I've mentioned before how Molly likes to change her outfits throughout the day. Here's the proof. This is all in the same day...
#1 7:07 a.m. #2 8:14 a.m. This is the sweater that Grandma Fletcher gave her. I guess it doesn't fit after all. #3 9:10 a.m. #4 10:05 a.m. #5 10:33 a.m. #6 2:51 p.m. #7 5:07 p.m. You may wonder why I let her do this each day. It sure makes a lot of laundry, right? Well, I used to not let her and then I changed my mind. It just wasn't worth the battle. And it sure is fun to see what she's going to wear next!
P.S. I did comb her hair between outfit #5 and #6, but she took it out.
Justin had a couple days off work and we wanted to go somewhere. We had planned on going camping, but the weather lately has been a bit unpredictable. So the next obvious place to go? Vernal, of course! Really, it had been a long time since we had been able to visit with Justin's grandparents so we took the opportunity to do just that. The only times we had ever visited his grandparents was when we went with everybody else so it was great to have some one-on-one time with them.
We started our 3-hour-drive Sunday afternoon around nap-time, although Molly didn't sleep at all (that was okay) and Stockton only slept for about 40 minutes. I ended up squeezed in the back seat between two car seats. Fun times! With only about 20 minutes left, I caved in and let Stockton gnaw on a Red Vine. He enjoyed it, if you can't tell.We stayed at Grandma Fletcher's house in Vernal. She has plenty of space for all of us. The kids even got their own rooms (Molly loved the pink room), separate from Justin and I (the port-a-crib barely squeezed into the sewing room) so we all got a couple of good night's sleep, something that I don't usually plan on while we're on vacation.
The next morning was cold and windy but we braved the weather and headed to the Vernal temple, were we made one quick round around the grounds. Beautiful.We also walked around the cemetery. This is Grandpa Fletcher, Justin's grandpa. Both Justin and Stockton have his same middle name, Ray.We went back to Grandma's for lunch, a nap for boy, and a movie for girl.
We had told Molly that we would take her to this Dinosaur Museum but when Stockton finally woke up (why can't he sleep like that at home?) it was closed. So we made a spur-of-the-moment decision and went to Steinaker Reservoir. Justin had packed his and Molly's fishing poles, just in case. Good thing he did-first cast out and they caught a fish!We only stayed here long enough to let the fish go, throw some rocks in the water, and get sand blown into our eyes and hair and everywhere else.After getting the kids to bed that night, Justin, Grandma Fletcher, and I stayed up late reading some family history books and listening to some of Grandma's stories. Stories like how Grandma and Grandpa got married two weeks after he got home from his mission because they thought he was going to be shipped off to war; stories about Grandpa and his years being Sheriff; and stories about her sleeping in a boxcar when she went to California to visit Grandpa who was in the army (I think she even had a small baby, someone correct me if I'm wrong).
The next day we got up and headed to the Dinosaur Museum, since we had promised Molly the night before. It was pretty neat; well, at least Molly enjoyed it. She ran around everywhere saying "Dad/Mom, you gotta come see this." The good thing about being there on a Tuesday morning was that we were pretty much the only ones there.I tried to get a picture of the kids with Grandma before we left that morning but she was still in her pajamas and said no. But we couldn't leave until she gave Molly a doll from her collection and an old sweatshirt that I said would fit Molly because it's a size 3T. I have no idea how old it is but it will great for camping next week!
We left the Museum and drove out to Tridell, where Grandma and Grandpa Goodrich live. Grandpa wasn't there when we first got there-he was out working in the fields. Yup, he turns 91 next month and he still spends most of his days working on the farm or fixing an old vehicle. I think the highlight for Justin was going out on the tractor with his Granddad and picking up rocks. When they got back, Molly got a ride on the tractor too.This is one of the fields in their backyard. Pretty view.Grandma was great. She made a huge meal for us, although she kept forgetting to put out some of the side dishes. She also made about 4 different types of vegetables because she forgot that she had already made some. But when Molly said she wanted to go outside and show Grandma how fast she could run, Grandma started jogging with her. She's 87!
