Celebees

Clark's favorite conversation topic of late is the celebee, an animal that he has invented.  He likes to interrupt others who are talking with the proclamation, "I would like to ask a question", and then, once he has every one's attention, start talking about celebees.  According to Clark, celebees have the following characteristics:

1. They live in the mountains.
2. They don't have arms or legs, so they get around by rolling.
3. They eat french fries that have been grown on french fry bushes.
4. They don't have eyes or ears, so they can't see or hear.
5. They make a sound like an elephant.
6. They are "zero" big.
7. The are soft and furry like a chinchilla.

Hopefully we will run into a real life celebee soon, so we can post a picture for our loyal readers.

A Christmas Wish

Having found the source of our cricket invasion (inside the frame of our sliding glass door in our bedroom) I wish for them to magically disappear.

Avoidance

Reading blogs about cooking dinner will not get dinner on the table.
Reading blogs about household tips will not get the laundry done.
Reading blogs about home decor will not spruce up the bedroom.
Reading blogs about cute kids will not make your own any cuter.

Unfortunately.

Some Stuff

 We went camping in our backyard one night.

 I think we've pretty much talked ourselves out of real camping with our kids.  It was that awesome.

 Grace and Camille one day looking all cute and twinlike.

 Clark has a cookbook with Thanksgiving turkey gobblers.  He and Brooklyn were excited to make these- and eat the treats immediately afterward.

 We got to visit my grandpa.  He's always nice to visit with!

 The girl's school had a Halloween parade this year.  Grace is the cute little bird behind the present and in front of the deflated stay-puft marshmallow woman.  (sailor girl?)

 Camille was too cool for school and wouldn't wear her costume, opting instead to wear Halloween colors.  Her teacher is some sort of cheerleader cat.

 Scared and scary Clark crossing the spooky threshold.  

 In front of the pumpkin house on our block.

Camille and Grace are in the chorus at their school.  I love this song that they sing for every concert.  It's so joyful, and actually brings me to tears every time, seeing all of those cute kids just singing about being happy.

What a Cutie

So I thought I'd try to update the blog.  Do you like this series of shots of Clark?  What a heartbreaker.

TP

I feel like I've written about this before, but I can't find the post.  Forgive me if you've heard this before- those of you who know me well know that I can tell the same story over and over again (while you patiently listen...)

When I was young my aunt and uncle lived in our town.  They had a lot of kids, both older and younger than me.  It was always fun to go to their house because it felt so different from our house and there was always a lot going on.  One time when I was probably 5 or 6 I got stuck in the bathroom with no toilet paper.  I yelled and yelled for someone to bring me more "TP" (our family word for toilet paper).  Finally my cousin Jared came running to see what I needed.  When I told him he went off and didn't come back for a long time.  When he finally returned, he was dragging a play Indian teepee tent behind him.  "That's not what I need!  Toilet paper!  To wipe!" 

It still cracks me up every time I write "TP" on my shopping list to remember my earnest cousin dragging that huge tent behind him. 

And, one more toilet paper story for you, because the young me was quite embarrasing, and the old me doesn't mind sharing these stories- now that I'm a mom it's nice to see the humor in things...

Our family used to go on vacation every year to this mountain resort town.  We stayed in this huge house, and all of my dad's sisters and their families would stay there too.  Those are some of my happiest memories.  Except for this embarrassing one: being shamed in front of all those people!  You see, I was using the bathroom, and there was no toilet paper.  Perhaps remembering the tent mishap of years ago, I didn't call for help.  Instead, I somehow tore off the cardboard roll and used that to wipe.  Needless to say, that didn't flush down the toilet.  My dad wasn't very happy about having to fish it out, and he let everyone know it.  And the rest, as they say, is history.

This is Now

  Being pregnant is usually not very fun for me. The sickness coupled with the later largeness don't make for a very happy Sarah. This time around, though, I've been lucky to be able to see things through a different lens than previous pregnancies. I feel more aware of myself and my baby, certainly. There is nothing better than pregnancy to make one more self-aware (and dare I say, conceited?). But, I feel more aware of changes around me, big and small in a way that seems particularly timely. The two front teeth coming in on both of my girls seem to mean a lot as I watch them squeeze into their tiny spaces a little more each day. Is it because I'm remembering their baby teeth making the same progress? These same girls learning to ride their bikes without training wheels overnight, making smart choices at school and in their interactions with others, showing amazing kindness to younger children- each little word or observance feels so big to me, and I can't help feeling immensely proud of them.

