Wocka Wocka

Once a week, Scott takes one of the girls on a daddy-daughter date.  They usually do some sort of errand or fun activity and then get some ice cream.  The girls talk for weeks about which "ice cream store" they want to go to when it's their turn.  It's very cute.  

Last week it was Emily's turn.  She wanted to go to Guitar Center and check out the instruments and DJ equipment.  

This is one of my all-time favorite photos.  It's so Emily. 

She would LOVE to be a real DJ.

She was checking out the drums and told Scott she had a joke for him.

E: Knock knock.

S: Who's there?

E: Banana.

S: Banana who?

You know the joke.  Eventually it got to . . . 

E: Orange you glad I didn't say banana! 

Before Scott could react she hit the cymbal with her drumstick!

She gave herself her own rim shot!

Then she told another joke and did it again.

This was much, much funnier than the actual jokes.  Silly girl!

Thanks Santa!

Boys, get in line now.  

There are three of them.  They all LOVE Star Wars. 

They will be ready to date in about 20 years.  

PS - If you look carefully you can see Darth Vader playing the piano in the doll house.  Also, you  might notice that Molly and Heidi are missing some sleeve length.  Their Christmas pajamas were, uh, how do we say this nicely, made for newborns.  Seriously, the arm holes were so small you could barely fit a light saber through, much less an actual hand.  I didn't want to make the girls wear something else so I could return them - they were so excited to put them on - so we did a little adjusting with the scissors.  After I cut the sleeves off Molly decided she wanted shorts.  Why not?  We are in California.

Daredevil!

We took all the kids on a mini roller coaster at a restaurant last night.  I could hear Heidi screaming and was afraid she was scared (see previous post) and was trying to escape.  

Nope, not scared.  Those were screams of DELIGHT.  

She was only upset when we had to leave.  I think we'll have to go back.

Ho! Ho? AHHHH!

Here's a little family photo from our church Christmas party.

The girls all thought seeing Santa was great - at first.  

When I put Heidi on his lap she FREAKED OUT.  I had forgotten that around two kids don't want scary bearded men to get too close  - even if it is your dad.  When I took her off she was fine again and kept yelling "SANTA!  SANTA!" and giggling.  That was cuter than the screaming.

Molly and Emily instantly recognized Santa.  Apparently, 180 is NOT the new 280 and everyone knows that Santa is not 6'5" and freckled.  They still thought it was fun to sit on his lap and tell him what they want for Christmas.  

We had to do some explaining afterwards.  Emily knows about all the Santas that help the real Santa but it was still pretty strange to see your dad in that costume.  I did what any good mom would do.  I told them the truth.  Santa knows that they'd been so good so they let their dad help out this year.  Only the best kids get to have that as a Christmas surprise.  (It worked, whew.)

I somehow thought the kids would be blind to everything but the red suit and beard.  No.  I guess when Santa looks and sounds just like your dad doing his "Santa" voice that he does all the time at home you figure things out pretty quickly.  

We're not in Minnesota anymore

We walk to school everyday.  We might as well, it's only a few blocks away.  Besides, there's not a bus.  The only problem is that sometimes it's, well, a little chilly.

Here is an action shot of us at the school.  Heidi and Molly are wearing all their winter clothes - warm jackets, hats, mittens, three blankets, etc. - you know, the basics.  Emily started out that way too but got a little warm and had to start shedding during the hat and gloves on the walk.  Maybe it wasn't as cold as I thought it was.

Just for fun, when I got home I checked the temperature.  It was 43 degrees.  When I was a kid, 43 degrees meant Easter.  It meant the Burba girls were on their deck sunbathing.  It meant I would try to play outside in short sleeves.  

43 degrees has changed for me.  

I don't know if the Northstar State will ever let me back in.

Happy Birthday DJ Monkey

I can't believe this kid is already two today!

Heidi was born in the middle of the night two years ago today.  She was coming FAST and so I had to ask Scott to quickly turn off the TV in the delivery room so she wouldn't be born during a Chia Pet commercial.  (Women in labor are worried about lots of important things.)

Here she is last Christmas when we went sledding.  

Heidi liked the snow, just not the cold.  Yeah, tell me about it.  

