The "Duck's Friend's" visit

Quite a few weeks ago now we had our first overnight visitors at our new house. Some of our friends from Oregon (now living in Vegas) came over to see us. It has been 3+ years since we had last seen each other and I didn't know how well the kids would remember their friends - but both the boys had a blast with their old friends. Did I mention - they are both girls - and although Miles is going through that anti-girl stage right now, he had the most fun. Not only are both girls really cute girls, but they helped the boys in their "hut" and played football with them - I think Miles might have his first crush:). Here are some fun pictures of the Oregon years mixed in with the recent visit....

This is the first Halloween we were in Eugene - Miles is Buzz and Jocelyn is Snow White. Here is an Eugene Easter - yep, it was raining. Ethan and Miles are on the left, then Tallie and Jocelyn.

This is a welcome back to law school bash - our second year. Miles, Tallie, Jocelyn, Trinity and Hallie

This is the kids fall of 2007. We had been in Reno for 1 year and the friends were living in Vegas. We ran into them in Disneyland - it was crazy, neither of us knew the other was going to be there, but we got some pictures of the kids together.














Ethan and Tallie are the same age in school - but they have never been the same size. When we started law school, Ethan was 8 months old, Tallie was 2 months old - Ethan is big for his age while Tallie is petite. Here they are in 2006.
Here they are in October 2009!

This is Miles and Jocelyn at his 3rd birthday party (2004)

Here they are in October 2009!

Here they are together - my boys had a blast - thanks so much for coming!!!

Conference Notes

Conference weekend has always been a favorite of mine. When I was little, General Conference was a synonymn for really good breakfast and staying in pajamas all day. Now it still means that I get to stay in my pajamas all day (and make the good breakfast), but I really look forward to the messages that are shared. Well, in order to hear the messages myself this year, I made little General Conference books designed to keep the kids busy as well as helping them to listen to the talks. Well, I amazed even myself at how well the books worked with keeping the kids busy and quiet - especially Miles - that is until I asked to see his book. This is a sample of what I found -
Yep - Pokemon People. Looking around at the house now, I am wishing that I could have back the 2 hours I spent preparing the books. I could get a lot cleaned in 2 hours. Oh well - the kids were relatively quiet so I enjoyed Conference, which was one of my goals in doing the books - so therefore the books were a success - right?

Is it a girl thing?

Okay - so we are getting ready for lunch today and I asked Abby what she wanted to eat. Her reply was spagetti, which we have in the fridge from a couple nights ago - easy, right? So, I got out the spagetti and warmed it up and got Abby up to the table. We had just finished the blessing when Abby burst into tears - got down from the table and ran to her room crying because she didn't like spagetti. I was still at the table - completely bewildered - what had just happened. Not knowing what to do, I ignored her and went to play with the twins (they smile at me, unlike Abby these days). Well, next time I turned around, Abby was back at the table eating her spagetti - with a big frown on her face. She finished what I had given her and asked for seconds (still frowning), cautiously I got her more and watched as she finished that bowl as well. I am no stranger to the terrible two's, the boys were stubborn, independent and tested me on all the rules, but this is different - I have no idea how to combat these emotional outbursts. This has to be a phase right - I mean, she WILL go back to being my happy, go-lucky girl soon, right?
I had to get a picture of this - this is the same girl who loves to have her picture taken, it had to be really hard for her not to smile!

I figured it out - give her chocolate and the smile comes back. Thanks Grandma, for sending the leftover cookies from Miles's soccer party home with us - I have a happy child again! Now off to put her down for a nap - yeah, I don't think I will be winning any popularity contests today.