jason + jocelyn =

Time to Sit Back & Unwind...yeah right!

2011-08-25T12:49:00.000-07:00

This summer we headed off on The Great American Road Trip (read that with reverb) with

day 1 stop at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. This hotel was way too cool for us, not really family friendly- I guess the marketing slogan of "What happens in Vegas" is not referring to being crazy and swimming without goggles just this one time. (Don't worry, my kids wore their goggles while everyone else in the pool was mingling with their cocktails; we totally fit right in.) This was the one foot pool where we felt marginally less uncomfortable.

Getting ready for a night on the town.

So adorable cuddling up with his bear.

For dinner we found a restaurant that was a fun mix of food, family, & Vegas at Max Brennar's.

Elli's main course, grilled banana and peanut butter sandwich with chocolate dipping sauce.

Spaghetti sauce syringe for Addie's pasta.

Day 2, headed to Provo for a look-see at the BYU campus. The girls want to go there when they are older but had never visited before. Go cougars- grrrr!

See the "Y" in the back? This picture will be framed in their dorm room some day, I can see it now. We then crashed our friends Stadium of Fire party, thanks Craigs for the yummy food and good company.

Days 3-6 we were off to Island Park, Idaho to spend the 4th of July with our good friends the Henries. We had fun celebrating Parker's birthday, floating Mac's river, visiting Yellowstone, swatting mosquitos, eating tots in Idaho, enduring crazy weather with lightening and hail, & a power outage.

Look at my guys in their patriotic ensembles.

Justin & Jason, friends for 18 years, half their lives.

Old Faithful, check that off their bucket lists.

Dear Sheets family,

Thank you for having us over for a fabulous dinner. Your tablescape was so lovely. It was great catching up with you and your family. You guys are totally blogworthy, but the real question is are we disneyworthy???

P.S. Congrats on your promotion, your are #1 on our most influential friends list.

Retrieving Addie's wayward shoe by lowering a child into the creepy neighbors back yard, hopefully he doesn't read this blog.

While in Salt Lake Valley for days 6-9, we ate at some of our old favorites:

Temple Square

They would have made cute pioneers.

(They would need to get by on their cuteness because they don't do well with manual labor.)

We ran the gamut of places to lay our heads at night, and our favorite was The Grand America which welcomed us with a chocolate piano - yum.
Day 8 we headed to Park City to ride the alpine slide & alpine coaster then off to picturesque Midway; would be such a beautiful place to live if it weren't for those darn winters.

Elli really wanted to see the hospital where she was born, which incidentally is run by our friend, Jim Sheets. (Excuse me while I go pick up his name.)

After all the go-go-go we finally slowed down on our last day and lounged poolside.

What you don't see is days 10-15 in Roseville with cousins, dinner with Grammi and moo-moo, lemonade stands, & swimming with flippers.

We were then off to Danville for days 16-19 to stay with Poppa & Linda for eye exams, a visit to "the city", hanging with Uncle Randy & Katie, and a tea party.

I lost count of how many times my car was packed and unpacked, but it was a really great getaway for our family filled with fun, sightseeing, cleaning up blowouts in the Walmart parking lot, and friends and family that we love.

Too School for Cool

2011-08-25T12:19:00.000-07:00

Millie started Kindergarten this week, she was so excited and so was I, my bubby is a big girl!

We love that goofy smile.

B.M.O.C.

Elli's last year in elementary school, she has big plans for this year.

Addie is in 4th grade this year and happy she got the teacher with a bathtub for reading in her classroom.

So I might of taken one or eight more pictures of Amelia than the others, but you only start Kindergarten once. (That is also true of 4th grade & 6th grade, but it's my reasoning & I am sticking to it.)

Our B-Boy

2011-08-16T19:33:00.000-07:00

Happy Feet

2011-07-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

The girls had their "Iconic" dance show this weekend and it was very well done. Elli enjoyed being in 4 numbers this year, Addie danced in 2, and Millie tapped her heart out to "New York, New York." They open and close the show in their recital t-shirts and no pictures are allowed to be taken during the show so for now I have no costume photos. But check out their t-shirt designs; all I have to say is the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I kept telling them to pull their shirts up on their shoulders, but really who am I to criticize? (If you knew me when I was their age, you understand.)

Father's Day

2011-07-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

We all know Jason is a simple man.

When I asked what he wanted to eat of Father's day his answer surprisingly was not "whatever you make I am sure will be lovely, dear"; it was that he wanted a gourmet burger with meat from an actual butcher and buns from a baker and ingredients that mimic a real chefs inspiration. So, since I am such an awesome wife I ran around town buying the meat and bacon from the corner butcher who conveniently also sold fresh brioche buns for the local bakery, and Trader Joe's kindly sold all the other ingredients I needed. (micro greens, mustard garlic aioli - thought I was going to have to make that myself- smoked gouda, and maui onions that Elli caramelized to perfection.)

They turned out phenomenal, can't wait to make them again - stellar idea Jason.
F.Y.I. I didn't need to ask him what he wanted for a present since he bought himself 2 Father's Day gifts. First one was a belgium waffle make that he "will be using to make waffles for his grandkids" and second was an air compressor. Happy Father's Day!

How to Sleep With One Eye Open

2011-06-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

Creepy but still cute, right?

May is My Frenemy

2011-06-28T21:34:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, we are all busy people. But for me May is like a second December. I hardly had time to nap! There was our anniversary (13 years), open houses galore, the PTA reading party that I head up, my sweet sister and her family coming up to meet their newest nephew, Elli's birthday & party (separate but equal), Addie's birthday & party, school choral concerts, baby shower, Amelia's preschool graduation (it was a squeaker but she pulled through in the end so we can proudly say she is a Pre-K graduate!) alongside all the other busy-ness like "the battle of the bottle" of which I am the proud victor and the "Finger feud" of which I think I have won, but we are still waiting for the numbers to come in from Florida so Max has yet to give his official concession speech. But it is fun and worth it and I am so glad it is over.

These invite pictures are out of order but what are you going to do? Think of it as a teaser of what's to come, an amuse-bouche if you will.

Our annual Red Robin birthday burgers.

Millie's rainforest open house with her terrific teachers.

Preschool Graduation, Oh, the places she'll go. (but only if I drive her because she can't even ride a bike and she is not allowed to cross the street by herself)

Uncle Trevor getting laughs.

Auntie Yo-Yo giving luvs.

Fi-fi got him to sleep, she's a natural.

Fondue fun for Addie's 9th Birthday

In-n-Out before Pirates for Elli's 11th Birthday, check out their cool t-shirts.

Good-bye May, parting is such sweet sorrow.

My Mother's Day

2011-06-28T20:55:00.001-07:00

Because May is a big blur to me, I am finally getting around to journaling memories of my big day. It started with presents and cards. I have impressed upon my children that a thoughtful card is more important than the gift - but I still want a gift. Can't I have my cake and eat it also? So they have become wonderful card makers and this year they I received some fabulous cards.

Adeline's card above was very cute and from her school she gave me a recipe book where they guessed the recipe for their favorite dish of their mom's. Addie picked my strawberry freezer jam and concluded that I made it using jello, creative but wrong.
Elli made me a beautiful painted bowl and gave me a caustic poem with the letters for Mother. My favorite lines:

"O is for Optimistic...You always look at the glass half full. I need to learn how to do that."

"R is for right, and I mean always right. Why are you always correct??? Do you know every answer to every question???"

So young and so smart, and yes - I do.

In Millie's card she lists things I do that she loves, one of them being picking out her shoes, it's the little things I guess.

After I opened cards and presents, we sat down to a charming breakfast of croissants and fresh fruit and I commented what a great morning it was, to which Millie replied "ya - for you."

Playing Dress-up

2011-05-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

When Elli was born I loved to dress her up head to toe in outfits, complete with bows, bracelets, full-on ensemble, shoes and socks. As Addie was born I wanted to keep her sweet and precious and comfortable and tended to dress her in soft one-pieces; no more 0-3 month denim skirts or overalls with uncomfortable metal closures. And shoes didn't touch her feet until she was practically walking therefore necessitating them. I was even happier when Amelia came and they had Robeez, a fusion of shoes and socks; perfect!

So with a boy, the only thing that has changed is the overall color scheme, I still prefer the soft and comfortable clothes that keep him squishy and little. So today with the rain coming down outside and a full laundry basket waiting to be washed I thought it was a good opportunity for Max to wear his adorable baby shower gift outfit complete with corduroys and a sweater vest to church. We all gathered around as Jason called us in to see our "Little Man". Though there may not be hairbows for boys, he does have matching dinosaur socks. (and still no shoes)

We had to make some style choices; we went with sleeves rolled up one time and shirt untucked. We don't want to look like we're trying too hard.

Too bad no one really got to see him in his dress-up and good thing we took these pictures before church because as we were sitting in our pew Jason handed him over and the sour smell hit me; as I lifted the sweater vest there was proof of a blow out. So with baby in tow I had to walk out during church, take him home, bathe him, feed him, put him down for a nap, spray and wash his clothes, do a quick wash cycle on hot water, and then another to really get the yuck out. So this is my church for today.

Millie's Mind

2011-05-03T22:27:00.000-07:00

While in the car on the way to take the older girls to school today Millie was practicing her math facts. She told me that 1+1=2 and 0+3=3 and so on. She paused for a minute or two and then told me that 5+5+5+5=20 and I was a bit surprised she jumped to higher level math. I asked if she knew how to count by fives and here is her answer:

"No mom, I counted all my fingers and then I counted all my toes."

(She also has cat-like instincts; she likes to lay on the floor when the morning sun shines in.)

Easter

2011-04-29T19:54:00.001-07:00

This Easter we spent with our family from Ohio. Mimi "Claudia" always has a way with my babies and she wasn't here more than 15 minutes before she had Max sleeping in her arms.

Easter morning was met with a basket treasure hunt and then off to find the eggs.

We then hurried up to get ready for church, barely having time to take a decent picture.

Good thing we ran into the Easter bunny where we could get a better photo op.

They co-ordinate, but not on purpose, I have rules I hold my family to.

Stay classy, Millie Anne!

I want to eat him up.

We spent Monday at the L.A. Zoo, perfect weather for flamingo posing.

First zoo visit, the monkeys were his favorite.

Good times, thanks for coming to visit.

Male Pattern Baldness

2011-04-08T10:33:00.000-07:00

From the front he is 13 pounds of perfection.

Chubby cheeks, smooth skin, smiles on demand.

But alas, my babies always have issues when it comes to their hair. The girls were all born bald/fuzz and when it finally grew, it grew in the back which created the much sought after mullet. Business in the front, party in the back! Max was born with a totally different head of dark hair, and it has starting thinning out on the top, creating a comb over look, and also in the back. He totally rocks it!

