4!

We welcomed this beautiful girl into our lives 4 years ago today.

She fills my heart with happiness. She loves for me to read her books and then nap right next to her daily. Today, we went swimming and she just started swimming next to me and taking breaths and swimming some more. She's fearless but still so sensitive and wants confirmation that she's doing the right thing or doing a good job.

She is so inquisitive. We talked about not saying "why?" when someone asks her to do something. She said, "okay mom." Later that day she said, "but if you ask me to build a bird house then could I say 'why' because I don't know what you mean?" She is so smart and constantly leaves us looking at each other in amazement. She is the best big sister. She loves Friday night movie night. She loves attention. She loves family night (and really gets on us if we don't have an activity or treat:) And...and...and...and...! We love this girl forever. More birthday pics to come.

Who wouldn't love waking up to a room full of balloons. Credit for balloon blowing to Brad. I had to get that 4 shirt done and wrap some gifts. We started this at 9:45 pm!

Lately, well for a while now, Chloe is obsessed with dance. She takes a free zumba class at our gym and did gymnastics but she has this concept of "ballet" really in her head. So I am teaching her (Thanks Barbie for teaching me the ballet positions and terms) some sweet moves and she teaches me. This day was so funny I had to video it. Somehow she conveyed to me that she wanted to learn a dance and then she kept practicing the dance. She even told me to show it to her a couple of times and then she would do it by herself. See for yourself. I love the curtsey and kisses at the end.

Chicago

What a birthday to remember forever. On Wednesday we went to the airport to pick my mom up for the weekend. Brad and I drove seperate cars because he said he had to go run some errands after we went to dinner and I didn't think anything of it. We got to Steak and Shake and were just ordering when I turned around and saw these two pretty faces. I shrieked with delight, i'm sure. My two cute sisters (wish our Mandy could've come too) came with my mom to give me the ultimate surprise and then during dinner they surprised me again. I was told we would be spending two nights in Chicago together. This was quite the shocker and pleaser to me. I haven't been away from Ezra since he was born and only been away from Chloe once since she was born. Pure awesomeness.

So we spent a couple of days in Bloomington. I think Chloe would've died if she didn't get some Grandma Ruthie time. This way she was the center of attention for two days and then she got all of her dad's attention for the whole weekend.

I really think Chicago is such a fun place to go. And the people are really friendly.

We had to experience a subway ride. And I think I laughed a little too hard when we took a cab and 3 of us jumped in the back and emily had to ride in the front seat. I'm so immature.
We walked and shopped and didn't have a schedule at all.
The view of us and the city in the Bean.
Weber Grill.
We saw a show. This show was awesome. I've been listening to the music on itunes.Another fun restaurant.

I'm glad we got to go to the art museum. Art History was one of my favorite classes I've ever taken.

Love this VanGogh.
I've always loved this painting. And now I have been inspired to start reading Agony and the Ecstacy. It's a big big book about Michelangelo one of my favs.
And then they had to go home and I drove the 2 hours back to Bloomington alone. It was so fun to be with my mom and two wonderful sisters. It meant soooooooooooooo much to me that they would come all this way to spend some time with us. I love when people get to see "our life over here" for a day or a week. Thanks again guys. And my Brad. What a guy. They were walking up the path holding hands when I came home. I met them and saw them holding hands and Chloe skipping and laughing. When she saw me she ran, fast, straight into my hugs.

I picked Chloe up from school on picture day and this is how she looked. You may notice the bow on the side of her head. I asked her if that's how she had it during the pictures and she said, "yes, mom." I forgot about it until I picked these up from her school today. i think I laughed for about 5 minutes straight and then when I imagined it throughout the day I laughed too. Really? Now come on. I know for a fact that she had to have passed atleast 3 people before her picture was taken that maybe could've fixed the bow. Even now I am kind of chucking as I type and look at the picture. Oh my Chloe.

And more.
She really is one of a kind.

In the car today she told me about all the things she'd get "new" when we moved.

"mom, i get to have a new doctor and a new school and new friends and a new pool to go to and a new church and new teachers and a new park and new grass...it's okay mom." The 31/2 year old is reassuring me about the move:)

The other day she told me that dinosaurs died because the hot lava from the volcanos covered all of their food. I may have flipped if she actually used the word "extinct". Instead she told me that she would learn more about volcanoes when they covered the word "v" in Ms. Barb's class.

She loves to ride the bikes at walmart and I have her convinced that the red generic bike is the fastest and the best (so sad that we can't get her the pink barbie princess bike that she loves but she thinks that she gets that one when she's 6 and Ezra grows into the fast red one)

The other day she told Brad she was "nervous about getting a minivan". Brad asked her why and she explained that she didn't know where our "unborn-not-even-thought-of-new-sister-who-she's-named-already" would sit.

When I told her she'd be getting some shots when she turned 4 she told me "that's okay mom, I'll be brave and I won't cry. 4 year olds don't cry."

