Molly turns 2....

Molly turned two at the end of March and had two parties. The actual day of her birthday the Tarbets came over to our house for cake and ice cream. I wussed out this year and just bought a cake. She got truckloads of presents. She was thrilled with all of them. After each present she opened she would get all excited and run over to a random family member and give them the present. She was very enthusiastic.

She got some new books.

Lots of bubbles. And basically a whole new wardrobe.

The next weekend we went to Kaysville where my siblings and their adorable kids spoiled Molly with the attention she so desperately needed.

She and Chase played really good all day long together until Grandma got out their favorite book. They started fighting over the pages. It was subtle at first, they would just kind of move eachothers hands and try to get to the page first. Then they got fiesty.

Then they literally kissed and made up. He is such a stud.

All the kids but Gus. This time I made up for the store bought cake and made two. They were both pretty yummy if I do say so myself.

Cruizin' on her cool new bike.

The baloons may have been the best part of her birthday. I had to get her untangled from them more than once.

Kade even snuck out on his own and got her her own soccer chair which she loves.

Overall it was a great celebration and I can't say how much I appreciate all of the family support that we have. This is one lucky kid to have so much family close by that loves her!

New job, new school.....

I am proud to announce that I have a new job. A few weeks ago a friend asked me if I would be interested in a day job. A couple weeks and three job interviews later I was able to turn in my two weeks to the Youth Center. I am so relieved to be moving on. This has been a good job but has no future and I don't know how much longer my poor body can take working graves.
I will be starting at Legacy House Of Logan as the Marketing Director. Don't ask me how I'm qualified because I'm not sure. I figure that apparently I sold myself to them so I should be able to do the job, right?!? I'm really excited. I think it will be a fun job. Molly will have to go to an actual daycare now and at first I was really struggling with the idea. I started looking around and it seemed like all of the really nice stuff was ridiculously expensive and everything else was at some random persons house. No offense but I don't know you, I don't know your family, why should my kid be in your home? Don't get me wrong, there were some good ones at homes but overall it just wasn't what I wanted. Anyway, I started finding some good options and since my mother-inn-law works at the hospital I could get Molly into their daycare. Molly and I went and took some tours on Wednesday and when I walked into the Hospital daycare and smelled clorox, I knew I had found the right place. While we sat in the director's office and talked, Molly was pulling me out the door to go play with the kids. We went and saw her classroom and met her teacher and she wasn't shy in the least. It was very reasonably priced and everyone was so nice. So she will be starting there on Monday. We keep talking to her about going to school and I think she will do well. She will probably do better than I will. But I'm really excited about this opportunity.

Pictures finally...

There have been some changes around the Tarbet household lately. A little two year old has been spending more time in "time out" lately, asking "why" after pretty much everything, and stripping naked during bedtime and nap time and jumping around in her crib. The joys...

A friend borrowed Molly's baby sit the other day and after returning it Molly reacquainted herself with it. She wanted me to sit there and rock her in it all day.

Some sunshine took us outside, at least until it snowed again. Lame.

I thought it would be fun to try some sponge curlers in her hair one night. I couldn't believe she actually left them in all night. The next morning when I took them out this is what I found:

If you wonder why she looks so sad, she is wondering why her mom is laughing hysterically at her. The poor kid is probably scarred for life.

Lately, after bath time she likes to pick out a bow or two, or three to put it in her hair. She really likes to accessorize.

At least she is cute. Doesn't she look so grown up? I wish this coat was my size!

My daughter diagnosed....

I think it is official. According to my extensive expertise in the field of psychology, and by extensive I mean none, my daughter may have a very specific form of OCD that is focused on chairs. Now I know many of you will leave comments saying that toddlers like to organize things but I'm just saying, this is weird. So the past few days, in a row I might add, Molly has come into the kitchen while I'm cooking and arranges the chairs. Now the first day she lined them up side by side and I might add that they were perfectly aligned (she even managed to blockade herself out of the kitchen which didn't end well). The next day they were in a row front to back. Yesterday they were in pairs, two in the front perfectly aligned, and two right behind them perfectly aligned. In the process of arranging them they often get stuck when I tried to help her she freaked out at me, if I waited for her to ask for help she was fine with it, but only to get the chair mobile again. She arranges them and then leaves the room like nothing has changed. She doesn't ask for recognition or even care if you notice. It's as though she is satisfying some inner need to have the chairs arranged her way. Maybe this is a creative outlet. Maybe this little girl will become very famous through her provocative chair art work.

Speaking of the little girl Molly is chattering away constantly and sometimes whole intelligible sentences escape. I'm amazed at what she picks up. Molly and I have always had the same little conversation when she wants something, usually a treat- Molly: "I wan treat" Me: "What do you say?" Molly: "Peas" Me:"And" Molly:"Tank ew". Well yesterday it went more like this- Molly: "I wan treat" Me: "What do you say?" Molly: "Peas...an tank ew". I have often wondered if she is actually listening to me. There is my answer.

