Got to get this down.

Bub and Miriam share a room (we prefer to call it the nursery, like in Mary Poppins or Peter Pan), this means Miriam doesn't have access to her toys for an hour or two each day, twice a day. We have no toy room, and I am unwilling to completely turn every other room in the house into a toy room so this can be problematic. Sometimes, I am an amazing mom. We do crafts together, or we mop the floor together, make dinner...really good mothering stuff. More often than not, I am a not so great mother and I let her play on the computer or watch tv. Today I decided to do some pilates so Miriam got to watch The Berenstain Bears, which made us both happy.

Does anyone else experience "mush brain syndrome" after their children watch tv? Miriam becomes so whiny, and over emotional! Nothing sounds fun or exciting, and today she cried over having to get 4 year old shots that I haven't even scheduled an appointment for?! I insisted that she jump on my bed while I got ready for the day because I don't think her brain was getting enough oxygen. Therein lies the thing I want to remember today:

I picked her up, tossed her on the bed and walked out. She came barreling after me and said "Mother! How dare you throw me when I need to go potty, you should know better!" as I was about to repremand her tone she said "what does 'how dare you' mean?" I explained as best I could and she said "Oh, like if someone put a slimy worm on your finger and it hurt and burned you, and you wanted it off, but they laughed like meanies do, and then that is when you say 'HOW DARE YOU?' about the worm, with mean eyes and a mean face and a very mean voice"

Yes Miriam that would be an appropriate way to use the phrase.

The Body

There are a few things keeping me from blogging lately:

#1 we just got Netflix, we have 2 seasons of The Office to watch! Darin is my own personal Jim Halpert.

#2 I have beautiful teeth, I have been told that by every dentist I have ever had ("No braces? Wow, and you don't bleach your teeth? Amazing"). Well I now completely understand the saying "Pretty is as Pretty does" because my beautiful teeth are worthless, and expensive! They are causing all sorts of pain and anguish in my mouth. I am off for another x-ray today at 4:00 pm.

Anyway... we did have a fun family outing to Sesame Streets The Body

Darin and I learned something new!

Darin rocked the stair stepper.

Darin and I loved these larger than life body parts that really worked (teeth chewing, stomach digesting, etc). Darin, Bub and I were delighted to be smelled and sneezed on by this huge nose but Miriam HATED IT!

The Body is currently at the Discovery Gateway. It's $2 on top of the museum entrance fee ($8), which is pricey, but I have been told that other places charged up to $10 for just The Body part. If you have a membership there is no question, you have to go. If you do go, I would advise going in the late afternoon on weekdays (during nap time and school pick-up time) or Monday or Friday evenings when they stay open until 9:00 pm. Too many kids create unpleasant chaos to the museum. They have signs all over that say "Clean-up is part of play" but most parents and kids ignore that.

To My Boston Sistas:

There is a Massachusettes Boston Mission Reunion planned for the President Murphy missionaries.

Contact me if you need info!

Valentines Day Rewind

We have a tradition of leaving little treats hidden all over for Daddy to find at work. It's usually the same treats every year, but I mixed it up a bit with the Utah Truffles because we had heard good things about them. Darin also got dates (ya know...like the tropical fruit) from Costco and car wash coupons....I know I know a bit racy and dripping with romance but thats how I roll.

We had Valentine oatmeal for breakfast, which is, any oatmeal you prefer, eaten on Valentines Day.

The kid's fairy left Miriam a fairy tale puzzle book, and we got the kids a little something. It's so fun to buy things for Miriam because she is so grateful, and enthusiastic about getting it. I hope she stays this way, I will be sad if as she grows, she becomes to self conscience to express her joy and happiness.

Bub is cool with anything, he was happy with his candy-less pez dispenser and a new variety of puffs to try.

It was COLD and WINDY yesterday. We are talking, Mount Everest winds so delivering valentines, even just from the car to the door was out of the question. But, the kids were so cute in their new finery so I HAD to go somewhere.

So we went to Costo to return and impulse buy and enjoy a cookie.

We stayed awhile eating samples and reading books until I felt brave enough to face the winds again.

We came home to a Valentine Package from my Mom, which thrilled Miriam to no end. We also received a package full of books and valentines earlier in the month from G'ma C and G'pa B. So fun! Thank you Thank you!

Miriam and I did some fairy tale puzzles while Bub took a nap.

We then faced the hurricane winds to go to gymnastics.

Thanks for the cute outfit Aunt Julia!

We had a very romantic family dinner.

