10/29/13

I am very off on when I am sending these out...but I had a good amount gathered so I thought I would send them out ;) Love you all!!

Today I was getting ready to head out to the grocery store and Eden and Russell were going to be with me. Eden went out a few min before I did to get in the car. I looked out there to check on her while I was grabbing a few last min things and I saw her leaning up from the backseat and looking at herself in the rear-view mirror singing her little heart out. So cute. Then when Russell and I got out to the car Eden was all buckled in her seat and she said look Mom I can see myself lots of times. She pointed up to the front seat which had both visors down with the mirrors open aimed at her cute face as well as the rear-view mirror adjusted so she could also see herself. She also turned on all the lights so she could see herself even better. Put a smile on my face!

I came into the family room and saw on one of our leather couches with the name "EDEN" scratched into the cushion. I quickly found Eden to ask her about it...she replied that Ella wrote it. So I went and found Ella and when I asked her if she wrote that she said, "Yes." I then asked her why she would do that? She said Eden and her were playing a game and she wanted Eden to know which side of the couch was going to be her side so she wrote her name there so she wouldn't forget. I then explained that on a leather couch when you scratch something into it like that it is like you got a marker and wrote on it...that it would not come off. She did not realize that. She felt bad. Good thing I was already planning to go and buy a slip cover for that couch today. ;)

Russell has always been my climber...but now his new favorite place to climb in on the kitchen counter. And while he is up there he gets into the cupboard and gets dishes out....ah...heres to hoping the next little bundle is not a climber too...wears me out ;)

Russell and I were up first on sat morning watching a little show and snuggling with his blanket. Then Ella came down and joined us, the Eden came down awhile later....Russell got up grabbed his blanket and went over to where Eden was sitting and put his blanket on her. Then he came back and snuggled with Ella. Melt my heart!

Ella received an award at school yesterday called a 'caught ya'.(where the catch you doing something good)  When Gordon came home from school Ella went over to him and said, "Gordon, don't feel bad, but I got a caught ya today...I am awesome right!?" Gordon asked,"Why did you get it?" Ella's response," ...... I don't even know!".

10/21/13

A day or two late....

While Taylor and I were gone the kids made some goo at Aunt Genny's house. Eden's was pink and Gordon's is green (no surprise). The kids were playing with it today and some of Gordon's green got mixed in with Eden's pink. She was quite sad about it. Gordon is a great big brother and said, "Hey if I mix it all together really well maybe you will not be able to tell there is any green in it....after he mixed it it had somewhat of a marbled effect. Eden was still very displeased...Gordon then said, "Eden it is okay...look it is like it is pink hair with green highlights!" What a cute and clever little boy trying to make his little sister happy :)

Russell is such a snuggler lately! When he wakes up I sit with him in the rocking chair and rock with him for several min. It makes waking up early not so bad when I get that precious one on one time with him each morning :)

Russell had some little kid sunglasses on yesterday and was walking around saying, "CHHHHEEEEESSSSEEEE" with the biggest smile on his face. It was so adorable. But of course once I pulled the camera out to get a picture he wouldn't do it any more. Hopefully I will get another chance to capture it!

Taylor has been trying to teach the kids to think about what they are praying for and not just repeating the same things over and over again. So Eden's prayer right after that discussion went something like this...."Please bless Great-great-great-great grandma and Grandpa that they can have a good time in heaven. And bless Jesus that he can have a good time in Heaven too...and bless that great-great grandma and grandpa can have a good time in heaven...and bless us to have good dreams, in the name of Jesus Christ Amen."

Gordon said to me the other day....you know people could just find out that there is no Santa if they just went up to the North Pole and they saw he wasn't there.

Love you all!!!!

9/30/13

I am late getting this out....here are a few ;)

Last night we were getting ready to do scriptures and Ella was wanting to get a drink of water. Taylor was asking her to wait until we were finished. He was trying to explain to her that you can tell your body what you want to do (teaching self-control and patience). Then faintly I heard Eden say out loud, "Body I would like to do scriptures". Made me smile :)

In the car yesterday I heard Russell sucking on something. I couldn't think of what he could have reached that he could suck on. I looked back at a spot sign and saw that he was suckin' away on his big toe. ;)

Gordon and I were going over his vocabulary words for his science test. I was quizzing him. I asked him what does "prey" mean. He quickly replied, "It is when you get on your knees and talk to Heavenly Father." I explained that it is prey with an 'e' then he said, "Oh of course..." and then gave the correct answer. :)

We have a little plastic shopping cart that the kids love to play with and push around the house. They love to give Russell rides in it....and he loves to have rides in it. Tonight when Gordon was giving Russell a "roller-coaster ride" Russell put his hands up in the air on the 'fast' part. So cute!

Love you all!!

