A Day at the Park

Today is a day for self-reflection...

I workout.

My husband does not.

He is skinny. (You can see his abs.)

I am not. (Mine are buried under flab.)

Please explain.

Portraits of a Handsome Face

My Cleaning Help

Here's Handsome Face. He's just chillin' while I cleaned his ceiling fan. Lazy, huh?

Where does she get such ideas?

I just found Cute Girl wrapping a present for Baby Chloe (her baby doll). She came to me asking if it would be a good idea if she had just a little piece of tape. In the kitchen I found a baby bottle cap, a pacifier, two baby toys, and a granola bar being wrapped up in the instructions to a Trouble board game. I took away the granola bar and game instructions and instead we wrapped the rest up in some paper towel and masking tape.

Along with all of this, she has been playing with the items in our stroller diaper bag. I found a wipe inside of Handsome Face's juice bottle from yesterday, a pile of used wipes, and a real diaper on Baby Chloe. I just caught the lil' stinker red-handed as she attempted to commandeer wipes and a diaper AGAIN. Never mind that she has baby doll diapers upstairs.

Traditions march on...

I am not a packrat. In fact, I take immense satisfaction from cleaning out and throwing away. I love it. But there are a few things that I won't throw away - not for my benefit - but my mother's.

My mom has always held on to things a little more tightly than I have. She thinks of her posterity in these cases, and the enjoyment they will have in looking them over in the future. One of the things she treasures are the cards that she has been given over the years. And I must admit, it's kind of fun looking at the cards she was given as a baby. They're so very 1960s. I could actually see decorating a toyroom or little girls room in such motif. But I digress.

Greeting cards from my mother are always to be expected when a major holiday or event occurs. Or sometimes just because. It's a family tradition. (They also come from my grandmother.) Most of the cards I have received have gone the way of the recycling bin but there are still a few that I hold on to. Like the card my mother gave me the day I received my endowment. She always manages to find just the perfect something that sums up all of the feelings and emotions wrapped around whatever life change might be occurring.

And the tradition marches on. Cute Girl has quite the pile of cards on her closet shelf and Handsome Face has a beginning. Despite my "pitch-it" tendencies, I'm holding on to them. Cute Girl adores getting mail and her great-grandmother, grandmother, and aunt make sure that she gets her fair share. And so, we begin our tribute to them. And someday we'll all sit down together and Cute Girl can giggle and ooh and ahh over all the funny little things she got in the mail when she was little.

A sad, sad tale

This is the singing stick.At least, it used to be. It really is just a 10 cent dowel rod that came with a pennant that N got at work. Cute Girl adopted it, banished the pennant to the dark abyss that is the toyroom closet, and transformed the dowel rod into a conductor's baton.
Many a happy hour has passed as Cute Girl has conducted her invisible chorus. But tragedy struck the other night - the singing stick BROKE!

DUN DUN DUNNNNNN!!!!!!

And this is what's so funny about that:

Cute Girl was refusing to sleep one night so she was confined to her room with the door locked. As usual, she took up her post at the door, forcing the blanket that N had stuffed underneath of it out, and projecting her shrill little voice into the hallway. After what we deemed an appropriate length of time, I allowed N the honor of being the hero and opening Cute Girl's door if she promised to stay in bed. I was busying myself with tidying the bathroom when I heard a sobbing sort of unintelligible sorrow coming from her room. I heard N exclaim. And then I became curious.

N then came into the bathroom carrying the above. My eyes grew and a stunned silence ensued. Then I cried, "OH NO! The SINGING STICK! What happened?!?!"
N just shook his head and said in a flat tone, "I don't know, I guess she was trying to pry the door open or something and it snapped." He then went back to the bedroom to comfort an overly distraught little girl. He finally got her back in bed after promising that Mommy would get her a new one.

