Month: July 2015

day in SLC

This morning we had planned to go to the Hogle Zoo…but since Mary stays up until midnight, we got a late start this morning. We ended up doing a Trader Joe’s run, visiting Liberty Park’s splash pad, and then having a play date with Paige, Ada, and Liv. It had been so long since the girls played together that Lydia and Ada were actually shy at first! But they had a great time. I had a great time because I got to visit with Paige, one of my favorite people.

Then we went to Kid to Kid before coming home. Abe and I went to the temple tonight and did initiatories.

Pictures:

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"Birds of a feather fly together." That's what I kept thinking while watching my girls follow each other around the splash pad.
“Birds of a feather fly together.” That’s what I kept thinking while watching my girls follow each other around the splash pad.
Eating otter pops in the Anderson's lovely yard.
Eating otter pops in the Anderson’s lovely yard.
Lexi went above and beyond and actually crafted a fairy house for the girls.
Lexi went above and beyond and actually crafted a fairy house for the girls.
She even put fairy dust and furniture inside.
She even put fairy dust and furniture inside.
Our view from the temple.
Our view from the temple.
Our view of the temple.
Our view of the temple.

the birds and the bees

Today the girls and I went to the library for new books. I also checked out an illustrated book for kids about how babies are made. Abe and I planned an FHE where we gave really simple, scientific explanations about the origins of babies. It was supposed to end in a trip to the hospital where we could tour the maternity ward, but Mary was so tired I knew she’d fall asleep en route. We skipped the hospital tour.

Abe remembers being nine years old and honestly believing that babies came out of women’s toes. (Someone told him that they came out of his mom’s bottom, and he figured the bottom of his mom was her foot.) At least our kids won’t have that problem.

Lydia has been curious about babies ever since I got pregnant and we’ve watched lots of in-utero youtube videos that follow the progression of sperm and egg into full fledged baby. Even though we talk about it a lot, she still has questions.

So Abe and I hope we’re not doing anything wrong by laying out the facts this early on. A lot of parenting stuff feels like guess work to me. Abe and I put the girls in front of Barney while we flipped through the book and tried to figure out what to include in our talk and what to leave out. It felt confusing. I also kept hoping that our kids don’t shock the neighbors or their friends by talking about how babies are made…but Lydia loved the book and took it to bed with her. So maybe that counts as success?

Anyhow, I only have one picture from today. Tonight was the first night in a long time where I expended effort on dinner…and Mary opted to skip dinner and eat a pb&j after FHE instead. Here she is lounging outside. (She was banished from eating inside since the table and floor had already been scrubbed down.)

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hand in your shirt

Aside from a trip to the chiropractor, we stayed home all day. We were going to go to the temple, but our babysitter had to reschedule. It all worked out, though. Abe was up until 1 am trying to catch up on work last night, and I’m sure he’ll get more out of the temple when he’s had more sleep.

I have two pictures from today:

Playing airplane. They are both "strapped" to their seats.
Playing airplane. They are both “strapped” to their seats.
Abe and the girls played Horse after dinner. He tied a bucket to the basketball hoop pole so the girls could have a basket at their level. Here are two videos of the girls using his makeshift hoop. (When I took this picture, Abe was losing to the girls.)
Abe and the girls played Horse after dinner. He tied a bucket to the basketball hoop pole so the girls could have a basket at their level. Here are two videos of the girls using his makeshift hoop. (When I took this picture, Abe was losing to the girls.)

Lydia came up with a basketball game called “Hand in your shirt.”

1. The rules are like Horse, but if you’re the “goodest,” you get an extra shot if you miss. Since Lydia is the goodest, she always gets an extra shot.

2. Also, you have to shoot with your hand in your shirt.

3. And instead of spelling “horse,” you spell “hand in your shirt.”

4. Actually, you don’t have to spell “hand in your shirt.” If you do a good job, you win and the game is over.

Qualtrics summer party

While I was visiting teaching this afternoon, Summer took the girls to the park and tried to fly kites with them. We also baked cookies for Abe’s former boss because he has suffered a lot of personal losses recently. I was touched when Lydia ran to color a picture for him with lots of red “because red means happy.”

