Happy UNbirthday! Cake

I was a little depressed so I decided to make a cake today. It works for my sister in law, so I thought I'd give it a try. When Pooka asked me why, the idea popped into my head: Its your and Lily's UNbirthday!

Why not?

The problem is, I had never made a cake from scratch before. I had no idea what I was doing or if the recipe would even turn out. But I trusted that good old Martha Stewart knew what she was doing and that I could read well enough to follow instructions.

First mistake: not having the right pans. As you can see, the cake is kind of funkily shaped. Bottom layer was done in an 8x8. Top layer was a 9x2 round. Hence the funkiness. I kind of like it!

Second mistake: I got lazy and cheap and out popped the canister of frosting. It doesn't really hold up that well for this kind of thing, especially when there are crumbs involved.

Of course, Ivy didn't care what it looked like. Anything involving any kind of party is like heaven to Pooks. And I must say, it was very yummy! Yay me!

And Happy UNbirthday to my girls!

Swim Class

Last week we began the adventure that is swimming lessons. I figured that Pooka would do great because she would sprout fins and live in the sea if given the opportunity. I should have know...
The first few days were ok. She was doing what her teacher, Peru, wanted her to for the most part. But the last two days of class, she had just had it. My kid was the cute little preschooler screaming her head off, clinging to the teacher for dear life while all the parents laughed. Peru was really good about it too. He eventually got the hint that Ivy is just a tad bit stubborn (just a tad, now) and mimed throwing her into the pool. I gave my go ahead nod and in she went. That was what it was like for the rest of the time. This big guy forcing my screaming 4 year old to do something she said she wasn't going to do. And every single time, she had fun. Who would have guessed?

This morning's lesson was Pooka's last of the session. Considering the fact that she refused to do most of the stuff by herself, it didn't come as a shock at all when Peru told me she wouldn't be able to move on to the next class. But what DID shock me was when we went swimming this afternoon, Ivy said, "Mommy! Look at what I can do!" and proceeded to do EVERYTHING she refused to do at class. And I mean everything! WHAT A STINKER!
Even if she pretended not to know how to swim, it was worth it to see her play with some new friends! The little boy is just as crazy as Pooks and just as sweet too. All three were just adorable.

Well, my little stinker had a great time, even if she didn't' pass. Just a little practice in the big pool and she should be good to go. Yeah for swim class!

Pooka Quotes of the Day

Pooka: (squishing Grandma's face between her hands and looking closely) Grandma, why do you only have one vampire tooth?

***

Pooka: Mama, you have another baby starting to grow in your tummy.

Me: Oh no I don't. Why do you think that?

Pooka: Well, look at you.

*ouch*

Ivy's Latest Attempt at Gardening

Somehow, I don't think its going to make it.

Summer

We are so happy summer is finally here!

With the summer heat, we no longer have to have these torture sessions at least twice a day.Instead we get to have fun in the pool,
dressing up like Wall-e,
Playing with baby sister in the tent, aka secret hide-out - no moms allowed,
And leaving grass messages on the Aunties' doorstepOh, and don't forget taking pictures of Lily with Mama's phone! That's Pooka's favorite!
Good ole summer fun!

"I Am A Child Of God"

I realized something tonight. Something a long time coming, that I really wish I had let myself understand long ago.

I am REALLY lazy. Not just a little, but DANG, that lady is lay-zee! capital L kind of lazy.

Don't get me wrong. I am busy every day. I try, often unsuccessfully, to keep my house in decent shape, my kids clean and well groomed. I work in the yard and try to keep a garden, do laundry and mop the kitchen floor, and it feels like there aren't enough hours in the day for what I need to get everything accomplished.

Although all this stuff matters, it doesn't come even close to the most important things we should be doing every day, the stuff, ironically, that I ususally put aside or put off to the very last minutes of my day. The answer is simple, as is everything in the Gospel: scripture and prayer, the two most simple, most amazing things you can do to change your life.

Yet how often do I stay up until the early hours of the morning with a good book, or just mindlessly watching tv, then scramble to read a few verses, realizing just as I put my scriptures down for the night that I read the exact same thing the night before? Or worse, as I close my eyes I can't even tell you what I read just a few moments before. Its really very pathetic. And completely pointless. Althought going through the motions is better than not trying at all, I know I can do so much better!

Tonight while I was putting Pooks down for bed, I was singing her favorite song, "I Am A Child Of God." As I sang, I kept thinking about the changes to the song that President Kimball made in the 50s. "Teach me all that I must know" changed to "Teach me all that I mus do." DO. It doesn't help anyone to just know something, but it matters what you do with that knowledge.

So why is it so hard to do something so simple and easy that you know will change your life for good? I don't have an answer. It just is. Its the same with every Gospel principle. Is it really that hard to take an hour out of you month to visit someone? Just one HOUR? What about four to go to the temple? Four hours out of one month. That is less than 1% of our month, doing the most important tasks we have been given in this life. I guess its all about perspective. And sacrifice.

I'm going to be better about STUDYING, not just reading my scriptures, and having family scripture time. Even though the girls are so little, I would rather them never have a time in their lives that they don't remember having family scripture study. And Family Home Evening too. Its just so easy to stand aside and let this life pass while you're mopping the kitchen floor. I don't want to look back and realize that all I taught my children to do is math and laundry. There are much more important things to be taught, and this is my watch.

The lazyness stops now. Oh, it will be hard. Very hard. But my family is worth it. And maybe for once I will be able to say that I am not just a Know-er of the Word, but a Do-er.

YUM!

Oh, what a new and glorious world!

REAL FOOD!

Rice cereal, avocado, sweet potatoes and carrots so far, but I think we may have a gourmet on our hands. Ah, good food!