Grumpy

Usually when I dream that I'm grumpy at someone, that someone is Alan. And I get way more angry than I would ever really get in real life, so it surprised me when last night I had a dream and woke up really grumpy at Corey. In my dream the whole Wessman family had gathered to build a ship. (No I have not recently read in 1st Nephi.) Some of my Paulsen family was there as well, I remember my Mom and Jeff. Corey was in charge and was passing out assignments. I recall that Randall had already built a small ark replica and was sure he could handle some of the main ship framework. Dad Wessman was talking about which tools to use and my Mom was reading the blue-prints that Corey had made. I was anticipating working on the ship when Corey assigned me to go home and take all the children with me and care for them until the ship was complete. This I felt was completely unfair! Not that I don't like children, but to be left out completely from working on the ship was so unfair! So I'm grumpy at Corey now, until he can come up with a better alternative.

in the car after the eye-doctor appt.

Me: Well, I'm glad your eyes are all good. I think my ears were talked completely off my head though. (Our eye-doctor is a major chatter-box)
Alyssa: (Pause) When we get home, can I see your head?
Me: My ears are not really off Alyssa. That was just a way of saying I was tired of listening.
Alyssa: So you glued them back on?
Me: Yeah.
Alyssa: Did you get sticky all over?

Alyssa was whining when she didn't get her way. This conversation ensued.
Me: Do you need to go to bed.
Alyssa: No
Me: Then quit acting like a baby.
A: I'm not a baby.
Me: Then quit acting like one.
A: You called me a baby.
Me: No, I said you were acting like one.
A: Oh, I forgot. I'm Alyssa. I'm not a baby.

Stunning Fall Colors

The colors this year were superb down here in Utah County. Mapleton Canyon was especially brilliant with reds and oranges.

Chess with little girls

This is how Alyssa plays chess: line up the pieces and march them up the ladder to the chess board where they are each carefully placed for optimal enjoyment and comfort.

Trapped?

Once upon a time the girls decided to be "trapped" in the bathroom. I heard them from the office going up and down the stairs and decided after awhile to check on them. This is what I found. I let them play "trapped" until it was time for baths and then made them put away everything. I don't think it would be so bad to be trapped somewhere if I could bring all my favorite things with me. How about you?

New Book Series

I have really enjoyed reading this series. I'm on the second book and if you can get past the horrible cover art, the books are really fun and a great read, especially for someone addicted to the whole fantasy world that involves vampires and werewolves. Of course in this series, the vampires are not nice, except one and the werewolves are are really werewolves. Here is the author's site.http://www.patriciabriggs.com/books/moonCalled.shtml

Sarah's baptism

Sarah's baptism is officially scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5th at 10:30 am with lunch following at our house. Sarah wants to barbecue and so please leave your spaghetti noodles at home.

Pioneer Day

I love Pioneer day. For one thing, it's the only holiday started by a prophet that I know of. But mostly I love it because Alan has the day off, I can justify not doing any chores and we can have fun. This year Sarah and I were up early enough to see Jacob finish his 10k run and then we all had a picnic and played at the Spanish Fork Reservoir.

The Hourglass Door

My sister-in-law Ami bade me borrow a book from her and read it. She had checked it out from the library and finished it way before it was due so I agreed. She promised that I would like it, because I was such a Twilight fan. She was right. I do really like it. There's only just one teensy wheensy little problem. The next book in the series is not out yet! It won't be out until next summer! Now I'm left hanging, wondering how it will all be resolved. Thanks a lot Ami. No really, thanks. I need something besides vampires to keep my mind occupied. :)

a few zucchini

Yesterday I made a zucchini casserole for dinner. While that was cooking I put together a zucchini cake and popped it in the oven when the casserole came out. After dinner, while the cake cooled I decided to use the rest of the shredded zucchini to make bread. My recipe makes two large loaves. I used chocolate chips instead of raisins to please the hubby and the chips moved down to the bottom of the bread and stuck to the pans making me somewhat disgruntled. I still have two cups of shredded zucchini in the fridge. Tonight we might have a zucchini fritatta. Anyone who wants to can come over for cake for family home evening, but they must take home a zucchini. :)

Alyssa's prayer

Tonight it was Alyssa's turn to say the family prayer. Among other things she prayed that "the flowers would grow in the night, the alligator would be happy and the elephant would stay in her bed, that Mommy would eat all the cake (What cake??) and that everyone would be healthy." I have no idea what alligator she's talking about, I haven't any cake although I wish I did, and I'm not sure if she said the flowers would grow or glow.

Spanish Fork flood

This was from a huge rainstorm that dumped a lot of rain all in a short amount of time. This has never happened here before. We had a small amount of flooding in the play room and furnace room, which we were able to keep from ruining anything. What an adventure.

Because I made plans

Naturally this morning Emmie and Sarah have coughs and sore throats because yesterday I made plans to go camping next week. And we had plans to go to a museum and swimming pool on Monday. They both assured me they would be healthy by Monday. We'll see.

flick-ups

Alyssa came into the office to tell me, in between hiccups, "Mommy, hic, I have, hic, flick-ups."

