Sir...Would you like fries with that?

My friend Jennifer is Reagan and Cole's honorary "aunt". (Truly - she has taken care of all of us. She was my paralegal for over 9 years, she helped Steve coordinate his proposal to me, she planned our wedding, stayed with me for several days after Reagan was born, has cooked for us, has sewn for us, has cleaned our house, has helped with numerous parties and has been our all around go-to friend.) Each time she comes to visit, she seems to be bringing something for Reagan and Cole, she babysits and she fixes Reagan's princess clothes (which get ripped and then are put in the laundry room until I can figure out what to do .... which usually means calling Aunt Jenn).

Anyway, so she was here last week for a visit and started telling Reagan and Cole about this McDonalds playset that she has. "Ren Ries???" Cole asks, knowing exactly what he likes at Mickey D's. She tells them that they can have it, so, the next time we see her, Reagan pipes right up and asks about it (guess my talk about how it is rude to ask, etc. didn't exactly sink in). Out comes the McDonalds - it's like a little drive through on one side and a cook station on the other side. They LOVE it!

What makes me laugh is that from the first time they played with it, Reagan would call Cole "Sir". She would be ordering at the window and say "Sir, can I have a hamburger and some french fries?" or "Sir, here's my money." or "MOOMMM - Cole won't let me be the Sir!!!!" I crack up that she knows that when we order food or deal with someone at an establishment, we address that person nicely. Steve doesn't think it is so funny - he says that we call people "Sir" or "Ma'am" when we are in stores, restaurants, etc. and that people call us that, so, why wouldn't she? Well, I just think it is funny. With their little drive through stocked, we laugh watching them play. We're hoping that they aren't preparing for careers, although Steve worked at a McDonalds when he was a teenager (and a McDonalds's study claims that 20% of the American population has actually worked at McDonalds - whoa!). Here's some pics and videos of Reagan and Cole working the drive through and a big THANKS to Aunt Jenn for providing so much fun - and occupational training??? :)

Happy Valentine's Day ?????

After hosting our book club and dance class parties, Feb 13th brought a chance for us to celebrate Valentines together, just the two of us.... or so we thought. We made reservations at our favorite restaurant, scheduled the babysitter and I was getting dressed when Reagan started crying that her ear and her throat hurt. Having been diagnosed with strep throat myself earlier in the week, I wasn't surprised, but I was worried. I gave her some tylenol and continued to get ready while Steve picked up the sitter. Within 15 minutes, Reagan was asleep in our bed and snoring away. Since the restaurant was only 5 minutes away, we decided to stick to our plans and go. We had such a nice dinner and loved being able to enjoy each other, the ambiance of the restaurant, and the great food. After dinner, we called to check in and decided we'd better head home. When we walked in and looked at Reagan, we knew she was sick. She just didn't look like herself - her eyes were swollen and she was pale. She kept pointing to her mouth and saying "look, I can't talk". Not sure about that since she was talking as she said it. (It actually reminded me of that 80's movie Better Off Dead where the guy says "look, I can't move the right half of my body" as he swings his right arm in circles.) Anyway, we took the sitter home and Steve stayed with Cole as Reagan and I headed to Nighttime Pediatrics. After quite a wait (and her throwing up all over the two of us), we were taken to a room and saw the dr. Yep - strep throat and an early ear infection to boot! They gave her some motrin and we set out for the 24 hour pharmacy. As we were driving, I could see the Draper Temple all lit up on the mountain. I tried to get her attention as she slumped in her car seat. I pointed out the temple and it took a minute for her to see it. She said "I love to see the temple" (could be all that practicing for her to say that in our primary program). I told her I did too - that it made me feel warm and happy inside. Suddenly, she sat up in her seat and said "Mama! Heavenly Father and Jesus are making me feel better.... look, no cough!" I told her that I was sure she was right and how glad I was that she was feeling better. She coughed 2 minutes later and said "there's the cough again." I love that she loves the temple.... I love that she has faith that Heavenly Father and Jesus will make her feel better..... I love that there are places like Nighttime Pediatrics and 24 hour pharmacies to help us take care of her (and Cole)...... I love that here I am on Valentine's Day (or the day to celebrate it) taking care of our little ones and that it doesn't even matter that we didn't get to complete our "romantic evening". After leaving the pharmacy, we went home and Steve and I watched our tivo of the Olympics as both of our babies slept in our arms. What a Valentine's Day!!!!

The ps to this story is that at the dr's office, we were told that Reagan was contagious for 24 hours after starting her antibiotics, so, we should keep her in for the next day and night. Not great timing as Sunday held numerous responsibilities for each of us. Our Bishop had back surgery, so, Steve was covering many of Bishop's duties in addition to his regular bishopric duties. Our Primary President was out of town, so, I was covering some of her duties and I was in charge of sharing time. By 11pm when we made it home from the pharmacy and realized the implications, it was too late to call anyone to step in. The next morning, Steve went to his early morning meetings, set up my table and things for sharing time, conducted Priesthood meeting and then came home to be with Reagan and Cole. I then headed out the door to help in Primary and do sharing time, after which I returned home so Steve could go back to church and conduct Sacrament Meeting. We had company for dinner and Steve's parents dropped by for a little Valentine's visit. That night, we fell into bed - tired from the day and from the night before - and Steve said "Happy Valentine's Day". I laughed because even with all the chaos, it truly was a Happy Valentines Day!