She wrestles with Brad and is getting pretty rough. She does this cartwheel/pummel Brad in the chest move she thought of on her own. Once she jumped off her bed into a cartwheel. She finished and looked up at me and I kind of stunned, said, "are you hurt? Please don't do cartwheels off the bed ever again."
And to the nice people out there. I mentioned that we left "scratchy" monkey in Ohio and called to have him returned. He was returned about 3 weeks later with this note. Chloe had almost gotten over him but when he returned it was like 500 christmases. There are so many good people out there. Thank you West Inn and Suites in Cincinnati. (read the note)
And I have a birthday coming up. Sunday starts "birthday week".

What it looks like here.

We had a blizzzzzzzard!! Which meant: Lots of snow. Brad has 2 days off work! No pre-school. Playing in the snow. Shoveling the snow. Admiring the beauty of the snow.

Pink cheeks. Hot cocoa. Movies.
Lots more shoveling. This guy is a work horse.
The Balloon game. Try it. It's surprisingly addicting to stand around and hit balloons.
Our house in the snow.
Our street with 2 feet of snow.
Our sidewalk with the snow total. 55 mph winds the day and night before. When we took these pics I think it was negative temperatures.

Brad's car. Mine was stuck in the garage at this point. We got it out though. Brad had the day off the paper route but had to do double duty this freezing negative temps morning.

Add to our "when-Brad-gets-a-job-luxury-items-list": snowblower and fourwheeler with plow.

I LOVE the snow.

41 times around...

Today, I went to the gym with new music (thanks to my B-rad) lots of energy and a run to get done. So, instead of the treadmill I did the track. 41 times around the track...seriously!?!?! I felt like my head may explode as I looked at the same dirty white towels thrown on the side of the track or I passed the same speed walking lady in pink or tried to weave my way around the 3 ladies taking up the whole track. 41 times around. That would've been 10 miles around a regulation size track. it was only 4.5 around our track. But...it was good, Katie Perry, Kellie Clarkson, Lady Gaga, U2, and others kept my company. If I could choreograph a perfect run it would be to Sugarland "stuck on you". So, I had lots of time to think as I ticked the circles off.

Today, My Brad started a job...he got a paper route. Well, we got a paper route but he has to do the paper route:) He left at 4 am and delivered 88 papers. I'm so proud of this guy. He works so so so so hard. Like last night he was on the phone for 45 minutes trying to get us some money back for a rip off expedia charge. He's a good guy. So, as I ran I thought of crazy jobs i've had. For your enjoyment:

1.My first job was when I was 14. I was a sample girl at the grocery store. Highlights include: OJ, those waxy animal cookies with sprinkles, 7 layer dip (which I sold out of and got to leave early) and tamales. So what if I tried to serve the tamales with the corn husk on. never seen a tamale up to that point in my life.

2. Just before my 16th b-day I worked (illegally and for pennies) at the local Eat-a-burger. All the cute girls in my neighborhood worked there and it was a hang out spot so I got paid for people to come hang out there. It was a fun job and I learned the secret behind the "secret fry sauce". (it's liquid smoke in case you're wondering)

3. Next, my friends parents owned a wedding reception center and I worked there throughout highschool. Perfect job with perfect hours and since my friends parents owned the place it seemed like I could get time off easier than the other employees. That was good. We used to split a honeydew melon in half and eat our respective halves with a spoon and dine on chocolate covered strawberries. And there is a difference between turtle pie, mud pie, and grasshopper pie.

An umpire. Basically, they needed someone to start and stop the game. Cute to see the little kids mistake pitchers mound for first base. Not cute to see dads yelling.

4. A mall job. I cried the first time I had to count the till and the alarm went off and the gate locked me in. I had to call my dad to come help me.

5. In college I worked at the dorm cafeteria. i was the only one from America that worked there. I worked with S. Hussein (as in "that" hussein from the middle east and he locked me in the freezer once. I still remember the sound of his disturbing laugh as he left me out 10 minutes later. I made lots of friends and it never once occured to me that I was a "lunch lady".

6. I delivered pizzas until I put the pizza warmer box on my back like a backpack and when the people opened it the pizza had slide in half to the bottom and they yelled at me and said, "why would you put the pizza on your back like that". They weren't impressed.

7. Einstein bagels. People think it's cool to get free bagels until you actually get free bagels and then you realize it's not that cool.

8. A gym.

9. I was a baker in SunValley, Idaho. I worked from 4pm till 4am and delivered hot buns to the local cafes. We swing danced and threw dough and smelt deliciousness from those big circulating ovens.

10. A banquet server. I had to wear this ridiculous french maid type outfit and engage the guests in conversation. I learned/saw a lot sitting and serving in the background of dental conventions, business meetings, and wedding parties.

11. A paper route from 12-18.

12. Cleaned a bank and a restaurant lobby. I quit after 2 weeks because that big space vacuum that had to be on my back hurt and I decided cleaning up after people's potty messes wasn't for me.

