A Very Merry Christmas

We had a WONDERFUL Christmas!

And although presents were a part of that, it was wonderful because it was...


A) Relaxed

B) Everybody was healthy

C) Those who wanted to, took naps (i.e. Nadine got a nap)
D) Dinner was low-key (ready-made Chicken cordon bleu)


E) Everybody was happy ALL DAY LONG- no melt downs!

As a friend said, it would be nice to be with extended family, but it is so nice to just do your own thing on Christmas.

I've posted more pictures of Christmas Eve and Christmas on the website here.

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

I must say, I think their mom was more interested in making mini cakes than the girls. Possibly true with the exception that they LOVED licking the bowl/spatula/spoon and had fun eating the cake. Isn't that usually how it is?

Of course, they also really enjoyed "sharing" the cake with Grandma.

Megan was a little distraught that Miranda was grabbing some of the fondant off Grandma's (Megan's?) cake.

Here's your Birthday Cake, Grandma!
We hope you like RED and chocolate.

Miranda didn't finish her dinner,
and so she didn't get to eat any "Happy Birthday".
She still had fun singing with us.

Zoë enjoyed every bite of her cake.

Megan had fun eating the fondant.
She wasn't quite as interested in the cake.

Veronica shows off her new-found ability:
grabbing her frog
and stuffing it in her mouth!

I am so grateful that we have so many different technologies that allow us to see/communicate/share with family! Not only did we get to video record the girls singing Happy Birthday, but we later got to talk with Grandma (and Grandpa) on Skype (great format for IM and video conferences between Macs and PCs).

We wish you a VERY Happy Birthday!!!

Christmas Eve Tradition

Growing up we always got to open one present on Christmas Eve. It was so much fun that we didn't mind so much that it was Mom who picked out the present and it was almost always pajamas. It was still a tantalizing taste of the feast that was to come the next morning.

My girls are also enjoying that tradition-
right on down to the gift opened being PJs!

Umlauts or trema or diaeresis or ...

Umlauts or trema or diaeresis or just "those two dots over the letter" (of course the words in quotes are emphasized by taking index and middle finger, as in indicating the number two, and punching them toward the person to whom you are explaining what you're talking about).

Officially, on Zoë's birth certificate, she does not have these extra indicatives of how to correctly pronounce her name. Zoë is a Greek word meaning "Life". But, if you were to read it according to the (idiotic!) English language, it would be pronounced like toe, that digit on the end of your foot.

The umlauts (as they are called in German) or trema (which is the actual name for the two little dots) allows what is called a diaeresis, which is where you pronounce the vowel as another syllable and as separate instead of a dipthong (no, not a scary speedo bikini, it's when you slur your vowels- yes, still seemingly sounds in poor taste, but it is necessary when you are calling a train).

According to Wikipedia (the source of all secular knowledge, but that's another post):

The word trema is taken from the Byzantine Greek τρημα, meaning "perforation, orifice". This sign was first used in that language to indicate a phonological diaeresis, that is when two consecutive vowels are pronounced separately as a hiatus, rather than together in a diphthong. It is currently used with this purpose in several languages of western and southern Europe, among them Occitan, Modern Greek, Catalan, Dutch, and Welsh.

For example, according to the spelling rules of Catalan, the digraphs ei and iu are normally read as diphthongs, [ei̯] and [iu̯]. To indicate exceptions to this rule, a diaeresis mark is placed on the second vowel: without the trema the words veïna [bəˈinə] ("neighbour", feminine) and diürn [diˈurn] ("diurnal") would be read [ˈbei̯nə] and [ˈdiu̯rn], respectively.

So, you now ask, since you know why I add the trema to Zoë's name, how do you get these little dots over the E on the computer?

Well, it's easy on the web. There's a shortcut for HTML, and all you have to do is type in ë. Oh wait, let me write it as I am writing it really:
& e u m l ;

It's a little harder on other things. I've got Word set up with a macro so that every time I type Zoë's name, it automatically corrects the e to ë. But, if you want, you can always go in and find the "symbol" to add the umlauts.

At any rate, I like the weirdness, but I try not to get exasperated when people spell her name wrong (drop the tremas, or add a y or subtract the e and add ie, etc.)