And the really funny thing is that all of the above-stated emotions were and are 100% true and accurate. I was literally floored when I saw the broken stick. It was like someone had cancelled Christmas. Or they stopped making our favorite cereal. Or my favorite tv show was cancelled. Or chocolate was made illegal. Ok, maybe not that bad.

But, what were we to do? She loved that thing. I loved that thing. It kept her entertained for hours. (See this.) Last week it went missing, and we were all miserable until I found it protruding from underneath her mattress. Oh, the joy that shone on that little face when I pulled it out during storytime.

Who would have thought that one cheap, flimsy, measley little stick really could materially affect the happiness of the entire Crapo household?

And there's still no new singing stick.

And she keeps reminding me.

Bath Time

He's just too cute

House Rules

1. Never eat anything in front of the toddler that the toddler cannot also eat.
2. Never eat in the family room (she WILL call you out on it)
3. Never say 'stupid' (see above)
4. Also, Never say anything that will sound inappropriate coming from a toddler's mouth (ex. Last night, while watcing March of the Penguins, Neil said, "What is this, penguin porn?" Toddler promptly asked, "Why is it penguin porn?" Now for all those that are worried, March of the Penguins is a wonderful documentary, with nothing that I would call graphic. S has watched it many times and enjoys the baby penguins.)

What the World Could Do Without (just my soapbox)

I love having only one car. It's so much less expensive. Less gas. Less car payment (especially since I have owned mine for years and there is NO CAR PAYMENT). Less insurance. And more time since we consolidate all errands. But I really love showing the world that it can be done. I love it when people suggest we need another car and I say no, we really don't, and they look at me incredulously and then I put forth that we're completely happy and list the above reasons as verification of that fact. Yes, there are times when it would be convenient to have a second car, but I think most people would be amazed at just what they can do without and what they can come up with in a pinch. Now all of this goes along with my not owning a cell phone or paying for television. I LOVE not having a cell phone. Oh, the freedom. Instead of being on the phone in the car I talk to my husband. Instead of constantly texting about trivial things I spend time with my kids. "But they're so convenient! I get free long distance! I can call people on the other side of Disneyland! I can call people when we get to the restaurant and tell them where to meet us!" My answer? Having long distance is not that expensive, and by having the option to call unlimitedly and text all you want, you will. And you'll waste a lot of time doing it. And for the rest, how do you think people survived before cell phones?!?! Disneyland? Use walkie-talkies. One time purchase and WAY more fun (just ask N). And meeting up? Why not make your plans beforehand? It's just as easy to say "we're meeting here" before jumping in the cars as it is to call once you get there. And my mom agrees, so that means I must be right. Oh, and I have had car trouble once or twice and I survived without a phone. So there.

So, if I choose not to have multiple cars or cell phones, just let me alone. I'm perfectly happy, and I don't need everyone telling me how wrong I am. (Not that any of you reading this are the ones actually doing the telling.) If you choose to have them, fine. I would just rather put an extra $100 into our retirement every month than have a cell phone I could do without. Or buy $70 worth of home improvement items than have cable which will just induce me to watch even more television and not work on my house. Now you can all get on your soapboxes and tell me why having high-speed internet or buying name brand clothing is ridiculous. Those are my can't do with-outs!

Tax Refunds

So, I thought I would post something not so "soapbox-ish" to read, but then I realized that I don't have any new pictures of the kids. What can I say, we've been boring lately. I would send you a picture of the sweetness lying in the nursery right now but I'm too afraid the camera would wake him up.

So instead I'll tell you about fun stuff. (Fun for me, anyways.)

