"I want to be 90"

Says Audrey from the backseat of Grandma's car.  And who wouldn't?  You get to dress-up however you want (preferably with purple cowgirl boots), eat a fancy lunch, have the biggest party a four year-old has ever seen, see lots of family and friends, and nobody can tell you that you've had too much cake!
  This last Saturday was my Grandma Carl's 90th birthday party, her actual birthday being this Tuesday.  We were fortunate enough to be in Grass Valley for the party and share the exciting day with Grandma.  Not only do I see it as an accomplishment that she made it to an impressive 90 years old (I hope those strong genes made it my way) but, it was even more impressive to see how many people would travel regardless of distance, health or other circumstance to celebrate with Grandma.  Of course she's not "Grandma" to everyone who was there.  She had friends she's known and kept in touch with since elementary school and friends who have happily become family through marriages.  And of course Audrey and Lexi weren't just there for the cake, though it sure kept them quiet and still when the time came.  But they were excited to do something special for their Grandma and get to sing "Happy Day" at the top of their lungs.  We're also grateful to Grandma for giving us the chance to see family that we just don't get enough of and meeting a new little cousin/niece for the first time.  I'm so thankful to my Mom for putting this plan into action and getting everyone else on board.  Grandma's not one to want the attention on her, but she seemed to love every moment of it.  I'm positive that smile didn't leave her face all day.  And if you watched carefully as she left the party my Dad actually had to hold her arm so she didn't accidentally float off, she was that happy.  It was a great, although rushed, weekend and we would make the drive again.  Road construction, previous post and a/c going out all included!  Happy Birthday Grandma!
  Yes, there are a lot of pictures.  Thanks, Dad and John for the fine collection of pictures to choose from.  No, don't feel like you have to watch the whole slide.  Just remember, I had 170 + to sort through!

Have You Ever Wondered?

No pictures with this post.  But I do have a thought I wanted to share with you all. Have you ever been driving through Nevada and start to wonder, "How do I know if this brothel is any better than the two I just passed and the three more I will soon pass?"  I (unfortunately) have your answer.  Yesterday I was driving home with Tim and the girls from a wonderful weekend of family when Audrey says "I have to go to the bathroom."  Naturally, she couldn't have said that 5 minutes earlier when we could have stopped at Eddie World, used clean facilities and possibly even talked Tim into some ice cream.  Plus, we were trailing a Semi who was making good time, so those 5 minutes got us pretty far from our desired Eddie World.  We stopped at the first mini mart we could find.  As we pulled up to the bright pink Nevada Joe's we noticed a smaller building just behind.  "The Cherry Patch II"  Apparently the original Cherry Patch was pretty successful.  But, successful or not we just couldn't bring our selves to take our innocent little 4 year old in Nevada Joe's, bathroom emergency or not.  We're trying to teach our girls to aim higher in life.  So, we strapped her into one of Lexi's diapers and we were out of there with the smell of burning rubber following!  And now back to my original thought... If a brothel can ever claim multiple establishments it must do the job right!  Gosh, isn't traveling with the family great? 

I promise that by the end of the week there will be pictures (I'm talking about the family visit, not of the Cherry Patch II).  So check again soon for a new post!

Party for the Birthday Girl

OK, so I wouldn't actually call it a "Party". Maybe "Slightly Festive Family Dining". We decided we would have to be crazy to invite people to a party for a tantrum stricken two year old, so Tim brought home pizza. Smart choice! I would say it was a peaceful evening, except it wasn't. My cake had failed miserably (again) and the girls were so wound up before Tim even got home that it was all just craziness. But, Lexi had a fun time.

So, the cake... Once again I had trouble with melting frosting. I don't know what the deal is. I cooled the cake and kept the frosting in the fridge. But when I started with the pink frosting I quickly noticed that this was what I will forever more call a Pepto Bismol Mess. And for those wondering, no, it's nothing like the "Honeymoon Pepto Bismol Mess". Eventually, I decided to just go with it and attempted "Splatter Frosting". I have to say, it worked for the occasion.

I guess all that we have left to do is wait and see what adventures being two has in store for us!

Happy Birthday Alexis!

Lexi is 2 today, yay! And she's been walking around the house singing "Happy Day Me!". Alexis has been such a sweet, energetic, fun and loud addition to our family and I'm so thankful that she's my little girl. Her birth was quite the way to say "Welcome to a new life in a new city far away from your family where your husband has no job and will be hiding away in a library for the next three years!" But, trying to keep up with Lexi has made the time fly by. It is so much fun to see how much she is able to interact with her big sister and how much she admires Audrey. As she gets older she is becoming such a great sister and companion for Audrey and I love watching them giggle together. She is growing and learning so fast and it is quite apparent that I have yet another child with my temper. She really knows how to glare and has a great throwing arm, especially when she's mad.
I have included some fun pictures of the last two years and a list of the things Lexi has taught me thus far.
Happy Birthday Lexi!

Lexi's Lessons

Don't think that just because you've done it before you know what you're doing

From the moment they take their first breath (maybe even before) they have a personality all their own

Don't let the sharpie out of your sight

Don't let her out of your sight

Let a sleeping dog (Lexi) lie

Don't bother vacuuming till she's really done

Don't try to be nice and let her comb your hair, it hurts a lot

Never leave the house without blankey, no matter what's stuck on it

The smell of peanut butter lingers for a long time, but not as long as spoiled milk

One glue stick can be hours of fun

Even though the Librarian says it's OK that your child's ear piercing scream has broken a few of the patrons hearing aids and shattered a window, they don't mean it and it's time to leave

A grown, mature adult can have a beef with a fictitious children's cartoon character... Dora

But, Elmo, Abby and even the whole Blue's Clues gang are welcome to drop by whenever they want

She does have a sense of humor and she knows exactly what she's doing
i.e. she knows exactly where the overdue library book is

Be careful of what you teach your child to say... "Shake Your Booty" can be cute after a bath, but not while the Sacrament is being passed

If she is hungry, mad, or just bored do not let her near Audrey, she will bite, she will break the skin

Even after a day of stinky diapers, playing in the mud, putting on too much sunscreen, spilling food all over her clothes, and constant morning/pickle breath at the end of the day you can still smell the "Little Girl Scent" and it's the best thing

Little girls are a lot more fun than I thought they would be

I'm pretty lucky