Payton makes me smile

So today Greg and I had to give talks in Sacrament meeting. I gave mine and then went to sit with Madi and Payton. Not long into Greg's talk Payton started yelling that she had to go to the bathroom. I quickly brought her and left Madi on the bench (the guy behind us let Madi play a game on his palm pilot, I swear Madi has never been so quiet in church, but we are still not making a habit of that). So we get in the stall and I set Payton on the seat. She said, "mom leave I don't need to go anymore." Of course I am worried about Madi and missing Greg's talk so I said, "I will not let you leave until you go potty." She said, "OK" and she started to go instantly. So the bathroom was, well how can I say this nicely, it was stinky. There was a lady in the stall next to us. Payton asks, "What is that taste?" I asked, "What taste?" She said, "no mom, what is that smell?" I proceeded to tell her "It is just your potty coming out." She said "mom that is definitely not me!!" I am trying to spare the lady in the next stalls feelings, but then the lady who could clearly hear our conversation started cracking up on the top of her lungs. Thank goodness for the gospel and the sweet and understanding people you can meet their.

Payton's Birthday Party

Today we celebrated Payton's 3rd birthday. She wanted a Princess party. Payton likes to call herself a princess. Her favorite princess is Sleeping Beauty. She asked me to make her a Star Wars cake (Madison is into Star Wars and was pushing her). I declined her request and made a castle instead. She told me "mom I love the Sleeping Beauty cake." It made me feel so good.

The kids made tiaras and painted wands.
We played pin the lips on the frog prince and dressed up in dress up clothes. Payton had a lot of fun with her friends.

Last week we went to a story time at The Artful Potter. The girls made these cute plates. They had a lot of fun painting them.

Payton and I ran around town dropping off invitations for Payton's birthday party. Between houses Payton started singing the Farmer in the Dell. She was singing "The farmer in the dell, the farmer in the dell, high yo the cheerio, the farmer in the dell." If you know the rest of the song it goes the wife takes a child.... the child takes a nurse... etc. Payton gets to the cat verse (she sang the song really well, until...) and says"the cat takes a...hmmmm (taps her finger on her cheek)...hmmmm.... oh, the cat takes a pig, the cat takes a pig, high yo the cheerio, the cat takes a pig." I started rolling with laughter. She is my little singer. She is always singing something cute.

Madison and Payton love the extra room that we have in the new house. They just run around screaming, yelling, and wrestling. Did I mention screaming. Girls sure are loud. But girls just love to have fun!!

Madison never wants to say family prayers. She is always embarrassed. So to my surprise this morning she said she wanted to. Of course I jumped on that opportunity and told her I would love her to. She gave a wonderful prayer asking for the family to be safe and healthy, then she said. "And can I please stop having bloody noses. Thank you, in the name of...." Oh kids. I only wish my life was that simple.

Gym or Cookies?

After I got home from work last night I asked the girls if they wanted to go to the gym. We go quite often and they love the playroom. To my surprise they both said no. Madi turns to me and says "mom can we make cookies instead?" Of course I said yes. Who does not love making cookies with their daughters (ok I will admit sometimes it stresses me out with flour flying everywhere). So I was up stairs in the middle of the baking when I heard the bowel scrap against the counter. (Madi is growing like a weed and can reach most things on the counter). Madison and Payton had the bowl on the ground eating the dough. My yummy cookie recipe (from my wonderful in-laws) makes 80 cookies. I never make eighty cookies because Madi, Payton and even Greg eat half the cookie dough before I can cook it. Yummy Yummy.

balloons

Princess Jasmine (face popped) and Sleeping beauty

Brushing Teeth

I will be the first to admit that I am the worst mother when it comes to brushing my daughters teeth. Madison got some cavities, ok not some, 2o (she only has 18 teeth!). I decided that I needed to be better. After racking my brain to decide how I could remember to brush their teeth everyday, let alone twice a day, I came up with an award system. I made a graph on the computer and bought a 200 pack of small stickers. Every time the girls brush their teeth they get to put a sticker on. They are so excited they are reminding me that they need to brush their teeth. Now hopefully I have made a habit that we can keep up. I can't afford to pay for cavities to be fixed.

