our lesson...

Molly taught FHE last night. Put together her very own lesson. It was a dandy:

Everyone needs to not say bad words,

and not be mean when they are being mean.

We are Heavenly Father's children and we need to act like him.

We can do this by:

Being nice,

not biting or hitting,

or pushing.

If someone asks you

if you could push someone down a slide,

a really long slide,

to make them go faster,

and they liked it.

Listening to someone important

and doing what they say...

like the girl that was talking at church

that said, "Mom's and Dad's...

you need to be playing with your kids more,

not playing on the computer."

Giving your kids everything that you have

and all of your money, if you have infinity money.

You could share your toys.

If your kids ask you to buy them ice-cream,

you should do it.

Obey your mom and dad.

Don't follow Satan, follow Heavenly Father.

AMEN.

wishing...

Really wishing we were still here today.

a night on the ice...

Lizzy and Emily had a brilliant plan. They had been to an ice skating birthday party a few weeks earlier and wanted one of their own. They decided to forego their big party this year, to go skating while Rachel (my sister) and Annie were in town. We'd go as a family, Christy included, and call it a party! I was cool with that. Less planning for me, you know? The girls asked me every single day to give them a countdown to the big night. Dates changed a few times due to stormy weather back east holding up Annie and Rachel. Anyhow...they finally made it here, and we finally made it there.

Dave decided not to skate, but to watch Margaret from the upper deck. He is a gem. He really is. I KNOW that wasn't fun for 2 1/2 hours. It just wasn't. It took us awhile to get out on the ice. The kids were really nervous, and there were no walker/helper thingies left. Too crowded. They held onto the wall for dear life, while I tried to sort out a way to help them. Rachel and Annie had headed around the rink.

After 15 minutes...we had gotten 1/4 of the way around. I was frustrated. I did NOT want to spend all that $ to have my kids clinging and crying. I kept trying to teach them, to have them watch my feet. They were sad and scared. Some birthday party. In their defense...it IS ice, and it IS slippery. :) I was really sad for the girls. They wanted it to be just like last time, using the walkers, making their way around...slowly but surely. Rachel sensed my frustration and spent the rest of the time helping one of my 4 kids around the rink. She was an angel.

Once the place cleared out a bit around dinner time, lots of helpers became available. Molly spent the next 2 hours just like this. Cruising and smiling from ear to ear. She never fell. Those things were a lifesaver.

Lizzy liked to come out from the wall, but did NOT like to be let go of. She wanted to hold my hand the entire time. The funny thing is, she really didn't need to. She was quite steady. At one point, I got a little over-confident in her abilities. I started to go faster. She fell. She cried. I felt like a loser.

Emily like the hand holding thing too. Alex, bless his heart, had a hard time with the whole thing. I kept telling him to keep his feet under his body. I also told him about the toepicks. Found out an hour into things that his skates had no toepicks. Sad. He tried to go fast with the little helper, but fell and hurt his ankle. I could see how frustrated he was getting and it worried me. He was sad and embarassed. I love him. Once we exchanged them and got him a helper, he took off. He was so happy.

See what I mean?

I'm only posting this picture because I love Emily in it. She was so concerned for him. She helped him up and waited to make sure he was ok. She is a little mother. A caring little mother.

As a sidenote, that girl behind Molly was a mess. As I was circling with barely balanced Elizabeth, this twit came up behind me and almost fell. To stop herself, she grabbed onto my shoulders and held on for a good 30 seconds. YES, she nearly pulled me down. Never even apologized, just skated off once she got her footing. Whatever.

Lizzy had a smile plastered on her face the whole night. She now says ice skating is her favorite hobby.

Rachel and Annie looking beautiful. These 2 used to be close to the same size. Now Annie TOWERS over Emily. It's really cute. Annie's aunts on her dad's side are close to 6 ft. She will surely follow in their footsteps. She's about to pass her 5 ft. tall mother. :) I LOVE Christy in this picture.

Christy and my girl...my snotty, drippy girl. Christy has since moved back to DE. I don't really want to think about it right now...so I won't.

The whole gang. It really was a blast. I am sure we will be headed back soon. Happy un-birthday party, Lizzy and Emmy!

a day (or 2) for the twins...

Things started on Saturday...birthday eve. They were DYING to open some presents early. I totally get it. I have had MANY a holiday where all of mine are opened the day before. I let them open 2. They were so thrilled. In an effort to make this birthday celebration about BOTH of them, I let Emily choose Saturday night's dinner and Elizabeth chose Sunday.

They wanted french toast with strawberries on top. It was pretty great. Forgot to take pictures of the messy feast though.