Alyssa is funny

While Alyssa was on the toilet tonight, she passed gas. Looking at Alan, who was helping her get ready for bed, she said, "Daddy, I think my bum burped."

the baby piggie

Alyssa has a little stuffed guinea pig key chain that she has become quite attached to. Too attached if you ask me. Last night she began to cry when we put her to bed because she didn't have her "baby piggie" and I had to go hunt it up. Fortunately I found it without too much problem. Then four times during the night she awoke and came to our room distressed because her baby piggie was gone. I found it thrice, Alan got up and found it once. These four times were during the same 15 minutes from 3:15-3:30 am. Tonight I am going to duct-tape it to her hand.

finally

Yesterday evening my sister-in-law Ami watched the girls for us (because she is a saint) so we could go to the temple. It had been way way too long, 8 months :(, since we'd been and it was wonderful to feel the Spirit and enjoy some time with Alan in such a beautiful setting. I don't think I'll be able to wait another 8 months to go back. Thanks Ami!

The fence, or the lack thereof

Thanks to the generous time donation of some family members (Thanks Eric, Coralee, Corey, Mom and Dad Wessman and Mom and Dad Paulsen!) we no longer have a fence. This is actually to make way for a new fence which we just purchased to be installed starting the week of April 5th. Now I look out my kitchen window and feel very exposed. It's especially true in the evenings and night. It's weird how much more enclosed I feel with the fence. The backyard neighbors' outside lights are bright now where before they seemed muted and far away.

Blizzard

I had to drive Sarah to school today because of an actual blizzard. I haven't driven her except one other time this whole school year. Sheesh Spring, when are you going to arrive!?

new Friend Magazine site

The Church has a great site for children now. We love it! I especially love how they play music, no words, that corresponds with the coloring pages and puzzles. You should check it out.

Activities

Starting March I've been doing activities with the girls every day. I mean actual planned things we can do or learn together. I had been doing this last year but I became lazy and a slacker and quit several months ago (like maybe 6 months :( ) Anyway, my new plan goes like this:
Monday: Spring cleaning chore we do together. This is actually fun since it's a chore we rarely do and we can do it together while listening to funky children's songs.
Tuesday: Arts and Crafts. I get most ideas of the internet or the family fun magazine
Wednesday: Learn about a modern-day prophet. This week was Pres. Monson. Ask us anything, we might remember the answer.
Thursday: Game day. I chose the game to avoid argument and also because there are some games I just don't like to play...period.
Friday: Field trip or felt story. If we do a felt story we tell the story with the felt and then dramatize it. Last week we did Noah's ark and thankfully we had enough stuffed animals to cover the living room ark. (See picture above.)
Saturday: Field trip or felt story. Some field trips have to be on Sat. like the gem festival at Spanish Fork fairgrounds March 21st.
Sunday: Something from the Friend Magazine. I can't believe how much stuff is in there. I hadn't looked at a friend since Sarah learned to read them to herself and they disappeared into the confines of her room as soon as they arrived. Since Emily reads too they now have to stay out on the magazine table and I was looking in them for ideas for Sunday. WOW! I've been missing out. Last Sunday we did this. page 13. (Walk by Faith)

We switched days around and did our field trip yesterday this week. We went to the BYU art museum where we had a blast visiting their exhibit on the "I Spy" guy Wick. It was super cool, I recommend it to anyone. Plus it's free. :) Later this month on the week we learn about Brigham Young we'll be coming to Salt Lake to see the Lion House.

This has been a good way for me to build more positive relationships with the girls rather than just being the mom that tells them to pick up their room. We have fun together and we have something to look forward to every day. (I survive by looking forward to something fun.)

A few more.

The Happiest Place on Earth...

Some of our favorites.

These were on Alan's computer until just now and so I didn't have access to them. Here are some favorites from the 1st day at Disneyland and a picture of the girls with their Great Grandparents Paulsen. Emily loved! the merry-go-round, especially this one with the pink dolphin.

Disneyland! part 3

Emily was in princess heaven of course. But we were surprised to hear that the trip to the ocean almost ranked higher than Disneyland. She had a hard time deciding which she liked better.

Disneyland! part 2

Here are some of our favorites of Sarah. Her favorite ride was splash mountain.

Disneyland!

Okay all you people (Shelly) you have been wanting pictures of Disneyland. Here you are. They were fun to take and fun to look at. First Alyssa.

You are great!

Alan sent this to me. Perhaps you've seen it. I loved it.

This is funny

This is funny.

Winter Games

Alyssa's idea of making a snow angel involves falling down on the snow and laying there a few minutes. It was so nice to have a warmish day and healthy girls so we could play in the snow.

So far...

One of my goals for this year is to set a daily goal or two. Today my goal was to get up early enough to fix a real breakfast for the girls. I did that. But now I feel lazy. I don't want to do my regular Wednesday chores. (That's the real reason I'm blogging. To put off doing chores.)

Also Alan and I are participating in a wellness program sponsored by DMBA in order to earn up to $200. The challenge for Jan. and Feb. is to exercise 5 days a week and replace sweets with fruit and soda with water. The soda isn't hard because we never drink it anyway. The exercise isn't hard for me but a challenge for Alan. But cutting out sweets is killing me! I like a little chocolate or something sweet after dinner. I like to eat donuts and make cookies. I now live for Mondays where I can have refreshments after f.h.e. and Sundays where I can have desert. (We only have to trade sweets for fruit 80% of the days.) Alan, on the other hand, isn't having any problem with a lack of treats.