(But just for curiosity, when can I give him his first haircut?)

Better Wash Your Hands...

2011-03-30T22:43:00.000-07:00

Or you might catch the FEVER!!!

Millie is a closet fan of Justin Beiber and was so excited to see his movie, but with a new baby being born I was out of comission so it was up to Jason. He asked if he could walk the girls to their theatre and then go watch a different movie, um no. But then genius idea - Auntie Cami was coming to town and not only is she an awesome auntie, she is also a fan of children's menus and Disney media. Elli called Auntie Cami and she was game; actually she said she had really wanted to see that movie and her nieces were her perfect cover.

Go big or go home -

they pulled out all the stops, t-shirts, singing doll, hoodies, and face messaging.

I smile, you smile :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2011-03-30T22:37:00.001-07:00

It's still March...

Here are 2 jokes Amelia would tell you if you were here, and if it was her idea - heaven forbid you suggest it:

Why did the chicken cross the playground?

To get to the other slide.

What do you call a bear with no teeth?

A gummy bear.

Not on my watch!

2011-03-26T19:20:00.000-07:00

I didn't know that being a finger sucker was in DNA, but it must be since I was batting 1000 with my first 3 children and #4 has shown strong tendencies to follow in their footsteps. And those who know our family well know it is not just a finger or two in the mouth, the other hand likes to be busy also. So the buck stops here! I feel I need to explain to everyone why my 2 month old is wearing mittens that are too small for him; it is because I am trying my darndest to block a habit before it is formed. They only make tiny mittens for baby's first couple of weeks so Max's hands are for the majority of the day balled up. I hope I am not hindering any motor skill growth but I am one determined mama. He is on a merit system and if he has not been sucking on the mittens he can earn a recess where I work with him on grasping, but the moment I turn my back and hear the tell-tell slurp, 2 demerits are tallied and the mittens go back on. I have tried to research "ways to prevent" on the internet but all I can find is ways to "break the habit", so I am flying blind on this one.

But look at his darling smile, does it make you heart smile like it does ours? (Elli wrote that line on a card for me when she was younger and sweeter.)

Luved

2011-03-15T12:57:00.001-07:00

We have enjoyed all the family since Max's birth, he is very luved!

First trip to Disneyland, his sisters love him lots!

Grandma Joyce

Jason

Great Grandma Moo-moo

Auntie Cami

Grammi Debbi

Great Grandma Diamond

Great Poppa

Poppa & Linda

Pops

For My Funny Valentine

2011-02-14T10:15:00.000-08:00

This Valentine's Day I want to publicly dedicate a verse to a song to my valentine because I know it is his favorite. (& I wanted to share this picture with all of you, a side of Jason not seen too often.)

Once there was a snowman, snowman, snowman,

Once there was a snowman; tall, tall, tall.

And in the sun he melted, melted, melted,

In the sun he melted; small, small, small.

Meet Max

2011-02-05T19:22:00.000-08:00

Me on my due date, I might look happy but really I'm super frustrated and uncomfortable...I just don't know how to not smile for a picture. (And Addie doesn't know how to not close her eyes in the sun.)

Maxwell David King

January 24th, 2011

5:47 p.m.

8 freakin' pounds, 15 stinkin' ounces

21 inches

Patient envy, this is what happened when I took a shower.

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far

2011-01-19T11:16:00.000-08:00

I grew up hearing that over and over from my dad but "far" was pronounced "fa" and was not intended to make us feel better, nonetheless it is often found true. It has come to my realization in the past year that Addie is very much like me when I was younger, emphasis on the was. (Interestingly, my family seems to have realized this much earlier.) But this moment we caught the other night was identical to how Jason has found his mom countless times and I have seen with my own eyes when we lived in Arizona and she came to visit.

Lights on,

glasses on,

book propped out,

asleep.

This one's for you, Grandma Joyce!

I would do anything for you!

2011-01-19T11:05:00.000-08:00

Conversation with Amelia this week over clothes.

Amelia "Please mom, can I wear a skirt instead of pants? Please mom, I will do anything for you, anything!"

Mom "What does that mean, Millie? What will you do for me?"

Amelia pauses and thinks for dramatic effect then answers "I will pick out your clothes, or do your hair, or do your make-up."

Thanks Millie, that is what every 9 month pregnant women needs!

Lucy! You got some 'splainin to do!

2010-10-31T17:39:00.000-07:00

I continued my Halloween theme of "Theme Shmeme" and went with 3 totally unrelated costumes. Elli went as Cindy Lou Who from the Grinch. I actually sewed the fur on her hood myself! But the coolest part of her costume by far was her hair which surprisingly only took 15 minutes to style which is awesome since I had the privilege of getting her ready 3 times!

Addie's teacher this year is a huge "I Love Lucy" fan, so she started watching old episodes and then came across this costume idea online. It was really fun and she got a lot of compliments, but wigs are troublesome and itchy - a lesson learned the hard way.

Millie is still into princesses and wanted to be either Sleeping Beauty or Cinderella. I was so over princess costumes when she was deciding on who to be, but then I found out #4 was a boy and all of a sudden I am getting nostalgic over girly trends, especially the ones I know they grow out of.

Trunk or Treat - no costume contest this year, we're sure we had a winner - Bummer!

The girls and their friends.

Happy Haunting!

Theme Shmeme

2010-10-28T10:23:00.001-07:00

For this Halloween I went with the parenting style "controlled expression". Textbook says if I pick a theme and have adorable coordinating pumpkins where I dictate how each pumpkin will look in detail, one day my children will rebel on me and perhaps start wearing black eyeliner with matching lipstick. That won't be so adorable anymore. Textbook also says if I get out all my craft accessories and paints and let them have at it, quote-unquote boundaryless (visual but less effective "boundaryless") they will crave limits and also one day rebel; this time by possibly wearing too-risque of a costume all in the name of Halloween. So I presented many options using my crafts and paints and had each one of them decide and then tell me step by step what their decorating plan was. Upon approval they began and I think they came out very cute by themselves, together they look like the Land of Misfit Jack-o-lanterns.

This is mine/Jason's.

I was going for the look "Yes, I can decorate a pumpkin without it looking girly".

Elli spray glittered her pumpkin then pinned ribbons.

Addie choose "Sequins & Pearls" not to be confused with Prince's "Diamonds & Pearls" or Auntie Cami's "Diamonds & Roses".

And Finally Millie wanted to match her costume this year with Cinderella's carriage.

Land of Misfit Pumpkins

Glass Bottom Can Kiss My...

2010-07-25T18:56:00.000-07:00

On Thursday we took a glass bottom 2 1/2 hour reef tour leaving from Key Largo's Camp Pennekamp State Park. I followed the cruise director's advice and took 2 dramamine in plenty of time for it to take effect, but effect my body did not take. I didn't see one fish on this cruise as I spent most of my time on the top deck trying to get any fresh breeze and watching the horizon attempting to get my world to stop spinning.

But enough about me, the rest of our gang fared pretty well.

While still near the shore, with not much to see.

Father/Son bonding

Rock-a-bye Baby

Chillaxin

2010-07-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

Here is how we spent the majority of our time:

Millie posing because if you have it - flaunt it!

The only natural curls a King-girl can get, one of the plusses to humidity.

Dance party. (To the Beat of my Heart, a Millie standard)

Yummy Blue Bell ice-cream, we miss that so from our AZ days.

And we discovered a delish new flavor - Caramel Kettle Cruch.

The Lagoon with the pier in back that Emily and Jason swam from.

BTW - Emily won.

BTWW - We walked down another day to let the kids jump from the dock but the nurse shark circling around persuaded us to change our plans.

The pool where we lounged many an hour, ready many a page of books and magazines, ate many a chips & salsa, and heard many a Marco/Polo callings.

Jason and the girls in the sea kayak

Jocelyn watching Jason and the girls in the sea kayak while lounging under a tiki hut.

We miss it already!

Day 4, Key West

2010-07-25T17:28:00.000-07:00

Tuesday morning we took a break from swimming and drove an hour and a half to Key West. We started with a french breakfast at Banana Cafe where all 3 girls ordered a grande nutella and banana crepe and licked their plates clean! Then we were off for a 2 hour "train" tour through the historic streets of Key West that was really interesting for the adults, but with the heat and all the names and architectural details, the kids weren't so into it.

We headed to Louie's Backyard for lunch and then made our way over to the southernmost spot in the United States. This is about the point when the heat and humidity made me want to crawl under a rock, literally. But we pulled through and looked for spots of A/C while we waited to embark on our Sunset Booze Cruise.
We couldn't pass up this photo op.
While on the boat, they let the kids help hoist the sail, I'm not sure what they would have done without them!

Do we look sticky?

Ariel wannabe

Dance party on deck 3

Finally, sunset!

You might see this picture again on our Christmas card.

After a long, hot, humid day we couldn't wait to get back to our hotel, but our 80 mile drive took FOREVER because at night half of the drive we could only go 35 mph because of the "Key deer" that are endangered that might cross the road. We literally thought that drive might never end!

Florida Vacay - Day 1

2010-07-25T16:51:00.000-07:00

We started our vacation taking the "red eye" from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale thinking it would work perfectly. We would sleep the whole night and before we knew it, our 6 hour flight would be over. No such luck. We had no jackets and the plane was freezing, we had no blankets or pillows so we were incredibly uncomfortable, and the kids were so excited it took 3 hours for them to settle down. But alas, we rallied and made the most out of our first day.

Not too shabby for 3:30 CA time, 6:30 FL time, waiting for the rental car.

After a few cat naps and baths, they cleaned up pretty nicely for our first night out in the Florida Key Islamorada. Elli, Addie, Millie, and their Aunt Emily (Notice my inlaws view, while we were across the hall with the highly sought after "lagoon view")
My favorite meal of the trip at the Green Turtle with hearts of palm salad, scallops, and New Orleans BBQ Shrimp. Here we are with Jason's dad Les, Claudia, Emily, and us - me.
Our room at the Cheeca Resort was so nice, the bath was on the balcony with water coming from the ceiling. Novel, but really noisy.

Addie's Baptism

2010-07-25T16:33:00.000-07:00

Addie was excited to get baptized, I think mostly to get to wear the white dress and get presents. But she was prepared to take this step and waited an extra month so her Roseville cousins could be there.

Above, her pictures we took before for the program,

below in the church dress she was baptized in.

Addie with Bishop Peterson

Grandma Joyce & Grandpa Kim

The Jamisons

The cousins sang a couple of songs during the program and Elli gave a talk.

Poppa & Linda

It was a wonderful day for Addie and our family, and she did get some really cool gifts!

Real Men Eat... Parfait

2010-06-20T21:28:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day, Jason!

