Bee Update!

For those of you who have been wondering: Yesterday (Day 11 with our backyard "guests") our bee friends decided to move on. I guess we were a little too hospitable-- since the "Beeman" said they should be gone in about 4 days! Thankfully, after a week and a half of being kept inside, the kids get to play in the backyard again.

Eavesdropping

Here is a conversation overheard in the car between Dallin and Sierra:

Setting: In the car, we just passed a movie theater advertising Monsters VS Aliens

Dallin: "Monsters Vs Aliens. . . oh, the Monsters will definitely win!"

Sierra: What about Monsters vs. school bus? (we just passed a school bus)

Dallin and Sierra : Giggle, giggle giggle giggle

Dallin: Yeah, the monsters would eat the bus!

Sierra: And all the people on the bus!

Dallin and Sierra : Giggle, giggle, giggle, giggle

Dallin: What about Mommy vs Daddy?

Dallin and Sierra: Giggle, giggle, giggle, giggle

Sierra: Daddy would win-- he's bigger!

Dallin: I think Mom would win. She's smarter.

Sierra: (thinking for a moment then says--) "Yeah, she would probably TRICK him!

Dallin: (Agreeing) Yeah.

Me: (Laughing in the drivers seat) thinking: "At least they understand the way women work."

Our New Pet

When Sierra was about 2 1/2 she befriended Little Mouse, an imaginary friend (mouse) that created several humorous (and frustrating) occasions at our home. Dallin never had an imaginary friend, so that was all new to me. Well, it seems that Grant (now 2 1/2) has a new "friend" who appeared this week and is already creating a stir in our home.

His appearance:

Last week I walked into the kitchen as Grant was finishing up a grilled cheese sandwich. "More please!" He exclaimed holding up his plate with only the crusts remaining. "Wow." I thought. "He ate that quickly!" Then I looked on the floor. Beside him on the ground was the other half of his sandwich-- untouched. "Grant, why is half of your sandwich on the floor? Here, just eat this" (I handed him the sandwich) ***Side note: Ok, obviously I'm NOT a germaphobe. I mean, really, it was a perfectly good sandwich and the floor was pretty clean. Plus, I was NOT about to turn the griddle back on and make another sandwich. *** "NO MOM!!!! That's the puppy's food!!" He informed as he took the sandwich off of his plate once again and gently set it on the floor. "Grant, we don't have a dog." I told him. "No, mom. . . Puppy." He corrected. "Well, we don't have a puppy either, and I'm not making another sandwich." "Ok." he said clearing his plate (leaving the puppy's food on the floor) and going to play. I think. . . "hmmm, maybe that's why so much food is left under our table after mealtimes."

The next day I was walking through the living room and noticed that the couch cushions were all messed up. I quickly rearrange the cushions and turn to go into my room when Grant comes running from the front of the house yelling and crying "Noooooo! MMMMMOOOOOMMMMMM! NOOOOOO!" He screamed. "Grant, what's wrong?" I asked-- thinking he was hurt. In between sobs as he moved the couch cushions frantically I was able to decipher: "This Puppy's house, Mom!! Puppy sleeping! This Puppy's house!" Ummm, ok. I let him keep the cushions arranged as he had them for an hour or two, until he wouldn't let anyone else sit on the couch, then we had to negotiate and Puppy's home was relocated to a portable firetruck fort.

I accidentally stepped on Puppy while walking down the hall the other day (in my defense: it's hard to see those imaginary dogs!). And Grant has lost him at nap time twice (very convenient when little boys don't want to take naps).

I'm sure these are the first of may adventures we will have with our new pet.

