Thursday, December 9, 2010
Baby Babbling
Mia still says "bank you" instead of "thank you." If you talk about it in front of her she will start saying it right, so we don't talk about it. We love that she still says it that way.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Mia's New Friends
Monday, November 29, 2010
OCD
Then there is Emma... She has always been our little rule follower. She likes to know what the rules are, why, and exactly how to follow them. Once it is explained to her she will follow it exactly. It is a little entertaining. It has been interesting to watch her grow up. Lately, she has developed some idiosyncrasies. I will sometimes make her Eggo waffles for breakfast. I will toast, butter, syrup, and cut them for her. Then I will sneak a bite, or Mom tax. She won't be upset, but will tell me I must take another bite because she can only eat even amounts of bites.
She really surprises me when she is given chores to do. Justin used to clear off the table after dinner. He did the bare minimum. He took everything off the table and put it on the counter. We would make him put the salad dressing back in the fridge. Then Emma replaced him in clearing the table. Without being asked she would clear everything off the table. She would find the exact right sized Tupperware container for any left over food and put it away. Sometimes I would make Charlie a plate of food and set it aside for him if he wasn't home in time for dinner. I would turn around two minutes later and it would all be packed neatly in containers in the fridge.
She has been unloading the dishwasher for a few months now. She shares this chore with Justin. Justin puts a lot of the dishes back in the tray in the sink if he doesn't want to bother with figuring out where they go. Sometimes I wonder if he has lived here long. Not Emma. She knows where almost everything goes and she asks if she isn't sure. We have some medium sized bowls that get stacked in three groups of three. She lines them up perfectly and if one is missing she fills them up one stack at a time. She got mad at me once for not following the way she puts things away. I have been using one of the bowls for something else lately. She let me know today that she doesn't like it. I am not allowed to use those bowls anymore until I have all of them stacked back in the cupboard together. I left the room and she came and told me that she had fixed the problem. (Was there a problem?) She had stacked them in two stacks of four. Whew, crisis averted!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Best Husband Ever!
I have the best husband ever! We were talking this morning as I was frantically trying to finish some work before heading off to school. We talked about how fast life is going by. I said I noticed that I run around all day and as I finally lay down at night to go to sleep I remember I hadn't prayed that day (aside from with the family.) I told him that it makes me really sad. I feel weaker and less in control. Charlie said it sounded like I am so busy I had better stop to pray. Then when I was at school he sent me this poem. Like I said, best husband ever.
No Time To Pray
By Grace Naessens
I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish, I didn’t have time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me and grew heavier with each task;
Why doesn’t God help me, I wondered; He answered, “You didn’t ask.”
I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on, gray and bleak;
I wondered why God didn’t show me - He said, “But you didn’t seek.”
I tried to come into God’s presence; I used all my keys at the lock;
God gently and lovingly chided, “My child, you didn’t knock.”
I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Little Things
Emma: I will write my name in English too.
Me: Cursive is English.
Emma: What?! Whoa. That is AWE-some.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Faker, Faker, Belly Acher
Attack of the Taxes
Yesterday Charlie woke up during the night with something scratching his eye. In the morning he went to urgent care while I took the kids to church. They had their primary program and did a great job saying their parts and singing the songs they had learned. After the program Sister Kitchen gave them all cupcakes. When church was over she gave them extra and told them to have as many as they wanted. (She doesn't have kids yet.) I caught Justin eating his FOURTH. Emma had grabbed a second and third. I told her she could eat one of them outside, but had to save the other for her poor dad. I went and got Mia from her class and walked out to the car. As I walked out the door I saw Emma. She looked slightly confused and guilty. I looked at her face and saw the frosting from dad's cupcake. I looked at her hand and saw half of a cupcake left. I asked what happened and she said it was an "Emma attack." I think she couldn't control herself and meant to take a little bite, which turned into a bigger bite and if I hadn't come out right when I did there wouldn't have been anything left.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Keeping It Real
A couple of weeks ago I talked to Justin about the importance of getting A's. He said B's are okay too, and I said they are alright, but you should aim for A's. He kept saying B's were good, then asked about the last B I got. I told him that I cried. A few days later I had a quiz in one of my classes. At the next class meeting we were going to review the quiz. Justin told me that if I got a B then I really should try not to cry in class, I should wait until I got home... This way he could see me cry.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Many More
Charlie got a new electronic toy. It accesses media on our computers and plays them on the TV. An added bonus is that is has a radio function. It finds a genre of music you choose on the internet and plays music. Charlie loves this feature and it has been playing consistently good music. The other day it was playing "We didn't start the fire." Charlie went around the house singing "I didn't fart you liar; it was you who did it..." Very mature, I agree. Then he asks Justin and I if we know who is really good at changing song lyrics. Justin didn't know and Charlie and I said "Uncle Sam" simultaneously. Charlie looked surprised and asked how I knew that. (Sam is his best friend.) I said "How long have we known each other? Do you think during that time you might have mentioned this maybe a dozen times?" We both laughed and I wondered if this is what life will be like now? Do we know all of each other jokes and stories? I also find that we reminisce much more now. Sometimes it is like we are old grandparents. We say "do you remember when Justin/Emma/Mia used to do XYZ?" I love that we are reaching this stage. It is comfortable and safe to me. We still have a lot to talk about, but it reminds me of one of my favorite sayings. ~ A friend is someone who knows all about you and likes you anyway.