Yes, it's crazy how people spell names. I'm included in that group- but only with Zoë's name. I think with my other daughter's I've chosen "standard" spelling (if there is such a thing.)

The Spirit of Christmas

It's predictable, but sweet:

Mmmm mmmm ornaments

I found this recipe online this summer. It takes a TON of cinnamon, but it smells SOOOOO good, and yet you don't have to worry about it going to your hips cuz you don't eat these "cookies". My girls had so much fun cutting out the shapes and making ornaments! We tried decorating with candies, but the glue/applesauce kinda melted them. Still, melted silver drages looked pretty cool. And, every time I walk by them, I just inhale and enjoy the smell of Christmas...

I don't have pictures of us making these ornaments, nor the ones I made with Megan's classmates at preschool last week. We were having too much fun (and I was suprivising too much) to pull out the camera. Maybe next year...

Cinnamon Ornaments

1 1/2 cups ground cinnamon
1 cup applesauce
1/3 cup white school glue (Elmer's)

Mix above in bowl until it forms a dough. Let rest for about 30 min. Roll out on wax paper and cut out with cookie cutters. Use a straw to create a hole to hang as an ornament. Can decorate while dough is still wet or after dry (I actually mixed glitter in with the dough and that looks really cool!). Allow to dry for several hours, turning to get even (and flat) drying.

A Style of Her Own

So far, all three of my walking daughters have loved to dress up.

I think Miranda is the most original with her garb...

Taken for Granted

I want you to imagine for a minute that you are one of the characters on Sesame street who can bend her arms, and somewhat her waist, but cannot bend her legs. Now, think about trying to pick up little papers/toys/shoes off the floor. It isn't impossible, but it takes a LOT of energy expenditure, thought, planning and process.

That's been my life for the last four months. It was torture! I really would look at something on the floor, stare at it, and think, "UGH! I just can't pick that up!"

This morning, I was admiring my clean kitchen floors (I scrubbed them last night on hands and knees and we didn't make calzones or have rice for dinner- a miracle!) and noticed that one of the girls had dropped part of a string cheese wrapper on the floor near the garbage can. As I easily and quckly leaned down to pick it up and drop it into the garbage can I was struck by the thought, "That was NO PROBLEM!"

Yes, my back is really truly better. It twinges sometimes. My leg is still numb, but I noticed that I could almost run up the stairs! I limp when I've been walking for a long time instead of limping whenever I take a step. And, the numbness is sloooooowwwlly receding.

The miracle of life, of healing, of the Power of the Priesthood and Prayer. Thank you so much for all of you who have been praying for me, who have stepped in to help, and who have been my support throughout these last four months. How grateful I am that God has blessed us with these amazing bodies, and all that they can do! I am also very grateful He's seen fit to allow my body to heal so well, because I know that isn't always the case.

I never want to take for granted simple acts, such as being able to pick up something off the ground, again.

Cuddle Bug

It's cold in our house. Yeah, yeah, I know I've said that before... but I say it again.

It isn't as cold as some other homes of friends, but our heater can get the main floor up to a toasty 72. We usually keep it at 68 during the day, just to keep our bill down. I have a friend who, no matter how high the thermostat or how long the heater runs, it never cracks 66! Another just keeps the thermostat at 65. Brrrrr! I'm VERY grateful for our heater, and tho' this house has issues, it can warm up.

Anyway, for that reason, I try to keep my babies somewhat bundled. And, if they've just had a blow-out and their clothes are dirty and I'm too busy/tired/lazy to change them- especially if they just fell asleep nursing.

This happened with Veronica and I wrapped her in a blanket her cousin, Alysa, made for her and set her in the swing to sleep. I walked away for a bit (working on a project) until she woke up and I heard her fussing some. I came back to look at her and there she was with the blanket completely covering her! I tucked the blanket behind her head so she could see again and she just snuggled in so happily I had to capture the moment...

Ice Skating!

One of our earlier dates while Travis and I were getting acquainted was to go ice skating down near Utah Lake in Provo. It had been years since I had ice skated, but it didn't take me long to enjoy the feel again. I was impressed that someone as tall as Travis could keep balance, and chuckled to myself how much he looked like a kid, despite his height. Even better that he was willing to look like a kid around me and have fun!