And now here she is last week.  Her eyes have turned green and she finally has some hair, but otherwise she's still the same cute baby.  

We love you Heidi!

Here Comes Santa Claus!

Every year Santa and his helpers, the city police officers and firefighters do a mini parade around the neighborhoods.  We love this!  It's so exciting to see the lights and sirens and eat the candy canes they pass out.  

We've always stood on our driveway to watch but this year we thought it would be fun to follow the parade around.  So we bundled everyone up and piled three girls into a two-girl stroller.  Family togetherness is a good thing, right?

Molly got a little bored half way through. 10 points if you can find her.

Tonsils are coming out January 9th!  HOORAY! I can't wait to sleep.

We asked the police officers if we could take a close look at the motorcycles.  They asked the girls if they wanted to sit on them!  Heidi loves, loves motorcycles and was much more excited than she's letting on in the photo.

Everyone woke up in time to decorate the candy house. 

Eat your heart out, Williams Sonoma.  

We got it for $8 and we even personalized it.

Happiest Place on Earth

We had SUCH a FUN weekend in SoCal!  I'm ready to go back.  

Want to come too?

Remember a few months ago when I showed up at the airport wearing the same thing as my sister Amy?  Well, now I've done it with the other sister too.  At least Kristen and I went to Disneyland in different colors.

Also, if Kristen is anywhere near you in the next, oh, 14 days, ask her to take your Christmas card photo.  It will look fantastic!  (Now, if I could only get them out before Christmas that would be good.)

Molly loved driving the bugs.  She smacked Scott's hands away if he tried to help.  Boy, if that's how it's going to be, we can't wait until she's learning to drive for real.

Looking at the camera + smiling = miracle!

Emily loved the turkey legs so much that she had two of them.  I guess she takes after her dad.

One more thing about Emily and turkeys that I keep forgetting to write about - on Thanksgiving when I was putting the turkey in the oven she came over to me with a very serious look on her face and asked, "Mom, how did you hunt this?"  I think she was a little disappointed when I told her I got it as Costco.  Darn Costco, always ruining traditions!

Party at the Elf Club

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Fa La La La La!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

3 Busy Girls & 1 Busy Mom

Today I noticed that Heidi finished her lunch really, really quickly.  Too quickly, in fact, for me to actually believe it.  My instincts were correct.

Luckily the chicken nuggets and orange slices made it into the clear plastic purse and not the purse with all the rest of her stuff.  Who knows when I would have found them!

Have you ever seen a cuter blonde, blue-eyed Native American?  (You can tell she's a Native American by the braids.  At least that's what she told me.)  I LOVED the Kindergarten feast!*

* This didn't happen today but I wanted an Em photo.  If it works for reality TV, why not here?

Poor Molly.  She lost the genetic lottery with her tonsils.  They are already adult sized, touch in the middle, cause scary Darth Vader sounds to come out of her mouth and NEED to come out now.  This is not new news.  She's been having problems for a while but the last few nights have been so bad that she couldn't breathe.  

Thanks to those of you who shared your pre-tonsillectomy tips.  

I'm trying all your tips at once tonight.

Sleeping in a recliner

Breathe right strips

Humidifier

Vaporub

Nasonex

2 other drugs the doc prescribed until surgery

Anyone have any other tips?  So far she's slept an hour straight - that beats last night, so something's working.

I was a little tired after last night's adventures in not sleeping.  Maybe this is why I put Heidi in the tub with her socks on.  

Tagged

Rules:

• Post rules on your blog
  
• Answer the six "4" items
  
• Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment

4 things I did yesterday

• Went to youth planning meeting
  
• Went to Target to buy space heaters (Ox was SO in the mire!) because our thermostat is broken and I feel like I'm back in Minnesota.
  
• Went to church
  
• Had dinner at Erica's.  Thanks!

4 things I look forward to

• A fixed thermostat on Wednesday (It's good thing we're not actually in MN!)
  
• Heidi speaking clearly
  
• Putting up Christmas decorations with the girls
  
• A trip to Disneyland

4 restaurants I like

• Nugget (not actually a restaurant, but close enough)
  
• Habit Burger
  
• Eddingtons
• Cafe Asia

4 things on my wish list (in no particular order)

• Peace on Earth
• All my girls sleeping through the night
• A robot maid
• A personal trainer

4 favorite TV shows

• 30 Rock
• The Office
• 24 
• Arrested Development (RENT THESE!)

