Why do I have a Part?

While doing Lucy's hair the other morning I said "Hold still, let me do your part."

As I started to concentrate with the comb in my hand, Lucy asks me "Why do we have this thing on our head?" She pointed to the the line where her hair parts.

"A part?" I questioned for clarification.

"Yeah, Why do we have a part?"

"I really don't know sweetie, it just is something on our head." I answer very non creatively.

Lucy responds "Maybe Heavenly Father knows. We should ask him. Can I ask him today or do I have to wait until I go to heaven?"

Oh Lucy! I sure will miss these conversations we have someday, just trying to figure out every detail of the world.

Levi's Hairstache

Sitting out in my parent's backyard on Wednesday, Lucy takes a cup of water and dumps it on Levi's head. I was stunned by her boldness right in front of me, and I didn't even say anything because I was trying to think of how to punish her. Then I watched her start to style his hair into a mohawk. Upon finishing she proudly announced

"Mom, do you like Levi's Hairstache?"

Well, that is one way of putting it! How original! I absolutely adore that word! Lucy made me laugh so much, I forgot all about punishing her for pouring water all over Levi's head. What I originally thought to be malicious, ended up being an innocent step on the path to completing Lucy's "hairstache" quest. Besides Levi was laughing and loved being doused anyway!

Sometimes it feels like kids are being naughty just to test you, but if you wait sometimes you see a truly more magical and creative side of a three year olds brain. Sometimes...

Silly Kids!

Good Friday

We have been talking a lot about Jesus all week in preparation for Easter. Eating the food he ate. Finding things in nature that remind us of Jesus and other small activities and stories. Lucy had been sweet, but I was wondering how much was sinking in.

Tonight I told Lucy the story of Jesus' Crucifixion by candlelight to remind us of the hours of darkness that followed Christ's death. Lucy loved it and really got into asking lots of questions.

The we watched the cartoon "He is Risen." When Christ first appeared to Mary in the Garden, I pulled out our Christus (which I wish I had out all the time, but it just didn't seem to work in a kidproof home). Lucy had never seen it before. She asked me "May I please hold him." She was so careful as she hugged him and kissed him and then told me "I love Jesus."

Later when I tucked her in bed I sang "I am a Child of God" while scratching her back, as I always do, but this time she stopped me with lots of questions.

After the first line "I am a Child of God and he has sent me here." She asked me "Why did he send me? Why do we have to be away from him? I miss Heavenly Father and Jesus. I want to talk to them."

Well, that was too many questions all at once, so I only answered the part about talking to them and told her about prayer, which didn't satisfy her.

"No, I want to talk to him real. I want to talk with him. I want to hear him."

I mentioned to her that we would see him again. I told her Jesus would come again. She got sooooo excited!!!

Then she enthusiastically rambled on "When is he coming? Can he come next week? What will we do with him? Is he staying many days? Is he staying a week? Will he stay the night?"

So I answered a lot of "I don't knows" and then she asked me very sincerely:

"I know Jesus is busy. Will he have time to go to Legoland with us? He is coming on Legoland day. I really want to bring him there."

So Sweet. I love how she talks about him like he is her best friend. She is so close to the spirit. Children are truly magical. I am so glad I have had the opportunity to understand why the Savior loved little children so much and always took time to be with them and bless them when he could. I am trying to be more like a child, more like Lucy.

Some words from Lucy

Watching conference with Lucy was really sweet. We didn't make her sit there, she just played in the room while we watched. During Elder Nelson's talk he said "precious boys and girls" immediately after Lucy perked up and said in a little elated voice

"Precious!! I am precious."

I sure wish everyone felt like that! We spend so much time telling ourselves why we aren't of worth and doubting the prophets words when it comes to how precious we are to our Heavenly Father. We should be more like children and exclaim with joy that we know we are precious!

As Elder Nelson continued his talk he also said the word "light" and Lucy repeated "Light. I am light!" I have told her that her name means "light" and that she is a "light" many times. She was so excited.

He then mentioned the song title "I am a Child of God" once again Lucy piped in with her excited spirit "I am a child of God!"

