Happy #2 Birthday Tatem!

Do You Forgive Me?

Sometimes Stella puts me in my place. OK, pretty much every day she reminds me, not so much with the actual words, that I need to be a better Mommy. The other day Stella was sitting on my lap and for no apparent reason whatsoever, she bashed her head into my mouth. NOT HAPPY! Swelling occurred immediately as Stella ran off to her room crying.

It was an accident and she clearly did not calculate how close my face was to her twitching head. She felt really bad. She came out of her room a while later and presented me with this:

and so sweetly asked, "Do you forgive me, Mom?"

. . . and then she presented me with several other things:

"This is for you cuddle . . ."

". . . and this is for you to be pretty . . ."

". . . and this is to wipe away your tears."

Forgiveness was swiftly granted and my sweet little head-bashing girl's smile returned. I love you Stella.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Easter Morning Flop

Stella woke up and found her Easter basket before I even got out of bed. I woke up to Stella's accusations that I was the one who gave her all of the Easter stuff. I kept trying to blame it on the Easter Bunny, but she won't believe me. She's very stubborn.

So the status in the land of make-believe:

SANTA - Alive and well
TOOTH FAIRY - Banished, citing "too many dollars"
EASTER BUNNY - DOA

I'm sorry, we love bathroom humor.

Stella is VERY excited to learn how to braid Barbie's hair.

Tie-Dyed Easter Eggs

This is the way to do Easter Eggs. There is no horrific vinegar smell. By the way, this is Stella's FIRST time coloring Easter eggs. GASP! I know, she's almost 6.

Tempe Marketplace Fountain

Stella and I had dinner with some friends at Tempe Marketplace on Saturday night during Priesthood Conference. We let the kids play the in fountain. Stella's ensemble just happened to include a swimming suit that day, so we were in luck! Who cares that the water was absolutely freezing!

Dallen

Stella was almost tall enough to jump over the spouting water.

She also did cartwheels around the whole water area. She never gets dizzy.

Stanton had just splashed water on Stella. I wish you could hear his laugh in this picture.

Noelle's diaper came off next. She disrobed slowly thinking we wouldn't notice.

Tulips

I love tulips. Gerber Daisies are my favorite, but tulips are close behind. I remember being totally pregnant and completely weary that our house remodel wouldn't be done by the time our baby came. Elliot spent every extra waking moment at the house working so hard and I did what I could.

My sister Lindsay happened to visit the house and brought the tulips she had received that day. The sight of those tulips in the middle of the floor against the freshly painted walls gave me hope that our home would soon be ready to inhabit.

We moved in 3 weeks before Stella was born. And now tulips relax me and give me hope for things I become impatient for.

I Really Don't Know . . .

. . . where she came from.

But she loves paper and taking random pictures, so she must be mine.

Not For Keeps

Stella's cousin Lucy got to spend a couple of nights with us again last week. Stella LOVES having her here and we LOVE it too. Not only because we just love Lucy, but because Stella suddenly becomes super responsible, obedient, and extra helpful. She made it no secret that it was just because Lucy was here.

Elliot put Lucy to sleep and refused my offers to take her back to her bed. He just held her for 45 minutes and loved it.

When I told Stella that Lucy's Mommy and Daddy were coming to pick her up, she asked, "WHY?" (a little whiny too, if you can imagine)

I said, "Well, they miss her and want her to be with their family."

To which she retorted, "But she's OUR BABY!"

And this is why we cannot be foster parents. We don't like to give them back.

Tooth #2

Lost on 03/28/2010 at Grandma Dibble's House. She pulled this one out herself too. Also, she said that she didn't want the Tooth Fairy to come because she "has too many dollars." Well, OK then. I'll let her know she can deposit the cash under my pillow instead.

Aunt Bethany's School Carnival

Thanks for the Swimming Cap Myra

Me Ol' Bamboo! Me Ol' Bamboo!

Another favorite movie of mine is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Not sure if it's my crush on Dick Van Dyke. Elliot has a crush on Truly Scrumptious. Here is one of my favorite scenes with those crazy legs kicking about.



The other day Elliot brought home this giant thing. I immediately starting singing "Me Ol' Bamboo! Me Ol' Bamboo!" but it's not bamboo.

It's sugar cane. And we ate some of it.

And we planted the rest of it in our garden. We're having a Dick Van Dyke-like dance party when it grows.

Namesake . . .

Elliot seems to have inherited the sweet wave of hair from his great-grandfather George Elliot Dibble.

Elliot's brother said one time that you could put a hotdog in that wave.

It's a good thing Stella knows how to tame it for him.

Weathered

My freckles show up when I get some sun. Also, when I don't wear make-up. After the Spring Training game, I took off my sunglasses and Elliot was staring at me.

"What?" I asked.
"You look weathered." he replied.

I'm sad that Stella's perfectly smooth and beautiful skin will one day be pocked with acne and perhaps my weathered look. Curse you GENETICS!!