**This picture is of Grant and Deacon, Grandma's old dog. I wonder what kind of dog "Puppy" is?

In Our Lovely Deseret

This afternoon while getting the kids an after school snack, I glanced out the window into the backyard. "What is going on?" I thought to myself as I walked closer to the window. HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS (I later learned that it was actually about 4,000) of BEES were swarming all over our backyard and porch!!! I quickly ran and opened the blinds to every window that lined the back of our house-- we were surrounded!! But, none were in our neighbors yards. After about 15 minutes from the time I first noticed them (who knows how long they had been there!!!) I no longer saw them swarming around our house. Sigh! Thank goodness! Then, I looked a little closer out the window. A football-size mass was now attached to the side of our swingset. . . yep, they have all settled down for the night in our backyard. . . YIKES! Apparently (according to the "bee man"), these bees have split from their original hive and are in search of a new home. 90% of the time in 4 days or less the swarm will be on their way. So, the best thing to do until then is let them be and not bother them. If we try to have them removed now we risk the chance of making them mad (apparently now they're "friendly"?) and provoking them enough that they may take up permanent residency just out of spite. So, for the next few days (HOPEFULLY) we will be hosting several thousand bees at Our lovely deseret, as they search for theirs.

Happy Easter!

Here are some pictures of the kids on Easter morning:

The Easter bunny brought new hats and sunglasses for the kids-- which they LOVE!

Digging through their Easter baskets. . .

Grant opening an egg with chocolate inside! I wish I had a picture of his face when he first picked up the egg, shook it, realized there was something inside, opened it, and out came CHOCOLATE--- it was pure surprise/elation!

Look, mom! I found one!

Sierra, jumping for an egg.

While most had chocolate and candies inside, some eggs were filled with coupons for a trip to the dollar store to pick out a surprise, or a date with Mom or Dad!

Cool kids in their Easter outfits, ready for church.

Without the sunglasses this time.

Kids say the darndest things!

The following are conversations I've had with the kids this week. The pictures have nothing to do with the conversations, other than to show who the conversation was with. I just figured you'd be more likely to read if I included pics of the kids. . . I'm right, aren't I?

The Setting: Walking past the baby section at Walmart.

Sierra: "Oooooh! Mom, isn't that just SOOO cute!! (pointing to a baby girl item)

Me: "That is cute." (not really paying attention)

Sierra: "But that is for a baby girl, and we're going to have a baby boy. That's ok. Mom, how about next time you have a baby girl."

Me: (finally paying attention) "How about we take it one baby at a time?"

The Setting: At the Zoo (sorry, no pics!) walking past displays with NO animals present

Grant: "Mom, the animals all gone?"

Me: "Yes, there is nothing in there right now.

Grant: (thinking for a moment) "Oh, they need a new one? They need to go to Wal-Mart."

Me: thinking. . . hmmmm. . . do I go there too often?

The Setting: In the car after baseball practice

Dallin: "Mom, where are we going?"

Me: "I thought we'd go to the store to get you some new pants." (he has worn out ALL of his pants over the past month, and it's still a little to cool for shorts all the time)

Dallin: "What kind of pants?"

Me: "Jeans."

Dallin: "SWEET! I LOVE jeans!! They get the BEST grass stains!!!"

Me: "WHAT?!?"

Dallin: "At recess we see who can get the best grass stains. And jeans ALWAYS work the best."

Me: (thinking---Yeah, that explains A LOT.)

Take me out to the Ball Game!

Today was Dallin's first baseball game of the season. Thankfully it was MUCH warmer (80 degrees) than last weekend's opening day parade (wind chill of 27 degrees. . . he FROZE!). The Pirates took on the Sidewinders and Dallin did a great job! He was first to bat and hit a solid line-drive on the first pitch-- way to start things off!! He was pumped after that. He batted twice during the game and ended up scoring both times. The last time he even slid home. . . just because. He's playing third base this year and is excited about the rest of the season (so are we!).

Rice -- number 10.

Up to bat.

On first, getting ready to run.

Dallin playing third base--- look at that concentration!

Oh, Baby!

Today we found out that this summer we will be welcoming a BABY BOY into our family!! We are VERY excited!

Mommy. . .?

Last night after putting the kids to bed, a head peeked around the corner of the couch where I was sitting. "Mommy. . .?" The small voice asked. "Mommy, I hold you?" Now as mom I get asked a TON of questions everyday from my kids, but this question (phrased JUST like that -- "I hold you?") wins my heart over every time. So, rather than sending him back to bed, I snuggled in with my not-so-little two year old and fell asleep during the first fifteen minutes of American Idol, content as can be.

PS. I posted this picture of Grant so you can visualize the sweet eyes and face that accompanied his question (minus the sticky yellow lollipop residue smeared on his face-- although maybe it's just me, but I find that equally as charming).