Star Wars Invasion

This is a picture of Beck after we got home from Target on the day he got to pick out a toy for being done with his Potty Chart. He was so happy and so sure this is what he wanted as we walked up and down the isles.

Little did he know an alternate alien race was about to invade. You would think being a Star Fighter Jet from Star Wars, you would plan for such an attack. However, I don't think anything could have been prepared for what happened next...Duh, DUH, DUUUHNNN!

Attack of the Kendall and her Polly Pocket posse. While you nap they will take over your Star Fighter Jet garage and turn it into a master wardrobe closet.

Careful, they take no prisoners.

Speed Racer

Thanks Aunt Kimmy for getting new brakes on your car so we could enjoy the Long Beach Grand Pri!

Kim got the tickets and Scott and Beck took advantage. Having a boy obsessed with cars, speed and turning everything into a race (he has to be the one to flush the toilet so he can watch his poop race down the bowl), how could you not? Maybe I should mention I am talking about Beck here. And of course, Scott was happy to oblige.


The first day Scott and Beck took their good buddies Dave and Adam.

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There were lots of cars, Beck had to stand by the green one, his favorite color. Everything has to be greet these days.

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Here Beck is not striking a pose, instead he insisted he be touching the tire for the picture. Nice.

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The next day our family went. The girls enjoyed it just as much.

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This was too cool.

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Even with all the real racing going on outside, the kids seemed to really like these remote control cars racing inside the convention center.
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As a parent, you know they've had a good time when they are dead-dog tired.

Reality Check

What happens when you get to go to your friend's house and have your first sleep over that's not with family? What happens when your friend who is really nice and your Mom really likes her, but your Mom also sees how your friend acts with her Mom and your Mom knows that your friend could probably get away with murder at her house? What happens when you hang out with that kind of attitude ALL DAY and ALL NIGHT and you come home thinking you could act that way too?


TIME OUT, that's what happens.
I don't care if you are seven.

Watch Out Calvin Klein

Have I possibly changed my last poopy diaper? It really sounds too good to be true. So I'm not going to say it. I hate to even think it. Although, I have to admit it is bitter sweet. Okay, way more sweet than bitter.

The following is more for journaling purposes. No need to read on if you don't need the details of potty training...if you know what I mean.

Spring break I decided to give it a real shot. We have been talking about it and getting him used to the idea for a while. And when naked after a bath, before getting a diaper on, if he had to go he would come to me in a panic saying either he needed to go in the toilet or, "I need a diaper! I need a diaper! I need a diaper!" Which I took as a good thing.

Day one of spring break. Started the day with no diaper, no underwear, shirt only (I felt like the underwear would only confuse him in thinking he had something there to "catch" whatever was coming). He did great, 100%. I was afraid about #2 though. Hadn't cleared that hurdle yet. Later in the afternoon Morgan said, "Beck, did you have an accident? It stinks!" Ugh! Not what I wanted to hear. Beck denied the whole thing. As I was making my way down the hall dreading the clean up I hear, "Hey Mom! Beck pooped in his toilet!" Apparently Beck went in the bathroom, did his business, and was out. Didn't even tell anyone. Woo-hoo! Turns out the worst of it was teaching him about needing to wipe! I'll take that over the other, any day.

We made him a "Potty Chart". Every time he went he got a sticker. Every time he filled up a row (5 stickers) he got a toy. I figured the money I would have spent on diapers for the month could go to that fund. A truly worthy cause.

Of course there has been a few mishaps, but for the most part we are foot-loose and fancy free!

Really the hardest part about training Beck was not calling them panties.

Can't Think of a Clever Title

So a couple of weeks ago I decided on a whim to make homemade focaccia bread.
I can't believe it actually turned out! (notice there are no pictures of the homemade biscuits I attempted that could have won a Guinness Record at a rock skipping competition)

Too bad for you Willy Wonka hasn't invented smellovision yet.

Easter 2010

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I love when Easter falls on General Conference. The spirit of Easter seams to hold on that much stronger when you have just listened to a prophets testimony of the Savior.

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday. We started at home with each kid getting an egg. Inside that egg is a clue that leads to another egg with a clue, and so on until the final egg leads to their basket.

Morgan caught on right away, as to be expected. Read her clue out loud, "Go to where you will find the stuff that you like to sprinkle on your Rice Krispies," and new exactly where to go.

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It took a while for Kendall to catch on that she needed to pay attention to what she was reading in order to find her next egg and not go for the obviously "hidden" egg (one of Beck's) right in front of her.

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Beck was funny. He didn't have clue's written out. Instead had hand drawn pictures of an object to go to. After watching the girl's open their eggs, read their clues, then go find, he followed their examples exactly! He opened his first egg and saw a picture of a fridge (I have to pat myself on the back for my drawings, given he was able to tell what they were), he saw the picture, looked intently at the picture and said out loud as if he were reading something, "If you are hungry and you need some food, go to the fridge." He totally made up all the words! Of course if you ask him he was reading.

Next we went to Grampa Dave and Gramma Faye's for great food, even better company, and another egg hunt.

But first we had to take a slow walk, so the eggs could hide (good thing they weren't hidden any sooner or they would have been washed out to sea from the tsunami that the earthquake caused in the pool).

Noticed Beck changed his clothes. He was so upset when he had to put on his tie and "church shoes." He needed to where his "big jet" shirt and "running shoes" so he could be fast when he played with Ethan. The only way Scott and I could get him to dress up is if we promised he could change after he took some nice pictures. I hate when they start getting ideas of their own!

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Finally the hunt was on.Mitchell and Scott counting their loot, comparing who got the most "adult" eggs.Beck was so happy when he found all of his eggs first. This is him finding it and declaring, "Yes! I won!" No one new it was a race until this declaration. I'm sure it was the big-jet shirt and running shoes that made all the difference.

Dinner for Dessert

Spaghetti with peas & carrots anyone?

Morgan's teacher's birthday is on April Fool's Day so she thought it was a riot when we showed up with these cupcakes to celebrate. The kids were afraid to try them and only did so when PROMISED it was all candy.

Hole In 16

What would you do if your big sister got to go to Idaho with her Grandma and see all of the Idaho cousins and your parents promised you a special weekend of whatever you wanted?

First, painting your fingernails a bright red is a must. Makes the whole weekend that much more fun.

Next, you need a picnic at a new park, complete with chicken nuggets and apples with caramel.

Then, that night a new adventure through a miniature golf course is always fun.
His swing may not be on the Tonight Show at two years old, but his determination should get him somewhere...

The next night you get to choose ANYWHERE to eat. The only request asked of Mommy and Daddy was that it didn't have drive-thru services. Where did she pick?...Souplantation!

I'm guessing she liked her weekend because I got the best sign ever.

Oh yeah, don't forget the marathon coloring project to welcome big sister home.

Theodor S. Geisel

We thank you Dr. Seuss for red fish and blue fish, for zizzer-zazzer-zuzzes, and Sam-I-Am. We also thank you for giving us a day to wear our pajamas to school.



Happy (Late) Birthday!!

So Sweet She Gave Me A Cavity

What else could you want for your 95th birthday besides friends, family, good food and self portrait cupcakes?

HAPPY 95TH BIRTHDAY HELEN!

And A Half

How do you celebrate your birthday at school when you have a summer birthday?

1. First you make some really cute cupcakes.


2. Next you get a really cute carrier.


3. Then you celebrate your oh-so-important 1/2 birthday.


4. Finally you have to get embarrassed while your classmates are not allowed to take a bite of their own cupcake until you have the ceremonial first lick.

Seven-And-A-Half. They grow up so quickly, don't they?