Saturday, October 8, 2011

Vampire girl


Maggie is sporting double teeth on both sides of her mouth. I keep asking Owen if he thinks she should have the baby ones pulled. At first he said to give it time, they will fall out. Well, they haven't so when are we going to pull these babies out? "well, I'm just so busy, I don't think I can work her into my schedule." You think having him as their dentist is an advantage? Next week, Maggie has to go in after hours for this. She is not happy.

Labor Day goodness!

One of the benefits of living in Las Vegas-(-since there are so few of them) is that we are 4 hours from Long Beach Ca where Owens parents live. So we decided to have a weekend getaway to escape the heat here in Vegas. We always have to take a trip to the beach and collect shells, put our feet in the water, make sand castles and of course get wet! We had no intention of getting wet, so next time everyone is going in their suits even if we say "we aren't getting in the water." I'm sorry but a swim suit dries a heck of a lot faster than jeans. ALl I remember was 1. Maggie complained A LOT about being cold and wet. 2. Miles did not like the water, much too scary. 3. Audrey and Drew do not care and have no fear! Just happy to be alive and at the beach--that explains why they are my easiest children. 4. I just wanted a good family pic that noone wanted to cooperate with me on. 5. Owen is in his own world when we are there. He starts having visions of himself owning beachfront property so he can come to the beach everyday.






Thursday, September 15, 2011

First Day of School

Well, another school year has begun. We really thought we would be another state, but that just didn't happen. Soon, We hope.
First day of school the kids woke up super early. They were ready probably ready an hour before it actually started. I remember how happy Maggie was. She was singing Billy Curringtons song "Love Done Gone" all morning.
Maggie started 5th grade this year. King of the school right? Here in Vegas 6th grade is in Jr. High, so she could very well be in Jr. High next year if we stay..which we're not.
Maggie is starting the whole puberty talk. Before school, she started shaving her legs. They were pretty hairy, but I never said a word. It was all her doing and I gave her the lecture about how it was going to be a life committment. I think she's just beginning to be self concious about stuff like this. We found out that she already knew the birds and the bees when we gave her the rundown addition. Wasn't as painful as I was expecting. Today she came to me and said she wants to get a training bra because Gabby is always talking about hers. Oh, Mercy me. AM I ready for all this? nope.
Audrey started 3rd grade. She got lucky as usual and has all her 3 BFF's in her class this year. Audrey, Brooke, Lexi and the other Brooke. This could be trouble. She's a good kid so I'm not worried, just worried about her focasing since she is in her own world half the time. La te da te da and care free.

Drew started kindergarten this year saints be praised. We decided half day afternoon. Full day was $330 a month! Morning started at 7:50. Drew is not a morning person so that was a no go. An added bonus is that Miles naps in the afternoon so it's a win win for me. My afternoons are filled with veging on the couch watching Days of Our lives. Well, I wish, it's pretty much catch up time, but at least it's in peace. Since Drew turned 5 last December, he is one of the older kids in his class. His preschool teacher last year was on him with reading last year too. So he is very much ahead which makes it easier for me. I'm grateful because there are kids in his class that don't evern recognize the #1. I still have to reward Wii time for homework though. The wii is his first love. Isn't he a cutie? I love this little boy of mine!
And then there's Little Miles. He insisted on wearing his backpack to drop off and pick up.--everytime. Now the kids just meet me at the corner so we don't have to get out of the car. No more backpack. It was pretty cute the way he said it too.

The 2 little buddies

ANd a shout out to the Packit! These little lunch bags are a dream come true. You put them in the freezer the night before, and they keep everything cold for 12 hours. No more warm chocolate milk or cheese.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

A little Shabby Chic

a few pics here.
First, I finally finished the desk that I've been working on and off again for months now. At first I thought turquoise was going to be brilliant. But then is was like "HELLO TURQUOISE!" It was a bit much. So then it went to a white top with turquoise sides. Didn't like that. Then it went back to all turquoise and that was too much. So I settled with a white accent drawer with a cute little knob to match. I think it turned out cute, and I may distress it a little, but it's going to be the girls study desk and I'm sure they'll distress it plenty.
Before


Meets after

Here is my coffee filter wreath. I painted it grey and everyone thought it was morbid. I thought it was classy. I love it! And i think it looks great hanging on my mirror. If you want to know how to make one of these babies, just let me know. Super easy, and Super time consuming, but worth every minute!
And last but not least...the girls dresser transformation! We bought this ikea dresser in Philly our last year of Dental school, so we've had it for 5 years or so. I think the cross country move to a toll on it because it's never been the same. In fact, for the last 9 months or so, it has completely fallen apart! Owen has pieced it together once, but when it broke again, he said no more. I really didn't want to buy a new dresser then, so I begged him to fix it again. He said once he was done with school, he would fix it. So,it's been a month and a half out of school now and it's still not fixed--go figure. So a couple of days ago I went and bought a new one and it arrived today! Yeah! I put the old one on CL for free and it was gone within an hour. Audrey didn't want us to just put it on the street, she wanted it to go to a good home, and this lady that picked it up was super excited! This cute little shabby chic dresser has beadboard on the sides. This is actually our first big purchase out of school. Now to get that leather sectional I had my eye on.
From pathetic and useless

to functional and adorable!


Maggies Performance

Maggie's dream is to be an actress. She loves to write plays, and then direct them. This summer she wrote this whole script and had all the neighbor kids in my moms neighborhood act it out. They were practicing everyday. This is serious business. She has asked me to get her an agent many times. Are we ready for all of this? Baby steps, baby steps.
My Mom directs a performance for the Provo Freedom festival every year called "Cries of Freedom". It is composed up singing and dancing all along the spirit of Freedom. Maggie has been begging Gammie to be in the show ever since she stared it, but the rule has always been you have to be 14 years old. My mom decided to create a part for Maggie and so we put her on an airplane all be herself shorty after school got out and sent her to Grandmas so she could practice. She had the time of her life and did an awesome job. Next week she starts her acting classes, and today she is trying out for Charlotte's Web.
She's in the green apron

She's the one holding the baby who was in the show too.