Binky Problems

So I have not really tried to get Payton to stop the binky before now. I have just not cared, but she turns 3 really soon (as in less then two weeks). We worked on it really hard this summer, but with the many vacations, she has been sucking on it more. This morning she would not get out of bed because I told her she had to leave it in bed. She decided she would rather sit in bed and hold it. What do I do? Help? I don't want her sucking on it forever.

Last day of freedom

Today is my last day before I go back to work. I like teaching, but I also love my girls more. One day I will be able to stay at home with them. I decided that I needed a much needed break for myself. I know that my feet are not beautiful, but I was so excited that I got to get away and be by myself for an hour. If you ladies out there do not already get pedicures, then you ought to. My wonderful sister-in-laws got me addicted. It is the only time that I get to leave without the girls and have someone massage my legs and feet.

I also took Madi and Payton to the Artful Potter. We heard a story bout being different, then we painted a plate with our hand print that was turned into a princess. Payton said that she wanted to paint her plate blue like Cinderella and Madi was torn because her favorite color is purple but no princess has a purple dress. After I asked the girls where they wanted to go to eat dinner. Since daddy was gone they could pick anything they wanted. At the same time they both yelled "MCDONALDS." UUGGHHHH! I am no longer a fan of eating at McDonalds. I have eaten their way to much in my life. So I got them to settle for Burger King (which is only slightly better). Kids! Why could we not have eaten at Chiles or Sweet Tomatoes?!

Madison has never been an eater. She lived for one year on chocolate milk and mac-and-cheese. This summer she has grown an appetite and a few inches. She can down a whole cheeseburger and apple slices in about ten minutes. She has in fact grown from a 3 (the beginning of the summer) to a 5 (just barely fitting her now). WOW!! I never thought she would eat meat, but she sure likes it now. She use to lick rocks and eat chalk. I have not seen her do that for the past two months, I guess that she decided that hamburgers are a better alternative.

Payton is not into getting her picture taken like Madi is. Payton is my red head. Everywhere we go (I mean everywhere!) everyone has to talk to Payton about her red hair. One day we were walking up the steps in our old apartment and a neighbor was talking about Payton's hair. Madi started crying because she wants red hair also. I reminded her that she has beautiful blonde hair. Now when people admire Payton's hair, Madi says "Don't I have beautiful blonde hair?" People mostly agree with her.

Payton calls herself a princess. I agree that she is a princess. Madison thinks that she is Spiderman or Batman (depends on the day). It is interesting how both girls are total opposites. Maybe that is why they are such good friends.

Our family was walking to the pool on Saturday and Madison was walking next to a girl and her mom. Madi did not know the girl and was staring at her and the girl was staring back at Madi. All of the sudden the girl fell head over a huge boulder that was in her path. Madi walks next to the girl and says "girl, you really need to watch where you're going!"

Greg and the girls in front of the Manti Temple
(I will have to learn how to rotate pictures)
The girls and I at the Salt Lake Temple for Sarah's wedding
Madison and Payton are playing with their cousin. Aren't boxes just so fun
Greg, Payton, Bobby and Madison are standing in front of one of the big bird cages at La Posta

Summer 2008

As the summer comes to a close, that means our life goes back to crazy mode. I go back to work along with Greg going back to school. As we look back on our many summer adventures we feel tired, but we are thankful for the memories. I taught summer school for the first month of the summer. Then we went to El Paso, TX and met Bobby. We ate at La Posta de Mesilla Mexican resteraunt in Las Cruses, NM. It was enjoyable. Then we went to Pheonix, AZ to visit Greg's sister. The girls and I went to Provo, UT for my friend, Sarah Morgan's wedding. Then we came home only to turn around a week and a half later to drive back to Provo for Emily's wedding. It was great spending time with friends and family. In between all that traveling we went to the museums, shark reef, and movies with friends. Summers are always fun, but I have not learned to relax yet. Maybe next year, probably not :)