Ellie's Prayer

   We have a nightly family prayer together. Tonight was Brielle's turn. Ellie has always said prayers, but she talks so quickly and quietly you have to strain your ears just to get the gist of what she is saying. This night was different. When Ry asked her if she would like to say the prayer, she smiled, folded her arms and spoke loud and clear. The mystery of what she may have been saying in some of her prayers was revealed! Here is a brief recap.

   "Thank you for the grass, our washing machine, the car, our walls and cribs." Very sincerely, "Thank you for keeping us safe from the big bad wolf and for helping the bad guys to not get us. Please help Keiko's (our dogs) feelings to not get hurt when he wants a treat!" By this point Ry and I were smiling, but also amazed at her prayer and the amount of time invested into it.This had to be a record breaking moment for the longest prayer ever spoken by a two year old! Brielle continued by naming every relative she could think of and then sat there for and a moment and said,

     "And...that's all I got!" Ry and I looked at each other and held our breath, but Zoey didn't hesitate to burst out in laughter. That was the end of holding back. We all laughed our hearts out, including Brielle.

     Two days later Ellie said a prayer over the food and ended with her attention getting grand finale, " And......That's all I got!", but before I could chime in, Zoey burst out, "B-Elle, you so funny!"

This is Brielle pretending she is Zoey's baby! She's taking her nap in her doll's crib. The crib is literally 1ft. by 2 ft.! 

 Brielle is a sweetheart and her special gift in the family is peacemaker. I didn't know a child was capable of sharing, like I have witnessed on a daily basis. She truly cares more about her sisters than herself.  In fact, Daddy has to be careful when pretending to gobble up Zoey, because Brielle's mouth will literally drop open, gasp and begin pleading, "No Daddy. Don't eat Zoey. No!"  Zoey is lucky too, because Brielle has saved her a time or two from being left in the house. Rylie's school drive is only minutes away, yet I give Zoey at least twenty warnings, half an hour before we leave to please put her shoes on. Yet, it is Brielle's pleadings that always save her. I really need to find a new consequence that won't traumatize Brielle more than Zoey! Ellie also has a knack for puzzles, making up her own songs, and loves cuddles. My little tender heart is my best sleeper and according to dad is a natural wrestler! Ellie thanks for making our home a more peaceful,loving place.

      Last Sunday, during the passing of the sacrament, Brielle burst out in song. An Ellie original, that went something like this:

     "My Mommy, mumble.....mumble, Nice, mumble...." Second verse, loud and clear! "My Mommy is mean to me, when she puts me in time out. La lalala la laaa!"

     Yes, there was a lot of rubber necking, smiles, and comments throughout the remainder of church. Hey, I told you that I had a ruff week in my last post!

    Brielle has been placing the word "ever" at the end of most of her sentences. For example: "I don't want cheese on my taco shell, ever." or "Don't take that Rylie, ever."  When I ask,

     "Brielle can you please come here so mommy can do your hair?" Brielle's response is, "No, not,ever." Then she'll come up with something like this ten-barrett-Medusa-head, hair do!

Brielle, "My tummy hurts, momma."

Mom,"Oh no! Do you think it is saying,"I'm hungry"?"

Brielle lifts her church dress up, touches her belly button, and with a crinkled nose says,"no tummy talk, momma, my no tummy talk!"

      I love these independent quirks that come out in each girl's personality. I don't know if they'll last long, but I want to remember.

Killer Keiko

Keiko is our dog. In tribute to my new Memory Monday theme idea (We'll see how long it lasts). I would like to take you all back to when I was at least 30 weeks pregnant with twins. Animals are smart and it didn't take a genius to notice that I had some issues getting around. Keiko our 22lb Lhasa Apso already had the mentality of a lion, yet he took it upon himself to become king of whomever he deemed to be a threat. On this particular day our lawn crew had just wrapped up their yard work and were taking a lunch break under the shade of the trees in the park next to our house.

