James says, Juliet says {and a morning in the garden}

James says, 5.5 years old:

• E showing his cracked knuckles, "It's because when your old all sorts of silly things start happening."
  James: "It's because you're dying."
• "When I'm big I'm going to have three pets: a kitty, and a doggie, and a squalla (squirrel) ."
• "When I get big Juliet's going to be my girlfriend. And I'll be her boyfriend."
• Both are fighting. Me: "What's wrong?" James: "Juliet won't open her beautiful eyes. And I want to look at them!"
• "Let's play Harry Potter. I want to be Voldemort!"
• "I'm going to marry Ariel in a castle. But not an old castle."
• "Ugh! I'm getting bored of you mommy!"
• "I don't like that you stupid skunk!" (He was so mad at me, and this was the worst he could come up with.)
• "She is the sweetest Juliet I've had in my whole life."
• "You are Voldemort's crew. Voldemort has a crew!" (As you can see we were big into Harry Potter here. Also Star Wars, the kids are obsessed.)
• "I'm scared of spiders. But only the bad ones. Not the good ones. Like the baddest ones: black liquid."
• "I'm falling in love with Ariel today."
• Told our bald neighbor he looks like Voldemort.
• "I have crabs from tummy to bottom," while wearing his lobster swimsuit.  

Juliet says, 3 years old:

• "My bum shoots out stinky tooters, towels and strawberries."
• Her lovies are named "Anya and Sonya."
• "Come look at how cozy I am! I'm all snuggled buggled!"
• "That bunny is my sister."
• "When I'm big I want a rainbow truck with a Wookie in the trunk!" (She talks about this all the time, E and I get the biggest kick out of it."
• "Mama, I don't like babies anymore."
• "Look a honey bee! And he singed me twinkle twinkle little star."
• To James: "I always love you so so much!"
• Unprompted "I love you so so much I have happy tears!"

All pictures from a weekend garden visit. It has finally warmed up after three weeks of cold rain. Woot! The garden was spectacular, can't believe that it is already June. Time, slow down. Seriously.

Juliet's dress is possibly my favorite thing I've EVER purchased for her. It was an eBay find three years ago, new with vintage tags still attached. I love it! Worth the wait for sure.

Juliet says, James says

Juliet, age 3:

• I was reversing the car the other day and it was kind of a tight fit. Juliet says "these aren't bumper cars," which made me laugh so hard. 
• "Daddy's take care of babies from sharks. So they don't get eat."
• While playing with her dolls "this is mommy taking care of her little girls."
• While waiting for James: "I need my sweet brother right now. I'm waiting for him and waiting for him."
• After hearing Ethan fart "what's that sound coming from your private parts?"
• James: "I like building blocks with you." Juliet: "I love you too."
• After giving daddy a huge hug "now your heart is love"

On the day we put our kitty Rumpus down:
Juliet said "Where is Rumpy?"
Me: "He's at the kitty doctor."
Her: "Why?"
Me: "Because we took him there to give him a special shot. The special shot made him dead."
Her: "What's dead?"
Me: "It means not alive anymore."
Her: "Why? I want Rumpy at our house. Not dead."
Of course this isn't a funny conversation in the slightest, but it was so tender, and innocent I wanted to remember it.


James, age 5:

• After a fresh blow dry: "I like your hair. It looks really beautiful. Really really beautiful. It's like you're a different mommy but you're not. It looks really good!"
• "My breath can't hold my thirsty all the way to morning."
• "I'm going go have a house with five rooms so I can have five kids! Wait... maybe not."
• "I know what rhymes! Crocs and granola rhyme."
• Talking about foods he likes "I like quesadillas, berries, mac & cheese…" Juliet: "you like bears?" James: "No, I don't like bears. But I like cooked bears. I really like cooked bears!"
• Listening to It's a Wonderful World, "I like that song so much it makes me have a tear."
• And another day with the same song: "I'm pretending I have a little boy in my body and he's going to cry because he loves the song so much. And now I might cry because I love the song so much."
• "This is my best day ever!"
• While eating dinner "I'm really enjoying this!"

James says, Juliet says

Last weekend was full of gray inversion days with no new snow to be had. One day we escaped to cleaner air in Park City and visited our favorite blue door, but the rest of the weekend was spent lying low, playing hours and hours and hours worth of Legos.

