Easter Time is a Time For Eggs. . .

"Easter time is a time for eggs, and a time for eggs is Easter time," is a favorite Harrison family quote that we got from our good friends the Tibbitts. Now that I think about it, it's a really silly thing to say, but we say it in a funny voice and it always makes us laugh. I guess that's what family jokes are all about.

Anyway, here are the kids' baskets. Growing up, we only got candy on Easter, so this whole putting little presents in the basket thing is new to me. Harrison's basket looks a lot more full, but his only came to $2.25 (thank you Target clearance section) and hers was $4.38, plus that's a whole bag of play food in hers. I was going to get them some other little trinket stuff, but I am getting quite sick of all the junk around here.

In his prayer last night Harrison said, "Freezebress (his version of "please bless", which he also uses in place of "we're thankful for") that I got all that stuff in my Easter Basket that I saw in that Wal-Mart bag." He seriously cracks me up. And it was a Target bag that he was snooping through, but that's okay.

He was really excited about his Bakugan puzzle (he's obsessed with Bakugans). He wasn't as enthusiastic about putting it together as I was. I realized I really love putting puzzles together. You get a little thrill every time a piece fits.

Here's the finished product. 90% done by me, 10% done by him. 100% fun.

Meanwhile, someone was discovering one of the joys of Easter. . .Cadbury Eggs. Although, I must say, I enjoy the Cadbury mini-eggs much more. Also, I had my first Cadbury Carmel Egg yeterday. So long, normal Cadbury Eggs, we're moving on to better things.

She really loved it though. She also ate her big Reese's egg AND Harrison's before we could stop her. Okay, so I did eat half of hers. . .maybe that's why she stole her brother's.

So here are the little darlings in their Easter Duds. The theme this year was green and blue, if you didn't notice. It started with Harrison's outfit that I got on clearance last year at Children's Place Outlet (practically the only place I shop for my kids' clothes). So then we needed have a dress for Elizabeth to match him. So I picked out the fabric on-line (which looked like it matched much better than it did in person) and my mom made her a dress. What a talented and PATIENT mom (sewing for me has proven to be quite difficult as I never know exactly what I want, but am always sure of what I DON'T want.)

I was going to have my mom make me a skirt out of the same fabric, but it wasn't turning out as I envisioned it, so we stopped. I decided -- if you're going to be silly enough to match your daughter, you better be really confident about it. Maybe we'll try again another year. I was much happier with this green dress found at the last minute.

We got Nate a new tie, so he could be in on the theme.

Those were all taken before church. I wanted a few more after church, but once we got home at 4:00, this is what we had to work with.

After sweet Harrison tried his darnedest to cheer her up, we got a little smile.

But then it was his turn to be sad, because he wanted to do a silly face picture and we didn't.

In an effort to cheer him up, we conceded, but alas, it was too late.

For posterity's sake I have to say that I had another outfit planned (not the skirt my mom was making, but Plan B) that was going to be $67, and it wasn't even that cute. Plan C, that I went with, was $33. That's half, people. Just call me Frugal Fanny.

In the midst of me trying to make an Easter Feast, and Nate coming down with Montezuma's Revenge, we did the egg hunt.

Obviously not nearly as much thought was put in to their egg hunting outfits as their church outfits. (Do I even need to say that they picked them out themselves?) Notice Elizabeth's socks in the above picture.

This little lady is so cute about picking things up and putting them back where they go. Hopefully her mother won't kill that natural instinct through a bad example.

So that was our day. Oh, and I spoke in sacrament meeting. I got called on Thursday night, because 2 other speakers had to cancel (dangerous to be friends with the executive secretary's wife). Thankfully, I had an Easter Talk from 4 years ago that I just tweaked a little. I figure, I will get out of speaking for at least another year, without having the stress of preparing a new talk. It went well, other than the fact that I was sweating profusely and pitting out worse than I ever have in my entire life. I really wasn't even that nervous to speak. Maybe it was because I was self-conscious that my dress was a little on the short side and I was wondering what in the world the bishopric were thinking as they stared at my backside.

On a serious note, I will say that my heart is filled to brimming with gratitude for our Savior and all He did and continues to do for us. I hope you all enjoyed celebrating that yesterday as much as I did.

P.S. Nate and Harrison are home sick today and I am telling myself that the little sore throat and headache I'm feeling are just because I didn't get enough sleep last night.

Too Much To Post About

Wow, I am so behind on posting! This happens to me every so often and it feels really overwhelming to think about catching up. I need to post about:
-Harrison's picture and explanation of the plan of salvation
-going to Utah for our niece Sydni's wedding
-getting our house painted
-having my parents and Katy visit
-Nate's 30th birthday
-Christmas
-our trip to UT last July (see what I mean, sometimes I just get too behind and never end up doing it)

Instead, I'll post some of the funny things my kids have been saying/doing.

Elizabeth is obsessed with seeing her poop in her diapers every time she gets changed. "See my poop," she demands until you show her and then she always says , "ew." One time I rolled the diaper up and threw it away without showing her and she followed me around crying for the next 15 minutes, "See my poooop, see my poooop." I just couldn't bring myself to dig the dirty diaper out of the trash, unwrap it, and show her. I finally calmed her down by assuring her I'd show her the next one.

