jacob's guide to housework #283

and then prince charming appeared

"In an old house in Paris...

"that was covered with vines...

"lived twelve little girls in two straight lines...

"the smallest one was Madeline."

experience

"experience: the thing you get the second after you needed it."

I got in a fight with 2 mesquite trees and 3 yucca plants last night. I won. But just barely. It's clearly time to invest in some chain mail armor if I intend on doing any more pruning in my yard. I look like I wrestled with half a dozen ornery cats.

While I was working, several neighbors walked by and expressed their sympathy. "I had to do that last week, it's not very fun," "Good luck with that!" and my personal favorite, "Well that's a mistake you only make once! I just hired someone to pull all my yucca's out."

(Um, can I get the name of that person).

Other things you (should) only do once...

• take a baby on an airplane with out a change of clothing
  
• buy an Alero.
• try to fix a bad hair day with a pair of scissors.
• lick a nine volt battery.
• give a cat a bath.
  

I've got plenty more, but I stop there for now.

Anyone else have any one time mistakes experiences?

six!

Happy Birthday, Party Girl!

so grown up

Ella wrote me the sweetest note...I love how she signed her name.

she will hear this story for the rest of her life

Prologue: This is a story about Sophie. She just turned 3. Sophie's a little hard to describe in one sentence, but we usually hear one of these two from other people who meet her. "She sure is independent." or "Wow, she's a girl who knows what she wants." I personally think the words "completely uninhibited" fit pretty well.

Setting: A summer evening at Brick Oven Pizza Restaurant (Provo, Utah) with 25 extended family members (Grandma, Grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins in attendance).


Synopsis: We had a fantastic dinner, and everyone was finishing up. It wasn't until our servers came out with desserts to celebrate the June birthdays in the family that we realized that Sophie wasn't at the table. She also wasn't under the table. Or at any of the nearby tables. Just as I started to panic a little, Sophie walked into the room holding all of her clothes, wearing nothing but her birthday suit. She walked over and calmly said, "Mom, my clothes are all messed up." Little Miss Independent had decided to go potty all by herself, but couldn't get her clothes back on. The poor server (who could barely be heard over the laughter) just said, "Well, um...we're going to sing Happy Birthday now."



Epilogue:

my favorite preschooler!

Finally! Sophie's turn to go to school.


she spent lots of time getting ready this morning...


making sure her hair was just right...
classic sophie camera face...

Yep, still here.

Our summer was great. We had the usual...swimming, girls camp, soccer practices, road trips, fireworks, etc. I hope to post a little about our summer exploits soon...

...meanwhile, back at the ranch...

School started today.

Ella started 1st grade. She's been so excited all summer, but we could tell she was pretty nervous last night and this morning.

Clue number 1: Last night when I tucked her into bed she asked me to pack soda crackers and applesauce (we have a bunch in stock, left over from a bout with the stomach flu last week) in her lunch, in case her tummy wasn't feeling good at school.

Clue number 2: She was up at 6:15 sharp.

Clue number 3:She was on the verge of tears all morning

Clue number4: She did not want any photos taken this AM. Negotiation ensued, and we came to the following compromise. Ella would smile. I was limited to 5 photos....


Photo number 1: the outfit
Photo number 2: the shoes

Photo number 3: excited to see a friend

Photo number 4: 7:55 AM


Photo number 5: waiting for the bus
Photo number 5a (don't tell Ella): Homecoming-hot but happy.

I want to create more things like this!

Fantastic photography, great message....

The years are short.

gaping

Ella lost another tooth. Now she has a giant hole in her mouth that is the perfect size for a straw, so naturally we had to celebrate with Oreo milk shakes.

Her other front tooth should be coming out soon too.
(Welcome to the awkward adolescent years)

How did this happen?

When did she grow up?

Grand Master of the art of the arm shelf...

"No Mom, I want my leg like this."



And the birthday details...

The menu: Pizza, Sprite, Olives, Raisins, Chocolate bakery Cake, Strawberry ice cream

Her non-negotiable requests: Animal plates, bakery cake, Sprite. She requested animal paper plates and bakery cake a couple months ago. For the last 2 months every time we walked by the bakery counter she would say, "I want cake, but it's not my birthday yet!"

Ella bought Sophie an etch-a sketch with her own money.

Sophie also received a shopping cart, roller skates from Grandma Jean and Grandpa Gordon, a play preschool house from Grandma Wendy and Grandpa Bob, and a piggy bank from Aunt Megan, and a little computer from the Scotts.

It was hard to tell who was more excited for Sophie's birthday.
Sophie's been telling us for weeks that she's turning 5 like Ella. I think she might be wondering why there are only 3 candles on her cake.


Happy Birthday Sophie!