  Changes in season, tastes, smells. The way the I spend my day, interactions with others. Each thing feels big, but not in an overwhelming way. Meaningful, I should say.

  My prayers have different meaning too: "Thank you for sending that person to talk with me. It was nice being able to smile, and I was grateful that he expressed gratitude for his children. Thank you for helping me not to be sick after eating. I'm thankful that I can feel a little better today. Please help the kids to be safe at school and help us to be happy." I am far from perfection, but I am thankful for time to reflect. I'm thankful for a watchful and generous Father in Heaven. Even though I wouldn't choose to feel ill or unwieldy, I'm more thankful now for the times that I feel well- and I'm obviously thankful for the blessing of another child in our lives. And I'm thankful for you, dear friends, who help me in temporal and spiritual ways. You truly are angels on earth.

For those of you who haven't heard, our baby is due in early March.  We're excited!

Climbing

About a week ago Camille climbed up a giant rope at the Santa Monica beach all by herself. You know how you get that unpleasant vertigo feeling when you look over the side of a tall building? Watching Camille near the top gave me that same feeling--it's weird to be perfectly safe yourself, but feel all jittery for someone else. But she made it--congratulations to one of our fantastic climbers!

Here is a picture of Camille climbing:

Here is a picture so that you can see how tall the rope is:

That's What You Think About

Enjoying this sentiment today:

"Heavenly Father has given us all talents and gifts that can help us provide for ourselves and our families. Learning to recognize our talents and gifts—and interests—is an important first step in career preparation. President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, learned from his father, Henry Eyring, to choose a career that complemented his interests.

Because of his love for science, Professor Henry Eyring encouraged his sons to major in physics as preparation for a career in science. While President Eyring was studying physics at the University of Utah, he had an exchange with his father that changed his career direction. He asked his father for help with a complex mathematical problem. “My father was at a blackboard we kept in the basement,” President Eyring recalls. “Suddenly he stopped. ‘Hal,’ he said, ‘we were working this same kind of problem a week ago. You don’t seem to understand it any better now than you did then. Haven’t you been working on it?’”

A little chagrined, President Eyring admitted he had not. President Eyring recalls his father’s response: “When I told him no, my father paused. It was really a very tender and poignant moment, because I knew how much he loved me and how much he wanted me to be a scientist. Then he said, ‘Hal, I think you’d better get out of physics. You ought to find something that you love so much that when you don’t have to think about anything, that’s what you think about.’”

From an Ensign article by Bishop H. David Burton, Ensign, December 2009

Word Problems

Clark is into rhyming and word problems lately.  This morning's rhyme:  "What rhymes with Meggie Mys?"  Don't know the answer?  It's "veggie fries", of course.
One of my favorite word problems lately is:  "If Clark was playing outside and stepped on a thorn, how many thorns would be left?"  Another favorite: "If the birds ate a bird berry, how many would be left?"  He's still learning to give us the first value before he asks for the difference, but I love how creative most of his problems are.

Caught in a Lie

Today was our first day of Joy School.  4 moms and I have joined forces to teach our Clark-aged kids, and have a little free time on our days "off".  One of our activities today was talking about our favorite things.  I said that I liked cookies, reading, and playing with my kids.  Later when we were playing outside, Clark kept bringing me stuff:  a hula hoop, 4 pool noodles, a car.  When I got annoyed that he kept wanting me to play his weird accumulation game, one of his friends said, "Sarah, you said that you liked playing with your kids.  But now you're not playing with them!"  This is my A student.  I know that she's going to get good grades for the rest of the year, the little rascal.

Summer Continues

Looking at these pictures, I realize that we did more this summer than I realized.  And, these pictures don't even show 4 weeks of swimming lessons.  Time flies, even when you're not having fun every day, and I can't believe that we're back to school already!  Here are some of the things that we did in July and August:

 We met up with my parents in Oceanside for the 4th of July.  We walked out to the end of the Jetty.

