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I took this picture after church while Fina was trying to herd Eloise into the house. I think it is freakin' awesome because of how the part in the sun just completely whited out so it looks like they were standing in front of a white screen or something. It looks photoshopped around Fina's head.

Watching TV

It's like a bunk bed couch. Handy for 2 kids to lay around and watch tv.

An informative graph

I thought of this the other day when my children wore their pajamas to Yellowstone park. From the time we left (3 AM) until about 8 AM, the footy pajamas greatly enhanced the cuteness factor. But if I hadn't changed them into their clothing at that point, it would have gone from adorable to kind of weird. Taking a pajama clad kid to walmart at 10 PM to buy some tylenol because they are running a fever is pretty neutral, taking them in their pajamas at 10 AM to go shopping for the hell of it is strange. Also trashy. So now you know.

Cool blocks (and other yard sale tales)

I went yardsaling today, with my mom which is usually really sucky and productiony but today she did pretty well. I got Fina a new bike for 7.50, and it is purple despite saying BARBIE (I thought there was a law that barbie branded stuff has to be pink). We also got a few books, an angelina ballerina and a winnie the pooh which are both reminiscent of The Jolly Postman (which incidentally I always lusted after.), one about a moose helping santa, a mostly uncolored in Nickey Mouse coloring book, some random other books Fina helpfully tossed in the bag, and some of those american girl tiny paper dolls that mcdonald's gave away in their happy meals a year or so ago. We got a dress for Fina for next summer and a pair of black leggings for her. For Eloise I got 3 pairs of pajamas, a new dress, an oshkosh jumper, 4 play outfits for this winter, 2 pairs of pants, and a couple t-shirts. We also got a bag of wooden blocks, which is a mishmash of them from several sets like you would expect to find in Aunt Jean's basement. Which leads me to the picture:

I thought these 6 were pretty cute (I bet the whole sesame street set was cute, especially before there was years of filth layered on them) We have Franky, Prince, Bert, Ernie, Poco Loco, and Little Bird.

Eloise got this really obnoxious "learning drum" that she grabbed off a table as we walked by and then held on tightly to until we got home. And we rounded out the day with a couple stuffed animals of course. The books, blocks, and most of the clothes came from a church rummage sale where they handed you a shopping bag at the door and you stuffed it full for $2, which is why I was sort of tossing shit in my bag with no abandon. Oh, and at that sale I also got a swaddling blanket that I was going to give as a baby gift to my new niece or nephew but I think it is a larger size so I don't know about that now.

I spent:

7.50 for the bike

$2 for the bag of crap

$1 for the 4 play outfits and jumper for Eloise

$1 for a stupid stuffed turtle that Eloise "needed" because Fi was buying a stuffed toy at that sale (Fi brought her own money, score!)

And I think mom paid for most of the rest of the junk. Mom bought so much crap that she had to leave me her car and borrow the yukon to transport it all home.

Eloise's owly diapers

She's going through the bag going "Oooooh, what else did mommy buy?"

Climbing up onto the couch

I love how she's just serious when she's chilling. She's like "I know you're photographing me but I don't care."

Hamming it up a little by trying to stand up.

This is how we SLIIIIDE down.

Hey, I found the remote!

Magic Singing potion

Apparently today in primary during singing time, they sprayed "magic singing potion" into the kids' mouths to "help them sing better". Fina was telling me all about it when we got home. She said, "it tasted just like juice!" Then she sang a song to me and asked "Don't I sing better now that I've had that magic singing potion?" (answer: no. I've never heard her sing more monotone and chantlike) but I told her yes and she said, "Yeah, it's really too bad they didn't give you any."

Pictures of "fishing"

We went fishing today. Well, John did. The girls and I played in the water. He didn't catch any fish, mysteriously.

Just before I took that one, Fina came up behind her and kicked water and splashed her in the back. That's the mildly startled face but it was too cute not to include.

And it was about this time that I realized: I do have spare clothes for them, but I don't have any towels or even baby wipes to wipe off the mud and water. Luckily I had a fleece blanket that we use for picnics or things sometimes and it was enough to dry them a little.