New Bunk Beds

The boys are finally in real beds. It's a happy day. As I was walking Emil to preschool (from the parking lot) I told him he should tell Miss Kerry about his new bunk beds. "I show her a picture!" I didn't have my camera and I didn't have any photos of the bunk beds on my phone. When I told Emil that he said, "I take a picture on the iPod." It was true! He had taken a picture of himself on his new bunk bed. Hahahahahaha! 

Colin keeps saying, "I WUB DAT! I WUB DAT BUNK BED!" The two of them have been sleeping in more now that they're warm enough. 

Also, we tended little Zack a week or so ago and I was very surprised at Emil's reaction. Lauren came too and she and Colin were off most of the time playing, but Emil stuck around to see if he could make Zack happy. Interesting! Just like when Emil anticipates what I need when I'm cooking, he could anticipate what Zack needed.

Lauren and Colin were more about bringing the noise and the photo shoot action. I don't know if you can tell from this picture, but Emil shooshed them a lot.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

I took pictures all day to have a record of a "regular day" at our house in the fall of 2014. Bridget is eight years old and in third grade, Emil and Colin are three years old and both of them are in preschool. This is for posterity, so I'm going to be honest. 

I was up before the crack of dawn to spend some time at the temple with these German ladies in my family tree. I found them a few weeks ago, the Young Women in my ward did their baptisms and confirmations, and yesterday I did their initiatories at the Mount Timpanogos Temple. I have a lot more to go, but it makes me happy to have a lot more to go. :)

Bridget was up first and dressed like a flash since she lays out her clothes every night. Get a load of that pantry. Someone should clean that out.

Good morning, Emil. I see you've taken off your pants. That was my spoiler alert that there was pee on the bathroom floor, but I didn't heed the warning and stepped in it.

Sweet Colin. Thanks for sleeping in, big guy. Have a tube of yogurt. (Why do kids like that? It makes me gag to think about eating yogurt that way.)

After breakfast, Bridget practices the piano while her brothers lose their minds.

I do Bridget's hair while she practices her piano and singing (she takes voice lessons). Yesterday she asked me to make it look like Tara Lipinski's. Bridget LOVED HER HAIR when she saw it on "So You Think You Can Dance." (So happy that Ricky won!)

This is what the boys did while Bridget was practicing/getting her hair done. Weirdos.

Time to catch the bus! Bridget's hair looks exactly like Tara Lipinski's. Only Colin gives hugs goodbye.

Bridget talks and walks backwards until I can't see her anymore. So many scheduling items to confirm. We found some boots in a catalog and she's asking me when I'm going to order them. When I told her sometime during the day she said, "So they'll get here tomorrow?" Yeah...

The boys play nice while I clean up breakfast.

Not so nice. Colin's fists are ready for a fight most of the time.

Wunch. After I took this photo I added grapes to their plates, btw. I have to put those sandwiches together, but they always pull them apart.

Time to take Colin to school! (Both boys pronounce it, "Ghouls." Hahahaha!)

We got Colin into his classroom and rushed back out to the van, but it was locked and I didn't have my keys in my pocket. Emil helped me retrace my steps and we found the keys on the ground. Bah!

Pick up Micah and Gus.

Three preschool pals; Gus, Micah, and Emil.

Ah! Lunch for Mommy. And I didn't have to herd the kids into school in the rain. Nice! Things are going my way.

This text from Colin's teacher. 

After eating lunch and researching family history for an hour, I went to get Colin, who dressed himself after going on the big potty at school. Hahahahahahaha! (I forgot his backpack, so he came home with a Walmart sack.)

Piano student number one of the day.

Emil's home! Commence fighting sequence.

Bridget's home! Did I order her boots? :) (Neither of my boys can tolerate a pillow on the couch. In any room. Every single time I walk into the family room I put a pillow back on the couch.)

I purposely put a 40 minute break in my piano students right here so I could have a moment with the kids when they get home from school. Bridget did her homework, I folded clothes, and the boys recovered a little from so much action.

This is how they relax. 

More students. They're all choosing Christmas songs this week for the recital. As I took this picture, Ethan was behind me saying, "Yes! That's perfect! Can we switch out the scarf? Go for a different look?" 

That's right, Halloween stickers already.

Daddy's home! This is what the boys do almost every day. Brian calls his parents on his way home from work and sometimes he doesn't finish his conversation until he's home. Then the boys sing a Kenny Rogers song while standing on the seats before coming inside.

Dinner. Taco salad.

No time to eat, gotta go to volleyball practice.

Practicing her killer serve. For real! She scored ten points in her last game just by getting her serve over the net. :)

I came home to eat dinner, then took the boys with me to get Bridget while Brian went to his weekly meeting (he's the High Priest Group Leader right now). This is what they were doing instead of getting in the van.