Grandma and Grandpa Goodrich are just good, honest, hard-working people. When Grandpa came in for dinner he gave Grandma a hug and said, "If you try to be like Grandma then you'll sure have a lot of shoes to fill." Or something like that. And Grandma got all embarrassed and said, "Don't say things like that, you'll embarrass me" and gave Grandpa a little squeeze around the middle.
I took a picture of their one-car-garage because there is a lot of history surrounding it. They lived in the garage for 3 years while they waited for their current house to be built. Them and their 4 kids! (They had 3 more kids after they moved into the house.) Grandma got struck by lightning while she was cooking dinner outside one night but because of the rubber soles on her shoes and the cast-iron pan in her hand, she was only knocked out and scraped up.
Grandpa also had some great stories...like how he remembers as a kid driving the buggy into Vernal and it took 2 days; or when his dad was the first person in Tridell to get a Model T Ford; or when he was driving somewhere one day as an adult (it was for a job, although I can't remember what the job was-I missed that part) and picked up a hitchhiker who really turned out to be a fugitive who had just escaped from jail.
A picture with Grandma and Grandpa, notice Grandpa's still in his coveralls.Like I said, it was great to visit with them one-on-one. Molly was also a great age to go...she wasn't shy or nervous around the grandparents. She talked and talked with them like they were her best friends. And I think that they were happy to see us too!
Now before anyone gets too impressed, let me just say that I only ran the last leg of the relay...a mere 3 miles. To some of you serious runners, this is just a warm-up. I was a little bit embarrassed to hear "Congratulations!" and "Good job!" especially when you compare what I ran to those who ran half and full marathons. But it was fun just to be there. Who knows, maybe next year I'll get serious about my training and go for a half. But that's a BIG maybe!
My cheering squad. Although they missed me actually crossing the finish line-Molly chose that very time to have to go to the bathroom.After Molly saw me in my race and heard that her cousin Ben was going to be in a race, she wanted her chance to race too. They have a kids race, a 1K, so we signed her up. She was so excited! Before the race I looked over and saw Molly stretching out. No one told her to, she told me she was just getting ready for her race.During the race she had lots of fun. She didn't run the whole way (she is only 3), but would alternate between jogging and walking. Since she looks at her feet while she runs, she ran in a zig-zag pattern and almost crashed into a few other kids/strollers. Good thing I was there!After the race, she was so proud of herself. She kept saying "We beat everybody!" or "I beat the race!" She got a T-shirt, a cow-bell, a granola bar, and some apple juice for running.**Erin, if/when you read this, can you please e-mail me your pictures? Thanks!**
Molly's Favorites, according to her... Food: Pineapple Treat: Chocolate Thing to do outside: Play soccer Thing to do inside: Play blocks Thing to play with Stockton: Tickle him, play "Tag, your it," play blocks Book: Five Little Ducklings Thing to wear: Dresses Thing about Dad: I love him and he plays with me Toy: Stickers Color: Purple and pink Thing for dinner: Rice Friend: Mommy Movie: The Princess and the Frog TV show: Super Why Song: Like there's a song in Hercules that Meg goes, "Ahhh," and then walks away. Prophet: President Monson, Adam and Eve Princess: Sleeping Beauty Thing to do with Mom: Our activity Thing about your room: Because it's so cute * * * * * Molly's been drawing a lot lately. She likes to draw a picture of something or someone and have me guess what it is. Some of the hints that she gives, in her words... It can hop, has a pouch, and lives in a zoo...Kangaroo Lives with Molly and Megan...Stockton Crawls on the floor, you're scared of it...Spider Old, in a library book...Strega Nona Old, came to Strega Nona's house...Big Anthony Thought the pasta pot wasn't magic...the townspeople (Okay, if you've never read the children's book "Strega Nona" you'll have no idea what she's talking about. Go get it from the library, it's a great book. Both Justin and I have read it numerous times.) A monkey...Curious George Someone who is Molly's friend and lives with ponies...Chloe Molly's friend, lives with Grace, Ben, and Bryce...Abby Goes to work and smiles...Dad Born in September...Molly Makes Sleeping Beauty fall into a deep sleep...Maleficent Rescues Snow White from a deep sleep...Prince! What we carve at Halloween...pumpkin * * * * * If I wasn't careful, I could go about my day just cleaning and getting "things" done. Just so that I don't do that, Molly and I made an "activity box." We decorated a formula can and I filled it with various activities that we can do together. As soon as Stockton lays down for his afternoon nap, Molly draws an activity out of the box and we do whatever it says. We've made crafts, played blocks, put together puzzles, made treats, etc. We've even acted out a few of her favorite books. It has become her favorite part of the day. And it's helped me to stop and spend some one-on-one time with my favorite girl. I love her.
