Bye-Bye Binky

I read in the paper how a lady was going to be dressed as Snow White and the store would be giving out free ice cream. Emily is really into Snow White because aunt Amy bought her a dress up outfit of her for her to play in. I told Emily that Snow White was coming to Utah and she was going to give out treats. But that the treats were not just for anyone, they had to give her a trade. And not just any trade, but she was giving out ice cream and suckers for pacifiers. I asked her if she wanted to do it and Emily said yes! (this was success number two). Number one success happened the night before when we were camping and she fell asleep without it and didn’t ask about it once. And even before that, Bryan and I were cutting off the top part so it was more for holding than sucking on.

We got to the store and Snow White was in the entrance and both she and Emily were thrilled to see each other dressed the same. We walked up and told her that we heard she was doing a trade today. A special trade for suckers and ice cream (and as I said this I plopped down 3 suckers in Snow White’s lap) for pacifiers- and I handed Emily her pacifier to give to Snow White. She totally did it without hesitating and was so happy to take the suckers. I totally started crying as their interchange was happening- to watch my little girl do a big girl thing and get rid of that binky. (I did only get 4-5 hours of sleep the night before while camping so I was a bit emotional). Then she and I went over and got ice cream with all the toppings and sat down to eat. We watched other kids come by and get ice cream, including 2 other girls dressed as princesses. Although I think she was always on the lookout for other kids trading binkies, she never asked about it. I took the binky back from Snow White and chucked it in the garbage as I went out to the car to get my camera. I did not want to be tempted to give in. I took a photo of the two of them and we went home. That afternoon for rest time (when she usually had binky, didn’t ask about it once). That night as she was going to bed she got up 4 times, and only once did she ask me for the binky. The next day it was no asking about it at rest time, and only once cried for it at night. The third night, did NOT ask for binky. I can not even believe it- we are free from binky! I love you Snow White!! I love you Emily.

Now it’s Ashley’s turn- yikes!

Camping!

Bryan and I felt jipped for not getting to go camping this summer so we decided to go for it. WOW- what an adventure! We went to the Big Cottonwood canyon (about 40 minute drive south) and it was gorgeous! Fall has begun and some trees were already all red and it was very beautiful. It would have been perfect had it not been raining. The rain came off and on all night and at one point it turned to hail. Other events that made it interesting- cramming our car full of stuff, Ashley turning grouchy in the car ride there, and not enough room for all our tents at our site so Spencer was Emily's bed buddy. The Foster family came too and they seriously saved the trip. They had supplies for smores and peach cobbler and Emily was in heaven. The morning before camping Emily decided to make a list of stuff we needed. She included marshmallows, suckers and chocolate. The other factor that made our trip hard was Ashley not liking to sleep in her portable crib. She and I both went to bed at 11pm, awake from 2:30-6am and then awake at 8:30. She was surprisingly a happy kid all the next morning. After camping, we went on a small hike and threw rocks in a river. You have never seen happier kids-just throwing rocks in the river. We decided to alter our Texas Christmas camping plans after our experience here. In the end we are glad we did it and we definitely had the get-a-way experience that we hoped for.

Daddy is so fun!

Just a fun night of being silly!

The Lion, The Princess and The Couch

This was another fun day of dress ups. Ashley loves the Disney princesses! I still am not sure if I should be happy about it because it is so cute or repulsed at how I am letting our media culture influence who my kids love. But whichever it is, Ashley says "Rella" for Cinderella and "No White" for Snow White and she will point them out wherever she sees them. Emily loves being the lion to scare all the princesses. Perfect playmates.

The Deck

The wood work is all done! The first coat of deck protector is on and we only have a few more hours of work to do and then it is really done! Hooray!

First Day of School

My baby went off to her first day of school today! Okay, so it was only at my friend's house 3 doors down but it was still school. Joyschool preschool is a group of moms who decide to be the teachers and then rotate who teaches throughout the year. I will teach next week and I am excited to see what it is all about. There are 5 kids plus everyone has a younger child that will be there too.

We've been talking about school a lot (on the calendar, bought school supplies, got her show & tell ready) and Emily has been nothing but excited, except for today. She was so nervous- it was cute (kind of, mostly it was annoying). I told her it was time to get shoes on and she had a big fit and as we walked over she kept talking about Ashley being all by herself. But in the end she had a great time and told me all about playing playdough, a puppet who makes funny faces, melting crayons with an iron, and all about the rules of school. It's two days a week and I think I will really like just having one kid again for those few hours. Today when she was gone, Bryan and I worked on the deck.

Ashley got a hair cut!

Oh my goodness, my child changed from a baby into a kid in one 30 minute haircut. She just got her first haircut tonight by my cousin Tiffany and got 4-5 inches chopped off. She sat pretty still with the help of two suckers. We are so used to seeing her with long hair that she looks like such a different kid now!

She is still definitely the same kid though- opinionated, persistent, makes the funniest faces, and loves Emily and wants to do everything she does. Right now she loves to carry around little toys, especially Little People toys. She even knows all their names and it is so cute to her talk with her sweet pronunciation. She also loves to try on clothes. Her latest trick is to take Emily's pants and panties and run away while Emily is on the potty. She loves to wear the pack-pack (backpack) around too.