why I love taking pictures of a 3 year old

you

just

never

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What being a girl is all about

Yesterday was finally our "official" visit to the new American Girl store at Alderwood Mall.  The girls had no idea as I told them we were just headed to the mall to see the weekly summer movie at the theater.  They were rather surprised as I was rushing them past the store so we "wouldn't be late for the movie", to see our friends hanging out at the entrance.  It didn't take long for the screaming and jumping to begin!  Trying to take pictures of girls in a new doll store is a bit like trying to capture a gazelle running from a pride of lions.  They go this way and that, only looking back at you for a second to make sure you're still around.

Genna and Bella posing with Kanani at her shaved ice stand

she's adored these Bitty Babies for a few years now, so it's quite a treat to finally get to hold one

checking out the display

Bell and Kanani

she's just tickled to bits to be here!

Admiring the horses, and Genna announcing she would rather buy a horse from Target or Walmart since they would be much cheaper, haha!

what's over here.......no, what's over here........... wait for little Brie!

The very helpful staff found a doll "just like Genna"

She's so happy to be bringing home Kanani she can't even keep her eyes open!

Somehow I managed not to snap a pic of the girls with their new dolls, but I'm sure I'll have one to post soon since I've pretty much turned into a stalker with my new camera.  I'm equally as certain there will be many trips to American Girl in our future, and many more photo opportunities.  Now I must go cuddle with Bella and read her new Kanani book to her and her dolly.

my summer babies

It's here! It's here! It's here!

Did you miss me?  Sorry about that, I've pretty much moved into Leading Edge Gymnastics part time.  And when not there, I've been trying to keep my kids busy with summer rainy day activities since it seems we're going to have a rather moist summer.  (oh, and I'm NOT complaining!  Right now I much prefer rain to heat, but my kids are bummin' big time)  On the rare chance I don't actually have anything on my calendar, I've been busy buying buckets of pink. (buckets being about the size of a sand pail though since I haven't actually had much free time) In a nutshell, I'm a little short on time these days.  Anyhow, I have an announcement:

The moment every little girl dreams of is finally here: American Girl has opened a store at the Alderwood Mall! I think there are still less than a dozen of these stores in the entire country, and if you have an American Girl fan, it's a big deal to get one in your neck of the woods.

Now, I had ZERO intention of going there on opening day.  I knew it would be a mad-house, and we have plans to visit with some dear friends after the initial hullabaloo settles down.  I've been in need of some new maternity tops, and due to aforementioned crazy schedule, I found myself headed to the mall on launch day.  I had Bella in tow, but still no plan to visit wonderland.  For some stupid reason, I was taken by surprise at the hundreds of little girls milling about holding their dolls, signs plastered on every surface, balloons galore, and, of course, a DJ for radio Disney in the parking lot.  Bella wouldn't have said a combative word if I told her we weren't going to visit, but that's just not the kind of mom I am.  So, we paraded across the parking lot, in the rain, and got our admission tickets.  (tickets were free, this was simply a safety and crowd control measure)  We were told our ticket number would probably be let in the store around noon, which was fine because we'd come to the mall to shop anyhow.

Since we were already in the parking lot, we decided to head over to the tent where the music was coming from and see the happenings.  Jamba Juice was set up with free smoothies for everyone; a perfect treat at 9:30 am!  There were tables set up with crafts, and Bella was able to make a crown to take home to one of her dolls.  They also had karaoke set up for the brave young ladies to take turns dazzling the crowds, and each participant won a prize.  They even had the girl of the year set up on a table in the tent, much to Bella's excitement:

(she's been admiring Kanani in the catalog since January!)

We made our way back inside to do our shopping and have some lunch while we waited for our turn to tour the store.  Despite the massive crowds, it was fairly well organized.  When we came back they were already passed our number, so we simply showed our tickets and walked right in without having to stand in line.  Bella was immediately handed a free gift just for coming in the store. Super cool!! 

