cousins

It was so much fun to have the three baby cousins together at Sisters. Elaine is the oldest; Henry was born 20 days later, and Orva 16 days after Henry.

Joanne's Art

Joanne is finally considering selling her artwork!! She's amazing! Here are photos of a couple of her works. (She would be willing to do different color schemes, etc., to fit your needs). If you're interested, post a comment, and I'll let her know, or go to her blog, and post a comment there:

"The Hair"

This is my sister, Joanne. Her children are hilarious. I just have to share a couple of things they said about Jo's new haircut:
When Tristan, her 7-year-old, saw the new do, he said, "It's okay, but there's just all this hair on your face." (meaning the bangs). And Rachel, her 4-year-old, simply referred to her as "The Hair." Rachel also said to her younger sister, Elizabeth (2), "See that hair over there? That's mommy." They are darling children.

This is me, my sisters, and our mom. About this picture, Rachel said, "That is not good! Please don't ever show me that picture again!"

Sisters' Weekend 2008

Last Wednesday through Sunday was our annual sisters' weekend. I love my family!! We had so much fun together! Thank you to our husbands for making it possible!

Here's a run-down of events (thanks, Joanne; other sisters, please tell me what I'm missing):

Tuesday night - Liza flew in from Texas

Wednesday:

• Laura arrived from Virginia
• Mom, Laura, Christine cleaned my house (amazing & wonderful), while Liza was at lunch and scouting out houses with a friend
• Beaners for dinner
• Joanne arrived from Texas & Marian from England - late, late, late
  

Thursday:

• Apple crisp for breakfast
• Sisters' Gifts: Laura - leather necklaces & pendants; Rebekah - NuSkin stuff; Eliza - very cool silver necklace & earrings; Joanne & Marian - Joanne's artwork (set of 5 prints); Christine - purses from New York; Mom - James Christensen angel calendar, Proclamation CD
  
• Detailed Bikram yoga class in Mom's bedroom - taught by Laura
• Lunch at Bajios
• Marian, Christine, Mom went to Art Services; the rest of us hung out at my house
• Great northern bean soup for dinner - convincing everyone they need an electric pressure cooker
• Initiatory at Provo Temple - thanks to Annie and Charlotte for watching our babies!
• Style party preview
• Lots of Mom's gingersnaps and Liza's chocolate cookies
  

Friday:

• Hot cereal for breakfast (pressure cooker)
  
• Yoga
• Trish came and cut everyone's hair; Tine chopped her hair off & Jos got bangs
• Jo (with Henry) & Mer visited Anita at work
  
• Beaners for dinner
• Shopping (Plato's Closet, Ross, Michaels) - I stayed home with Henry & Elaine
• Joanne modeled her new clothes
• Late treat - Apple crisp with Laura's homemade ice-cream
  

Saturday:

• Walk to Amy & Jim's new house; 3 babies in packs
• Some of us tested out Mom's blue cruiser
• More shopping - Joanne, Mom, & I stayed home with Henry & Elaine
• Joanne did Liza's canvases for her room (They're incredible!! and anyone who's interested in having some of their own, contact Joanne. She's considering selling them!)
• Joanne got a migraine; it went away after some meds, a little sleep, and a slurpee
• Marian went to the Stewarts' for dinner
• Minestrone for dinner
• Dad & Davey came home from Springdale

Sunday:

• Dad taught Sunday School ("What will you bring to the altar?")
• Family pictures in front yard
• 3-cousins pictures
• Singing FHE - video of "Nearer, My God, to Thee" for Elder Johnson
• Joanne went to visit with the Motts
• Laura went to visit with the Allens
  
• Dad made mashed guhs
• Discussion about who has the strongest personality - we all tied
  
• Orva's blessing at the Gibbs'
• Last minute figuring, style party, packing

Miscellaneous:

• lots of green drinks & salads
• lots of sitting around visiting
• lots of passing babies around

to the rescue . . .

The other day, the girls and I were walking to the store, when I noticed a man about a half block in front of us. He was carrying a kitten in one hand and a drink in the other. He didn't look like he enjoyed carrying the kitten, and frankly, he didn't look like a very nice man to me. Well, when he got to the backside of the store, he crossed the parking lot, looked around (apparently didn't see me with my very discreet double stroller), and put both the drink and the kitten into a dumpster.

So, we abandoned our shopping trip and rescued the kitten. She was a sweet little Persian kitty--scared to death. I called animal control, and an officer came to our house to get the poor thing. Mariah had grown quite attached in the 30 minutes the cat was with us, and she cried when the officer took her away.

I know many people do not like cats, but I couldn't believe someone would be so mean.

Little Mama

Mariah has the whole parenting thing down. Yesterday, she put on her "pack pack like daddy," and then set to work changing her "two bear diaper." As soon as the diapers were changed, she dutifully rocked the bears and then poked each of their eyes, saying, "Poke eye." This is something very specifically not allowed with Laney. Apparently she wishes it were part of the baby-care routine. Later, she said she "needed" to put her bear in the pack. She wanted me to "sher." I told her she could pack her own baby, and I would pack Elaine.

"Eye Niner"

Mariah loves helping me with my make-up. She stands on the toilet and hands me whatever I ask for. Her favorite is the "eye niner." I push the lid on really tight so she can't open it, but I guess one day I forgot:




Then today, she got ahold of the permanent marker . . . .

To be fair . . . .

It seems Mariah is getting much more screen time than Elaine. So, to be fair, here are some pictures of my cute little girl:

A Walk by the River

I had to pick up some contacts at the eye doctor's yesterday. His office is right by the River Trail. So, I packed Elaine, and we went for a walk. Mariah loved it! She saw ducks in the river, and played in a little gazebo thing.

Sleeping

Sleeping has never been one of Mariah's strong points. She often takes an hour plus to go to sleep, and she never takes naps over an hour long. (Her poor mother . . . .) She, however, has devised a system that works for her. To get to sleep, she puts a blanket over her head and groans/moans/yells? (I'm not sure what the sound is. Her uncles have called it a "T-rex.") I actually think she does this when her teeth are hurting her--poor girl.

Here's a picture of her asleep in the car on the way home from Mike's mission reunion last Friday.