Old News

This is old news but this total miracle keeps popping in my head so I must share. A few weeks ago we were rushing out the door to get to church on time. As you know, getting anywhere with kids on time is a struggle even if it is 1 o'clock church (which totally stinks-thank goodness for primary). Anyway, Darin got the girls in the car and like always everyone is waiting for me to get out there. I was scrambling around gathering quiet activities for the girls to keep them quiet for the 1st hour--as if they work, but whatever. One of the things on my list of 97 in my brain was my wedding ring. So finally I get to the car with everything and start shoving everything on Maile's Barbie bag. As we are walking in to church I realize I don't have my ring. I was baffled but we didn't have time to look around and I just figured I had set it down in my house as I was buzzing around and forgot about it. All through church I was worried about it but reassured myself that I had set it down and would find it when I got home. When I got home I tore my house apart!! I mean I was looking in places it couldn't possibly be. I didn't want to rule any nook out as a possibility because I do have a 2 yr old, remember? Anyway I looked in the driveway, the flower beds (that I didn't even walk by getting to the car), garbage, vents, cushions, the toy bins.....everywhere!! I kept thinking I should call the bishop because if I had stumbled upon a ring at church I would give it to him. Deep down I kept thinking it had fallen in the parking lot, which really freaked me out because of all of the places it could be by now. I told Darin I was going to call the bishop, he didn't really think it was necessary but I did anyway. Of course in a time of crisis the line was busy. I ended up going to bed and waking up the next morning only to tear my house apart again. Finally, I decided I was going to call the bishop and keep calling until I got an answer. There was no way it was in my house and the thought just kept coming back to me (hmmmm...I wonder what that was???). It was really too early to be calling anybody but I figured it was for a good cause. He answered the phone and I just start rambling on and on with too many details as he just listens and listens. I finally took a breath and he said there was a ring turned in......it was mine!!!! He probably thought I was half crazy when I started crying and telling him more info that I am sure he really didn't care for. So what had happened was, just as I had thought, my ring was in my lap and when I stood up to get out of my car at church it fell in the parking lot. After church a little 8 yr old girl who was parked in the stall next to us, and who apparently has an eye for lovely things, saw my ring and picked it up. From what her mom told me she was real excited to find it, who wouldn't be? Her mom took a closer look, realized it was a wedding ring and had her dad turn it in. Her mom told me that she wanted to make sure everyone knew it was her that found it, gotta give credit where credit is due. Her brothers told her that she should have hocked it for like 20 bucks! Just like a boy! I am so glad that Bailey made a good choice, and had eagle eyes! I think it is a little miracle that she found it. I think of all of the places it could have ended up and I am so grateful it ended up in her little hands...and eventually back on my little hand!! Way to go Bailey Jean!!

Homecoming!

I don't know if all kids are this way but when I leave there is some serious wailing going on. Maile is bawling and clinging to me like she is never going to see me again. It can be so frustrating. When I leave to go running is when it is the very worst. I think she is being very manipulating. Darin says that the instant I am gone she is perfectly fine. I can't figure it out. Anyway, I must say I love the homecoming. When they hear me come in the door it is almost as if an orchestra starts playing St Elmo's Fire, and everything turns to slow motion. The girls come running (to the beat of the orchestra of course) with open arms and big smiles, trying the beat the other one to me so they get the first hug, and telling me "I miss you, Mama". When Mad says that my heart melts. It is so sweet. I am so happy to be a Mom, even if I have to peel an over emotional 4 year old from my leg 4 times a week!!

My Pelo!

So the title is a shout out to whom ever I took Spanish with in my youth or with whomever I used the term "pelo" referring to hair, when in reality it means fur! Thank you to my dear friend your who actually lived in a Spanish speaking environment therefore he knew my error and corrected me. Thank you, I stand corrected.

About the picture. I have to get this off my chest. Look at that cupboard! Darin is always telling me to close the cupboards and now I know why, I am so ashamed. I am also looking a little...hmmm what's the word....stoned, I'm not, I am just in a serious concentration trying to get the picture just right. This was like the 14th picture so deal with it. What you can't really see is that it is spiky on the top, and and can you tell is is asymmetrical? What do you think? At first, I was thinking I had gone too far this time. Well, actually I had gone to Costco just after getting it done and I kid you not people were staring at me. I didn't even have my kids. Maybe I was just feeling unsure of it and no one was really staring at me but it sure seemed like it. I am starting to like it now except for the big highlight, I might dye it. Anyway, that's the scoop.

