and doesn't mind the attention of the camera either.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Do you have any idea???
Lately Meri has been asking us to sing her "The Dolphin Song" when it's time to put her to bed. We don't have any idea what she's talking about. I'm kinda hoping somebody in the family, at church, or in her little preschool group sang her some dolphin song and knows what she's talking about. Because when we ask her to sing it to us, it's always different than the night before, employs at least 5 different keys, and the only word we catch is "dolphin." If she's making it up, she's not being very understanding that we don't know it. She's getting more and more upset each night that we still don't know it or haven't picked it up from her. Can anybody help?? Does anybody know any dolphin songs????
On a perhaps even more frustrating note, I H-A-T-E lice. And nits. And everything you have to clean and wash and comb and clean and wash and comb again when your children have little bugs infesting their heads. I hate feeling like everything in my house is creepy crawling. I hate not being able to go anywhere for fear of spreading it to others while my kids are going bonkers. So we'll see you all next week when we're clean, unless of course we're not, in which case we'll have to start over a whole new 7 days of being quarantined. Lovely.
On a perhaps even more frustrating note, I H-A-T-E lice. And nits. And everything you have to clean and wash and comb and clean and wash and comb again when your children have little bugs infesting their heads. I hate feeling like everything in my house is creepy crawling. I hate not being able to go anywhere for fear of spreading it to others while my kids are going bonkers. So we'll see you all next week when we're clean, unless of course we're not, in which case we'll have to start over a whole new 7 days of being quarantined. Lovely.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
4 generations all in one room
So I'll try to catch up and post Meri's birthday tomorrow, but first I had to add this awesome picture. How cool is this? This was at Meri's family birthday party and it shows the girls in front with both their parents, then there are two sets of great-grandparents and both pairs of grandparents in the back row.
The girls really don't even know how lucky they are - not only are all these loving generations alive for them to get to know, but they all live right here in Lake Oswego and Beaverton. We love them all and are grateful that are girls have so many people around to love them!Happy Valentine's Day ... last week
So I'm a bit behind in blogging - Coop's been hogging the computer with some silly excuse about deadlines to finish his master's internship thesis. Silly. So before I even get to Meri's birthday, which has been loads of fun, here's Valentine's Day:
First off - Meri had to make 4 Valentines for her little school group. You'd think that'd be easy. Just 4. But no, it was like torture after the first one was done. However, we did manage to finish.
Then Jell had to make 17 Valentines for a little girly party. This was our first experience in mass producing. I think we'll go simpler in the future.
Meri did have to make an additional 17 as well, but after the experience with the original four, Mom just made them all while she was sleeping. But the girls enjoyed the party:
After all, to them Valentines Day is just another day they get to wear pink, red, or purple, and dress-up!
First off - Meri had to make 4 Valentines for her little school group. You'd think that'd be easy. Just 4. But no, it was like torture after the first one was done. However, we did manage to finish.
Then Jell had to make 17 Valentines for a little girly party. This was our first experience in mass producing. I think we'll go simpler in the future.
Meri did have to make an additional 17 as well, but after the experience with the original four, Mom just made them all while she was sleeping. But the girls enjoyed the party:
After all, to them Valentines Day is just another day they get to wear pink, red, or purple, and dress-up!Seriously discouraging
We overheard this conversation earlier today:
Jell: Meri, you're not obeying me.
Meri: Oh.
Jell: Do you know what obeying means Meri?
Meri: What?
Jell: It means ignoring.
I gave away the fact that I'd been eavesdropping with a "WHAT? That's not obeying!"
Jell: Well, what is it then? (said all wide-eyed and innocent as if we haven't explained this a million and a half times)
Now to make ourselves feel better, we're going to assume she really knew and just misspoke. That she was trying to say 'you're not obeying, you're ignoring.' That makes me feel better.
Jell: Meri, you're not obeying me.
Meri: Oh.
Jell: Do you know what obeying means Meri?
Meri: What?
Jell: It means ignoring.
I gave away the fact that I'd been eavesdropping with a "WHAT? That's not obeying!"