When I asked him what he wanted for breakfast, he requested chocolate croissants (cwa-sonts). To make it more of a special breakfast I made granola and rounded out the meal with yogurt and berry parfaits - and Jason loved it.

So here's to my girls father, who doesn't need meat/bacon and potatoes to be called "dad".

A-May-Zing

2010-05-24T16:14:00.001-07:00

We have been planning on having an Amazing Race birthday party since the uber-creative Ms. Ranelle first executed this party for her daughter 4 years ago. But I knew I only wanted to do it once so I had to wait 'til Addie was old enough to combine the girls parties. Two birds...

Thanks to Jenny Stott for coming up with the logo in less than 5 minutes, she is amazing!
Since I couldn't be in more than one place at a time, I didn't get pictures from all the tasks. So a thousand words will have to do, more or less. The first challenge was sucking jello through a straw, the girls were so sick of jello by the end. The hair extension head bands were how we told the teams apart, totally unrelated to the show but that is what Dollartree had.
After jello they ran across the street to play play-doh charades, then off to my friends house to play jelly bean-boozled. They spun a wheel, landed on a color and had to eat that color jelly bean, the twist being that each color had one normal and one gross flavor that looked exactly alike: green could either be booger or pear, brown - chocolate pudding or dog food.

Next they were off to the park for Hoop Dreams where they either had to hula hoop for 30 seconds or make 3 baskets - a task that proved easy for 3 out of 4 teams.
They stayed at the park and had to find a buried puzzle and put it together with the help of their drivers who were a big help - big thanks to Uncle Bryce!

Their last challenge was to go to Target, find our babysitter Brianna, get the clue that said to find a certain color nail polish, return it to Bri, and then run to the yogurt shop. Uncle Bryce's team didn't read their clue and were the first to show up at the finish line. When they went back to Target they got the brunt of the first 3 teams running through the store and were escorted out by the manager. Oops.
Elli's team came in first, Addie came in third, and everyone had a great time! They got to serve themselves yogurt and open presents. Everything was perfect until we realized 2 days later we forgot to sing to them.

This party involved as many adults as kids so a big thanks to all who helped, so glad Grammi and Grandma could be here for this big day!

12 Years Baby!

2010-05-24T10:56:00.000-07:00

Jason and I got away last weekend to celebrate 12 years of bliss!?! We went all the way to...L.A. We stayed at The Standard which is an ultra cool modern boutique hotel. The only problem was Jason and I are no longer ultra cool and modern, not really sure if we ever were. So it left us staring a lot. Every night they have a lounge crowd in the lobby and then after a few drinks everyone makes their way up to the rooftop where there is music, a pool, and a movie projected on the building next door. We went up to the rooftop for a total of 90 seconds before I was ready to call it a night. Every party has a pooper - I know. Here is our room, notice the shower in the middle of the room with the mirror straight in front with shower curtains that don't cover the mirror view from the shower - won't be staying here for a girls weekend away!

We checked off many "things to do in L.A." boxes the first day with walking around the flower mart, the fashion district, eating at The Pantry, taking a tour of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and visiting the Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels. (They really need to work on their P.R./marketing - no one with tags and long skirts or ties came up to welcome us or offer us a free bible???)

Jason is on a very important phone call with 1992 - they say they want their phone back.

(Really those are the self-guided tour instruments.)
Then we were off to the Bradbury Building, an architectural landmark used in many movies, tv shows, and music videos.

Here am I at the World International Market.

The next day we visited The Getty museum and realized we aren't really museum people. What did make an impact on me was when I gave up my seat on the tram for a 3 year old named Gabe whose mom prompted him to tell me all the artists whose works he wanted to see, then when the man standing next to me started taking pictures of his girlfriend sitting next to Gabe, Gabe piped up and told him to take his picture and didn't let up until he took it - and then kept making new faces and insisting the guy keep taking his picture and Gabe's mom thought he was so funny even though the rest of us couldn't wait to got off the tram. But I did learn from her that saying cheese is not the right way to pose for a picture, and she knows because she is a professional photographer. Sorry lady, we don't find Gabe's pretentiousness and sense of entitlement as enduring as you do.
We had a great time exploring L.A. Live and all that is around it and celebrating us!

Hey Soul Sister

2010-05-04T20:33:00.000-07:00

First dinner out was at a mexican restaurant where Andra and Cami got ID'd at the bar ordering virgin drinks. It made Andra's night! While feasting on fresh guacamole waiting for our entrees we were treating to a musical feast of sorts about a man and a woman making guacamole all night long. The lyrics that stood out in my mind for far too long were "she reached for my pepper, I grabbed her tomatoes". I thought it was so clever, a song and a recipe in one!

Getting ready to get our tan on. Don't worry, I wore sunscreen. But even with SPF 4 applied liberally to my legs I still burned.

Girls ready for a night on the town, we needed to unwind from a day of shopping.

I am not really trying to pose, I just wanted to make sure my rad ring showed in the picture.

We had to stop and pose since we are almost official. (Except Andra, she really is of age, I looked it up on urban dictionary.) Who are the women who go to a bar named Cougars? And who are the guys? What the what?!?
I love sisters weekend, I highly recommend it to all. Next year we are looking forward to Katie joining out mix.

Hey Sister, Go Sister, Soul Sister - Part 1

2010-05-04T14:48:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year again when we tearfully say goodbye to our children and husbands, or in Cami's case - her Tivo?? and celebrate our sisterly love. This year we ventured to my back yard and started our getaway at Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa.

Allison wasn't comfortable totally leaving behind her baby and stroller so she insisted on rolling her suitcase hearing the "clink clink" sound to calm her nerves.

Don't pay attention to the big mound of mud that we rubbed all over to keep from getting frostbite, notice the floating man's head in the back - what the what?!?

My mom always told me my room was a pigsty growing up, so rolling around in mud felt like home.

Zion Zips

2010-04-14T21:00:00.000-07:00

We headed up to Southern Utah for Spring Break. It had been 7 years since we stepped foot in the Motherland. I have had to hone my Mormon Radar here in California by spotting fellow mo's at Disneyland and, not to pat myself on the back, I think I am pretty good. Before you get too envious, this talent of mine has a dark side also. Stepping out of the car in St. George my mind went into overdrive and I was spinning with all the beeping in my head. In case you are wondering what to look for, usually at least one adult is blonde, both adults are too young for having kids of their kids age, the mom has a vintage look to her, the dad has on cargo shorts, button up top, and flip flops. 60 % of the time this works everytime!
Our cabin was cute and quaint, emphasis on the quaint. We slept in queen bunk beds pushed against one wall, Jason had to climb over me and "grace" is not his middle name.

Elli, Addie, and I went down the zip line twice.

Elli and Addie conquered the bungee trampoline, Millie would have nothing to do with it.

Horseback Riding with a guy named Guy.

So much fun and so cold. Spring has not sprung everywhere.

Minute To Win It

2010-04-14T20:33:00.000-07:00

Our newest family reality show, adding to our list of American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, Amazing Race, Pawn Stars, Say Yes to the Dress, Are You Bored Yet - that last one was a trick to see if you were paying attention, but we probably would watch it if it were real, anywho, our newest show is Minute To Win It. And Jason, being Jason, likes to take things further than passively watching the show, so he set up a recreation of "Don't Blow the Joker". To play this game you stack a deck of cards with the joker on bottom on top of a glass bottle and in under a minute blow all the cards off the deck except the joker. We thought it was so cute to watch how much control Millie exhibited in this game. Fun times!

Neighborhood Pusher

2010-03-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

"Try, it. You'll like it."

"Just one drink."

"It's good for you."

"It's so cool!"

"Look, Elli is drinking it, if Elli drinks it, than so can you."

"I'm drinking it also. Everyone is drinking it."

"If you don't try it, I'm going to tell everyone you're a chicken."

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Would you like to try our green milk the leprechauns left in our fridge?

Can He Reach?!?

2010-03-14T18:48:00.001-07:00

Yes He Can!

Jason can reach all the way behind his very own back to pat himself on it.

I was gone this morning when the girls were getting ready for church, and instead of the normal hair down in a headband style that Millie usually shows up for church in when mom has meetings, she had an adorable ponytail WITH a ribbon. I told him it looked really good, but when I got home from church and found my camera on the kitchen counter with photos of the hairstyle, I realized I didn't need to tell him it looked cute - he already knew it.

He made sure to take shots from both sides, in case anyone doubted his symmetry.

I will take a moment to pat him on the back: Great job taking care of the girls not only this morning, but all weekend including single parent outings to Disneyland and Chuck E. Cheese, your girls are lucky to have you as their dad!

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

2010-02-14T18:38:00.000-08:00

In preparation for an upcoming shower, I tested out "Spinach and Gruyere Strata". I spent the better part of an hour late last night prepping this dish; slowing drying out bread slices, sauteeing shallots and spinach, making a reduction, whipping the eggs, shredding the gruyere, and finally layering it all together. After church when we were so hungry we put in the oven anxious for a yummy Sunday dinner. As the eggs starting puffing up and the cheese starting melting, oh boy - did it stink. I was out in the front gardening (I do garden every 6 months, especially when my sister is coming into town the upcoming weekend) and when I walked into the house, WHAM - right in the kisser. Addie said is smelled like wet dog. We opened the windows, but it just kept getting worse. I don't have a weak gag reflex, but this honestly got to me. But we persevered because I know there are lots of stinky cheeses the taste good. So with the air thick with the musty smell of a boys locker room we sat down for dinner. The girls had their noses plugged with chip clips, but since that was a wee bit ridiculous we made them remove them. That is when the tears started. Elli was actually eating the strata saying it wasn't that bad while crying over the smell. She then realized if she kept her nose in her orange juice she wouldn't have to smell it - problem solved.

I laughed it off and said they got a pass on dinner for the night (mostly because I wanted a pass for myself) while Jason saw this as an opportunity to teach them that they will encounter times in their life when they have to eat things they don't like, and to suck it up and see this as a challenge. In response we might have laughed, but it was with him and not at him. (He was just laughing really really quietly.)

Luckily being Valentine's Day for 3 days straight we have plenty of sugar treats to nourish us.

What You Missed

2010-01-31T20:26:00.000-08:00

Well, that is presumptuous on my part. If you really cared, you probably would have been there. Nonetheless, here is what was happening to my family while blogging was not:

Jason and his friends confirmed Andra's theory that there is such a thing as a "mormon uniform". They all had on untucked-in blue striped button-ups and jeans.

Why mess with success?!?

We went to the Long Beach aquarium with half of Southern California.

Rain + Christmas vacation = too many people to have a good time :(

Jason turned 35 and I went to sushi with him, that's love!

It hailed in our backyard and the girls reacted like they had never seen snow before.

They have... twice.

My dad got married to Linda.

