took her picture with her "embarrassing" dread lock. She did not go back into that "worst burr fort" and a little leave in conditioner and some patience saved us from a trip to the salon. Ahhhh... fresh air and perfect temps maybe if we all wished for an Indian Summer until Dec 1st it would really happen. Then I would want fluffy white big snowflake storms 3 times a week until March and then it could magically be in the 70's again. It would be perfect.