Jell: Well, what is it then? (said all wide-eyed and innocent as if we haven't explained this a million and a half times)
Now to make ourselves feel better, we're going to assume she really knew and just misspoke. That she was trying to say 'you're not obeying, you're ignoring.' That makes me feel better.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Classic
When my Aunt Patti brought up the fact that Meri's birthday is almost here and asked her what she wanted, Jell instantly piped in, "Well, WE haven't had time to think about that yet."
Jell: "Hey mom, ZUMBA!"
Mom: "What's zumba?"
Jell: "Nothing, I made it up. It's a joke."
On Saturday we watched the National Championships, basically the Olympic trials, for Women's ice skating and pairs ice dancing. Every single time there was a lift or jump Jenelle exclaimed, "Wow! I cannot do that." Followed by all sorts of questions like, "Mommy, when will I be able to do that? Can you do that? When will I get my own ice skates ...."
Meri: (totally out of the blue) "Hey mom, I have a happy-pop-osis."
Jell: "No Meri, it's a hy-pop-o-sis."
Mom: "What is your hypothesis Mers?"
Meri: "Dis is my hypoposis." (holds up a weed with a huge grin)
Jell: "No Meri, that is not a hypoposis. A hypoposis is an idea you can test" (Way to go Dinosaur Train)
Meri: "But dis is my hypoposis!" (weed)
Jell: "Okay, it can be pretend, but it's not a real hypoposis ... Mom, I have a hypoposis."
Mom: "What's your hypothesis?"
Jell: "My hypoposis is that worms go deep in the ground in the winter to find more food." (we've talked about this recently and even had to google where worms go in the winter because the girls were distraught that they hadn't seen a worm in months)
Mom: "And maybe to get warm."
Jell: "Yep, that too."
Meri held hands with her friend Sam all during circle time when I taught preschool on Tuesday. She totally initiated at and was very pleased with herself. She just sat there smiling. I had to pull the plug when she gave him a kiss on the cheek. Oh boy.
Also, the difference between boys and girls as I've observed it this week teaching Meri's group: Boys try to "kill" the bad guys (pretend ones luckily) by running full speed through the house, yelling, shooting them, kicking, punching, etc. Girls coyly offer their oppponent a poison apple, faint and wait around for true love's kiss. That about sums it up as I see it!
When I taught Jell's school last week, some of the girls came running to tell me that one of the girls, we'll call her Dorcas to protect the innocent, was yelling at them all. I called Dorcas to me and told her we can't yell at anyone. She said, "But I was pretending to be the mom!" Ouch. At least it wasn't my daughter. This time.
Jell: "Hey mom, ZUMBA!"
Mom: "What's zumba?"
Jell: "Nothing, I made it up. It's a joke."
On Saturday we watched the National Championships, basically the Olympic trials, for Women's ice skating and pairs ice dancing. Every single time there was a lift or jump Jenelle exclaimed, "Wow! I cannot do that." Followed by all sorts of questions like, "Mommy, when will I be able to do that? Can you do that? When will I get my own ice skates ...."
Meri: (totally out of the blue) "Hey mom, I have a happy-pop-osis."
Jell: "No Meri, it's a hy-pop-o-sis."
Mom: "What is your hypothesis Mers?"
Meri: "Dis is my hypoposis." (holds up a weed with a huge grin)
Jell: "No Meri, that is not a hypoposis. A hypoposis is an idea you can test" (Way to go Dinosaur Train)
Meri: "But dis is my hypoposis!" (weed)
Jell: "Okay, it can be pretend, but it's not a real hypoposis ... Mom, I have a hypoposis."
Mom: "What's your hypothesis?"
Jell: "My hypoposis is that worms go deep in the ground in the winter to find more food." (we've talked about this recently and even had to google where worms go in the winter because the girls were distraught that they hadn't seen a worm in months)
Mom: "And maybe to get warm."
Jell: "Yep, that too."
Meri held hands with her friend Sam all during circle time when I taught preschool on Tuesday. She totally initiated at and was very pleased with herself. She just sat there smiling. I had to pull the plug when she gave him a kiss on the cheek. Oh boy.
