The Waltons

The Waltons are just the cutest gosh darn newlywed couple you've ever seen! Richelle and Darren came to visit and to Disneylandia (Darren's 1st time!!!) It was so fun to have them here, the kids leeched onto them and they practically had to pry themselves back to Idaho.

We had a fiasco departing flight but we DID get to spend extra time together and finally take pictures! Here is Darren and Belize in a "nest". Darren was a trooper babysitter!
Richelle once stated, "I don't think I'm going to be as stressed out as a mom as you." Oh, this cute newlywed couple, although I'm positive they will be great parents, I invite Richelle to- BRING IT!!!!

Belisita

Belize is just a joy to have around! It's fun to watch glimpses of her grownup personality. Right now she is super helpful, kind, friendly, chatty, tattly, and yes, a little bossy. She's pretty independent, although does choose moments to be shy. She asks a million questions a day and retains the answers, she loves going to church and cried one Sunday when the rest of us were too sick to go. She "loves Heavenly Father a whole lot more than she loves Satan" and she keeps us laughing with the hilarious things she says!
Her and Bri having an impromptu scripture study?!?!?! We do read 3 verses a night but this is the first time the girls have gotten their study on- haha!
Belize started her first soccer class, which she loves, that and her pink soccer shorts and sparkly soccer shoes.
She said that the Cheerios "erupted".
Belize already loves her baby sister and is excited to teach her everything. She was devastated and did cry for about 1/2 hour when I told her that we were probably going to name the baby, Mayan instead of Shylan. "Mayan is the WORST name EVER! Mom, isn't Shylan a pretty name? And then her nickname can't be Kailan (from the cartoon)". After repeating days later that it was the worst name ever, I asked her how she would feel if someone said her name was the worst name ever and since then she decided that Mayan is a very pretty name.
One word. Posh.

Keep my underwear dry!

Rio has really been ready to be potty trained for about 5 months now. Well, finally I bit the bullet, got brave and did what I SHOULD have done a LONG time ago! And I shouldn't have fretted because it only took a couple DAYS! Wow! AND he's been keeping his pull-ups dry at night (most nights), this boy is so smart!

Best General Conference. Ever.

So far anyways. :) This was the first year since Belize was born that I felt like I got to listen to a lot of the messages- it was wonderful, soul-soothing, and a ray of sunshine! For Dad's birthday the kids got him a marble contraption, Rio was in heaven! This is pretty much what they did for all of conference. And bless his heart, Grandpa left it at our house until he comes back-hehe.

What a darling and beautiful BYU-I art major! Sarah is one of my heroes, I LOVE YOU SARAH!!!!!!!
The Greggs tired those Orton kids OUT- which is pretty impressive!

California Science Museum

Tangled!

The day that my mom & Aunt Sarah came also coincided with the highly-anticipated release of the Disney movie, Tangled. In honor of the occasion we hosted a tangled party for the little girls in our apartment complex. Complete with spaghetti dinner, breaded bread and snacks of twisted licorice and pretzels. And a long long yard braid that took WAY too much time to braid!

When they fall

Rio fell today and scraped his knee, toe and hand on the cement. He closed his eyes, wailed, then looked for his mom. I was a step away and scooped him into a comforting hug, picked him up and coddled him while he got bandaged. Then suddenly, he was all better, ready to collect the golf balls he had been collecting.

In a way, I am a parent- to teach my children about deity. I, like my Father in Heaven, am a step away, ready to give healing hugs, and tell my child, "It's okay." There is a bigger picture and the pain is temporary, I am always here.

I'm sad that I won't always be the person they run to when they fall. But I hope that they will always remember that God is always with them, gives the best hugs, and He can heal all wounds, however deep or long the pain continues . . . and I hope that I get some phone calls too! ;)

The truth is, their Father in Heaven loves them more and better than I am able, I can only begin to understand the great love He has for them. This is why being a parent is so important, it is one way I learn about God and the way that He feels for all of His children.

Funny things:

Nana, Grandpa and Aunt Sarah are in town, so far these are the funny things the kids have come up with to entertain them:

Nana was trying to get Rio to go pee in the toilet, Rio got mad and refused. Then he got up to the kitchen table, sat down and peed on his seat. Nana: "Why didn't you go in the potty!" Rio: "I did it to be naughty."

We ate at Lucille's BBQ to celebrate Dad and I's birthday, Belize nonchalantly said regarding her ribs, "Is this a baby's back?"

Also while at Lucille's, Rio decided he wanted to use the restroom 3 times, after Brannon and I's turns had been exhausted he turned to Nana. She went to take him but after a minute, he ran back screaming, "I'm not a girl! Not the Ladies!!!!"

Brannon talking about something, ending in- "and the world will end.- that's pretty much everything in a nutshell." Belize: "Does that mean Heavenly Father is going to take the world apart and put it in a nutshell?"

Other things I've been meaning to record somewhere:

1. Rio sweats a lot. When he was little he used to sweat so profusely from his feet that he couldn't walk in the kitchen without slipping. It's improved but at night his pillow, blanket (a thin one) and pajamas are soaked 5 minutes after he falls asleep even in the winter.

2. Belize and Brannon have developed a shower game. Usually the kids are so excited when Brannon gets home that they can't leave him alone for a second. Since he bikes home, he's sweaty and in great need of a shower. When the kids were littler they would almost always end up in the shower with him (he's a softy and won't lock the door like mommy-mwahahahaha) so he and Belize made up a rhyming game. Brannon gets in the shower and Belize makes a space on the bathroom floor (usually with blankets and pillows). Brannon gives Belize a word and she has to find a word that rhymes and visa versa. It's become her favorite game.

We love our friends!

Brighton had a special birthday and we celebrated by playing and exploring Manhattan beach. The Nielsens moved into our apartment building a few months ago and I can't express what a blessing this has been in our lives. We are not alone on earth- for a reason. We are meant to connect, to bolster, encourage, offer support and love, it is in our eternal natures.