We took our daughters ice skating this last week. Notre Dame has started sponsoring "Family Night" activities on Fridays. There's been bike rides, picnics, bowling, soccer and tennis camps. We haven't been able to attend all of them, but we've had a lot of fun at every one we did attend. This activity was no exception.

It was fun to see Miranda re-learn how to walk. It was great to hear Megan giggle uncontrollably as she slid around on the ice. I loved to see Zoë take off in an independence that was a little sad as it was heart-warming (she went with a neighbor friend and mom). Veronica just looked cute and did what she did best: smile at everybody who gave her a look.

I hope ND continues these great activities for families. It is so fun to have things to do together that are for families; it means people don't look mad when your kid throws a huge temper-tantrum as you are dragging her across the floor to the door. It means you can have cookies and hot chocolate spills where other adults just smile and nod and sigh in relief that it wasn't their child who made the disaster. It's fun to see all the kids laughing, smiling, sliding and falling, parent faces full of fun and laughter, tired cries of children as they leave. It's GREAT!

Miranda LOVED being on the ice. She couldn't walk in her skates on the ground or the ice. She finally was able to balance on the ground, but she just wanted to sit or be held on the ice. She still loved it!



Megan giggled the entire time she was on the ice. When her feet would slip out from under her, her huge eyes would go even wider, and her mouth would open and start laughing. It was such a joy!



Zoë skated all by herself, or with her friend, or with the friend's mom. She got up to crusing speed, and although she fell a few times, she was back on the ice rather quickly after each break.




Veronica enjoyed all the ooo's and aahhhhh's over her cuteness. She didn't get fussy until the end when she was hungry and tired. Which we all were!

We all enjoyed watching the Zamboni, too!

Nadine and Travis let each other take a couple laps around the ice. It was SUPER crowded- we hear there were possibly THREE HUNDRED FIFTY people on that hockey rink. WOW! And, they did have a Santa there. The kids were in it for a candy cane. Megan and Zoë asked for Littlest Petshop toys, but Megan asked for a rattle for Veronica, too. Miranda just got shy and stuck her fingers in her mouth.

As we headed home, Zoë was asking for ice skates. Megan said, "I NEVER want to go back there again!" (and I'm not sure where that came from). Miranda didn't want to leave. I know that I would love to go back with the girls again, but I'd also love to go ice skating with just Travis- and remember when our family got its start.



We didn't get a movie of the girls on the ice, but we got a shot of them walking around!

Megan's Preschool Presentation

Each semester at ECDC, the teachers plan a program/party. Today was Megan's party where she sang four songs (Two Blackbirds, Shaking the Apple Tree, Victor Vito and Jingle Bells). The parents brought muffins, juice, and fruit and lots of cameras. There were lots of smiles to go around.

Miranda had fun "playing" in Megan's classroom. Although, she was a little nervous about all the people.

Veronica was satiated and happy to be around so many people. I wonder if she'll be shy in a large group like her sisters... or if she'll embrace crowds. If she does, she'll be nothing like the rest of her family!

I'm including some videos, but I'm not claiming any musical proteges. It's your typical preschool singing- lots of voices, lots of change in tambre, volume (some soft some stacatto FORTE), and many miss-sung words. But, you can see the kids had fun! That's the best party anyway, seeing their happy faces.*

On a end note, as the party was beginning to wrap up, a pipe burst in the classroom's radiator. The whole room was quickly flooded with brown water that crept across floor. Some of the children were a little freaked out by this encroaching monster. Everybody was evacuated as some tried to get things off the floor and out of the way. Thankfully, a couple of the fathers were able to get the radiator opened and the water shut off. (I couldn't get the door off). It was such a mess! They split the kids and moved them to the other classrooms. I feel sorry for the teachers who will have a huge mess to clean up (the books, toys, blocks, tables, etc. that got wet...)