I like this photo. I'm in it! And I love how small the boys look even though they're stretched out.

Second dinner for Emil.

Bath time.

This happened while I was cleaning up the kitchen. See? Pillow on the floor. Bridget is pretending to be a princess who likes volleyball. :)

We said prayers and I put those exhausted crazy boys in bed. Bridget and I started reading The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate last night. Brian got home. I took a shower and got into bed. It was 9:30 and I fell asleep the second my head hit the pillow. For now, that's what Tuesdays are like at our house. :)

The Usual

When I was in grade school I had a journal.  Sometimes I wrote the date and one sentence, "A regular day."  In later years I was so frustrated by those entries that I would sometimes make a detailed account of a "regular" day.  Now those are my favorite journal entries to read.  What is "regular" when I'm 18 years old is a lot different than the "regular" I experience now.  Since I don't write in a journal at the moment, I thought it would be fun to show a typical day in the life of Emil and Colin.  There are too many pictures in this post.  Fair warning.

Emil usually wakes up first, around 7:30am.  (I get up at about 6:30 unless I go to the gym, then it's earlier.)  He sits in his bed and jabbers and jumps.  Colin can sleep through all that.  I wait until Bridget is dressed and ready for school before I go in and change their diapers and let them out.

Colin got out first yesterday.  (I don't mean to, but I end up taking turns getting one baby changed and out the door every morning.)

Freestyle dancing on the couch (cushions are on the floor already since Mama was too tired to put it back together the night before) for Colin.

Flopped down.

Emil takes advantage of the bar stools still being down.  

Bananas!  I give them little hunks of banana to eat while I make the oatmeal and fruit combo.

Emil loves bananas.

Colin thinks bananas are only okay, which Emil knows.  Emil is trying to get that banana piece before Colin throws it on the floor.

Breakfast is over!

While Mama foolishly cleans the appliances and the windows, Colin and Emil get to work.  Who keeps putting all these towels back in this drawer?

That's better.

Time for craziness in the front room, with occasional peeks out the front window.

Dancing to "Moses Supposes."

That oven mitt is one of their favorite toys lately.

Who's that coming down the track?  IT'S THOMAS!  (Weird collection of toys and items the boys aren't supposed to have on top of the cabinet.  I had to hide their dump truck so they would stop using it as a step stool.)

The morning poop is out of the way, now everyone is dressed and ready for some errands.

First, Costco!  Mama's favorite place because the carts hold two babies.  (Stupid Target.)  We get asked, "Are they twins?" at least half a dozen times as usual, but at least we got to see Aunt Debbie and Cousin Nate. :)

Bridget's home!

This was probably my worst move of the day, but I had to mail a package and I forgot the stroller wasn't in the car.  Not only did I take these guys in with me, I had to wait in line and I was taking photos of them.  They love me at the Post Office!

Up to no good, but he's so cute. 

These photos at the PO are not doing justice to the experience.  We ended up leaving with me holding a baby under each arm and Bridget blocking for me.

Trapped like rats.  Again.

After a quick lunch (both boys are grumpy and tired by this time), it's time for naps.  Bridget and I take our lunch downstairs and have a "picnic" and watch a movie.  Then Bridget does some homework on the computer while Mama cleans the office.  Two hours goes by fast.

Time for a walk outside.  Colin's hair is jacked and I refuse to gel it up again.

They're happy and they know it!  They wait until I say "clap your hands" before they clap their hands.  So cute.

Bridget shows us what is in her backpack while Emil yells.  (My favorite picture of the day.)

Fighting while Mama makes dinner.  When will Colin learn to put his whole body in the cupboard instead of just sitting on the edge?  He knows Emil is going to try REALLY hard to shut that door.

Emil finished his taco salad and is rewarded with a chip.  He likes to experience his food more completely by rubbing it into his hair.  Last night, it was strawberries.

Colin likes to be fed with a spoon.  He really got into the grape tomatoes last night.  Here he generously shares his chip with Bridget.

This is what happens when I forget to empty the dishwasher during nap time.

Daddy gives the boys their baths while Mama finishes emptying the dishwasher and helps Bridget with her bath.

I stopped taking photos at this point.  Too tired.  Brian gets the boys in their pajamas, I take them downstairs to play while I watch a rerun of "30 Rock."  Brian does the dishes, comes downstairs, more playing.  Then we read scriptures, say prayers and either Brian or I take Bridget upstairs to bed.  We feed the babies a night cap bottle while watching a half hour of one of the million shows on our DVR.  Then I take Emil upstairs (I always feed Emil - I've forgotten why) to bed and Brian takes Colin to bed.  The end... for 11 hours.