Michael
** Is BUSIER than I have ever known him to be
** His work in his calling is really BLESSING OUR FAMILY, so we are supportive and happy even though he's not around as much
** Traveling to BOSTON and CHICAGO this month
** Has put a TON OF MILES on his car after 6 months of constantly driving to the stake center
** OBSESSED WITH the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables (as am I) and watches selected songs frequently
** Just finished RE-READING HARRY POTTER 7 to get ready for the movie
** Enjoying taking a walk in the past as we look at his OLD FAMILY PHOTOS together for "dates at home"
Shelley
** Shaelyn took this picture - pretty GREAT, huh?!
** FEELING A LITTLE WEARY this month with some recent parenting challenges that have crept up
** Trying to SERVE OTHERS to lose myself (and my weariness)
** Doing NEVER ENDING LAUNDRY as the girls change and change and CHANGE their outfits a million times a day, compounded with Christian's twice-daily changes
** Only ever going to 3 stores: WALMART, TARGET, and COSTCO - and if what I need isn't at one of those 3 stores, then we ain't gettin' it!
** Forcing myself to get at least 7 HOURS OF SLEEP (cumulative) - have been having some scary DIZZY SPELLS, and sleep is a necessary ingredient to avoid them
** Looking forward to SOBBING IN THE MOVIE THEATER on July 15th
** Reading some GREAT BOOKS right now on the lives of Marjorie and Gordon Hinckley
** Trying to be the WIFE and MOTHER the Lord needs me to be
Shaelyn
** I have re-named this child "MAE WEST" for all the drama she is constantly getting herself WRAPPED UP IN
** She is a NEW CHARACTER daily, sometimes several a day, and INSISTS on being called that character's name, eating food that character would eat, dressing like that character, etc.
** Her current character: LILO from Lilo and Stitch (see above photo)
** Wants COCONUT MILK (really chocolate milk - she doesn't actually like coconut) every morning with breakfast, and is constantly asking to EAT PINEAPPLE, even though she can't stand it
** Tries to sing the lyrics to He Mele No Lilo, which is hilarious because it is all in HAWAIIAN
** Finally got a COPY OF LILO AND STITCH from the library - we'll see if she actually likes it (yes, the obsession with Lilo comes without ever having seen the movie)
** Baby Christian is STITCH
** Insists that she has BROWN HAIR, BROWN EYES, and BROWN SKIN just like Lilo
** Also, in her mind, Lilo wears ALL GREEN
** Mommy had to make a special trip to the DOLLAR STORE to track down some "luau items" to make Lilo's costume complete
** ALL DRAWINGS done by Shaelyn, I mean Lilo, involve little girls dressed ALL IN GREEN with BROWN SKIN, etc.
** Saw her very first MOVIE IN A MOVIE THEATER with Daddy this month: CARS 2
** Also went to her very first SUMMER CAMP this past month - a good taste for what's to come next school year when I send her to preschool 4 days a week
Rachelle
** Is lucky she's so STINKIN' CUTE because she TRIES MY PATIENCE to the very extreme these days
** Has DAILY BATTLES with me over clothing (or lack thereof - see above)
** If she's not "nakies," only wants to wear her ARIEL DRESS or her SLEEPING BEAUTY dress (called "sweeping booty") and nothing else
** The fight was BIG ENOUGH that she got to wear SLEEPING BEAUTY to CHURCH (much to my consternation)
** Is so VIOLENT TOWARD CHRISTIAN that I have had to purchase a "baby jail" as I call it (a super gate/play pen) to put Christian in so he is safe from his sister's hits, pulls, pokes, and slaps
** Loves CURIOUS GEORGE (the movie with Will Ferrell) and THOMAS THE TRAIN (knows all the words to the theme song) and wants to watch them everyday
** CHANGES and CHANGES and CHANGES her clothes so often every day that I want to SCREAM (but hey, I guess I can celebrate the fact that she can DRESS HERSELF!)
** Plays "HORSEY" with Michael every day when he comes home from work - initiates this by looking up at Michael and saying "NEIGH?"
** Has the BIGGEST BLUE EYES I have ever seen, which is one of the reasons she gets away with half the stuff she does - when those peepers are looking into yours, you MELT
** Despite her violent advances, I think she really does love her "BABY TRISTAN" as she calls him - and she's even had some recent moments when she's been soft with him!
** Has decided our house should be REDECORATED and has COLORED on most of the walls downstairs (but luckily, with washable crayons)
** Has the LOUDEST SCREAM I have ever heard!!!! :)
Christian
** Where has the TIME GONE?!
** Is my BIGGEST BABY by far and weighed almost 12 POUNDS at his 2 month appointment
** Is practically GROWN OUT of his 0-3 month clothes, wearing SIZE 2 DIAPERS, and looking very much like a LITTLE MAN
** SWEET, SWEET, SWEET
** COOS and SMILES and just LIGHTS UP when I talk to him or look at him
** Still a good nurser, but HATES BEING COVERED while nursing - so we do a lot of nursing in the car
** ON A SCHEDULE already - 3 naps (sometimes 4) a day, and sleeping from 9 PM - 4 AM, nurses while sleeping, then 4 AM to 7 AM. HALLELUJAH!!
** Takes his SISTER'S BEATINGS quite well - is one tough little guy
** Has really stepped up the SCREAM CRY - because he doesn't get his needs tended to immediately most of the time. POOR 3RD CHILD!
** Still has CLOGGED TEAR DUCTS in both eyes, so his eyes are constantly goopy and have to be wiped out - he HATES THIS!
** Loves the SWING and his vibrating SLEEPER and doesn't much care for anything else
** Gets WRAPPED EVERY SUNDAY during my Sunday School lesson and snoozes right through it - most of the ward has still never actually seen him!
** Has completely STOLEN MY HEART!