Well, I know most of what there is to know about Charlie and I like him anyway.
Living the Dream
Friday, October 1, 2010
Anything for an Edge
Charlie: You don't need glasses. You should be grateful that you don't need them. Hopefully, you never will.
Kelly: Yes, but you probably will need them in a few years.
Justin: A few years?! Argh.
Charlie: Why do you say that?
Justin: Because you know how I have to run at school? Well, kids with glasses get to a head start.
Kelly: That is the worst reason for wanting glasses I have ever heard.
Monday, September 20, 2010
You're Welcome
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Humility 2.0
Mom, I need to tell her if I can go. She has been having a party every year just so I will come. Every year she plans her birthday party for me and every year I don't go. I think if I don't go this year she will just say CANCELED!! and then she won't even have the party because I won't be there.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Humility is Spelt H-i-b-b-i-t-s
Emma:I am such a good stirrer. I am gooder at stirring than an adult.
Me:better, gooder is not a word.
Emma:I am better than any adult cook.
Me:Better than me?
Emma:Yes, I am a little higher up than you.
Second...Charlie says to me today that he thinks that he is a better homemaker than me. (Pause here. I laughed for a couple minutes. He was supposed to take over a lot of the household duties while I am in school. So far it is week four and he just started cleaning this weekend. I finally asked Justin to take in the trash cans from the street after they had been there for five days. I gave Charlie a list this weekend of what needed to get done, and he spent ALL of Saturday just in the kitchen cleaning the stove and oven.) This was our conversation.
Charlie: I think I am a better homemaker than you.
Me:HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHa ha ha ha...ahhh
Charlie:Really, I got the kids to school on time today.
Me: My children are NEVER late for school.
Charlie: Yes, but I got them to school on time and I didn't yell AND all their rooms are clean with beds made.
Me: I haven't yelled this school year. (Just to clarify, I yell down the hall that it is time to go or they will be late.) Okay, you are better at deep cleaning, but not evaluating what needs to be done. I look at my list and decide how much time I can realistically take on each item and them proceed. You can only see one item on the list at a time and can only clean it like nothing else in the world exists.
Charlie: True.
Later we went in the kids' rooms and Mia's bed was not made. Emma's bed was not made and her room was messy. Justin's bed was made and room mostly clean.
Charlie: One out of three isn't bad.
Me:HAHAHAHAHAHA
Friday, September 3, 2010
You Spin Me Right Round
Mia: He is dizzy because he keeps spinning around.
Emma: Dad doesn't spin around at work.
Justin: ...You never know...
A Whole New World
Emma hasn't been playing with the other kids at school. I asked her who seemed nice in class. She said Brittney. Okay, ask her to play. They played one day, then a few days later I told Emma to ask her to play again. Brittney said she had plans, but pinky promised to play the next day. Today, she says she had her fingers crossed during the pinky promise and doesn't want to play with Emma. I say that Brittney doesn't sound like a nice kid. Emma tells me she heard Brittney say that she didn't like Emma. I say I don't like Brittney and why would such a sweet girl like Emma want to play with such a brat. Emma says "Mom, you told me to play with her." Then Emma asks if I want to beat Brittney up. I lied and said NO. (Okay, so I don't really want to beat her up, but I might smile if she fell and skinned her knee or something.) On the plus side, Emma told Nana last night that she loves school. She also made a friend...the wind. They talk and sing together. Is that supposed to make me feel better? It doesn't.
After the first week of school I talked to Mia's teacher and asked how she was doing. She said academically Mia was great, maybe first grade level. The only problem is that she needs to be reminded to keep her hands to herself. It isn't bad, just whenever they line up Mia hugs everyone. Later I was trying to talk to Mia about it. I said "Mia, you can't hug everyone." Mia looks at me innocently and says "why not?"
