Happy Birthday Dear Starlee...Happy Birthday to YOU!

Today is Levi sister's birthday. I hope she has a fabulous day, because she is fabulous!

1. Her name is a hippie name, and I love it: STARLEE
2. She is good at a lot of things.
3. She is the best auntie...her nieces and nephews LOVE her.
4. All kids seem to really love her.
5. She was a recess lady once.
6. She paints her niece's toes and nails and they love it.
7. She is hilarious! She should audition for SNL. She imitates Kristen Wig's Target lady really well. I pee my pants every time!
8. She is very thoughtful. Whenever it's someone's birthday, she remembers.
9. She used to have really really long hair. It fell out after she was sick in the hospital for a month.
10. You can count on Star. She will do anything she can for you.
11. She loves movies. She has more movies than anyone.
12. Her middle name is Rose after her mom (like Kailia too!)
13. She always looks cute.
14. She has more flip flops than anyone I know. She is OBSESSED.
15. She is the one that got me into the "Twilight" series. (Younger people always know whats going on!)
16. She wants to be a mortician.
17. I think she should be a beautician.
18. She's a good nanny too.
19. She is the family text communicator. ha ha
20. She permanently has her phone attached. She is always texting. She is pretty fast too.
21. She is in her ward's Young Women's and they love her.
22. She looooooves Young Womens camp!
23. All of her family loves her so much! She is the sweetest, cutest, funnest person we all know!!!

Ron Juber

Who is Ron Juber?

For months now Bella has been talking about Ron Juber. If anyone does anything silly or funny they get called "Ron Juber".

We googled it. Nothing. We couldn't figure it out.

Then, we were watching Little Einsteins. Each episode they have a featured artist and composer. The featured composer was Franz Schubert.

Immediately Bella's little ears perked up. "Ron Juber!"

Levi and I simultaneously: "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!"

Where are the Cocoons?

Last night I heard some whimpering by my bedroom door. Since Levi always puts the pillow over his head when this happens, I got up to see what was going on.

There is a blanket covering a bump on the floor by my bedroom door.

Me: "What's wrong bella?"
Bell: "I am scared. They are going to get me!"
Me: "It's okay come in, you can sleep on my floor."

Well the floor by my bed turned into making herself comfortable in the bed. But when she woke up, she still couldn't shake this bad dream.

Later on that day....

Bell: "Mom, where are the cocoons?"
Me: "Cocoons?"
Bell: "The 'coons that get your eye!" (makes a scratching motion)
Me: "OOOH, Raccoons?"
Bell: "Yeah, they were trying to get you! And they scratch your eye! Where are they? Where do the 'coons live?"
Me: "The 'coons won't get me. Dad and Dakota will protect us from them. They live in the forest."
Bell: (still very afraid) "We will tell them- GO AWAY Cocoons! And they will go away. And Kota will bark at them!"

I told her everything would be okay and not to worry. But how do you explain to an almost three year old, that dreams aren't real?

How sweet that she came down in the night last night, worried about the 'coons getting us!

Happy Birthday Blake (belated)

Wow I am the worst sister ever. Blake, my brother, had has birthday a few days ago. Here is his tribute:

1. He is the third oldest in my family.
2. We were best buddies when we were little
3. We hated each other in Jr High and High School
4. I used to "borrow" his awesome black pump-up shoes
5. I used to "borrow" his Aerosmith CD
6. We used to play "bats" on our bunk bed when we were little
7. We have made many many forts together
8. We loved burying treasures in our back yard.
9. Blake broke his arm playing football
10. He was an awesome hockey player for Timpanogos High
11. He is super super smart
12. He is very hyper
13. He works so hard
14. He is a good dad
15. He is such a good example to his family
16. He recently was sealed to his family, which was one of the neatest experiences I've been able to witness
17. He has a cute little girl named Jayce
18. He is expecting a boy..oh wait a girl in September
19. He is such a good uncle. His nieces and nephew love him.
20. He is a neat & clean freak. His house is never messy. Even when he watches my kids.
21. He went to school to be a pilot.
22. He is now going to be an air traffic controller.
23. If anyone can be an air traffic controller, it's him. He's perfect for the job.
24. He is a great brother.
25. He is a funny funny guy. He keeps us all laughing.
26. He keeps us all organized too.
27. He knows politics
28. He reads all the celebrity magazines!!! ha ha
29. I am so grateful to have him as a brother. He is the best!

