Ballet

Grace starting taking ballet this year from the same teacher Ember has been going to, and she is so excited! She's been wearing her dance clothes all day every day, and practicing all her moves. She's an adorable three year old ballerina who wants to be just like her sister. Today is the first day of class, and she's been begging to go early. She got ready right after breakfast at 7:00, and class isn't until 10:00! I wish I had the same enthusiasm.

Grace's sleeping habits

Grace has been resisting bedtime recently, throwing outrageous tantrums & refusing to sleep. Since turning three she has also given up naps, so this combination has made for some serious mood swings. We started putting up the gate to her bedroom door & letting her cry herself to sleep, then gently lifting her into the bottom bunk of her new bed. These are some of her funny doorway pictures. (And in happy news, Grace is also completely potty trained... hallelujah!) Oh, and the pictures of her behind the gate; I should clarify, it is just a child safety gate, and we don't put our kids in cages at bedtime (although the thought has crossed my mind).

Vampires

So I noticed yesterday that my favorite family pictures are all in black and red, just like the covers of Stephenie Meyer's books. I'm not sure what that means... my kids are bloodsuckers? Probably not (well, maybe a little...).

Breaking Dawn

I finished reading Breaking Dawn this week, and it's the best one yet! It took me awhile, because I had to borrow a copy. A friend at work recently discovered the series and she bought all four books at once. She was reading book one and lent me book four in the meantime while she caught up. She gave it to me on Saturday and I was done by Tuesday. (It would have been sooner, but I had other "back to school" stuff to take care of). I realize that I am 32 years old, but I am a huge fan of this author. And I am in love with Edward Cullen! (No worries Austin, he's imaginary... but still).

The best day of the year!

Back to school; for a mom, it's better than Christmas! Ember is in 3rd grade, Ben is in 1st grade, Grace will be in pre-school, and I will have some time to myself. I honestly don't know what to do with it. I'll probably sleep & read, forget getting the chores caught up!

Ember's baptism

Thanks so much to everyone who came to Ember's baptism on the 12th, it was a wonderful and spiritual experience for her. Ember is a beautiful, spiritual, thoughtful, energetic, imaginative, outspoken, independent, sweet and faithful girl and I am so proud of her for making the choice to be baptized. She has chosen to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and follow His teachings, and I hope that we can continue to guide her and teach her to the next step in her eternal progression.

Overgaard

We're back from vacation, and it was so hard to come home! The high's were in the 70's and 80's, the mountains smelled better than baking chocolate chip cookies, and we had no phone or internet. That's my idea of heaven on earth, just my family with no distractions.

Grace said something really funny the night we decided to roast marshmallows. Dad asked if the kids would like to go out to the fire pit and help him build the fire and Grace said, "I can't. I don't have fire hands." Silly girl, too many Saturday morning cartoons.