orange skin

While getting ready for church today, Ella asked this question about the nylons I was wearing.
"Is your socks orange so they can pretend to be your skin?"

Book Club

My mom had "Book Club" for Ella & Cait today. They read books, colored, and lots of other fun stuff! Thanks mom! Ella had so much fun.

Perfect Timing

Yes, that is a picture of Ella in her underwear eating breakfast this morning. Her bowl is on the floor behind her water bottle. There is cereal all over our floor & couch. Yes, she ate the entire bowel of cereal sitting (or should I say hanging?) this way on the couch. Notice Lily sitting in the background thinking this is all normal. Unfortunately this has been a normal morning for us. I've been too busy with work to clean or care that my daughter has absolutely no table manners (obviously since she isn't even sitting at a table.) This is all going to change! Starting tomorrow morning.
It's a funny story. Tyler and I have decided it's time for some help with our business. We've been talking for months about hiring an employee to work for us, and after much thought, we finally decided that it would be better for Tyler to quit his job and work with me, than to hire help. Yesterday Tyler went into work ready to give his 2 weeks notice, but his boss was out of the office. Today he went in again, prepared to give his notice. He decided it would be best to tell his boss at the end of the day. Well, before the day ended his boss pulled him aside, and told him there was no easy way to tell him, that he didn't have enough work to keep Tyler busy anymore, and he couldn't afford to keep him on. Tyler laughed. (His boss was a little confused by his reaction.) Tyler told him, that he was trying to figure out the nicest way to let him know that he wouldn't be able to work for him anymore because we are just too busy with our new business. Anyhow, I guess the timing couldn't be more perfect. They were both relieved that neither one of them were devastated by the news. Now that it's a done deal, I'm a little nervous about us being totally on our own, but I think we can do it!
I'm very excited to have Tyler at home with me. I think we will eventually be able to come up with a system that allows us to go to bed before the wee hours of the morning, and spend more time playing with and teaching our kids.

Latest trend in home decor

Business cards that look like they are levitating are the latest home fashion trend.
It's simple process to get this surprisingly affordable look. First place some jewelry making supplies (head pins) in the floor, then simply place your business card on top. The result is quite stunning and it's a great way to advertise when you have guests over. According to Ella (the designer), the cards look best when placed in the middle of the room, or in walkways throughout your home. However, one must be very careful while these are on display. The cards can easily be knocked over when brushed against.

St. George Trip

Ella enjoying the sun.

Wishing it was real.

Jones family Easter Egg hunt.

Ella & Lily hanging out in sunny St. George.

Ella & Lily in their Easter Dresses.

My mom & Trisha with Mayci & Lily

Ryan playing with Cait & Ella. Tyler taking Lily for her first swim.

Ella & Cait playing with Bubbles

much needed vacation

we will probably regret our last minute. Decision to come to st. George this weekend, when we try to catch up on orders Monday morning. But right now we are enjoying time off in the sun. This is my first full day off from work since I got home from the hospital in December, and its been even longer for Tyler. Even though he took time off from his regular job the week I was in the hospital, he spent most of that time at home doing my job. (thanks Tyler!) ella thinks st. George is beautiful, and is so excited to be here. We have a full day of "nothing" to do today, and are looking forward to every minute of it.
The fortune cookie I got last night said, "a much needed vacation will bring a great deal of enjoyment"
I'd post a picture of it, but don't know how yet.
(please excuse my typographical errors, this is my first blog post from my phone.)

Happy Birthday Grandma!

My grandma has always had more energy than anyone I know. Happy Birthday Grandma!

Balloons

Ella: If Lily holds on to too many balloons, and her floats high into the sky, and then her comes down, I will catch her and hold her hand.

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Ella's boring life

Thursday night I ran out to get a hot dog. Ella wanted to come with me, and while we were out she kept saying things like, "This is so exciting, I can't believe I'm really here, I'm having so much fun!" I said, "You know we are just going to get a hot dog right? " She replied, "I know, but I'm just having to much fun doing this."
I feel so bad that her life has been so boring lately (She spends most days & evenings helping me with my vinyl business.) But luckily her boring life became exciting on Friday! That afternoon some friends from Stampin' Up! brought us some lunch. They gave Ella a princess barbie. She was thrilled! Later that afternoon Tyler's mom came and picked her up to take her to a movie. Saturday we went with Cait & Emily to Disney's princesses on Ice. Later that evening we went to a party for my friend Isaac & his family. (They are moving to Germany soon.)
I'm glad she was finally able to have some real fun. Hopefully we can keep some excitement in her life from now on, however I thought it was cute that she had so much fun doing something as simple as driving 3 minutes to get a hot dog, even though the hot dog was for me, she had already eaten, and wasn't even hungry.

