The Results Are In!!! Finally!!

You may now call my husband "Mr. Landscape Architect"

Hooray!!!!!

A Daily Snippet...

This is the conversation I have with Ellie almost everyday when we get home from school:
"Mom, can I do my reading lesson?"
"Sure."
(...seconds after finishing her reading lesson)
"Now can I watch Peep?"

My kids don't watch much TV. In fact we often go days without turning it on. However, they love "Peep." Every day they want to watch it on the computer (a new show is on each day). I generally despise children's programming - admit it, it's pretty mind numbing. However, I have to say "Peep" is pretty cool. Nico is into his shadow because of Peep. Ellie draws with ice on the sidewalk because of Peep. It ain't bad. And it's a pretty good impetus for Ellie to do her reading lesson.

http://www.peepandthebigwideworld.com/

Elements of Style

My budding fashionista.

Ellie Is Boss

I can't even remember what I said. Probably something along the lines of, "I'm the mom and that means I'm the boss." In any case, Ellie wasn't pleased with the implications. She stormed off, only to return a minute later to post this sign on the fridge.




(Translation: "Ellie is boss of the whole family, right now and forever!")

ami's birthday

We had a nice quiet b-day for Ami last week. We're planning to go out sans kids for the wild and crazy portion, but this first half was still pretty fun, I thought.

By request, I made small chocolate souffles for the birthday cake. They are really tasty little devils, and surprisingly easy to put together.




















Unfortunately I forgot about the cardinal rule of birthday cakes: avoid powdered sugar. The white cloud after we blew out our individual candles was a good reminder.















The Harts sent an intriguing game called Killer Bunnies. We haven't tried it yet, but it looks promising. Ellie insisted on the party hats.
















I wonder how often measuring spoons generate a smile like that... yes, we were in dire need.
















Happy 32, Ami!

Belated Posts: The Ward Christmas Party

I know it isn't the Christmas season anymore, but as I'm going through pictures, I find funny ones and just have to share.


We have a great ward and every year we have a great Christmas party. This year the primary did the nativity -- you can see Ellie as a beautiful angel just to the left of the star. (If you click on the picture you can probably see her a lot better).





My favorite moment of the evening, however, was the nursery's production of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." Each child had a tone bell with a color coordinated smock so they could remember what their color was. The teachers made cards they would point to so the kids would know when to ring their bell. The kids practiced for weeks, but when it came down to their moment, they all simply rang their bells the whole time. All except Nico. He had no bell. He had a glowing light saber, which his teacher gave to him because he refused to go on stage with a bell.

The "Piece of Cheese Boat"

Kids are funny, and they think up funny things. Last week, while pretending the carpet was water, Nico and Ellie came up with flipping our little trampoline over to make a boat. Nico - very, VERY imaginatively - decided the capsized trampoline looked like a piece of cheese. (Black cheese? Yum.)

Somehow, several books, crayons and lots of paper made it aboard and they spent several happy hours sailing the carpet on their "Piece of Cheese Boat."