Young Love

Ahhh! Jacee came home with her first love note - and he even spelled her name right! She argues that it is not a love note, just a card Hunter made for her. So now she has to endure endless interrogation from her father everyday after school. I don't think either of them can last until she's 16 at this pace. What am I going to do? With both of them? (I think it's rather sweet myself - who doesn't like to get a good love note?)

A Mouse in the House

I can't believe how much cheese she actually ate! She really is part mouse!

So, this morning, Jack wanted some cheese. I unwrapped the cheese and set it on the counter. I went to get some eggs and when I turned around I found this!

She was content to sit and munch on her cheese. Well, I should say she was happy until I pulled out the camera and started taking pictures. The rest of the pictures are the back of her head because she was trying to turn away from the camera.

Jacee vs. Jaycee

Jacee has decided to change the spelling of her name to Jaycee. This is her plan: Mom, I will still write my regular name on all my school papers, but when I get to draw pictures for fun or when I am playing school at home I will write Jaycee.

Sure enough, she came home with about 5 pictures she has colored for fun and everyone on of them had Jaycee written at the top.

Hmmm, how long will this last?

(I actually did want to spell it with a "Y", now I find myself wondering how much it would be to legally change a name...)

Like Father Like Daugher

So, it goes even further. John told me yesterday, he saw a girl he knew in kindergarten. They rode the same bus. Every single day, before he got off the bus, she would give him a kiss goodbye. So - what can you do?

Update on Boy Trouble

So, the rest of the story is...the whole thing was not orchestrated by my beloved daughter. An older friend was there and had a big story line going...she was the mother of the two boys, the older friend was in concert playing "Sweet Home Alabama" and she was going to go watch. She was suppose to fake kiss her "sons" goodbye. So...I guess it pays to get the entire story before you freak out!

Like Mother Like Daughter

Well, it has happened. Jacee has had her first encounter with a boy! During our Primary Presidency meetings, we all just let our kids play together. Well, my secretary emailed me that she would not be able to come to the meeting because her husband had a conflict and her son did not want to come over to play because Jacee made him do some fake kissing the last time he was over.

What a Sass-a-Frass (our knick name for her). I remember two things from elementary: 1) In first grade, during recess, I re-arranged the desks so I could sit by my "boyfriend", 2) In third grade I held hands with my boyfriend during a movie and the teacher saw us and said, "You two - undo!"

So - I guess she comes by it honestly.

We had a little talk with her and hopefully this kind of play will not continue. John has been trying to remind her all day that she shouldn't do that. He keeps saying, "If a boy wants to kiss you - what do you do?" And Jacee says, "Kiss him back!" Boy oh boy, what are we going to do - but I have to say, she is pretty cute - just check out that dance pose in the picture!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

I was listening to Jack while he was saying prayers with daddy before bed time.

"Thank you for this day, thank you for Jesus. Please bless that Christmas will be closer. Thank you for our family cheer."

Love that little guy!

Red Letter Day! (Or should I say Yellow?)

So, after literally years of talking about it and a bunch of false starts - Jack has finally started to potty train. We went three days straight with no success. Day four didn't start out any better, but as I was teaching Jacee to tie her first pair of lace up shoes (of course I only had to show her once and then she tied the other shoe by herself - isn't she amazing!) I heard a little tinkling sound in the bathroom - sure enough - there was Jack on the potty - wahoo! And the bonus is Maddie is into it too - she sits on the potty as much as Jack does. Boy - what a day - FINALLY!

(The secret? I left him naked from the waist down. I learned he didn't care if he went potty in his underware, but didn't like it if it got on the floor. Don't worry mom and dad - we have URINE B GONE and have use it in ample supply. And luckily Jack didn't ever go under the piano - since that is the new fort.)

When Bleach is not Enough!

So, I got some new garments and was shocked at how grey and dingy my old ones looked next to the new ones. I wash my whites in hot water with bleach and it is not working - anyone have any good secrets to get my whites - white?

Bad Things & Good People

Why do bad things happen to good people? I often need to be reminded that we are here to be tested and all that. I have made a new dear friend in Sayda and they are just starting a new trial in their lives. It is a doozy. My heart aches for them and my prayers seem to revolve around them. They are at the Huntsman Cancer Institute as I type. I'm not sure if I have ever met a family quite like them.

Sayda and Richard are still very much in love and he still refers to her as his princess. They have five wonderful children who are all very close, love each other, and watch out for each other. I love to watch them interact and keep up on things in her blog. I feel like I know all the children, even though two are grown and living on their own in the east. The three they have in Burley are fun, happy, and love their parents very much.

Sayda is also one of the most thoughtful people I know. She is usually dropping by with a plate of something she has made and thought we would like to try. She is always bringing Jacee and Maddie cute new hair bows. She has even given me some special presents that shows she knows me and knows what will make me feel better when I am down.

I love her and her family. Sayda, thanks for all you've done for me, now you can lean on me.

My kids

After a little bit of coaxing from Momma (see before picture below.)

I took this because I had all my kids sitting down eating breakfast at the same time. Just as I pulled the camera out Maddie turned her back and would not turn around. She did not want her picture taken! She sure is an opinionated little one!

This is a "Belle" wig Jacee bought with Grama and Grampa Mission's Christmas money. She walked in the kitchen and and I said, "Oh, Hi Belle." "Oh, I'm not Belle, I'm a wild woman going to prison." Where does she get this stuff?

Jack just wanted his picture taken so he could look at it on the camera. Yummy chocolate brownies around his mouth.

Maddie - no friend to the camera!

Jack wanted an upside down picture. "Look -my hands are in the rocking chair!"