We've finished our federal taxes and would have filed them already except I discovered that N's social was wrong on one of his W-2's. Now we're waiting for that. And it irks me cause I've got a lot of money coming back from the government and I'm ready to spend it! I've already spent it a million times over in my head. The last student loan is high on the list. That's a definite. Then the rest is a little more flexible. Disneyland crossed the radar for awhile and N made lots of inquiries into accomodations and such, but that's probably out the window. Then N made the observation that our car, although running fine, will not last forever, and we should probably start saving up for a new one. I liked this idea (even though the thought of losing my beloved car was heartbreaking - who knew I could ever actually love a car?) and we'll probably put a big chunk away for that.
Then there are the few things that would kind of be nice to have but I never have the money for them - like a new water softener, a steam cleaner for all of the lil kid things on the carpet, a paper shredder for my office, etc. But those are all boring and this is supposed to be about fun, so....

This is our yard, as seen from my bedroom window.

It's dirt.But it's also a very large yard for this area of the country. That's one of the big reasons why we chose this particular house.

And while winter is still in full-swing for most of you, here in the desert, spring has arrived. Weird, huh? There are people everywhere hauling wheelbarrows full of stone. And I think I just might like to join 'em.

I think landscaping my backyard is a great way to spend my tax return. And luckily so does N. Now we just have to decide what we want to do. We've been thinking about it ever since we moved here, but with M being born last summer, we didn't get a chance to do anything about it.

We're definitely putting in grass which is a big undertaking. How on earth are you supposed to install a drip-system? I didn't even know they existed before we moved here. Grass is just supposed to grow. Period. At least it does in places where I'd like to live. Whose idea was it to move to the desert anyways? Don't answer that.

So, once we figure out the grass, we're putting in trees and stone (you kind of have to in the desert) and a playground and extending the patio and... and... and...

I'm starting to wonder if all this is going to fit. I think I need a bigger yard.

Oh, and here's what some of my neighbors hve done with their yards.

Just gravel. Boring, but efficient.This will be pretty. Extended patio with what I'm guessing will be a bordered grassy area. And then the requisite rocks. Yeck.

So, what are you doing with your refund?

Oh, here we are together!

...In our Primary!

S is at it again. Church is underway. If she's spending playtime anywhere other than her toyroom (where babies and dishes rule) then it's sure to be filled with lessons and singing. On this particular day she was spending the morning with me while I cleaned my room.

S wearing a new sports bra that she found in the new pile of clothes.

My paint easel was magically transformed into a podium. S was leading the music while her primary chorister, Sister Cornaby, stood next to her.

And she was leading this row of reverent church-goers in song. She had to join them for the picture.

She will also crumble up bread for sacrament, take old visual aids from my primary lessons and glue them on to paper to make her own "lessons," and sit at the coffee table with a book in one hand and pretend to play the piano with the other. By her standards every day is the Sabbath.

Valentine's Shopping!

So for our lovely Valentine's Date, we got a babysitter Friday night and went out sans children. Hallelujah! First we went to dinner at TGIFridays where I ate Double Stack Quesedillas. Yummy! Then we went shopping, cause I hate shopping with children. We had lots of stuff we needed to get. First we headed to Old Navy where I spent - yikes! - $165! But I did get a TON of stuff, MOST of which we needed to get. If we were still students I'd have hyperventilated when I got the receipt. But now we're millionaires and all so I didn't bat an eye. Well, maybe I half-batted. So here's what I got. Only the swim suit was needed, but Neil convinced me to get everything else. He REALLY twisted my arm. And, hey, we'll just call it my Valentine's present. The kids and I are going to live at the pool this summer and won't I just look super cute in my cover up with matching beach bag and flops?!?! Oh, and I love this suit. It goes way high in the back and way low on the leg.
Here's M's first swim trunks. N really loved the blue with stripes. And the shirt is UV protected, cool huh?
And he's growing out of his jammies, again. So we got these. Now I have to tell you, all of the kids clothes were 40% off so I just couldn't pass that up! M also got a new jacket, which he also needed. Then there's the two swim suits for Boo, matching "flops," new outfit, dress, and t-shirt. But those were all purchased in the name of her birthday, so you'll just have to wait to see those.