Monday, August 23, 2010
Day One...
I have been up since 6:30 this morning. It is now 10:45pm and I am going to bed with another chapter still needing to be read. Not quite the start I was hoping for, but considering everything I guess it is still good. I am taking five classes plus a lab. Today was Business Law II and Information Systems for Business. I made new friends, organized our group for projects and even worked it out so that I could miss a class on Wednesday so I could be there for the kids' first day of school. Charlie is already stressed out with the extra responsibility, and I am already feeling guilty about ignoring the kids to study. Whose idea was this anyway?!
Part of me is really excited to be back at school (full time) and excited to see how I will do and what I'll learn. Hopefully when the kids start school in two days we will get into a good routine and things will run smoothly for the most part. (Knock on wood.) I go between feeling more focused and determined than when I started college at 18 and feeling that now I have so many more responsibilities to juggle.
I am grateful to have such a wonderful, supportive family. Emma is always remembering to ask Heavenly Father for help for me in her prayers. Charlie is cute and has been laughing at some of my organization. He has been moving out of the office and going through some of the files tonight. He kept laughing at things I had filed for him. In my defense I think that the gas receipt fell into the open file drawer on accident and all the random stuff in his files were because I know how he hates to throw anything away. ;)
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Double Digits
Justin turned 10, that's right, 10. Okay, so it was almost a month ago. That boy is such a blessing in our family. I love him. This summer has been so special to me because of my time with Justin. He has been so loving and sweet to me. He wants to talk to me about anything and everything. He does little things for me all the time, and is my little sweetheart. Several times he has come up to me out of the blue and given me a bear hug. Did I mention how much I love this kid?
Friday, August 6, 2010
Photographers
Almost two years ago we got the kids a indestructible kids camera. Every few months they get it out and take random pictures. The viewer on it is not very clear so it was hard to tell how good the pictures were. Charlie finally put them on the computer and som
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Full of...
Sweetness
Mia:I love your nose.
Me:I love being your mom.
Mia:I love being your son.
Friday, July 30, 2010
My Mia
Mia's favorites are macaroni and cheese, pink, macaroni and cheese, princesses, and macaroni and cheese. I took Emma with me to get Mia some presents. Emma told me that she couldn't get Mia anything too beautiful because then Mia won't play. "She will just sit there and stare at the toy. You know, sometimes when I play with Mia she just stares at me because I am so beautiful and I have to tell her to stop staring and play." Ha, ha, ha. Okay, so I love Emma too.
Mia's favorite present was her Rainbow Bright doll. She took it with her on a play date and showed her friend's mom, Megan. Mia said "this is .." Megan said "Rainbow Bright. Yes, Rainbow Bright and I are old friends." Not sure why, but I thought this was hilarious. I also like that Mia is playing with the same toys that I used to play with. I rented an old Rainbow Bright movie and she watched it. Now she says that she likes Rainbow, but she can be bossy and mean sometimes. Well, it is tough work being in charge of Rainbowland and defeating villains all day.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Awkward...
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
He's a Winner!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Competition Creates Champions
This summer I made a chart of things the kids need to do everyday. There is unloading the dishwasher, walking the dog, cleaning their rooms, vacuuming, reading, math worksheet, etc. Each time they complete an item they get a point. At the end of the week there are prizes for obtaining 50, 75, 100 points and to the one with the most points. Mia is unmotivated, but Justin and Emma are hilarious. Justin gets up early and works on items before Emma has a chance. Yesterday I whispered something to Emma that she could do to get a point. Justin tried to overhear and yelled "Oh, yea? I am going to clean up dog pooh first!" as he ran out. Funny thing was, I didn't say anything about dog pooh. This is the first time Justin has cleaned it up with such vigor. Then today I asked Emma to do it and Justin followed her around cleaning up anything she missed so that he could get credit too. He even cleaned her bedroom while she was in the shower so he could get that point.
Another bonus, Justin just told Mia "I just cleaned the family room. Don't mess it up." Muh, ha, ha, my plan is working.
*Disclaimer: Charlie originally suggested some sort of list.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
End of School, Summer Begins
Emma has wanted her hair done a certain way for months. I told her on the last day of school she could do it. Then when I tried to talk her out of it yesterday she recounted the conversation exactly and said "see, you said I could." This is her "crazy" hair she wanted. And chocolate on her face from her treat at school. (She is sitting on my new couch Charlie got me for my birthday!)
Saturday, June 5, 2010
We Don't Have P in Our Ool.
I tell her ew, that is gross. You aren't supposed to pee in pools. She then got some attitude and spoke to me like I didn't know anything "Mom, you're supposed to pee in pools. How do you think they get warm?"
