Is this normal?

 I've never seen a tongue like this.

 

On a baby, anyway.

 

 

 

Breaking

Here's a video of Damon breaking at his Tae Kwon Do tournament last month: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-tsHvopfuM&feature=youtu.be

He was disappointed in his forms and sparring performance, and doesn't want those videos posted.  He wouldn't even accept his forms medal because he felt he didn't earn it.

Mother of the Year

Oh, boy.  I just read one of the many newsletters the school sends home.  Today was picture day.  If only I'd read that newsletter before the kids went to school.  I would have had Claire turn her shirt around; it was on backwards.  And I would have had Damon comb his hair with something besides the pillow.  And maybe I would have had Anne wear something other than a "Peace" shirt. 

The Trek West: Part 2

I'm counting on my pioneer ancestors to have good senses of humor--I'd hate for them to read my last post and despise me for describing a cross-country trip in an air-conditioned minivan as something difficult.  Of course, they probably have better things to do than follow my blog, so I won't worry about it anymore.

Here's my grandma with Julia.  (These pics are all in Malad, ID.)

We got Claire baptized!  We've been worried about this day for about a year.  Claire's not into submersion.  But, my mom did her hair all cute, and then with the dress on (same one I wore when I was 8!) Claire was entranced.  Seriously.  She couldn't stop talking about how gorgeous she was and how excited she was for all the people at her baptism to see her looking like a beautiful princess.  Gulp.  I purposely invited almost no one because I didn't want her to feel too humiliated if she wasn't able to go through with it in the end.  But she did it!  Hyperventilated all the way into the font, but she did it!

 Sibs and cousins.

 All the Firth grandkids at the time, except Eli who had just barely been born in Pullman, WA.

The kids riding Yogi.

 My mom and Julia.

Random snippets:

The day after her baptism, Claire saw a necklace my mom was wearing and said.  "Uh-oh, I'm not perfect anymore.  I just coveted."  Anne liked the necklace, too, but they both coveted it less when they found out it wasn't a locket.  It just looked like one.  (Note to self: lockets would make good stocking stuffers this year.)

Anne, regarding the Cache Valley Mall play area:  "This place in permanent to my heart.  When can we move back to Logan?"  (If you're familiar with this particular play area, you might be surprised it could have such a hold on anyone.  I certainly was.)

Damon with BB gun in hand:  "Is it cruel to shoot grasshoppers while they're mating?"
Jake, in an aside to my dad: "Well, I know I wouldn't like it."
My dad: "All's fair in love and war."

At Family Home Evening Claire gave us lecture on healthy foods.  Special thanks to Justin, Lex, and Grandpa for the perpetual questions that stretched this lesson to a record 30 minutes.

The Trek West: Prologue

You might be wondering how one survives two days (as in 12-14 hours each day) of driving with 4 children, one of whom is a newborn baby.

1.  The newborn is the easiest.  The car seat puts her to sleep.
2.  Make sure the older kids are addicted to computer screens (movies, games, etc.)
3.  In the months leading up to the trip, limit screen time to 2 hours per day, which they have to earn by doing housework.  Expect lots of whining and crying, but keep in mind the torture is worth it: once the trip begins, the addicts think they've died and gone to heaven with unlimited access to the laptop/iPad.  Just make sure there are enough screens to go around.
4.  You need to love something that you hardly ever get to do, but can be done while in the car in-between tossing snacks and DVDs to children (in my case, reading). 
5.  CRUCIAL: You need to hit a huge pothole during your turn driving so your spouse would prefer to do all the driving himself rather than let you take the wheel again.

If you are unable to meet those 5 requirements, do not attempt the journey.  Skype or bite the bullet and buy airplane tickets.

The Trek West, Part One

 

 Grandma and Grandpa H's house, where we blessed Julia.

 Anne dictated who and what was in the above photo: she had to hold Julia in front of the cabinet that held treasures (she made Grandma H get them out for her more than once), and her cousin Ayda had the privilege of standing next to her.  Anne and Ayda really hit it off, though they had a hard time remembering each other's names.  Whenever Ayda lost track of Anne she'd wander around saying, "Where is my friend?"  When Anne lost Ayda she'd ask, "Do you know where...you know...is?"

 Grandma H and Julia.

Anne with Mic (who left for the MTC in Mexico City two days after this picture) and Maycee.  Anne has a thing for older boys.  As in she falls in love with every cute one she meets, even her own cousin.  This worries me. 


Wish I had more pics of our time in southern Utah--we had a really great time.

Gotta get dinner on the table and head to the YW activity so I'll chat at ya later. 

What the...

Why are random phrases in my posts suddenly underlined in red and linked to ads?  Is this a bizarre cyberattack on my blog?  Or is this just a manifestation of my computer ineptitude?  Does anyone else see this?  Has it happened to you?  How do I get rid of it?!