9/14/13

Taylor said he overheard Eden on the computer and it asked her what movie she would like to do...he then heard her sing "eenie meenie miny moe" to choose which one she wanted to do.

Which reminds me. We listen to the Brite music cds in the car and Eden knows all the words to the animal cd. She loves it! Her favorite number is Number 4 the one about Turkeys :)

In the car the other day the kids were singing Christmas songs and they started to sing Rudolph the red nosed Reindeer. And they got to the part that says, "All of the other reindeer". Eden said, "OH Olive the other reindeer...I love olives!". :)

In that same conversation Ella was talking about something and said, "Oh my goodness." Eden quickly asked me, "Mom, can Ella say that? 'Oh my goodness'?" I said sure. Then Ella said, "You just can't say 'Oh my goodness sakes'." Eden then was thinking out loud to herself.... "Oh my goodness sakes...sake...sakes. Yeah you can't say sakes. I don't know what that means...that means it is a bad word!"

Russell LOVES to give hugs and kisses. It is adorable! He will blow kisses good-bye and he also is a climber!! Wow does that boy get into things. Need to keep a close eye on that little boy! :) 

The other morning I was helping Ella get ready for school and out of the blue she looked at me and said, "Mom, I am so glad that I got you for my Mom!" Made my day! Love my sweet Ellanor!

We love you all and hope you each had a wonderful week!

9/3/13

I overheard Gordon talking to one of his little toys (a zooble pet) as we were getting out of the car. He said, "Do you want to go play bowling? Me too....yeah, you can be a pin!" It just made me giggle!

I gave Gordon a kiss on the cheek tonight and then I saw him quickly go to rub it off....I said, "Hey don't you rub off my kisses!" His quick response was, "NO, I'm rubbing it IN." :) Quick on his feet that one !

Before Taylor left for work the other morning Eden said..." okay fruit hug!" Taylor explain that it is actually called a group hug :) 

The kids loved going to Disneyland this past weekend! Very tiring weekend but packed with a lot of fun!! Cars land was a favorite for all...and the girls especially loved the Little Mermaid Ride. Russell loved Its a Small World. So magical! can't wait until the next trip to the Happiest Place on Earth :)

Updated the blog with Eden's birthday go and check it out--soon I will add Disneyland photos.

www.earlfamilyblog.blogspot.com

Love you all!!!

8/23/13

Just a few for this week...but I want to get back on track on getting them out on time :) Love you all!!

I can't remember if I wrote this one down already but Gordon said it again last night. Taylor is busy with work so he was not here for bed time last night. So it was my duty to tell the story. After I was done (which I must admit..was not my best work). Ella said, "Mom can you make it longer and better next time?" Gordon quickly said, "Dad is good at stories...but Mom you are really good at throwing parties!" :) Thanks Gordon!

The girls were remembering our Earl Family Reunion at the Arizona Grand Hotel and they were talking about swimming in the pool with Uncle Cameron and Rebekah. So I started to explain that they are not dating anymore and that Cameron is now dating a girl named Alison. Ella quickly said, "A different Alison...not Jorgan and Alison's Alison". Eden said, ?Yeah because she has a man and it is Jorgan!"

I was making chocolate cupcakes for Eden's party. I was mixing the batter and turned around to find Russell was climbing into his high chair (which I have never seen him do before) with a little assistance he made it in and then looked at me with a huge grin as to say, 'Okay Mom, I am ready for the taste test'. I don't even know how he knew what I was making...guess the smell in the kitchen gave it away. But I could not resist. I gave him a lick of the bowl when I was done and he got the biggest grin on his face. Smacked his lips and then started to climb out of his chair. Mission accomplished!

Grandma and Grandpa Nielsen sent a birthday card for Eden in the mail. It was a pop up castle card. Eden loved it! after she opened it, she quickly went to get her squinkies (very very very small dolls) to have live in her new little castle. The card will entertain her for hours to come!

8/17/13

As a family we went to a baptism this past Sat for a little 9 year old girl that is in our ward. When we got there the sister missionaries asked if the kids would mind coming up to the front to sing a musical number. (I like to look for rainbows). There were a handful of Primary children that got up to sing. But my heart melted when our kids got up and they were standing in the front...and as the prelude was starting Ella reached over and grabbed Eden's hand and then she reached over and grabbed Gordon's. All three of them held hands the whole time while they sang the song. It brought happy Mom tears to my eyes :)

As we were walking into church Ella said, Mom tomorrow is th first day o school. I looked at her slightly puzzled since she started school on the previous Thursday. She quickly clarified....what I meant was tomorrow I my first day of school.....with homework! (With a big grin on her face) I hope she will always love homework this much....a mother can wish right!?! ;) 

When we say night time prayers as a family we all get on our knees and now Russell has caught on o the tradition...except he doesn't actually kneel. He will stop whatever he is oing an then crawl over to b by us and then lay face down on the ground and not move until we are done with the prayer. It is so adorable! 