Friday, May 21, 2010
Another Recipe
Cilantro Chicken with California Avocado and Pickled Tomato Salsa recipe courtesy Mary Sue Milliken & Susan Feniger and the California Avocado Commission.
Ingredients
4 (6 oz.) boneless chicken thighs or breasts, with skin
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
¼ Cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ Cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1 bunch cilantro leaves, chopped
1 Tbsp ground cumin
4 scallions, trimmed
Pickled Tomato Salsa (recipe below)
2 ripe Fresh California Avocados, peeled, seeded and cut in 1/2-inch dice
2 Cups cooked brown basmati rice
Instructions
1. In a shallow, non-reactive dish, season chicken on all sides with salt and pepper. Combine olive oil, lime juice, cilantro and cumin in a small bowl. Brush mixture on scallions and pour remainder over chicken, tossing to evenly coat. Allow to marinate at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes.
2. Preheat broiler or grill. Beginning with skin side toward the heat source, broil or grill chicken until just cooked through, about 12 minutes per side for thighs and about 9 minutes per side for breasts. Grill or broil scallions about 2 minutes per side.
3. Toss Pickled Tomato Salsa with diced avocados and reserve until chicken is cooked.
4. To serve, arrange grilled chicken over a bed of basmati rice. Mound avocado salsa mixture on top of chicken. Garnish with grilled scallions. Serve immediately.
Pickled Tomato Salsa
Ingredients
1 Pound tomatoes, peeled, seeded and cut in quarters
½ bunch scallions, white and green parts, thinly sliced
2 Serrano chiles, with seeds, thinly sliced in rounds
½ Cup white vinegar
2 ½ Tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp salt
4 tsp freshly grated ginger
1 Tbsp minced garlic
2 tsp yellow mustard seeds
2 tsp cracked black peppercorns
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp cayenne
½ tsp turmeric
½ Cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, toss tomatoes with scallions and chiles.
2. In a medium saucepan, bring vinegar to a boil. Add brown sugar and salt, and cook until dissolved, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and reserve.
3. Measure ginger, garlic, mustard seeds, cracked peppercorns, cumin, cayenne and turmeric onto a plate and place near stove. In another medium saucepan, heat oil over moderate heat until just smoking. Add spices and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until aromas are released, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar mixture. Immediately pour over reserved tomato mixture. Stir to combine, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate 3 to 4 hours or several days.
4. Before serving, remove tomatoes from juices, roughly chop, and return to pickling liquid.
Note: To peel tomatoes, remove the cores and score an X on the underside. Blanch for 15 seconds in boiling water and immediately plunge into iced water to prevent continued cooking. Peel with a paring knife.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Randomness, Thy Name is Mia
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Nature
I have to say that I feel cheated. I thought that bees die after they lose their stingers. This little guy stung me in a sensitive area then flaunted his victory by flying in front of my face. I didn't try to smush him or take revenge. I just set him free. My only hope is that death is not immediate and that he will die a slow agonizing death just after he has told his little bee friends of my kindness.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Thems the Brakes, Kid
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Mom
Me:32
Mia:32!?! ...wait. Did you say 32 or 82?
Me:32
Mia:Oh...
This was the Mother's Day questionnaire that I received from Mia this year.
My mom's name is Kelly
She is 28. She has brown hair and green eyes.
When she grows up she wants to be a person.
Her favorite food is hamburgers with tomatoes.
Her favorite TV program is Scooby Doo.
It makes my mom laugh when I put on "Goonies".
The best thing I do for my mom is clean my room.
My mom's best friend is Jacie's mom.
My mom's favorite animal is the bears.
My mom's favorite color is purple.
For fun my mom like to watch movies at night.
When I am at preschool my mom plays and takes a shower.
Monday, May 10, 2010
A Day In the Life of Miss Mia
Mia had to get five shots and a TB test. Then she had to give a urine sample. She screamed a lot. I had hoped that since she is so tough that she would surprise everyone and take it like a champ, but it was not to be. Her consolation prize was lunch or ice cream where ever she wanted. She chose Reds BBQ, a sit down restaurant. She told me she wanted the onion strings for an appetizer, strawberry lemonade and macaroni and cheese. Then she told me to have the waitress put extra chocolate syrup on her ice cream and to tell her why. She loved all the attention.