I wonder if my 3 year old felt the spirit stronger during Elder Nelson's talk than most adults. She didn't need to understand every detail, she got the message. We have to spend hours and hours listening to the prophets and apostles trying to absorb the spirit, but I guess she is already a lot closer to the spirit.

This week I have been trying to teach her the importance of Easter. We have been discussing things Jesus did. Tonight I explained how Jesus taught in parables and then shared the parable of the Ten Virgins. After the parable I started to explain that it was about how Jesus will come to Earth again. I told her

"You know how weddings are so exciting? The wedding they are talking about is Jesus coming again."

Lucy got a really excited look on her face because she loves weddings and the topic of marriage. Then she pointed to Jesus in the picture of the second coming and said "Look Mom, it is a wedding because Jesus is wearing white, just like a married girl. And he has long hair like one too!!!" Then she exclaimed "I love Jesus!" and started kissing the picture.

Okay, that wasn't exactly what I meant about Jesus' coming being like a wedding, but I am sure the Lord has a sense of humor!

MOM

I have been doing some little reading and writing lessons with Lucy lately, wondering if anything is really sinking in. Well, last week I drew some "m"s and asked her to draw her own. After working on it for a minute, she says "Look mom! Read it." When I looked at the first word she had ever written on her own I just squealed with joy, praised my daughter with kisses and then almost cried! That little girl sure knows how to make her Mama happy! What a special calling to be a mother. I am so very thankful to be Lucy's Mother.

Handsome and Gretel

Lucy was just introduced to the story of Hansel and Gretel this morning via itouch. I never told it to her before because it really bothered me as a child that the Dad left his kids in the woods. Yeah, I know the stepmother pressured him and they were out of food, but come on... you just starve together, you don't go leave your kids in the woods. Anyway, my personal feelings aside, Lucy finally read the story.

After I finished my shower, I asked her if she liked the story.

"Yeah" she answered.

Unsatisfied with the lack of details, I started fishing "So what was it about?"

She states as if there was nothing else to be said, "Handsome and Gretel"

Ha ha...get it! Handsome and Gretel!


Lucy was telling me a story the other day and instead of saying last night she says "Yester night" I guess that makes sense.

Along the same lines, she was talking about waking up from her nap and she says "In the morning from my nap..." I realized she thinks the "morning" is whenever you wake up rather than the time of day.

Last funny Lucy talk. We were at the Aquarium and Lucy sees this big fish with a pouty lip. She declares, "That fish is ugly."

I was a little annoyed she was being so judgmental. I started asking questions to help her realize it was ridiculous. So I asked her "Why is that fish ugly?"

She answers "He has a stout face."

Wow... I didn't know she knew that word. She has been coming up with all sorts of words and phrases lately that I am sure I don't say. She is a little sponge for language right now!

Broccoli without any bread

I caught Lucy in the bath playing with her toys repeating the nursery rhyme about the "old woman who lived in a shoe" She made an addition the had me laughing.

Real Version: "There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. She had so many children she didn't know what to do. She gave them some broth without any bread. Then whipped them all soundly and sent them to bed."

Lucy's version: "There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. She had so many children she didn't know what to do. She gave them some broccoli without any bread. Then whipped them to bed."

I love her little word slips. Right now my favorite word slips she uses regularly are:

"sombrella" for Umbrella which is making things really confusing when learning her ABC's because there is always a picture of an Umbrella for the "U" and it doesn't match the sound she makes!

"Mazagine" instead of "Magazine" It is especially funny in the context because she is usually trying to be like an adult. "Mommy may I have my mazagine please?" so proper and yet so not.

"Heavenly Evening" for "Family home evening" This is one I hope she never grows out of. It really is heavenly and the funny thing is she talks about it all the time. She asks me all the time "Can we do heavenly evening this morning" after explaining that Daddy is at work and it is morning time she then asks "Well, can I still have a treat?" okay so maybe that is the only reason she wants to have FHE, but I believe she really loves it when we are all in the same room being silly and spiritual together.

Lucy's other talent is interpreting English into Spanish. You can ask her any word and say "What is _______ in Spanish?" Then she will make up a word and tell you. The words are hilarious. If I try to tell her what the real word in Spanish she corrects me and tells me I am wrong. It cracks me up. She is so confident!

