Liberty Chipmunk

Does anyone else think that the artists of Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 might have had Liberty in mind when they created the Chippette in green? We think they look exactly alike.
I am happy to report that Liberty is doing better these days. Still testing my patience and continuing to lock me out, but I learned an important lesson that Liberty might always act like she doesn't care when getting punished but deep down she does. After only one day of having diapers she decided she wanted her panties back. I told her she had to go a whole day without wetting her diaper. She conquered the goal and was back in panties the next day. I love you Liberty.

Eliza's 5th birthday

Eliza turned 5 this last thursday. We had a birthday party for her a few weeks ago while we were still in SLC so she could invite all of her friends and cousins there. It was a fun water party. Nate and Desiree let us borrow their blow up water slide, thank goodness, and it was a hit. Also each child got their own squirt bottle. We had pizza, cake, a pinata, and at the end opened presents which Eliza got way too many. It was a fun day.
Then on her actual birthday she woke up and opened her one and only present from us. It was a pillow pet. She has been wanting this for like the past 5 months, so she was very excited! Libby was a also excited until she found out that she didn't get one and then tried to still it from Eliza. Eliza was very nice about it and did let her hold it for a little while but apparantly not long enough for Libby. Eliza and the pillow pet have pretty much been inseperable. She has to bring it in the car to school and it has to be there on the way home from school. Although she does let Libby play with it when she is gone at school. She got a birthday crown and a new book at school from her teacher. Then that evening we went out to eat at Mimi's Cafe and they sang happy birthday to her. Then we went to the Jungle. It is a place here that has a huge indoor playground and video games. It reminds me of a smaller version of Boondocks back home. She loved it and I think had a great day. Thanks to all those who called and sent cards. It made it a special day for her.
I love you Eliza. You are such a caring person. Almost always willing to share with Libby and help her out with what she needs. You are a great helper to me with the baby. I love lately watching you act out little plays that you put together. You definitely have a natural talent for theater and sometime remind me of your cousin Hannah because of this. You are fun to be around and I defintely consider you one of my best friends. Happy Birthday. You are so old!

Terrible Twos

Does anyone else ever feel like their 2 year old is punishing them. Oh wow. Well Libby has been experiencing terrible twos like no other this last week. I think it might be due to the move but whatever it is I hope it gets back to normal soon.
She has now returned to diapers. The first weekend we got here she got what seemed to be a UTI. But then it got better. But since then she has been having all kinds of accidents. I thought at first due to the UTI but then this week. She had an accident and just laughed about it. When I asked her why she went on the floor she says, "because she wanted to." Oh my. She is so defient. After peeing on the floor every day for the last week I decided she had to return to diapers. I took away all her panties thinking this would make her want to go on the potty but instead she started helping me pack them up with delight. Don't you just hate it when your genius plan backfires. I feel like that always happens with her. I felt like I just gave her what she wanted it, but I had already said that was what I was going to do.
She has also figured out how to lock the door (the car door, the bedroom door, and the house door). How fortunite for me that all the bedrooms and bathrooms in this house have locks ;) She will run in the room/car and lock the door and start giggling with delight. In the car as soon as I power unlock it she hurries and slams down the lock. (As I am writing this down it does sound a little funny, but at the time it sure doesn't.) The thing that is so different from Eliza is that no punishment phases her. She just laughs as she is being punished as if she is saying, "Yeah right mom, like I care."
Phew. Now that I am done ranting and raving, I must admit I do love that little rascal and she can also be so loving. She always wants to snuggle and always has a smile to brighten the day...even when she's in trouble. I love you Libs.

The Beach

We prioritized and decided it was more important to go to the beach then unpack. Ha Ha. So off we went last Saturday. The girls had the time of their lives. They played for hours in the sand. Libby loved running toward the water and then running away all scared screaming. Eliza loved digging in the dirt and building castles (unfortunately Liberty liked destroying them). Rob spent some of his time (it felt like forever to me) finding a "sweet deal" on a surfboard and wet suit. We are official owners now. When he finally got back, him and the girls went looking for seashells. They found some amazing ones. They found a whole sand dollar. It is awesome! Mazie, however, was not enjoying her stay at the beach quite as much. She cried almost the entire time. I'm not sure if it was the wind or her cold that was bothering her but it was quite exhausting for me and I hope the next beach experience to be a little more relaxing. If not, the surfboard/wet suit "sweet deal" might have been a bad investment. ;)

California. We have arrived!

Ok I need to do some catching up of the summer and I will do a post of that later. But I wanted to do the latest news before it gets too late. We moved to Campbell, CA last Saturday. This is in the bay area near San Jose and for those who don't know anything about CA that is about an hour from San Francisco. We are sad to leave family and friends but are trying to focus on the good things about coming here. #1Rob gets to go to work and work in the same office with co-workers. #2 The fresh fruit in the back yard. We have 4 mature fruit trees in our back yard and it has been awesome. There's a orange tree (Funny story, we thought it was a lime tree and picked one and split it open and the fruit inside did not taste like limes. We were confused. So we went back out and up at the top there was orange fruit. A ha.), lime tree, grapefruit tree, pear tree (boy do they make a mess on the patio, it is Eliza's job to clean up the fruit every day, she is a little scared of the bees and I am scared of the cockroaches), and parsiman tree (I know nothing about this fruit, including the spelling). It has been delicious eating the pears and making juice with the citruses. #3 The nice weather (but I must admit it has been a little warm this week without a/c) #4 The beach. Can't wait to go.
We hope all who can will visit. Mom came out to visit this week and wow am I glad, especially with Eliza starting Kindergarten. She was a life saver with getting unpacked too.

(Eliza at first day of Kindergarten)

We will keep you all posted on the CA living. Like Rob likes to tell the girls "They wish they all could be California girls!" Who sings that song? I think the Beach boys.

Mazie at 3 months

She continues to grow bigger and bigger. It started in her face and then to her tummy and now the legs are getting the cottage cheese rolls. We'll see if she surpasses her sister Liberty Michilen Man.She is now on the move. We had set her on the floor asleep. Then later when I came back she had scooted herself all the way over by the baby car seat. Also one time I laid her on a blanket on the floor in the living room and she would wake up a little and fuss and move and kept doing this until she had done a 360. Her head in the same place with those little feet just a pushin.

Mazie at 2 months

Mazie is now smiling at us and acts like she can actually see us and doesn't just have gas. It just makes your heart melt.

She is so funny though because sometimes she will start screaming bloody murder and I'll think Liberty is hurting her or something. But when I run in it is that she is pulling her own hair. The more it hurts the harder she pulls because she is tensing up her muscles. Then when I try to pull her hand away it just makes it worst because she clenches tighter. It is pretty silly. I now find it best to just let her work it out. Crazy Mazie.