Cami graduated from U of A.

And Andra and I took a good picture...how do you spell narcissistic?

A Rose by Any Other Name

2010-01-31T20:06:00.000-08:00

We were not brave enough to spend the night on the sidewalk to watch the Rose Bowl Parade, but we did go visit the floats aftewards - baby steps! Addie and I had fun recognizing the floats we had seen on TV just hours earlier.

Millie was being stubborn, imagine that, and had to be bribed just to not turn her head away from the camera.

The floats are amazing to see up close, such creativity and ingenuity, very impressive!

You know what they say about all good things, kids suck the fun out!

What Do You Mean Christmas was Soooo Yesterday?

2010-01-31T19:16:00.000-08:00

Millie really got us into the spirit of the holidays with her touching preschool program. Are we bad parents for laughing at her misery instead of sharing her tears? She's no angel, but we love her anyways. (Notice she is still doing the hand motions through the trauma.)

To sum up the season: grammi's jammies, visit with Santa, Pluto, Minnie; the girls' christmas dance recital (what you don't see is Millie in her hula skirt dancing to melekelikimaka because she wouldn't dance even though I tried everything including but not limited to bribing, begging, reasoning, shame, disappointment), Christmas morning, Christmas Eve, Uncle Randy giving his girlfriend Katie a very thoughtful Christmas gift. Happy New Year! (Is it too late to wish that?)

Thanksgiving

2009-12-10T09:02:00.000-08:00

We had a great Thanksgiving this year staying local, something we haven't done for many years. We started the day with Jason running his first race, the Upland Turkey Trot 5K. The girls and I got hot chocolate from Starbucks and watched him finish the race.

Then we went and saw "Fantastic Mr. Fox" which Jason slept through, but the girls and I found it very good. It isn't your pixar/disney/dreamworks movie for sure - but I love Roald Dahl and his odd sense of story telling. Luckily my girls didn't realize all the subliminal swearing occurring with the word cuss substituted over and over for another 4 letter word.

And then we were off to my cousin Heather and Alan's house with my aunts, uncle, cousin, second cousins, and Grandma and Poppa for a nice afternoon of softball and turkey and prime rib.

We are very thankful for family letting us invite ourselves over!
The only problem with not being around my sisters for Thanksgiving is I don't get any of their pictures to steal. I am terrible about preserving memories, and this are my only 2 pictures from the whole day :(

Thief in the Night

2009-12-10T08:54:00.000-08:00

Addie lost her first 2 bottom teeth in Kindergarten, and has since experienced a very long year and a half dry spell. But when it rains, it pours, and she has been losing teeth like it is her job. (I think it is her master plan for getting money to buy Christmas presents.) She lost both her top teeth 2 days apart at night. The first one she woke up and it was gone, luckily we found it in her bed. The second she woke up, sat up, checked her tooth and it came out in her hand with no blood. I told her she could be our family Christmas card photo with the caption "All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth" but Elli would have none of that!

Since this picture she lost another on the bottom and its match is barely hanging on. Welcome Addie to the "awkward phase". (That's when you grow in ginormous front teeth that are jagged on the bottom and uneven. It's a phase that everyone goes through, but don't be surprised if you don't see too many pictures of Addie for the next 6 months, this is her last adorable one.)

Not So Scary Halloween

2009-11-01T18:33:00.000-08:00

We like to be pretty for Halloween. No scary bloody make-up around here, but we still love any chance we get to wear mom's make-up.

Introducing:

Minnie Mouse Pumpkin

This costume won for best costume at out church's trunk-or-treat.

Here's Elle Woods.

Harvard Law Student and proud owner of Bruiser.

Last but not least,

Fancy Nancy

And the Winner Is...

2009-11-01T16:33:00.000-08:00

Every year at the girls' school there is a stand out costume that impresses me so. This year I didn't get a very good picture, but there were 2 giraffes that were awesome and a matching zoo keeper mom there to help with the heavy giraffe necks. Way to go stranger, don't think I'm creepy because I'm photographing you and blogging about you without knowing you. I'm harmless.

Boo-ya!

2009-10-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

Picturesque

I know what you're thinking:

-I didn't think the Kings were "those" people. ("those" people are the people who come to Disneyland costumed up.)

Well, we are NOT those people. If Jason had his way they wouldn't ever wear minnie ears or be pin traders, but as we frequent it so, I let them choose one or the other. Everything in moderation is my mantra, except visits to the happiest place of earth, of course.

So why, pray tell, did why go against our better judgement?

Every rule has it's exceptions and my justification is 3-fold.
1: Millie didn't want to be Minnie Mouse Pumpkin for Halloween, she wanted to be what Addie is going to be. But I reeeaaalllly wanted her to wear her cousin Fifi's adorable costume and this was the last year it would fit.
2: So; I promised if she would dress up as said Minnie Mouse Pumpkin, she could wear it to Disneyland and visit Minnie herself.
3: Minnie herself is in costume, and we follow "WWMD". (What Would Minnie Do?) She hasn't steered us wrong yet.
Elli had a Halloween party a week early, so to not lose the novelty of her costume come Halloween Eve (which, to be honest, Millie has lost) she dressed in Addie's dance costume from last year and we tied a bone in her hair to be a cave girl. I told her she was Pebbles, but that meant as much to her as when my dad sang "I wonder, wonder, who ooo ooo ooo oooh, Who wrote the book of love?". (I didn't know or care - but he kept asking for 18 long years.)

This year the girls wanted to carve pumpkins. I am still gung ho for my sparkly pumpkins, but I guess 3 years is a row is overkill for them. I told them they were going to have to get their hands dirty, (last time Jason and I, heavy on the I, had to do all the work because we have a priss problem in our house) but they were adamant that they were up to the challenge.

The girls wanted to re-create the giant Mickey pumpkin from Main St. It worked out pretty well.

The big moment.

Not really the shot I was hoping for, she got stage fright.

We even had a stranger ask to take her picture. Easiest $5 I ever made.

P.S. Anyone know a good 12-step for Disney addiction?

School Pictures

2009-09-20T16:03:00.000-07:00

Be honest, have we been in

Southern California too long?

Our visit to the "birthplace of Los Angeles", Olvera Street, aka "A small part of Mexico in the heart of Los Angeles" with Grammi. Eating famous churros from Mr. Churro, buying authentic $2 fans that were made in China, and enjoying a fabulous lunch. Ole!

What's Wrong With this Picture?

2009-09-20T15:52:00.001-07:00

So here is Amelia, looking oh-so-cute on her first day of preschool:

Here is Amelia in the car on the way home from her first day of preschool, I know it's subtle, but what is wrong with this picture?!? (hint: it is NOT that the church name is not the same as our church, I'm cool with that.)

Yes! She peed her pants the first day of preschool. I felt sick when I walked in and noticed her change of outfit. I felt like over-explaining that Millie has been potty trained since she was 2, that I forgot to take her before school because our routine was to wait for her to tell me (which I realized as I got back home from dropping her off but still hoped it would all work out), that elastic wasted jeans don't really flatter her figure, but instead I just apologized and got the heck out of dodge.

We might be Rednecks...

2009-08-22T20:35:00.000-07:00

Our Summer included some less than aristocratic activities that could be the punch lines to many a Jeff Foxworthy joke.

Take for example our FREE tour of the Jelly Belly factory, that we had to wait in line 45 minutes for, but walked out with a yummy bag of jelly bellies, also FREE! (& No, we didn't buy the picture, they were nice enough to share in online, for FREE!)

Or my kids first experience in our home with Cup O Noodles. Since I was fortunate enough to schlep them with me to the grocery store since school is out, they both saw this bowl of sodium and told me how they had eaten it at friend's houses. Since they don't exactly break the bank, at about a quarter each, I obliged and felt like a model of the trailer park mom.
And how do you spend a Target gift card you get for your birthday from your Grandma? Swimsuit - no, arts & crafts - no, books, who am I kidding. They want fake nails, and I have to let go sometimes and let them express themselves. (Seriously, it is wrong, not adorable)
I guess they are expressing their desire to join beauty pageants, you gotta love "Toddlers & Tiaras"! Bring on the fake eyelashes.
And what is the maximum kids per bed ratio before you have to stop having kids? (I guess at that rate, we could have 7 more kids.) ((FYI, they do each have their own bed.))

Look at Me, I'm Andra D!

2009-08-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Sista!

Hope you have a great year even though you are now in your "late" 30's", but don't worry, I won't tell anyone;)

But seriously, I want you to know I have always looked up to you, until I was in about 8th grade and then I started looking down on you. (those darn Diamond genes)

(BTW, this is your official birthday card, stamps are so expensive these days.)

As a *bonus* present (in addition to your fanny pack), I thought I would share a few Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy for your day.

The memories of my family outings are still a source of strength to me. I remember we'd all pile into the car - I forget what kind it was - and drive and drive. I'm not sure where we'd go, but I think there were some trees there. The smell of something was strong in the air as we played whatever sport we played. I remember a bigger, older guy we called "Dad." We'd eat some stuff, or not, and then I think we went home. I guess some things never leave you.

(That one is because I am memory challenged also. Don't judge me, it's a disease.)

If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is "God is crying." And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is "Probably because of something you did."

(I think you should try this as a social experiment on all your girls and note how each responds.)

Love you Nell!

Self Worth

2009-07-26T19:16:00.000-07:00

Jason and I were fortunate enough to speak in church today, so we needed to farm out the kids and cross our fingers that they would act better for others than they do for us. To motivate them, I annied up my special stash of Dove milk chocolate squares. I told them they could earn up to 3 squares depending on how good they were. So after church they asked how many chocolates they earned to which I reflected the question back to them: How many do they think they deserve? This is where nature vs. nurture comes into play. It turns out Elli and Addie are not one and the same. Addie immediately responded with "3". I asked what she did during sacrament and she said she colored the whole time. I kept the conversation going by asking if coloring the whole time warrants 3 chocolates. An affirmative "Yes" ended our conversation. During my conversation with Addie, Elli is replaying her behavior during the meeting in her head and calculating her chocolates, but to no avail, she can't make the call. She asks me to decide for her. I asked what she did during sacrament and she tells me she played quiet hand games and tic tac toe, but that she was very quiet. Okay, so you know what we expect from you, again how many do you think you deserve? She was stumped, she couldn't tell me how many she was worth. I gave her three also, mainly because she at least has a conscience and took more than a mini-second coming up with her answer.

And yes, our talks went well... enough; thanks for asking.

The Worst/Best Parent Ever??

