Twirls 'n Curls

Rule #1 - No licking the spoon until we're done stirring! I've noticed something. My kids seem to misbehave most when I'm busy trying to do my own work. You know how it goes. It's late afternoon and I'm scrambling to pick up the house, get dinner on the table, and keep 3 grumpy kids from killing each other. After dinner, the saga continues. Play outside. ("Been there.")        Play inside. ("Done that.")              Clean your room. ("Over it.")                     Find something to do. ("But I'm b-o-r-e-d!")                            Leave your sister alone. ("She started it!") I needed a change from the "Now you all play nice while Mommy cooks" routine, or at lea...

On a recent vacation to the Grand Canyon, we had the chance to visit a local deer farm . It was incredible (and slightly overwhelming at times!) to be so close to so many deer at once! Along the way, the girls picked up some important lessons about friendship as well: 1. Apparently, a kiss on the hand is not a universal sign of affection. 2. Sharing food is a sure way to win friends... and more friends...but 3. You can definitely have too much of a good thing! 4. Always look new acquaintances in the eye, for safety reasons. 5. A good friend will respect your personal space,   while others are just downright nosy. 6. It's ok to be different, you won't (and shouldn't) always blend in. 7. If your real friends aren't working out so well,   then find some imaginary ones. 8. And finally, to test a friend's loyalty...   grab their tail and give it a good tug! (Go ahead, I DARE you!!)

  Good morning, my name is Liz and I'm filling in for Phil today, Monday, September 12, 2011.  ~The top HEADLINE for today: Homeschoolers across America report that they have seen an increase in family unity and togetherness by schooling at home, as well as creative learning by even the youngest of students. "They love learning," says one mom in southern California, "to the point that it gets all over them, you know? It just kind of...spills out." Indeed ma'am, a picture is worth 1,000 words. ~"I've been on a diet two weeks, and all I lost is 14 days," moans a local housewife who chooses remain anonymous. She is thinking of suing her Internet company for their slow service. "It takes me so long to load Facebook each morning, I simply don't have time to excercise. This is an outrage, it just doesn't add up." It may not, but those pounds sure do... ~ This Just In: Local father caught on camera being absolute...

Family Update: My older two girls recently started tumbling class, and they absolutely love it! It's great for me too, we do one sport a season, and they were going to be on different soccer teams this year. That meant someone would have practice every night, plus 2 games on Saturday. They are in the same tumbling class, and it's one night a week! Plus, it's super easy to practice at home too. The class was adorable, all the girls in their gymnastics clothes trying to stretch and act like professionals already.   Both our girls could use a little help in the coordination department (my genes, unfortunately), so this is really good for them. By the time I was Hannah's age, I had broken my arm and gotten stitches in my lip! Their teacher was super nice, professional, and has oodles of patience, she's amazing!  Hannah asks every day if it's time for class again, and they practice all the time. Lots of fun for my energetic girlies!!

(Click here or here for other posts in this topic) One of my favorite parts of parenting is getting to experience all of the "firsts" of life with my kids: you know, first teeth, first steps, first time watching a 3D movie... Those firsts. Big firsts, like the ominous first trip to the dentist. Disastrous firsts, like the time Linsey tried to cut her own hair. Unforgettable firsts, like when Hannah realized she was a big sister. Adorable firsts, like the first time Nattie tried to drink from a water fountain.   I got to be there. For each one. Because I'm their mom. There's nothing quite like the first time my kids finally mastered a two wheeler, or started their first day of school. And with my oldest being only 6, I know I've barely scratched the surface of "firsts" that will happen. I love them. I dread them. I fear them. But no matter how I feel about my kids growing up, I am determined to treasure each new ...

While my daughters were swimming at a relative's pool on vacation, our youngest slipped out of her floating ring and began to go under.  I quickly tossed my phone on the grass and jumped in to rescue her, fully clothed. No drama there - she was fine, just a little scared, so she wanted to get out of the pool. Cue drama: As soon as I helped her out, she ran over to where my iPhone was lying (safely) in the grass and picked it up to return to me. "Here you go Mama, pho-one!" The scene to follow unfolded in slow motion. "No no, sweetie, Mama doesn't want her phone in the water!" (That's why I threw it out before saving you!) I could hear the wheels turning in her two-year old mind. She looked at me briefly, smiled, and threw the phone like a skipping rock. Only it didn't skip, it sunk. "No-o-o-o-o-o!" I cried, diving under to grab the phone before it touched the bottom of the pool. After sitting a couple days in a bag of rice, I'm hap...