4 people I tag

• Amy
• Kristen
• Monica
• Erica

It's ALIVE!

Heidi's purse was not large enough for hold her blankets (which caused GREAT anguish!) so she found a new one.  

This is an action shot.  She's trying to lift it.

Mary Poppins

Heidi has been walking around with her Aunt Kristen's old Puma purse for the last few days.  I noticed that she was filling it with different things around the house and that no matter how much she put in there still seemed to be room.  

So tonight I emptied it.

Inside I found:

1 sippy cup

5 forks and two spoons

1 Christmas butter spreader

1 toothpaste lid

Dora Memory

2 pacifiers

2 toothbrushes (thanks Ben!)

1/8 graham cracker

6 1/4 pretzels

a variety of hair accessories

Is it too early to call Oprah?  I think we have a little hoarding problem.

Who? Who? What?

This afternoon we went to the California Raptor Center's annual open house.  It was a little small and although there weren't any dinosaurs or Canadian basketball teams, we did learn all about owls, hawks and eagles.  

Emily's new Facebook profile photo.

Here's Heidi learning a new word - OWL.  

It is her new favorite word.  We expect to hear it all day tomorrow too.

Molly wouldn't even touch those "scary" glasses so the best photo we could get for her was with a feather.  

Do you like her cast?  No, her arm is not broken.  She's just making a a fashion statement with a sock - and a stamp on her chest.  Why dress like a Gap model when you can be a Molly model?

Happy Halloween!

This Halloween was exciting for many reasons.  First of all, it was our last day of "homeschool." The girls are no longer dotted and scratchy and they have passed the point of being contagious.  HOORAY!  Now we can return to society.  

We missed Molly's gymnastics class this morning so instead we did a little yoga in the front room.  I don't know why my girls - really, ALL of them - are so into yoga.  I don't do it.  If I stick in a yoga DVD I don't hear a noise from them for 30 minutes.  Than you, yoga.  My favorite part of the DVD is zig-zag breathing.  Come on over and we'll teach you how to do it.

The second reason it was exciting was because, hello, HALLOWEEN!  I looooove Halloween and I'm a little depressed that I have to start taking down the decorations.  Oh well.  At least we still have the candy.

Scott and three Disney princesses ready for a night on the town. 

 

This is a miracle photo.  These two are BOTH looking at the camera at the same time AND smiling.  (Sure, Molly looks like she's about to strangle her sister, but that's pretty normal.)

Here's Mulan having some treats and enjoying wearing the makeup that will soon go away until next Halloween.  (Mulan had apparently not eaten Kit-Kats before because when she opened them up she got excited and yelled, "There are TWO in here!")

Day 4 - The Escape!

We couldn't stand it anymore.  We had to get out, and by get out I mean not just drive to Sonic and sit in the car during Happy Hour.  We already did that.

After some math and reading we went to a place I thought we would never see any kids on a Thursday afternoon.  I hit the drive through at McDonalds and then we hit the Sacramento Temple grounds. We loved the big trees, the turkeys that look like Velociraptors and we discovered that the carmel sauce that comes with the Apple Dippers is good on just about everything - probably not a Big Mac though.  Have any of you tried those in the last few years?  Have my taste buds changed or are those really sickening?  I LOVED those growing up.  Today I couldn't eat the whole sandwich.  Thank goodness.  Halloween is tomorrow and I'm hoarding points.

After lunch we had a little photo session . . . 

and then the girls all washed off . . . 

just in time for a little ice cream.

In case you're wondering, I did wipe pox germs off the benches.

PS - to Emily in about 8 more years.  You would not leave the house without those socks.  You LOVED them.  

A pox on both your houses!

Well, not really, since Rebekah is post-pox and we don't think we can spread it back again.

