Home Ec

Lucy is so much fun to be with. She chatters all day and says the funniest things. She adores her "cooking kit" that Grandma Lulu gave her and we've started creating our own mini-batches of cookies. No recipe, just kind of letting her throw general cookie ingredients in a bowl and put them on her mini-cooking pan. She is a real joy--except for those times when she is screaming and kicking her feet because I only filled her cup half full of juice--those aren't real shining moments. All this, and she really likes prune juice. Go figure.

Happy Happy Emma

She is almost two months old!! And though I know I invite the wrath of all sleepless mothers in the world, I am happy to announce that she is steadily sleeping through the night. I know, I know, I am just too too lucky. She is such a happy, peaceful little lady. It is fun to watch her grow and delightful to see her smile. So, I thought I'd let you enjoy it as well:

See, told you.

In Like A Lion . . .

A quick, but mighty blizzard landed on us to announce March's arrival. It was great sledding fun. We found the perfect sledding hill and wore the kids out completely. Lucy actually asked to get into the car and take a snooze in the car seat while we sledded. I love that she continues to relish naps.

We even took Emma sledding! You can't tell, but she is really having fun--promise.

Insightful Isaac

Isaac as King Benjamin, with a weasel, a walking stick, and much wisdom:

1. What is something mom always says to you

Do my chores

2. What makes mom happy?

when I do what I have to do without being asked

3. What makes mom sad?

when I don't do that

4.What was your mom like as a child?

I have no idea!

5. How old is your mom?

31 (honestly, I'm 25)

6. How tall is your mom?

As tall as my dad (good guess!)

7. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV?

Biggest Loser

8.What does your mom do when you're not around?

watch Biggest Loser

9.If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

A magician

10. What is your mom really good at?

Yoga--(thank goodness for that wii!)

11. What is your mom not very good at?

Nothing (I swear he said this without even one bit of encouragement)

12. What does your mom do for her job?

Nothing (ouch)

13. What is your mom's favorite food

Pizza

14. What do you like about your mom?

I like that she has a baby and I like that she's the best mom in the world (again, no encouragement, but there will be a reward!--and he hasn't done his chores yet, so some buttering up might be involved here)

15. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

Goofy--because you are so funny

16. What do you and your mom do together?

Play legos

17. How are you and your mom the same?

Nothing makes us the same except we both do the computer

18. How are you and your mom different?

You don't have the same clothes as me

19. How do you know your mom loves you?

Because you hug me and kiss me every night

20. What does your mom like most about your dad?

You love him

And the survey was cut short there by the lure of the trampoline. Isaac is such a fun, bright boy. We recently read Peter Pan and are now enjoying Peter and the Starcatchers and so our whole world is now Peter Pan. Isaac only answers to Nibs, I'm Peter and in charge of renaming everything in the Neverland fashion (this is pretty easy, spaghetti is never-worms, oatmeal is never-porridge, juice is never-juice. . . you get the idea) Lucy is Slightly--and actually introduced herself as Slightly to someone yesterday. Daman is usually Capt. Hook, unless I'm not around and then he steps in as the Peter understudy. Emma is baby Michael, and our days are filled with flying practice and hearing Capt. Hook knock at our door disguised as Smee. Neverland is a wonderful place. . . come visit anytime.

Mama Lucy

the other day mo was taking a nap, isaac was at a friend's house, and i was on girl duty. Lucy was pretty bored and emma was getting a little cranky when i realized the cure for all my troubles. Lucy has a little doll stroller which, as it turns out, is the perfect size for Emma. Unlike many of my brilliant ideas, this one actually worked like a charm. following is the super long video. I tried to edit it just to get the flavor, but couldn't figure it out. but it's really cute.

Fresh Fish!

I recently got in touch with a good friend from my mission in Hong Kong. As he and his family are only a couple hours north of us, we decided to get together. Occasionaly when i'm feeling extra chinesey i get a hankering for some steamed fish HK style. Having Derek around really put me in the mood - so we went for it. Only problem was we didn't have anything big enough to accomodate the gigantic fish i bought. so we improvised - using two of Mo's brand new pyrex bar pans and some expertly cut shims we improvised a rather ingenious steaming machine, which we laid over two open flame burners. Morgen was a little hesitant - she really loves her pyrex - but i assured her all would be well. and all was well. so at this point things had taken a lot longer than i had led people to believe, and we had 5 hungry and restless kids and two women waiting impatiently for some food they were not sure they were going to like at all. it was finally finished and we displayed the feast. as we all finally sat down and dug in, i realized the fish was not quite cooked well enough for the rest of our party. no problem, just stick it back in the "steamer". we were all sitting at the table talking and anxiously awaiting the fish when we heard what sounded like a cannon exploding a few feet behind us. turns out the "no stove top" warning on the pyrex wasn't fooling. Morgen was/is heartbroken about her pans, and there was a tense moment there while we were deciding whether or not we could laugh about being half starved, having no food, no new pyrex pans, and having to clean up a disaster of mangled fish and glass all over the kitchen. ultimately we had a good time of it. I don't have pictures here, but you can see them at Derek's blog http://www.derekhilaryjohnson.blogspot.com/

I was determined to try again and the next week did so. Morgen bit her tongue and let me go for it. Luckily it worked out much better this time (or I might be living with you right now). This one we did get pictures of.

Oh the cuteness. .

So, today I was telling Daman that I was abandoning the blog and he launched into how wonderful it is to blog and how it connects us to friends and family and how much he loves looking at everyone's blogs and yada yada yada. . . concluding his argument with "not that I'm pressuring you." Still, I wonder why we blog. I'm not sure anyone's life is really enhanced by looking at pictures of my kids or reading my thoughts on life, world, and parenting. I mean, sure it is funny that Lucy says "No" to every statement and that I am finding new and creative ways to ask her open-ended questions to force her to communicate her true thoughts. That is funny. . .. to me. And Emma bobbing her head all over the place as she gets used to the body of hers is downright adorable to us, but just might not translate to the blogosphere. Still, I do love scanning the internet for updated blogs of friends and family near and far and so perhaps people are happy to stumble across our comings and goings. So, here are some comings and goings and really cute pictures of our really cute kids:

Enjoying the snow with cousin Caroline.

WE LOVE BUNKBEDS!!!

The three rugrats all bunk in the same room and Isaac and Lucy so dig their jungle gym sleeping arrangements. Lucy has fallen a few times and it is really entertaining to watch Isaac climb up and down in the middle of the night for bathroom breaks. We wake him up to go and he is barely coherent. Actually, there is no coherence whatsoever. The other night he stumbled out of the bathroom and crawled on top of his dresser instead of his bed. He felt around in a very confused manner and we weakly tried not to laugh. I think he might have stayed there all night had we not rerouted him.

Cutest Baby in the WORLD!! (Or at least in our house)

Not her best shot--but very very funny

A clip to prove that Lucy is actually quite adorable:

Update accomplished. This video is a little outdated and Lucy has come far in her singing--it is totally recognizable as "Twinkle Twinkle" now and she's expanded her repretoire (sp?) as well. Don't we all feel a little more connected now? Daman will be so proud.

I draw your attention to the poll to your right. We are currently flip flopping between educational options for the lad, Isaac. I am heavily leaning towards homeschooling Isaac, but wonder what is truly best for him--feel free to cast your votes and perhaps we'll let majority decide. The decision will most likeley be made and remade over the next 3-4 months.