 My brother Dennis dug out his own personal spa.

 Cousins Caleb and Peter (and their parents) came to visit.  We went to the museum and tried out the "tornado force wind tunnel"

 Caleb and Peter, being the young boys that they are, and highly regulated by their parents never get to say the word "butt".  They thought this sign was pretty funny.

 By the beach

 Road trip to see the Zunigas and Joneses in Southern Utah.  I went without Paul and with 3 kids.  I guess that makes me a relatively hardcore parent.  That's how I felt, anyway.  I get bored driving for 7 hours, but I did like these clouds.

 Camille, Kate, Grace, Anna, and Clark.  Friends reunited.

 Lily and Lucy, my sweet nieces.

 We went to Zions, my first time there.  Yes, I did go to school in Utah.  There must be a good reason why I didn't visit all of the natural beauty while I was there.  It must have been because I was hitting the books hard...

 My sister Rachel and her family on the bus in Zion's

 And playing in the water at the trailhead to the narrows.  It's a hike through a river.  As we left they were closing the trail because of a flash flood warning.  That's right- we're so extreme.

 We went to the Noah's ark exhibit at the Skirball.  That's fun.

 One morning we went to muscle beach.  My girls are excellent climbers.  Grace started to climb up, but got scared to go all the way to the top.  I told her that I'd give her a dollar to do it, but she said "make it ten!"  

Then Camille wanted in on the action.  Poor, proud me!

 We went to Legoland on the hottest days of the year!  Clark is the kid that just can't figure out how to push the button to get his car started.

 On the safari ride.

 Swimming at the hotel pool.  This may have been the high point of our vacation.

 Our annual "back to school" dinner and devotional

 Walking to school on the 1st day.

 Gigi, Camille, and Grace outside school.

The girls are in different classes, and that will be fodder for a new post.  I hope that your summer, if it's still happening, is super awesome!

June

I know I say this alot (do I say it alot, or do I just think it alot?), but time flies.  I am honestly one of those old ladies now.  You know, the ones in the grocery store, who tell you to enjoy your children while they're young.  Those old ladies are so disarming- catching you just as you put back the boxes of expensive fruit snacks in favor of the cheapie store brands- all while negotiating with your 3 year old.  Anyway, I've become one of those old ladies.  Enjoy your children while they're young, ladies.  Because they just keep growing up!  Behold:



Camille and Grace playing "royalty"



 Laid back kindergarten graduation.  Grace getting her "diploma"

 And Camille

 Standing in front of the raffled playhouse that miraculously ended up in the kindergarten play yard the last few weeks of school.  EVERY little girl at the school wanted to win that raffle.  I keep dreaming up ways to have a playhouse in our backyard now.  Specifically this one.

 We went to the kidspace museum with some pals a few weeks ago.  I forgot how much water they have to play in there.  Clark got completely soaked.

 He also wore this bucket around.  I'm not sure why.

 Camille and Grace on the last day of school with their best pal Alyssa.  This was kind of a tearjerker moment, looking through their folders of accomplishments, listening to them sing a song about moving to first grade.  But, like the first day of school, I did not cry.  Yes, I'm a big girl too.

 Camille with her wonderful teacher, Mrs. Thomas. 

 Grace and Mrs. Thomas.  We couldn't have had a better school year, or teacher.

 Croissants that I made for father's day.  It's a good thing that I'm not a food blogger, because my pictures always turn out terrible!

 Although not as terrible as pictures of people eating my food.  There's my dear husband.  He really is a terrific dad.

 It's summer vacation!  The girls made a carnival for Clark while still wearing their pj's.  I love having everyone home.

Treats.

 Fishing game

 I made a dress with some fabric that I bought in Paris.  Some people buy new clothes in Paris, some people are dumb like me and buy material and patterns to make clothes.  I think my priorities may be a little messed up. 

Good thing that I'm not a craft or fashion blogger, or people would have to put up with pictures like this (oh, I made Clark's outfit too)...

...or this.

