Guinea Pig Problem

Meet Squeeker and Speeder (now called Smores):

These are Kaylee and Aaron's little pets given to them by Santa last year.

Pretty cute...right?

Santa should have done his research!

Santa didn't know that I would be allergic to our new friends.

I break out into hives when I hold them and start sneezing

when I am around them too long.

Santa didn't know that Eric would have to take on the responsibility

of "helping" the kids clean the cage.

Santa didn't know that Aaron would give Speeder to Kaylee after 

a few months because he no longer wanted to take care of her.

That is why Speeder is now named Smores.

Santa didn't know that the excitement of new pets

would soon dwindle into nothing.

Santa didn't know that these guinea pigs would be neglected most of the time.

Santa...WHAT WERE YOU THINKING???

We (Eric, Aaron, and I) think that it is time for the guinea pigs

to find a new home where they will be loved more and taken care of better

and where they don't cause allergies.

Kaylee is holding on to them as long as she possibly can.

She is doing the best that she can and loves them and cries every time

we bring up the subject of selling them.

We have given her 3 strikes...on the third strike the guinea pigs are out.

We are at two.

Am I brave enough to have to follow through if and when the third strike comes?

Am I going to have to break Kaylee's heart?

Oh...what to do???

Thanks a lot Santa...next time go for the Zu-Zu Pets!

A Merry Heart

2 Nephi 2:25-Adam fell that men might be; and men are that they might have joy.

Proverbs 15:13-A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance; but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Proverbs 17:22-A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

We are supposed to be happy :)

Good Night Sweet Butterflies

I LOVE this book for toddlers. Good Night, Sweet Butterflies is beautifully illustrated with bright colors. It is a great book to teach children colors and counting. It lasted through Kaylee and Aaron's toddler-hood and then got lost and forgotten in Kaylee's room. I found it the other day and I hope that it will survive Nathan so that I have the chance to read it to Travis!

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

This was my favorite meal growing up...thanks Mom, its delicious! A combination of chicken, cheese, broccoli, and potatoes. Can't get much better than that!

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

• 1 lb broccoli florets, cooked
• 2 cups shredded chicken
• 6 or 7 medium potatoes, cooked, pealed, and diced
• 2 cans cream of chicken soup
• 1 soup can of milk
• grated cheese 

Place broccoli on the bottom of a 9x13 pan, next layer potatoes, then chicken, and pour soup diluted with milk over all and top with cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

Puzzle Palooza

Here is a great boredom blaster. I got out all of our puzzles and gave each child an area on the floor to work on one puzzle at a time. For hours the kids put together their puzzles until most of our floor was covered in colorful puzzles. It transformed our floor into a patchwork of pictures. The kids loved it and kept the puzzles out until Eric could get home to see them. It made walking around a little difficult for the rest of the day...but hey, we kicked boredom's butt that day!

Don't Wish Away the Days

As I sit here, wishing away the potty training days ahead of me, I came across the perfect quote:

"These are years when you probably do the most important work of your lives. Don't wish away your years of caring for small children."

-Marjorie Hinckley

We have had several catastrophes related to potty training...I will spare you the details...so I thought that this poem is fitting:

Toddlers are a challenge, true,

But patience is the key.

They smile and scream and holler,

Just as cute as they can be.

Sometimes I really wonder

If I'll make it through the day.

Catastrophes already--ten!

And one more on the way.

Is this my sacred heritage?

Teething, toys--oh why?

I hear a noise upstairs and then

Three children start to cry.

Catastrophe eleven comes,

Then goes. I give a smile.

But number twelve? "Dear Lord, please no.

Just wait a little while."

The twelfth one waits till bedtime,

So the miracle is done!

The day is almost over now--

The end of all my fun.

The house is finally quiet,

And I hear the Spirit say,

"Just thank the Lord you made it

Through another toddler day!"

-Tamara Fackrell

A Sister for a Minute

When I was pregnant with Travis and we had our ultrasound showing us that we were expecting a boy, Kaylee was devastated. She wanted a sister so badly. She loves Travis and wouldn't trade him...well maybe she would for a minute. Which she did. Kaylee took matters into her own hands (with Aaron as her accomplice) and for a triumphant 15 minutes Kaylee had her "sister". She did Travis' hair and dressed him in one of her old baby dresses and here is the result:

Travis: "Please, I beg of you, never do this to me again!"

Travis, I must say that pink is not your color!