2009-07-13T07:43:00.000-07:00

So here's my side of the story. We decided to go up to Big Bear on Saturday to ride the Alpine Slide. Looking online we remembered they had a waterslide and we told the girls they could ride. Amelia took this plan that wasn't really meant for her and went laser focused with it. She couldn't talk about anything else, she stripped down to her "skin sweater" (thanks Hannah Montana for that one) to put her suit on immediately even though the instructions were to pack a suit, and she wanted to skip lunch so she could get on the waterslide quicker. So we get up there and upon a bit of research find out a) only single riders, no matter age & b) Jason couldn't go down first and wait at the bottom to catch her. But the lifeguard did offer a solution. 1) She could wear a life vest and 2) he (the lifeguard) would wait at the bottom and catch her.

So what would you do?

I explained all this to Millie and also told her how fast and scary it was, but she was not deterred. So I figure it comes down to one simple word:

TRAUMA

Either way, it's coming. Trauma from the waterslide that she is begging to go on but is clearly above her pay grade; or trauma from not being allowed to go down the slide that she has been talking about all day and will continue to talk about all day.

There Will Be Tears!

So even though Jason stated for the record that he did not agree with my decision (& I bet Andra wouldn't either), I let Amelia go down the slide. She did hesitate a few moments at the top but when she saw a boy her age go down she went for it. I was waiting at the bottom and, to be completely honest, she came down screaming. She came out of the water crying. People were watching. People were judging. But she calmed down quickly and complained only about the water getting in her eyes. So we made a plan, when she is 3 she will go down again with goggles. No nightmares, no trauma-induced bed wetting, and no plans to never go down a waterslide again, although only time will tell if this is indeed true.

It doesn't look that bad. right? (Shout out to 4 year Hailey who was so brave, she went on it over and over!)

Elli had to ride the lift by herself, my big girl!

At least we weren't the parents (dad) that went too fast and went over the side of the alpine slide and ended up with a face full of road rash on his little boy.

Our speed racers (& cute Cara in the back)

I like that Boom Boom Pow

2009-07-08T18:40:00.000-07:00

Here is my official blog tribute to Elli & Addie's Dance Recital. They did great and it was TOTALLY worth the 6 plus hours of watching hundreds of nameless girls and token boys dance to see them on stage for 3 minutes each. Elli took lyrical jazz this year and her dance was not at all "cute-sie" but way grown up. We had to work on her "small smile" since her "toothy smile" contradicts the lyrics: (read breathy & slow with lots of dramatic pause)

"This is what it is to be loved and to know That the promise was when everything fell We'd be held."

She did fabulous, of course.

Addie took jazz and performed her dance to "Knock on Wood" with her cute friend Rachel. She chose not to wear her glasses on stage, so we were so relieved she didn't fall off! AND now we have a perfect Halloween Flinstones costume - any takers?

Freeloading

2009-06-19T17:36:00.000-07:00

We love our friends Jaime & Justin, and we love the pearls of wisdom Justin has shared throughout the years. He has a ~~gift~~ way with words. We like to incorporate them in our daily lives. Some that have stuck over the years are:

“I can’t take you anywhere.” (Preferably said to another grown adult)

“Dad tax” (can be used on anything from Halloween candy to treats from parties or church)

& his most recent and profound:

“These kids are a bunch of freeloaders!” (How true is that, especially the older they get!)

But Addie has finally pulled her weight. She read enough AR book to go her schools AR pizza and ice-cream party where her name was picked for a $25 Coco’s gift card. She ~~reluctantly~~ happily treated our family to a yummy breakfast this past weekend.

Way to go Addie, now how about a fun paper route?

Balls!

2009-06-10T21:53:00.000-07:00

Everywhere I look I am seeing balls. I guess that's what I get for being a blog lurker. So I decided to try these yummy looking treats for myself. Jason thought the name "cake balls" didn't fit. His suggestion was "cake truffles", but considering you use "almond bark" instead of actual chocolate as a coating, I thought that name was like polishing a turd. (A phrase I learned from Jason that surprisingly fits many situations: like mopping linoleum, or washing the minivan, you get the point.) So then he came up with "white trash truffles", but that doesn't fit either. There has to be a better name, something in the middle.

So here is my first attempt, I made German Chocolate Cake Balls. I am excited about all the different combinations out there, if only someone could come up with a great name.

Think Smarter, Not Harder

2009-06-08T08:31:00.000-07:00

That is what my principal used to tell our staff back when I taught in Utah. She was a wise woman. I forgot her advice and told Elli she could have a sleepover for her 9th birthday. It started at 6 with making dinner (since it was on a Sunday night I couldn't just buy pizza). The girls were soooo noisy we sent them outside. After feeding them they played double bubble, again, and then onto crafts. Next, cookie cake (thank you Aunt Cami), and then S'mores with Jason. Following treat #2 jammies were on and we were on to game #2. Then we started the movie and painted toesies. Time for treat #3, popcorn and licorice. I still can't figure out why they were totally wired at midnight with every intention of staying up ALL night. So I got un-cool and curled up on the couch and waited until they all fell asleep. Total fun-sucker, I know, but I was exhausted after hosting a 6 hour party.

I hope you had fun Elli, because Dad said for every friend you invited, it will be that many years until your next sleepover. So we do this again when you turn 13. (He is even more of a fun-sucker!) 1-4-3:)

Addie Turns 7

2009-06-07T15:08:00.000-07:00

Better a day late, I tell myself to curb the guilt. We had a jam-packed, fun-filled Memorial Day weekend celebrating the girls birthdays with parties and actual Birth Day activities.

First was Addie's Baking Party. We started by rolling and cutting out sugar cookies. This task couldn't have been successful without help from my sister Cami and mother-in-law Joyce. Working with flour and rolling pins and Amelia takes lots of adult supervision. While the cookies and pizza were baking we played the Double Bubble Game, like chubby bunny but with leftover bubble gum from Easter. (waste not, want not) Addie and Brooke tied with 11 pieces in their mouth.

After lunch we played the baby food game, even though Addie wanted to veto this game from the party. It turns out the King household is not a democracy but a dictatorship, hence the appropo surname, so the game stayed. It also turns out Amelia actually liked the baby food and wanted more.

We also played "hot rolling pin" and decorated our cookies, then ate ice-cream sandwich cake accented with dulce de leche per Addie's request. (I drizzled caramel from a plastic bottle, just like they do in Italy.)

But the piece de resistance were the adorable party favor aprons Grandma Joyce made, Merci!

Happy Birthday Addie, we love you all the way to the moon and back!

Fresh From My Garden

2009-05-17T19:25:00.001-07:00

Yummo - organic arugula, I know not only because it is grown in my back yard, but because I hand cleaned each leaf rubbing off and rinsing the aphids. So flavorful for lettuce, of course the girls didn't appreciate it. They are not gourmet like me:(

If only that darned fence in MY backyard didn't separate me from MY arugula, I could have it any time I wanted :( (BTW, thanks Michelle :))

Can't take credit for the tomatoes and carrots, those are courtesy of my friend Joe, our town Trader.

Sometimes the Truth Hurts

2009-05-08T18:29:00.000-07:00

And sometimes it's hilarious:

Conundrum

2009-04-25T16:38:00.000-07:00

Why, after doing all the laundry for a week, do the numbers of underwear per girl vary so much? Here are the results for 7 days:

Elli = 7 pairs

Addie = 4 pairs

Amelia = 12 pairs

I'm not really sure how to crunch these numbers, being a girl and all, maybe I'll ask Jason to use his manish-math analyzing skillz. (said tongue-in-cheek)

"If I have a strawberry, my throat closes up faster than a girl in math class." - Kenneth from 30 Rock

Much Better

2009-04-22T12:11:00.000-07:00

I must admit, I have been struggling the past 8 months to be a supportive wife. Jason got tired of having the same haircut/style for 10 years. His hairstyle when we got married my brothers affectionately called the "Zach Morris" and lucky for Jason all our wedding pictures have his blonde bangs blowing in the wind reminding us that we are old enough to have "dated" pictures, ouch! It was within a few months that he cut it short and had stuck with it, until late last year when he started growing it out. He gave a variety of reason for his decision, was he:

waiting for the housing market to recover to cut it, somehow willing a recovery the way a bowler leans to the right willing the ball to veer?

trying to look younger like those shaggy hair kids these days are wearing?

trying to look older, like Gordon Gecko from Wall Street?

seeing just how much I meant our wedding vows "for better or worse"?

just seeing what he looked like with long hair?

I did the best I could by biting my tongue, remembering if you don't have anything nice to say, yada, yada, yada. His dad walked right past him in the airport when they met up last month, then upon realizing who the new Jason was, greeted him with a "We need to get you a haircut."

Jason decided last week the time had come, his longer hair took too much time and effort. This experiment taught us a curious family trait. My babies have all grown their hair in the back quicker than their hair up top thus displaying the very popular and desirable "mullet". We now know they get this from their dad, who had this same growth pattern, very interesting!

before:

after - aahh, isn't he cute :)

Hippity Hoppity, Easter Came Our Way!

2009-04-14T09:15:00.000-07:00

We had fun coloring eggs, making foam wreaths, eating jell-o beans, following clues to find our baskets, wearing our new swimsuit right out of the basket, wearing new dresses to church to learn about the REAL Easter celebration, and a yummy dinner at Grandma Joyce & Grandpa Kim's.

Diamonds in the City

2009-04-06T19:56:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was our 2nd annual sisters weekend. The rules are simple:

No children,

No husbands, (is that redundant with rule #1?)

No excuses.

Last year we had a beautiful weekend in Laguna Beach, this year we chose San Francisco where we all left our heart years ago.

Here is the quick & dirty of our weekend:

Friday - lunch at Nordstrom Bistro - yummy; the best/most relaxing pedicure ever at the Nordstrom spa - I'm pretty sure I dozed off for a moment or two based on the drool I had to wipe up (not really, but my sister did catch a photo op of me with my mouth hanging open,) and for the trifecta of Nordstrom, MAC did all our make-up. We went to a seafood restaurant called Farallon where I tried my best to be adventurous but our nice waiter kindly insisted to replace my "one bite is all I could possibly eat" calamari. (It wasn't breaded and fried, which meant it wasn't going in my stomach.)

Saturday morning we went to breakfast at Sears Fine Foods, got ready for the day, and then shopped til we dropped. We went back to the hotel and got ready for another tasty dinner at an Italian restaurant and then off to Grease. It was a fun musical, even if Taylor Hicks was MIA.

Sunday we saw an early showing of Confessions of a Shopoholic, ate lunch at the restaurants inside Bloomingdales, then off to the airport.

I am so lucky to have my sisters, we have so much fun together and I love being with them!

When you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear a flower in your hair.

Yes, Andra and I did buy matching outfits, but you will never see us in them together - I mean again. There were a lot of repeat purchases this weekend, we all have at least one matching pair of new shoes, all three of us have the same hair accessories, and then throw in a few skirts and it is simply embarrassing!

