Glue stick + wall = decorations

Maddie and Bella decorated their room for Valentines Day tonight. With paper scraps and a glue stick. What more do you need? 

On a completely unrelated note, I do wish Maddie could have postponed her full-blown foray into the land of three-year old naughtiness until I had a little more regular sleeping schedule. I'm really tired.  

A spot of blue in a sea of pink

It's nearly impossible to believe, but the Wells family has a baby boy. And we might be super biased, but we're pretty sure he's the most handsome, brilliant, and charming boy on the planet. 

His name is Spencer James. He was born on January 15th--one day late, probably because he was as content with his situation in utero as he seems to be with his current situation. (And for his calm and pleasant demeanor, I will forgive him that one day.)

He loves to be held, and he's a champion binky sucker. He even likes tummy time, which is a first for the Wells family. 

As a boy with four older sisters, he has more than his fair share of moms. I hope he forgives us all the nurturing. His future wife will thank us. 

It's actually happening!!

Here's my m.o.  Blog, don't blog, blog, don't blog, don't blog, don't blog, don't blog.  However, this is so exciting I can't help but break my don't-blog cycle.  

Here's our house.  It's been going for less than a month, and we've made some serious progress.  

(The pictures of the plain holes were terribly dull, but I might add them anyway when I find them to add some ultra "before" to the rest of these "before-and-afters." 

Here are our foundation walls.  John has tried to get a panoramic view of each of the stages of construction.  I have to say, at this stage, the girls were not terribly impressed.  

Then we had a lovely pile of lumber next to the foundation walls.  

 And a wall!  It's a wall.  It happens to be the very important wall between the garage and the rest of the house.

More walls!  Can you see my lovely large windows?  I love those windows.  They are going to brighten my soul during the long, dark, cold days of winter here in the basin.  

 And now some second story work.  Look at those windows!  I love them.  John is more impressed with the garage than the windows, but I stick with what I love.

 And now they've clad some of the walls.  Probably to cut some of the wind chill for those poor workers.  They're even working today--THANKSGIVING--to get things done faster.  We're taking them pie and hot rolls to mitigate some of the resentment they must feel.  (Thank you, framers!)

It's going to be great.

Bella joins the big girls

 Heaven help her teacher.

 And all the rest of us.

 And I can hardly believe how much I already miss her while she is gone.

Thank heavens it's only half a day.

And honestly, thank heavens for that half day.

I can't believe I have a fifth grader

People, my kids are back in school.  With a vengeance.  Turns out, here in Roosevelt, 5th grade is the last elementary grade.  And then my beautiful Olivia is going to be subjected to junior high.  (And not only do I vaguely remember being in junior high, I CLEARLY remember teaching junior high students.  The awkwardness and angst float around those halls like a nearly-visible fog.)  So we're celebrating our last all-elementary year.  

 Bella is going to kindergarten this year, but that doesn't start until Monday, so she didn't want to hold her sign yet.  She also wanted to wear school clothes, but not her favorite school clothes.

 Those skinny-legged girls don't quite realize that my heart is in their backpacks that they carry along to school so casually.  They blithely say goodbye and walk off with their dad to their new classrooms, while I sort of die inside.  (However, last week, I might have told you, in a weak moment, that school could not start a moment too soon.  Turns out I'm a sentimental fool with the kind patience of a grumpy old gnat.)

 Mimi has some good buddies in her new classroom (and she got the teacher we wanted, Yay!).

 Olivia also got the teacher we wanted, plus it turns out that she got creamed by some enormous fifth grade boy on the way back in from recess.  We had some fears of a concussion, but the only real casualty was her favorite new school dress, which suffered some holes from the wood chips on the playground.

 And just when I fear that she's getting too old and mature. . .

Secrets

Portrait of Maddie taken by Bella.  Goofballs both.

Maddie just ran in from outside, clad only in Hello Kitty panties, and whispered to me, "Don't talk about my peepee on the grass." And ran back outside.  Thank heavens the neighbors have no windows pointing at our house.

Ski-Fest-O-rama

I grew up in a small town.  A very small town.  And it was fairly close to a very small ski resort.  Very, very small.  So that's where I learned to ski.  It's a lovely place--not terribly busy with a complete view of the lift and runs from the picnic tables in front of the lodge--and I wanted my kids to experience it.  So yesterday, we did.  Here are some highlights:

1) 20 people on the slopes.  No lift lines.  Each of us probably got 30 runs in.  The snow was great, too.  Perfectly packed with very few icy spots.

