Boiled egg anyone?

Since our last visit to Utah Brooklyn, Sadie, and I did dinner with Grandpa Mike and Grandma Jane. While at dinner Grandma Jane had a boiled egg, Brooklyn wanted to try some and Grandma shared. Brooklyn discovered that she likes boiled eggs. In fact she likes them so much that since we've been home she has requested almost everyday to have some for breakfast. While the eggs are cooking she'll eat a bowl of Reese's Puffs or Froot Loops. She'll eat not one, not two, but three boiled eggs. She doesn't like the yolks which is fine with me since that is where all the cholesterol is but she'll eat them all up and then ask for more. I've wondered how many she'll eat since I've stopped her at three. Sadie however does not like boiled eggs, but continues to chug the chocolate milk and eat the yogurt bites out of the Yogurt All-Bran. Breakfast of champions all around that's for sure.

Dog Tails

This evening as dinner was cooking on the stove, Eric and I were looking out the back sliding door and saw a deer in the bushes in our neighbors yard. Tiger Lily was outside and I wondered if she had seen it. As the deer wandered closer behind our yard I watched as Tiger held still and watched it for a minute then she tucked her tail, pulled back her ears, and ran up into the house. Once safely in the house she turned around a gave a little "woof!" Talk about chicken. I wish I could have that moment caught on film of my dog who is as big as the deer ducked and headed for cover.

Now that were back from our trip to Grandma's and to bid Richard a fond farewell as he departed for his mission, we are trying to keep Tiger from being one of the kids. Brooklyn and Sadie were climbing all over the couch and next thing I knew Tiger had one of her toys and stepped up onto the couch. She has never been invited onto the couch but just thinks she's one of the girls. I love her personality, she's so sweet and playful. She's a great dog.

While in Utah we went to the bird refuge in west Farmington. The cattails were just about perfect for whacking and exploding seeds all over everywhere. I was picking some for Brooklyn and we were scattering seeds all over ourselves when my brother Chris grabbed another weed that was about 6 feet tall and was poofy on the end. Brooklyn then said that she wanted a "dog tail" like Chris. I picked her one and she then used it to tickle Grandma and Grandpa and anyone else who was in reach. We had a blast! It made perfect sense it did look like Tiger Lily's tail so why not have dogtails and cattails!

Tiger's Bath Time

Today was the day I decided it was time to give Tiger a bath. She absolutely loves the water. If the bathroom door is left open she'll go in there and climb in the tub looking for some water to lap up. Brooklyn and Sadie were playing a computer game while I bathed Tiger. As I'm dumping buckets of water over Tiger, she just calmly sits there drinking the water as it falls into the tub. Then she sits and laps up more water. Then as I'm trying to shampoo her she just lies down on her stomach and lounges in the tub while I'm trying to wash her all over. I don't know what is harder, trying to wash a wiggly dog or one that just sits there and doesn't move. I think I got at least half of her thoroughly shampooed and hoped the residual soapy water did the rest.

Do you have any idea how long it takes for a golden retriever to dry? I had the blow dryer out and it was taking forever. She's mostly dry now but still a little damp in some places. At least she smells better, feels softer, and has the beautiful puffed up puppy look. She is definitely a water dog.

Mid-bath Sadie comes in and unbeknownst to me took off with the kids toothpaste. I came out to find toothpaste smeared all over the computer desk, mouse, and the girls. Then after Eric came up for lunch he sat in the computer chair and had a nice pattern of the mesh chair on his back in pink toothpaste. I hope I've got it all cleaned up now. If only I can keep Tiger and the girls busy on this rainy day! Any suggestions how to keep a large dog busy?

Spring Break has come and gone!

We had a great spring break! It was so nice to have Eric around for a whole week with no studying! We took advantage of his time off and took a little vacation to the Great Wolf Lodge. We had a great time. Indoor waterpark, interactive scavenger hunt with your own magic wand. Brooklyn had her own hide-a-bed to sleep in. Ice to crunch on. A great time was had by all! If we hadn't disconnected the phone in our room who knows how many calls we'd have made to the front desk by our two little girls. We were all ready to go swimming and were walking out the door of our room but Brooklyn was "talking" on the phone to grandma and wouldn't hang up. She'd much rather stay on the phone than go to the indoor water park! We wrapped up our 3 night hotel stay with a 4 hour drive to the airport to head to Grandma's!