Feb 27: We went shopping with my mom and sister. We spent a lot of time at one store and Molly got hot and bored. When we were leaving she said, "I'm so glad we are done. That was so hot and...like...fashionable." Big sigh.
Jan 7: "Dad, today was so busy I didn't even get an opportunity to fight with boy."
January 2012: Stockton found some Tums and was wanting to eat them. I told him no because they would make him sick. Molly explained it further: "Stocky, it's just like what the devil does. He makes something look really good or exciting but it's not really that good or exciting at all."
November 1: "Mom, can I have some ranch for my carrots? Oh never mind, I didn't know they were melted." (cooked carrots, rather than raw)
November 1: "Wow, this water is ice hot!"
October: Every time a decision has to be made, Molly plays eeney-meeney-miney-moe . She tries to do it so nobody notices but I know exactly what she is doing!
8-30 Molly and I were playing a guessing game in the car. I was trying to get her to guess the word "arrow." Me: "It points you in the right direction..." Molly: "Jesus!!"
8-12 Molly was reading the story of Nephi getting the brass plates: "And then Nephi found Laban and he was drooped." (she meant drunk)
7-15 Molly was playing with an attachment for the vacuum-twirling it in the air like a baton. "Mom, watch me crouton this!"
6-26 Molly told us this joke on the way home from church: Which ghost has the best hearing? The eeriest!
6-13 Molly trying to get Stockton to say "helicopter:" "Stocky, say hell. Stocky say hell."
6-12 To Stockton: "The car won't say hi back to you, buddy."
6-10 Molly and Gavin were eating sour watermelon candy when Molly asked Gavin, "Do you want me to suck the sour off for you?"
USU Graduation, May 2007
Seattle, Washington, August 2008
Louisville, Kentucky, May 2009
June 25, 2009
Stockton Ray
2 years
April 29: starts sleeping in a "big boy" bed
May 2011: gets confused with hot and cold-calls everything hot; becomes obsessed with cars and trucks; can finally say his own name
May 30: Figured out how to climb to the top bunk-yikes!
end of May/early June- Stockton's last tooth comes in
August: says "Da-ee" and "Mo-ee" for Daddy and Molly
August 17: poops in the toilet!
August 21: pees in the toilet
September: calls Justin "Daddi-o" (he does this when he's happy, angry, sad, silly, you name it!); knows all his colors; counts to ten: "one, free, four, ten!"
October 2nd: We were watching General Conference. Stockton heard the congregation laugh after something President Monson said so he giggles and says: "Si-ee prophet."
November 5: Justin and I were watching a college football game downstairs long after we'd put the kids to bed. All of a sudden we hear Stockton clear upstairs yell "Tackle football game!" and run downstairs to watch.
November: His night-time farewell: "Night-night M&M face head!" in the silliest voice he can muster. He came up with it on his own.
November: At dinner each night we say what we are thankful for. Every time we ask what he is thankful for he says "crayons." All month long.
Dec 15: "Stocky, is daddy a boy or a girl?" "A boy." "Is Stockton a boy or a girl?" "Boy." "Is mommy a boy or a girl?" "Girl." "Is Molly a boy or a girl?" "Girl." "Is Brynn a boy or a girl?" "A baby."