She is talking so much and has her own way of pronouncing certain words. My favorite is when she says she's eating "fips in the chicken." (Chips in the kitchen). She loves wice with kikikaka (rice with furikake, this Japanese sprinkle stuff you put on rice). When she requested "ronisheez" (macaroni and cheese) for breakfast this morning, I couldn't resist making it for her. I've never been a big breakfast foods person, so am totally supportive of these kinds of morning meal choices. (As seen below).

She loves to earn woodypops (lollypops) for going shi-shi in the potty. She also proudly points out when she leaves her fiakah (diaper) on (instead of taking it off and getting her poop on everything like she had been doing a few weeks ago.)

The other day after picking her up from being watched at a friend's house I asked her if she had fun and she said she wanted Mommy and that she was "big sad" and "lots of sad."

Her famous line when we're putting her to bed at night is "sugga me fie minute?" (snuggle me five minutes). Once five minutes is up and we try to get up and leave she gives us a vice grip around the neck.

She is totally obsessed with giving everyone a hug and kiss when saying goodbye. I think it's pretty sweet and am somewhat of an enabler in this addiction. I have been known to knock on friends' doors after leaving their houses because Elizabeth needs a hug and kiss or make people get back out of their cars when they're trying to leave. I had to draw the line when she wanted hugs and kisses from Jose and all the other painters working on our living room. That just didn't seem like the kind of thing I wanted to encourage.

Lately, Harrison has been giving me some words of wisdom. When we got lost at the airport trying to pick up my parents he said, "It's okay Mom, just hold on a minute. We'll find it. Maybe it's up around that curve up there." And then "Don't worry Mom, Jesus knows where everything is."

The other day he also told me, "Mom, when you're talking on the phone with your friends, don't say 'stupid.' No one wants to hear words like that. You really need to work on that."

A while ago I had borrowed his BYU hat to wear that day so that I could go one more day without washing my hair (Have I mentioned how much I hate doing my hair? I avoid it at all costs). Anyway, he had borrowed it back while we were at home, but when it was time to leave again I said I needed it back. When he said no, I said, "I really need it so my ugly hair won't show." He said in a rather loud, authoritative, and annoyed voice, "No you don't. You still look beautiful. Go look in the mirror."

Usually his compliments come in a much sweeter voice. He randomly says things like, "Mom, isn't Sis adorable?" Or "I like your attitude." Or "I like your eyebrows."

One morning I was praying by my bed (a major hit-or-miss work-in-progress for me bytheway) and he said, "Are you saying your morning prayers?" So I paused and asked if he wanted to say it with me. Then he looked confused and said, "But when you say morning prayers, you don't say anything." Then I had to explain about saying prayers in your head. It was just so funny to me that he had observed that morning prayers consisted of just kneeling by the bed for a while and then you're done.

A few minutes after mentioning that we were going to go pick out a b-day present for daddy, Harrison said, "When I'm an adult, I'm still going to love toys." (Meaning, let's get dad a toy for his b-day so I can play with it.)

On our road trip we were playing "I'm thinking of an animal" where I describe an animal and he guesses what it is. I was describing a gorilla and he guessed monkey. I said, "It's bigger than a monkey." He said, "A fat monkey?"

One day he said, "Mom I like Dancing With the Stars better than American Idol." I asked why (silently praying it's not because of the skimpy costumes) and he said, "Because, I like stars." (In a duh kind of voice.)

So while I've been blogging, these little munchkins have been entertaining themselves with playdough (a much better choice than they usually make while I blog). When I saw that they had mushed all the colors together, I was bugged at first and then I realized, it's better for them to get an hour's worth of entertainment out of that playdough, then to have it sit neatly in it's separate jars and never get used.

Notice who tries to be just like her brother, not only copying his every move with the playdough, but also with the fashion statement of shirt only.

These kids are so darn cute, funny and easy to love (not as easy to take care of, but that's another post). I'm so glad I get to be their mom.

I'm Not Even Irish

Nate and Harrison got into the spirit of St. Patrick's Day early, by wearing their green to church the Sunday before.




The last 2 years, I've celebrated St. Patrick's Day like a true Irish woman. Even though I'm not. I just like the excuse to have a party in the middle of March. Plus, the theme is too easy to resist. (You know I love a good theme). And it's not a family holiday, so I don't feel like I'm intruding on people's traditions and special moments. So it's become my thing to throw a St. Patrick's Day Green Lunch. Green food and clothing only please.


We had lots of moms.


And kids.



And gorgeous weather, which allowed us to have it at the park (much easier than having it at my house!)

Let's close up on that cute little lass in the dress.


Here are Mina and Logan.

Mina, Julie and Haylie.


Andrew and Hudson.


I long for the days of eating a sugar cookie with reckless abandon and then licking the frosting off my face with my tongue, in public. Now, I can only do that in the privacy of my own home.

Me and the kiddos.