Brooklyn and Sadie we're so excited to go to Grandma's. They are such good travelers. To get up early drive for four hours in a car only to ride in an airplane for four more hours. The biggest bump in the trip came after Sadie chugged some chocolate milk while we were driving. It came back and the precious blankie and her clothes all got covered. Poor Sadie was freezing to death as we were trying to get her cleaned up on the side of the freeway in 15 degree weather! Not counting the wind chill! It was COLD! And I wasn't the one getting a change of clothes! Thank goodness that was the worst of it!

We landed in Utah and Brooklyn had said she was going to run to Grandma and give her a big hug and that is just what she did. The shyness of living so far away is wearing off. Sadie of course did the same thing because she does what her sister does. Then Valerie came and Brooklyn ran and threw her arms around her too!

It was a quick trip to Utah but it was nice. Eric and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary with a night out for dinner. We got to hang out with Val, Alli & Jake. Play some killer basketball to help Jake practice for his region championship game. Watched half the St. Patty's day parade enjoyed watching the aggressive grandma next to us helped clean everyone out of candy and necklaces and hand them to us. She was awesome! Then the great championship game. Maybe if we hadn't played so hard the night before Jake would have made a few more baskets, but Sadie is still hollering every now and then "Go Jake!" and something about "basketball!"

We got to attend the Bountiful temple and be there for Richard's first time through which was really special before he heads out into the mission field in a month.

We fed ducks with Great-Grandma and Grandpa Payne at the park. Had a couple quick visits with Grandpa Mike and Grandma Jane and we were back to the airport to head home. Brooklyn wasn't happy as we landed back in Michigan that Grandma wasn't there, but I reassured her that she would be here soon, like Friday soon.

Grandma and Grandpa flew to Michigan and drove down our street as Brooklyn and Sadie were riding their bikes to help the time pass. They were delighted to have them at our house to sleep downstairs! We did all sorts of fun things with Grandma here. We went to the Maple Syrup Festival and watched the sap drip out of the maple trees and learned how they make syrup. Ate some awesome pork sandwiches from Backyard BBQ. We went to a beautiful butterfly exhibit, and toured the fun gardens briefly before it closed. I love this picture of Dad leaning back and staring up at the huge Trojan Horse.We ate dinner at Bob Evan's, visited an awesome grocery store that sells chocolate cheese and just about anything else you can imagine and during the daytime they have a live pianist playing a grand piano in the middle of the produce section. No I'm not kidding!!! It's awesome. Grandma went to sunbeam's with Brooklyn. We watched a Under the Sea 3-D movie at the theatre and about scared Sadie and Brooklyn to death, checked out Menards and found a dead mouse by the ladders, took a long nap, watched NCAA action, had an early birthday party for Sadie and about wore ourselves out!

Then Grandma and Grandpa had to go. Brooklyn is still mad that she didn't get to wave goodbye to Grandma. She was trying to "save" Grandma from going to her house by not letting go of her hand. But "grandma let go of my hand!" She loves and really wants her "grandma-parents" and I hear about it daily. That is when she's not mad at me and telling me to go to my "mother's house!"

Sadie had her 2nd birthday! I can't believe she's two! We gave her a dollhouse, a little dress up puppy, and a little bunkbed for her baby doll. She's getting defensive over what is hers and how much Brooklyn can help with. She'll holler "my birthday!" and "my present!" and she started to cry when Brooklyn was helping her open her present. It's hard when your little. Brooklyn actually handled it all quite well, as Sadie was still crying and opening her next present. Don't get in Sadie's way! Hopefully things will settle a little for a few days or so! But it's been fun!

Count down for Spring Break & Grandma!

My Mom and Dad are coming for a visit the end of March. Brooklyn is so excited and asks every day if they are coming today, or if we can go to Grandma's house. Each time an airplane flies overhead she'll ask if Grandma is on that one. Sadly I have to tell her no at least for a few more weeks!

Brooklyn also has a pretty serious case of "Cabin fever." For Spring break we're going to go to a hotel with an indoor water park. Brooklyn and Sadie both are so excited. All our friends are told that we're going to a hotel with a big bucket that dumps water and that we're going to go swimming and have a cookie, etc. At least I know they like it and are excited. Everyday they ask if we're going to the hotel, right after they ask if we're going to Grandma's house. So to help count down the days Brooklyn and I made a paper chain. Brooklyn colored each piece and stapled it together. We added a few more links to help count down to when Grandma arrives. Brooklyn has enjoyed tearing a strip off each day. We hope the days go fast so we can go play!