So instead of a weekend post, I have a long list of the hilarious things these kiddos have been saying.

James - Age 5

• "You are the greatest mommy I have ever had!"
• We were talking to him one day about how dangerous cars can be, and how you always need to watch, even on driveways. After thinking about it for a moment he responded "cars are not the most dangerous, wolves are!"
• "I'm thankful for giving you hugs and kisses."
• "Good thinkin' sister!" This came out of nowhere and it was so cute and funny.
• "Did you know that red liquid fire is the hottest fire? It's hotter than blue liquid fire. And it's really hotter than green liquid fire. Green liquid fire is cold."
• "Do you know why one reindeer is named Fixen? He's the one that fixes stuff!"
• After fighting with robot toys, Me: "Robots aren't aggressive, they help people." Him: "What do they do to help people?" Me: "Well there are robots that help build cars." Him: "Or they could help me fight bad guys that are trying to get me!"

Juliet - Almost 3

• "My bum is a diarrhea fountain." Sorry dear, you said it, not me. 
• "I learned that from my best friend brother James."
• "Me love you so much James. Why we love each other so much?"
• Whenever she tells a story to her dolls: "Pada pada time" (once upon a time).
• "My eyeballs still look sad."
• Looking at this baby photo of James "I like his hair and his beautiful blue eyes"
• "My feelings are feeling sad."
• "Mommy you are the cutest mommy I have ever seen!"
• "I thankful for snuggling you."
• Pointing at her nose, "This bugger factory is all gone."
• Me: "Were those tooters (farts) I feel on me?" Juliet: "Yes, but it's ok because those tooters were warm!"
• And then later the same day "Oh that feels good! Warm tooters!"
• In her most threatening voice "I'm going to break you! Break you into a baby sister!"
• To a nice lady at a store, Juliet: "Hi! It's almost my birthday." Her: "That is wonderful. How old will you be?" Juliet: "My sweet best brother is named James and he's at preschool and I love Peso penguin."

Happy Thanksgiving {part I)

We celebrated our first Thanksgiving of the weekend last night in Midway (we celebrate with my family on Sunday!).

Chelsea and Joe hosted for the second time, and driving up to Midway is such a lovely way to spend the holiday. Something about the long drive, the warm car, and Christmas music softly playing makes the snow topped mountains and forgotten barns feel so wonderful. Lots of time to think about what we are thankful for.

I asked the kids what they are thankful for, telling them that it is a good thing to think about often, not just on Thanksgiving.

They gave me the sweetest answers that I've ever heard. Neither of them were prompted at all.

James said "I am thankful for giving you hugs and kisses." Juliet, hearing what James had said, said "I am thankful for snuggling you." Wonderful things, as I agree, the best things to be thankful for are not things we can buy.

We stopped in downtown Heber on the way to Miday for some photos in front of the historic Town Hall. Juliet's amazing dress and sweater where gifted to me from Feltman Brothers. Both are so darling and oh so classic.

Some of the men.

Some of the women. 

All of the cousins.

Thanksgiving kids tables crack me up. They sat there eating quite well for some time.

Dinner. E's on his phone (busted!), the newlyweds are hugging and kissing (which was the entire dinner) and Grandma is looking towards the hosts.

Chelsea and Joe put on a spectacular feast.

We played and ate and laughed and ate some more. By the end of the evening everyone was wiped out. Best way to spend Thanksgiving for sure.

Dressing both kids for the holidays are one of my favorite things. James is wearing a Gymboree sweater and Gymboree herringbone pants (both from last year). Juliet is wearing the Feltman pintuck dress and this cardigan with pearl embroidery. Tights from Gymboree and shoes from Target.

Juliet says, James says

Age two is hilarious. Everything that comes out of Juliet's mouth is pure gold. She is so funny!

