I go through spurts of creative energy. Of course being pregnant those spurts were very short lived. Now that I'm back on my feet the creative flow has been revitalized as well. This week I pulled out my sew machine and internet resources and got busy with the girls! We made mini candy apples on monday, and although they didn't turn out nearly as well as family fun's version they were still yummy, on tuesday laura and i put together a silly spider, wednesday both of the girls helped me make a collasol mess and a double batch of rolls, thursday we hit the fabric store and made green halloweenish playdough, friday and saturday I made these adorable trick or treat bags, and today laura and eden made this 'custom' picture for Ryan to look at while he's hanging out with us in the kitchen. We really have been busy doing other things too, but it's just been a crafty sort of week.
Tonight, at her insistance, I helped Larua make a letter to Santa Clause. It's not even Halloween yet and she's got it in her sights. Probably because she saw one of her presents I had not hidden very well. I told her Santa had asked me to send it to him, it was in a box. I'm glad she's only four and believed me. It's amazing how innocent they are. Anyway, tonight we pulled a piece of lavender paper with cupcakes on it off of my fridge list pad and made what I'm sure is one of many, christmas lists. Perhaps she's inherited my love of lists. She would draw these cute, tiny little preschooler doodles of her wishes and I wrote what they were next to them. A pink barbie dress, a yoyo that she saw at the zoo an entire year ago, a violin and a guitar(I suttely hinted to that one, she is getting a violin and I wanted to make sure it was on her list:), a rocking horse like the one at Grandma Rosey's, and a toy sew machine (I was in the middle of sewing her trick or treat bag). She made an envelope for it, and after remaking the list because the original got lost already, Laura got her and Eden ready with coats and flipflops on, grabbed daddy's flashlight because the sun was going down, and dragged me outside to find Santa's mailbox! I steered them towards our box down the street and made the incredible discovery that our mailbox had magically become Santa's! So her letter is mailed, I hope Santa gets it before Christmas:)
Today while Eden, Ryan and I were on our way to the fabric store I looked back and saw Eden sticking her finger in her ear. I asked if she was ok and in a rather confused voice she said she had 'nicey' in her ear. In our family we call vaseline 'nicey', we use it in place of diaper rash creme; the term originated from when my sister Sarah was a toddler:) I asked if it was yellow and explained that it was ear wax. Her reply, "Mommy I like ear wax!"
Ryan's starting to smile more and more. I love it, it's like a wonderful reward for the last year's trials and tears. Thank heavens for little baby smiles. It even makes up for today: I was holding him and talking to a friend when all of a sudden I felt something warm and wet go straight down my cleavage. Yep, he's the spit-up king, and I love him.
Thursday I had a very novel experience: I took the girls and my friend Rita and we wandered over to the grand opening of the new Deseret Industries in Layton. I don't know what I was expecting but certainly not what we found, almost two parking lots full to capacity. It was like the after-thanksgiving day sales! I kid you not, the aisles were packed. Crazy. But I admit I did find some great stuff: a brand new pair of shoes, and an aeropostale jacket and a dressup dress for Laura. Apparently for a grand opening they get all the really good stuff from the surrounding areas. Yesterday I went back and the Jazz Bear was signing autographs and a only kind of freaky clown was making balloon puppies and swords. Again, I wished I had a camera. Only in Utah.
Something stupid I did this week: stayed up until 1:00 on Friday night reading 'The Thief' by Megan Whelan Turner. This was a great young adult, fantasy book, but man was I grumpy and tired on Saturday! But I definitley recommend reading it, it's a Newbury book, and can't wait to read the next two in the series. 
I sent Brent to the grocery store and he came home with this, the biggest artichoke ever. We steamed and ate it last night. I'm not much of a fan, but Brent craves them. 
Ryan's starting to smile, about once or twice a day, but isn't so sure if he likes his play gym yet:) A few nights ago he slept for 8 hrs. straight-too bad the girls decided to wake up with nightmares every couple of hours. Any suggestions for helping them have better dreams?
I moved the toys downstairs a few days ago in preperation for Ryan taking over the previous playroom. It turned out really well I think. My, and the girls', favorite features include the art table, that used to be in my kitchen, the book nook by the kitchen, the mirror at little girl eye level, the flower border, and the new road map rug from Ikea. I also made the dress ups more fun by putting them in a couple of containers for dresses, hats, and shoes. The girls have already liked playing down here more and I hope it will help control the toys a little better. I love rearranging, I'll be pretty sad when the kids are too old to have a neat playroom like this!
Fall:The gathering of all the cousins and heading to Hogle Zoo in the fall is becoming quite the tradition. The third year was definitley a success, despite our, also traditional, adventure on the way to and from the zoo. Why do they always seem to close the freeway ramps we need?! But when we did finally make it there a good time was had by all. The weather was perfect- low 70s, and there weren't very many people there, and all of the animals were out and active. I didn't take a ton of photos because I was pushing the stroller, taking breaks to nurse the baby, and generally two steps behind everyone. But that's ok, the girls had fun running with the cousins and maren and my mom also helped push the stroller up the massive hill leading to the exit:)
Highlights included: the elephant show, one is pregnant, has been for a year, and still has a full 10 months left. You better believe I was feeling lucky. The penguins who were out waddling but didn't want to swim, the lions pacing around, the momma gorilla who took a good look at us through the glass, and of course the conservation carousel and the train.
I'm so glad that my mom, maren and her kids were able to come down for our annual fall excertion, next on the agenda: the auntie's retreat in November!
may '08, at the treehouse children's museum