Also, the difference between boys and girls as I've observed it this week teaching Meri's group: Boys try to "kill" the bad guys (pretend ones luckily) by running full speed through the house, yelling, shooting them, kicking, punching, etc. Girls coyly offer their oppponent a poison apple, faint and wait around for true love's kiss. That about sums it up as I see it!
When I taught Jell's school last week, some of the girls came running to tell me that one of the girls, we'll call her Dorcas to protect the innocent, was yelling at them all. I called Dorcas to me and told her we can't yell at anyone. She said, "But I was pretending to be the mom!" Ouch. At least it wasn't my daughter. This time.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Creative experiments
So I hadn't been painting at all, and frankly haven't painted this month that Coop's been gone, but I'm finally getting around to loading these pics so I can hopefully see what you think. I basically was really bored of what I usually do and wanted to have some fun giving something a bit more expressive and loose a try. I did this one first:
Then I painted this one:
And then going way outside the box for me - not even drawing inspiration from a photo but just from my head - I tried this one. I LOVED it as a drawing and halfway through and was rather unhappy with it when I got done.
So I changed it a bit. Still not thrilled. I feel like it makes my eyes go blurry. Not quite sure what's wrong - lack of focal point? too much going on? soft edges not working with hard one? colors? composition? I just don't know. I think it's better than it was, but I'm not even sure about that. But here it is as at present:
So what do you think of them? Any suggestions?
Then I painted this one:
And then going way outside the box for me - not even drawing inspiration from a photo but just from my head - I tried this one. I LOVED it as a drawing and halfway through and was rather unhappy with it when I got done.
So I changed it a bit. Still not thrilled. I feel like it makes my eyes go blurry. Not quite sure what's wrong - lack of focal point? too much going on? soft edges not working with hard one? colors? composition? I just don't know. I think it's better than it was, but I'm not even sure about that. But here it is as at present:
So what do you think of them? Any suggestions?Thursday, January 21, 2010
We should join a league ...
because although we can't bowl worth a darn, we have fun trying!
Jell bowled a 75 and Meri bowled an 85 (they used the awesome ramp things). Meri was much more interested in the french fries, and while she would carry her ball to the ramp herself, she barely pushed it down and never stayed to see if it knocked over any pins. Unfortunately, she ended the night by dropping a ball on her foot when she tried to put it back on the rack. Ouch! Jell, on the other hand, was devastated each time she didn't knock "enough" pins over. She's used to being the superstar that she somehow is on the wii. And she doesn't like it when she doesn't win. At anything. Not much to say about Mama and Daddy other than at least we both broke 100! And Mama even beat Bopa!
Jell bowled a 75 and Meri bowled an 85 (they used the awesome ramp things). Meri was much more interested in the french fries, and while she would carry her ball to the ramp herself, she barely pushed it down and never stayed to see if it knocked over any pins. Unfortunately, she ended the night by dropping a ball on her foot when she tried to put it back on the rack. Ouch! Jell, on the other hand, was devastated each time she didn't knock "enough" pins over. She's used to being the superstar that she somehow is on the wii. And she doesn't like it when she doesn't win. At anything. Not much to say about Mama and Daddy other than at least we both broke 100! And Mama even beat Bopa!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Sledding at Bachelor
So to keep from missing daddy too much this month while he's in Bend for his internship, we went over and stayed with him for a week. On Saturday when he didn't have to work, we headed up the mountain for some fun in the snow. What a perfect day! There was snow and sun and it was hardly cold at all!
However, for such small legs, it is a long way up the hill.
And partially thanks to the good conditions, this year the girls had a blast!!
Wahoo! (not totally sure what's happening here)
Weeeeeeee!
That was fun!
Hard to give a thumbs-up in these mittens!
Who is having fun?!
Okay so it's also a long way up for long legs with a tired load asking for the royal service.
However, for such small legs, it is a long way up the hill.
And partially thanks to the good conditions, this year the girls had a blast!!
Wahoo! (not totally sure what's happening here)
Weeeeeeee!
That was fun!
Hard to give a thumbs-up in these mittens!