I think it took her a good 45 seconds to even speak after walking in, and even then it was more a jumble of sounds than a complete sentence.  The fact that the place was so jammed you had to shuffle around made no difference to her- all she could see was a world of dollies.  (thankfully Bella is small, so it was easy for me to just park myself in an empty corner and watch her weave in and out to all the different displays; oohing and ahhing equally at each one)  In true American Girl style, it was a pink paradise.  Being a bibliophile, I was a bit disappointed in the "book store" section, but I noticed they had most of the historical character books displayed with the dolls instead.  I didn't get more than a peek at the bistro, but what I saw of the menu looked pretty good.  (hopefully it'll taste good too because I'm planning a surprise lunch party for Genna on her birthday!)

The store also features a doll hospital, a doll salon (which includes ear piercing and hair styling for the doll), and a "Tee for Two" station where you can have matching T-shirts designed for you and your doll.

The staff seemed genuinely happy and helpful, and I was amazed at how well behaved all the children in the store were!  No tantrums or whining, no rudeness of any kind despite the overwhelming excitement. It was also really neat to see the wide range of ages of the girls in the store; I guess appropriate toys and books which encourage girls to be independent ladies has wide appeal........ are you taking notes toy companies????? The parents on the other hand............... wow.  They were pushing, smacking into people, barking at their kids and the employees.  Yes it was busy and the line to purchase things was very long, but what did they expect on opening day? 

No matter, it was the perfect end stop to a lovely shopping day with my sugarbell.  I just love seeing that childhood amazement come over her, and can't wait to go back with our friends soon!

the anatomy of a cartwheel

thank you Vickie for these action shots!

Oh to be a fly on the wall..........

On Thursday night the girls participated in their very first Gala at Leading Edge Gymnastics.  This set of snapshots was taken from across the gym while the girls were waiting to take their place on the floor as the next act. I can only imagine what they must have been talking about........ *please ignore the random family behind them.  Not sure who they are or why they were over in the coaches area*

this one is my favorite

They have yet to divulge their secret conversation, but that's OK because I crack up every time I look at these pictures.  I'll post pics of the actual performance very soon.

Awesome Bell, thanks

Yesterday morning Bella came to my room and woke me up early to tell me:

"time travels are just not fair."

Ok, I agree, I suppose............?


Also, Bella thinks we should name our new baby Duchess Ivanna Partay.  I wonder if there will ever come a day when that girl doesn't surprise me with what comes out of her mouth?

Keep your receipts........

That's what the ultrasound tech told me at my scan since I was only 16 weeks, but it looks like we might be adding a little girl to our family!  I'll have another scan in about a month, which will be more in depth and hopefully we'll be able to see for sure!  If this does turn out to be the baby girl the kids have been hoping for, her name will be Abigail Leighla. Abbie for short.  Whatever this baby turns to be, we know they'll be cool- the tech got a picture of the baby giving us a thumbs up!

I suppose he's right

Isaac said to me, "if our family was a movie, witches, pirates, and lions that talk would come to our house.  Squirrels are OK though."

And there you have it.

words of wisdom from classic cinema

I like old black and white movie.  There's no shock value, no sex appeal, no computer generated images.  They had to rely on good actors, a good script, and wit; imagine that!  The other night I decided to watch Harvey with James Stewart, and there was a line that I loved:

Years ago, my mother used to say to me, she'd say "In this world, Elwood, you can be oh so smart, or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart... I recommend pleasant. You may quote me. ~ Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart's character)

Words to live by.  Perhaps we could all use a little Harvey in our lives.

sorry about that, I thought the world was ending

otherwise I would have updated the blog sooner! 

Ok, obviously I didn't actually expect the world to end on Saturday, but there are a lot of people who did.  Harold Camping claims there were secret passages in the Bible that were revealed to him, and God gave him the codes he needed to decipher these encrypted scriptures. Let's all say it together now: ooooooook.  Sounds a little out there, right?  I certainly think so.  Unfortunately there were people who believed this man.  It's easy to mock and make jokes, but right now our focus needs to be on the victims of this scam. (it is a scam because Harold Camping's "ministry" is reported to be worth somewhere in the ballpark of $100 million)  Yes, there actually are victims in this mess, and they are completely innocent and deserving of our concern: the children.  The children whose parents believed Harold Camping.  The children who had no choice as their parents sold off their house, their cars, and all their possessions.  They had no say in the fact that their parents quit their jobs, maxed out their credit cards, and used every last cent to their name.  They endured the heartbreak as their parents gave away beloved family pets, or even worse, had them euthanized.  One way or another, these children were told they were going to die.  Either they would be lifted up to Heaven in the rapture, or would be left behind on Earth to suffer through earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, fire, disease...... a literal hell on Earth without any guarantee someone would be there to look after them.  These are the people we should all be focused on right now, ESPECIALLY because Harold Camping still claims October 21st is when the Earth will cease to exist.  There has already been one report of a woman attempting to commit suicide, and to take her daughter with her.  Please pray that these people will seek the counsel they need, and pray these children will heal and move on from these monumental mistakes their parents have made.  They did nothing wrong, but will suffer the most.