Lucy is such a positive person. Talk about looking on the bright side... whenever Levi spits up on something she makes funny comments. For example, Levi spit up on the floor. Lucy's comment is "I am so glad Levi didn't spit up on my dolly! He just missed it!" or when Levi spits up on my shirt "Yay, Levi didn't spit up in your hair." I am glad I have her to remind me that is could always be worse!

Levi had been so much fun lately. He grabs everything! Loves the bath. Loves music. Loves to be outside. Hates things on his head. Shakes his head back and forth like he is saying "no" when he is tired. Still spits up a lot, but it seems like only puddles instead of buckets like it used to be. He is still huge ( he is 19 lbs right now and in the 90th percentile for height and weight) He loves tummy time and has a very flexible back. His very favorite thing is when Lucy comes and plays with him. He just lights up and starts laughing. He has very ticklish thighs. He is very social, but very independent at the same time. Loves to smile. I took him on the carousel for the first time yesterday and he loved it. He is so much fun and I absolutely love having two kids. It is so much more fun than only having one!

A Month of Love!

I learned a powerful lesson this Valentine's Day and now I am feeling like a relationship pro after only 6 years (which I am sure to look back at laughing in years to come...kind of like when you think you aren't a newly wed anymore on your first anniversary, so not true!)

Valentine's Day is usually just not very good. It usually consists of me trying to make dumb little mushy meaningful crafts for Dave which I find under the bed months later, and him being so stressed about doing something for me that he ends up doing nothing and then me thinking he just doesn't care when really he did care, but it just didn't work out. Sound familiar?

This year I had the best Valentine's Day ever and it's not because Dave surprised me with a trip to Paris, although I would be okay with it if he wants to use that idea sometime in the future. It is kind of cheezy and you have heard it your whole life, but serving others is really what makes you happy. It was a very busy day. We had to get treats and crafts ready for Lucy's valentine exchange party, and then played at the park with friends and read valentine's books to the kids. Next me and Lucy made a Valentine for Daddy as well as Lucy's friend Marcus, and a make believe Valentine to her crush Oliver from the play we were in last November (she hasn't seen him since November and yet she still talks about how she is going to marry him). Then we made the pink pizza dough and frosted the treats. I squeezed a quick photo shoot in of the kids. We visited Marcus with Lucy's valentine and then picked up Dave and made pink heart shaped pizza. We had a short Family Home Evening about loving your neighbor, delivered treats to all the neighbors and then finished with a heart hunt. Lucy found hearts all around the house until she found her valentine including nail polish, body glitter and princess gloves. Well then I made a little heart hunt for Dave and I can't tell you what his Valentine present was.

I was sooooo tired by the end of the day and yet soooooo happy. I contemplated why it was such a good valentine's day and realized I was so busy thinking of all the things I was going to do for Lucy and Dave, and the party and the neighbors that I never thought about what anyone was going to do for me. And that is the formula for happiness!!!! If you aren't concerned with what you are getting you will be so much happier. This sounds like a Christmas moral, but it hit me on Valentine's Day this year. I didn't even realize until the next day that I really hadn't gotten anything and it was so refreshing to not be expecting anything. I realized all these years (the whole 6 we have been married!!!)I have been wishing for Dave to be superman on Valentine's Day and that is not what it is about. It is about how you can show your love for others.

I feel like, duh! I mean theoretically I have always known that you should serve other people and be selfless and then you will be happy, but I guess I never actually internalized it.

Love really is a verb. It is something you do and then you feel. The more I find myself waking up thinking, "what can I do for Dave today?", the more I feel like he is the most amazing husband ever. Anytime, I have been upset with Dave it was because I was thinking of things he wasn't doing for me and I hadn't given any thought to his needs. I sure Love this adventure of Love. My favorite moments in life are when you feel like you really grow and have a whole new awareness in life. That is the whole purpose of this life right? To learn and grow and be able to Love more fully.





I caught some of the cuteness and love on camera!

Photo Shoot:






Valentine Party at the Park:


Lucy's Valentine from Marcus

Levi found his Valentine!
Lucy and her friend Emma at the party

They are so full of personality. I love it!


Lucy's hunky Valentine, Marcus!