We loved our charming hotel, the Kensington.

A big shout out goes to our dad who loves when "his girls" enjoy themselves! And to Jason for taking great care of the girls with Chuck E Cheese, Monsters vs. Aliens, and Bass Pro Shop (I don't think they liked that one though) and a fabulously clean house when I got home complete with vacuuming and mopping. Can't wait for next year! - who likes Paris in the Spring?

A Tribute

2009-03-31T20:32:00.000-07:00

It is the end of an era in the King house, as today we said so long to Jason's Saab. We have been planning on selling it for a year and a half when Jason replaced her. I nudged him to understand the harsh reality that Elli would not want to drive "her" when she turned 16, but although he was ready to replace her, he wasn't ready to say goodbye. So she sat at Jason's mom's ranch up until last month when he decided it was time to cut the cord (that is the symbolic cord to his youth/glory college days/ independence from parents or wife/turbo lifestyle). Last month he picked her up, fixed her up, and sold her - all pretty seamlessly. She was good to us, although her repair bills will not be missed. And Jason can no longer taunt me that she has been around longer than I have. But I do need to admit the Saab was part of the "Jason package" that I fell for 12 years ago. (call me superficial, I was 20)

Good bye "born of jets," may your new owner be a "saab enthusiast" like Jason.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

2009-02-24T20:17:00.000-08:00

At church last Sunday the lesson was on families, and "gifts" we get from our families like a grandfather's nose (luckily I did not get that Diamond gem) or blue eyes - you get the point. So when the teacher asked what gifts the children had been given from their families Addie raised her hand and shared that she had been given her mom's singing voice. Bless her heart, she thinks I can sing. I didn't want to sadden her with the cold hard reality that her mom was the only student in all of sixth grade at Greenbrook Elementary who didn't make Mr. K's beginning chorus class, and for icing on the cake he asked my sister if I knew I was tone deaf. And while we are exploring tragedy in my life, Jason made me cry once while we were dating when I asked him why he wasn't singing in church and his reply was that it was too hard trying to stay on tune while singing next to me. The irony of this whole story is that at age 11 I was in the San Francisco Opera, so take that Jason & Mr. K! (I was a bald buddhist monk child in a red shroud that walked across the stage while the real SF children's choir sang offstage, but whatever!) So thank you Addie for thinking so highly of me, but next time you tell me I look pretty, your judgment is a bit in question.

Flashback Friday: Addie's Night on the Town

2009-02-06T10:34:00.000-08:00

Rewind 2 years ago and Addie was 4 years 8 months old. We were still in Gilbert, Arizona, getting ready to make our move to California. Addie had a best friend, Lizzie, and they were so cute and yet such trouble together. They were always trying to get marathon playdates and never wanted their party to end. They are both very assertive girls hidden behind blonde curls and blue eyes. I would tell Addie before playing with Lizzie, don't play with nail polish, don't burp over and over, don't put ice down your underwear, and don't switch underwear! The list got longer each playdate. But I loved these girls together and saw how special their friendship was.

So one night my phone rang at 5:00 am and it was Lizzy's mom. In her very upbeat, cheerful voice she asked if I knew where Addie was. Of course I knew, she was sleeping in her bed, duh! Um, actually she said she was at her house and had knocked on her door a few minutes before. My heart dropped in my stomach and I felt like I was going to throw it up. Then she filled me in on the details; that Lizzie was actually up waiting for her, that they had arranged this the day before since they had been denied a sleepover, that 2 little girls who can't tell time simultaneously wake at the same time, that Addie left our house shortly after 4:30 in pitch black and walked 5 blocks crossing 2 semi-major streets in her cheetah girl jammies, flip flops, and curlers to a waiting Lizzie who had tried to call Addie only minutes earlier but was told by her Grandma to go back to bed, and that the girls were actually discovered when they were overheard talking in the kitchen. WTH!

(A re-enactment picture)

When Addie was driven home, I had such a mix of gratefulness she was safe, astonishment that she was capable of this, anger that she didn't see anything she did wrong, and amusement that she was capable of this. Putting the pieces together, we remembered she had actually come into our bedroom and tried to get Jason's ginormous maglight, but when he asked what she was doing made a quick exit and we didn't think twice while we went back to sleep.

The following night, Lizzie attempted a dash from her house and made it as far as her corner, but the sun had just started to come out and a neighbor who knew her saw her and started asking questions. She told him to just leave and go to work, but he escorted her grudgingly back home. We had also barricaded our front door with our piano bench, we would definitely hear if that was being moved on the tile.

2 years later and a state apart these girls still consider each other best friends, and I still don't trust them as far as I can throw them, but love them to bits!

I am Not Trying to Sell you Something

2009-01-21T09:10:00.000-08:00

...because this baby sells itself!

This is my new super cool Williams Sonoma pineapple cutting tool. Have your ever cut a pineapple in under a minute? I didn't think so! (Jason is using MY new tool, go figure)

For a limited time only

Act now

Cut it & forget it

3 easy payments

Operators standing by

Must be 18 years of age or older

No C.O.D.

I do parties

Bump in the Night

2009-01-18T16:43:00.000-08:00

Let's start at the very beginning - Elli. Right before she turned 2, I was 9 months pregnant so it was time to move her into a big girl bed. It was a breeze. Every night when it was bedtime, we would tuck her in and that was that. Nap time, same deal. And each time I tucked her in I mentally patted myself on the back, what a good mom am I.

Chapter 2 (short chapters)- Adeline. Things went so well the first time, when Addie turned 2, out of no necessity, we thought how great it would be to have the girls share a room. I remember how much I liked sharing with my sister, oh the memories of snuggling- even if it was one-sided, and jumping on our canopy bed (maybe we shouldn't go there...) Addie isn't Elli and the next 2 years bedtime was hellacious. She would get out of bed over and over. We tried everything, locking the door (which scared Elli so she would fall asleep in our bed which defeated the original purpose of moving Addie to a big bed), 2 different baby gates which worked but it still wasn't ideal having Addie call for us for up to an hour from behind the gate, to watching Super Nanny and following her bedtime routine to a T, but it must be because I didn't have her accent, it didn't work. We still have some difficult nights with Addie 4 years later, but it is definitely better.

So they say that those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it, and boy do I remember. Baby Girl #3, aka Amelia, is 2 and a half and still in a crib. She has a big girl bed waiting for her in Addie's room, but knowing her personality, it can collect dust for all I care. I still depend on her 2 hour nap time for my sanity, and though she protests, it falls on deaf ears as I lovingly place her in her crib every day. Until last night. She wakes up each night about one time yelling "peepeepotty" over and over, she thinks it's one word. It takes a few moments to register, I crawl out of bed and stumble to her room, take her peepeeputty, go back to bed. But last night as I was coming to, I heard a loud THUMP. I jumped up, ran down the hall, and found her curled in a ball on her floor crying, it was my nightmare come to life. The epilogue of this story has yet to be written but I have tried everything today to keep this from reoccurring soon from fear (you could fall and cut your head and get blood all over your jammies,) discipline (You don't climb out of your crib!), commitment (tell mommy "I will not climb out") to shame (only bad girls climb out of their crib). Just kidding, I haven't had to resort to shame yet, but I will go there if needs be.

You can tell by her eyes, she's up to no good

You Say It's (was) Your Birthday!

2009-01-07T08:41:00.000-08:00

Jason turned 34 on Monday!

We started celebrating early on Sunday with friends over for his favorite coconut cupcakes.

(We wish YOU were there!)

All Jason really wanted on his birthday was to beat his friend Todd's AstroBlasters score (at Disneyland) since he told him the secret insider information that he learned from Jaime. Not all birthday wishes come true, but the reason why I got in a picture was because he wanted the camera in case he needed to document the high score, so it was out and ready.
Another of Jason's birthday wishes was for his daughters to become Pin Trader's! Okay, not really, I had to convince him to let them express themselves and not confine their creativity, even if he feels is crosses over to the uncool side. (Choosing my words carefully.) ((They are expressing themselves just as he is expressing himself with growing his hair out, it's not done yet so I just patiently wait and hold my tongue.))

Much Birthday Love to you, Jason - love Jos

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas...

2008-12-26T15:37:00.000-08:00

Christmas is finally here!

We must start with the most important gift, the reindeer pooping brown jelly beans, hungry anyone? (Not really the best gift, but the pictures came up in the wrong order.)

Elli wearing her new Uggs, unwrapping a blanket, feeling a wee bit better.

Is there anything more innocent and adorable than a 2 year old with a gun. (Thanks grammi) ((It really was my idea, my mom hates guns.))

Look what Santa brought for all the girls, a Vespa looking Razor electric scooter.

We had a yummy breakfast at our house, than enjoyed a fabulous dinner at Jason's mom's ranch. It was a great holiday season with friends and family all around and even though the pictures don't show it, we enjoyed celebrating the birth of our Savior and spent time learning more about his life and love and sacrifice for us. Merry Christmas everyone!

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas...

2008-12-26T15:18:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Christmas Eve, even though Elli was sick. She still really wanted to go out to dinner at the Grand Californian's Storytellers Cafe at Disneyland. It is so pretty there this time of year and Santa is waiting in the lobby. Last year there were carolers strolling around, we missed them. The buffet is decent, the mangos were phenomenal! Addie loved the short ribs, and Elli liked the Sprite. (I think I forgot to mention that my brother Randy, aka Uncle Poo-poo came to spend the holiday with us.)

Elli knows how to fake it even when feeling down. I remember my Aunt Vicki telling me long ago, it doesn't matter how you feel, it matters how you look!

You are never too old

Glasses nerds!

On the Tenth Day of Christmas...

2008-12-26T15:09:00.000-08:00

We went to see the movie of Elli's favorite book, The Tale of Despereaux. Have you heard the saying "Nothing ruins a good movie like reading the book."? Elli learned this to be true and was a bit disappointed, but on the plus side Amelia sat through and watched the whole movie.

On the Ninth Day of Christmas...

2008-12-26T15:03:00.000-08:00

We did our last minute shopping on Rodeo Dr. I thought I was the only minivan driver on that street until we realized lightening striked twice and behind me and Cami is a second minivan on Rodeo.

On the Eighth Day of Christmas...

2008-12-26T14:52:00.000-08:00

We visited my Grandma & Poppa in LA. They made us egg salad sandwiches and the girls enjoyed all the goodies around their house; they love their rootbeer hard candies.

On the Seventh Day of Christmas...

2008-12-26T14:42:00.000-08:00

We strolled down Christmas Lane in the next town over, making our way towards our final destination home of a family in our ward who not only enjoys thousands of people clogging their street, but actually hosts a party with yummy food and carolers and hot drinks and fire pits.

