Pretty little package

This is the sweet reward of having a big sister.
She'll do your hair for you.
Chloe found this cute idea to make your hair into a bow online and Grace was her tester.

I remember doing this with Em.
But the tools of my trade were pink sponge rollers and headbands and it turned out something like this:

Ain't sisters grand?

A Sunbeam

We celebrated Grace turning 3 years old. 

The day started with an early trip to the dentist. Not a great plan. 

There were tears, and she was so tired from being up late the night before.

She fit in a nap however and the day ended well. Chloe decorated up the basement as her gift to Grace.

She bought the cutest balloons and decorated with streamers and such. 

We had a nice dinner, cupcakes and ice cream and gifted Grace:

a cute sailor-ish dress, a pup that talks, a fairy costume, some slippers, and some monkey jammies. 

The next morning she got to meet her new Sunbeam teacher at the Primary Meet your Teacher. 

She headed out the door with all the big kids and called, "I'm going to be a Sunbeam!"

She sure is. 

The 3 year old's stats:

Height: 3 ft. 3 3/4 inches  (94th percentile)

Weight: 31.75 lbs (62 percentile)

BMI: 14.3 (9th percentile, up from 3rd percentile last year!)

I'd know her anywhere

I read Clifford's Word Book to Grace at bedtime last night.
On each page there are numerous items with names by them.
We went through and named all the animals, the colors, the instruments.
And then we came to the circus page.

Grace pointed to Clifford dressed as a clown carrying a pie and said, "Oh Grandma!"

 +

= She nailed it!

Music to my ears.

It hasn't gone well. At all.
Good thing I bought plenty of panties.
The first day she wet 3 pair in less than an hour.

"I'm peeing," she announced standing in the corner by the t.v.
I'm not a real patient potty-trainer, BUT I am not giving up.
I offered a sucker.
She stole one when I wasn't looking.
I offered cookies.
She passed.
I make her go sit on the toilet several times.
Nothing.

Today was the same news. No news.
Chloe had her ukulele out and Grace wanted to play it.
"If you use the potty you can play my ukulele," Chloe bribed.
She ran in and hopped up on the padded Tinkerbell seat.
Honestly, I wasn't expecting anything.
Then she yelled. "I did it! I did it!"

By golly she did. She did it.
For a ukulele.
Time to rethink my rewards system.

How She Spent Her Second Birthday

The day started like most.

Chores.

Grace helped put away folded laundry.

Time for a relaxing warm bath after all that hard work.

Then a long nap while Mom ran errands in the snow. 

Post-nap she got ready for the party.

Grace shares her birthday with her cousin Britney and this year they celebrated together.

2. and 24. 

She'd been waiting to enjoy this cupcake for several hours. 

And she ate all the frosting first.

 Brit tried a selection of flavors.

 Time for presents!

A potty seat, little panties, a blanket, doll, and phone. 

We taught her to respond when asked how old she is.

She holds up her thumb and pointer finger and says "twooooooo".

Of course we all clap and cheer. 

Happy 2nd Birthday Pretty Baby. 

Relief Society Songstress

I had to post this picture of our Nearly Two-Year Old.
The piggie tails, the ribbons, the grin.  Oh. It melts my heart.

She doesn't go to Nursery.
She's naughty in that regard.
She screams and cries real loud. Louder than her older brother I dare say.
And if you know my little "Bosnian Banshee" then you know how loud that is.

I've taken her in and stayed with her, but the wailing continues.
So I eventually leave, but she is unforgiving and continues to gasp for breath
and cling to me and cry and I am sometimes forced home for sanctuary.

So I don't even try.  I've never done this with any child. All my children eventually went to Nursery.
Some went right away, some took coaxing, but they all went.
What happens when they turn 3 and are ready for Sunbeams but they've never been to Nursery?