13. I tried to get a job at a call center and everyone told me "they'll hire you if you're breathing". I didn't get hired. I think it had something to do with the fact that I didn't know how to minimize a document.

14. I was a counselor and took a group of kids to stay at Bear Lake. We told them to take this "river raft trip" down the logan canyon canal/river and they all got bruised and bloody and frozen. We all went on a hike and somehow because i was 1 year older then them and "in charge" I ended up carrying all of the food and their sweatshirts and sunscreen.

15. Server at Chuck-a-rama. If you've ever been a server you realize there are "lifers" and they don't want some young, energetic, smiler coming in and messing things up. I liked that job and made some really really good money(it was a big deal when you got a 5 dollar bill) and learned to stay away from the likes of Bridget and Tammy.

16. And then I was a teacher.

17. And now... A MOM! And I wouldn't want it any other way.

Have you had some funny jobs?

Old Maid

Last night we played Old Maid. We've played it a couple of times already and it's been funny to see Chloe learning how to play cards. So this is how it went this time.

I had the old maid (obviously Brad knows I have the old maid because Chloe didn't tell everyone she had it and so he knows he doesn't have it...so I do.) After a couple rounds of him only choosing from her and she choosing from him, he whispers to me (put your old maid on the left edge. She always chooses from the left edge. So, like a good competitive parent, i move the card. Next turn. Chloe choose from me. So she does and sure enough she chooses the left edge. But...when she grabs the old maid card this time (it's no surprise to us) She gets the tiniest, little glimmer in her eye and her mouth opens for split second to reveal that she has the old maid "it's right here dad!" but then she doesn't. She keeps it a secret! Brad and I of course marvel in this. But she puts the old maid on the left edge of her hand. Eventually, Brad takes it and again she keeps the picking of the old maid from her hand a complete secret. This time I almost didn't even notice her tiny gasp as the maid transferred from her hand to Brad's. Brad lost. Then we played Gold Fish. Brad won.

And this guy was in the kitchen the whole time throwing a ball, picking it up, throwing the ball and picking it up. For 20 minutes. This is what he looks like most of the time. Several bruises from various falls (if you could feel his head you'd feel bumps and dents all along the front) and then the other day a more serious injury. He sliced his nose open and had to go to Insta Care. They super glued it shut and bandaged it up.

One time I was at the doctor with Chloe and asked about supergluing something shut and the doctor laughed (hard) at me when I mentioned supergluing the wound. "we don't superglue things shut...that is very unsanitary, etc, etc." Well, whatever they did I'm glad he didn't have to get stiches and hopefully he won't have to big a scar on his perfect little nose.

No school today. Got to get to the gym.

11111 was yesterday

Last week we went to Cincinnati. Brad had 3 interviews so we decided to make a trip out of it. We paid for the first two nights of hotels (somehow when we checked in they were half the price of what we booked them for?? What??We scored) Then next night we moved to a different, nicer hotel and then the last night we moved to a different, even nicer hotel (i'm talkin' downtown Hilton suite type room)

we discovered this "must see" cupcake shop was actually in the lobby of the Hilton hotel so we indulged. I learned that 1. I can make cupcakes better than or equal to those cupcakes and I would charge a lot less:) and 2. That peanut butter topped anything is so so delicious and 3. I still want red velvet cake for my birthday.

We ate our Skyline chili and found that it really isn't a "cheap" restaurant and the kids don't like that type of chili. But I had a meal to remember there and hope to repeat the experience.

Chloe, Ezra, and I do pretty good at managing without a car and hanging out in the hotel till 1.

When they say they have a pool you hope that the pool doesn't mysteriously break on the day you check in. One sad sad sad 3 year old was the result but we replaced the pool with the big bouncy balls in the hotel gym.

Brad is good at getting dressed in the dark. Brad is also good at driving EZ around at 230 in the morning because he thinks dark hotel rooms means playtime.

Those big waffle makers in the hotel breakfasts call my name.

We lost a shoe and one "scratchy"monkey but two sweet hotel workers at two different hotels found them and they are being shipped to us as we speak.

We had one interview free day so we traveled to the temple in Columbus, Ohio. Brad and I were able to go together because of one sweet friend who made it possible.

While we were in Ohio the "homeless man with the golden voice" gained fame.

We love being together as a family and if for some reason we don't end up in Cincinnati for the next 5 years we sure have had fun exploring what the city has to offer.

It's a new year. Full of potential. Full of forward motion. Full of more books to read. More projects to start and finish. I'm gonna paint and draw. We're gonna watch chopped and then cook some of our own recognizable delicious food. Read scriptures. Go to the temple (we want to see 50 before we're 50!) Train for triathlons and half marathons. Become a doctor! Get her first bike. He'll start running and growing out of his 6 months clothes for goodness sake! Less wishing and more doing. More photography. Learn that darn photoshop! Keep in touch even though I can't text and that's what most people do. Leave today even better than we found it. Love. and Laugh.