Ready to go

Can you handle another post about Annie?  We are taking a trip the end of next month.  We told the kids about it at Christmastime and I guess now that Valentine's is over, Annie needs something to look forward to, because here is what currently resides beside her bed:

A basket full of summer clothes ready to go.  She wanted them in her suitcase, but I told her she couldn't pack yet.  It's hard for me to stop her, however, when I remember that my parents never told me about trips until the day or two before we left because I would always pack as soon as I knew about a trip and then they would have to help me live out of a suitcase for a month or so.  What goes around comes around, I suppose.

But as I look at this picture, I think I might just as well let her pack them up.  It's not like she really needs any of these clothes in the next month. 

But then on the other hand she does really like those swimsuits.

Got Pink?

Annie had a bunch of friends over on Friday for her Valentine's Tea Party.  She had this party last year and has been asking when she could have the party since December 26th.   She had big plans for this party; plans that included a whole lot of pink.  Hopefully, it met her expectations.

 Pink cupcakes with, you guessed it, pink frosting and pink sprinkles

 Pink jello jigglers - the hit of the party.  They were gone in about 4.2 seconds

 Heart-shaped peanut butter and jam sandwiches

 Heart-shaped rice krispy treats with sprinkles

 The party crowd - all dressed up in their Valentine's best

 And somehow, Annie decided her "Valentine's best" was a sundress.

 After the food was daintily devoured, it was time for a few art projects.

 And they finished up the party with dress-ups and dancing all together on Annie's bed. 

Annie loves holidays and she loves parties, so it's pretty fun to indulge her and have this fun girly celebration each year.  She is already planning next year's party.

It's Okay

I volunteered to help at Cole's school breakfast the other day.  He said that was fine but to "not...well...you know..."

"Do anything embarrassing?" I clarified.

"Yeah.  Like call me sweetie or Coley or something."

But it's okay.  Because we made it all the way to the age of 7 before he realized I might embarrass him.  Plus, I tricked him by pretending I was wearing my bathrobe that morning (which I thought was a bit more appropriate than Floyd's idea that I should wear a swimsuit).  "GET THAT OFF!!!"  he yelled when he realized that I was driving to school in my bathrobe.  So I got a good laugh plus the 7 years of being non-embarrassing.  Oh, and one more plus...he did tell me I could wave at him if I wanted.  He's generous like that.

Annie's daddy bought her a little bead kit after her art show last week.  So the little sweetheart said thank you by making him the first necklace with it.  Now she makes certain he puts it on for special occasions.  Like family night bowling.

 

But it's okay.  Because I'm pretty sure everyone smiles when they see a 6'4" 33-year-old guy wearing a pastel-colored necklace.  And also, it's not like the folks working at the bowling alley were necessarily...um...aware of fashion rules.

And here's Ben.  In a pile of peanut butter.  Mom ran upstairs for twenty seconds - the fool.

 

But it's okay.  Because it went nicely with the honey he smeared on the tile the day before.  Plus you can see how happy he was about it. 

And hey family - remember when we took the blue truck down to Grandma and Grandpa on the reservation?  And how horrifically awful Jake's feet stunk on that trip?  And how for years afterwards a pile of red sand would fall out when you opened the door?  And how you can still find bits of that red sand in the truck today, twenty-three years later?

Well great news.  I get to relive that fun experience.

'Cept this time it's with flour.

Flour that will spill out of my pantry every time I open it for the next seven years.

 

Flour that will be found in this house until the millenium.  

But it's okay.  Because I didn't have ANYTHING else to be doing for the two hours I spent futilely cleaning it up today.

And it's okay because I had just scrubbed the floor twenty minutes before the flour not-so-mysteriously appeared while I was showering, so I was all practiced up to scrub it again.

And it's okay because maybe I will get to move before the millenium and someone else can wonder why flour spills out of the pantry every time it opens.

And it's okay because his feet don't stink.

These kids sure run me ragged some days... 
 

 But seriously, it's okay. 

Viva Van Gogh

 Time for the annual preschool art show (side note: it will be so weird not to have a child at preschool next year after 4 years straight of it).  Each year, their teacher chooses an artist for them to learn about and then the kids choose one of his/her paintings to duplicate.  This year's artist was Van Gogh (another side note: a few months ago Cole came home from 1st grade and asked if I knew that Van Gogh chopped off his ear and killed himself - yes I did know that, but I'm still wondering about his teacher's reasons for presenting such information to 1st graders).  Annie has loved working on her painting and wouldn't give us any hints about which one she chose. The art show is held at a gallery downtown.  My parents came with us and when we turned the corner to where her picture was hung, she started squealing when she saw it.  She was so excited to show us that she had done the wheat field since Grandpa Clair has wheat fields.  So, here it is: "Wheat Field with Cypresses" by Annie Griffiths.

  

She gave dad a big hug cause she was just so excited for the big night.

These kids do such a good job every year.  Annie wanted me to take a picture of everyone's painting.  I tricked her a bit and didn't get every single one, but here are a few of my favorites:

Great job, Annie!  It was so fun to have you show us your painting.

The View From Here

In the summertime, my favorite place to run is up the North Ogden Divide.  It about kills you going up, but then you get to turn around and have an incredible view as you wind your way back down.  On Sunday, Floyd and the kids took a little drive up there to see the snow.  I missed the drive (church meeting), but got in on the pictures. 

So now I'm wondering about the logistics of running up there this time of year.  Cause that sure beats the view from my treadmill these days.

Once There Was a Snowman

Our first snowman of the year...in January. At the risk of being a Debbie Downer, I would just like to say that cold without snow is a ridiculous waste if a season. So even though I've spent the week mentally planting my garden, I was grateful to see some snow finally make an appearance here along the Wasatch (p.s. I really like to say the word "Wasatch". Also, I really like to say "machete").

  

And then I remembered the fun of putting snow clothes on and off three children seven times a day and I went back to mentally planting my garden and praying for spring.

Birthday Boy

Dear Cole-

Here is the post wherein I admit that I am a bad mom and not only am I posting about your birthday three weeks late, I only have three pictures to show for it. And they are not good pictures. But let it be noted that Daddy and I gave up another anniversary celebration to spend the day with you and that we showered you with gifts. Then we loaded up your friends and took them all to the Layton Classic Fun Center, a request you made last March when Annie attended a party there without you.

It's a busy time of year and I'm not sure why Daddy and I thought it would be a good time to have a baby. Then you decided to one-up us and show up right on our anniversary. Tricky tricky. So I'm sure you will have times when you wish your birthday was some other time of year when we could have a nice swim party or something fun like that, but know this: I am totally serious when I tell you that you are the best Christmas present I've ever had. And my parents and Daddy really like to spoil me, so I've had some good ones.

I love you, Coley. Happy (belated) Birthday!