Thanks to Ariel...

Our latest Netflix rental was The Little Mermaid. I loved watching this classic from my childhood with my own kids. And we're no worse of around here after seeing it. For instance:

Julia now calls me, "Your Majesty" at times throughout the day. "Please can I have a snack, Your Majesty?" "Yes, I will take a bath, Your Majesty." And so on.

But that's not the best part. Brushing teeth has been lot easier around here since the kids watched the movie a few times. Now they just sing like Ariel while I help them brush. (It keeps them distracted and their mouths open wide.) This is a miracle where Gabe is concerned. He is usually very resistant to brushing with me, but he loves singing the song. And he can actually carry the tune pretty well - even with a mouth full of suds.

P.S. I laughed today when Gabe was singing while I brushed him and Julia said, Ursula-style, "Keep Singing!"

the life of a little bother

Early this morning Julia announced that she would be an "Easter Bunny Princess!" And of course Julia can't dress up without her sidekick following along...

 Anyone who is familiar with Gabe knows that he is all boy. But how he loves that flower headband! As beautiful as he looks, I think some superhero capes are in order for the dress-up drawer.

backward

I've served in the Young Women organization for our LDS ward for the past two and a half years. Because I am around teenage girls a lot, I hear a little of what is going on in their schools. Usually I am not pleased with what I hear, most recently concerning the high school dance situation.

Girls talking in the back of my car on the way home from a mutual activity: 

Girl 1: "So, who are you going to prom with?"
Girl 2: "Oh, I don't know. I haven't asked anyone yet."
Me, from the front seat, appalled: "What do you mean!? Isn't it a boy's choice dance?"
Girl 2: "Yeah, but the boys aren't asking any of us. So we will just ask them."
(Here, I took the time to teach the girls a little about not being so forward and letting the boys take some responsibility. Even if it means missing prom.) 

And last week I was talking with a darling 16-year-old girl. I asked her if she had been on any group dates or dances. She said no and reported that most of the dances at school are girl's choice. (Unlike the girl in the above conversation, this one isn't much interested in asking the boys to dances. I don't blame her! I didn't love it either. It is the boy's job to ask a girl out. So why don't we get out of the way and let them man up and do it?) I'd like to verify the information* before I get too upset, but she told me five of the dances are girl's choice and two are boy's choice. I thought it was silly enough in my high school when we had half and half. I don't doubt that they make more money and have better attendance at girl's choice dances. Meanwhile the fabric of society is falling apart, no thanks to the high school dance schedule.

Am I in the twilight zone? What's wrong with the boys? What's wrong with the girls? (What's wrong with the high school?) I say there are problems on all parts. Girls are too forward, leaving the boys to be lazy. Growing up, my parents had a rule that we were not to call boys just to chat. (They could call us and we could talk for 15 minutes or so.) I think this rule is actually a great one. If girls are calling, or texting, boys all the time the boys will surely see that they can sit back and still get all the female attention they could want - and probably even much more than they care for. Some may think this is all harmless, but I see it as a dangerous trend in society. It's bad news. And if you heard some of the messages from General Conference this past weekend, you too know this is a serious problem.

What can be done about it? I guess it has to start in my own home. Call me old-fashioned, but I think we will carry on my family rule of girls not calling boys. (And if boys call girls, no need to talk at length. A 15 minute chat is sufficient and fun.) I'm not crazy about the cell phone idea all together. I don't like the constant texting that goes on. Maybe my kids will be some of the few teenagers without cell phones, so be it. And as for dates and dances, Jonny and I plan on teaching our son (sons? Only time will tell. This is not an announcement!) to take a girl out on a date every now and then. Sure, our girls can ask a boy out a few times to specified girl's choice dances. But I sincerely hope and pray these will become the exception on the high school dance schedule. I think I will write a friendly, concerned email to Westlake High right now. It's gotta start somewhere.

I guess that's enough ranting for now. I just wonder what the world will be like in 10 years, 15 years. I bet my family will be old-fashioned. We will be peculiar. And shouldn't we be? Times are changing. Long-standing, worthy, moral traditions are being neglected. How thankful I am to know of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. That way, I don't need to fear the future, but I can have faith and do what it takes to prepare. Good luck to us all! It's not going to be easy.

*CORRECTION: I just received a return email from an administrator at the high school. My teenage friend's facts were indeed exaggerated. There are actually three girl's choice dances (Sadie Hawkins, Sweethearts, Morp) and two boy's choice dances (Homecoming, Prom). He says it is set up this way to balance out the costs. I say it is still unbalanced in the wrong direction, equality of costs set aside. Prom doesn't have to be so ridiculously expensive. And furthermore, life's not fair. Boys spend more money on dating, girls do all the hard work of bearing children later in life! (Not to mention all the annoying female things we have to put up with most of our lives.) Not the best comparison, perhaps, but the point is that things don't and shouldn't always equal out.  I'm terribly archaic, I know, but I believe in traditional gender roles. Things won't be equal and fair between men and women after high school, so why skew their perspectives now?