Little things Russell is doing lately I really just find so stinkin' cute! Like when he tries to cool down his food by "blowing" on it (basically making a loud noise and spitting). Or when he blows his nose ( which looks like what is should when he is cooling off his food.) And he is picking up humor very quickly. He gets little jokes and will laugh very dramatically. He is growing up way too fast! 

The other day it was just Ella and me in the car and she said, "good thing you are my mom...so I can watch you....so I can learn to be a mom." Totally out if the blue and made me feel great!

4/29/13

It has been too long! I don't really have an excuse...I have just been slacking lately. Sorry!!

Tonight Russell was munching on a frozen go-gurt(it is a tube full of frozen yogurt) typically you squeeze it from the bottom to get all the goodness to come out. I help Russell out and has he eats it I cut the plastic down so he can reach. I looked over at him tonight when he was getting down to the end. He could tell there was a little bit left at the bottom but he couldn't quite get it. He also had a straw laying on his tray so he picked it up and put the straw into the go-gurt tube to suck all of it out. Smart and resourceful little guy!

Ella is getting so excited for school. We went to the dr. this past week and she is "perfect" measuring in at 46 inches and 46 pounds. Great vision and looks just as health as can be :)

Eden has been such a joy lately. It is really a blast to just sit and chat with her. She is growing up so quickly! I am glad that I will get to have some one on one time with her this year while the other kids are in school and Russell is napping. :)

Gordon has been a great helper around the house. He loves to help mow the lawn and clean basically whatever I ask him to.

At dinner tonight Ella said," It is perfect Gordon can play with Russell and Eden and I can play together and Mom and Dad get to play together....well the way Mom and Dad like to play is by chatting, and Dad likes to play by working too...kids just play."

4/9/13

These were from a week + ago...but with being out of town I failed to write many down from vacation. So I thought I would send these ones along in the mean time. I am hoping I will remember some from our trip and get those off too. Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July!! Love you all!!

I went to put Russell to bed and I set him down in his crib. He quickly sat up and looked all around...he couldn't find his cow-boy. We went to get it and then he went right to bed.

Russell is totally understanding everything now. The other day he was pretty cranky and I asked him if he wanted to go back down for a nap, he quickly looked at me, stopped crying and shook his head no. Then today he was looking a bit sleepy so again I asked him, "do you want to go night-night?" He held up his hand in the air and began to wave bye-bye (which he does whenever he goes to lay down) and started walking toward his crib. 

I was bathing the girls here at my parents house and Gordon was in the tub in the bathroom just one room over from us. The girls were very tired and the tears were freely coming. I was trying to get through this bath time and then Gordon all clean and washed came into the bathroom we were in....he had a bottle of baby shampoo in his hand and handed it to me and said, "mom you should probably use this shampoo...it says 'no more tears'." Such a thoughtful boy! 

My parents just celebrated their anniversary and my mom has put their engagement picture up on Facebook. I was showing the kids and telling them that this was grandma and grandpa when they got married. Ella quickly responded...well and right after that they changed their faces because they don't look like that at all any more.

6/19/13

So sorry I have been a HUGE slacker lately!!! I have not been feeling well and that is making me lazy in a few things and unfortunately this has been one :(.

So here is what I can remember from what has been going on the past little while....

Russell loves to wave to people. And he will even say "hi" or "bye" with it on occasion.

Russell is full blown walking. All over the place. It is so cute to watch him. He is pretty independent but if you are near by when he passes you he will reach up his little hand for your finger to take you with him on his journey.

The kids have been so wonderful at helping out around the house. They help me empty the dishwasher, vacuum, sweep, and they can clean the loft all by them selves, take out the trash, help cook lunch and sometimes dinner!! Gordon even cleaned two bathrooms for me the other day. The toilets and even the tub! I can get very use to this!! They are wonderful worker bees!

We were in the loft yesterday and Ella said to Eden, "I need your skills!" Eden with a puzzled looks said back, "You need my skittles?" Ella then said, "No, not your skittles...your skills...like your bones!"

5/31/13

We were in the car and Eden leaned over and asked Grandma, "Do you know what trash can means?" Grandma's reply was, "Sure, it is where you put garbage." Eden asked again, "No, you know trash can...." Then she said, "Like trash can talking" :)

Gordon was up in Grandma's bathroom while she was doing he hair and the topics of cowlicks came up. Gordon was noticing his and asked if girls had them. Grandma explained that sometimes they do but they can be covered up by their long hair. Later on Gordon was noticing that Grandma was putting some foam in her hair...he asked, "What is that?" Grandma replied,"Moose". Then Gordon with a puzzled look on his face said, "Why do things with hair have to do with animals?"

While we were at the beach we were explaining to Gordon that you can go number one in the ocean but not in a pool. Grandma had a follow up question. She asked, "where do fish go to the bathroom?" Gordon said, "they swim away from people!"