December: It's been fun watching Stockton get excited for Christmas. He says "Merry Santa!"
Dec 21: Stockton has croup. He had to get a steroid shot.
Jan 12: Just playing tonight and out of the blue Stockton says, "Dad, I be baby Jesus!" and lays down on Justin's chest
Jan 19: Stocky is constantly telling us this joke he make up: "Mom, I have a joke for you." "What?" "What you eat for breakfast?" "What?" "A crib!" And then he says the whole thing again.
late February: Asking Stockton why Brynn is crying (he hit her): "Stockton, why is Brynn crying?" "Whaaaa!" "No, Stockton, why is Brynn crying?" "Whaaaa!" He gets his "who, what, where, when, why, and how's" a little mixed up.
Feb. 28: Stocky threw his binkies away today!!
Mar. 1: love that he says cute things like: "doonin'" = doing "Hold you" when he wants to be held
Mar. 25: "Mom, let's go play rice frisbee." (He wants to play catch with the frisbee.)
May 12: Stocky stays dry in underwear all day!
March 2010
March 7, 2011
Brynn April
13 months
June 30- rolls over belly to back
mid July-starts playing with her toes
September 7-turns 6 months old and has her first taste of baby food: rice cereal
September 11-Brynn's been getting up on her hands and knees and rocking forward and backward for very short amounts of time. I'm hoping that crawling is still a long way off!
September 18-She's been practicing sitting up on her own and is getting so strong. She can sit on her own for long periods of time now and only falls over when she is reaching for something.
September: Molly and Stockton have been calling her "coo-coo"
October 5: starts crawling!
October 20: Today she went from crawling to sitting. She is also trying so hard to pull herself up on things.
October: starts babbling a lot: mostly "da-da" but a few "ma-ma's" and "ba-ba's" too
October 31: First Halloween. Noticed today that her first tooth was starting to come in. On the bottom (middle left).
November 30: Second tooth. Bottom, middle, right.
end November: Brynn has not been sleeping well. She's always gone right back to sleep when I feed her but now she's up for hours at a time. We've had to start letting her cry it out if she wakes up before a certain time at night.
December: saying "ma ma" a lot
December: Brynn has been mimicking us. At dinner we all put both arms in the air and she smiles and does the same.
December 10: Brynn stood on her own for literally a full 5 seconds! She starts doing this more and more over the next few weeks. She's getting very brave.
December 12: Noticed first tooth coming in on the top. Middle right.
Dec 19: first ponytail!
Dec 25: starts walking along furniture
last week in December: Justin's been holding Brynn's fingers and helping her walk all around the house. She is getting so strong and is actually very stable.
Jan 3, 2012: Brynn slept all night!
Jan 9: first steps...very wobbly, but they were steps alright!
second week in Jan: 4th tooth came in. Top, middle, right
Jan. 22: starts climbing the stairs
mid-February: gives kisses
last week in February: starts climbing on everything!
March 14: At her 12-month well-check she weighed 14 lbs 4 oz. She also got 4 shots!
Mar 21: 5th tooth-top left
April 1: nursed Brynn for the last time
tooth #6, 7, & 8: mid-April, end April, mid-May
June 23: first haircut
Disneyland, June 2011
October 2011
"Every sister who stands for truth and righteousness diminishes the influence of evil. Every sister who strengthens and protects her family is doing the work of God. Every sister who lives as a woman of God becomes a beacon for others to follow and plants seeds of righteous influence that will be harvested for decades to come."
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You may wonder why I let her do this each day. It sure makes a lot of laundry, right? Well, I used to not let her and then I changed my mind. It just wasn't worth the battle. And it sure is fun to see what she's going to wear next!
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You may wonder why I let her do this each day. It sure makes a lot of laundry, right? Well, I used to not let her and then I changed my mind. It just wasn't worth the battle. And it sure is fun to see what she's going to wear next!