Who is having fun?!
Okay so it's also a long way up for long legs with a tired load asking for the royal service.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Snow Ninnie
There was quite a lot of confusion in our house this year. The past two Christmases we've had snow - which is a bit of a miracle because it's happened three times my whole life. So the girls, naturally, thought it always snows for Christmas. All month long they kept saying, "Mom, it's almost Christmas. Where is the snow?" Sadly there was no white Christmas. I don't think they took the disappointment too hard with all the other excitement going on. Then a week after the big day, it snowed. The girls were running around cheering, "Yeah! It's Christmas again!" See what I mean? Confusion. But regardless, while Andrew, Lenora, Ninnie, and I struggled to get back from the mall for hours on a snowy road full of incompetent drivers, daddy took the girls out to play in the snow. He pulled them on the sled up and down and round and round. And they made a snow Ninnie, complete with crazy hair and lacrosse stick and everything. So cute! Now here's hoping we get a little snow to play in while we're in Bend!
Better late than never!
So I should be packing because we're leaving for Bend in less than 3 hours, but I hate packing and I still haven't posted Christmas pics. We really didn't have it together this year, as you may have noticed we didn't send out Christmas cards either. And what's worse? We had them printed out, we just never got messages on the back and never labeled the envelopes. Oh well, here's to a new year. But before we totally move on, here you go Ninnie, here's a couple of cuties.
Ninnie and Meri, who is showing her muscles
Hard at work
The annual Christmas Eve puppet show with lots of helpers
Christmas morning excitement in Christmas pjs
I love the excitement! We didn't have much to spend this year but they didn't care. The gifts from the dollar racks at Target were just as much fun to them to open - can't imagine that'll last forever but we'll take advantage of it while it's still here!
Then Christmas night we did something very untraditional and went to the Blazer game as a family. My dad's client gave him a luxury box and we had a blast with my parents, my siblings and sister-in-law, Aunt Patti and Uncle Jim, Uncle Craig, Grandma and Grandpa Berne, Grandma and Grandpa Smith, Coop's parents, and the Colletts. I sure hope I remembered to mention everybody. It was fun all being together on Christmas!
The girls had the time of their life and the space to roam around and say, jump on the soft chairs was very appreciated.
They would come and cheer at times too. The highlight was Jell noticed how people had made signs and got their picture on the big screen so she wrote go blazers on a pad of paper about 3 inches x 4 inches (the only paper we had) and kept holding it up for all to see.
Go blazers!
Christmas Eve gingerbread house making with lots of family:
Ninnie and Meri, who is showing her muscles
Hard at work
The annual Christmas Eve puppet show with lots of helpers
Christmas morning excitement in Christmas pjs
I love the excitement! We didn't have much to spend this year but they didn't care. The gifts from the dollar racks at Target were just as much fun to them to open - can't imagine that'll last forever but we'll take advantage of it while it's still here!
Then Christmas night we did something very untraditional and went to the Blazer game as a family. My dad's client gave him a luxury box and we had a blast with my parents, my siblings and sister-in-law, Aunt Patti and Uncle Jim, Uncle Craig, Grandma and Grandpa Berne, Grandma and Grandpa Smith, Coop's parents, and the Colletts. I sure hope I remembered to mention everybody. It was fun all being together on Christmas!
The girls had the time of their life and the space to roam around and say, jump on the soft chairs was very appreciated.
They would come and cheer at times too. The highlight was Jell noticed how people had made signs and got their picture on the big screen so she wrote go blazers on a pad of paper about 3 inches x 4 inches (the only paper we had) and kept holding it up for all to see.
Go blazers!Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Funny girls
I'm not sure what they're doing or why but at least they're happy and getting along! And check out these fashion statements:
I asked them to get ready to go visiting teaching with me. That is what I got. And Meri was sure to bring her Sleeping Beauty phone. You never know when one of the princesses, including Princess Lily (I don't remember any Princess Lily but Meri has been talking about her nonstop lately and receiving calls from her frequently). I want to make sure you notice Meri's shoes. We couldn't find her other crock, so when I brought her tennis shoes she said, "mom, maybe we could wear two different ones cause I want to wear this crock." Is it wrong of me just not to care sometimes? I make sure they're dressed nicely for church and other special things, but other times it makes me laugh and I just don't care. My mom would've never allowed it.
