MAYLIN2007

  After tucking in the kids, I went into the bathroom and found this. Obviously, it is Maylin's handy work. Any ideas on what might have been going on in her head?

Have you noticed that kids can sleep anywhere? Adults don't sleep well if the mattress isn't good, if their pillows aren't right, etc. But a kid can sleep with their heads dangling, on hard surfaces, in tight cramped areas, being carried, in a crowd, pretty much, you name it and a kid can sleep in it or through it. Man, sometimes I wish I was young again. Here is Maylin asleep, on the wood floor. She said to me, "Mom, I am tired." Next thing I know she lays right down where she said it and is out like a light!

A Chinese New Year Party! What fun. We met a lot of new people. It was so great to see all these little girls together. Thanks to Circe for having us all over. Please click on the collage to enlarge. There are too many cute pictures not to see them close up.   Maylin and Emily. These two have been friends since China. Maylin needs to slow down on the growth or Emily will need a ladder to play with her.   Our version of the "red couch".   Maylin, Emily and Anna showing off the Valentines they made. On the car ride home...Anna and Maylin get silly with their hearts.  

One of Maylin's grandmas gave her this darling wedding dress for Christmas. She loves it! When she wears it she is so quiet and walks around with this "I know I am cute" look. Today, Kenzie was her bridesmaid. They had a ball.        

I have debated about pulling my last blog entry. I have had a lot of calls about it. Dang, I wish so many people didn't know my number. At least it was nice to talk to folks I haven't heard from in a while. Once again, it is my opinion and my opinion only. I wouldn't have said a thing, but I felt I couldn't be neutral. I am sorry if I have upset anyone. My point of writing it was after I talked to my friend yesterday and we discussed the treatment of President Bush when he was leaving. Booing was uncalled for, so was sing the "good-bye" song. That started my feelings. I apologize to anyone that I have upset. I have decided not to pull it as I am just as entitled to writing my fears, concerns, wishes as anyone else. I would never hold anyone accountable for their views, I just think I should be able to express mine. This unknown future we are all heading into is scary and we all have the right to our feelings. I guess next time, I will stay quiet. I just have s...

I have really tried to stay flexible in my thoughts and feelings about the recent Presidential election. I see that some things could have been done better or differently by our former President, however, I also see that he was dealt a very hard hand. What other President handled 9/11? What other President had to deal with an economy that was caused by lots and lots of people who wanted to make more money or who wanted to live larger than the small amount they made? What President stood firm to his values when people were hurling complaints and negative comments? I think none. I look forward to what the new President will bring. He has brought a renewed interest in government. I think that is great. I think it is terrific America looked past race and he was voted in. I think it shows what I have always believed that the majority of America let race go a long time ago, despite the complaints we still hear. I look forward to seeing our new President succeed. However, my optimism doesn...

  Sitting on the potty, singing Taylor Swift's "Love Story." Nothing better than that!

I know this blog is about our kids and you all tune in to see them, but today it is my turn. I have some thoughts I wanted to share. I have been cleaning out my storage room. I have really gotten into food storage it lately. In fact, when showing my sister my storage she said, "Laurel I think you need an intervention." Funny and probably true, but when it costs too much to buy an item or when we have a natural disaster and you can't get stuff at the store....I will be glad I have what I need. Anyway, we have a building in our backyard and I thought it would be great to move the non-food items, like Christmas decorations, old clothes etc out there. In prep for this move, I went through every box and made a huge pile to go to the Deseret Industries, a thrift store. I kept anything of Kenzie's that Maylin could wear, but things that were to small went bye-bye. However, I was surprised at what happened with the boys' items. Obviously the boys shared most of their clot...

  This little girl cracks us up! She is either dressing up, pretending, getting into things or saying things that just kill us. Here she is with a cat nose laying in a baby cradle. She would go from meowing to crying. Silly. I like to ask her if she is my daughter. I love to hear her say, "Yep. And you are my mudder." Warms my heart. So yesterday I asked like always, "Are you my daughter?" This time she said, "No. I am you budderfly." That warmed my heart too.

Austin performed last night in a ballroom dance showcase. He danced the cha-cha, foxtrot, swing, and samba. He did great. I almost cried watching him. And sorry there is a Christmas photo in the collage. Apparently I selected it with out knowing and I couldn't figure out how to get it out!        

In the world of toddlers, a second is like an hour. Truly, I believe that in just a second a toddler can destroy, change, alter a room, a house, a world. Well at least my toddler can. I make bread weekly for my family. I keep the regular flour in a canister on the counter, but because my bread flour is in a 50 lb bag, it is kept in a 6 gal bucket in my coat closet, just next to my kitchen. I have been oh-so-careful to not let Maylin see what is in that bucket. But, alas, last time making bread, I was too tired and too careless and she saw me get into that white bucket. While putting the dough in the pans, Maylin slipped out of my view. I could still hear her, so I knew she was okay. But then the dreaded silence hit. I hurried and wiped the dough from my hands and found.....see below.       Not sure if taking pictures while a child is in time-out is a good way to teach them that a parent is serious about them not doing what they did again, but heck, it was so cute I had to...

Necessity is truly the mother of invention. Here is proof. My cute boy, Alex, broke his glasses right before a basketball game. He worked so hard at this "fix" so he could play and not let his team down. He did it all by himself...100%! It actually worked and worked well. He is a smarty. Supplies used: scissors, paper and tape.