What the Girls Are Up To...

At the risk of sounding like one of those parents who endlessly brag about their child's "talents"...I'm going to be real honest with you here, because there are just no two ways about it: Ava is a fantastic singer.

The amazing part about it to me is 1) She will actually sing when asked to. Candy might have to be involved, but when push comes to shove, she is ready and willing to belt it out, and 2) She remembers the words to so many songs! I am not going to lie to you and tell you she has perfect pitch, or that she is the next "American Idol" (although I do secretly have dreams of her winning American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance...back to back in the same year)...but let's face it...for a two year old she just knows a ton of songs. Primary songs, Disney songs, songs on the radio...Ava retains it all. So, without further adieu (I have NO idea if I spelled that correctly...what is "further adieu", anyway??)...here is the latest and greatest rendition of "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" from Ava Tait.

**Note: If you do not have a two year old girl in your house, you may not know that this is the song at the beginning of Cinderella. And when she is singing the song, Cinderella is taking her hair out of the braids she has slept in. Hence the fact that Ava MUST be playing with her hair while singing the song. Oh, and I missed Ava singing the first line of the song...but...you get the idea.




I also have a really cute video of Ella...but for some reason it isn't uploading. Check back later for some Ella action. :)

A Belated Shout Out to My Baby's Daddy

So I've been slacking on my blogging lately...but I wanted to give a little belated Father's Day shout out to my stud of a husband.David is such a great daddy! He pitches right in with diapering, bathing, feeding, burping, reading, snuggling, and of course, lots and lots of tickles and playtime. But beyond that, I am so grateful that my girls have him as a male role model to look to in their life. He is so honest and upstanding. He embodies the meaning of the word integrity. Oh, yes...and he has also endowed my daughters with their amazing blue eyes. I am just so proud to have him as my baby's daddy.

Love you, hon!

I Heart Books

I just finished this book, and absolutely loved it...











It took me a while to finish, because I actually started reading it shortly before Ella was born. But when David and I took our little anniversary weekend at the Buttes and I had some kid-free time, I enjoyed being able to finish this book and really appreciate it for what it is. At first, I thought my inner feminist was at odds with the premise of the book because the main character, Janie Crawford, seems to be largely defined by the men in her life. But, I came to appreciate Janie's grace and resilience, and eventually, her strength. In the end of the book, Janie tells Phoebe something like this (I am paraphrasing here, because I've already loaned out the book...) "Love is like the ocean, it is different at every shore." This really wrapped up the book, as nature (and the ocean in particular) are metaphors for various stages in Janie's road to self-discovery throughout the book. There are just too many great quotes to name here, but let's just say that Zora Neale Hurston has such an amazing way with words, that I often found myself savoring her words as if they were a bowl of hot soup on a cold day.

Now, I am reading this book, and really enjoying it so far. I'll let you know what I think when I finish it. That is, if I haven't packed up and run away to Italy.

Tagged....kind of.... :)

No, these aren't more before and after pics.... this is the latest and greatest tag. Actually, I think it's secretly a plot that Jenn designed to show off how super organized her pantry is. J/K :) It's just basically a little peek of what's going on in our house right now....

What my kids are doing:

Playing! This is basically what happens in between viewings of Cinderella and The Little Mermaid.
What's in the pantry:

Vitamins, vitamins, vitamins....some snacks, cereal, baking stuff, and a bread maker that I've never used. Not even once.

What's in the fridge:

Hmmm....not much right now. Juice, produce, eggs, bread, milk (skim), the Brita thing, and leftovers - chicken cordon bleu, salad, and roasted veggies - from last night.

What's in the closet?

A whole lot of nothing to wear. That's what.
What's in the guest bathroom:

The gigantic mirror and broadway lighting that I wanted to get rid of...but couldn't because the rest of our reno cost too much. Oh well...


What's in the sink:

Ava! (This was from yesterday morning actually...if I were to take a pic right now, all you'd see is some dirty dishes I haven't loaded yet)
Laundry room:

Cleaning supplies, etc. And a washer and dryer that are probably older than I am.

Favorite room in the house:

Is it weird to say that the nursery is my favorite room in the house? It is so bright and colorful and inviting...and I really like hanging out in there with the girls. We like to party here.

Favorite pair of shoes:

These are just some ballet flats that I got from GAP a while ago. But I love them and wear them all the time and they don't even smell funky yet. They always add a fun splash of color.


Okay, now I tag Aimee, Lanae, Leah, and Alison. Let's see it, ladies!

Uh-oh

We may have a plumber in the family...

I Believe

My friend Bryan did this on his blog a while ago, and I loved it. So, here's my list.

I Believe

-in being able to laugh at yourself
-in telling someone when they have something in their teeth
-that women and men are meant to be different...and that's what makes it great
-in reading rather than watching TV
-that heaven smells like baby powder
-that music is the language of the soul
-that Christ lives
-in human potential
-self-righteousness is the most abhorrent sin
-in free agency
-in responsibility for your own actions
-in mercy and compassion
-in the Plan of Salvation
-in eating a good breakfast
-in friendship
-that all truth may be circumscribed in one great whole
-in being confident about who you are
-keeping a journal makes life meaningful
-in fresh-sliced deli meats and cheeses
-in reading the newspaper
-in giving people the benefit of the doubt
-in being willing to try new things
-most career politicians are corrupt
-most business owners are Republicans
-in being honest with yourself (and with others) by living within your means
-that Baby Einstein is a big hoax (but I use the stuff anyway...)
-in going to the temple regularly
-nothing beats the sound of waves crashing on the beach
-in yoga
-chocolate can actually make life better
-learning about other cultures is important for young children
-feminism, in its purest form, is the recognition and celebration of all things feminine
-meals taste better when shared in good company
-that happiness is the object and design of our existence

Ava's First Haircut!

Ava got her first haircut on Friday, and yes...you guessed it. She cried the whole time. It was sad, but pretty dang funny at the same time.
You would have thought we were cutting off her limbs instead of her hair.
But just moments earlier, on our way out the door, Ava had given a big smile to the camera...she had no idea what she was in for.

During the haircut, Ava pulls out her "blank-leee" and finds a happy place

LOL... as soon as I ask her to say cheese, she starts crying again...but tries to smile through the tears. LOL

Next in line for a haircut... little Ella! With her head full of hair, I'm sure it won't be long until she needs a trim, too!