Eden at the beach "I like scaring the chickens (pigeons) away"

Russell is still not walking on his own. Although he does prefer to walk...so he holds one of my fingers and walks all over the house with me. It is adorable, but I will enjoy it when he gets a little more daring an tries it on his own :)

And poor boy. Working on another molar and this time it has created a blood blister in his mouth. It looks very painful...and it seems to be, this poor guy has been pretty miserable the past few days. Hopefully it breaks through soon! 

Love you all!!

5/18/13

We were in the car and I was listening in on the kids conversation....Eden asked Gordon, "Is there water in Heaven?" Gordon replied, "Yes! Heaven is a lot like it is here...except you just will never have any owies" :)

Eden loves to dip her food into things and she is notorious for "painting" things as she dips. By the time she is finished her plate is covered...very artistically.

I can't remember if I have given the teeth update for Russell. Two of his four molars have broken through with another on the way.

I have updated the blog with a few things as well. Remember to check that out...www.earlfamilyblog.blogspot.com   You need to be logged in with the email address I sent your invite to to access it. If you need an invite again let me know. (Sorry it is a hassle...but I feel much better since we went private)

Ella woke up the other morning with blue on her lips. Taylor came and told me..."I am pretty sure Ella colored her lips with a blue marker". And to be totally honest I wasn't super surprised...I could see her thinking it would be pretty lipstick and go for it. (although I know she knows better). I went to ask her about it. I asked her if she put marker on her lips. She said, "No! We need to figure out why my lips are blue!....maybe there was a marker in my bed while I was sleeping?" I went and checked her bed expecting to find a blue marker open and all over her sheets. And there was nothing there. I couldn't explain it. Then a little while later Ella came to me again, "Mom I really need to figure out how my lips got blue...." she sat there for a moment and then with exclamation said, "I got it! I probably slept on my Doodle Bear  and that marker got on my face." (note: A Doodle Bear is a bear made to be drawn on with markers and the you can wash and color on it over and over again)She ran to get the bear and sure enough she even knew the exact place that the marker transferred from the bear to her face. Smart little girl. And now we know that Teddy is a play bear not a sleeping bear ;) And also glad to know that we don't have a little stealth mouse in our house running around with a blue marker turning lips different colors.

We were in the car and I overheard Ella telling her friend I had a dream that my Mom was a super hero. She dove into the water with her cape and saved the baby twins. 

We babysit swap with some friends so we can go to the temple and it was our turn with the kids. Gordon was very excited for them to come. He asked, "how long till they get here?" I told him5 min. He asked how long does that take. I said it is 60 seconds 5 times. Then a few min later he came running down stairs saying they are here and it only took 4 min and 37 seconds!

Love you all so much!!!! Hope you had a great week!

5/3/13

Pretty sure I missed a week...sorry!!!

During Sacrament meeting today Ella looks back over our bench and lets out a gasp...."Mom, look that person is ASLEEP!...their eyes are CLOSED...and they are not little, they are big...like almost an adult!"

Russell is working on TWO of his molars. I thought it was one...nope top and bottom on his left side. Hard work for a little boy!

We made cotton candy for Family Night last night and when we announced it to the kids Ella with pure excitement and joy said, "I- am- so - excited! Best- Night- ever!" (and with each beat she was striking some new dance pose.)--this is when I wish more than anything I had a video camera to capture it.

The girls have been whining about playing the computer so I told Ella this morning we are going to go the whole day without playing the computer and see if that helps us to not whine. Then she came over and started asking/whining if she could play the computer. I was explaining to her..."what if we didn't have a computer then you wouldn't be whining about it"....she thought for a moment and then said, "Mom...I would still whine"

In the car yesterday Eden's shoes fell off and they were near the door. She said to Gordon, "Can you get them? I don't want them to fell out". Gordon corrected her and said, "it is fall out". Eden said, "fell...fall...what's the difference, it is okay."

We were getting ready to do scriptures with the kids and they were laying on the ground...that was all the invitation Russell needed. He quickly crawled over from the other side of the room and dive bombed Ella...yelling "AHHHH" while he was doing it. Then he went over to Eden and Gordon...same thing. We all were laughing so hard! I have been trying to get it on video for the past few days and I seem to always miss it. Soon!!

Whenever I pour milk into Russell's bottle he does a cute little squeal for joy then laughter...every time. So cute!

Russell is growing up so fast, and figuring things out very quickly. He was in the cart at Costco the other day and had a tissue in his hand. I looked at him and he put it up to his nose and made a loud blowing sound. Another day he followed me into the laundry room with a rag and started to clean the floor.

We were at Costco and Gordon come running over..."Mom, you have to try this ex-sample...you are gonna love it!"

We love you all and hope you are having a great week!