Ella's Cupboard

Awhile ago Ella brought me a magazine and said, "Mom, have you seen this? There are beautiful things in here. I want to live where these people live."















Well, today I opened my kitchen cupboard and it seems Ella has made herself a secret home. Everything was just so. Kate has a cupboard right next to Ella's but they told me it isn't quite finished. Maybe they can help me decorate my house one of these days.

Weekend at Tahoe

Kyle biked up mt. rose highway and met us on the other side.








Sisters forever at king's beach.









Bike ride at Tahoe City. Lots of bluejays and squirrels.

Ella tasted tree sap for the first time. All in a day's work for a scientist.

The beach at sand harbor. Breathtaking.

The entire weekend I was thinking of a story in the Book of Mormon where Korihor keeps asking for a sign that God lives. This is how the prophet Alma answers him:

“Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a supreme creator."

Anyway, that's what I've been thinking about. How everything around us is trying to send us a message if we would just tune in.

Beautiful places tell me that God loves us and will answer our prayers. I already believed that but was grateful for the reminder . . . .

kate has been on one

All in one breath -- "Mom, I have an idea. We need to go to Target. We need to get a sleeping bag. We need to go to Tahoe." (Then Ella chimes in with, yeah, we can sleep in the van! Looks like the G's are going camping this weekend.)

Kate, I'm not giving you your treat until you say sorry. Are you sorry? "I'm sorry I'm not getting my treat . . . "

Kate, I'm going to the store. Do you want pullups or diapers (for night)? "PANTIES!"

"Are we going to race in the mountains today?" Not today. "Well, what day are we going to race?"

Kate, you need to stop screaming and use your words. "Some toddlers don't use their words." Well, obviously you can so do it.

"Mom, this show doesn't use bad words. There are no stupids or uglies in it."

white creek trail

Kyle picked me up from church today and told me he wanted to go somewhere beautiful. The white creek trail is about 12 minutes from our house and gave me a chance to stretch after a long weekend. Not sore and just a little tired.

We are looking a little rough and aren't in coordinating outfits but a family pix is a family pix, right?

Reni, maybe you could take our family picture on the 4th of july for real?

A worthy investment

A spontaneous moment that was too cute to pass up.

Tahoe Odyssey

So we were short a runner and had to pick up a couple of extra legs but overall great times at the Tahoe-Reno Odyssey. 178 miles later, you can't beat the scenery or people.

I had the best support team in the world. What cuties. I love my kids.
Kate woke up on race day, put on her tennis shoes and ballet outfit and said, "Okay, mom, I'm ready for your race." She is an animal herself and I bet you've never seen a 3 year old run hills like katie kate.

Seriously, the views on this course were amazing.

Kyle took the kids to "the pond" after they stopped by to say hi. (Lake Tahoe).

FYI: if you are in the market for a new headlamp the blackdiamond sprinter is the coolest headlamp in the world.

Favorite part: My midnight run up to daggett pass.

Least favorite part: Driving a teammate to the ER after the last lap. Don't worry. After a couple IVs she's feeling much better.

Anyway, i am looking foward to riding my bike a little now. Here's to a summer of mountain trails and fun.

Katie Kate and creek park

Summer vacation is here

It is a dangerous thing to go to the bookstore on the first day of the month, when my cash budget is overflowing and the books are calling. Two hours later, Ella and I had some great finds:



We got this one for Katie-Kate. On her to-do list today she had me write "get kitten." This book was the best I could do and is soooooooooo cute.


Doesn't everyone love Fancy Nancy? My girls think she is divine. And for $3.99 I think she is pretty divine, too.

This book is beautiful but a little tricky to read outloud if you are a crybaby like me.

And to top it all off Ella picked out her first journal. It is our summer homework in disguise, but please don't tell her that. You will get a kick out of the entries she has planned for the future.

I love my little family. Today all the sweeping and laundry and everyday chores were definately worth it.