*I don't know why I can't translate this into the Primary Program. If any of you have ever talked with me, you'll know that I love kids, and I love singing, but I do NOT enjoy the yearly Primary Program at church. It is too painful for me. And, no, even having my own children in it has not helped much- not as a teacher, a parent, or even the person who wrote the program. Yes, I can appreciate, and I do, all the hard work that goes into the program. I appreciate those children who learn their parts. I love the primary songs. I just don't really enjoy hearing them sung. Maybe it's because they don't know them well enough? Because I do love it when a child can sing a whole song properly- even if they aren't singing exactly the right notes (although that is MUCH preferred!). Oh, and I so do not mind people making mistakes when playing instruments in church. I notice it, but it doesn't bother me like the singing can... weird, eh?

First Snow

atlhough I am no big fan of winter, it's cold and gloomy snowy days, there's something magical about the first snow. The fun of watching soft fluffy flakes float to the ground, the muffled sound of the outdoors and the insulation of the house with a white coating, and the excitement of what might be coming next. It's great to have a visible reason for getting out the hot chocolate. It also makes me thankful that I have a warm home to get out of the snow, and grateful that I can go outside to play, but come in to warm up.

I love the first snow. I can't let myself think that this will be the first of many days where I will spend an hour shoveling the walks, driving in slush or white-out conditions, slipping on black ice (in our out of the vehicle), fighting to find lost mittens/hats/snowpants/boots, etc. I can't think about how it will get down below 0 F, or how I will be wishing for the spring melt.
No, with the first snow I think of snowmen, Christmas, painting the snow with colored water in spray bottles, of making snow angels, and tobogganing. I think of nipped fingers and noses that can be warmed by a mug of hot cocoa with marshmallows in it. I think of the pristine white blanket, the soft muffle that a snowfall makes, and the fun with my kids.

The first snow is the best.

Parenting Lessons

OK, so I know I'm not an expert. I was sitting in a preschool orientation meeting with Megan's preschool teacher earlier this fall and listening to how the teachers discipline at school: get down on a child's level, use a calm voice, explain (or even better, get the child to explain) the problem, and then help the child come up with some resolutions. Also, if behavior persists, distract the child or remove the child from the situation.

My friend sitting next to me has a son the same age as Zoë, and a second son a little younger than Megan. She leaned over and whispered to me, "You know, after this meeting I go home and for about a week I use these skills, and then it's right back out the window!"

For me it was a refreshing wake-up call. I used to be so effective at this with Zoë, and moderately so with Megan, but even less with Miranda. Poor Veronica! So, I'm back to trying again to use these techniques.

Yes, I still spend too much time yelling, something I'm not proud of and trying to work on. And, with my efforts, I have seen a wonderful response. In myself! I'm not as upset and frustrated because I've taken out the emotion on my side. I feel more patient (most of the time). I've also found that having a good night's sleep is helpful- for both me and the kid.

When I read this article in the New York Times, I had to laugh. Are there seriously parents out there who don't know how to be the Alpha? That is SO not a problem in my family! I grew up in a house full of Indian Chiefs, as my mom liked to call us girls and my dad, and no Indians. My current family is not dissimilar (although my girls' dad is MUCH more laid back, he still has that iron fist in a kid glove- so they know not to push him too far).

I know many people who have (had) dogs and children, and most of them say that training a dog is not too dissimilar from raising a young child. So, there is some merit to the idea of using similar techiniqes. I especially love the quote at the end of the article:

“This is good?” she wrote. “Did I have that attitude as a parent? Was I focusing on the positives, the opportunities?..."

Some of my best parenting moments are when a child, who knows she has done something wrong, will come to me and say, "Sorry, mama!" and put her arms around me. If I've disciplined properly, I am also in the mood to receive that apology, and both of us benefit from the greater love we show each other.

It's In the Genes

Megan and Miranda had their yearly well-child checkup today. They look great, and are right on for developmental milestones. Although, personally, I still think they are a bit ahead in the verbal department...

Megan is in the 80%-ile for her height, and in the same percentile for her weight. So, she's tall and well-proportioned. That's pretty cool, but I wish (even more!) that she would be starting Kindergarten this fall... that way she won't be the tallest, oldest kid in her class. Still, she does so well with others, I know she'll be great wherever she lands!

Miranda also got her stats: She is 35.25 inches tall, and both her height and weight put her into the 80%-ile. So, she's also tall and well-proportioned. If you take a child's height at 2 years of age and double it, that is supposed to be the height when they reach adulthood. Miranda will be close to 6' tall! (OK, so I guess she'll be 5' 11").

