Macy is officially a big kid

But, still a silly kid,

and still a sweet kid.

Macy graduated from Nursery Class at church and gets to join the rest of the family (yes, all 5 of us) in Primary! After her first Sunday, she asked, "Why didn't I get to use the microphone?" The next week, she filled in for her friend who was sick and gave her first talk:

Me: Macy would like to share the first Article of Faith with you.
Macy: We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
Macy: I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus love me because they tell me that when I pray.

Carly: Are the clouds molting?!

A new way to shovel.

Myles had the idea to roll our snowballs on the sidewalk instead of on the grass. By the next day, with a little help from the sun, we had a clear pathway for walking to church! The snow was perfect for packing, even for molding a top hat.

Family Fun in the Park in the Snow

Cool as Ice

Our whole family got free ice-skating lessons as part of an Olympic Celebration Festival. We mostly learned how to fall, how to get back up and how to march. There were many tears and complaints. As soon as we stepped off the ice, luckily injury free, Carly exclaimed, "I wanna do that again!" Go figure. That night, Myles and I got to see figure skaters, which we had even more of an appreciation for after our little experience. There was an amazing 12 year old girl, and an older woman who performed one of our favorite tricks, a back flip! The grand finale was a fun surprise with glow in the dark costumes.

Happy Birthday to a Super Woman!

Thanks for always being there for us, no matter the weather! Hope you have a great day! We love you!

I found a Troll in my Bathtub this morning!

Pay it Forward

So, my mom ended up having an extra ticket for a broadway musical she saw for her B-day in Chicago and gave it to a woman waiting in line to buy a ticket. At the end of the show, they asked for donations to the American Red Cross to help Haiti. The woman donated the money she would've spent on her ticket.

Today in church, a man was talking about his anxiety about raising children in a world with so many bad things going on. Carly whispered in my ear, "Why is it hard to raise children in this world? There aren't any bad things...well, except maybe volcanoes." Ahh, the innocence of a six year old. He did go on to say that he felt peace and hope after reading encouraging counsel from our prophet and apostles.

It is a Small World, Afterall.

My Grandpa, a scientist, worked with a Dr. Rampton in Corvallis, OR, who I got to meet at my wedding open house. His son was Myles' family's doctor. He is now helping in Haiti.




When I think of the amazing devastation there, I think anything I can donate is just a tiny drop in a very large bucket. But, as this video reminded me, it's all about helping one person at a time. We are all connected. We are all children of God.

This Makes Us Happy!

We can't help but break out into song and dance whenever we hear this one. It's also fun to see Brazil.

A Perfect Choice

A friend of mine was very thoughtful in picking out Carly's B-day present. These girls looked like this for about an hour! I could hear Carly saying, "Wow, Macy, I'm so impressed!"

Bread Buddies

These 2 3-yr-olds were captivated through the whole process! Macy would like to open her own "rester-naut." Maybe she will someday!

Who Needs Toys?

These girls had so much fun hanging out under the kitchen sink!

chess tourney

Carly's being a good sport playing chess with Robyn while she waits for her ride to pick her up for school.

New Year's Birthday Bash

What could be better than Aryl's famous burritos, Myles' Brazilian lemonade, playdough pictionary, Edyn's broiled cake specialty, celebrating another year with Amber and Grammy, and just being together?! We have many reasons to rejoice this new year, whether near or far away.

Quotable Quotes from Sept. 7/09-now

As I was changing calendars, I realized that I've gotten behind on all the thoughtful and funny things the girls have said in the last few months. What they say really does say a lot about their personalities!

Robyn (hearing U2's song "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" on in the car after going to many stores to try to find her some shoes) That's just like us, Mom.

If I could read during breakfast, I would sacrifice eating.

Carly (with a 101 fever): It feels like a wasp flew right into the middle of my brain and stung me. Yep, that's what it feels like.

Me: Your body is made to eat food, not paper.
Carly: And desserts!

Carly to Myles on the computer: Is this what you do all day at work?
Myles: Yeah.
Carly: How do you get money from just doing that?

Head freeze (meaning head cold)

Myles when he got home from work: I found an interesting bug today.
Carly: Really? Did it bite you?!

Carly: When Dad grows up, I wanna marry him.

(After getting out of the bathtub): I'm colder than a wet mouse on a winter day.

(After hearing our friend's brother sing a solo): He sure sounded good...for a boy!

(When she had to go to the bathroom and someone else was already in there): I wish if we each had our own little toilets. Then, we'd never have to wait. They'd have our names on them in fancy writing. Mine would be purple. Robyn's would be pink. And, Macy's would be yellow.

Macy: Mom, you're gonna break the jumpoline!

I think the dog barked too loud and died.

I'm so amazing that birds can fly!

I can button. I can zip. I can fold the laundry. I' going to be a great mom!