Polka Dot Babies/ Karate/ Ride em Cowboy/New Bellaisms

Sunday night Kailia developed a weird rash. It started on her arm, and by morning it was EVERYWHERE! Her poor little face had it the worst. I took her in to to see the doc (because it wouldn't be a normal week for us if we didn't) and they said it's a virus. Another flipping virus. As we were there talking to her, Paislee started breaking out in the same one. Luckily it isn't too bad. She said it will get worse, then start to get better. My poor little polka dot babies!

Yesterday Bella had the opportunity to go to a Karate class taught by our good friend Dallas Lawrence over at the Bobby Lawrence Karate Studio in Saratoga Springs. Wow! Can I just tell you how impressed I am? There were six kids in the class. Bella was the youngest of the six. It took her a while to catch on, but after about 10 minutes she was running around with them having soo much fun. She loved it. What a great outlet for kids. The best part is they aren't just learning Karate skills, but other life skills. The skill they focused on was actually Focus. They also go over appropriate times to use karate, respect, discipline, following directions, leadership skills, and much more. It was Bell's first time in a classroom setting. I had so much fun just watching. Dallas was so great with all the kids. He was very animated and funny. The kids really listened to and respected him while having fun. Bell loved it, and loves her Little Ninja uniform too. So dang cute!


I took the girls to Thanksgiving Point to see the petting zoo animals. Bella loved riding the horse all by herself. Tinies were fascinated with the ducks and other animals. I could spend all day at Thanksgiving Point. They have so many fun kid-friendly things to do.

Bella invented another word yesterday. I think it's pretty clever (but then I am the inventor of "finger-knee"; the knuckles on your fingers)

B: while patting my sternum "This is your Forechest" (ya know, like how the forehead is on the front top part of your head...)

Just a few things on my mind lately...

Something that has been on my mind the past few weeks: HOW PRECIOUS life is. Life is such a precious gift. I need to focus more on living in the moment, enjoying this earth and all that it has to offer me, enjoy the time with my precious family & loved ones. I am so very blessed. I need to LIVE EVERY SINGLE MOMENT. I need to savor & cherish even the dull mundane moments. Because one day, I know I’ll want those back. I want to hold, cuddle & kiss my little ones while they are still little and they still let me & need me. I need to play Memory & Hungry Hippos with Bella and read to her every spare chance I get. I need to focus on cleaning the house one day a week, instead of stressing & feeling guilt about it every single day. I need to give Levi more TLC every day, so he never doubts for a minute of my love, devotion, gratitude & faithfulness to him. So that he knows how blessed I feel to have him as my partner, companion, & best friend for not just this life, but for ETERNITY.

I have been given so many many precious gifts from God. Gifts that He gave to me for specific reasons. I need to remember how fragile life is. That any single moment can change everything. I need to savor each moment I have with my family. Their love is what gives me joy in life. I need to cherish my beautiful girls’ childhood. I need to ENJOY EACH SEASON. I need to remember that I am in God’s hands and that He knows me. He loves me. He has a plan for me. That everything will be okay. I am here to learn to live and to love. I am so very deeply touched by His love for me. I am so grateful for it all.

i went pees-es 6 times

I am currently going through withdrawals. I lost my camera a few weeks ago, and can't seem to remember where I placed it. So, no new pics. Just this cute one taken on my phone when Bell got her hair cut.


Bella: "Mom! I went pees-es 6 times!"
Me: "Oh?"
Bella: "Yeah! That means I get 4 marshmallows!"


Bella: "Dad, I'll be super fast! Couple days!"


Me: "Did you have fun with Grandma today?"
Bella: "Yeah I did. I didn't even need you!"
Me: half heart broken half proud "That's awesome Bell. I am sooo proud of you!"