PS Sorry I'm so lame with no pictures lately, I promise they are to come.

My daughter the hoarder....

It all started in the kitchen. I was cooking in my cute pink apron when a little almost two year old came mischievously walking into the kitchen. She didn't look at me but looked determined. I watched quietly. She opened a bottom cupboard on the other side of the kitchen, reached behind some soda cans, pulled out a bracelet and put it on. I still said nothing but kept watching. A few minutes later she returned to the next cupboard over, opened it, placed her bracelet inside, shut it and walked away. I thought that maybe she had found her own personal hiding spot for her valuables and figured there was no harm in it. A few days later, Kade and I were looking for the remote to the tv in our room. Before we had completely destroyed our room in the search I happened to remember earlier in the day the same culprit pushing one of my drawers shut. I thought maybe I had left it open and it was bothering her, so she shut it. I was wrong, I opened the drawer and there placed among my pjs was the remote control. This is starting to get wierd. A few days ago while getting ready for bed I opened the drawer above the one previously mentioned to find a snack container (full of snacks), butt paste, and three headbands. It seems as though the items are becoming more elaborate. Is this a sign of some bad parenting reflecting in her behavior, a mental illness, a wierd fetish?

Las Vegas

Kade and I snuck away for a weekend in Vegas. Kade surprised me for Christmas and got us Garth Brooks tickets. It was so nice to get away. We flew out on Friday. We wanted to get there early in the day to pick up our tickets. Last year picking up the tickets was quite the ordeal. We had to go wait in a huge line with our ID to pick up wristbands for our tickets. So, this year we found out when the box office opened and prepared to go wait in line. We walked to the back corner of the Wynn, where we went last year, but no one was there when we asked they said to just go to the ticket office. So we found it, no one in line, walked right up to the counter told them our names, got our tickets. Apparently they have eased up a bit. Anyway, we went to the show that night. It was terrific! It was a little longer than last year, he told a few of the same stories but he did a great job of mixing it up. We saw Trisha again, I swear she was wearing the exact same outfit. You know that look on movies when I guy sees the popular, gorgeous girl walking by and he gets that dopey smiling look. I kept catching myself with the same look. Anyway, it was great and I'm so glad we got to go again. After the show we got a late dinner at PF Changs. Always yummy.

On Saturday we did some more walking of the strip and a little shopping, and then went to Mystere by Cirque de Soleil. It was really good, they do some amazing things but there seemed to be a lot of down time in between the major stuff which they filled with some cheesy things but it really was amazing. I don't know how those people do that stuff.

Sunday morning came and I was actually ready to come home. Of course I missed Molly, but also I think Vegas gets less fun the older you get. I used to be able to just laugh at drunk people but this time I just found them so agitating. The girls are getting even more out of control. I could not believe the skin I saw. Not that I think girls should be stick skinny but I can't believe how confident certain girls are in VERY tight and short clothing. Sick! But I found my biggest complaint/observation was how many people had kids and babies there. When we went to get our late dinner it was after 1100 pm and people were walking around with strollers, there were kids in the restaurant. Wierd, or maybe I'm the lamest mom ever but there is no way I could handle that. Such a strange city! Regardless, we had a great time and I guess we have to go again considering Garth still didn't pick on me for a request. Next time, Garth!

Christmas, the big day....

After all of partying, Christmas finally came. We actually had Christmas with Molly on Christmas Eve because I worked the grave so then I wouldn't have to worry about getting up early. Molly did great, she liked every present. We actually took away some toys a while ago that she was still a little young for and just re-wrapped them for Christmas. She was just as delighted with those.

She really likes trains so we got her this cheap little Thomas the Train toy. I wish I would have gotten a picture of her face here because she was literally shaking she was so excited.

After the train she didn't want to open anything else. You can tell by her enthusiasm here.

Once she figured out that they were all toys just for her she did great and loved everything.

She and Kade playing her first game of golf.

So Christmas Day at 11:00 we went to Kade's parents. The first present they gave Molly was a little (it's not so little) Mini Cooper. It is the cutest thing. Molly was very focused trying to get it open.

All of the kids were pretty excited.

Kade and his dad couldn't get it put together fast enough. Here Molly is sitting in it before the seats were even in. She loves it. She spent pretty much the rest of the day in it, with her baby of course. She calls it "Blue".

After we pried her away from the car we were off for more presents and food. We went down to Kaysville and got loads more presents.

She got a new Alice doll, some hand puppets, and a matching tinker bell pillow case and sleeping bag. She just calls her Bell.

She had to go find Mr. P literally every 10-15 minutes and check on him. Which includes putting her head on his, giving him kisses and just generally annoying the poor cat. She talks about him constantly.

She did great but was definitely spent by the end of the day.

Here she is in her Christmas dress and, yes, she is actually smiling. Of course this is after Kade bribed her with gum.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

December....sigh

This year it felt like we had a Christmas party a few times a week every week of December. We had a great month and were able to spend a lot of time with friends and family. I will save the Christmas day post for later. But here are some pictures for now.

