A Funeral for a Fish

Well, it finally happened. Goldie has passed on to a better life. Jacee got two fish when she started kindergarten (frankly John and I are surprised they have lasted this long!) Anyway, when we woke up this morning, Goldie was floating belly up in the tank.

Jacee wanted to bury it herself. She picked the spot, found the shovel, dug the hole...

And plopped Goldie in the hole. After she covered him up she wanted to stand by his grave for a moment. She folded her arms and then started humming the wedding march. I guess it is the most solemn music she could think of at the time.

She is sad, but wants to get another one because she is worried Spotty will be lonely. We'll see...

Jacee's Dance

We went to Utah this past weekend for Jacee's first dance competition that was not a ballroom competition. She loved it! When we got there, we first went to the auditorium and then the gym. Teams would be competing in both locations. When we walked into the gym I could see her countenance drop just a little as she asked, "Mom, are we dancing in here?" I told her no, she would just be in the auditorium and she beamed and gushed, "Mom, I just love dancing on stage!" And boy does it show! I know I am just the proud mama, but she smiles and performs to the audience the entire time. She never looks around at her team mates to see what they are doing, she just dances!

She had a great time with her cousin Jasmine, who happened to be at the same competition. When Jasmine would dance, Jacee would cheer and clap loudly - she was so excited for her.

Both girls had smiles on their faces when they picked up their trophies, but their grins split their faces when Grama presented them each with a rose. How do Grama's know how to make little girls feel so special? We have been so blessed to live so close to both Gramas. I know our children will have a special bond with them the rest of their lives.

I just wanted to put in this picture of Maddie because I think it's so cute! I can't believe how grown up she is. She is two months older than Jacee was when Jackson was born. I can't believe our baby is not a baby anymore!

You Can Do It!

We have a little flower that is braving the elements and daring to pop open. This fragile thing is in our front flower bed and has withstood rain, snow, and the Burley wind - yet it still
dares to...be. I always take a moment to gaze upon this brave little bloom and will it to live. "You Can Do It" I say to it in my mind. It gives me hope that Spring really is around the corner.

Family St. Patrick's Day

So we started off our St. Patrick's Day picking out green clothes for everyone. It was so fun to find something for Maddie in the spring/summer box of Jacee's old clothes. I remember so well Jacee wearing that same outfit. So hard to believe she is so grown up.

Daddy even wore some green and wanted in on the pictures. Even though the kids didn't have school they did find opportunities to get lots of pinches in (mom and dad before we were ready for the day. Cousins and Aunts and Uncles in Utah).

We forgot to leave a potato in our shoes in exchange for some gold coins because we were visiting family in Utah, but there's always next year! And no we did not eat anything green - Jacee and I decided we just didn't like that - it just doesn't seem like it tastes very good.

Hope everyone else had a fun St. Patrick's Day too. Now we are really looking forward to Easter in Utah!

St. Patrick's Day

Explanation

Jackson was a little put out he wasn't in the picture at the top of our blog. So I told him he could pick which picture to put on...he wanted "the one where I am making a crazy face sleeping on daddy." So...here it is. Enjoy!

Ready for Spring!

Spring, spring - where art thou? I am really getting antsy for Spring Time. I thought I would post some pictures from last Easter to remind me that it will come and won't it be great! Our little flowers seem to still be growing under their bed of snow. Jack and I check them out on a regular basis and we see more and more tulips pushing through the ground.





Boy - what a difference a year makes. I can't believe how grown up Maddie is now. This Easter will be tons of fun - she will be running around trying to find the eggs. We will be in Utah this year and we're excited to spend time with lots of family.

Now - if Spring would just get here!

A Healthy Breakfast?

So mornings are not my favorite, but I do have to say we get up and have a nice breakfast together - usually a hot one that I have slaved over (trying to follow my mom's example.) Anyway, we got cup cakes one night and there were some leftovers, so Jack wondered if he could have a cupcake for breakfast. Well, I had been sick and was still feeling tired and worn out PLUS (and here I must admit the voice of Bill Cosby rang in my ears) cupcakes have eggs and milk in it...so WHY NOT? Here is the after picture. Turns out he really only wanted the frosting (we still have the milk factor right?) Anyway, just thought I'd share one of my mother of the year moments.
Here they are the night before eating their cupcakes - and yes it was after dinner. How did they all get frosting on their faces?


Here is the must have action shot.

Maddie Has Bangs!

You know there are certain things you can count on when Grama and Grampa babysit. Our kids will get to play outside, they will get to read lots of books, eat yummy food, be LOVED, and just be spoiled in general.

Usually I can also count on a little extra from Grama Binki. One year when she babysat while I was at girl's camp, I came home to find my children were addicted to chocolate milk (an addiction that still holds strong to this day). Luckily my pediatrician wasn't worried and was actually excited to hear how much milk my kids drank - chocolate or not.

The latest - bangs for Maddie! John, Jacee and I went to a ballroom competition last weekend so Grama and Grampa had Jack and Maddie for 2 1/2 days. When we came home, much to our surprise, Maddie had the cutest little bangs you ever did see. It made her seem so grown up. And now she doesn't quite look like the little ragamuffin she usually does. I actually love them and think she looks so cute.

Thanks Grama - for all you do - the stuff we know you'll do and also the unexpected. Our kids sure do love you - and so do we!

Photographer in the Making

Every once in a while I just get a bunch of random pictures on my camera and I know Jacee has gotten a hold of it. She actually is pretty good (says her mother :). Here are some of the latest editions to my camera.

The fence on the south side of the house.

Our house - or rather Grama and Grampa's house. Jacee is a little worried about that big tree in the backyard. She thinks there might be a storm and it will blow over and fall on our house. We do love all the trees and the shade we get in the summer.

Here We Go Again

It has begun! Our first born had her first dance competition this weekend. She danced with her cousin Michael. They had a great time. They both got ribbons (every one in the comp did - pink for girls and blue for boys). There was a little bit of trauma because her cousin lives in Rexburg so there was not a lot of practice time - and if you know Jacee you know she is a perfectionist. She did get a little frustrated that she didn't dance just right.

Here they are on the floor waiting for the music to start. I was pretty proud that she was on beat for the swing and just smiled away!


Here are their ribbons. Jacee was not too excited at first that they were both the same color - not sure what she was expecting - but hey - she had fun and wants to do it again.

So - all of this means we are starting a ballroom team here in Burley for her. She is so excited. We are just doing a short six week program and get to perform with her other dance studio at their recital. So - we are back into it - we'll see how it goes!