The Small Fairy by Emily Restuccia, age 7

Once there was a child named Fern. Fern said she once saw a small fairy. She told her mom, but her mom didn't [believe her and] said she was just having fun. Fern felt worried that the fairy would be left by herself sitting on the pink daisy, thinking of someone to take care of her and bring her home to them. The next day Fern went to the meadow hoping to see the small fairy once again. It was a relief to see the fairy making herself a drink. Hello. Said Fern. Why hello Fern, what a pleasure to see you again. Do you have any news that I can come to your house? Not so good news that you can come, but I have an idea. Said Fern to the fairy. What is your idea? Asked the fairy. Can you tell me your name first? Asked Fern. Rosey, tell me your idea now. My idea is maybe I can sneak you into my house. My mom is taking care of Molly my little baby sister, so we have to be quiet. That's a good idea let's [get] started. I have a map to my room. Rosey looked at the map. Ok I can fly that far, but are they any dangers? Nope. Said Fern. Then let's go! Said Rosey. Then, Rosey flew and Fern walked to the house. Ok now we have to be quiet. Said Fern. Ok. Whispered Rosey. Ready, set, go! Whispered Fern and they quickly went into the house and dashed into the bedroom and shut the door. Now tell me how you became to be sitting on that pink rose. I'm a summer and spring type of fairy, we come out of flowers in spring and find some place to settle. In the summer we enjoy the new place and have fun. But in fall and winter we go into a flower and stay there until spring again and it goes all over again. Then, you mean, I'll have to put you into a flower again and see you next year? Said Fern. Well, no, because we just have to stay away from cold. Said Rosey. Yay! I can keep you! Slow down you have to show me to your mom first. Ok. Said Fern. Then they went to the mom and showed Rosey to the mom and the mom said that Fern could keep Rosey.

The End

Closer

I fight the kids all the time about sitting too close to the television (what's wrong with the couch, for heaven's sake??? Just SIT on it -- I swear you'll still be able to see the tv!), but this is just ridiculous.

The good stuff

Brendan had his first taste of real food last night. My, my, I've never had a kid take to it so intensely. Usually, there's the spitting out, uncertainty, and only a few bites he first time. This kid ate EVERY BITE, swallowed like a pro and begged for more. And everyone in the family took turns feeding him. I can't believe he's already old enough to be to this stage. He still seems like such a teeny baby. Laura, a friend of mine, told me a few days ago that she thinks of Brendan as the invisible baby because she never sees him. When she's at our house, he's typically napping, at church, he's with Jason and even when he is around, he's a fairly quiet kid. Well, here's proof -- I have a baby, and he can eat baby food!

Brag, brag, brag

I'd just like to take a minute to record how very INTELLIGENT my Emily is. Tonight, during scripture reading, we were reading about Alma, Amulek and Zeezrom and Emily said that she had been reading ahead of us (to my shock she is 10 chapters ahead of us) and she already knew this story and proceeded to tell me all about Zeezrom and his repetence and conversion. WOW. I don't think I could relate that story until I was a sophomore in high school and studied in it seminary! A genius and a spiritual giant to boot!

Barfing Brendan

Now that Brendan can roll over, we have a problem. He loves to be on his belly, but being of a considerably barfy nature, the pressure on his stomach causes him to spit up on the carpet. And, if someone isn't there to wipe up the mess, he will rub his face in the mess and cry. I think I would cry too if I had vomit up my nose. Today, Bren was playing on his belly while Evan laid in front of him, informing us of each time the "baby spilled." After 4 or 5 clean ups -- Dani pushed a candy box lid in front of Brendan and said, "Here, Bren, this is your barf bowl."

Proof that I actually do bake and in defense of why its not often

Other moms bake their families treats all that time. I am amazed at the frequency with which many of my friends bake.... all those cookie sheets and muffin tins and 9x13s, spices, flour, Pam and the oven... actually get used by other women. In my house, they mostly just take up space in the cabinet. Almost every time I bake something, I still call my mom to make sure I'm doing it right. However, I do sometimes bake stuff... here is proof...





But here... HERE is one of the reason's I don't do it often. I forgot to put the rim on my Bosch and when I put the powdered sugar in the frosting while the beaters were running, I coated my island with powdered sugar.



And then there are the calories..... ugh... the calories.............

Cookie devouring basics

The best way to eat a cookie is to do so making as little effort as possible, so as not to waste a single empty calorie on something as pointless as actually picking the cookie up.

Hey Bro

I am so happy that Evan has a brother. I look at how close my own brothers are and hope for the same thing for my boys. I don't think Evan yet understands what a great buddy Brendan has the potential to be, but without a doubt he loves his little brother. He always wants to hold him and frequently tell me, with a big toothy grin "Mom, I lub our bebe" which translated is "Mom, I love our baby" He is very concerned about Brendan's well being, and gets very upset when he spits up... it usually prompts a "Mom! Brendan spilled AGAIN!" I look forward to Brendan getting old enough to love Evan back!

Wha????

We let the kids ride their bikes to the pond today so Jason and I could run outside. As we neared the pond, Dani got off her bike in favor of running for a while and declared, "Mom, I'm grease and thunder"!!!" Uh, did you mean "greased lightening, Dani, dear??