Molly opening presents at the Tarbet party. This party I believe was extra special this year because they found a game that Kade actually liked playing and there was some interesting after present-game trading that had never occurred before. I think it was a nice new tradition.

Molly opening presents at the Moulton family party at my Brother's house. It was the first time in a long time that all of the kids were home.

Molly playing with cousins Emma (above) and Charlotte (below). Molly has spent the last few weeks talking incessantly about Emma who dotes on her adoringly.

At the Hutchison family christmas party Lynette made gingerbread houses for all of the grandkids to decorate. What a task! Molly spent her time licking off the frosting and stuffing candy in her mouth.

Exhibit A

We also had an awesome family home evening with friends where we decorated more gingerbread houses. I put Molly's on our kitchen table and every few hours she would climb up on the chair and stuff her mouth. We didn't do a whole lot of playing in the snow considering there really isn't much.

Graveyard Gab...Molly update

Caution: These are my completely random thoughts about Molly. Probably boring and confusing.

My super sassy pants daughter has suddenly become a little girl. The other day while she was refusing to nap, she was sitting in her crib just talking to herself. All of the sudden she started whining and crying the sad cry. I decided I better check it out. I went in and asked what was wrong she then replied, "ear, hurt". I sat their stunned. Finally, my daughter could tell me what was wrong. It turned out she had an ear infection in one ear and apparently it came on in just a few minutes.

She is pretty dang smart and randomly says words that I have no idea where she came up with them. She also loves to say that things stink or talk about poop. She has learned that if she ever wants to leave somewhere (sacrament meeting being the main example) she just turns to me and tells me she has poop. When I told her last week that she didn't she then said "it stinks". One night Kade and I were on the ground wrestling with her. She rolled over to my bum and said ,"oh poop" and then smelled kade's and said "it stinks". She has done this to us a few times randomly and I just can't wait for the day that she walks up to some random person in the store, smells their behind, and tells them they stink.

I have decided that it doesn't matter if I cook the most amazing gourmet meal in the world, she will always prefer spaghettios. The kid will eat an entire can by herself. She usually can't get enough in her mouth fast enough so gets rid of the spoon and just shoves handfuls in her mouth. Classy. Also, Kade recently introduced her to cheese hot dogs. Loves them!

She loves to pick out her own clothes. Even when she already has clothes on. She will go in her drawers and get more clothes to put on over her current outfit. She is also very specific about footwear. When we were getting ready to run some quick errands the other day she refused to wear anything but her patent leather boots. She walks around saying boots. At least she has good taste in clothes.

Molly loves tv. It is starting to worry me. She loves to get up on our bed and watch shows. Especially Mickey Mouse and Polar Express right now. She yells deer as loud as she can every time they show reindeer.

I am starting to feel like we got a new puppy in the house. She is into this phase where she chews up things and spits them out. For example, crayons, a candle, food, combs, etc. We can't have nice things. It is really a problem.

When we went in for her ear infection the Dr. couldn't believe that she wasn't older. She is big physically and mentally. She isn't 2 until March and weighs 32 lbs. A lady at church politely told me that she has too big of a spirit for her little body. Is that her nice way of saying my child is out of control? Does everyone feel like their kid is the naughtiest one around?

Preview of family pictures....

My awesome friend Georgana took some photos of our little family. I haven't seen them all yet but I'm loving what I have seen. Here are a few... as you can see, Molly refuses to smile in pictures.

Adventures in California...part 2

We left San Diego for my Grandma's house in Riverside. My two aunts were there also so Molly had more than enough people to spoil her. The poor kids sleep schedule was so messed up that she got to the point where she basically fell asleep every time we were in the car or every time we actually had something to do. We went to this nice outdoor shopping center and got to walk around in the sunshine. Then I got to go a movie with my Aunts. It is always nice to stay at Grandmas.

I had to take a picture of Molly sleeping in her stroller because this does NOT happen.

When she woke up and saw the train we obviously had to take a ride. She loved it and talked about it all afternoon. We got to ride on a trolley to.

We went back to San Diego for my cousin Catherine's wedding. This picture was outside the temple. Such a cool temple.

Molly found the bridesmaids getting ready for pictures and just stood in the middle staring at them and twirling. Such a girly girl. I think she just thought she was part of the group.

Molly also found a new grandpa. This is my cousin's grandpa from the other side. Molly walked up to him outside the temple and said "grandpa" he then reached out and picked her up and they were buddies the rest of the day. I think he liked it just as much as she did.

The reception and dinner were in this outside courtyard that had a fountain in the middle. We basically spent the whole night keeping Molly from falling in. She was really good and even allowed the photographer to have a mini photo shoot with just her. It was pretty pathetic. She was posing and putting her legs up and fake laughing. She never does that for me.

My grandma, Me, Molly and My mom.

Overall Molly traveled pretty well. I don't plan on doing that again for a long time. Both of our sleep schedules were so out of whack but we had a lot of fun and it was so good to see everyone.