High Expectations

I guess you can say that I am teaching my daughter to have self-confidence in her beauty. =) Actually, it's an old joke t-shirt of mine (which a dear friend of mine got for me post-mission, pre-marriage) that I've bequeathed to my daughters to wear as a nightgown. They won't know what it means, but we'll continue to have a good laugh.
And, Sarah-ann, I would so totally cross out the "future" if I wasn't afraid of ruining the shirt so I could still wear it. =) Love ya!

Demolition

How ironic that my last post was about building!
Sunday afternoon we watched trucks pull up and prepare for the demolition that would begin on the house next door. Yesterday we watched the demo (yes, because it is interesting, but also because the house sits so close to the property line and I need to be aware of things that happen).
As I was watching this house slowly come down, I had another thought come to mind. I've heard from a certain individual that a "liberal arts degree" is worthless and should not be pursued academically. Every time this person says this, I don't think she realizes how insulting and demeaning she is being. I DO have a liberal arts degree. I know other very intellectual people who chose a liberal arts degree. Just because it perhaps doesn't have a "trade" at graduation does NOT mean that it is worthless. I chose my degree as a stepping stone to go on to law school and with sincere prayer. I know others who chose a similar path. The pursuit of education is not a specific career, but to be employable because you have become teachable and have proven several desirable qualities employers want. Most jobs do on-site "training" anyway. Yes, some doors are closed, but that happens with any degree obtained.
My point is thus, we need to be careful about the demolition we unwittingly create around us. It is our job to be uplifting and not condemning.

Emily the Builder

There are many scriptural references to building, Jesus being the Master builder. I have wondered at the concept of building and creating and how doing this pleases our God when we do it righteously. I also have wondered how different people are blessed with specific talents: creating beautiful music, painting or sculpting the human form, composing a beautiful photo, doing carpentry or masonry. As a parent, it is my responsibility to encourage the discovery and development of these talents.
I've posted before about Emily's building skills. She has recently been identifying the objects she is trying to create (ie: stable, castle, etc.). This is a video to show the depth of her skills as she incorporates other objects to obtain the desired effect. We bought her the different shaped blocks for her birthday and it is taking everything I have not to go ahead and give them to her now. Sure, August is just around the corner, but I have also witnessed the development of her creativity and want to keep up with her, too.

Badonka-dink

I have to give credit to Susan for this one. It was cracking me up!
Somehow we got on the topic of weight and exercising and she made the comment about making your badonka-donk into a badinka-dink. I asked if there was something in the middle (not a ghetto booty, but not non-existant either). She said she guessed you'd have to call it a badonka-dink, then..or, perhaps a badinka-donk depending on which part was the "donk" and the "dink".
Actually, trying to find the correct term to refer to your gluteus maximus IS something every parent should decide before the child is old enough to repeat whatever term you are using. I grew up in a home where my mother wouldn't allow us to say "b-u-t-t" (and yes, we DID spell it out so we weren't actually saying it). I didn't understand her issue with it until recently. I realize that there are certain words that, when coming from a small child's mouth, sound incredibly vulgar. (Emily recently told me when I was offending her that she was going to spank my butt.) So I am doing my best to use a more polite term when referring to the largest muscle of the human body.

Dresses Finished!

I put this project away while we had other matters to attend to (ie: being in and out of town, preparing for my sister to get here). I decided that I really wanted to get it back out and finish it. I really dread becoming one of those people that begin projects only to have the parts of them laying around for eons.
So, they are finally finished. They still need to be washed, but stay tuned for the unveiling of the girls actually dressed in them (and let's really hope that they aren't too awkward fitting).

Gianna's First "Move"

I don't really know who got who first, but it HAD to be documented. Oh, if this is just foreshadowing what we have to come with this girl, we are in trouble! =)
Something else of interest: can you tell which one is older? Gianna is older by 6 weeks. Jacob (our friends' baby) is quite a bit bigger: weight and height. Of course, Jacob was already bigger than Gianna at the time he was born (Gianna was a tiny baby for those we have known here in Georgia), so this difference now really isn't that crazy. Boys should be bigger and girls smaller...it just works out better that way.

Humor by the Penny

I don't know if anyone has ever actually "read" the Penny Pincher. It's quite hilarious. We had some good laughs as we read some advertisements in the latest edition for our town.
For instance:
"Free Pickup on salvage lawn mowers, 4-wheelers, motorcycles, golf carts, and unwanted poultry." No joke! I mean, when I'm getting rid of my lawn mower, I'm always in need of throwing out the turkey and the chicken, too!

"Wanted: Free toy chihuahua, not over 5 lbs, full-blooded preferred." Wow! You want a free dog with HUGE stipulations?? Yeah, full-blooded dogs are always walking around for donation!

"Wanted: A good recipe for deviled eggs." Uh, heard of a cook book or a google search?? And, I love that you put it in the Penny Pincher because people are always looking in there to share a recipe, right?