Other than that, the big event of the day was the Qualtrics summer party. We invited Chelsea and her kids to come, and we all had so much fun. Basically, Qualtrics set up a fair complete with pony rides, train rides, a petting zoo, tons of giant inflatables, face painting, animal balloons, Goodwood barbecue, snow cones, cotton candy, and an amazing fireworks show at the end.

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Provo Rec Center

We started the day off at a healthy 11:30am with a trip to the Provo Recreation Center. It is amazing. In January, we are going to ditch our Orem pass and get one to Provo.

Not pictured are the giant water slides. Abe took both girls down the big slides twice each, and they loved it.
Not pictured are the giant water slides. Abe took both girls down the big slides twice each, and they loved it.

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While I did laps in the lap pool, Abe got the girls dressed and let them play in the indoor play area. I'm pretty sure he was the only parent in there playing chase with his kids. Most of the other parents are like me and think the entire purpose of an indoor play area is so the parent can sit down and let the kids entertain themselves.
While I did laps in the lap pool, Abe got the girls dressed and let them play in the indoor play area. I’m pretty sure he was the only parent in there playing chase with his kids. Most of the other parents are like me and think the entire purpose of an indoor play area is so the parent can sit down and let the kids entertain themselves.
Abe and I observed a bit of breeze in the afternoon and tried to fly kites with the kids.
Abe and I observed a bit of breeze in the afternoon and tried to fly kites with the kids.
Abe could get the kite up in the air when he ran, but whenever he stopped, the kite flopped down. He did a lot of running.
Abe could get the kite up in the air when he ran, but whenever he stopped, the kite flopped down. He did a lot of running.
Mary was exasperated at the lack of wind.
Mary was exasperated by the lack of wind.
Lydia suggested we pray for wind. Mary countered her suggestion by saying we should drum for wind. Here she is drumming away.
Lydia suggested we pray for wind. Mary countered her suggestion by saying we should drum for wind. Here she is drumming away.
All that drumming tired her out. I took this picture because I love her hair highlights.
All that drumming tired her out. I took this picture because I love her hair highlights.
While I was cleaning the house this evening, I peaked out and saw this. Actually, I saw this happening in the cul-de-sac, but the lighting was bad and so I made everyone bike down to where the lighting was better. This picture is totally posed.
While I was cleaning the house this evening, I peaked out and saw this. Actually, I saw this happening in the cul-de-sac, but the lighting was bad and so I made everyone bike down to where the lighting was better. This picture is totally posed.

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Abe took the girls outside to eat dinner because I had just deep cleaned the house and didn't want anyone messing anything up before Sunday.
Abe took the girls outside to eat dinner because I had just deep cleaned the house and didn’t want anyone messing anything up before Sunday. I am mean. But everyone reported having a good time on the porch.

Happy Pioneer Day!

It’s crackling and booming fireworks outside as I type. All of Orem is celebrating. Happy Pioneer Day! This is Utah’s equivalent/bigger version of the Fourth of July. Our neighbors set off an incredible show in the cul-de-sac. Right in the middle of their nothing-to-snivel-at show, our neighbors down the street lit a legitimate city-park worthy firework. Our next door neighbors jeered and called it “Wyoming garbage” (because you can get fireworks in Wyoming that are illegal in Utah). Abe and I thought that term was funny.

Earlier in the day the girls and I sang Pioneer songs around the piano, and Lydia sang Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked all day long. Hearing her made me so happy.

In the afternoon I took the girls to the Pioneer Day festival in Provo.

