Rachel sings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpP4rXMP_XU

Hope this works!

Gotta Dance!

Rachel did a tumbling class once a week in October, which she loved. Unfortunately, the first day's instructor, who was awesome, didn't return to the class, and we had a series of mediocore or, in one instance, downright lame, instructors (this is toddler tumbing, people...how hard can it be?) Anyway, we found out our favorite instructor is teaching a Combo class on Fridays--45 minutes instead of 30, to include tumbling, ballet and tap. I can't wait to see Rachel and her 3-year-old cohorts tap, much less do ballet, but since Mommy wants her to look the part, we had great fun picking out her outfits and ballet slippers at a newly discovered secondhand store. Went to Payless for the tap shoes--at over $20 a pop we quickly left the store. Found some on-line for $5, which we'll pick up tomorrow. Rachel, of course, wants to walk around the house in her new outfits so I put the cutest one on for the blog shots. When I asked her to put her arms out and point her toe, she logically pointed TO her toe. Smart girl. She's sure to be a prima ballerina or the tap equivalent. Can't wait to buy a tutu!

RANDOM PIX

Can't think of anything witty to write, so I'll just post a few cool pix. Of course, I'm too lazy to reduce their file size, so it may take a while to download (since it took a while to upload). Sorry! Also, I could tell you where these pix were, but a) Do you really want to know? and b) Would you remember anyway? Therefore, let's go with c) Easy descriptives. There's Rachel and me by the fire, all of us overlooking pretty mountains, Karen with pretty fall colors, and Rachel by a lake. My personal favorite is Rachel and me by the fire. I think I was supposed to go running with Carl, but it was cold out and I was so much more content to cozy by the fire with my baby and a great book. Amazingly, I was able to talk Carl out of running and keep my big happy butt just where it was. A great night indeed!

Another bob in the family

Hey, if it's good enough for Dacia....

Much like at the dentist, Rachel did a great job with the hairdresser getting all that flyaway hair chopped off. She doesn't look too happy about it though, does she? Actually, when I told her we were going to get her hair cut she was excited and had no trepidation whatsoever. This was her second haircut--perfect for summer.

Wednesday's with Gracey

Buggy and I have wound up in a nice routine of weekly get-togethers with our girls. So far we've had a picnic at Liberty Park, visited the Discovery Children's Museum, gone to the zoo and went swimming at the Bountiful rec center. Often Topher joins us, which just adds to the fun. We would have done something yesterday too, but Gracey had to get all sick on us--how selfish! Anyway, I really enjoy these outings and I admire how Buggy doesn't treat Gracey with kid gloves, but rather gets her out and about to experience life as much as possible. I'm sure Buggy would agree that we're very lucky to be stay-at-home mommies who can do this type of thing. Looking forward to our next adventure!

Open Wide!

Rachel had her first dental appointment recently and did great. She watched Mommy have hers first, and when she realized it wouldn't hurt (after confirming this with me about 100 times) she was ready. She was well-rewarded afterwards with two new toothbrushes (one an electric Ariel), toothpaste, dental floss (great fun to pull completely out), sugar free suckers and a pair of sunglasses. She has 16 teeth (no second molars yet) and a pretty big overbite (unlike Daddy's underbite). Since her visit, our toothbrushing wars have been a bit milder. I have no doubt that braces are in her future, as well as glasses or contacts, since good teeth and vision don't run in this family. Besides, shouldn't everyone be stuck with a dorky, four eyes, metal mouth school picture around the Jr. High years?

Blog Parody

There was an article in today's paper about this blog site--"an astutely sharp spoof of a recent Web phenomenon: the married Mormon blog, in which LDS women (and it's almost always women) write about their family doings, post photos of their kids, and decorate with backgrounds, musical play lists and widgets. It's scrapbooking in a form that everybody, from your neighbors in the ward to people on the other side of the world can see."

So, if you're interested, here's the link: http://www.seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com/

Oh, and since I'm blogging (AGAIN), may as well include some cute Rachel pix.

P.S. Does anyone know how to control where pictures and text land before posting? I sure haven't figured it out, but it seems there's no real control with putting pix where you want them. Then again, if I continue to be this crazed blog lady, I'll probably figure it out sooner than later.

P.P.S. I've decided blogging is no fun unless people comment on your blogs, so comment away and I'll try to do the same with all your new blogs.

P.P.P.S. Blogging is just a cover for procrastinating on other, less fun projects, don't you think?

Forgot a Tag question

Five of my favorite snacks/foods:
1. Ice cream (especially the kind with lots of STUFF--cookie dough, reeses peanut butter cups, etc.)
2. Brownies
3. Seafood (shellfish--crab, shrimp, scallops) pasta in a white cream sauce
4. Eggs Benedict
5. Mexican

OK, this blogger stuff is addictive (and way too time-consuming). I must stop--NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's only 1:00 in the morning, may as well do a tag

My first time being tagged, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Here goes:

Five things I was doing ten years ago:
1. Living in Seattle.
2. Working for a group of radio stations.
3. Hiking as much as possible.
4. Taking advantage of my radio freebies as much as possible.
5. Exploring the state of Washington.

