A Magazine Article Well Worth Reading!!!

I never have time to read magazines. I'm notorious for still trying to get through last month's issue of Real Simple when this month issue shows up in the mail. However, a flat tire last week gave me an opportunity to read an entire TIME magazine. (Who would have thought it would take over an hour to fix a flat???)

Note: I don't subscribe to TIME, and rarely do I even glance at it in the grocery store checkout. I'm usually making sure that my two little "helpers" are being careful with the eggs. Or, in the case of Sadie, not eating yogurt. But, that's for another time. I'm digressing.

In retrospect, I'm glad it took so long to fix that flat. Here's the cover of last week's issue:

Most of the issue focused on the how the internet is "redefining privacy," specifically facebook. As written in the article, Facebook has changed our social DNA, making us more accustomed to openness.

The author, Dan Fletcher, couldn't have stated my thoughts and feelings more perfectly. He wrote: There's something unsettling about granting the world a front-row seat to all of our interests.

Take the time to read it. It's very informative and I'm curious to hear what other people think about it.

Either click on the picture above or the link below for the article:

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1990582,00.html

Bedtime Walks and Going to Sleep

After their bath tonight, we put the girls in the stroller and went for a short walk. It's summertime in Colorado, so not unusual to get an afternoon thunderstorm (which, tonight, meant a light drizzle).

As the rain started to fall, Morgan informed us that she learned in preschool how to make the rain stop. So, Brian and I inquired on how to do so.

She said, "You sing: Rain, Rain, go away. Come again another day. Tiny Tots want to play, Rain, Rain go away."

Not wanting to discourage her noble efforts (which, after a few minutes turned into screaming the song in desperation), we encouraged her to see if it would work. About 5 minutes into the light drizzle (the drops were practically dry hitting the sidewalk), I asked Morgan if she thought the rain would listen to her screaming at it.

She replied, "Mom, I'm not screaming. I'm loudly talking at it." Umm...maybe I should be a better example here.

Going to Sleep

Morgan and Sadie are supposed to be going to sleep. But, tonight, they are determined to everything but sleep!

About 10 minutes after we put them to bed, we heard their door open. From the couch, we could see them tiptoeing out of their bedroom, holding hands, ready to get into mischief. They saw us get up and start toward them and hurried their little buns right back into bed, hoping to avoid a spanking. Needless to say, it's been over 45 mintues and they are still in their room, as lively as can be!

And, Morgan is now trying to appeal to her dad's softer side by singing, "Daddy, Daddy. My daddy is so nice!"

CAKES, CAKES, CAKES!!!

I've been quite busy decorating since we came home from vacation. For pictures, click here.

Tiny Tots

As of last week, Morgan is no longer a Tiny Tot. After summer break, she will be a Kinder Kid! I can't believe how big our little girl is getting!

Here she is, with her certificate from Tiny Tots. I tried to get her to stop for a picture, but she was on a mission to get right back to her seat!

Here she is, reciting the pledge. Put your hand over your heart, er, stomach.

Cute little thing in her Graduation Shirt that she and Auntie Logan made!

Of all the songs they learned this year, this one is Morgan's favorite!

Our California Trip

TWO weeks ago, we left for a trip to California, which included leaving the girls with Grandma Tammy and Papa Dale while Brian and I went on a cruise! (I highly recommend a cruise to anyone who hasn't been!) We came home late last Saturday night, had a church fireside that we both sang in on Sunday, and, well, to say the least, it's been a busy week! (Note: It's now Saturday night, May 22, and I am finally finishing the post I started Tuesday!)

Here's highlights from our trip:

On our way home from the airport, we stopped at the newly renovated Mormon Batallion Vistors Center in Old Town San Diego. Lots of fun! For more information, click here: http://www.mormon.org/sites/mormon-battalion/

Many of our fellow blog stalkers have heard about the chickens. When we got to Grandma and Grandpa's, we finally met them! We've been hearing so much about them, the girls wanted to see what they're all about.

Even at this distance, Sadie squawked and squealed. To say she's not fond of chickens would be a BIG understatement. We won't be chicken-sitting any time soon.

Morgan's Reaction when dropping us off for our cruise: "Wow! That's a really, really, really, really big boat! Are you going to go on it?"

Yes, Morgan, we are! And, we had a blast! Here we are out on the deck at sunset, right after setting sail.

Unfortunately, this really is the best picture (of me!) in our "formal cruise attire". Not really a "formal" picture, but...

To get to Catalina Island, we had to take a "taxi" boat from the cruise ship to the dock. That little door to the left of us is where we got in and out of the ship. And, our room was one of the windows just above the red line.

In Ensenada, we went horseback riding. I don't know exactly how long, but these horses have been taking the exact same trail for a very long time! Even if you tried to take control, the horses still chose their own speed and direction. So, I guess it did make it very easy and relaxing for us! Here's our big souvenir purchase, a snapshot taken by a nice little man at the ranch that doesn't speak any english other than, "Smile!" and "Thank you!".

This picture isn't too great because our horses were too close together and, like I stated above, they had their own way of doing things and wouldn't move, even if you tried.

Way out in the distance, on the left, you can see the water just off the coast. We went riding up in the foothills with a beautiful view of the coast!

This picture captures so well how we all felt on our trip home! Here's Sadie, sleeping on the plane!

Thanks, Mom, Dad, and Logan for all your help! We had lots of fun and appreciate you watching the girls. They are still talking about their fun week, too!

Making the Bed

This morning, I asked Morgan and Sadie to go make their beds. They came back into my room where I was getting ready and Morgan said, "Mommy, I will make your bed, too." So I let her.

And, I didn't fix any of the beds all day long. It was hard, but I didn't want Morgan to think she had done it wrong.

5 Second Timer

For Christmas, my brother's family got a 5-second timer. Brian is amazing and has actually hit it on EXACTLY 5 seconds! Not 4.99 or 5.01. Exactly 5.00!!

It's got some fun sounds it makes for the rest of us that can't beat it. Sadie loves to hear them. This video is of her favorite sound it makes.

Red Robin

Brian took an exam on Friday. To celebrate having our husband/daddy back we went to Red Robin. Brian loves the fries. I love the freckled lemonade (the only place I will spend money to get a drink when we're out). The girls love the balloons.

I had the camera with me because I needed to print some pictures at Costco, so I snapped a few fun ones in the restaurant!

Brian took this one--such a precious face!

Morgan wanted to make a "silly" face for the camera!

Yes, that's ketchup all over her face with a ranch dressing goatee. Unfortunately, Sadie hasn't yet learned to eat WITHOUT making a huge mess! (We're improving, but slowly)

Here are the girls, dancing with their balloons. Check out Sadie's leg. She wanted her balloon tied to her leg. Brian tried to convince her to put it on her wrist, but she wouldn't have it. She wanted it on her leg. So, when we went to Costco, Morgan followed suit and we had two silly girls running around with balloons tied to their legs!

Have You Missed Us?

It seems like I haven't posted in forever! That's because we went here: And we spent time with family and friends.

Here's all the kiddos in the playroom. For more pics of our visit, click here.

Junk

Mackenzie: Morgan, what's that? (see picture below)

Morgan: (as she throws it on the ground) It's just junk.

Last week, they learned about the 3 R's (reduce, reuse, recycle) and taking care of the earth. Morgan, obviously, didn't see the point because all she came home with was "junk". Brian had taken her to school that day and said during art time, she had a very difficult time being creative with "junk."