Latest Clark-ism

Dad: So Clark, what would you like to be when you grow up?
Clark: A scary paper bag.
D: A scary paper bag?  What would you do?
C: Fight.  Fight fight fight (making little punching gestures into the air).
D: Who would you fight?
C: I'd fight my kids.

Just Look in the Mirror

The girls have been having a wonderful summer vacation.  So have I, truth be told.  My girls are a creative wealth of energy and ideas, most of which do not involve me, but involve her sister instead.  Those who know me know that I am somewhat of a "hands-off" parent.  I've never been able to tell whether it's a result of having twins, or if my girls especially are self-sufficient because of me (or of being a twin).  Whatever it is, I'll take it.  Each day is filled with creative play- like playing school (Clark as the student, Grace as the teacher, Camille as the mom), playing carnival (Camille as carnival hawker, Grace on refreshment preparation, Clark as willing fair-goer), or playing library (Grace as librarian, Camille as bossy teacher, and Clark as curious reader).  I enjoy these exploits for so many reasons, my top two being watching everyone's creativity and happiness, and giving me so much more time to do chores.

I love how my girls are best friends.  They chat happily almost all of the time about things that they know or about how they are playing.  Last week I was amused to hear Camille tell Grace about the hat that she had borrowed from me.  "Grace, just give me the hat.  You know it would look so much better on me."  When I told her that that is not even possible because she is a twin, so she'd look exactly the same, she just smiled slightly and ignored me.  Visions of things to come.

Dear Kids,

We can't wait to see you tomorrow!  Camille and Grace, I'm sorry that we're going to miss your awards assembly.  Dad and I keep talking about what your awards must be for... maybe best penmanship?  Toothless grin?  Most likely to be related to someone in their class?  Sweetest kid?  I can't wait to hear all about it and give you tons of hugs when I get home.  I thought we'd write our final letter to you about the last things that we did last night and today.

 Last night we went up again to Montmartre- I told you about it a few days ago.  At the top of it is this cathedral called the Sacre Coeur.  It's nice because you can get a good view of the city.  It's an interesting area because many artists and writers lived here or hung out here.  So that's why we went.  Because we're so artsy.  (that's a joke).

 We tried to go to the cemetery, but it was closed.  You can see that most of the graves aren't under ground but in crypts, these little rooms.  Different, right?

 Then we went to dinner.  You can see that this is the perfect daddy dinner, because it is a salad with lots of cheese and meat, covered in these fried potatoes.  You know how much dad loves fried potatoes!  Did I tell you about the weird flavors of chips?  Dad tried the roasted chicken chips.  But he didn't try the smoked ham or the cheeseburger chips yet.

 This morning we accidentally slept in!  So, we had to walk really fast to church.  It was probably about as far as walking to our church now.  Maybe we'll have to try that next week!  You go in this door on the right and there's a big courtyard where people can park their cars.  And then the building surrounds the courtyard.  Most of the people speak French, but there is an interpreter that speaks English for all of the people that don't understand.  And even a special room that you can sit in that has a speaker with the interpreter speaking English.  Today was a little funny because it was testimony meeting, so a lot of people got up to bear their testimonies.  But, the same man was interpreting them for us.  A little girl sitting behind us that was also visiting the ward said, "if that woman is speaking (a woman was bearing her testimony), why does she sound like a man?"  She didn't realize that the interpreter was translating what everyone was saying.  It was pretty funny.

 After church we walked around a little bit and then went to the Musee d'Orsay, an art museum that has a lot of famous art.  I'll have to show you some when I get home, because you aren't allowed to take pictures of the art in the museum.  The locks in this picture are a new tradition that people have started doing.  They're "love locks" on the bridge over the River Seine  You write your name and the name of the person you love on the lock and then throw the key in the river.  Somehow that's supposed to mean that your love will never go away.

 This is inside the big clock inside the museum.

And this is the second Arc de Triomphe that I was telling you about.  It is much much bigger than the other one.  You can go on the top, but we didn't do that.

So, that's it!  Now we get to go to bed and tomorrow we have a long flight to get home to see you!  Can't wait!

love love love!

Mom and Dad