2) We decided (since Hesperus has a great lift ticket/rental/lessons package) to let Bella try her luck at the sport.  She looked like a mini X-games athlete, with her quirky hat, her coat unzipped, and her helmet askew.  She spent most of her lessons making snow angels and throwing snowballs at the instructor, so I thought she'd be done after the morning.  Not so.  This child is a demon on skis. 

 3) My youngest brother Dallin's fragile flower of a body let him down after one bad run.  Just like Mom said, "If you get a little bit of snow in your boots, you're going to be a sad little boy for the rest of the day."  Luckily, he had about 25 of those Hot Hands warmers in his gloves and boots, so he eventually recovered.  (Just kidding, Dal!)

 4) John was a champ, with only one fall as he took on a double black diamond mogol run.  (Actually he took a tumble in the lift line and sprained his wrist.  That's hard on his manhood, though, so don't tell him I told you.  Or you can say you heard about the wrist, but say that I said he hurt in doing mega-jumps in the snowboarding park.)

 5) Big G (my dad) took Bella on the "wagon" (the lift) so many times I lost count.  With the tips of her skis hooked together, she was unable to propel herself on level ground, so he had to drag her by one arm.  Watch the video at the end, it's hysterical.

 6) This is Bella's happy place.  When she was asked whether she wanted to ski with her dad or with Big G, she said, "Big G because he's got the science."  He definitely had the enormous task of getting her on and off the lift down to a science. (Thanks, Dad!  You saved me!)

 7) Karen (my mother-in-law) was by far the most graceful non-instructor I saw all day.  That woman can SKI!  Swish, swish, swish, gently and beautifully down the hill.  (In contract, I was more like SNOWPLOW! TUMBLE! TRIP! ROLL! down the hill.  I am not an athlete.)

 8) My dad looked his best when his hat was slipping off.  I like the top-knot effect this creates.

 9) John started skiing again after a good ice session on his wrist.  Luckily for his fragile tendons, he stayed upright for the rest of the day, despite his speedy descents.

 10) A little more X-games for all of you.

 11) Dallin was completely spent at the end of the day, poor baby.  We had to drag him back to the rental shack.  (Just kidding.  He posed here for dramatic effect.)

11)  This first video is Mimi skiing.  She's the hot shot coming straight toward the camera.


12)  This next video is Bella at her best.


13) This one is Bella's last run.  You have to watch for a bit before she comes into view.  She biffs it at the end, so it's definitely worth it.


14) And this one is my favorite, with Big G helping Bella along.  She would just hang from one arm and let him pull her along.  It appears she might be resentful, but I swear to you she was absolutely delighted with her situation all day long.  (Who wouldn't be with Big G ready to take you anywhere you want to go?)

Best Way to Read the Scriptures

1)Open scriptures.lds.org.
2) Find your spot in the Book of Mormon.
3) Turn on the "Listen" option.
4) Snuggle quietly on the floor.

And maybe when I say "best," I mean "most comfortable" and not "most effective way to help your children feel the Spirit and learn the doctrines."

When the babies* are at Nana's House. . .

. . . the rest of us can go SNOWSHOEING!  Have you ever done this?  It's incredibly fun.

 You can hang on a branch.

 You can model your stunning borrowed (the girls') or military surplus (mine and John's) footwear.

 You can pose in front of the gorgeous Uintah Mountain scenery.

 And you can fall on your duff again and again and again.  Favorite quote of the day, "Quit whining, Mimi, and just use your claws."  (This from Liv, referring to the crampon on the bottom of the snowshoe.)

We'll definitely have to get some kids' snowshoes of our own and do this again.  Does anyone want to join us?
*Bella hates it when we refer to her as one of the babies.

Merry Christmas!

Hope your days was a thumbs up. . . 

 . . . with plenty of real (and fake) smiles. . . 

 . . .and squishy hugs. . . 

 . . . and maybe even too much love.

Ours was.

In an effort to make the rest of you feel like great moms. . .

. . . I'm going to list Bella's most recent accomplishments:

1) Shampoo mess in our bathroom (blogged here)
2) Poured out all of my brother Pete eyedrops onto his deodorant, which she enthusiastically scrubbed with his toothbrush.  Then proceeded to stick all of his clothes together with his toothpaste.  Pete, I am SO SORRY!
3) Went to the neighbors' house to play yesterday and decided to "wipe up" their bathroom.  This involves gallons of water, a bottle of handsoap, and a rag.  She was so drenched when she was done that they had to change her into some of Lily's clothes before sending her home.
4)  Told my Grandma Nielson (my grandpa died a few years ago), "Hey, I know you!  Your boyfriend died."  Tactful.
5) Used the pump bottle of conditioner to liberally spatter the entire shower, herself, and her little sister.

