Larry loves his lips

"If my lips said adios, I don't like you. I think you're gross.

I'd be so sad. I'd call my dad."

I have a new love: Larry, the cucumber. He loves his lips. He's a cucumber, he has no lips and the combination is more than I can take. IT IS HILARIOUS! And its not even his lips that crack me up. Song of the Cebu...."Boohoo moo moo, boohoo moo moo, boohoo moo moo moo moo moo".....this is comedy.

Please tell me I'm not the only one who has turned Veggie Tales on after my kids are asleep.

On a recent trip to the library I found a Veggie Tales Silly Songs DVD--we're talking 5 stars here. Judd and I watch it daily; Steve and I watch it nightly. Then, while looking for a new toothbrush for Judd at the dollar store, what did we find? Its true. A Larry toothbrush that sings his songs. You can get really clean teeth while rocking to the likes of "I don't have a belly button". (After brushing Judds teeth with Larry yesterday I started brushing mine. He told me about 10 times that my toothbrush had no musics. I was disappointed too.)

If you don't know Larry and his songs, or Veggie Tales in general, trust me--Life is better with Larry.

Thank you Veggie Tale writers.

I Covet....

CSN is doing a giveaway on Saltbox House Cooking Exchange blog (check it out if you haven't before.....I'm an author on it occasionally.) And as I've been wanting a food processor for a while now, I'm a little excited about it.

Here's the link to check it out: tp://saltboxhouse.blogspot.com/2010/05/mothers-day-giveaway-brought-to-you-by.html

Enjoy!

thumb buddy loves me

Wren has a buddy. Its with her all the time. She loves it.

Most people wonder what her little mouth looks like. I'll tell you, on the rare occasions when I've seen it, its pretty cute. But, when you have a somebody that loves you as much as a thumb buddy, really, who needs an empty mouth.

Tulip Time

You know that I love daffodils. How can you not? Completely bright and happy they are a sure sign that Spring is here to stay. Well, this week the kidlets and I went with Madeline, Tara, and Co. to a tulip festival at a tulip farm in our area. I might have been converted to tulips--its a close call. This farm was positively brilliant with acres and acres of every color of the rainbow blooming as a tulip. Absolutely beautiful. We had a hard time tearing ourselves away (which poor little Wren's sunburn testifies to). Here are a few pics of our hueful adventure.

Where's Judd? I dressed him in orange that day....usually an easy spot in a crowd....Can you find him?
Me and the kids. Yes, that is a windmill in the background. I absolutely could have been in Holland for the day.

Judd and his buddies.

So, I know, this is one of those slightly awkward action shots of Judd with his friend Taryn. I just couldn't believe the colors of these tulips! And they match our boy's shirt.

What a darling.

Judd giggling with Evie.

The Wreners and her friend Darak. I think her face says it all.

Just right!

goings ons

Here they are:

1. Wren is a solid food monster. She turned six months and can't get enough. She's developed a shrill shriek that is an effective catalyst for getting the food quickly in her mouth.
2. Judd can sing "I am a Child of God" more or less by himself--I accredit it to Sister Karren and the awesome nursery she runs.
3. I finally got up the courage to call our California landlord and get our deposit money back. Its been almost a year since we moved--I got the check yesterday. Yes! I am amazing!
4. I'm working on breaking my cookie addiction. This is the first week I haven't made a batch. My commitment is wavering. As I tell myself forty times a day, "What is so bad about a little chocolate and oatmeal?"
5. Stevo is once again gone during the week and I've developed a pattern for dealing. Monday, depressed, do the essentials only, upset kids. Tuesday, find SOMETHING to do just to get out of the house, kids still off routines. Wednesday, feel pretty good with play dates and getting things done. Thursday, best non-steve day of the week with everyone and everything in the grove. Friday, so busy cleaning, doing laundry and making a delicious dinner and treat for when Steve gets home. It is a little mountain we climb every week.
6. Stevo's vacation is coming up in two weeks! First the coast and then Utah! Can't wait to catch up with everyone!!!
7. Something really exciting may be on the horizon for next year. It may involve hammocks, loin clothes, and amazonian blow darts. And that's all I'll say about that.
8. I got my hair cut. Short. And I drive around listening to Brandi Carlisle. I feel so alternative.
9. Turns out the church is still true. I teach RS and just love LOVE Gospel Essentials. This really is, very simply, what it is all about.
10. Judd can say a prayer BY HIMSELF! He likes to thank Heavenly Father for his friends("woosy" [Lizzy], "Effie" [Evie], Taryn, and Levi), "FeeFi" (nephi), Jesus, and "seester". He does a good job.
11. We are moving out of our beautiful (rented) house in August. The owners have gotten sick and would like to be close to family and doctors. And thus will begin our year as nomads. Thanks again, both moms and dads, for being so kind to open your homes to us. Though, I will miss this place terribly. Love this town. love my ward. love the beauty all around. love our friends.

So, though it seems a little nondescript, these are the things that make up our lives. I would LOVELOVELOVE to get an update on all of you. PLEASE leave a comment and catch me up!

toys

So my toy buying falls under three strategies, (though I should specify that toy buying, as it were, only really happens when toys are on sale AND its a special occasion.) Here they are:

1. Buy the toys my children show preference for-- confident kids will like 'em.
2. Buy the toys I loved as child--hope kids will like them as much as i did.
3. Buy the toys I want to play with NOW--doesn't really matter if kids like them because i do.

My favorite toy that falls under #3 is almost anything by Playmobil. Check out their USA site here (they're a German company). There is a toy store in our town that has a whole wall of Playmobil sets--both on display and in the box. PLUS they have the full pyramid set out for play. It is complete with a mummy that, when opened, has a skeleton inside. neat.

We often go to this toy store to kill a morning or afternoon. The pyramid set is not the only toy out to play (the Thomas the Train table is a big draw for a Judders). In early December, we walked in to hang out and what did I discover but a Playmobil Nativity Set. (picture lights from heaven and angels singing in the background). It wasn't on sale (If you check out the Playmobil site you'll notice they are not real inexpensive...). And though Christmas was coming up, I was totally done buying gifts. But, I HAD TO HAVE IT.

I reasoned with myself that it would save my real nativity sets from Judd's curious hands. That worked for me. I got it.

Putting it together was all the fun I could have imagined. It had hats and cloaks and wisemen and gifts, and, of course, baby Jesus (which Judd called 'sister') and shepards (which Judd called Jesus--at least he kinda got what the set was) and camels...everything, everything. I love it. truly. And so did Judd! A nice plus, as it turned out.

What toys do you secretly love?

daffodils

Stevo recently had the question "What is your favorite flower?" on a rotation application he was filling out. He replied "Whole Wheat." seriously.

Honey, you are a nerd. (or, as they say in Brasil and which i personally think is way more hilarious, 'nerdge'.)

It turns out my favorite flower is all around me right now and I am REVELING in it. Daffodils have arrived in Western Oregon! And they are everywhere! Tucked under trees, adorning street corners, overflowing flowerbeds--thank you daffodil-loving-Oregon-folk for profusely sprinkling your bulbs in every spot imaginable! I feel like I've found a whole region of kindred spirits.

So just spreading the sunny, spring-trumpeting joy I feel. What are your favorite flowers? or flours, if you prefer? :)