Binkie Fairy

We've been talking about getting rid of Sophie's binkies for over a year now. She was only allowed to have them in bed, but still, it was time to be done with them. So the binkie fairy was called in to help Sophie become a big girl. Here's a timeline of the big event...

7:30 p.m.-Sophie hangs her binkies in the trees to have ready for the binkie fairy when she comes by. All is good, and she is proudly declaring to her friends that she is now a big girl and doesn't need binkies in bed.



7:35 p.m.- After being told it's time for bed, reality sets in as she is told that the binkies are staying on the tree. Gracie asks "mom, why are you taking a picture of Sophie while she's crying!?!"


8:00 p.m.-After being put to bed, she commits the grievous sin of getting back out of bed. I get ready to get upset with her, but quickly soften as Sophie hands me a stray binkie that she found in her bed. "Mom, I found another binkie for the tree." It was so sweet, I almost cried. Then, to top it off, she said "Gracie told my to think about ballerinas, and that would help me sleep. She's the bestest friend ever."

7:15 a.m. (the next day)-Gracie (I am sure) wakes up Sophie to see what the Binkie Fairy has left behind for her. Sophie had slept great all night, and woke up a big girl with new big girl presents. Hooray for no binkies in our house!

Futbol

Gracie has just finished her inaugural season of soccer, and boy was it a hit! I thought that since she was so girly and loved all things ballet/pink, that she would not be athletic enough for soccer. But she ended up LOVING it. Their team was really pretty good. When asked what she liked best about soccer, she appropriately replied "my teammates".

Goooooooooo Bears!!!

Team photo after the last game.




Gracie's biggest fans. Sophie was a great cheerleader. She yelled for Gracie every game. And in return, Gracie shared her end-of-the-game treat with Sophie after every game. Warms a mother's heart!

I love how they get ready for the high fives about 50 feet before the team arrives.

Gracie showing us her new game record for goals.

Good job!

Don't eat the playdough

My girls crack me up. Here's a sampling of what goes on in our house...

#1:

(A conversation overheard while in I was in the other room)

Gracie: "Soph, don't eat the play dough."

Sophie: "But I like it. It's salty."

Gracie: "But we're not supposed to eat play dough."

Sophie: "But I like it."

Gracie: "You should just go eat some salt. Then you don't have to eat the play dough."

Sophie: "O.K."

Sophie proceeds to put the salt shaker up to her mouth and shakes a few times.

#2:

Gracie, in a completely matter-of-fact tone:

"Mom, I think that every song should end with a Yee-Haw."

I like her style.

#3:

Sophie and Gracie, cleaning up their room:

Sophie (very excited): "Gwacie, I going to invite you to clean up my puzzle!"

Lunch Lady Land

Gracie's kindergarten class tried out eating school lunch in the cafeteria in preparation for 1st grade next year. Sophie, Ben, and I tagged along to watch her experience this rite of passage. She was so loving every minute of it.

Gracie has always been anxious to go onto the next exciting stage of life (just like her dad). We feasted on mini corn dogs and soggy crinkle fries. It's amazing how school lunch still tastes about the same as it did in 1989. It can't believe I have a child who is going to be eating school lunch. Graice, you are growing up too fast!

Gwammy Gawlock

Sorry for not posting in a while! When I am posting often, my life is usually somewhat organized in control. So by posting this blog, I am declaring that I have gained some control. (I wish!) How do you find time with three kids?

WAY BACK in April, we had a fun visit from Grandma Jelly Bean, formerly known as Grandma Garlock. It was so nice to have her around. We wore her out though, I am sure of it! Highlights included going to baby animal days and celebrating her birthday with Uncle Mitch and Aunt Gloria.

Sophie and Grandma having a heart to heart.

Cute little animal lover. Gracie begs me for a pet almost every day. Not a chance, darling.

Ben enjoyed his bath time with grandma. (We were very careful to keep this picture modest.)

Grandma's birthday/Easter dinner. It was a great meal.

We miss you Grandma Jelly Bean! I miss having you to talk to. The girls miss waking you up in the morning. And like I said, my laundry misses being folded by you.

Blog for Jennifer Wahlquist Day

So I know that it's the eleventh hour, but I wanted to get my blog updated for this great event today.

So Jennifer is the cousin-in-law of Jake, and one of the only Garlocks that has dared to establish themselves in Utah. And since we like to be around Garlocks, the Wahlquists are our people. And boy, are we lucky that they are our people! Jennifer is an AMAZING wife and mother who has inspired me every time I visited their wonderful, spirit-filled home. She has this drive to bless as many people around her that she can. These past few years she has been very sick. You can read about her experience here.

Jennifer, we love you so much. You have, and will continue to be in our prayers. Your strength has been inspiring. Todd and kids, we can't wait for you to have Jennifer back home.

We love you!

St. George 2009

We LOVE St. George. We especially love St. George in the spring, because it is so warm there are so cold back at home. I was so excited to have a whole week of NOTHING to do but enjoying being together as a family. It was so nice to slow things down a little and spend some time outside in the warm weather. We even saw Karl Malone playing ball with his son right outside our condo. Jake's eyes lit up like a little boy. Here's some other things we did...

On Thursday, we spent the day at Snow Canyon. There is a rock there that I grew up 'hiking' on every year, and that same rock was now hiked up by my kids. Pretty cool. I decided that each person in my family hiked to the top in their own distinctive ways that mirror their personalities. For example....

Jake, being very supportive by carrying Ben, as he is constantly thinking up ways to help make his wife's life a little easier. Love my man.

Gracie, who RAN the whole way up, then gave out directions of help for the rest of us. Very Gracie. I can always count on her for help!

Sophie, who was very methodical and slow with her ascent, but never stopped talking to me the entire hike. "Mom, I'm a hiker girl. We're hiker girls, huh, mom. I've got energy in my tummy. Good thing. We're marching up the hill. Like the song. The grand ol' duke of york. (she sings the song)...and on...and on...and on..." Sophie's great.

Ben, as always, was happy just to be there.

My husband also knows that I am a worry wart, and pushed my buttons by taking my baby up to the edge of the cliff. Yikes! (He claims there was no danger whatsoever.)

As for me, I think I was just running back and forth between kids, warning of danger, taking pictures, and just enjoying it all.

After all the hiking, we were up for some swimming...

Ben, flexing his muscles for us. Love the comb over, too.

Sophie spent most of her time here. We'll have to start all over with her bravery in the water after 7 months of winter.

Cute Gracie

Then we had a bubble bath party back at the condo....

Thanks to G.G. Naylor for letting us use the condo! We love you!

Mawaige

These two great kids got married last weekend...

My youngest brother is a married man...crazy! We love Estee, our new sister-in-law.

Our girls were in HEAVEN. They talk about getting married and dressing up in a wedding dress all the time. To see an actual wedding and to be invited as the flower girls was beyond their wildest dreams.

Here's some photos:

And here's the reception photos. They did such an amazing job decorating the gym. I didn't even recognize it! My favorite part? The gelato ice cream bar. Yum.

Two handsome men...one of whom had an ear infection that night. Poor guy!

Gracie and Sophie thought that they needed to greet the guests as well.

All the Shaw cousins, minus baby Allie. Oh, how we missed you Rach and Mike!

After all the festivities were over, there was compete exhaustion...

It was a peaceful ride home for us!