This is Cami with the girls in front of a princess decorated house. (Did Addie really need the earmuffs? I guess better safe than sorry.)

Millie doing her best at posing.

What would a California Christmas be without Santa and a surfboard. Surf's Up Dude!

On the Sixth Day of Christmas...

2008-12-26T14:32:00.000-08:00

Cami came to town. We were happy she finally made it, who knew snow in Vegas cancelled all flights coming in and out of Tucson. Shout out to Jason for driving to the OC to pick her up, sans baggage. We couldn't have had the girls Christmas party without her help. They each invited 3 friends, we made homemade ornaments by melting starlight candies in the shapes of wreaths and candy canes (can't you picture it since I don't have one) then decorated sugar cookies with way too much frosting and decor (excess is best), played pin the nose/zit/shaving cut on Rudolph, played a gift exchange, and finally caroled at the neighbors, lucky them!

On the Fifth Day of Christmas

2008-12-26T14:22:00.000-08:00

Because we LUV road trips, even though we had just got back from Northern CA, when Jason got the idea to drive to Phoenix for his company Christmas party, I jumped at the opportunity! Really , my kids so love and miss their friends, and they hadn't seen them in a while, how could I deprive them. We went to their old elementary school and surprised Lizzie and Afton, then I dropped the girls off and didn't see again for days. The dos tres amigos where Elli, Afton, & Kelly, then Addie, Lizzie, & Ansley. Jason's work party was nice, too bad no pictures because we looked good, take my word for it. And we stayed at our long time friends, the Henries. It's always fun getting carried away in conversation late in the night.

On the Fourth Day of Christmas...

2008-12-26T12:53:00.000-08:00

Which picture is the least crappy?

The back side of reindeer:

The one where everyone is looking in a different direction:
The one with Amelia's finger up her nose:
The one with 2 out of 3 kids: (I either want all or one, but 66% doesn't mean anything.)
Or the one with the hysterically screaming 2 year old, totally not making a scene:
I so wanted a great picture, I mean this is the Disneyland Santa, the cream of the crop. He has REAL reindeer! But even though Amelia told me she would go with me to sit on Santa's lap, she reverted to her old ways upon seeing the big guy. I guess a handshake doesn't mean what it used to.

On the Third Day of Christmas...

2008-12-26T12:43:00.000-08:00

Growing up, we NEVER had a fake tree. In my teenage years, we had 2 trees, both real. One was our family tree with colored bulbs, some flashing, some crystal, some both, some neither. There were handmade ornaments, school ornaments, and all the others that get accumulated over the years. Then there was my mom's angel tree that was all white and gold and pretty. We loved both trees and I knew I would always have a real tree when I grew up. But then I found out how EASY unreal trees are. You can put them up early, you don't have to string lights on, no watering and checking needles only to find out your tree is dying on you too early, and no messy needles to vaccuum. So we took the plunge last year and bought our unreal tree. Don't you judge me until you have walked a mile in my uggs!

The girls had fun helping me. I hope I didn't hurt any feelings by making them run ornaments by me to see if it qualified as front or back of tree worthy.

On the Second Day of Christmas...

2008-12-26T12:19:00.000-08:00

My mom (grammi) always gets the grandkids Christmas jammies. This year we were all together for Thanksgiving, so after dinner when we all needed to switch to elastic waste pants, they got into the Christmas spirit with the true meaning of Christmas, I heart presents!

Andra's girls are Maddie, Clara, Daphne, my 3 girls, and Blair's lone boy Brody and baby Lily.

It wasn't easy getting 8 kids under 10 to pose! (for more on these photos, my sister expands)

On the First Day of Christmas...

2008-12-26T12:11:00.000-08:00

It wasn't even Thanksgiving yet, but we went to the mall with our cousins in Roseville and Santa was there waiting so lonely for willing kids to sit on his lap and whisper their Christmas wishes, so we thought why not? But Amelia had an answer to that which I interpreted through her screams and head shaking to be "I hate Santa!" No problem, we have lots of time to grow our love for St. Nick, she will definitely come around!

Elli wishing for shoes, so proud!

Addie and her cousin Clara

Millie is so Silly

2008-12-17T21:13:00.000-08:00

By now my faithful readers (parents/siblings/inmates) have received their Christmas cards, and if by chance YOU want a card and did not get one, it is either because you live locally (don't send out cards to people who we see often) or I don't have your address, so leave it in the comments and I will get you one asap. Anyway, I can now share our super secret (not really) family photo that shows why, although Amelia is at most times a handful that barely her mother can love, she can also make us smile. She is a poser, and her favorite is her silly face pose. So, although we can't take her out to a restaurant, and don't except a friendly greeting from her at the grocery store (another of her poses is her scowl), she really is a sweetheart, deep, deep, down.

Snips & Snails & Puppy Dog Tails

2008-12-11T09:05:00.000-08:00

While snuggling with Addie the other night in her bed, she tells me "Mom, I really want a baby brother." (We are not making any announcements here people, this came out of left field.)

Mom replies "Well, I am so lucky to have 3 little girls and I can't imagine not having any one of you, and if one day we do have another baby it will probably be another girl and that will be so fun!"

Addie retaliates: "But if I did have a baby brother, I would take that sticker off my door."

I guess that means Jason is not sticker worthy.

I Blame My Mom

2008-12-04T21:26:00.001-08:00

I just saw a commercial on TV that was like nails on a chalkboard. THERE IS NO SUCH WORD AS FUNNEST!!! I just hope this doesn't catch on and become socially acceptable, then where will this world be. To heck in a handbasket, that's where!

(BTW, it should be "The most fun Ipod ever." Just ask my mom.)

"You Stay Classy, San Diego"

2008-12-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

So I am a wee bit late in blogging our San Diego Getaway, but since this in MY family journal, I am going ahead with it anyways.

About 3 weeks ago we wanted to get in one more visit to Sea World before our passes expired, and we wanted to go when the weather would be not so intense and hot as our last go in August. So November would be the perfect month, right? Interestingly enough, the high temp was exactly the same as when we went in the dead of summer, but it starting cooling off earlier so it wasn't as miserable.

Millie shakin' her money maker at SeaPort Village. We are crossing our fingers that Amelia might have a future as a pole dancer. I hear they make great money, and hardly have to pay taxes - win-win!

We made good use out of all the time Jason spends away from home and used his hotel points for a stay at the Marriot right on the marina. This was the view from our room, not for those afraid of heights!

Amelia LOVES dogs, and she really got into the pet show this time, so we appeased her and stayed after to say hi to all the dogs and even the pig. (On a related pet note, thanks to the McKells for watching Sadie, and seriously, if you want to share custody I'm all for it.)

Jason shares a moment with a parrot, reliving his childhood desires to be a pirate.

Elli eating an eight dollar crepe. Jason could not get over the price, think John Travolta and the $5 milkshake in Pulp Fiction.

The new Sesame Street play area is really fun for all ages, just look at Jason. (And while you are looking at him, check out his new sunglasses, they took a year to pick out, but he holds strong that he IS NOT high maintenance.)

Look, I made it in a picture, rare. Amelia was very determined to get the flying Elmo that was a puppy, go figure.

My Dirty Little Secret

2008-11-18T21:45:00.001-08:00

You know what they say about the cat being away... the mice will spit sunflower seeds. There are certain unpleasantries that we refrain from displaying in front of our significant others, I won't delve into this list since naming them would make the reader assume I participate in them, but you all know what I am talking about. A childhood pastime of mine is spitting sunflower seeds, in a variety of flavors. It's not that I have never spit seeds in front of Jason, but his less than approving glances have made this ugly habit reserved for when Jason goes out of town. And right now the cat's away.

Tonight, I find the bag of David seeds very informative and uplifting. It congratulated me personally for being a seeder. It then goes on to define me, a seeder, as unique, cool, confident, active, and hardworking. I should add this to my "About Me" description.

To wrap up my ode to seeds, I will share a scene close to my heart from Ace Ventura 2: Pet Detective

Melissa Robinson (Courtney Cox): Seeing Ace eating handfuls of sunflower seeds and discarding the shells on a pile on her desk. "Would you like an ashtray?"

Ace Ventura : oh-no, I don't smoke. It's a disgusting habit.

Pirate Booty

2008-11-10T11:22:00.000-08:00

How do you get the attention of 80 first graders? Let them dress up like robbing, plundering, fire-starting, cheap women chasing, arm chopping, eye-gauging, dirty drunk pirates. Okay, maybe they left out their shady past and celebrated their knack for accessorizing and collecting pretty jewels. Addie's first grade spent a half day dedicated to learning through pirate activities such estimating and weighing different pirate paraphanalia on scales, compass making, map making, sorting and jewel math, etc. We came up with a pretty decent pirate princess outfit, considering our dress-up consists of tiaras and wands and high heels, oh my!

Addie loves her teacher, Mrs. Masterson.

Green With Envy

2008-11-02T08:22:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share the best costume I saw at my girls school Halloween parade, Little Cindy Lou Who. Check out her awesome hair!

Are You a Good Witch or a Bad Witch?

2008-11-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

The girls came up with this idea on their own after memorizing songs and watching the LA performance of Wicked. Addie wanted to be the witch because she wasn't a wicked witch, just misunderstood. And of course Elli wanted to be Ga-linda because she is pretty and everyone likes her and she is consumed with herself. It wasn't too hard to get into character. And Millie loved her costume and red shoes, she wore it to the girls' school carnival, running errands with me, and all night.

"Okay, let's get this over with, no I'm not seasick, yes I've always been green, no I didn't eat grass as a child."

"I clash with everything." (both from Elphaba in Wicked)

"Lions, and tigers, and bears, Oh My!"

"It's good to see me, isn't it? No need to answer, that was rhetorical." (Galinda in Wicked)

The Chosen One

2008-10-27T18:53:00.000-07:00

Elli has been waiting patiently for years to be chosen by Crush in Turtle Talk at Disneyland to ask her question. The golden question has changed over time from "What is your favorite book?" to "Who are you going to vote for for President?" to finally "Can you name all your kids in alphabetical order?" (He has 65.) Jason has offered to pay her to ask where baby turtles come from, but Elli does not share his 14 year old boy sense of humor. So today she was picked. She sat in the spot her friend Isabel had told her holds the best chance of being picked, and wildly waved her arm, and finally she was the third/last one chosen. The rest of the day she kept saying how she couldn't believe she got picked, and likened it to the day she got her ears pierced and the day she started wearing contacts. Crush couldn't name his offspring in ABC order, but he did name them. Here is the best my memory can recover of his answer:

Squirt

Crush Jr.

Bill & Ted

Cheech & Chong

Spicoli

Leonardo

Raphael

Donatello

Michelangelo

Keanu

"You so totally rock, Dude!"