Here are a few of my favorites over the last few months:

• "If you pretend my tooters not stinky that is fine!"
• Me: "I love you sweet dear" Juliet: "Me know deer, me snuggle bunny!"
• "I love to snuggle daddy!" or "Daddy is my snuggle bunny!"
• "My coink is sticky" (I love the way she says "coin")
• Fuss fuss fuss "I can't even cry!"
• "All perfect! Me a princess. Princess Ana!" (After rubbing herself from head to toe in mud.)
• "Whatever you say princess mommy."
• "Me learned that at preschool."
• "Me ignore you guys! Me mad at you mommy!" (Not one second later) "... me getting happier!"
• "When I'm a little boy I go to preschool."
• "My doggie is named rice-a-roni!" So funny because I'm not sure I've ever said "rice-a-roni" in her presence.
• "I love you so so so so much! Like 10,000 pounds! When we get home I'm going to give you a big hug!"
• Me: Can I sing "you are my sunshine" Juliet: "No. Sing goodnight."  Me: "How does that go?" Her: "Goodnight, me love you so! Goodnight, me love you so!"
• "Me in a sad situation."
• Me: "Why are you fussing?" Julie: "I don't know me crying." (better honest, right?)
• "A little bit pukey!" (spooky) whenever she sees Halloween decorations.
• "Ba ba weeeee!" whenever we go down a big hill in the car. I don't know where she and James got this, but they say it all the time. Funniest coincidence is E said "uggy-moo-weee!" when going down a hill when he was small. Crazy similar. 
• Out late one night she says "Me don't see Mr. Golden Sun!"

She has been on a two+ week nap strike due to cutting a hole in her binky. It's been rough. When she got up she had a big long story about a bugger and the fact that it disappeared. I love her little voice so much I just had to record. Here's what she had to say about it the other day:

James, at his age, talks with such skill that he hardly ever says anything super funny these days. Sob. He's growing up. When he does, I always try to write it down.

• James: "Why is that company gone?" Me: "They ran out of money." James: "They need a sticker chart to earn more money!"
• After calling him dear "I'm not a moose, I'm a James"
• "I think the beach is headed right for us, I hear a lot of EagleOggle. They're headed right our way!" (He calls eagles "eagleoggles" but this entire statement it entirely out of left field.)
• "There is a little boy and my tummy that helps me with my think abouts. And there is a shark in my tummy!"

And he learned the pledge of allegiance at his school and was so proud of it. Of course I had to record it. I was proud too.

James says, Juliet says

 James says at four and a half:

• "Turn on the fireplace! I'm burning cold!" (Another day: "it's piping cold!") Obviously this list was started in early spring, since now it is "piping hot!"
• "If it starts piping raining we will be piping cold."
• "You silly pimp!" I laughed and laughed at this, as far as I know he's never heard the word "pimp" but he loves to say "you silly ___" and make up some nonsense word. When pimp came out of his mouth I couldn't help but think it was hilarious.
• "That big gentle James hug made her feel all better!" after Juliet was crying and needed a hug.
• "Iceflakes" instead of snowflakes. I never want to correct him.
• "Holy moly cow!"
• Conversation between James and Juliet:
  James: "Do you want glow in the dark stars for your ceiling?"
  Juliet: "Yea"
  James: "Well we have to ask Santa. And he can hear us... Santa, will you bring Juliet some stars for her ceiling?.... And you have to have good behavior or Santa won't bring you anything"
  "Ok"
• "You are the best mommy in the whole wor-a-ld"
• "Dada, you are fast like the wind" I'm sure this pleased E.
• Seeing big water slides "I don't want to go down them because they will send me to space."
• "I know what I can call you mommy! Sweety honey!" He still calls me "honey" or "sweet honey" from time to time.
• Talking to Juliet "When you're three you'll run really fast and then I won't be able to catch you and smooch you!"

Juliet says, two and a half:

• "Nice touch James! Best friend James. So so nice me."
• "No sing sunshine right in my ear!"
• "Owen and Peter love me all the time." (the neighbor boys).
• "Big log out my sweet bum" hahaaaaa!!!
• "Me love water! Me love owls! Me love hedgehogs!"
• And another day with all her loves: "Me love horses! Me love hoppy bunnies too! Me love candies too!"
• "Back, see ya soon fuzzy little Mabel. Promise!" (Mabel is our kitty).
• Me: "Good morning sweet girl!" Her "Good morning sweet mommy!"
• "Snuggle you the whole time!" when we put her to bed and she doesn't want us to leave.
• "You're so brave" she says this all the time, when brushing our hair or asking us to use the potty. "You so brave." Our own little pep talk.
• "All happy now?" She asks us this all the time if we've gotten after about something she shouldn't be doing. For example, "Juliet! Don't throw sticks at your brother", she proceeds to throw a stick at his face. "Juliet! NO! That is not ok!" Juliet asks two seconds later "All happy now?!"
• "Thank you so much" whenever we give her something. The fact that she always says "thank you so much" is pretty much heartwarming.
• Three squeezes mean "I love you!" She always follows it up with three more squeezes and "Yes I do!"
• "Spiders have tiny toes that tickle you!"