suprise!

we're having a baby!

not sure what I should have expected really

For mother's day, Bella said she was going to make my bed.  When I went to lay down, I discovered she had actually made me a fort. That girl is awesome. ♥

I miss her little days

With Genna inching ever closer to double digits, it becomes increasingly rare for her to say those silly little kid things we all love so much.  Last night though, I got a great one from her.  We were watching the new singing competition, The Voice, and she was singing along to all the country songs.  I asked her if she liked country music, and she gave me an shy smile and admitted she kind of did.  I told her there was no reason to act embarrassed- everyone likes different music.  With a bit more confidence she said, "I actually do think I like country music better than city music!" Hahahaha! City music!?!  I couldn't help but pull her in for a big hug while I cracked up.  It's wonderful to get a little glimpse back in time like that.


By the way, what exactly is city music?

Hmmm, maybe I will have a favorite after all..........

Tonight Isaac told me, "someday I'm going to marry a wonderful girl just like mommy."  Oh how I love that little boy!

a little bit of luck?

There's a horseshoe above our front door.  We didn't put it up, but I love that it's there.  I usually forget about it completely until I'm sitting out in the right spot in the yard and happen to look up and notice it.  Every time I see it, it makes me smile because it reminds me of my grandpa.  He was a cowboy.  Not a silly city guy that just wore the boots and hat, but a true born and bred cowboy.  People called him Tex. (Or Rip.  He came from a place where everyone had nicknames.)  When I was young he bought a ranch in Idaho and built a log cabin, and hang a horseshoe above his front door.  He said it was for good luck, and as long as it hung upright his life would be filled with riches.  (if the horseshoe falls over, all of your luck will spill out)  I often wonder about who hung it up there, and wonder if maybe they knew him since he used to live right in this area.  Sometimes I think about if I'll take it with me or not when we move someday, but then I think perhaps I'll leave it there to give the next family a bit of luck.

Who IS this child?

Today I was thinking about what we would do to celebrate Micaiah's birthday next month, and suggested heading to Country Village to ride the train, see the chickens, and have ice cream cones.  Genna has never been to Country Village, and asked what type of things they have there.  I was showing her pictures on their web site and telling her the different stores; bead shops, gift shops, fabric shop, stamping store, toy store, paper shop, antique store....... when she loudly exclaimed "ANTIQUE STORE?!?" Uh, yeah. (insert confused look here)  She then started going on and on about how much she loves antique stores because my mom took both girls to one up north near her property, and they both loved it.  This was surprising news because as a child, my parents had their own antique store and I spent countless hours being dragged to antique stores and malls from here to Montana.  To me, antique stores = smelly and boring.  I could be quite happy to live the rest of my life and never again step foot into an antique store.  Thankfully since it will be Micaiah's birthday I think I'll be able to avoid taking her through the antique shops, but it wouldn't surprise me at all after our visit if she asks to come back for her own birthday to visit the tea room and go antique shopping.  Where did this strange little child come from?

A city girl with a farmers heart?

Much to my parents dismay I believe, I have always been much more of a city girl than a country girl.  Camping? Uh, no thank you, please point me to the nearest hotel with room service.  However, in the last couple years I have found myself having a bit more of a desire for homesteading.  Today a friend was telling me that her family is thinking about raising hens, and it reminded me of my own desire to have a little urban farm.  I would love to have a little hen house and have fresh eggs on hand all the time.  I also would love to have a little goat friend to help make light work of our little wilderness patch on the side of the house.  I mentioned the hens to Jeremy today; let's just say the look he gave me led me to decide this wasn't the best time to bring up the goat. I can't imagine why though, it's not as if we're busy these days or anything............ Oh well, perhaps someday we'll realize our dream of having a patch of land with bountiful vegetable gardens, and I'll be able to have my chicks and goats.