Check That off My List

2008-10-26T19:59:00.000-07:00

Things to do while we live in LA: Eat at Roscoe's Chicken 'n Waffles

I have eaten brunch plenty of times, we have brinner probably twice a month (breakfast FOR dinner) but never have I had breakfast WITH dinner. (unless you count the time I accidentally ordered steak and eggs and then cried when my food came, but I blame my parents for letting me order so poorly) So anyway, I wanted to experience cuisine that has stood the test of time and really be one with the people of Los Angeles so we ventured to Pasadena for the famous Roscoe's Chicken 'n Waffles. Don't think that since we didn't go to the Los Angeles location we didn't stand out a wee bit. Good thing I wasn't wearing my McCain/Palin t-shirt. (don't really have one, but don't think I need one for people to assume my party affiliations) Luckily our friends, The Shorts, were there with us for back up, safety in blonde numbers.

The waffles were really good, with a hint a cinnamon. (Who stole my dad's secret ingredient?)

Fried chicken is always a guilty pleasure, and the girls liked it all, also. (But really, what's not to like, it is all bad for you!) And we got mac 'n cheese, super yummy, similar to Joe's in Gilbert only better.

Check out the painting behind us, they were all over the resaurant, and for sell if interested. GOBAMA

We were hoping to see Snoop there, we hear it is his favorite, but no such luck this time, and I can't really say there will be a next time.

Come and Knock on Our Door

2008-10-23T17:16:00.000-07:00

We want to greet you with our Martha Stewart glittered than Walmart knock-off Mr. Potato Head decorated pumpkins.

Then we will share my prettiest dessert ever, The Pumpkin Roll. Most people know making things cute (except kids) is not my strong suit. I do my best but my home/present wrapping/culinary dishes show how it does not come natural like it does to so many of my friends. Oh Well, I'm cool with it. But I rock 'n roll with pumpkin.

Here is a flashback to get you in the Halloween Spirit.

Fairy Halloween!

This is my cute Elli as a pea in the pod but we all know it could be any one of my 3 carbon copy babies, see don't I make cute babies?

(This was supposed to be nearer the top, but like all things in my life, it isn't quite in the right spot)

We will spray dye you hair before the big day just to get you in the mood. (This is Elli & her friend Alli.)

Really, come see us anytime.

Where the kisses are hers and hers and hers and hers, and finally his.

Pop Rocks!

2008-10-20T08:31:00.000-07:00

We had a great weekend with a visit from my dad, the girls' poppa. We got the fun times rolling right away with attempts at contacts. Elli was talking herself into them, she is so funny how logical she tries to be to even though she was terrified. Addie, on the other hand, saw how brave Elli had to be and decided it wasn't worth it. (That sounds very similar to her mom's assessment of life.) Now we have only one in glasses, which according to my book, no longer make us the self-imposed "glasses family". Last year when Addie started wearing glasses I thought is was pretty cute. Fast forward 4 months and we come to find that Elli needs them also, and it's not that she didn't also look adorable, but it was now a bit redundant. (This is a favorite word in our house ever since Jason used it to describe his feelings upon learning baby #3 was another girl, but I digress.)

So Elli now wears contact, today was day 4. It takes me about a minute to get them in, and she takes them out herself, not too shabby. So how do you follow forceful insertion of plastic in your eye? John's Incredible Pizza of course! Amelia loves a carousel, even if it pales in comparison to Disneyland.

This is our new favorite game, the girls and I played it about 10 times, and most times we won 50 tickets, woo-hoo.

While we were off, and Jason was in charge of Amelia having fun, they both decided video poker was the game to play, and play, and play. They are planning a Vegas Vacay together as soon as they can find a fake ID for Millie.

My little dare devils raising the roof on the fake roller coaster.

This is were the pictures end, but we continued the fun with Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Addie's soccer game, pumpkin patch with face painting, and my favorite brisket dinner. After a day eating strawberry and whipped cream pancakes, popcorn and candy at the movies, shaved ice at the soccer game, and frozen yogurt for dessert, Elli asked in the car, "Can I have a chocolate bar when get home?" and upon my loud scoff continued "Should I not have asked that?"

Thanks poppa, come back soon!

When Life Gives You Lemons (gray skies and drizzles)

2008-10-09T08:33:00.001-07:00

Make lemonade! (hot chocolate)

The girls were inspired by their friends' lemonade stand they asked if they could have their own. Plans were made, Elli had ideas of how she would decorate the sign, and then we woke up Saturday morning to weather not inducive to selling lemonade. Plan B quickly worked itself out and luckily we had everything on hand to make yummy cocoa in our handy dandy cocomotion, our family's favorite gadget.

Would you like hot chocolate, rice-krispie treats, brownies, or water?

50 cents each, what a deal!

The girls loved shaking their sign for all the passerby's, but once a customer actually came, they clammed up and I had to handle the transaction which then looks like I'm pimpin' out my kids trying to make a few bucks. We need to work on that and drinking/eating while on the job, so unprofessional!

Reunited, and it feels so good

2008-10-05T19:34:00.001-07:00

First, big shout out to my artistic and amazing graphic designer Jenny S. for making my blog so spooktacular! Your check's in the mail.

Secondly, I thought Facebook was for college students or single adults looking to mingle, but Jason got on because his co-workers were, then he told me how many of my friends were on it, so I joined and, wow am I popular. I never knew I had so many friends! (Okay, you really just have to recognize someone's name from your past and they are suddenly your friend, but it still makes me feel popular.) So I got a friend request from my Freshman year at BYU suitemate and part of our "too cool for Y school" clique, Kami. And the great part is she lives in So Cal and loves Disney, so we met up asap to catch-up. Here is a flashback at what looks like good clean fun times at Zion's school.

Kami was the tiny one who could crawl trough the box in our shared wall if we ever locked ourselves out so we didn't have to bother the RA who REALLY didn't like us. (Still feel guilty about that one!) (We lived in Deseret Towers, U Hall, which I hear no longer exists, except in our hearts.)

We took a road trip to Vegas with my sister and Samantha Smith. This is in the church my parents go married. (I kick myself looking at this picture that I don't still have these awesome "mom shorts," but I am pretty sure last time I visited Andra she was still sporting the XL polo.)

Playing inner tube water polo for rec sports. What is under the towel is too immodest to post, can you believe these suits are as high cut at the ones you see on Baywatch?

We decided if we wanted to fit in, we better dress 10 years behind the times. This is our attempt at 80's night. (This is with my awesome roommate Syrene)

Not sure why we have cut out lips on, just thought the lighting in this picture was amazing!

Believe it or not, this is Kami 13 years later, looking exactly the same with her darling and talkative son Quinn.

And now we have a brood a kids, my girls and her boy.

Where Can I File a Complaint?

2008-09-30T11:22:00.000-07:00

If my home had a complaint box, these would be some official grievances:

Amelia, please leave your rubberbands in, you were not blessed with naturally beautiful hair of cascading curls. - mom

Mom, please don't wash my black soccer socks with red towels, it is embarrassing - addie

Parents, please don't be slackers and count family home evening as a walk up to Target, or an outing to Costco. I will be in charge of the lesson this week, but seriously, it's your job - Elli

Life's not fair, and that makes me mad (this is my drawing of how I feel when I'm mad) - Elli

Life became not fair when I became not an only child. (I often move the letters around in Amelia's name to closely resemble my name of Elisa, even though I have my own letters in my room, it is not enough) - Elli

Why can't I have more candy? - Millie

I really want to watch my T.V.! - Millie

What? You are cutting me off from soda, but I need my caffeine! - Millie

Do we have issues?

Amelia Leibowitz

2008-09-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

Amelia loves to "play" with my camera, but this is not an activity I allow. (I learned this valuable lesson second hand when my Adeline dropped my sister's camera, and it has never worked the same.)

But occasionally there are exceptions, such as when I am frustrated, busy, on the phone, frazzled, on the phone, scrapbooking, cooking, lazy, helping the older girls with homework, on the phone, reading with the older girls, reading my book, watching my TV shows, watching Addie's soccer practice or soccer game, on the internet, on the phone, you get the point. When one of these sporadic/infrequent occasions occurs, I am a push-over and she can get away with murder if it keeps her happy and quiet. (TV works also.)

Here are some of her gems:

Alternate Lyrics

2008-09-23T21:04:00.000-07:00

While practicing her primary song I am a Child of God for our upcoming sacrament program, Addie asked me,

"What does it mean 'my knees are gray'?" (correct phrase: my needs are great)

This reminds of words I often have a hard time getting out of my head that my mom shared with me when I was young. It is still difficult as an adult trying to feel the reverence of this song while trying to NOT sing "with parents kind of queer." (correct phrase: with parents kind & dear)

Oh, Crepe!

2008-09-17T18:59:00.000-07:00

Elli's favorite dessert to eat and Jason's favorite dessert to make is CREPES! (Be sure you say this the french way, our crepes are better than the ones with the massacared american accent.)

Jason so loves making crepes, that he requested from Cami, while in Paris, an authentic crepe tool, used by the hoity-toity crepe makers in France.

(Again, watch your accent on all words italicized.)

(Does that make Jason hoity-toity?)

This was the first time Jason used his crepe dragger (made that name up myself) and it got Elli's mark of approval.

Addie cares more about the whipped cream, she has always had a sweet tooth.

Her Feet were Firmly Planted

2008-09-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

Saturday was Addie's very first ever in her whole life soccer game. It started off reeeeaaal slow, meaning she sat out the first quarter. I had to keep reminding her to watch the game so that when it was her turn she would have a clue what to do on the field, but she was more interested in playing with her teammate who was also sitting out first quarter - coincidence?

So now it's game time. Addie was a little winded from the whole "sitting and watching".

Stretch time, you don't want sore muscles from all that work standing.

Just wait for the ball to come to you, Addie. Pretend you are playing softball and that invisible spot you are not moving from is you base that you are protecting. (Like she knows softball.)

"Hey, are you going to the pizza party after the game?"

"So what is your favorite pizza?"

"Oh, I am supposed to run after the ball? Game On!"

Run Forrest, Run!

Addie's new motto: All Day I Dream About Soccer

(mark my words, that will be famous one day)

She might even be a soccer star!

3 kicks in one game. that beats Elli's total season number of gametime kicks by 3. (And I say again, good thing she's smart!)

Gilbert Girls are GREAT!

2008-09-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

This weekend my friends came to town (Escondido) for a girls weekend filled with:

Shopping

Pool-side lounging

Lunching

A wee bit of Gossip

Playing games by the pool. (Bananagrams)

Starring (In order of appearance)

Sensational Cyndi

Always Cute & Clean Kristen

Jokester Jenny

(Kelly made me remove her picture, even though I thought she looked fabulous, whatev!)

Queen of Sweet-talk Kelly