Lucy helping me make the pizza dough.


The pizza turned out pretty cute!


Lucy wearing all of her valentine gifts the next morning. Notice the body glitter and princess gloves!

Anyway I hope your month and I guess your entire life are completely and totally full of LOVE!!!

Don't Instruct!

Lucy came up to me enthusiastically with a rock, held it next to my face, scrutinized for a second and then said as if making a completely new and thrilling discovery "This rock is just your age!"

What is that supposed to me?

Okay really I just cracked up because it was cute, but I hope I don't look as old as a rock. I may be in need of a little sleep, but come on people let's be polite!

So we pull up at our apartment the other day and Dave and I are talking. Lucy has been quiet for a little while in the back seat of the car. Then she interjects during a pause in the conversation "Don't Instruct!"

"hmmmmm, does she even know what "instruct" means," I think. I am pretty sure she doesn't, but I ask because Lucy's definitions are usually hilarious.

"Do you know what instruct means?" I ask her.

She puts on her know it all sassy face and answers "It means talk. So don't talk."

Okay...maybe she knows what it means...that is weird. I guess I do talk to much. This reminds me of the one time Lucy told me I need to share with Daddy. I was completely confused until she finally got across her point that Daddy needed to say things too. Oh Wow! Don't they say girls use 30,000 words per day and guys use only 10,000. I guess Lucy observed that firsthand.

But really on a deeper level, I probably do instruct Lucy too much. Actions are more powerful than words and I need to remember that sometimes. Besides I don't think lecturing a 3 year old has ever worked for anybody! It's okay, at least I am as old as a rock!

Gumba I dedicate this post to you, because you read them. I hope you are laughing as you try to imagine the scenes of my life!

The Latest Photo Shoot

Here are our latest happenings!

Do you think Levi could pass for a baby girl? Poor Levi, this is what Lucy and I do when Dave isn't home to protect the little guy. Seriously though, he is all boy. I don't think a bow could fool anyone!



Lucy is always begging to hold Levi and then wants a picture. Well, this one turned out cute, so I shared.



Levi is chillin' at Legoland in this picture, while Lucy is playing. He sure loves outings!


Here is Lucy getting ready for gymnastics, striking a pose. She sure loves her class!


We curled her hair for church, because the time was pushed back and we thought we had lots of time, but she has a lot of hair so we were still a little late. But boy did she look cute! (I promised Dave I would never be late again because I was doing Lucy's hair!)


And Levi got a new photo shoot... he didn't mind because he got to be naked half of the time.


Oh, nothing like little baby exploring pictures!



Naked Baby!

Levi is getting to be quite the rolly polly and can even do a few in a row to get what he wants! Look Out Mom! He loves to stand and dances if we turn the music on. His favorite activity is lying on the boppy while playing the toy piano. He is sleeping better these days and so that is why there is a blog post! Hooray!!! Don't get your hopes up too high...I said "better." It is all relative!

two times or twice?

Lucy was playing doctor with Dave and her dollies. The doll had to come in once to get her cast on and another time to get her cast off.

After Dave took the cast off, Lucy was upset and demanded:

"You were supposed to fix her twice"

Dave answered "I did."

Lucy responded "No, you only fixed her two times."

hmmmmm.......


I heard her playing with her people the other day and they were all telling their ages. The first one was "seventeen," the next was "fifteen," and the last was "eleventeen." It made me laugh.

I love hearing her make sense of the world. She has such great vocal skills, but still just doesn't understand everything and it is hilarious to hear her vocalize what she is thinking.

Rapunzel Rapunzel let down your hair!

So My sister Heidi was looking at the pictures on my camera the other day and started cracking up because I had done such a photo shoot of Rapunzel's tower. I will admitt, I am kind of obsessed with the movie. I love it and can't wait for it to come out on video (and if you know me I own about 10 DVD's and don't plan on having collection, so the fact that I want to buy it says a lot!)

So I decided to make a Rapunzel tower because Lucy wanted one. I let her help me paint and glue it. It was a lot of work and it is very not like me. I am not painty. I am not gluey. I am not artistic. I am not crafty. Wow! It turned out great. It looks artistic! There are vines. I painted bricks and vines. Maybe I am crafty. Maybe I just think that because no one else made one that I can compare it to and realize that I am not artistic. Lucy loves it and that is all that matters.

