My Grandma

I will never forget your gentle voice filled with accents of a beautiful homeland. Butterscotch candies will always remind me of you. Whenever I wrap my children with your crocheted blankets, I will be comforted with memories of your soft hugs and kisses.

Stories of your life make me grateful for the modern conveniences that I often take for granted. Your home was always warm and inviting, and I've realized that there's nothing more elegant than simplicity. I know that wherever I am, I should surround myself with beautiful things.

You are a strong woman and taught me that tragedy can refine character. You will always be remembered as an elite lady, and that is what I would like for myself. I am grateful for the legacy you have given me.

Sweet Big Sister

A few months ago, I was released from the primary presidency, so I don't get to witness all the sweet (and sometimes embarrassing) things my kids do in there.  Today a counselor shared one of those sweet moments with me:

For today's Sharing Time the children memorized John 3:5.  When they were asked if anyone wanted to come up front to recite it, Danielle quickly volunteered to do it .  She got up and did a great job, and when the children were asked if someone else wanted to do it, Danielle announced that Jarrett would like to do it.  She pulled him up, and of course, he didn't know what to say.  Danielle leaned down to whisper it in his ear and he repeated what she said.  While Danielle was whispering, she lovingly brushed his hair with her fingers, straightened his shirt collar, and rubbed his back.  When the counselor was telling me this, her eyes welled up.  She was very touched by the love Danielle showed.  Jarrett and Liesl are so lucky to have such a great big sister!

First Haircut

Liesl got her first haircut. Before we went, I asked her if she wanted to go, and she emphatically said "NO!" Then I told her I'd get her a gumball, and we couldn't leave fast enough. Before we got to the salon, we went to the next door newsstand that has a huge gumball machine, which was also next to a candy section (at child's eye level, of course). She chose some candy instead, and I told her if she was good for her haircut she could have it.

When it was her turn, she let me put her on the chair (I didn't even have to sit with her) and I let her hold onto the candy while she got her hair cut. I've never seen her sit that still before! She did a great job, and as soon as the cape came off, I opened her candy.

BEFORE

AFTER

Plugged In

Our family loves Apples. No, not the good for you kind . . .
In addition to our four various Mac computers + one iPod, Robert has acquired two iPhones. The kids are already addicted, and it's scary how good Jarrett is at some of the games. I know he can navigate on it better than I can. This apple didn't fall too far from the tree.

That's so cute-y

Lately Liesl has been adding a "y" sound to the end of most of the objects she identifies. A few examples:

cake = cakey
gum = gumy
arm = army
shoes = shoesy
Diet Coke = cokey

The way she says them just adds to her charmy.

Happy Birthday, Danielle!

Danielle's sixth birthday was on April 24. For the last three months she's been planning a Barbie and the Diamond Castle birthday party, complete with the licensed invitations, plates, cups, napkins, etc. (darn that Birthday Express catalog!) From the beginning I've been telling her it would have to be dialed down from last year's princess tea party extravaganza, so we agreed on pizza, a movie and a few friends for the party.

Danielle had some very specific requests for her special day: she had to take cupcakes to her class at school, the pizza must be from Papa John's and I was to make a diamond castle cake. As much as I hate the idea of making a cake (I'd rather have a Cold Stone cake, thank you), I was finally able to use all the stuff from the cake decorating class I took 10 years ago. Danielle loved it, and that's all that mattered.

When she was ready to blow out her candles, Danielle said her wish aloud: "I wish that P. will be my best friend!" P. was at the party, and she exasperatedly said "I am your best friend Danielle!"

We had a great time with both friends and family, and Danielle told me her favorite part of the day was the cake. Yay me!

I've realized that we're now 1/3 of the way through 18 years. Exciting but scary! I'm starting to see that it really may go "so fast", just like everyone at church, school, and the grocery store tell me.

A Different Route

We had to get away for Spring Break, so we took a trip up to NorCal, but decided to go up Highway 1 instead of the normal I-5. It's something I've always wanted to do, and probably not something I'll do again for a long time (kids just don't appreciate scenic beauty!) but at least everyone had a favorite part of the trip.

Seeing the castle was Danielle's favorite part:This is Hearst Castle. We didn't tour it because we were advised that it wasn't good for small children. We didn't even go off the highway to get a closer look. But Danielle's dream is to live in a castle, so even being this close was enough for her.

Jarrett's favorite part of the trip was seeing the elephant seals:
It was truly amazing seeing them in their natural habitat and observing their behavior. Their barking resembles belching and passing gas, so Jarrett thought that was hilarious. In this clip you can hear how funny he thinks it is:

We also went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium where Liesl's favorite part (of all things) was the aviary:She loved watching the birds, and she and Robert spent a good part of the morning there. But since she can't say, we're not sure if that was her favorite part of the trip. For all we know, it could have been eating Red Vines:My favorite part was the scenery: The cliffs were breathtaking, but if we ever do this drive again, we'll take it going southward. It seems like the view from behind was more stunning :
Props to Robert for taking all these pictures while I was driving.
I enjoyed driving the winding roads, but in hindsight I wish I had let Robert drive it so I could take it all in. Then maybe his favorite part would be driving instead of what he actually remembers best. His favorite memory came while packing the van for the trip. I had just finished a load of laundry before we left, and one of the delicate items I needed to take had to air dry, so Robert draped it over the back seat. What was Danielle's response? "I don't want to sit next to Mommy's boob covers."