Also, here's some lyrics to a song Jell was singing quite dramatically (always) in the bath today (I just caught bits and pieces): "cause a ladybug also gets privacy ... I'm sorry you don't have any friends, but you do have a mom ... I'm sorry but he doesn't like you cause he likes Meeeeeeeeeee, he likes Meeeeeeeeee ... and the Holy Ghost can help you not feel sad if there are mean girls that make you sad ..." I wish I remembered it all.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Too cute for words
I know I already did a ballet post, but I was just sent these pics and I HAD to include them - they may make my all-time favorite list. And I don't even like pink. But I just love these girls! Just don't look too closely at Jells' saggy, wrinkly old woman tights (they're like 3 sizes too big ... she'll grow into them, right?).
Sunday, December 13, 2009
First Dance Recital
For months the girls have been taking dance lessons from a friend of ours in the ward who has always been into dance. There are 5 of them who dance together, and they love it.
This week was their first dance recital, which they have been very excited for for weeks.
We stuck a couple of highlights together here for your viewing pleasure. Sorry for the low quality--any higher and they took forever to load, or wouldn't load at all. But Meri and Jenelle are the ones closest to the camera, of course. In the finale, Meri was a step or two behind everyone throughout. Which wasn't a problem, for the most part. Until.
With the second bit, we just wanted to show you the curtsies. I hate to sell Jenelle short, because her curtsies are flawless--really, perfect form. But if you're only going to watch the video once, keep your eye on Meri for this part. She's developed a rather distinct curtsy that we can't get enough of. Hopefully you won't either.
And then, for family members or bored friends, we included the video of the entire recital. Enjoy!!!
This week was their first dance recital, which they have been very excited for for weeks.
We stuck a couple of highlights together here for your viewing pleasure. Sorry for the low quality--any higher and they took forever to load, or wouldn't load at all. But Meri and Jenelle are the ones closest to the camera, of course. In the finale, Meri was a step or two behind everyone throughout. Which wasn't a problem, for the most part. Until.
With the second bit, we just wanted to show you the curtsies. I hate to sell Jenelle short, because her curtsies are flawless--really, perfect form. But if you're only going to watch the video once, keep your eye on Meri for this part. She's developed a rather distinct curtsy that we can't get enough of. Hopefully you won't either.
And then, for family members or bored friends, we included the video of the entire recital. Enjoy!!!
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
My kids are SO weird
We have NO clue what the bear did to deserve this treatment!! Was he being preserved for future generations? Possibly a time capsule? Bottled bear meat? Solitary confinement? Science experiment?
I found it much creepier the next day when we discovered this:
Meri came out looking like this when we said "Go get your jammies on please."
And this was "get ready for scripture reading time":
And "time for family prayer":Yes, we are totally failing.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
What an insult ...
Cooper sent me this in an email to make sure he wouldn't forget to tell me when I got home from work:
The girls were fighting over who got to be the girl half of the
two-headed dragon on Dragon Tales, and I told them that if they kept
fighting I'd call them both boys.
About 10 minutes later they started arguing and I heard Jenelle say,
"Meri, I don't want to disagree. Remember what daddy said? If we
disagree, we'll both be boys."
Thought that was funny.
The girls were fighting over who got to be the girl half of the
two-headed dragon on Dragon Tales, and I told them that if they kept
fighting I'd call them both boys.
About 10 minutes later they started arguing and I heard Jenelle say,
"Meri, I don't want to disagree. Remember what daddy said? If we
disagree, we'll both be boys."
Thought that was funny.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
That's my dad for you
)
He was convinced it would help him do better. Later, he also got out his gloves and face mask. And he wonders why we were embarrassed as teenagers!Friday, November 20, 2009
Just an accident
This morning in the bath, Jell swallowed the bathtub knob-thingy that you pull out to turn the shower on. Swallowed it. When asked why it was in her mouth in the first place, she cried, "I don't know. It was maybe an accident."