All photos from the weekend when we went up Little Cottonwood Canyon for a BBQ dinner and had such a good time. Weekends outdoors are my favorite weekends.

Daffodils in the garden {2014}

My favorite days of the year can be easily summed up, garden days. I live for them. The Daffodil Festival, the Tulip Festival, going to the garden on Mother's Day, and enjoying it again in the autumn are by far my favorite days of the entire year.

I've only met two people to adore flowers as much as me, my Grandparents. The had a deep rooted love for gardens and color and nature. If I inherit anything from them, I am proud that this is it.

Luckily for me, I am in a family that also has a deep love for the garden. I however am beyond obsessed with flowers.

Each year since I was pregnant with James we've worn yellow and taken a family photo in the daffodils. This tradition, while cheesy, is something I so look forward to each year. (See last year, 2012, 2011, 2010, and finally 2009.)

 These two have done a tiny bit of growing since last year. ;)

When I happen to photograph their personalities, well, I smile too. These two goof balls have me cracking up all day long.

I proclaim each new flower to be my favorite, but daffodils rate in the top five. I love that they are often the first ones up in the spring.

The blossoming trees have been spectacular this year.

My new favorite photo of my freckled boy. He had a potato bug on has hand and was laughing at the tickles.

I've mentioned on Instagram a few times how wonderful and sweet this relationship is growing into. James cares so much for Juliet and she just adores James and looks up to him so much. At once point in the garden James said "Juliet, let's hold hands for the whole time we are here," and Juliet agreed.

James is also the first to run to Juliet when she gets a bonk and needs a hug. "It's ok, are you better now?" he asks. "Yea" she said, and off they went.

These days of small kiddos, flowers, sunshine and warm breezes slip away too fast. Please let them last just a moment more.

Happy Spring.

James says, Juliet says

Whenever my children say something adorable or funny or sweet and loving I try to pull out my phone and make a note of it. I'm only on top of my game about 30% of the time, but these are just too darling not to share.

James (4 years) says:

• "I think those little birdies are cold little fellas." 
• "Angry daddies come and kiss children!" 
• "The moon is nocturnal"
• "I was trying to be grumpy and Juliet laughed at me!" 
• "My sweet little legs are all cold and it makes me funny!" 
• "When I'm a daddy I'm going to have two kids, Peter Rabbit and Ariel." 
• "When I'm thirty-teen you'll have to get me a new bed!" 
• "You are a bad woman!" (This was his favorite insult for awhile when he was mad at me. Wish things could stay that simple.)
• "My tummy is full of boogers!" 
• "Will you be my part-a-ner?" (The way he says partner just melts me.)
• "I love mommy, and you love me. And I love daddy and he loves me. And I love Juliet and she loves me!" 
• When asked what his name was at the playground "My name is Juliet and James." 
• "If I do say so myself!" (One of his favorite things to say a random times, it cracks me up.)  
• Out of nowhere: "I love you Juliet. I really love you Juliet." 
• "When I'm 31 Juliet will be 11!" 
• "I'm a good engineer."

And we can't skip out on what the silly "gurla" says now that she's talking non-stop. (James still says "girl" in the most darling of ways, we call Juliet our "sweet gurla" or "silly gurla" all the time.)

*

Juliet (2 years) says:

• "Wait wait! Hug! Wait wait! Kiss too!" (Every night telling James not to forget to hug and kiss her. She really couldn't care less about E and I kissing her, but James is a different story.)
• "Want it, doggy! Want it!" 
• "Mommy? Never-mind!" (She went through a major phase with this about two weeks ago. She'd say "Mommy! Mommy! MOMMY! Never-mind!" over and over again. If it wasn't so adorable it'd make you go mad!)
• Putting her to bed: "Ready! Naps! Bye! See ya soon!" 
• "Digger Days (James)! Digger! Look Days!" (For a long long time she called James "Days", and just recently she figured out how to say "James". "Days" is a thing of the past. 
• "Tickle me!!" "Catch me!" "Kiss me!" "Nuggle me!" (Depending on what mood she's in).
• "Me doing it SELF!" (I hear this 100+ times a day. She wants help with nothing and would rather throw a huge fit if she can't do it than ever ask or accept help.)
• Somehow opening my Pinterest on computer "oh cute! Ohh! This cute too!" 
• "Ready debie!" (Ready for strawberries!)
• "Ok!" She's been saying "k" now for a long time, but for some reason when she added that little "o" it just make it extra cute.  
• Me: "How many more bites do you have left?" Her: "Forty-nine!" 
• When putting her dollie to sleep: "Good sleeps Rosie! Nap time! No cries! Safe bed Rosie! Good sleeps!"
• "James favorite kiddo" (They adore each other and it seriously it the best part of parenthood.)
• "Daddy favorite. This daddy. This daddy head. This daddy poky hair favorite." 
• Everything is named Nicholas. She loves that name. "James Nicholas, Mommy Nicholas, me Nicholas, shoes Nicolas, dress Nicholas" etc...

*Above, she is quite insistent on snuggling (nuggling) all her friends each and every time I lie her down. Today at nap time she kept railing she was missing one or two, so finally when she had them all, I asked if I could get a photo. She said yes and then proceeded to fall asleep in this mass. Weirdo. ;)

James's four year interview

James's favorite things, in his own worlds. And if you watch all the way to the end there's a little treat: a sweet and adorable Thanksgiving song he learned at preschool.

Kiddo, I love you to the moon and back.

And to see James's three year interview (which is adorable and darling too!) click here.

James's four year interview from HappierStill on Vimeo.

James at FOUR {Wolfy photos!}

Mr. James is FOUR.

Four is big. He goes to preschool. Wearing diapers and sleeping in a crib are distant memories. He has a little life apart from me for the first time in his life. It is amazing and wonderful. He is amazing and wonderful.

While looking through the lens when taking this photos, it stuck me. He's a big boy. I can see what he'll look like as a ten year old. I can almost see a hint of his adult self. So bittersweet.

James is a strong headed kid, a kind tender soul, and a Mama's boy through and through. He still loves fruit of any kind and playing outside is one of his favorite activities no matter the weather.

LIKES:
His sister, most the time. Especially trying to boss her around. We tell James 100 times a day that he's not in charge of Juliet.
Waterfalls, bolts, and dark pipes. He's such a goof. No idea how these became his favorites, but alas, they are.
Diggers. For two plus years (half of his little life) he's loved all digging machines.
The mountains. He is an outdoorsman at heart.
Fruit. He tells me strawberries are his favorites.
His snuggly friends in his bed. He loves each and every one.
Naps, most the time. He still is napping 80% of the time.

DISLIKES:
Being told no. He really knows how to push my buttons, but he has gotten easier than some of his hardest times at three years.
Staying home. He likes to get out and about. Every morning he asks "what's the activity?"
Not being in charge. He's a little type A like his Mama.
Large crowds where everyone wants to talk to him. Even at four he takes some time to warm up to people, even people he knows well.

He always says the funniest stuff. Here are a list of my favorites:

• Jaguar helps my think abouts go away. (When having a hard time going to sleep because he was over thinking things.)
• The kiddos are something else.
• Look at those to Steamworkers (when seeing a smokestack)
• When snugging daddy "I don't want to hear your nose sounds anymore."
• Yo Mama! Maybe when I'm an elephant I could eat hay. And it will taste so good for me!
• When I was sleeping I was hearing the most beautiful sound of my whole life! It was a siren!
• You know why I swallow buggers? They are yummy. I'm a bugger eating James!
• The steam clump is working'! (exhaust pipe)
• Turn here on Granoavard (boulovard)
• Bee-nok-lee-ers (binoculars)
• Is this a foxy path or a birdy forest?
• You are the best mommy of the whole wool-ard
• I love you mommy. And I love my family. I have a a great daddy and a great mommy.
• I'm eleventeens old. Look how big I am! That's pretty big.
• (Touching my boob) Is that a baby?
• Doggies love chomping on skeleton bones.
• When I was mad at him "I like your nose!" Then when I laughed he said "you like that? I'll say it again!"
• Spying his reflection "I look darling do I?"

And, my favorite part. Check out how much he's grown: