Week in Idaho...

cousins 'Kate and Allie' and a picture Laura took, she's getting to be quite the photographer

On Sunday night I decided to pack the kids up and head to Rexburg for the week. Brent had a big paper to work on, all of my sisters were going to be there at some point, the winter blahs have set in around here, and I just missed my family.

While we were there we all managed to get sick with a cold, so we didn't do a lot. Mainly hang out with family and read books in the evenings.

We did meet up with Grandma Rosey and Lesha at the new Arctic Circle play place for a few hours, and I was able to go to the beautiful Rexburg Temple with Maren.

Brent spent the week working and writing a paper, oh and he did find the time to go snowhsoeing twice.

Grandma Rosey giving nosey kisses, and Ryan giving a love to Aunt Lesha

Maren and Sarah, this is for you...

In my blog wanderings I found this recipe for a homemade version of Winger's Freakin' Amazing Sauce. Go look at it:

link to recipe>

Edee-E

My favorite Edeeism: 'Oopsi-Doopsi!'
Eden loves to jump. Whenever she meets someone new she jump, jump, jumps!
When we drop off Laura at preschool she loves to go shoppin' and has a hard time when we just go home instead.
One of her favorite thing right now are puzzles. It's not uncommon for her to do a puzzle three or four times a day. With a little help she can do 60 piecers.
Her favorite person is laura, except when daddy's home:)

Five months and rollin' everywhere. He's the aunties favorite, mostly though because he's the only baby right now, we can't resist all those delicious rolls! His eyes are starting to turn brown in the middle, I think he's going to have eyes like Laura's and Brent's: brown, green and gold.

My sister Maren just found out that the baby she's having in July is going to be baby girl number four for them! So Ryan remains the lone man in the girly cousin wilderness!

R: This picture basically sums up our life right now. A cuddly ducky with an accessory, added by L, with a snack in the background! Center: Laura writing her name on the butterfly sucker valentines. She loved giving them out at her preschool valentine party. L: Laura with her three animal friends, a pink puppy named Whistle, a white cat named Rainbow, and her ducky that she used to sleep with as a baby. She got them all dressed up with bows in their hair and then proceeded to take 30 pictures of them on my camera. The one on the right is one she took.

Sweet girl. I realized today that she and I have a lot of things in common with our personalities: I can see how she might some day stage a coupe in her classroom. Not because she's a trouble maker, but because she actually thinks she's doing what's right!

Dancing Queens

February at the Zoo

So what if it's February and cold outside. We bought that zoo year pass and we're going to use it all year long! So we picked a relatively sunny Saturday, bundled the kids up, packed a lunch of hot chocolate and hot pockets, and set out to see the animals.

It was surprising how active the animals were, a lot of them were outside enjoying the sunshine as much as we were. There was also an indoor art exhibit that was great to wander through.

The train was closed, but we got to ride on the carousel. I was the only one cold, and Ryan took a great nap.
The highlight of the trip happened when Laura and I were on our way back from a potty stop by ourselves without the camera. The mother and baby orangutan were on top of their new outdoor 'tree fort'. They were getting ready for their nap, the mother had her head covered and obviously wanted her little one to follow suit. Except that we started playing peek-a-boo with her! She would look at us, cover her eyes and then peek to see if were still paying attention. it was really cute. Laura and I talked to her for a few minutes and then started to leave waving goodbye. It surprised us both when the little monkey flipped her hand at us a few times in reply. I doubt we'll ever be waved at by an orangutan again!

Laura snapped this picture of Brent and I. Even though both of our faces are in shadows it's amazingly centered!

February 1st, 2009

snippets of this past week in no particular order:

*We talked about making our home a 'house of order' during morning devotional. Laura seems to have taken this to a whole new level and helps me with everything. Today she rinsed and dried all the dishes. Also my broom doesn't seem to stay on its hanger for very long.

*We're starting to feel a little cooped. Laura was desperate to ride her bike.

*Thursday I put everything on my to-do list aside and took the kids to the Children's Museum. We spent about a half an hour making houses and towers with the blocks alone.

*Friday I cleaned all day (due to Thursday's playday), the girls were great pretending. Although while they were playing shark and mermaid Eden got a little too involved and took bite out of Laura's back. Bandaids were involved.

*FHE: we talked about how scriptures are like the prophet's journals. Cannot get Eden to sit still!

*This is Teresa, she came to visit on Monday. Doesn't she have a beautiful rainbow skirt?


*Tried to alter one of our favorite recipes for dinner Friday night and it turned out absolutley disgusting. Brent said he liked it, but I think he might have been trying not to hurt my feelings

*Laura asked me what 'bless' means. It's a pretty abstract concept for a little kid.

*Ryan always has rice cereal at 5:00. No questions asked. It had better be there.

*I accomplished a major goal and practiced my violin and exercised every day this week! I also had Symphony rehearsal which has it's major ups and downs. I get pretty discouraged not being able to play like I want to: thus the practicing every day. I hope to continue.

*The girls are still in their puzzle phase; especially Eden.

*Brent and I escaped again on Saturday morning to the mountains for a little snowshoeing. It was beautiful and refreshing. I was totally grumpy when we left but by the time we got back I was so relaxed and happy. ahhh endorphins:)

*The girls both keep outgrowing their dresses.

*I learned how to thread my serger, but still can't figure out why the stitches don't look like they're supposed to.

*Tuesday we played with our friends Ellen, Warren and Emerson the whole day. It's amazing how a day flies when you're chatting with friends.

*Brent's been working major overtime hours learning the new projects at Little Mountain, and is also studying a lot for his class. He's a little overwhelmed but is doing well.

*Today at dinner the following conversation made Brent and I giggle:

Act: 1

Laura: 'Knock, Knock'
Eden: 'Whose there?"
L:'Peach!'
E: Laughs like it's really funny
L, in a stage whisper: 'No, Eden! Say Whose there!'
E: 'Whose there?'
L: 'Peach Potato Pie!!!'
Both laugh like they are the world's greatest comedians ever... ah preschool humor


Act:2
Eden: 'Knock Knock Who's There?'
Laura: Confused Expression on her face.
Eden whispering: Say Peach, Laura
Laura: Peach???
Eden: Peach potato Pie!!!!
Both laugh hysterically again.