5 minutes after getting over the trauma, washing up, and getting out of the bath, Jell shut Meri's hand in a closet door. Instead of re-opening it and relieving her sister, she ran to us, exclaiming, "I just did something on accident. I just did something on accident." About then Meri found her voice and started screaming her head off. With her hand still closed in the closet door.
It's that kind of morning.
(They're both okay. Meri's hand is a bit bruised, but she says it'll be all better later when she goes to Grammy's house. Jell was pretty traumatized and feels uncomfortably like something large just went down her throat but the nurse said since it wasn't a magnet or a battery, and was small enough to go down, it's small enough to come out.)
Oh boy.
5 minutes after getting over the trauma, washing up, and getting out of the bath, Jell shut Meri's hand in a closet door. Instead of re-opening it and relieving her sister, she ran to us, exclaiming, "I just did something on accident. I just did something on accident." About then Meri found her voice and started screaming her head off. With her hand still closed in the closet door.
It's that kind of morning.
(They're both okay. Meri's hand is a bit bruised, but she says it'll be all better later when she goes to Grammy's house. Jell was pretty traumatized and feels uncomfortably like something large just went down her throat but the nurse said since it wasn't a magnet or a battery, and was small enough to go down, it's small enough to come out.)
Oh boy.
Friday, November 13, 2009
"Would I be called a fire girl?"
What we learned from our field trip to the Fire Station:
1. Don't pull any levers. In the front room where they display the antique fire truck, before the firemen were even there to talk to us, one of our kids (Meri got blamed but who knows) pulled a small lever on a pipe and suddenly there was water spraying across the room. None of the moms had seen what happened so we didn't really know how to stop it. Needless to say, the floor got very wet before anybody came to help. Oops.
2. Jell learned "they drive in the fire truck." Here's the girls giving it a try (lots of the kids were very disappointed that they didn't actually get to drive the truck. I don't think they trusted them anywhere near all those levers ... with good reason.)
3. Firemen with their masks on sound like Darth Vader and make Jell nervous. She finally did get brave and went up and knocked on his face mask, but she spent most of the time with her hands over her ears (what she does when she's nervous about anything) a safe distance away.
4. Meri claims to have only learned that "we get a hat" when we go to the station on a field trip. Which is pretty neat. And a sticker.
5. I listened and learned a lot of cool stuff, but I'm not so sure about the girls. My first clue was when they were jumping around dancing throughout some of his demonstrations. My second clue was when they were trying to climb the basketball pole and slide down during his explanations. My third clue was when it was apparent that it was more important to them who they were standing by than whether or not there was even a fireman in the room. My fourth clue was when I asked them what they learned when we got home and Jell said, "Um... um... well, you were there mom."
1. Don't pull any levers. In the front room where they display the antique fire truck, before the firemen were even there to talk to us, one of our kids (Meri got blamed but who knows) pulled a small lever on a pipe and suddenly there was water spraying across the room. None of the moms had seen what happened so we didn't really know how to stop it. Needless to say, the floor got very wet before anybody came to help. Oops.
2. Jell learned "they drive in the fire truck." Here's the girls giving it a try (lots of the kids were very disappointed that they didn't actually get to drive the truck. I don't think they trusted them anywhere near all those levers ... with good reason.)
3. Firemen with their masks on sound like Darth Vader and make Jell nervous. She finally did get brave and went up and knocked on his face mask, but she spent most of the time with her hands over her ears (what she does when she's nervous about anything) a safe distance away.
4. Meri claims to have only learned that "we get a hat" when we go to the station on a field trip. Which is pretty neat. And a sticker.
5. I listened and learned a lot of cool stuff, but I'm not so sure about the girls. My first clue was when they were jumping around dancing throughout some of his demonstrations. My second clue was when they were trying to climb the basketball pole and slide down during his explanations. My third clue was when it was apparent that it was more important to them who they were standing by than whether or not there was even a fireman in the room. My fourth clue was when I asked them what they learned when we got home and Jell said, "Um... um... well, you were there mom."
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