I'm going to start putting her to bed at 9:00 a.m.

In case you were wondering.

If you've ever wondered whether dumping an entire bottle of shampoo onto the bathroom floor would make the floor really slippery and fun to slide around on, you're in good company.  Because Bella was wondering that same thing.  The answer is:  Yes.  Really, really slippery and really, really fun.

If  you've ever wondered whether kneeling in said shampoo would make your pajamas yucky and bubbly and slimy, you'd also be in good company.  Because Maddie was wondering the same thing, and her answer is:  Yes.  Really slimy, yucky, and bubbly.  The only solution to this problem is to scream loudly and tattle on your sister for spilling the shampoo.

If you'd put yourself squarely in the category of people who are pretty sure that cleaning up shampoo from off the bathroom floor is the last way you'd want to spend your Sunday evening because your hypothesis is that shampoo must be scrubbed again and again and again and again because its very existence depends on its ability to create suds from practically nothing, you are ALSO in good company.  Probably the best company.  Because you are in my company.  And our hypothesis is correct.  More correct than we would have wished.

As a side note, I wish to point out that although the five heads of girl hair in this family require us to purchase shampoo in bulk in Sam's Club, I have the foresight to make my strategy one of refilling our pump bottle only about half full every time I fill it.  For mitigation purposes, in case something like this happens (or in case someone decides to use the shampoo as bubble bath).  I hate to brag, but there it is.  #iamsobrilliant

Halloween!

I don't know how the rest of the moms I know manage to take such great pictures of their kids in Halloween costumes.  I usually forget to take pictures at all, so it was great to have John's phone at the ready to capture our group halfway through the trick-or-treating.  (Of course, I also planted us directly in front of the setting sun.  Sorry if you feel blinded.)

From oldest to youngest, we have John, the Bad Doctor (he's our supervillain); me, Witchtastic (and I really wish you could see more of my awesome black-and-orange tights); Olivia, The Speedy Paintbrush; Naomi, aka Magnificent Mimi; Bella, aka Fireballa; and the small and daring Mad Madame Maddie.

 My mom and dad joined us for the whole week of Halloween.  However, my dad is the world's biggest Halloween Humbug, so he didn't come along for the trick-or-treating.  (He stayed home and handed out glowsticks to the two trick-or-treaters who bumbled along to our house.)

 We posed heroically.

 We dashed heroically out of scary houses (accompanied by Mario and Rainbow Dash).

 We posed heroically again.

 We delighted heroically in the enormous piles of candy we were heroically gathering.

 And we talked, heroically and at length, about our superpowers.  The Speedy Paintbrush can wield a magic paintbrush and make her paintings come to life.  Magnificent Mimi scores well on spelling tests and saves people from falling rocks.  Fireballa throws balls of fire at bad guys, and then she runs really fast.  Mad Madame Maddie mostly just runs down the halls of houses yelling her name.  (I'm sure that terrifies supervillains.  The Bad Doctor regularly finds himself stymied.)

P.S.  My sister also escaped Provo with her darling boyfriend, and the two of them were the champions of the extended trick-or-treating that my two older girls accomplished.  I have Annie and Shaylor to thank for the sugar high we've all been riding the past few days.  I

Easy Steps to Feeling Like a Great Mom

1.  Hand your two-year old the spoon and bowl when you are done spreading chocolate frosting on peanut butter brownies.*
2.   Sit down, eat lunch, and smile while she sings "Sprinkle, Sprinkle, Little Star" to herself, using the spoon as a microphone.
3.  Listen as she very seriously asks the spoon, "Do you love Jesus?  I LOVE Jesus."  Let your eyes mist up for a second.
4.  Enjoy the five minutes of satisfaction in the good job you are doing before you make another huge parenting mistake.  (Anyone else get unreasonably grumpy about a pile of unfolded blankets and de-cased pillows in the middle of the living room?  No?  Only me?)
*I have extra kids in the house today, and there's nothing I've discovered that keeps everyone happy for longer than making a big batch of cookies together.  Every kid I've ever met likes to dump ingredients, stir, and spread.