"Wanted: Small dog (puppy)" Then just say you want a puppy! And you probably want it for free...get in line after the 5 lb chihuahua guy. He won't take one that is 5.3 lbs, so you may be in luck!

"Wanted: AKC German Shepherd male. Willing to trade my things to get one. Will be kept indoor." What kind of "things" do you have that someone would really want to GIVE you an AKC GSD... really?

Emily's First Recorded Story

Growing up, I had the dream of becoming an author. I started wanting to write after reading some starts to stories that my older sister Sarah did(I think I've finally overcome the fear of a dead person's body behind the bathtub curtain, Sarah...what were you reading/watching back then?). I attended the Young Author's program for several years (almost never submitting a story...I didn't want it just thrown into the bundle that they put together and submitted as a booklet at the local library). In my early teen years, I penned quite a few "good" ones and still have the dream of someday becoming a household name author. Anyway, I keep thinking that I need to record Emily's stories and I finally got one. This is one she told Eric a couple nights ago and we wrote it down to keep it. Enjoy!

The "Lion-Tiger Story" by Emily Kaye Boyd, age 2 (date 8June2009)

Once upon a time, there a tiger. And tiger got Johnna. And gotta save Johnna. And I superhero (arms flex out as wings). And I zap. And I save Johnna. And Johnna happy. And Emily happy. And then a two tigers in a house. And they get Mommy, Daddy, and Sheepie, and Emily, and Johnna. And I zap two. Zap! Zap! And I save them. And then there a dragon. And dragon get Daddy and Sheepie. And I superhero. And I “shweew(flying sound)” and I save them. The End.

Superman...or Supergirl, at Least

"I left my body laying somewhere in the sands of time"...aka: the sands surrounding the merry-go-round.
Emily played at a park tonight while her aunt Susan played volleyball with the YSAs (Young Single Adults = unmarried people ages 18-30). A couple YSA girls went over to the merry-go-round and started "drying off" by spinning it really fast. Emily ran over, shouting in joy, "KIDS! KIDS!" These two "kids" (really, they were something like 18-20 year olds) let her on and were going pretty fast, but one of them was hanging on to Emily. Soon, a huge group of real kids hopped on the merry-go-round and a few other YSAs were there to spin it. In mere seconds, I saw my happy-go-lucky child slipping and then get air born and performed a great re-enactment of Superman flying straight into the sand dune surrounding the toy. Face plant and belly buster combined. The poor thing couldn't breathe for a moment not just because the wind was knocked out of her, but because there was sand covering her entire face and up her nose.
Like a trooper, she never actually cried. She just wanted the sand off of her and was more than happy to consume the Popsicle they offered her. Aside from a bit of a bloody nose, sand in places it shouldn't be, and some minor bruises, she is just fine...and not afraid to get right back on that horse.

Had to Laugh

As we were driving the other day, a news spot came on the radio. It was assessing the decline in the amount of waste in American landfills. Apparently, it is down 30%. They attribute this to one thing and one thing only: the recession. The reporter read the reason: less consumer spending = less packaging in landfills. We, as a people, are NOT being more responsible by recycling or anything like that. We are just not purchasing and this is the only reason our waste has declined by 30%. Thanks for the acknowledgment that the "Go Green" movement has actually had no effect on the American public. We don't recycle, reuse, and renew...we just don't have any money to purchase! I thought it was funny and thought I would share for those of you who ARE being frugal and green.

Energy Saver; Sound Irritant

Since our house stays fairly cool due to the good insulation, we are trying not to use our air conditioner as long as possible. Apparently, this is a "game" several of my family members "play".
I remember growing up without AC. All through the summer, a box fan sat in the window of my bedroom pulling in cool air (don't watch the fan blades, it'll make you dizzy/sleepy). In our first house, Eric and I were able to cool it down with the use of an attic fan.
We've returned to those roots this year and have employed several fans for the same purpose. I will say, however, that the one downfall to this is the noise they make. I have to take a few breaks throughout the day because I can't stand the constant noise they make. But, I will take my fan noise to cool down the house. Pre-AC and electricity, people were much more durable, I guess. I will be grateful for the air circulation the fans provide.

Growing Up

Last night when Eric got home, Emily jumped into his arms and announced, "I big like Mommy!" Although she isn't THAT big, she definitely is growing up. She is very independent in her daily toddler routine. She even says prayers by herself now (of course, Heavenly Father is probably employing the gift of tongues with her as some it comes out as gibberish, but I can tell by the cadence that she is repeating what she thinks we have said in our prayers).
Don't think that Gianna is waiting around to be pampered, either! She has grown up a lot in the past month, too. She took her first "assisted steps" about a week ago. I can't believe the strength that seemed to come to her in the past few weeks. She turns herself over from tummy to back and back to tummy. She can stand up in her saucer-toy. She can even sit for brief periods of time on her own (somewhat Buddha-like, though).
I am so amazed in my opportunity to play the role of mother. Watching my daughters grow and change is incredible! I can't imagine not being here every minute to see it happen.