Moving to the Big Tub

My little Liesl is growing like a weed!  This week I moved her to the big tub because she was making a mess in the baby tub. 

Since she's just so mellow, her response was indifferent.  But the second time around she acted more excited about the freedom to move.  So, I give her a week or two before she's splishing and splashing the whole time.

The Big Box of Crayons

It's funny how a little object can bring so many memories to mind.  Yesterday while I was working on a dumb coloring project (dumb because I started it last August and still haven't finished it) I got to thinking about crayons.

Memory One:
When my parents came home from their mission my sister and I started on the above mentioned project.  At the time, we were still living in their house so I had access to the big bucket of crayons that my mom had accumulated throughout my childhood.  A few weeks later when Owen and I moved out again, I realized *gasp* I didn't have any crayons.  Yes, you read that right...I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CRAYONS!!!  How I managed to be married 3 1/2 years (not to mention being an elementary education major) without my own crayons is beyond me.  I had colored pencils, every shade of marker known to man in every tip size you can imagine, water color pencils and oil pastels...but no crayons!!!  I wonder if I even had any while I was single and out of my parents house?  Maybe I really did have some at one point and they were lost or broken (more on the broken later), but it really is just not like me to NOT have crayons nearby.

There really is a point to this story, so anyway, while Owen and I were at the store one day (the only one we have) I gravitated to the wonderful aisle with all the school-type art supplies (you know, the Crayola stuff) and sat staring at all the crayons with a dilemma on my mind: let my more practical left brain convince me to get a small box of knock-off brand crayons to save money or follow my more dominant creative right brain and splurge on the big box of good crayons.  Who knows how long I pondered this when Owen came to my rescue.  "Get the big box!" he said.  And that was that!  Away I went, happily holding my new box of crayons and with further evidence of just how well my husband knows me.

Memory Two: 
When I was maybe eight or nine, a present from my sister Alicia sat under the Christmas tree for me.  On the wrapping paper was a large note, "Fragile!  Handle with Care.  Don't shake!" written in her handwriting.  Being the nosy little pest I was, I would sit with the box nearly every day trying to figure out what on earth my sister would give me that was fragile.  I probably probed her a time or two wondering also.  I remember her telling me to just leave it alone so I didn't break it before I opened it.  I doubt I listened.

Well, Christmas day finally came and I opened up the package to find a BIG box of brand new crayons.  I was slightly confused as I was expecting something delicate and highly breakable only to be holding crayons.  So I asked what all the drama about it being fragile was.  Her reply?  "Well, I know how much you hate broken crayons."  She's still just as thoughtful today.


Memory Three:
A few years ago, Owen had a chemistry class with a female professor.  Every time the students were working on a lab, she would say, "Now boys, be sure to be descriptive.  Use that big box of crayons!"  Ever since then, it's stuck as a phrase at our house.

Now go pull out your crayons and color something!  Hopefully you've got a big box too because I'm not sharing. You might break them, or worse, mix them up!  ;)

Missing You Already!

Grammy and Grampy came for a visit and although we were sick the entire time they were here, we still had lots of fun!!  But after a week of play, they had to go back home, so we caught a few pictures before they left town.  We were sad to send them off!  So, it's a good thing we're going to North Carolina in August!

Miriam was being...well, she was being a two-year-old.  She refused to sit with Grammy when we trying to get pictures, so later on we sort of conned her into standing near Grammy.  This is the result: a spread out picture with funky lighting.  It's the best I could get.

Blessing Day

Dear Liesl,

You are a very lucky little girl.  You have a righteous Priesthood holder as your daddy and he gave you a very sweet blessing last Sunday, May 2, 2010.  In your blessing circle were other special Priesthood holders in your life: Grandpa, Grampy, Uncle Kurt, Uncle Jeremy and Bishop Arnold.  Many family and friends came to celebrate the day with you.  Grammy and Grampy even came all the way from North Carolina and Aunt Alicia, Emmett and Melynn came from Nebraska.  In fact, there were so many people we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house for your blessing "luncheon" (that was really held at dinnertime because we have the late church block) since we live in an itty bitty apartment right now.  There were 23 people altogether!!  Grandma, Grandpa, Grammy, Grampy, Aunt Heidi, Amber, (Brianna was sick so she and Uncle Kelly stayed home) Uncle Kurt, Aunt Suzette, Kayleigh, Megan, Tyson, Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Tara, Dylan, Ethan, Cassie, Katie, Aunt Alicia, Emmett, Melynn (Uncle Josh was busy with medical school rotations) plus Mom, Dad and Miriam, of course.  It was a very exciting day and I am so happy you came to our family so we could all share it with you.  I love you, sweet girl.

Love,
Mom



Since blessing days always seem to get a little hectic, I didn't get a chance to get pictures of Liesl in her blessing dress that day.  I actually forgot my camera entirely, but luckily my sister came to my rescue and took a bunch for me, so here are a few of those.

And here are a few from today.  Since we were all home sick from church, I decided to catch a few pictures of her all dressed up again.

Just Slap a Big 'Q' on Our Door and Run Away as Fast as You Can!

quar·an·tine: (noun) a state of enforced isolation

Supposedly, the BYU-Idaho dorms have a system of punishment known as quarantine where a 'Q' is placed on the door of "naughty" dorm tenants (ie. breaking curfew).  Then, for the next week, no one is allowed to visit said apartment.  I can't exactly verify this, as I never lived in the dorms so this information is all hearsay, of course.  So, whether or not it's entirely true, I've always thought it was a funny spin on the more traditional quarantine of ill people.

But in any case, we could really use a 'Q' on our door right now.  I've been sick for a week and a half now!  It all started with a cold that I generously shared with my girls.  I've also got a double ear infection and came down with a stomach bug last night.  Luckily, Owen has been spared thus far and I hope it stays that way.  Who else will take care of everything if he gets sick too?!

Cute 'Do

Last Sunday I was feeling especially ambitious and decided to do something different with Miriam's hair.  While it turned out super cute, it took FOR-EV-ER!!  She was wiggling, wiggling, wiggling, so naturally I was pushing, pulling, tugging and following her every move just to get itty bitty rubber bands into her hair to make the design.  I'm pretty sure I said, "I'm almost done.  Hold still just one more second." at least fifty times!!!  It turned out super cute, but I think I'll wait a while before trying my patience like that again!  Maybe Miriam will outgrow this and one day want me to do her hair...HA!  Or maybe I'll get lucky and Liesl will like to have her hair done.

Open Wide

Owen's parents are in town for Liesl's blessing tomorrow, so we thought we'd treat them to a local favorite: Big Jud's. 

Owen ate this one pound Big Jud all by himself! 

Owen and The Burger

Just kidding -- we split it amongst all four adults.  :)  It was PLENTY of food, for sure.