Remember When It Was Warm?

To see a slideshow of the girls and their cousin Isaiah being themselves on a lovely end-of-summer day click here

Mom, don't forget to click on play when you get to the slideshow.

The Funny

When Millie saw the rain today she said, "It's a good thing it's raining today, mom. Umbrellas are my passion."

A few weeks ago Jason brought 2 identical stuffed lions home for the girls. Millie immediately started cooing over hers and named her Crystal. When I asked Laney her lion's name she said, "Hair." Then she tossed him out of her crib.

Potty Talk

We are in the midst of potty training Laney. It's not going well. Here is a sample of tonight's attempt:

Me: Good night Laney. Love you.

Laney: I need to go potty.

Me: [knowing nothing is going to happen and she's just trying to prolong bedtime, but then what if she really does need to go and this is our big breakthrough and I miss it by ignoring her request...] OK! Let's go potty.

[We head to the bathroom sans diaper. First she sits on the big potty.]

Laney: I going potty!

.............

(nothing is happening)

Laney: I go on little potty!

[We switch to the little potty]

Laney: I tan do it!

[she's not doing it]

Me: You can do it!

Laney: [yells loud to Jason] Daddy I going potty!

Jason: [yells from the kitchen] Yay Laney! You can do it!

[She's still not doing it]

Laney: Mommy, I talking on the potty! You have a beard?

Me: No, I don't have a beard. Stop talking and go potty. YOU CAN DO IT!

Laney: O-tay. Oh, no beard, mommy? You have legs?

Me: Yes, I have legs. Please go potty.

Laney: O-tay. I love potty. I taste the potty?

Me: NO! Never taste the potty. The potty is dirty!

Laney: [sticks her hand in the potty and then her mouth before I can stop her and exclaims:

B-icious!

(Luckily she's on the little potty; there is nothing in it and it's relatively clean, but still...ewwww)

We wash her hands and that's that.

Favorite Moment

These are important photos. After my dad's accident doctors gave my mom a list of possible problems he could have for the rest of his life. She was told, among other things, he may never speak or be able to care for himself. Here he is playing Sleigh Ride with my mom, a duet they played together when they were dating and still play together once a year. This is the first time since the accident that I have heard them play it.

December Photos

2 angels in the Bullough Christmas pagent

Chrismas morning

So Last Month

I know I just posted about the New Year and all, but let's back it up a little to the month of December. T'was a busy month, as Decembers usually are. Highlights include a couple family parties (bet you didn't see that one coming) a couple work parties (no mechanical bull this year), the lights at Temple Square and baking cookies with the girls.

Rather than exchange gifts with our close friends we had a sharing night, hosted by Camille and Tim. We gathered at their home to eat soup, drink a little vino and then we got into the sharing portion of the evening. Poetry, Christmas songs with, ummm, made up lyrics and even one with the real lyrics were among the "shares" of the evening. Have you heard "Long Way Around The Sea" by Low? Because it's beautiful and Aaron, Tim and Brittany really did it justice. William made wooden nickels because that's his thing. He always says, "Don't take any wooden nickels." And now he's made some and they're personalized for our kids and everything. Even for the 2 who aren't born! (I'm talking about our friends' kids folks. The McDonough family is complete.) So now it's time to take wooden nickels, I guess. Anyway, it was a beautful evening and I hope it becomes a tradition.

2009

So I woke up this morning to the following thoughts:

1. Wow, my feet really hurt from dancing last night and I haven't even stood up yet.
2. It's 2009 and I'm so happy and lucky to have great family and friends.
3. Inauguration day is only 19 days away!! How will we celebrate?

It's lovely to wake up to such optimism. Even the feet hurting part. Happy New Year, everyone!