Our dinner menu:
Kodiac Cake waffels
Organic blueberries
Fresh Whipped Cream (made with hormone free cream)
Homemade Buttermilk syrup - which is so good I decided to leave the recipe as a post valentines gift to my faithful readers.

Buttermilk Syrup
make in large sauce pan because it foams up BIG
2 cups sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup butter

Bring first three ingredients to a boil for 1 min. remove from heat then add

2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda

whisk until all the foam and bubbles dissipate. Keep in the refrigerator. Enjoy...keep up the lovin'!

Happy Day of LOVE

Happy Valentines Day to everyone who reads my blog!

Just the Day to Day

A few people have asked about Miriam's birthday shirt. So easy. Find a cheap cheap shirt, this one is from the Children's Place. Take your 40% off coupon to Michaels or Hobby Lobby...maybe even Roberts ( I haven't checked there) and buy the biggest number iron-ons they have along with any bling that suits your fancy. Iron on!

This was my inspiration from Chasing Fireflies.

We are getting ready for the day of LOVE.

Valentine making = BIG mess LOTS of glitter. I let Miriam just go to town on the Valentines, no assistance from me whatsoever. I will say that it was purposely done to develop her creativity before she enters school and is constantly given direction and boundaries to her creative projects...but lets be honest, I just didn't want to help.

Maybe this is why I wasn't in a valentiny mood - Bubs didn't like making valentines.

but after being properly fed, he put up with Miriam and I having a giggle at his expense.

GOOD MAIL!

Michelle sent Miriam and I these magnets. Aren't they so fun? Our fridge looks very retro Hollywood with them on. Thank you so much Michelle, Miriam thinks they were a birthday gift for her.

Miriam Funnies:

Me: "Miss, that cough is pretty bad, I don't know if we should go to swim lessons today"
Miriam: "Mom, Heavenly Father told my heart and my brain that I SHOULD go to swimming lessons today. He really does love me doesn't he?"

4:00 am while I am feeding Bub
Me: "Miriam close your eyes and go to sleep"
Miriam: "No mom, I want my eyes open. I want to see light and beauty!"

When in Price.............

Check out my parent's icicle collection

Visit the Prehistoric Museum

Dig for bones, and play with the puppets

(this picture is for you Lisa...for inspiration)

Go out to lunch at the Greek Streak

Birthday Wish #3 #4 #5....

Wish #3 Party with cousins and friends at Aunt Julia's amazing dance studio

Encore Dance Studio

Dance around the pictures game, Miriam melted into tears 1/2 into this one (over a picture of Minnie Mouse), but pulled it together for the rest of her party.

Freeze Dance, always a favorite

Things get REALLY exciting when Julia brings out the parachute

Birthday Wish #4 Unicorn cake

These guys kept things from getting too girly by turning all my decorations into weapons of one sort or another...and by flashing signs in almost every picture.

We have a tradition of ending M's parties with punch balls.

This guys acted like a dream, he just crawled around eating cake crumbs.

Birthday Wish #5 A pink bike

Miriam is soooo lucky. Her bike is custom painted by Grandpa A (we found it at the DI and my dad repainted it). It's beautiful. Now we just need it to stop snowing for a few days in a row! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Julia and Aunt Sarah!

An Inverview with the Birthday Girl

I have had a busy week (with the party and all), and am going into another busy week so the birthday bash report will have to wait awhile. I have been so busy in fact, that I forgot all about Darin's cute tradition of bringing me flowers on my children's birthday. He surprised me with beautiful roses in a range of colors! He's a gem, I know, I totally scored.

And now, and interview with Miriam at 4

Favorite treat: "Ice cream (just like daddy) with magic shell, and sprinkles"
Favorite HEALTHY treat: "peanut butter and apples"

Favorite place to visit: "My Grandma's houses...both of them with Grandpas too"
Favorite place to play: "toy museum (children's museum) rec center, and cabin"

Favorite movie: "Aladdin" (what?? we have seen that once like a year ago)
Favorite TV show: "Shows at my grandma's houses...like Disney shows"(we only get PBS)

Favorite New Toy: "Cinderella Polly Pockets (Thanks Mary!), my pink star bike"

Favorite friends: "All my cousins"
Favorite friends who aren't related: "Paige and Grace, Lindsey, Ivy, Emerson, Kaylee...and it's so sad that Bailey moved"

Favorite thing to do with Daddy: "fix things, go on Daddy daughter dates"
Favorite thing to do with Mommy: "Go to my Grandma's house"
Favorite thing to do with Bub: "make him laugh, feed him"

What do you want to be when you grow up: "Ballerina/Cake decorator"
Are all your dreams going to come true: "YES!"

We love you!