Dipping candles.
Dipping candles.
Churning butter.
Churning butter.
Waiting in line for an animal balloon. The girls reminded me of my dad here. He always used to say, "When you can sit, don't stand. When you can lie down, don't sit." Sure enough, after I snapped this photo, both girls slip all the way onto their backs and lay in line until I determined it would take way too long to reach the end. We headed over to face painting instead.
Waiting in line for an animal balloon. The girls reminded me of my dad here. He always used to say, “When you can sit, don’t stand. When you can lie down, don’t sit.” Sure enough, after I snapped this photo, both girls slipped all the way onto their backs and lay in line. At that point, I figured the line was going too slowly. We headed over to face painting instead.

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Mary didn't want her face painted, but both girls wanted shaved ice.
Mary didn’t want her face painted, but both girls wanted shaved ice.
After the festival, we spent an hour at the indoor play place at the Provo Recreation Center.
After the festival, we spent an hour at the indoor play place at the Provo Recreation Center.
Abe wanted to spend some crafting time with the girls since he's been away for a couple days.
Abe wanted to spend some crafting time with the girls since he’s been away for a couple days.

Happy Pioneer Day!

Elsa play date

Abe has been out of town until today, so last night I didn’t have a chance to blog. He always is so sweet about thanking me for recording our family life in the blog, and I always tell him it wouldn’t be possible without his help. Now that he’s out of town, he can see that it’s true! Blogging is so much harder when I have to do all of the nighttime routines too. Mary ended up sleeping with me, and I loved cuddling her so much I didn’t have the heart to move her after she fell asleep. I finally moved her at 6:30am this morning, but not without a lot of internal debate. I just love that little girl.

Yesterday we went to the library and the Bean Museum in the morning, and after I went swimming in the afternoon the neighbor girls came over for an impromptu playdate.

The library craft today was making bead bracelets. The girls liked theirs, but the string was so cheap that both bracelets broke within twenty minutes. When Mary's broke, we were walking toward the car. I thought she had seriously hurt herself because all of the sudden she let out this ear-piercing scream and started wailing.
The library craft today was making bead bracelets. The girls liked theirs, but the string was so cheap that both bracelets broke within twenty minutes. When Mary’s broke, we were walking toward the car. I thought she had seriously hurt herself because all of the sudden she let out this ear-piercing scream and started wailing.
At the Bean Museum, Mary enjoyed jumping.
At the Bean Museum, Mary enjoyed jumping.

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Mary lent her Elsa dress to Annabelle since she was wearing her nightgown (which makes her feel just as pretty as Elsa).
Mary lent her Elsa dress to Annabelle since she was wearing her nightgown (which makes her feel just as pretty as Elsa).

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There was cat food all over the yard after this play date. The girls took it into their heads to lure Bazi to them by throwing fistfuls of food around. Bazi was terrified and hid out under the van before scrambling over the back fence.
There was cat food all over the yard after this play date. The girls took it into their heads to lure Bazi to them by throwing fistfuls of food around. Bazi was terrified and hid out under the van before scrambling over the back fence.

cuddly ending

This is one of those days where I wish I had had more energy, but I guess the good news is the girls happily entertained themselves all day long. They’re clean, fed, read-to, and loved, and I’m using those data points to chase away all the guilt I feel for not having done more active parenting today.

I took this picture of Lydia with the tea party she set up:

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At the end of the day, I had the girls cuddle with me in bed and we watched the illustrated narration of Rip Van Winkle on Amazon. The narrator whispered half of the story and it was hard to hear. Lydia kept asking me why there wasn’t any sound and why the pictures didn’t move…but my favorite part was sitting on my soft bed with my two sweet girls cuddled on either side. I took creative liberties and filled in the story–as best I remembered it–when none of us could understand what in the world the narrator was saying.

clothing Ammon

Today we went to IKEA to meet up with Misty and her kids for lunch. I so enjoyed seeing Misty again. I miss her.

Then this evening Chelsea and Derek brought over all of Camden and Carter’s baby clothes. We now have enough clothes to clothe Ammon twice over for a year! They stayed for dinner and afterwards the kids played outside. We all had fun. As the kids were playing, I realized I had no pictures from today, so Abe snapped one:

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