Anyway, I had to document this crafty moment.

I also wanted to say a special thank you to Cassie and Steven Daines for bestowing the small Rapunzel on us. (Steve it was soooooo great to see you and Cassie you pick amazing presents and hope to see you soon too! Cooper keep up the great work! Only 20 more years and you might be able handle this little woman!)As you can see the big doll, didn't fit and Lucy was torn up over it once I glued the roof on. I made a braid out of yarn and was looking for a little doll to glue it on, but I really prefer the real thing! We now play with little Rapunzel every day and big Rapunzel is her Mommy. It is awesome! I am so glad I have Lucy to share my Rapunzel obsession with!



Look big Rapunzel fits as long as there is no roof

Oh no the roof is on.

We can pretend the braid is hanging out of the tower. (It was Lucy's idea to put it on the chair so the tower would be taller)

Pretty much finished!

Added a yarn braid, plus put it in a magical forest!

Now we have little rapunzel! Yay! A match made in heaven! Perfect to scale!

Practice Practice Practice

Lucy and I were driving home in the car today. I had the heater on. After a little while Lucy asked me "Do you want to know how I made the car warm?"

Playing along I responded "Of course"

"I make the car warm with my nose...see" and she starts blowing in and out of her nose really fast.

I said "Wow, that's really something."

She responded "I know. Maybe someday you can do it like me, but you have to practice."

I am grateful Lucy knows how to make the car warm with her nose.

Levi is 4 months and other adventures!!!

I can't believe Levi is already 4 months old!!! Crazy the way time flies... and I thought it went fast with Lucy!

He had his 4 month checkup this week and he was 17 lbs 6 oz and 25 and 1/2 inches long!!! Whoa!! He is in the 90th percentile and so are my biceps!!! (Well, at least the right one is getting big, the left one is still pretty weak!) I've just pulled out his 12 month clothes. Crazy!

He is much different than Lucy already. Last week he grabbed rice off my plate and shoved it in his mouth. Whenever we eat he smacks his lips and drools, so I started regularly feeding him solids this week ( I had let him have a bite or two of a few things before). He loved it. He smiled, he smacked, he swallowed. He seriously already eats better than Lucy did at 9 months old. She was such a pill, always gagging on everything. She would only eat if she had the spoon, so she couldn't possibly have eaten more than 5 calories per feeding. Levi even drank his Rotavirus vaccine. Lucy spit at least half of it out and freaked out! So funny! The other huge difference is Levi likes to play on the ground and practice his skills. He can push his tummy off the ground for a little bit now when he is on his tummy. Lucy would go down for a few minutes if I entertained her the whole time she was down. Levi is really very happy although he was still colicky (which doesn't seem to make sense, but he would be happy a lot and then I could tell when his tummy hurt and he was miserable).

Levi used to roll a lot between 2 and three months, but now he seems to be working on his push ups when he is on his tummy. He also kicks and paddles like crazy on his tummy. One lady at the park remarked "He looks like he is paddling for a wave" and he very well could be already working on his surf skills. He loves to look at things and grab them, his favorite being my hair. He also loves to growl like a dinosaur. He loves it when me and Lucy dance with him. His favorite activity is bath time. He starts giggling as soon as I turn the water on and he knows it's time. When he goes to sleep, I put him in the crib and he coos and sings himself to sleep ( If I get him down soon enough, if not I have to rock him in the blanket). I won't comment on his night time activities, I'll just leave you all thinking he is an easy baby!

Here is his little 4 month photo shoot I did yesterday in my parents backyard.


Levi looks like he doesn't have hair, because his hair is the same color as his head. So just to prove it (and to be funny) I put it in a little mohawk for you!

Is that both of my kids smiling at the same time? You have no idea how many pictures I took to get that!



We went hiking at the Torrey Pines State Reserve on Thursday. It was a beautiful day. We finished it collecting shells at the beach.

Two weeks of gymnastics lessons and she is a pro already!


I love living here! Winter is such a different experience!


Last, but not least we got a good family shot!

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