I cannot remember what Zoë was, I'll have to check when I take her back in... But, I know that each child seems to be slightly taller than the one before. Megan was 34.75" at 2 years, meaning she'll be close to 5' 10" tall. I wonder how tall Veronica will be? Will she reach the six foot mark? I wonder if maybe all of them will get there....

So, the girls got their height from their dad. I guess they get the "well-proportioned" from their mom. That's not a bad combination.

I wonder what other traits they inherited...

Parent Teacher Conference

I met with Megan's preschool teacher last night. I find these conferences to be insightful. I feel like I spend so much time with my daughters, and often not the same type of time (I'm cleaning, cooking, running errands, etc). It's refreshing to have another adult observe and talk about what she sees in my child.

Megan's teacher had NOTHING bad to say about Megan. I don't think it was just because she's a super positive person. Zoë had the same teacher and I heard about some of the struggles Zoë had in class with different things.

Megan loves school. Her teacher said she even asks for "homework". She loves anything to do with art and is probably where she spends a majority of her time. Her other favorite activity is "dramatic play". That's the new way to say "pretending" or "dress up". Her teacher said that Megan plays so well with others; she's a little teacher herself; she has so much enthusiasm and excitement that she gets the other children in the class excited about the activity. Megan loves to learn, no matter what the teacher brings out. She is also experimenting with writing letters.

Can you believe I was really surprised, and yet part of me wasn't surprised at all? I know my girls are bossy, independent, and quick learners. I know that they are "leaders" in one way or another. I just didn't realize how much Megan was... and yet I've seen it at home. When she's here she plays so well with Miranda that I can almost not even be around. She's very creative in her playing, but works well with what others want to play. Such as this summer with her cousin Jack, who was the good bad-guy, and she was the Queen his mother.

I kept waiting for the teacher to tell me areas of improvement. Megan can't catch a ball. And, they want to encourage her more and work with her more on writing the alphabet. Continue to foster her drawing skills (her teacher said that Megan has incredible ability and attention to detail; I think that's definitely inherited: a talent possessed by her dad, her Aunt Molly, and her Uncle Brett!)

I forgot to ask (although Travis mentioned it when I told him about the interview) if the teachers have seen her contrary side- the one where she will argue until the sun goes down that it's night time...

It's so great to have other people think your child is as wonderful, smart, fun, happy, and pleasant as you do, and they are as glad as you are to have her around!

"MY Happy Birthday!"

I believe it is due to being the third child, but Miranda is very teritorial and possessive. She will share, and she's good about it if you ask her nicely, but she definitely makes it known when she wants something to be hers: "MY ________". This has been especially true about Ariel, a Barbie that was originally Megan's birthday present. But it was also the first thing she said about her cake when she saw it on Saturday morning. "MY Happy Birthday Ariel". She now adds cake, but she believes "Happy Birthday" is a synonym for cake.


When Miranda woke up this morning, she started chattering (in her not-so-quiet voice) immediately about her Happy Birthday, and that we would eat it after church. I think she said "Happy Birthday" about 20 times in 2 minutes!
I don't think she had the concept of the part about turning 2 or about presents yet... but she sure did know when the time came to open them. Of course, I think her sisters helped clue her in on what to do, and offered LOTS of assistance.







We had a great time talking to Grandma & Grandpa, and then the Giauques while opening presents. Miranda was very excited to share her birthday cake, at least in theory. Grandpa said Miranda could have his piece (after she offered him some). But after scraping all the frosting off her piece of cake, I decided to give her another slice (more frosting) and told her it was Grandpa's piece, she was quite upset and insited it was "MY Happy Birthday! [cake]". She loved that it was Ariel, that it was her Happy Birthday [cake].

We all enjoyed the cake!
And opening more presents (Note that she has Ariel in her hands- she grabbed hold of her all night!)She also loved her birthday presents (Ariel books, Ariel polly-pocket, Ariel barbie doll, some cute books from G&G, cards





and a little play-dough kit that lets you extrude the dough to create manes, tails, elephant trunks. Her sisters really enjoyed the latter, too!

Happy Second Birthday, Miranda!


Singing Happy Birthday:

She LOVES Ariel!