"This is a great day for washing a toilet."

Julia loves to help me clean the bathrooms. And I actually don't mind the chore when such a cheerful helper is doing the job with me. Pretty much everything she says, and the way she says it, has me holding back laughter. (She is so sincere so I try not to laugh out loud.) If you were eavesdropping on our conversation outside the bathroom door today, you would have heard...

"This is a great day for washing a toilet. Thank you for letting me wash the toilet."

While we were scrubbing the tub together, "So Mom, what are you going do tomorrow?" followed by polite responses to my answers.

"We are so nice to each other, Mom. We are great friends."

In a sing-song voice: "Could you scoot over a little please so I can wipe the floor? Thank you!"

I didn't quite understand this one, but it's what she said while standing back and looking at all she had scrubbed. "These are happily ever to clean!"

The best parts, though, are the songs she makes up. When she's not engaged in polite conversation, she is making up a song about whatever she is cleaning at the time. Sometimes she uses a familiar tune and other times she comes up with one all her own. I really need to catch one on video sometime.

Okay, so this doesn't have to do with cleaning the bathroom. But here are some things she said earlier today that I couldn't let go without writing them down:

"Mom, let's all play with my princess magnets, as a family."  And when we were done playing, "Okay, enough silliness for you guys. Enough princesses for we."

Earlier this week at dinner, "Daddy, I'm so glad you are home where you belong."

One more, from her prayer just now, "Dear Heavenly Father, I hope I can remember to show the preschool kids my owie on my chin tomorrow..."

If only I could record every thing she says. This is such a fun age. I remember my nieces at this age and I wished they'd never grow. I guess they are pretty cool now that they are older (by "pretty cool" of course I mean darling and awesome and still hilarious), but I do miss little Katy, Jilly, and Ally. Oh, how much I will miss my silly little JuJu. Luckily I have a feeling she will grown up into a silly big JuJu. And that surely won't be all bad...

 (She is signing "Dad" here. I think she was watching Signing Time when I took these shots.)

happy camper

  

At first Gabe was not too happy about his new crib tent. Well, to correct that understatement, he was livid the first time I zipped it up and left him there, screaming with his face and hands pressed against the mesh. But when he woke up after a nice long nap we made a big deal about the cool tent. Julia even hopped in there to play for a bit. Then he seemed to think it was alright and now talks about his "tent!" when it's time for bed.

This brilliant invention has been a miracle for us. Now my wild boy, who definitely still needs a nap, will get his sleep and be safe from falling out of his crib. (While climbing out previous to the tent, he would most often make it down just fine. But a few times he'd whine and I'd find him perched precariously on the rail. How this boy hasn't broken a bone or needed stitching up yet is beyond me. Whoa, knock on wood.)

In case some of you are concerned that such a thing might be hazardous, rest assured. Not only is the tent escape-proof, but it is also completely safe. This thing is well made. Even big Gabe can't manipulate or destroy it, leaving him with no other choice than to get all the sleep he needs. And that truly makes us all happy campers.

confidence braided

I have never been very good at hairstyling. And I have never really been interested in it. I remember trying to learn to french braid a few times in my youth. I was frustrated and just couldn't get the hang of it. "Ah, who needs it?" I thought. After all, my mom and sisters could and did whip my hair into tight braids whenever I asked.

But things are different now. I am a mom. I have a daughter with very long, beautiful hair. It is time to learn.

I was inspired to try my hand at this art when I saw that my little sister Lili french braided her one-year-old's hair. Well, if "tinsey baby Penny" (as Julia calls her cousin) has braids, then so should Julia! And I set about to do it this very morning.

I failed completely at braiding a single plait. I was saying things like, "Oh man, this is so hard. I can't even do this." Julia was cheering me on, while she patiently let me pull and tug at her golden locks. "Mom, don't worry. You can to it! You are doing a great job." With that, I couldn't give up. So I parted it and tried for two, which turned out to be more manageable. Several minutes later, Julia's and my first french braids were born.

Now listen, I know this post may seem silly. And I know the overly-celebrated braids are quite loose and a little rag-tag. But the braids are not the main point here. The big deal is that I buckled down and did something at which I had previously failed and given up as intimidating and impossible. I tend to shy away from things that are unfamiliar and seemingly complicated. So this was a total confidence builder. I can do it! And if I practice, I can get better. (Especially with Julia's cheer leading. And next time I will try to keep Gabe busy with something else so the brush, comb, squirt bottles, and elastic bands don't keep disappearing.) This seems trivial, but it really made my day to see Julia in braids like the ones my mom used to do for me - even if they were disheveled by noon.

Her white-blond original baby curls at the tips are some of my favorite things in this world.

Julia isn't saying "hi" here, she is giggling and telling me to stop with the pictures already. Yeah, okay.

