Quote of the Day...

Once upon a time, there were three little girls sitting in the tub...  Being girls, of course, they were joking and laughing. About poo.  Poodles, you might think?  Poof balls?  Nope.  Just poo.  Super lady like...
me - "Girls.  Be appropriate."
Sam - "But mom, appopwiate just isn't fun!"

Close Shave...

It all started innocently enough...

Then the gloves came on...

 After that, it was all a blur...

 Tans were erased...

 The yard overtaken by zombies....

It was awesome when people drove by... 

 Charlie's Angels - Zombie Style!

I say "z", you say "zed"

After much too long, we were able to take a quick trip to visit my mum's family in Calgary, Alberta Canada.  It's been five years since I've been up.  Too long.  But it was great to see everyone, and finally, everyone got to meet Sam.  Here are some of our favorite times...

Bedtime.  Sister's sleepover, all the way! (and Mischief and Mayhem thankfully stayed in Puyallup.  The girls were amazingly well behaved.  I mean - they're always this good... cough. cough.)

 The girls had a great time blowing bubbles and doing sidewalk chalk for their great-grandparents to see.

 Boom Boom and Baba with Sam.   

 Grandpa showing the girls his "toy car".  Aka - the Smart car.

 Waiting for the C Train with my parents and Auntie Cheryl.  On our way to the Calgary Stampede!

 Who knew we'd all look so sexy in our cowboy hats?

 The girls watching a little rodeo action - the grandparents watching a little climbing action

 Cheaper to feed than draft horses... 

 Brooke and Erin.  The girls all love the military section of the Stampede.  They could have stayed for hours.

 Love those girls!

 My favorite shot of the whole trip... (Erin)

 4 generations.  So lucky to still have my grandparents.  I have such wonderful memories of them growing up, I'm happy to have my children make some as well.

I also bought a year's supply of Canadian chocolate bars...  We won't wait five years again before the next visit!  Thanks to mum and dad for driving up to see us.  The girls always love to see you! Thanks to Auntie Cheryl and Uncle Jim for playing with, and loving my children and for the wonderful chance to see all the family at your house.  Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for letting my children play with your "snatcher", for playing "whale" and for making delicious pedahe.  I love you all!

Sister's Sleepover...

The girls wanted to do a "sister's sleepover" (code for - "we really don't want to go to bed yet, and think we'll get away with more mischief and mayhem if mom thinks we're having a party...).  So of course, loving mischief and mayhem, I said "Sure."  I'm so glad I did.  This is how I found them...

Brooke was reading to the littler girls and they were planning on sleeping this way.  Unfortunately, mischief and mayhem (I should capitalize those two words - Mischief and Mayhem - and claim them as my fifth and sixth children...) soon arrived and they played until around 11:30.  But I love it when they love each other.  Makes me feel like I might just be doing something right...

Any Excuse For A Party...

And what better excuse than the Birthday of our country?  

We started the party a couple of days earlier by painting our annual handprint shirts.  

 All decked out for the ward pancake breakfast.  (I love Brooke is confident enough to go in a beard and mustache and be willing to laugh at herself.  Something I am trying to teach all the girls...)  And yes, once again, Erin is the one with the grumpy face... She didn't want to wear her shirt.  Too bad...

 Alix, saying I love you

 Erin turned out to be a major pyro.  She lit most of our family's fireworks.

We had a great time with a bunch of friends.  Massive water fight, silly string fight, face painting, bike parade, a little pool time, a bunch of great food, some good basketball & and some gorgeous fireworks to top it off.  I really do love an excuse to have a great time!

Quote of the Day/Alphabet Soup

Alix and Erin (to Sam) - "Owen is you best friend?"

Sam - "Yeah..."

Alix and Erin - "So, he's your BFF." (and yes, somehow they really do talk in unison...)

Sam - "No. He's my EFG!"

Greatest day ever...

(next to the one when the kids are FINALLY old enough for nursery) is when your child is fully potty trained. I was a little worried about Sam, so I've waited and waited to post this, so as to not jinx ourselves, but, by jove! I think she's got it! She's in panties all day and even at night. It's been a couple of weeks since we an accident...

And if you ask Sam, she'll tell you that her potty train says, "Choo Choo..."

Quote of the Day...

Our family is learning the Articles of Faith. So far we know the 1st, the 8th, and this is Erin's version of the 2nd...

"We believe that man shall be punished for their own sins, and not for Sam's congestion..."

Round 'em on up!

Around here, you graduate from kindergarten with a Kindergarten Round Up. It's super cute. All the kindergarteners sing cowboy songs and dance the Virginia Reel. What's cuter than 75 kindergarteners in cowboy hats and bandanas? Not much...

Erin on the left - Alix on the right

With their teacher, Mrs. Dent

All the kindergarteners from our ward (minus two who were outta there quick...). All of them, except 2 boys were in the same morning kindergarten class with the twins. Helps school not be scary when you know half your class already... :)

I still do hold them both. Usually when they're tired, but still, fun to have proof...

I can't wrap my mind around the fact that Erin and Alix are going to be first graders. It's crazy. I'm pretty sure they're still 4 years old...

Quote of the Day...

After finding Brooke, once again, asleep for the night in my bed instead of her own...

me - "Brooke, why are you always in my bed asleep when there's a babysitter over?"

brooke - "Pretty much, I'm just taking advantage of the babysitter..."

Tell it like it is, girl, tell it like it is.

(Brooke dressed up for "baby day" at the school.)