Donut towers...again. :)

10 balloons waiting for them in the morning.

Molly snuck her way into the twins birthday photoshoot.

It kindof stinks having your birthday on a Sunday. Especially a Sunday where your dad is gone from 6:45 am until 6:15 pm. It's hard to make it eventful if you're doing your best to keep the day holy, you know? After church, we headed over to BYU with their balloons to get some pictures. I love taking pictures of these girls. It was BITTER cold though. I kept telling them to give me some sass. They were a riot!

Evidence that Emily really IS getting taller. She's nearly up to my shoulders. Lizzy passes her by about 4 inches. I think their heights suit their personalities though. Is that wierd?

Molly was freezing and pretty ticked off about it. She was mad at ME, that I hadn't made her bring a coat. She was mad, but that doesn't mean she wasn't cute.

Aren't they gorgeous?

They have such soft, milky skin.

They're long and lean.

Their hair is fabulous.

They beg me for Flaming Hot Cheetos...regularly. SO...they each got their own bag. it was a hit. Wierd, I know.

Birthday dinner #2...pasta with pink sauce, garlic bread that I over-salted and no one would eat, oranges, and salad. The oranges were by far the favorite part of the meal. I'm betting their stomachs are fairly upset today from all the citrus.

Cutest little Webkinz EVER, saved for last. Lizzy lets ALL of her emotions show. Can you tell?

Emily got an orangutan. It is so ugly/cute. She's in love.

Lastly, the cake. They chose strawberry/pretzel/jello salad. Aren't they the cutest?

Happy birthday my sweet girls. I LOVE you.

ejs & ees...

Emily Jane & Elizabeth Ellen

Where have the last 10 years gone? Was it really a decade ago that these beautiful little people joined our family? An entire decade? They are blessings. For very different reasons. They compliment each other perfectly. They are very best friends. One is loud and crazy, the other gentle and soft. One is an athlete, the other an artist. Both are good girls. They choose the right, they are obedient, and they are nice. They are my daughters, forever. Happy birthday to my sweet Emily and Elizabeth.

*A run-down of their special day coming tomorrow. :)

queen for the day...

What a day...and what a little girl. She was happy ALMOST all day "except for all the times I got hurt." She got a paper cut on her finger, bumped her hand on the banister, smashed her finger with her new bike. She really is a sweet little thing. SO beautiful, and loving, and giving, and down right hilarious.

It all started pretty darn early, opening presents on the kitchen table. Only a few before the big kids went to school, then the rest later.

A donut cake. We don't do your typical cakes/cupcakes around here. It's usually a donut cake for breakfast, then whatever they love most for dessert that night + a few birthday candles. It's pretty easy and pretty fabulous.

She got some glow in the dark markers. Ran out of space for the "s".

Our yearly balloon photos. Not sure exactly when this started, but I love it. I like to buy them balloons...one for each year they've been alive. Balloons are cheap, but they make your kids feel so special. Easy happiness, right there.

She is a beauty.

Grandma and Grandpa Temple got her a gift card to Build a Bear. Lizzy and Emily got some for Christmas. Molly went with us when they got theirs. It was rough. She was so jealous, but such a good girl. I KNOW it was really hard for her. She took her time today. Good grief, did she take her time. I'm glad I was blessed with patience (this morning). Today...it was all about Molly. Look how happy she looks in this picture.

I put this one in because I think she looks freaking adorable, and I'm her mom and can do whatever I want.

Her taste and mine are VERY different. Her animal choices are usually fine, but the outfits...oh, the outfits. There is some really cute stuff there. Molly is drawn to whatever will clash...and she loves it.

She got all sorts of office supplies today. From us, from sweet friends who know her SO well. :) She made me this note out of her new glittery pipe cleaners. "I love you (heart)/Molly"

Her dinner of choice was macaroni and cheese (extra creamy) and broccoli and carrots with ranch. Easy enough.

She's been "in the mood for a hula hoop" for quite some time now. I found her one that lights up. It was a HIT! We hula'd and played games with it for awhile tonight. Margaret even gave it a whirl.

OK...so her choice for "birthday cake" was chocolate covered strawberries. Dave and I had to search all over town for these out of season babies. We payed a pretty penny for them too. Dave lovingly dipped each one and even rolled a few in m&m's. Look at her face! Worth every stop we had to make in our search. Every single one.

Margaret couldn't reach. She was NOT happy about it.

A special delivery on our doorstep sealed the deal. Her best birthday ever. Look at her face! Don't you want to kiss her?

Darling Lizzy read her to sleep.

Molly, we love you. Do you know how much? Happy Birthday lovey girl.