Monday, July 11, 2011

Whoa I'm behind! Here we go!

Drew graduated preschool this year! He is reading! All set for kindergarten--am I ready to send him off? Yes! Love the guy, but man, he is ready! He has always been my little buddy. He and I are like peas and carrots. This last year has been a little challenge because he turned 5 in December and ever since then has been a little bored being home with mom. Time for some new adventures, and he will just do half day kindergarten, so I can have him for 1 more year.
Here is his class
Tru, Lydia, Cole, Drew, Preston and Bryson
Here he is with Ms. Rebecca. But for a long time he called her Ms. Ba-Becca
This is he and Bryson --his little buddy that he calls the boy with the shaggy hair.



On Memorial Day we took a little hike up to Mt. Charleston. Being up in the mountains made me realize how much I don't like the anti beauty of Las Vegas. I love green, and mountains. Now if it wasn't for the people who set up camp next to us blasting their mariochi band music and playing soccer. It took away from my "get away from everyday life" moment.




On June 3rd, Mules turned 2! We invited a few friends over for a swim party. It was a nice day even thought a little crazy with a bunch of toddlers running around. Miles was such a good boy. he didn't hit anyone! And when they all sang Happy Birthday to him, he clapped which we were happy about since that morning his family woke him up singing to him and he didn't like all that attention and got really mad!


Owen graduated form his Pediatric Dental Residency! Yeah! This has been a long time coming! We are so proud of Owen! He will be very successful because he his such a easy going person, and so good with children. He is currently working here in Vegas at 3 different offices until we figure out where we wnat to live. Here hs is with his diplomma and all the other residents he graduated with. Oh, and he passed he=is boards too! That's an added bonus!

Miles was sporting the mullet so we had to finally cut the curls off. His nursery leader Ashton does hair so she had him come in to do the deed. Here he is before and after. Honestly you can't tell that he had a mullet in this pic, but HE DID!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

The Toddler Miracle Diet--This is hilarious!


Miles is so not into eating right now. In fact, he barely eats. We're always tring to get him to eat something and his reply is "I don't want to!" Don't worry we are not starving him. He must not be on a growth spurt right now. Some of he regular eatings are rocks, sand and toothpaste. Not kidding. He even has a fractured front tooth to prove that rocks are his favorite snack. It reminded me of an article that the pediatrician I used to work for handed out to parents when they were worried about their child not eating. I must share. Be prepared, if you have a toddler this will hit home for you.
The Toddler Miracle Diet
Americans are always on the lookout for a new diet. The trouble with
most diets is that you don't get enough to eat (the starvation diet),
or you don't get enough variation (the liquid diet), or you go broke
(the all-meat diet).

Consequently, people tend to cheat on their diets, or quit after 3
days, or go right back to stuffing their faces after it is all over.
Is there nothing you can do but give up and tell your friends you have
a gland problem? Or is there a slim (groan) hope?

Well, now there's the new Toddler Miracle Diet!

Over the years you may have noticed, as I have, that most
two-year-olds are trim. It came to me one day over a cup of black
coffee and a carrot that perhaps their diet is the reason. After
consultation with pediatricians, X-ray technicians, and distraught
moms, I was able to formulate this new diet. It is inexpensive,
offering great variety and sufficient quantity. Before embarking on
this diet, however, be sure to check with your doctor... otherwise you
might have to see him afterward. Good luck!

DAY ONE
-------
Breakfast
One scrambled egg, one piece of toast with grape jelly.
Eat 2 bites of egg, using your fingers; dump the rest on the
floor.
Take 1 bite of toast, then smear the jelly over your face and
clothes.

Lunch
Four crayons (any color), a handful of potato chips, and a
glass of milk (3 sips only, then spill the rest).

Dinner
A dry stick, two pennies and a nickel.

Bedtime Snack
Toast piece of bread and toss it on the kitchen floor.

DAY TWO
-------
Breakfast
Pick up stale toast from kitchen floor and eat it. Drink half
bottle of vanilla extract or one vial of vegetable dye.

Lunch
Half a tube of "Pulsating Pink" lipstick and a handful of
Purina Dog Chow (any flavor). One ice cube, if desired.

Afternoon Snack
Lick an all-day sucker until sticky, take outside, drop in
dirt. Retrieve and continue slurping until it is clean again.
Then bring inside and drop on the rug.

Dinner
A rock or an uncooked bean, which should be thrust up your left
nostril. Pour iced tea over mashed potatoes; eat with a spoon.

DAY THREE
---------
Breakfast
Two pancakes with plenty of syrup, eat with fingers, rub in
hair. Glass of milk: drink half, stuff pancakes in glass.
After breakfast, pick up yesterday's sucker from rug, lick off
fuzz, and put it on the cushion of your best chair.

Lunch
Three matches, peanut-butter and jelly sandwich. Spit several
bites onto the floor. Pour glass of milk on table and slurp up.

Dinner
Dish of ice cream, handful of potato chips.


FINAL DAY
---------
Breakfast
A quarter-tube of toothpaste (any flavor), bit of soap, an
olive. Pour a glass of milk over bowl of cornflakes, add a
half-cup of sugar. Once cereal is soggy, drink milk and feed
cereal to dog.

Lunch
Eat crumbs off kitchen floor and dining room carpet. Find that
sucker and finish eating it.

Dinner
A glass of spaghetti and chocolate milk. Leave meatball on
plate. Stick of mascara for dessert.