The Race

Brynlee and I were racing to the car yesterday.

She won!

And after her success she started dancing around, taunting me about how much faster she was than me. We are obviously raising a precious delicate flower. I requested a rematch.

And if to say…”I think your getting a little full of yourself, Sugar!” three steps into the rematch she ran smack dab into the baby stroller. She hit her mouth on the handlebars hard enough to set the stroller into motion. I tried to comfort her, but to no avail. She finally insisted that the only thing that would help take away the pain was a band-aide. And I agreed. It actually worked out quite nicely for the both of us.


And do you want to know what? Crazy things start to happen when she is forced to be quiet for longer than 25 seconds at a time.
Happy Friday!

Abstract Reasoning

On a whim, the kids and I spent yesterday at my parent’s house. Then Brynlee said this morning, “Today’s THE BESTEST DAY EVER!” Knowing that aside from a day trip to the all-exclusive Resort Albertsons we didn’t have anything that fun planned for the day so I asked, “Um, why’s that?” To which she replied, “Cause before I got in the tub, and before I eated breakfast, and before me sleeped me got to ride that big, big bike (4-wheeler) with Grampa!” Makes perfect sense.

And it didn't even cost us a cent

In case you haven’t heard…WE ARE IN A RECESSION! WORST ONE IN DECADES. THE ECONOMY SUCKS and THE STOCK MARKET IS PLUNGING!!

Oh, and IT’S NOT GOING TO GET BETTER ANYTIME SOON!

But on a positive note…Spencer had an entire week off work. {I will not be mentioning that he was off work due to the FORCED TIME-OFF WITHOUT PAY that his job is requiring that all employees take. And I will not be mentioning that he is required to take three more weeks FORCED TIME-OFF WITHOUT PAY in the next 4 months.} But since we had loads of time to just hang-out around the house {because, well… FORCED TIME-OFF WITHOUT PAY doesn’t pay for a trip to Disneyland} we made the most of the situation and spent some quality time doing this:

Just a few things to take note of:

• Propping the door against the bed to be used as a slide wasn’t my idea. Extra points if you can guess whose idea it was. Hint: It wasn’t Brynlee’s idea either.
• I don't really keep track of points.
• You may notice that Brynlee has a different outfit on in the two pictures. Yes, we spent more than one day sliding down the door.
• Leaving the door on the door frame is a rule at our house that we usually enforce. But given the special {FORCED TIME-OFF WITHOUT PAY} occasion we decided to make an exception.
• Every door in my house is now painted beige, has a doorknob that's not gold, and has been re-hung in the appropriate door frame. Including the guest bedroom and guest bathroom. I am expecting more visitors. Or at least my guest to feel a little less “at home” while using the bathroom.
• The master bedroom is our next project! I have to be honest and tell you that I debated not posting these pictures because my OCD side was extremely embarrassed by the way the unpainted, undecorated master bedroom looked.

And just in case you’re wondering…I think we are going to spend this weekend bungee-jumping down the laundry shoot. And next week we just might try to make a zip line down the stairs.

And my favorite part of Valentines Day was…

It wasn’t the fresh bouquet of flowers. Although they were beautiful.

It wasn’t breakfast out without the kids. Although that was enjoyable. It wasn’t giving Brynlee & Jace their little Valentines gifts. Although that was gratifying. It wasn’t filling the toy room full of balloons. Although that was entertaining.

It wasn’t our one eyed balloon that looked like Plankton from Spongebob. Although that was comical. It wasn’t the two hour nap that Spence insisted that I take {my blog, my story}. Although that was rejuvenating. It wasn’t the steak and coconut shrimp for dinner. Although that was delicious. It wasn’t the chocolate covered strawberries. Although they were delectable. It wasn’t the candle-lit cheesecake and sparkling cider for two. Although that was romantic. My favorite part of Valentines Day WAS this oversized flawlessly handcrafted card made for me by my three favorite Valentines.

Hallmark couldn’t have done better themselves!

{Spencer wrote down what Brynlee said exactly how she said it. Which makes it mean that much more.} What Brynlee loves about Mamma
She’s pretty
Likes abc’s for she
Go shopping with she
Me like playing with she
We like to do lotsa things
She blows up balloons and me pop ‘em
She’s nice to me
Me like coloring these for mamma
Gave us everything
Mamma reads books
My mommy’s my favorite mommy

What Jace loves about mamma

Spencer helped him write "Love You Mamma"

and traced(ish) his little hand and foot

while Jace did his part by trying to eat the marker.

And then there was a section from Spencer.
I won't post all of Spencer's list because, c'mon like I want the entire internet to see personal things like, "She is the best list maker in the world," and "She is a super blogger so we have a diary of all the crazy fun we have!" But here are a few:

She takes care of us
She’s beautiful
 She’s funny
She loves our family
 She is the best wife and mother ever!!

{Disclaimer: Yes! Spencer and I are cheesy and slightly extremely immature, and we love it. My sister will never let us live down the fact that we made heart shape mounds around our squash and zucchini plants in our very first garden together. Spencer and I have both carried around the opposite half of a two dollar bill that says “I Love You” for years. And there has been more than a few times that we have taken each other on a treasure hunt with rhyming clues and hidden gifts. So are we 15 you ask? Yes. Yes, we are. And it feels good.}