Well, I'll tell you something.  She's learned a few things staying with me in Relief Society.
Today as I was playing prelude I watched her from the corner of my eye.
She kind of runs the place while I'm busy behind the piano.
She goes in and out, walks around the room, tries out different seats.
Today, she climbed up on a chair positioned under the shelves that hold the Hymn books.
She reached up on her tiptoes and grabbed a book. It happened to be an old teaching manual.
Then she got down and placed the opened book on the chair and proceeded to sing.
She sang along with the opening hymn.  When the song ended and others had stopped singing she continued for a moment and then realized she was going solo she stopped and looked around.  When she realized people were ready for a prayer she folded her arms, if only for a few moments of the prayer.

Oh Pretty Baby you make me smile.

Feed Croup an Avocado Shake

I love avocados, and I've heard tales of Avocado Shakes from Brazil.

I've always wanted to try one. 

So today I did. 

I got a recipe; avocados, sweetened condensed milk, ice, 2% milk.

This had to be good.

Don't even think about the calories in that. It's good fat remember.

Everyone was skeptical. 

Turns out, Croupy Baby was my only taker.

Even Scott, the self-professed non-picky eater didn't like it. 

So I ignored that tingle on my lip and itch in my throat and ate it up. 

Cole asked for ice cream instead. I said yes. 

And then he danced.

And I laughed and laughed.

And then there was one.

I went to check on the littles one last time before I headed to bed.
Pull up the covers, rub their cheek.
When I got to Aidan I instinctively reached up to pull his thumb out of his mouth.


His thumb wasn't in his mouth.


Then I asked myself, "Does Aidan suck his thumb?"
I walked back to our room and asked Scott.
It was a yes.  Of course it was a yes. He's sucked his thumb since he was in utero.
We have a picture of that.
As he's gotten older he would only suck his thumb if he had his blanket and was tired or hurt.
He'd wind up the little yarn ties on his blanket and stick one in his ear while he sucked that thumb.
I remembered old conversations I've had with him about what comes out of his thumb.
He was convinced for quite a long time that he was receiving some kind of nutrition from it.
Funny boy.
So he's almost 8. I've never really worried about the thumb sucking. I figured he would just stop when he was ready and I'm already planning on braces.  Besides it comforted him and he was comfortable with it.

I realized it's been quite some time since I've seen him suck his thumb.
So, it's over with no fanfare. How come I didn't get the memo on that?

And now there is only one thumb sucker round here.

Rain anyone?

We had a rainstorm yesterday.
It hit suddenly and really poured. I love the rain.
It also included some loud thunder and even some falling ice chunks.
I opened up the doors and listened to the rain.
I enjoyed watching my 2 Littles reactions to the rainstorm.

Cole got right out there and soaked it all in.
Grace. Terrified.
Cried herself right to sleep.

Grace and the Giant Tomato

There was an offer officially posted on Facebook.
"Who needs or wants some fresh from the garden tomatoes? Come to my house and get them ASAP."
I sent a runner. 
One whom I hadn't called on previously to do an "extra chore for Mommy".


He came home carrying a heavy sack of fresh tomatoes. (Ironically, he is the only one who will not eat a tomato at our home). 
Oh my. They were beauties.
We washed, sliced, and sprinkled with kosher salt (of course), and ate until I had to start warning about the dangers of too much tomato acid (call Aunt Molly, she'll tell ya.)


After we had finished I pulled out the Grand Daddy of Tomatoes and handed it to little Grace. It was a photo op, what can I say. 
She was excited. She wasn't done eating tomatoes!

She tackled the big boy.

Rotate. Bite. Rotate. Bite.

And so it went. 

Dripping juice and seeds.

She even shared with her tomato-loving sister.

And then....

I pulled the plug on the acid-fest.

It wasn't pretty. 

The "love apple" had turned my baby against me. 

It was just out of her reach.

And so she turned on me. 

First with some hitting.

And then hanging. 

But to no avail. I could not give in for her tummy's sake. 

Dear Cami,

Thank you for sharing your garden's bounty.

Love, 

The Brownings