Sweet Photos of Guys I Love

Just reading a book about tractors from the library... for the 15 time today.
I actually cried for a second because these pictures were so sweet.

Nerd Update

In case you were wondering......


the raising of the nerds is going well.
Usually if I get on the computer for 5 minutes I well rarely make it 5 minutes because I am interrupted by them screaming, taking one anothers toys and pushing the other person down. They don't really know how to play well together most of the time.
This morning however I came back into the living room to find this.

I was so pleased.

we are also still battling the unknown rash.
For your information too,
even if your pediatrician refers you to a dermatologist, or five dermatologists
because your pediatrician is a complete idiot who can't seem to come up with any kind of diagnosis or solution that seems remotely a possibility to you.
they won't see your child until August.
AUGUST.
Even when you cry on the phone with the uncaring receptionists
Which I did.
I could literally claim my 15 month old baby has measles
Which I almost did
They still won't see us.

Favorite Children's Books

For a friend a few weeks ago as a shower gift I compiled what have been my kids favorite books. It was fun to think about the books they love. Some of the books Kate loves leave me wondering why for sure. While the kids and I were shopping for the gift (aside for trying not to laugh/ cry), I was reminded of my love for the bookstore. Though I usually order our books from Amazon, there is something so perfect about the bookstore on a cold fall evening.
I have always enjoyed books in my adulthood, but since I became a mother my love for books has certainly multiplied. I think my motherly love for books is actually three fold. I have stocked my bookshelves with everything from the "What to Expects" to the -how to sneak broccoli into your children's food -type of books. I have enjoyed reading them, and they have given me some confidence that I might in some way be capable of caring for another human being. Plus they area much better place to go for advice I have found than the "mother's I know" club. You get all kinds of crazy information for people you know.
Secondly, I have always read novels and autobiographies and enjoyed them. But now they are an escape into a world where I have a brain, and give me something more to talk about than the bowel movements of my children. Seriously it is sad how much mom's talk about that.
But third, and the reason that is best above all, is how much I love the magical moments laying in a toddler size bed turning pages for eager eyes. So far my intent to pass on a love for books has been successful.
Here is a list of the top ten Children's Books in our home.
1. Bright Animal Babies Board Book: Priddy
This book is simple, but Kate learned a lot of her first words out of this book.
2. Goodnight Gorrilla: Rathman
Liked much more than Goodnight Moon by our night time crew
3. Hand, Hand, Finger Thumb: Perkins
I think I loved this book when I was young too. Dum Ditty, Dum Ditty!!
4. What Makes a Rainbow:
The most durable pop up book we have ever encountered.
5. Brown Bear, Brown Bear: Carle
Anything by Eric Carle is a winner around here
6. Thumper Counts to Ten: Richards
This book looks like nothing speical, and I don't really get why Kate loves it still, but she has memorized it completely and will recite it when prompted without the book to even help her.
7. A Tree Named Steve: Zweibel
Okay, Kate just thought this book was alright, but it my favorite. It makes me cry- and I hate crying.
8. How do Dinosaurs...: Yolen
This whole series is lyrical, appealing to looks at and teaches manner... yes you heard me.
9. Eight Animales Out on the Town or Say Hola to Spanish; Elya
We love pretending like we are teaching our kids to be bilingual. This is the best Spanish vocab children's book we have found so far.
10. Heaven is Having You: Andreae
This was a bedtime request at our house for six months straight. Kate still loves it, especially when I do the actions I have made up with it.

With the holidays coming up there will be more books added to our children's library with out a doubt. What are some of your families favorite children's books?

3 Great Things That Made My Day

1. Kate saying "Mommy you are my sunshine"while she was coloring and singing this morning, for no reason at all.

2. That I have eaten 15 sugar cookies in the past two days. My sister told me how to make sugar cookies out of a white cake mix. The kids and I whipped up a batch, decorated them Halloween style, and now finished them off.
350 degrees
1 white cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup veg oil
3/4 cup sugar
cook for ten minutes
cool and frost
I have no pictures because as I have already explained- they are all gone

3. Watching what was surely the most disastrous first date experience play out before me as the kids and I spent the evening at Borders. Knowing Jake was not going to be home until 8:00 tonight I thought the kids and I might enjoy shopping around the book store. Oh how I love a book store in the fall. On a related note I am reading The Wild Things by David Eggers, a grown up novel of the kids classic turned movie... and am loving it.
In the children's section two BYU co-eds sat at a kiddie table having a conversation that left me unsure at first whether this was some sort of tutor/ student interview or truely the most self destructing date ever wittnessed. I have been known to hang out with a date in the book store, but this young eager lad took the idea to a new demention. They had apparently scoured the store searching for books that described them best and where now meeting to discuss. From what I could gather, he spent the next seven minutes excusing his choice for what was either the Kama Sutra or some other work on human sexuality. Jake and I often observe "Daters" as we are out and about with a chuckle but the urge to roll my eyes within their range of vision has never been so strong.

Summer Time

It has been awhile since I last posted (for me anyway). We haven't really been that busy. We've been painting the downstairs, doing yard work, seeing friends and family, enjoying the kids- the usual stuff. One thing I haven't been doing is laundry. I can't remember a time I had so much laundry to do. Around 12 loads or so. It seems to daunting. Instead of doing laundry- I have been reading a lot again. I am almost done with my third book for the week. With nothing good on the tely in the summer I seem to just consume books. Here is a mini review.
1. Stiff: The Curious Life of Human Cadavers. Roach.- A strange informative read. A history of death and burial mostly. Not what I expected- but perfectly dark for the morbid part of my psyche. 3 stars
2. Austenland. Hale.- The closest thing to a romance I have ever read. A successful LDS author always peaks my interest but her storyline failed to do so. 3 stars
3. The Last Lecture. Pausch.- Promises to change your life, and only slightly falls short of its promises. Any book that brings real tears to my eyes repeatedly deserves 5 stars.