P.S. By no means will I be braiding Julia's hair every day, or even every week. Her curly hair is a blessing in my life in that it pretty much takes care of itself. But I will take the time to practice every now and then, and have some fun experimenting with some other styles. Most days I'm sure we'll stick with a ponytail, simple topsy-tails, or a messy bun. Which I love just as well as any fancy up-do.

shh, don't tell the kids...

...but last week Jonny and I took off to California without them. And, yes, we had a wonderful time lounging on the beach, walking around unencumbered by a stroller, carrying a purse free of diapers and sippy cups, eating at restaurants without even glancing at a kids menu, actually reading during the flight, waking up in the morning at our leisure, soaking in the hot tub late at night, eating ice cream at least once a day, and even playing at Disneyland and California Adventure.

But before we had been gone even 24 hours, something I really hadn't expected happened. I missed Julia and Gabe dreadfully. I knew I'd miss them, sure, they're my babies. But I really missed them. We both did. Maybe it's because we knew we wouldn't see them for two and a half more days. Maybe it's because we felt a little guilty being on such a great vacation without them. Or maybe it's because we were surrounded by thousands of other darling kids at "the happiest place on earth."

Whatever the cause, luckily we managed to have an incredible time that day and the remainder of the trip. (The next day it wasn't so bad, I knew I'd see them after one more night.) I knew Julia and Gabe were having the time of their lives staying with grandma and cousins. (Thanks again Mom, Cami, and Amber!) And I truly was having the time of my life on what felt like a second honeymoon. It was quite blissful.

Anyway, I learned something on our little get-a-way. Alone time is very important for Jonny and me. I always look forward to our evenings after the kids are in bed and date nights on the weekend. A little extended time away from the kids is luxurious, but to be taken in small doses for us! As it turns out, we need these little friends of ours just as much as they need us. (Maybe even more, judging by how upset Julia was when we tried to bring her home from her cousins' house! Gabe, on the other hand, was hugging and kissing me like crazy.) Sure, they fuss and cry and fight and throw tantrums. (They welcomed me home with a couple of those this morning while Jonny was at an early meeting.) But they also make me laugh and smile countless times every single day. I marvel at their growing minds and understanding. I cry bitter-sweet tears when I realize that they really won't be my babies for very much longer. And I love it. I love being their mommy. It's the most exciting and difficult thing I've ever done. And I'm only four years into it! So here's to many more, with perhaps a few occasional escapades for Jonny and me to catch our breath and remember that we're still young too. Then straight back home to our peeps, because, as Julia often says, "We are a flamily."

Of course I can't leave this post without putting a few photo highlights of our weekend in sunny California. Because we really did have a blast. Just don't show these pictures to Julia...

 Jonny took me on a little tour of the sketchy neighborhood where we spent the night on our honeymoon before our cruise ship sailed. We remember buying fruit and water at El Super. And eating fried chicken in the parking lot.

We tried kissing during the picture of the Tower of Terror drop. It was tricky!

 Jonny makes fun that I have the same face on most rides. And he thinks it is crazy that I scream.

I can't help it, honestly.

 

"Hey look! It's dork and dork jr!"

(Sorry, Jonny, I couldn't resist a movie quote.) 

 

Jonny daintily eating a salad: 

Me ravenously eating a corn dog: 

 Matt, Cortnie, and Jack were in D-land a few days before us. They left a note and pirate garb for us in a secret spot. It was so exciting to find it where they left it! (It was hidden in a decorative treasure chest on a high window ledge in an obscure corner of a gift shop. Sneaky.)

 Jonny did put the arrow back in the correct direction, after we toyed with the idea of setting the loose arrow another way. We just didn't have the heart, I guess. (Those of you who were involved in the stealing of a loose ski lift sign with me in earlier days can see that I have changed my tune. Hey, where is that infamous sign anyway?)

 

Again, don't tell Julia:

Here I am, excited to ride California Screamin' for the third time. (I wonder if I will grow up to be one of those moms who doesn't ride roller coasters. ???) But my favorite, of course, is Soarin' Over California. That is the closet I've ever felt to flying. We'll just have to go sky diving and change that, huh Jonny?

I could have stayed at Newport Beach all evening. But it was pretty chilly. Some clam chowder in a local restaurant warmed me up, but I was sad to leave the ocean view.

 We spent our last hour at a lovely park near the airport, watching birds and turtles in a pond. Within a few hours we were back in gloomy Utah. Blah. But I was happy to be back home in our mountain state. I do love it.

 

P.S. This was by no means the first time we've left the kids. I've been to MD a couple times without them, as well as Girls Camp. But those times Jonny has been home. We did, however, both leave them for five days while we went on a youth pioneer trek last summer. Maybe this was harder because we were partying the whole time. But then, like I said, so were they. Julia has been telling us all about her incredible weekend with cousins and Nana. Surely she'll be begging us to go on another "shrip" very soon.