$150 Flush

No, this isn't a post about a poker hand.

Today has been one of those days. It should have been a great day. I actually planned early enough to get us out the door so we could go swimming at the community center. The kids were excited, we had a great time swimming, there was minimal whining. Mia even ate her pancakes this morning instead of just looking at them. Swimming always makes my kids super hungry and since I had some cash in my wallet, I took them to the fast food place with the big M. That's what G calls it. I made sure the car was locked as we went inside, we ordered, ate, and G hurried so he could play on the play equipment. All was good until he came back and said he needed to use the potty.

Had we been outside, he would've just dropped his drawers and peed on the slide, but thankfully he came and got me so we could use the facilities. I grabbed my keys and wallet and ran after him into the ladies room, helped him do his thing in privacy and then flushed for him as I yelled for him to remember to wash his hands before leaving the bathroom. All this happened in 30 seconds or less.

It should've been fine. Except I came out without any keys. Then I remembered I heard a jingle just as I flushed the potty. I rechecked the bathroom, no keys. Checked the table, no keys. That stupid power flush toilet ATE MY CAR KEYS. I still can't believe it. We got a ride home from a friend that works nearby and then came back for my car (did I mention Jared is in Salt Lake today?).

The ladies up at M wanted me to leave them my name and number so they could call me if the keys were recovered.

I think I'll just let the keys go, thank you.

First Steps!

I just wanted to share M's first steps with you- she's been so close for such a long time, thus the long delay in posting. I was sure she was going to take her first steps any day and it finally happened yesterday!

Jared continues in school and is doing well- his first three classes he has gotten a B+ or higher. One of them he actually scored perfectly in! I am so glad he is enjoying his classes this time around. It makes all his study time worth it.

I am busy with the Activity Days girls (8-11) on every other tuesday. We have a good group of about 15+ girls that come to my house. They are very sweet and full of energy. G loves having all the girls over- he started crying big crocodile tears last time they left.

G continues to be super active all the time. His cardiologist is pleased with his activity level, but we are continuing to be watchful, as his heart is feeling the strain from his valve defect. In the meantime, he is learning lots of new things. His favorite things right now are shapes. He loves the Baby einstein Discovering Shapes DVD. In fact, he and his cousin watched it so many times while I was in North Carolina, they wore it out and Jared and I had to buy a new one :o)! He can spot circles, squares, ovals, triangles and rectangles just about everywhere.

Baby M is still the happiest baby ever. We've had to go to the doctor a couple of times for ear infections or illnesses, but once we get there, she breaks into a big smile and no one believes that she's sick. Fortunately red eardrums are hard to hide. One of the grandmas at church watches her and will tell me, "I saw her almost cry today!"

Hope you all are looking forward to a great summer. Hopefully I can keep up with the news a little better :o)

If you are getting this post as an email and you can't see the video, click on the link below

jaredandgillie.blogspot.com

Easter Fun

I tried something new this year and got G dyeing Easter Eggs.

He is learning his colors and so it was lots of fun. For the next 2 mornings he wouldn't eat breakfast until I pulled out his colored eggs and set them on the table next to him.

Saturday we went downtown and had breakfast at our favorite place- The Wagon Wheel. Then we headed over to the park for the annual candy grab, I mean egg hunt. G still fits into the youngest group, though I'm sure some parents were wondering if he was to old for the 1-2 year old section because he is so tall.

Easter morning was great, too. G loved his Easter basket and searching for eggs outside. M was excited about her toys, too. It was really nice to be mostly over our colds and we had a great weekend being able to listen to General Conference and hear counsel from the prophet.

I am sorry that I have not posted in such a long time. In addition to not being able to use the computer while little ones are on the move, Jared now is using the MacBook all night, every night. He returned to school just over a month ago in a communications degree program. It is an accelerated program and hopefully he will finish with a bachelors degree in about 17 more months. I am really glad that he has returned to school and he is enjoying his classes so far.
I hope you all are well and that you had a great easter weekend!

Here Comes Trouble

Baby June bug learned to crawl yesterday, so I quick grabbed the camera and threw down a few cheerios to get her to do it again and this is the result. Today she didn't need any more incentive to crawl across the kitchen besides the siren song of the dog water bowl. She's already trying to pull herself up on things, so I'm sure walking will happen faster than we want it to :-)

Photography Exhibit

Garrison is fascinated by the camera. Not so much about having his picture taken. Last week I let him take pictures all by himself and this is what we got...

Pictures as Promised

We just received the pictures we took the day Malihah was sealed to us, so here are a few of my favorites









I tried not to duplicate the ones Dion published on her website, so you should head over to her site, too.
Here's the link
http://dionsenecaphotography.blogspot.com/2010/01/forever-family.html

Note to Self:

Play ring around the rosies more often.

Today at church the ladies got out of classes before the men. This never happens. Think about it- you know why: women just have more words to use each day. Usually Jared and G are just waiting for Relief Society to finish so they can gather me and June bug and all our stuff up so we can go.
But somehow today I got out of the room quickly and headed down an almost empty hall with June bug towards the nursery to pick up G. I peered through the door window and tried to stay out of sight as I watched ten two-year-olds playing ring around the rosies with their nursery leaders. Every single one of them had sheer delight on their face. Unadulterated and completely undisguisable as they all fell down. I took a moment and walked in to hold his hand and play it one more time.

A mother's heart has never been lighter.

Thank you Owen and Angie and Derek and Tomi for being such great nursery leaders. I know it's not easy to give up your own opportunity to participate in gospel classes to watch other's children, but it is so wonderful to know my son is enjoying learning basic gospel truth in a fun environment. You have blessed our family so much.