Dance Class Valentine's Party

With our home all decked out for Valentine's day, we decided to offer up our place for a Valentine's Party for Reagan's friends in dance class. It's funny how the moms (and dads) in our dance class chat during the whole class (apparently in the other classes, the moms just sit and watch the children dance - so says Miss Connie at the front desk - who is also a covert spy... more about this later). We all chat during the whole class, take care of each other's little ones walking or crawling around while their older sibs dance, and we get together outside of dance class. There was the "Gingerbread Party" that we missed while we were in Hawaii in December, the trip to the zoo, some of the class went hiking up Millcreek canyon, others have gathered for story time at the library, etc. So, when it was suggested that we get the children together for a Valentine's Party, it was par for the course. One mom brought cookies, another brought heart-shaped cupcakes, still others brought frosting or sprinkles, and we all brought Valentines to exchange. I was thinking that it would be an hour or so party - not so! It ended up being a three hour playdate with 10 friends for Reagan and Cole to play with and 6 moms (and a dad) for me to chat with. We had kids running everywhere in our house. After we "sugared" them up with the cupcakes and the cookies, they chased each other, dressed up in princess clothes, did puzzles, made dinner in the play kitchen, played with toys and colored (my friend Stacey made customized, Valentine color books for each child). Seriously - at one point I looked in the playroom and it was literally a sea of toys - you couldn't see the carpet or any part of the floor. Luckily, we have some nice moms in the group who insisted upon cleaning up before they left. Another successful Valentine's party (and I was labeled an "overachiever" for all the decorations in our house ..... thanks Stacey) is in the books and we aren't even to the actual Valentine's Day yet - LOVE IT!!!! Here's some pics of our party:

(So, the scoop on Miss Connie is that she acts all sweet and welcoming at the front desk, but she is actually a covert spy working to ensure full compliance with the Dance Studio rules and that there be no subversive activity going on during dance class. Seriously - we moms can be just chatting about this or that and then the subject turns to the recital. We all start talking about what will the theme be, when will we know and BAM! Connie is right next to me telling me that no one is told until such and such time and that a letter will be sent on this date, etc. Another time, we were talking about dress rehearsal for the recital and one of the moms who has been at this studio for a while starts telling about how they have rules that you have to be in full hair, make up and dress for the rehearsal, how one of the children last year was in the hospital and they insisted she come to rehearsal or she couldn't dance, etc. BAM again - here's Miss Connie literally right next to me out of nowhere. She explains that they got a fax from the hospital that the little girl was ok to dance and that she came to the rehearsal and then was in the recital, that it is the rules that make the recital work, etc. I mean... Miss Connie is stealth. It's not that she is usually so far away that she couldn't hear us, it's just that she usually is busy at work and doesn't notice.... or seem to notice. All of a sudden, when we turn to the subject of the dance studio, she must feel the need to jump in and defend.... OR maybe she's not that busy, thinks we are this crazy set of moms who talk during the entire class and she secretly desires to be part of our club.... NOT! Anyway, whatever the story is, Miss Connie could go into the special forces or the CIA or something 'cause she's got skills.)

Book Club Valentine Activity

We are in a book club with several couples from our ward/neighborhood. It was our turn to host a Valentine's activity (no book this month) and since last year our Valentine's activity duties were as simple as making dinner reservations for the group, we felt a duty to actually "host". Having just finished most of the basement work and needing to complete the job, we had all of the upstairs carpets cleaned the day before the Valentine activity. So, the morning of the party, I had all of our upstairs furniture shoved together on the tiled areas - crazy. By that evening, the furniture was returned to its proper places, the decorations were up and everything was ready for the party.

The party went really well. I had four games planned, but everyone just seemed to want to relax and chat - the ladies and the men even gathered in different areas to catch up with each other. We ate (everyone brought a treat) and laughed. Then, I brought out a version of the Newlywed Game and we played that with everyone getting a kick out of it (seriously - I suggested we stop 4 times and they insisted we keep going.... until 11pm). Some couples realized how well they knew each other - the winners received a bag of KISSES - and others realized how much they didn't know about each other - the losers received a box of NERDS. I had to laugh how one guy (total banker and predictable family guy) described himself as "spontaneous" while his wife simply declared "you're wrong!". It was such a fun night and thanks to Stacey for helping me with the decorations, the serving platters, the games and all the ideas!!!!

So - with our house all decked out for Valentine's, how could I resist offering up our house for a Valentine's party with our dance class friends? Yep - that's later this week.... stay tuned!

Are you still there?

Cole LOVES Buzz Lightyear. I mentioned in our Christmas post that Santa brought Buzz to our house. Well, Cole plays with it every day - so it is never really put away or turned off. It is also one of those (annoying) toys that talks, makes laser noises, etc and continues to do so, even after it's "human" counterpart has stopped playing. Seriously, Cole is done and gone, having left the room and a few minutes later, Buzz will start talking. Usually he says "Hello.... are you still there?" Which always scares me if I am the only one left in the room. Not Cole, however. He just responds - from wherever he is - "Yeeeeeesssss."