Then that night the doctor called me and said Mia has a bladder infection and some glucose in her urine. That explains all the "accidents" several times a day! But the glucose in the urine meant that she had to go back the next day so they could do a blood test for diabetes. She was really upset. I told her we would go together and help each other be brave. (I had asked the doctor to do a panel on me just to make sure everything was good since I am getting so old now.) Then she got to pick lunch again. BTW no diabetes. :)
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Do As I Say, Not As I Do

Her solution? To write"do not color on the wall" in dark purple crayon.
Justin noticed what she was doing and tried to tell on her. She picked up her coloring book and held it open against the wall to cover it up. I ignored Justin and repeatedly told him to be quiet. Then as the sacrament was being passed I looked over at Emma as she tried to hold the coloring book against the wall with one hand and take the sacrament with the other. I realized something was amiss.After Charlie took a picture with his phone Emma spent the next 30 minutes scrubbing it with a wipe. I spent the following 30 minutes scrubbing it until there was just a purple blur on the wall. Charlie went home, got some cleaning supplies and it is all gone now. Her punishment was to go up to the Bishop and tell him what she had done. You should have seen her little face!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Can I See Your References?
Justin said he wasn't feeling well. He brought Nana the thermometer. I think it was around 97.6. He said his throat and head hurt. He really wanted me to come home. Nana told him that she could take care of him and he would be fine. He looked at her and asked how many kids she had raised... just two?
The next morning he asked me if having a temperature that was too low was very dangerous. I said anything in the 97 range is pretty normal and safe. He said he was pretty sure that it wasn't.
To Justin, Emma, and Mia
Sometimes I wonder about how my children will turn out. I worry about what trials they will have. Am I teaching them the all the right things? Is it sinking in? Do I set the best example I can? I recently had a dream that I died and my kids were too young to understand all that I had tried to teach them. It was the most terrifying dream I have ever had.
Last week I put the kids to bed and checked on them a little while later. Justin's light was on. I peeked in and there he was kneeling next to his bed with his scriptures in front of him trying to read the Old Testament. I went in his room and sat with him. I asked if he understood what he was reading. He said not really. I told him that was pretty normal because the Old Testament was particularly hard to understand. I read with him for awhile and we talked about what we read and what it meant. It was such a great experience for me. We try to have nightly scripture study with the family, but it is different to do it one on one with my oldest.
If there were only a few things I could have my kids remember about what I have tried to teach them it would be:
- God loves you. He wants you to learn and grow. He will give you challenges, but never anything you can't handle if you rely on him for help. He answers prays.
- The scriptures are true. I have read them and asked God if they are true. I felt the Holy Ghost overwhelmingly witness to me that they are true. Turn to them for guidance and answers to your questions. When there is something you really need an answer to study it out, read, try to make a decision and pray to God to know if you made the right one. He rarely hands you anything without you working for it.
- Learn to recognize what the Holy Ghost feels like. He will warn you and guide you to keep you safe and give you answers. Always follow those feelings.
- I love you. I love you. I love you. You are wonderful and amazing.
Monday, April 26, 2010
But I Don't Wanna
Word of warning: don't stand too close to her when she talks, she spits.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Oh, Emma...
Here are some of her recent outfits she has worn to school. I made the tie skirt. My friend wore one once in high school and for some reason I thought of it lately. It just screams Emma to me.

Easter and Spring Break Photos


For spring break we camped in the RV at the beach with some friends. The weather was perfect and we had so much fun.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Trouble Makers
Emma told me last night that Mia is really strong- even stronger than her! Then they proceeded to hug each other so tight until the other one grunted. A few minutes later Emma told me that when Mia hugs her tight it feels like she is being bitten on her back. Then she had me check her back for bite marks.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
One Smart Cookie

So today I decided to see what she could do. I wrote a sentence on her white board and she slowly read "I am sad." Then "I am mad. Mia is glad. Mia is on top." Wow. We picked out several books to read together. I showed her the first one and she read "The fat cat sat on the mat." She doesn't recognize "the" yet, but it made the most sense so she figured that was what it had to be. I am so proud of my little girl!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Emma Birthday... A Couple Weeks Later
Monday, March 15, 2010
New Recipe
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup BBQ sauce (I used Famous Dave's Sweet and Zesty)
1/2 can sprite
kosher salt, pepper, garlic
I sprinkled the chicken with the seasoning, and poured out the sauce and soda over the top. I cooked in the crock pot on low 6-8 hours and shredded. The kids ate it by itself and Charlie and I had it on the new thin wheat 100 calorie buns. (Charlie loves those buns BTW) So simply, but much better. I had to cut Emma off at three servings. Charlie, Justin and Mia all had seconds.
The sauce is very thin, but the flavor of the chicken is just right.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Super Stars