Our Fairytale

Vegas, The Strip

We didn't really spend that much time on The Strip, it is so yucky!! We did go to The Body which was amazing. If you haven't heard about it Google it, and try to go. It is this huge exhibit that dissects the body and breaks it down into systems and has an exhibit on each. The really cool thing is that they have found a way to preserve the human body so it will never decay. The bodies used in the exhibit are all actual human bodies. It was do cool. For the Circulatory System they injected the veins with a rubbery substance which if I didn't know better I would say it was impression material from the the good ol' D.D.S. Anyway, they injected it into the body and when it hardened they peeled (if I can be so gruesome) the rest of the body away. It was cool because it was in the shape of a person only it looked like a very complicated maze. Since I have been home I have heard that that isn't what they really did because the veins and vessels would be destroyed when they began to peel the body from them. This is probably true but the idea is interesting. The other part that I can't get over was the pre-natal section. They had actual miscarriages for basically every week of gestation. They took each week and displayed it so you could see how it changed from week to week. It is an absolute miracle how a baby forms! I already knew that but to see it the way it was displayed was so amazing.

The other thing I learned that I can't erase from my mind is that it takes 3500 extra calories to gain a pound and you have to burn an extra 3500 calories to lose a pound. This sure has made me think twice about what I am putting in my chomper. When I read that I seriously about....I don't know. I couldn't believe it. What I did was pulled out my cell phone and multiplied 3500 by the amount of weight I gained in my last pregnancy.---That's a lot of extra Artic Circle milkshakes! (Julie:)) Just food for thought!! LOL!!

We had to walk down the Strip like a bunch of cattle because that is what you do in Vegas, all part of the experience. I am a total sucker for the dancing water at the Bellagio. It is so pretty, it almost makes you forget you are in the dirtiest place on earth!

We stayed at a beautiful resort. The pools were great and the sun was hot. I did get a little burned but not near what Darin did. Poor white guy burns every time. I love to be a total pool rat which we tried for a few hours. It was great to not have to worry if one of my kids were drowning or if they needed another coat of sunscreen, or even more likely if Madalyn had found somebody's soda and decided to help herself. That is her famous SevenPeaks trick, find some lonely soda and suck it down as fast as possible!!

All of our pictures were taken at the Bellagio. It is so fancy. I love the blown glass flower in the top one. Pretty, pretty!!

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I am not completely sure how this picture of the Bride of Frankenstein found it way here, since its here I think I'll just leave it. This is Mai in her wedding dress and she has also done what appears to be wedding make-up. She is closing her eyes so we can all get a real good look at her work. I think she did a great job! You're beeeeautiful Maile!!

Vegas, Hoover Dam

Our trip to Vegas was so much fun. Once we left the girls at my mom's there was no turning back. I think they had more fun than we did if you want to know the truth. Maile asked me when we were going to go back to Vegas so she could see her cousins. I don't think we were really missed that much. Our first stop was Hoover Dam. Darin had been there many years ago and I had never been. It is pretty cool and super HUGE!! I felt pretty small there. We also stopped to take a look at Lake Mead which I guess is pretty low because of the drought, still looked wet to me. :)

We saw this incredibly charming couple posing for a picture and couldn't help but snap a shot!

Boys will be boys!! Darin couldn't help himself, he just had to throw a rock in that big cement hole!!

Once again, boys will be boys. All I wanted was to give this friendly worker a kiss on the cheek to thank him for all he has done, out of no where this dam guy tries to make it to second base. Dam pervert!! Check out his hand he's totally going in for the kill!! :)

Maile's Birthday

So I am doing a little back tracking tonight on the whole blog. Maile's birthday was the 5th. Check her out on the ol' scooter. Honestly, skating was a bit much for our kids. I was pleasantly surprised when we found out that we could rent scooters for our kids. We rented them both one. Madalyn was being her lazy self and insisted that Darin and I push her around and around. Maile was a total super star!! She was all over the place by the time we left.

We invited all of Maile's cousins and aunts and uncles over and we couldn't leave out Grandma. She loved having Bryson and Lexi come since she doesn't get to see them too often since we moved. We had cake and ice cream and opened presents. She loved all of the things she got including her wedding dress dress-up, play make-up, and angel blanket that Grandma made her. It was a fun day.

I can hardly believe that it has been 4 years since she was born. Maile is so sweet and such a blessing to us everyday. She is totally in her own little fantasy world of ballerina's, princesses , and "kids"(BoBo, and DD). She has the best imagination and an even better memory. She is a fabulous big sister and a natural "mommy". We love her to pieces and can't wait to see how great she becomes!

We'll get it all taken care of

This morning Maile and I had a conversation that I have to share:

Maile: Mom, what's wrong you sound sad?

Me: I'm not sad, I am just tired.

Maile: Didn't you sleep good?

Me: No.

Maile: Well, maybe this afternoon when we do quiet time I you can lay down by me and have a little snoozer.

Me: Really? That sounds like plan.

Maile: Mom, I could snuggle you in really tight and lay by you and then when you go to sleep I could get up, just like you do and then me and Mad can go downstairs and be really quiet and get some stuff done.

Me: Oh, really? What are you going to get done?

Maile: Don't worry about it, Mom. We'll get it all taken care of.

I had to laugh because everyday I lay down by Maile and as soon as she falls asleep I get up. Apparently she's on to me!