Messy Ellen

I was out in the shop watching Aaron work on the pump he's making, and Samuel and Jacque come out and tell me I need to come see Ellen. They said she was sitting on the table with drips on her head and clothes. I was just picturing her playing in someone's water, but this is what I got to come in the house to meet:

Lovely, simply lovely! Don't you think she looks like she's been having fun having free reign of the house!! By the way Leslie, I think she likes the jam. It was very yummy!! I didn't know quite how to clean her off, so I decided I would just plop her in the tub and hose her off. It kind of reminded me of Laundry day on the Pippy Longstockings movie (if anyone remembers that movie). But in just a few minutes she looked like this:

Tada...Clean! And I didn't even have to touch sticky gooey clothes when she was done!

Hershey's Meet

The Hershey's meet went really well. It was just a pre-trial. I think next week they have the state qualifying or something like that. We had a lot of fun watching the kids, and they had a blast. They started with a softball throw. I think Jacque threw it 13 feet, Calista 9 or 11, and Ellen almost 3 feet. Ellen was funny. She was holding a water bottle, so I took it from her so she could throw. She was mad at me and wouldn't even hold the ball. We did get her to swat at it three times, just trying to get the ball away from her.

Then we had the running events. They had everyone run according to age and gender. They gave ribbons out for the first six places and then the little kids also got participating ribbons if they didn't place.

Ellen got 3rd out of the 1 year olds in the 50 meter dash. I tried to get a picture of her ribbon, but everytime I gave it to her she either dropped it or wadded it up in her hand. So if you look really close, you can see the white ribbon in her hands.

Calista got 5th in the 50 meter and a participating ribbon in the 200 meter dash.

Jacque got 3rd in the 50 meter and a participating ribbon in the 200 meter dash.

Samuel got 1st in his heat of the 50 meter dash and 6th in the 200 meter.

They also could've run the 400 meter but they were all tired after the 200 so we went home.

Disagreements

Aaron and I have been taking a marriage class after church for the last six weeks. We got thinking today, and we came up with a couple of real disagreements that we've had. They haven't been heated disagreements. Just differences of opinion. One is over socks. When Aaron's mom finished washing the socks, she just dumped all the socks into a big drawer or something like that and she was done. Then when anyone wanted a pair of socks they dug through the drawer and found a pair. So he thinks that would be a better idea than sitting on the bed and matching everyone's socks. I would rather get it all done at the beginning. Neither one is a right answer and neither is a wrong answer. It's just a difference.

Another difference came up today. Aaron came home from lunch and opened the fridge door to get something to eat. As he has the door open he says, " Why is the toilet brush in the fridge?" Ellen has discovered the toilet brush recently and she carries it all over the house. It was in the living room earlier today and I asked the kids to clean up. I'm not sure who it was that put it there, but I'm hoping that they got distracted and didn't realize what they had done. But at the next marriage class that we go to, if they ask what a difference is between Aaron and I, Aaron's going to bring up that he for one thinks that the toilet brush belongs in the bathroom, behind the toilet, whereas Tia thinks it belongs in the fridge!

We are all different

Even though they have the same parents, both are girls, they live in the same house, eat the same food, watch the same movies, and listen to the same music, they are different. Yes I am talking about Jacque and Calista. Maybe it's the age difference, but Jacque has always been very giving. Jacque is one who would give you her last cookie if she knew it would make you happy, even if she knew she wouldn't get anything in return. Calista is sweet too, but in a different light. The girls had a lot of fun running through the sprinkler in the back yard yesterday. It was 97 degrees! But I told them that they couldn't come in until they were dry, so while they waited in the sun, I brought out a plate of cookies. I had brought out an odd number because Ellen was supposed to eat more, but she got distracted so I halved the last cookie between Jacque and Calista. I went back inside and a few minutes later Calista came over and said, "Mom, I gave my cookie to Ellen. Can I have another one?" I had just put the cookies away, so I told her no. She turned from the door, ran over to Ellen, grabbed the cookie from Ellen's hand and stuffed it into her mouth and ran off to play. I guess she's going off of the saying, "It's the thought that counts!" I'm not positive, but it looked to me that she had given Ellen the "half cookie" and was coming to get a "whole cookie." Silly girls.

Haircuts

Every summer I get in the mood to cut the girls' hair. Calista was very willing, but I had to pratically beg Jacque to let me cut her hair. It is just so much easier to fix short hair than long hair, and it is a lot cooler in the summer too.

I had actually tried to layer Jacque's hair, but it didn't look too good, so then I evened up all the edges. I think it turned out pretty good.

I love cutting Calista's hair because it is curly and hides all of my mistakes. This is her hair just out of the shower! Talk about easy!!

Ellen wanted her picture taken too. Some day I will get to cut her hair too! When it comes time to fix the girls hair, I have them stand on the toilet so they are at a more comfortable position for my arms. Ellen is always around, waiting for her turn. If I try to leave the bathroom before she gets a turn, she throws a fit. So I humor her by putting her on the toilet, and rubbing her head with both hands. Sometimes I even get a brush and act like I'm brushing her hair. When I'm done I tell her how beautiful she is, and she smiles and happily gets off of the toilet.

I just thought this was a cute picture.

Easter Dresses

These are the outfits that I made my girls for Easter. They wore them on Easter and it wasn't until they were all changed after Church, that I thought about pictures. I tried to get them dressed up during the week, but they just didn't look the same. So we tried it again yesterday, but we ran out of time in the morning. Again it had to wait until after Church. That is why Calista's hair looks so beautiful. I also made Samuel a vest, but we couldn't find it yesterday morning. I'll do a separate blog for him next Sunday.

Jacque

Calista

Ellen wasn't about to let me take the bottle away for a picture, so you get to see her dress but not her face.

Ellen, Calista, Jacque

It's fun learning to talk

Have you ever heard of a snorm? I hadn't until the other day when Calista told me that a "snorm" was coming. I looked out the window, and sure enough a "storm" was coming. I guess that is one way to describe thunder.



The other day I was trying to think of something to make for dinner. I don't know about you, but for me the toughest part of cooking is coming up with the idea. Since it is Samuel's week to help cook dinner, I asked him what he wanted. His reply, "Chickaladas!" He actually meant chicken enchiladas, but in light of efficiency, I might start calling them chickaladas!

Mothers Day Idea

If you are wanting a fun Mothers Day Kit idea, check out my link to the left called Sofia's Primary Ideas. She has a really cute kit for mothers or special ladies. It's not the latest post, but scroll down and you'll find it. I'm going to use it for sharing time next week. For those with Primary callings, Sofia has all sorts of ideas for sharing times or how to teach the monthly song. I love her blog!

I also looked on the Internet and found a cute idea along with other Mother's Day craft ideas for kids at this site http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/mothersday.html

“Whisking You a Happy Mother’s Day” Craft
What you will need: One wire whisk for each child (two for a dollar at the Dollar Store), Hershey Hugs and Kisses candy, ribbon, hole punch, and card stock.

What to do: Have the children fill the center of the whisk with Hershey's (move the wires and pop them inside). Make a card that says, "Whisking you a Happy Mother's Day that's filled with Hugs and Kisses. Love, (child's name). Tie the card on with ribbon. This ideas was sent in by Nance in Reno