July 29, 2011
Pearl has missed her Benny-boy. The same cute boy we had to tell Pearl she couldn't kiss anymore. It's hard not seeing your boyfriend and future husband every day. A few months ago, Benny-boy and his brother Alex (Cole's buddy) started to stay home with their dad. It was a blessing for them but a sad, sad day for Pearl.
So Cara (Benny-boy's mom) and I arranged a train-themed playdate. We rode the FrontRunner train all the way to Ogden and met them at Union Station. We then explored the train museum, gun museum, and car museum. Ben and Pearl climbed up and down all the trains that have been decommissioned, while Cole tried to follow and Alex happily went along with whatever the rest of us were doing. They were so excited to see each other and walked around holding hands... I so wish I would have stopped gabbing with Cara to take a picture of it!
We all had a really fun time catching up. And when we finally parted ways, there were some tears. Some from hunger and much needed naps, some from not getting to pick out just the M&Ms from the trail mix, but most from having to say goodbye.
July 28, 2011
Today was Cole's last day with Ms. Nora.
I am so, so, so sad.
Not only does it mean I can't keep denying the fact that Cole isn't a baby anymore, but it means he won't have the most wonderful, caring, and loving caregiver to watch over him. And, I'll now have to deal with him clinging to my legs and screaming when I leave him in the toddler room at daycare.
Cole absolute loves Ms. Nora. He runs over to her each morning to give her loves. Unlike Pearl, he's only cried a couple of times when I've left him and I credit all of this to Ms. Nora. Ms. Nora has been at our daycare for almost 20 years and has practically raised everyone's kids in the building. Not only that, but she's taught all the first time moms how to really be a mom... when that cough really should be seen by a doctor, help with breastfeeding, encouragement with discipline issues, and so much more. She's been my friend, confidant, and second mom/third grandma to Cole.
There's something to be said for a person who dedicates their whole day to loving, teaching, and caring for our precious babies. She can't be replaced, ever.
Thank you, Ms. Nora.
July 27, 2011
I am convinced that men have different hearing than women. There must be something structurally different in a man's ear. That or natures way of ensuring the survival of the human race. It's that difference that allows moms to hear every single cough, sigh, toss, turn, cry, and minute noise coming from their children while dads snore away oblivious to any awakenings throughout the night.
It's also that same difference that translates, "Don't you dare get me wet!" as you wash the car into "Get me wet!" Jeff swears he took my look of death and stern warning as a challenge that I wanted him to chase me around the yard in front of the neighbors, strangers driving by, and two giggling children with a bucket, hose, and water bottle from the fridge.
Needless to say, I lost the water fight. And the car needed another bath.
July 26, 2011
Pearl has a habit of reading books to all her stuffed animals until she falls asleep. Most nights she gets up and turns off whatever light she has managed to turn on before she falls asleep. But then other nights, we find her like this... with her headlight still on.
July 25, 2011
We had the choice of going to a movie or the pool today.
Without looking outside, I insisted we save the movie for a "bad" weather day. Uh, should have looked at the dark clouds in the sky before lugging the kids to to pool. Needless to say, it wasn't that warm. But kids seem to have this innate ability to ignore shivering, purple lips, and overcast skies when it comes to playing in the water. But the kids had fun.
Despite my weather blunder, I was smart enough to pack a few snacks, even if it took me a good five minutes of bantering back and forth with Pearl before I figured out what she wanted. She kept telling me, "I want some Star Wars!" To which I'd reply, in an annoyed tone of voice, "What do you want? I don't understand you." Finally, she pointed and said, "those star wars, Mom."
Duh.
July 24, 2011
The ONLY thing we promised Pearl we would do this weekend, is go to the Cleveland Loyd Dinosaur Quarry on our way home from the Peacock Family Reunion in Orangeville. But as family reunions go, we sat around ("dicked" around as Jeff calls it) too long today doing nothing really, waited for my brother to get back from "the edge of the world" up near Joe's Valley - which was an unplanned adventure - and then encountered hungry kids and husbands who needed to eat before heading off. With only an hour before closing, we left the ranch and headed for Cleveland, Utah.
Jeff drove like a madman through 15 miles of "country" roads through the boonies. We pulled in to the quarry with ten minutes to spare, well more like seven minutes to spare. The girls working there were nice enough to let us in for free and walk around the little visitor center. Pearl was pretty disappointed with the lack of dinosaurs. I'm not sure if she thought we'd see real, live dinosaurs or just have more time to go exploring. I felt really bad my lack of time management kept us from going to the actual dig site and that my siblings and niece decided to turn around and skip it all together because they left about 15 minutes after we did. I grabbed every single fee pamphlet I could find as we left, and told Pearl she could read about the dinosaurs in these books. That seemed to make up a little bit for my epic fail moment. At least next year, we'll know to plan an entire day for dinosaur site seeing.
July 23, 2011
My siblings and I were fighting over who looked the most alike between the four of us. My sister and brother, Jesse (the one with the hat) are convinced that they look more alike than Kimmy and I do. And I'm the one who wears glasses! They must be blind. It's obvious that my sister and I are the ones that look the most alike. Minus the fact that Kimmy is short and I have about 60 lbs. on her. Jesse and Kimmy have the same thick, dark eyebrows and teeth, I'll give 'em that but that's it. Kurtis? Well, he's the only blonde, blue-eyed of the bunch so he doesn't really look like any of us. But Jesse and him do have luscious, thick locks that make girls jealous.
My mom says we all have the same dad :), so there's got to be some similarities between us. So I'm leaving it up to the rest of you to decide if I'm right... Kimmy and I look the most alike, not her and Jesse.
July 29, 2011