Why is Harrison so grumpy in so many of these pictures?
Well, he was a naughty little leprechaun and decided to drop his drawers and pee in the sandbox (as another mom somewhat rudely informed all of us in the middle of our party.) I've since been informed by several moms of boys that this is normal behavior and might not pass quickly. However, I treated it as the serious offense that I think it is (after all it is disgusting and inappropriate), so he was very upset about his consequence of not watching the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles DVD we checked out from the library for the rest of the day (a big deal considering he had been watching it non-stop since we brought it home.) As a mom, when you're wondering which consequence to pick, you know you hit the jackpot when your kid bursts into tears and cries for 20 minutes. I know that sounds mean, but really, I'd rather never be informed that he has peed in public ever again.


Please excuse the lame leprechaun pin. First of all, I needed a little green on top of my outfit. Secondly, Harrison made it at school last year, and I wanted to make him feel special by wearing it.

Harrison eventually got over his funk and enjoyed the party. Here he is with his best buddy and partner in crime, Logan. I think they look like brothers.

Harrison came home from school with lots of St. Patty's Day treasures that day.

We did our ritual of taking a picture with them so I could throw them away later when he wasn't looking.

Storing the memories digitally takes up a lot less room.

Elizabeth wanted in on the action of getting her picture taken, so she got to pose with a decoration.

She's still perfecting the art of posing with things.

So that was our Day O Green.

Next year I'm making a pin that says "English/Danish/German people deserve kisses too!" (Especially if they go out of the way to celebrate a holiday that's not really theirs.)

A Pricey Pedicure

Like my pedicure? (My brother, Matt, would be throwing up in his mouth if he saw this picture. He can't handle feet. ) I went my usual frugal route and painted my toes myself.

Then I made a fatal mistake.

I left the polish bottle out.

At a height that could be reached by a two year old girl.

Who had been found trying to paint her own toes earlier this week.

At which point I moved all the polish up to a higher shelf.

Why oh why didn't I put this bottle back on that high shelf???

As soon as I smelled that distinct nail polish smell, I knew I was in trouble.

Wow, that pedicure just got a whole lot more expensive.

Based on the evidence, it looks like she started with painting the top sheet. Then spilled on the fitted sheet and onto the floor. Then tried to clean up (there were lots of cotton pads rubbed pink that I assume caused that biggest part to be so smudged.) FYI, pouring finger nail polish remover and then rubbing just makes everything worse.

Here she is making a pretend phone call. I guess she wanted to tell someone all about it (wonder where she gets that from).

I don't know why these pictures came in like this, I even redid it and it didn't work. Kat(e) more advice?

This picture is to show that it's on her face and in her hair. I haven't tried to get it all off yet (other than a bath). She recently developed an eczema type thing and I don't have the heart to put acetone on her.

So, hot pinkish-red paint all over is her new look. "Cherries in the Snow" to be exact.

I really couldn't get mad at her. This one was totally my fault. I dreaded calling Nate, but he was really calm about it. I'm glad I'm married to a mostly mellow man.

The plan is to move the "bed," AKA white trash mattress on the floor, to cover the stain.
That's a pretty white trash plan.

Some friends and I were trying to come up with a more PC term for that racial slur.
We decided on "one who would be comfortable in a trailer park."

But I don't know if that's quite right, because despite some of my white trash decorating decisions, I've been to trailer parks and I do not feel very comfortable there.

Maybe taking my nail polish covered daughter with me would help.

Haircuts!

I took Elizabeth for her first "real" haircut. I've always done it myself up until now. I had wanted her to have an A-line bob (kind of like mine, but with bangs). I think I didn't communicate as clearly as I should have, because we ended up with more of a bob than an A-line bob. Or it might have been that it's really difficult to cut the hair of a 2 year old who won't hold still. Plus, her hair is so fine and thin that it wouldn't have looked like mine no matter what.


The more I looked at it, the more I realized that the front was a little shorter than the back instead of the other way around. And I started to think that I wanted to fix it.

So I spent over an hour trying to get the back shorter than the front. (Trying to wrestle with your two year old while holding a pair of scissors is a dangerous endeavor!) The front was already so short that I didn't have much to work with as far as truly making an angle. I even had to get out the clippers and shave her neck. But I think I got more of the look I was going for. Now we just need the whole thing to grow out a bit (especially the front). I will say I'm getting more used to it. And I'm coming to grips with the fact that I'm going to have to round brush it every time I want it to look cute. (For the record, these pics are of 3rd day hair that's been slept on 3 times and round brushed twice, the ones in pink are right after I round brushed it from wet to dry, so that's why those are fluffier. I'm hoping that when I do this from wet to dry, it will look better.) Nate also FINALLY decided to cut his hair (thank goodness). He decided to first give himself a mullet! Business in front. Party in back.

He wanted to leave it for a day, but I talked him out of it, using the logic "you wouldn't want to have to clean up hair twice."

Interesting observation: No one at work noticed, or at least they didn't say anything. EVERYONE at Enrichment noticed last night when he came to get the kids. I guess LDS women are either A) more observant than male engineers or B) appreciate a clean cut hairdo more (probably both).

Harrison also got a haircut and I got mine done 2 weeks ago, so we are a family full of new do's.