Something's Freezing Over

Yes, there was snow in the desert this weekend. A little unbelievable and N just had to get a video of it. It was like we'd never seen snow before. Kind of ironic, though. We spend two and a half weeks in the Midwest without any real snow and then we get some here.

My babysitter was telling me that her English teacher was hoping for a snow day on Friday. Right, as if that would happen. It was cold, but not that cold. And as you can see, our backyard is a puddle, not a snow drift.

Hungry? Try a sandwich.

Book of Mormon Stories, a la Cute Girl

XOXO

We certainly hope that on today, of all days, you get as many kisses and squeezes and cuddles and loves as we get every single day.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love,

Cute Girl and Handsome Face

Just Cute Kids

Play Time

These pics were taken about a week ago. We often lock ourselves into the toy room, where no one can make a mess (at least a mess that causes problems) and there's generally enough going on that no one gets cranky.

I'm not sure he has enough toys at the moment, do you?

All we ever do - play kitchen and babies.

S is very adept at "reading" books to herself or to others. It always suprises me just how much she remembers and how many books she knows. Here she is reading Olivia Helps with Christmas. As you can see, she tends to get going a little too fast and her words get muddled into long strings of unintelligible syllables.

Scenes from Dinner

S just couldn't wait for April. She, her dollies, and Gallo are already watching Conference.

Puddn'head Wilson

Adam was but human - this explains it all. He did not want the apple for the apple's sake; he wanted it only because it was forbidden. The mistake was in not forbidding the serpent; then he would have eaten the serpent. -Puddn'head Wilson's Calendar

-Mark Twain

So, I've determined that my household operates under its own set of rules, something akin to Murphy's Law perhaps. Every situation will end in a "What on earth?!" or a "For heavensys sake!"

For instance...

After spending a better part of the afternoon sweeping and mopping my huge, tiled kitchen floor (which is a pain and I hate doing it!), S will spill apple juice everywhere at dinner.

My 7 month old baby will sleep through the night but my almost three year old will wake me in the middle of the night for no good reason.

A little girl will sit on the potty chair for ten minutes just to wet her panties six minutes after getting off said potty chair.

S's imaginary friend, Gallo, has taken up residence in my grandfather clock, which is strictly forbidden for all little hands, but will be unable to vacate the premises because Beast is already living in the coat closet.

Both children will soak their beds on the same night.

M will eat just fine until the pediatrician urges that with the introduction of solids, his formula consumption not decrease. Now he won't finish even half of his bottle.

And the list could go on and on and on. Now this is not to say that days around here are dreary or depressing or inordinately difficult. We're quite fine. But sometimes you just have to wonder.

I love babies who sleep through the night. That's all.

Oh, and husbands who clean up the kitchen before coming to bed.

S always takes issue with me leaving her home with her dad. Doesn't matter where I'm going or how long I'll be gone, she demands that either I take her with me or Daddy goes instead. Last night she followed me to the garage as I was leaving to go to the polls. She wasn't happy, but at least she wasn't hysterical. But of course as soon as she goes back into the house, the questions start. She wanted to know where Mommy was going...

Daddy: "Mommy's going to go vote."
S: "Why?"
D: "Because it's her civic duty."
S: "I don't want her to do her civic duty."

Then this morning S was talking about Daddy's sticker. She wanted to know why he had a sticker.

Me: "Because Daddy went to vote. It was his civic duty."
S: "Oh. I forgot to get my sticker. I forgot to do my civic beauty."

It's Super Tuesday. Go vote! All the cool kids are doing it.

Bedtime Surprises

At bedtime, we all snuggle into S's bed while we sing her songs. Tonight, A was holding S while I was laying next to them. S started playing with my ear, which I thought was kind of cute. Then she says to A:

S: "I put (something unintelligible) in Papa's ear"

A: "You put what in papa's ear?"

S: "A booger"

And apparently, she had. Hydrogen peroxide was never put to better use.

-N