I opened the door and Keiko ran as fast as he could towards the closest group of men. I panicked and started yelling, "kick him, kick him!", but I wasn't too surprised when they turned to look at him and reacted something like this, "Oh, look at the little growling teddy bear."

I waddled over to them as quick as my body would allow, bent down to grab him just as his teeth caught hold of the back of one of the men's flannel shirts. Hysterical laughter was heard from the second group of men under another tree. Enough laughter to distract Keiko and send him on a dead sprint in their direction. If the dog could talk I'm sure he would have been saying in his best Steven Segal voice, "Keep laughing my friends, keep laughing."

Anyway, I waddled between groups as the men danced, trying to keep Keiko off of their ankles and laughing at whomever was being chased at the time. When I would get close to Keiko he would run to the next group. By this point, I was beyond livid. I looked in my driveway, the new phonebooks had just been delivered. With the biggest phone book in hand, I waddled as close as I could to Keiko and launched the phonebook at his rear end! The king of the jungle tucked his tail and ran directly back into the house. Yeah, Keiko was funny, but I am sure the real humor was the woman with the huge belly that couldn't bend over and pelted her dog with the phonebook!

 Squirrel Hunting

 Current update on Keiko. He (and Us) have been through dog training. Keiko has been a work in progress, but has seriously become the best dog. Will he rip someone to shreds if they walk through my front door uninvited? Yes, but I am OK with that.

Flying fur ball going in for the kill

Peanuts!

Like most children, three years old, Rylie has taken interest in the differences of the male and female bodies. Hopefully you can see where I am going with this........so, here are a few humorous experiences. Enjoy.

Rylie, "Mom! help I can 't get off the toilet."
Brooke, "Why are you sitting on the toilet seat backwards?"
Rylie, " I wanted to pee in the toilet like Dad."

Several months ago;
Rylie, "Mom, what is that on Keiko(our dog)?"
Brooke, "What?"
Rylie frustrated,"That...where he pees?"
Brooke, "Oh, um that's his penis, you know where boys go potty."
Rylie, "Oh his peanut."


A few weeks later in the grocery store.
Rylie whispering, "mom, does he have a peanut?"
Brooke, "Yes, honey. All boys have peanuts?"
Rylie," What about him?"
Brooke,"Yes."
The remainder of the shopping trip, as a boy is passed. Rylie pointing,"And him.And him. And him."



In the grocery store with Ryan after preschool.
Rylie singing with hand motions, " You put you right hand in. You put your right hand out. You put your right hand in and you shake it all about. You do the Hokey Poky(and so on)"
Rylie still singing, with hip motions, "You put your peanut in. You put your peanut out. You put your peanut in and you shake it all about!

A few weeks ago a cute cocker spaniel decided to follow my girls home from the park. I am a sucker for stray animals. Despite my emotions, I used some common sense and did not take on another responsibility. I posted a lost pet ad in our online community website and went back to work. Two hours later the girls went out the front door and guess who was waiting for them?
"Mom" asked Rylie, "can we call her Sammy?" "
"Sure hon, but Sammy needs to go back to her family." By dark, Sammy was still hanging around. So, after giving Sammy a good belly rub and discovering that she was a he, Sammy became Sam and I coaxed him into our back yard, gave him food and water and shut the door. The next morning, I hurriedly buckled all three girls in their car seats. I ran back in the house only to return to find that Sam had joined the girls in the back seat! I was in too big of a hurry, so the dog stayed. At my good friend, Erika's house, I jokingly mentioned that I had a stray dog in the car with me. Instantly, she happily offered to take him while we waited to see if his family replied to the lost and found ad. I thought the match was heaven sent for this little pup and my friends family. Yet, disappointingly for them, the vet found a chip implanted in him. The chip contained the family contact information and his real name.
"Guess what Rylie? Sam found his family!" trying to sound excited, I continued, "His real name is Peanut!"
I wish I had a picture of the puzzled, confused expression on her face as she wrinkled her nose and repeated, "Peanut?!?"
It took some serious, parenting back-pedaling to try to explain this one!