It finally happened to me

This morning I woke up and saw a sleeping child next to me.  That in itself is not strange or unusual.  What was odd, is the fact that I had to pull the covers down and look at the PJ's to know if it was Micaiah or Isaac!  There have been many occasions when Jeremy has come home at night and asked which child was asleep on our bed or the couch, but up until today I've never not been able to tell.  In my defense, both boys do have blond hair cut into mohawks, round faces, and very long eyelashes so they actually look quite similar when asleep. (especially now that Micaiah is getting so big)  It's a peculiar feeling though, as a mother, to look at one of your kids and not know which one you are looking at!

mommy quote of the night

You wouldn't have to say uh-oh if you didn't do that!

Wait a minute......

Are my teeth too small, or do I just got a cheap tooth fairy?


This is what Bella asked me upon hearing the news that kids at the school where her grandma works often get $10 a tooth.  I guess I'm going to just have to go with cheap tooth fairy, sorry kid.

The mind of a 3 year old

Tonight the girls were asking about how daddy and I met, and how he proposed, etc....  Genna thought it was neat, but Bella thought it was too mushy for her taste.  As she walked away, Isaac said "Hey guys, wanna talk about married, and kissing, and dancing stuff?!?"  To which Nahshon responded, "NOT ME, I'M A CHRISTIAN!"

What can I say, the kid's got values.

kidney stones

Painful. Inconvenient. Painful. Time Consuming. Oh, and painful. How can something so small be so agonizing?  And, since they won't come out on their own, I have to go in to have them broken up on Monday morning. (the same day I start college again)  This sucks.  There is no nicer way to describe it. It sucks. (oh yeah, and hurts)

She's a firecracker

Recently at dinner, Isaac announced that when he grows up he plans to have 6 daughters and 6 sons.  Here's the conversation the following day:

Isaac- Actually, I'm going to have 12 daughters and 12 sons!  How many kids is that?  (yes, the entire conversation started with the word "actually", as if we were still in the middle of last night's dinner talk)

Mom- That's 24 kids.

Bella- (popping her head in from the next room) Ha!  Good luck with that! You're gonna need 2 wives!

Mom- A man can't have 2 wives, it's against the law.

Bella- Yes they can, I saw it on cable.

*for the record, please note we do not have cable, and have not had any TV service for a while, so...... you have some explaining to do grandma!

budding romantic?

This morning when I got out of the shower, Isaac said, "You take showers every day.  Why do you take showers everyday?"  I told him, "I liked to be clean and smell nice, that way daddy will kiss me!"  Isaac gave me a silly grin and said, "I like kissing stuff and married stuff.  When I grow up I'm going to have my own car, my own house, get married, and go to COLLEGE!" (he was really excited about college)  Suddenly Elijah piped up from behind (very casually, but very seriously), "Isaac, you want to meet a wonderful girl, and have all your dreams come true?"  Isaac answered with a very enthusiastic yes and they started discussing their future plans with their wives.  At that point I had to go take care of Noah, but oh how I would have loved to hear the rest of that conversation!

Wimpy Kid = Awesome

For Christmas I gave Genna the first 4 books from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.  On Wednesday she decided to start reading the first one.  She has now read the entire series in 1 week. (I ordered book #5 when I realized how quickly she was devouring these books, and thanks to Amazon it arrived the day after I ordered it!) As a special treat for her persistence, we're going to rent the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie on Thursday. I love seeing her dive into reading like this, and can't wait to have the chance to experience the movie with her this week!

He's finally in!

My kids seem to have a way of hazing the newest family addition into their tight-knit group:

They color their heads.  Genna did it to Elijah.  Elijah did it to Bella.  Bella did it to Isaac.  Isaac did it to Nahshon.  Nahshon did it to Micaiah.  Now Micaiah has done it to Noah.  We told Noah this was a very special moment and gave him a big round of applause.

He's very happy to be part of the group now.