When I'm a mom, I'm gonna work at Target, and I'm gonna buy a motorcycle.

flipball (football)
dialphone (dial tone)

Mom, I'm comin' with all my might!

Don't step on this blanket, or you'll be a spooky puddle.

I don't want to help with the clothes because my tummy hurts.
Me: Really? Maybe you should lay down and rest.
Macy: Actually, I just want to play. My tummy doesn't feel bad.

Mom, we went to bed late because we stayed up too late playing games with the babysitter.

Mom, what day is it?
Monday.
I love you on Monday! And, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and everyday!

I love you, Mom, and I hope you have a good day. I know you're true and God is, too!

(After holding a baby snail in the garden) I love slurmies on my hand!

What if when a baby was born there was a giant purse to catch it and then you could just carry it home like that?

Mom, do you really have any friends?

There's only one thing I don't like. Beetle sandwiches. Cause at Gram's that beetle was really attached to my foot!

I wish if I could be a rabbit mother when I growed up, but I'm gonna be a person mother instead.

One time when I was at my friend's eating buttercups, the thunder and lightning came, and we all jumped up!

Pretend if I be the girl farmer and you be the boy farmer and you say, 'Will you marry me?' And then, you say, 'Wow! You're good at playin' the guitar!'

I like you, Mom.

(While gathering grape seeds) I'm saving these up for the winter.

It was starting to rain, but then the rain CEASED!

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands...If you're sad and you know it, say a prayer.

I love my daddy so much. He is my best daddy in the whole, entire world. I love him all the way up to the stars and back.

I had to take a bite out of the cookie, or it might get rusty.

(After putting on a striped turtleneck, plaid shorts, socks up to her knees, and flip flops) I think I'm ready for the stage now.

Does Jesus know we don't have a baby yet? When it's in your tummy, does he know if it's a boy or a girl?

(At sunset) Look at these mountains. There's trees on top, snow, and look at that orange...it's gorgeous!!

Me (After Macy dropped a big blob of grape jelly on her hand): Uh, oh!
Macy: I'm washable.

Mom, I had a bad dream. Two polices came to take Benji (the dog) away. It hurt my heart!

I put on a new toilet paper roll, so you guys can all enjoy it!

Me: Jesus died, but then he was resurrected.
Macy: Where is he now?
Me: In heaven teaching people.
Macy: Yeah, cause there's some people who don't know how to read, and he's teaching some other people how to hold their pencils correctly.

(Macy saw that Myles' hands were dirty from fixing the car)
Myles: It's from gas, oil, and dirt.
Macy: And people touching it with their dirty hands.
(Macy later saw that the sink was dirty)
Myles: Someone was working on the car and got the sink dirty.
Macy: I wasn't fixing the car today!

Me: We used to have some cute, little, red mittens, but I can't find them.
Macy: They would fit me because I have cute, little hands.

Some kids, they don't know how to listen...but I do!

Macy: I'm running out.
Me: What are you running out of?
Macy: Patience!

(stench on the freeway) It smells like an outhouse, a dead outhouse, or maybe a dead animal, like a lion, a tiger, or a bear.

Me: Macy, did you put your clothes away?
Macy: Yeah, in the dirties because I wore them for like ten months!

Toys that last!

During a big family party, when I went to check on the kids, this is what I found. 7 cousins gathered around a Fisher Price record player, the same one Myles played with when he was a boy! They were absolutely enthralled, each one waiting their turn with their record in hand. Once they heard "London Bridges Falling Down," they all hopped up to form a line and a bridge.



Twister was also a big hit. Somehow I remember the mat being much, much bigger when I was a kid. I think we probably hit our maximum capacity with it this time.

Happy Girl

This girl is happy, even when she's sick. Here she's showing off the new haircut Myles gave her. She burst into our room in the morning shouting, "The clouds are beautiful! Come see, quick!"

Even though she LOVES Nursery, she's been talking about graduating from Nursery and moving up to Primary, where the rest of the fam. is at church, for the past 9 months. So, when she was still sick on her first day of Primary, I was so sad for her. Myles made it up to her by reading lots of stories with her, playing games with her, and even bringing new meaning to the words "orange chicken."

Snuggling with Papa.

Grandma Robins would be proud!

My great grandma, Florence Robins, was among the few women who attended college during her time. She double majored in drama and PE. She'd always say, "Dance and sing, dance and sing."

4 generations later, her great-great grandkids are still dancing and singing!

Last night, I bought homemade tickets for Carly and Macy's play, "A Girl and A Giraffe." Today, they had their dress rehearsal complete with homemade costumes, props, backdrops, and "no smoking" signs. They used the microphone and keyboard for special effects.

Finally, I was invited to watch their production from the couch.

Umbrella photos by Macy

Macy, after propping up her umbrella on the floor in the sunshine with a blue balloon: Mom, come look. Isn't this beautiful? I have to take a picture of it.

Carly was a good model for her photo shoot as well.