Ella Negotiates

Ella is always trying to negotiate, and she's pretty good at it too.
Ella: How can I earn some money?
Me: If you clean up this mess, I'll pay you a penny.
Ella: How about 2 pennies?
Me: Okay, I'll pay you 2 pennies.

After cleaning the mess...

Me: Thanks Ella! Let me get your money for you.
Ella: How about, can I have 3 pennies instead?
Me: No, we agreed on 2.
Ella: But I cleaned it really super fast.

However, she is learning that not everything is negotiable.

Ella: When will the muffins be done cooking?
Me: In 5 minutes.
Ella: How about, can we make it 3 minutes?

Trying to explain daylight savings to a 3 year old

Ella thinks we are trying to trick her into going to bed while it's still "day time."

Lily learns a trick

Ella has trained Lily to lift her legs up on command.
She taught her by saying "Do it again" to her (many times) over the past few days. Then, every time Lily lifted her legs after Ella said the "magic phrase," Ella would clap and cheer for her. It only works when Ella says it however. I've tried telling Lily to "Do it again" but she wouldn't lift her legs for me.

Tag Tag Bo Bag - My Favorite Indulgences

My Cousin Brooke tagged me with this fun tag...

Whenever Oprah does her ‘Favorite Things’ show, I am always curious about the things she chooses and why. Tell me if money were not an issue and you wanted to load up a basket of your most ‘Favorite Things’ and give it to your friends, what would you choose and why? It can be something simple, like the type of pen you use or something big like the type of car you drive. I will list my ‘Things’ and then I will tag a few of you to do the same thing. Here they are in no particular order...

1) A Sorrelli Bracelet

I only have 3 braclets, and two of them are Sorrelli. I don't need any other's because they go with everything! Dressy enough to wear to church, or fun to wear with jeans. I wish I could buy you all one!





2) A Poire phone pouch

This is the best, I can wear my phone on my jeans, so I don't have to search everywhere for it when it rings. I also put my credit cards & etc. in it so I don't have to carry a purse.






4) A Modbe Swim suite

Modest & cute, but a bit pricey.












5) Titanium Ultra Smooth Scissors
When Tyler came home with yet another pair of scissors, I thought he was crazy because we have so many. But then I tried them, and we ended up buying two more pairs. These are the BEST scissors ever!



6) The Office Season 1 & 2 on DVD
Great for a laugh.














7) All white reclining deerman
Everyone needs one of these for their fireplace mantel.
Ha ha.











I now tag Emily & Jami

Wish Upon. . . an airplane

Our family has not had very much sleep in the last 2 weeks. We are trying to get Lily to start sleeping through the night before our vacations this spring. During the night, I lay next to Lily trying to calm her so she doesn't wake Ella up. Despite my efforts, Ella has woken up tired & whiny every day, due to her lack of sleep.
Tonight our conversation went something like this:
Ella: What's that in the sky?
Me: It's an airplane.
Ella: But I think it's a wishing star.
Me: Then make a wish.
Ella: You make a wish first.
Me: I wish that you & Lily will be happy.
Tyler: I wish for lots of hugs & kisses from you and Lily.
Ella: I wish for I could get some sleep.
Amen!

Classes I want to take

This post is inspired by my cousin's blog. She posted that she wants to learn to sew, and that skill is also number one on my list.

1) Sewing: I would love to be able to make my girls cute outfits. Plus If I knew how to sew, I could probably make my own unicorn monster costume, but with cute sparkley fabric. The possibilities are endless.
2) Yarn Spinning: I've always wanted to learn to spin yarn. A few years ago I got an heirloom spinning wheel. I checked out the 2 books the Salt Lake County library owns on spinning, but I was unable to teach myself. Does anyone know where I could take a yarn spinning class?
3) Yodeling: Seriously, who wouldn't want to learn how to yodel? (If I knew how, I could participate in talent shows with no fear that someone else would have the same act.)
4) Break dancing: It looks so fun!
5) Dreamweaver: I took a class last fall, but it ended up being a class for a very old version of Dreamweaver, so it didn't help me much.

What have you always wanted to learn?

Barbie in 3-D

We all had our glasses on, ready to watch Barbie & the Magic of Pegasus in 3-D.

Except Ella, who didn't want to look ridiculous.

Girl being eaten by a unicorn-monster dress

I totally want this dress! I doubt Tyler will let me buy it. It's $200 which is 4 times as much as the most expensive dress I own. (excluding my wedding dress.)
It isn't very practical for church. But it would be great for a number of occasions such as Halloween, April Fools Day, or I'd love to be wearing it when I open the door for a solicitor.