Five things on my To Do list:
1. Call my mom.
2. Call my sister.
3. Go to Hobby Lobby for scrapbook stuff (I have a coupon and need to finally start our 1/2 marathon book, which eventually will become digital).
4. Pick up pix at Walmart.
5. Set up CD/DVD cabinet.

Five things I would do if I was a billionaire:
1. Buy Grace a new heart.
2. Make everyone I love debt free.
3. Pay for college for anyone in my family who wanted to go or is currently going.
4. Treat everyone I care about to some awesome trips on me.
5. Donate lots of money to various causes--especially children-related issues, HLHS and Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Five bad habits:
1. Watching recorded TV instead of being productive
2. Binge eating and/or eating too much junk food
3. Not getting enough sleep
4. Reading Chick Lit instead of Parenting magazines or other useful stuff
5. Procrastinating

Five places I have lived:
1. Illinois (Springfield, Joliet, Lombard, Chicago)
2. Washington (Seattle and Everett)
3. Utah (Tooele and Eagle Mountain).
Yep, only three states and only in this country--BORing, I know.

Five people I tag:
1. Carl
2. Alan
3. Jen
4. Emily
5. Dacia
I pretty much duplicated who Alysia tagged, since I don't know anyone else who blogs. Now time for bed!

Can you say "Big Girl Pants?"

Well, Rachel can say it, but that's about all. Granted, her mommy hasn't completely jumped on the pottie training bandwagon yet (my goal is before Labor Day, which means I really don't have to start until August, right?). Interestingly enough, now that pottie training is on the horizon, Rachel has started blessing us with two poops a day instead of the usual one (in case you were curious). I think Belle, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty probably appreciate that Rachel's still in diapers. Rachel's daddy, on the other hand, feels that Rachel should have been pottie trained soon after birth, since she really had nothing else going on at the time. Let's just say that somewhere between birth and college this milestone will take place.

Learning to undress

Big head, small body. Better than the alternative, I suppose!

Bed Head

Enough said.

On a roll

Yes, when it rains, it pours. My third post of the day (with another to come, I think). I know Rachel eating corn on the cob at almost 2-1/2 is not a breakthrough, but Rachel eating of her own volition is certainly worth a mention, don't you think? Plus, kids and corn on the cob are a cute combo, as Emily proved with Caden (who's way ahead of Rachel in the eating-by-himself department--when Emily feeds him, that is ;)

Rachel's "Hot Tub"

Water table to some, hot tub to others--I highly recommed this toy to any kid with a water fetish. HOURS of entertainment, and an excuse for Mommy to sit on the front porch and read--er, watch Rachel.

Back in Style

Remember jelly shoes? I think they were hip about 15 years ago. Then again, if I thought they were hip then, it was probably more like 20 years ago (I'm usually years behind the latest trends, as Dacia, Emily, or Jen will be the first to tell you--Alysia is too nice to say anything :>)). However, for the toddler set these are COOL, and far be it for me not to have a hipster daughter....

More Gracey with Papa

Yep, those who post control the pix that are shown, but I need to give equal time to proud Papa Carl, so here goes.

Beautiful Gracey

It's such a joy to visit Grace now that we get to hold her. Yesterday she was very alert and happy, so we were thrilled.

Look how happy she is when Karen holds her!!

Look what happens when Papa holds her....

Gracey actually said her first full sentence yesterday when I was holding her--something to the effect of "You're my favorite after Mommy and Daddy." Of course I was thrilled but felt a little bad for Carl.

One or both of us try to visit Gracey every other day, which so far has worked out pretty well. It's nice to go together, but when we go separately we don't have to share holding her (and I DON'T like to share!!).

On every visit invariably some medical personnel comments on how beautiful Gracey is. A member of the IV team said yesterday Grace is the prettiest baby she's seen (and she's seen many.) You may think she says that to everyone, but one look at Gracey and you know it's true.

Anyway, we look forward to our next visit with this beautiful angel, who teaches us so much just by being here. Thank you, Bugs and Toph, for the gift of Gracey. We love her and both of you more than you know.

Rachel sings I am a Child of God

Since I can't seem to incorporate video into my blog, I have to do it via YouTube (my latest fixation anyway). However, let's see if I can link this so you can just click on it and view it. If it doesn't work, go to www.youtube.com and type in "Rachel sings I am a child of God" and it should pop up. Here goes....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epQfaBq7J-Q

This was filmed in early December. The email of her singing Winnie the Pooh was filmed just a few days ago. Winnie the Pooh can be accessed via Youtube also, by searching for "Rachel sings Winnie the Pooh"

Laundry isn't so bad

Yes, there is a blue moon scheduled for tonite! If you can't beat 'em, join 'em (at least once a quarter, anyway). Plus, I've been threatened with not being allowed to read others' blogs (of which I'm a faithful fan) unless I pony up and give a little something of my own. So here goes, although I have a feeling my captions and my pictures won't quite connect (someone help me on this someday, OK?).


If you have kids yet hate laundry, you only have yourself to blame.

This picture of Carl is especially for Dacia.

This picture didn't make the newsletterbecause a key member of our family was missing, but it's one of my favorites.