We are so lucky!  Our friend Rebekah had chicken pox when she was two and since she's probably in the clear (fingers crossed) she could come over and play today!  I loved having another girl in the house today whose name didn't start with a E, M or H.  We had a fun pox party with puzzles, mac and cheese and, of course, candy.  I've heard that a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down, so a bar full of chocolate must make diseases leave faster.  Thank you for the fun and the treats - and my favorite, the Dr. Pepper! 

Speaking of treats, thanks Julianne for the supplies for our post-nap cooking extravaganza.

Stop, Drop, Roll & DANCE!

Emily was very disappointed when she found out a firefighter was going to visit her class this week.  Luckily, I know people.  I called a friend from church who, despite being extremely busy, was willing to come over and give my dotted children a little presentation.  

THANK YOU JONATHAN!  You made our day!

Emily's highlight was trying out firefighter chic.

Next, since we were missing dance class we had our own little tap/ballet combo in the garage.  Everyone - even Heidi, who used cowboy boots as her tap shoes - had a good time.  How could they not have?  I'll bet Emily's teacher doesn't let them dance to Mr. Roboto.

Chicken Pops

I thought Molly had some bug bites on her face and hands and arms and legs.  Worst luck, Molls.  Then I found out some people we know have chicken pox.  Then I noticed that the "bug bites " were multiplying and looked exactly like chicken pox.  "Chicken Pops?" Molly asked.

Luckily it was only Molly.  Then yesterday Emily got them too!  AHHH!  All three girls were vaccinated and only Heidi lucked out to not get it (knock on wood).  They have a very mild case and they're not very itchy but they do have it.  Rats.

Here's Molly showing off her spots - and some leftover lunch.

Here's the sad part.  I just talked with the doctor who recommended that the girls stay out of school ALL WEEK - Halloween week!  I am feeling very sad for them because I LOVED Halloween week as a kid.  Luckily they don't know what they're missing since this is Emily's first year in elementary school and Molly doesn't remember what Emily did in pre school last year.

I am up for some exciting ideas from friends to make this week more enjoyable for everyone.  Tomorrow we're pretending to have dance class in  the garage but I'm going to need some help if we're all going to survive being homebound homeschoolers.  Eeks.  

HELP!

I Choose Treats

A spooky (OK, not really spooky) Halloween story

Once upon a time a Cub Scout, Baby Cinderella, Mulan and another Cinderella went to their ward's Trunk-or-Treat. 

While they were there, they saw a chef and a dog trainer, also known as Grandpa and Grandma.  Thanks for coming from AZ for the party! (well, not just for the party)

"Watch out Senator McCain," yelled Baby Cinderella, who magically received the gift of clear speech after consuming an inhuman amount of sugar.  "Don't get fresh with Governor Palin.  She might hurt you with her hockey stick!"

Just then the three amigos ran by and the Brownie almost coveted their costumes but didn't fully sin since it was a church party.

At the end of the night the three little princesses hopped in the car and ate quickly, since they knew midnight was coming and all the candy would magically disappear.  (It's in the laundry room and I think the Brownie has been sneaking tastes.)  

Happy Halloween!

40 isn't scary

Scott and I went to a super fun 40th birthday party on Saturday.  Happy Birthday Gould!  Come back and have the same party again next year!  

My favorite couple was Donald and Ivana.  Donald looked even better when we made his wig, ahem, hair, slightly more askew.

Here's another cute couple from the party.  

That Cub Scout should really stay away from Hell's Kitchen, even if it is his party.  That man makes a mean hot dog.

Look out Martha Stewart!  Medusa's victim is right behind you!

At first I didn't recognize these friends.  I thought Brad and Angelina had crashed the party. (FYI, Maddox, Shiloh and Pax were building houses in New Orleans.)

This one's for the Workmans

This year was our sixth annual visit to Davis Ranch to pick pumpkins.  Sadly, our pumpkin picking partners, the Workman family, has moved too far away to pop over for the afternoon. Don't worry!  Here are the photos! (And yes, Emily ran down the hill at top speed again.) 

Molly, I think your pumpkin has deflated.

If you look closely, you'll see that Emily's fingernails are painted in an AB pattern.  I love Kindergarten!

The photo and face say sweet but check again just before nap time.

Molly is working on her plan to get five pumpkins in the cart without anyone noticing.  We noticed.

Happy pumpkin picking!