Girls are growing up so fast!

Mommy: If I get off my big bum I will make dinner...
Taryn: you do have a big bum...


Taryn has a teddy bear that she has not parted with since birth (thank you Kristi). Now I really like cuddles for kids and my kids really like cuddles. Taryn has chewed on the bear when teething and twists his tail or nose when she is board...He is affectionately called Stinky bear due to the stench/crust from all the chewing and loving and twisting...truly stinky despite being washed FREQUENTLY... sadly last week stinky bear sprung a leak...several actually. I told Taryn he needed some stitches so his stuffing would stay in..She started sobbing and saying only soft stitches mommy! only soft stitches...I don't want him to get hurt...Good news. After some very soft stitches stinky bear will live to die another day.

There are flowers and weeds and clover blossoming all over. Anytime Taryn sees anything blooming she picks it and comes running to give me flowers. What a sweet kiddo...


These have been exciting times for Jocelyn. Jocelyn rolled over and drinks from a cup. Yes she was throwing a fit and flung herself over but I still think it counts and she does dribble a lot of the water out. She has repeat rolled and grabs the cup to drink though so I think that makes it official enough for a blog spot. She also has perfected the silent laugh (similar to Cami's at this age) and continues to be such a good baby. I just love love lover her and her chubby cheeks!

Cami scored two goals in her first soccer game of the season and jumped up and down cheering for herself again. I loved it! She also had a melt down when no one brought treats for after the game...hmmm.

I walked in the other day to catch her and Taryn laying on her bed together. She was reading the Secret Garden out loud to both of them....She is a good little reader and she tells me everyday how much she likes to read.

Cami really really wants to lose a tooth. She even told me she is going to leave the tooth fairy a special note when she does. It will say "Thank you for the gift. You can take my tooth but please leave the treasure chest so I can use it next time. And can you please write back because I think it would be really cool to be friends with a real fairy."

In choir she has been singing patriotic songs and tonight at dinner she asked what what jubilant feet and watch fires were (Battle hymn).... She also asked what a caisson was (armed forces medley)....Her choir teacher had to take time to enlighten her... Bonus that she is getting history lessons during choir...and actually listening and thinking about the songs.

To shave or not to shave and other phenomenal stuff.

To shave or not to shave...that was my question....When Cami and Taryn were born they had brown hair.-not a ton but definitely it was there. Cami's hair grew in pretty good over the next year and by 18 months to 2 years old she had great pony tails. When she was three I got over zealous trimming her lovely locks and she ended up with a cute bob....after the hair cutter fixed the damage. Now it is super long and it still gets trimmed a few times a year.
Taryn has had more hair issues. It has grown really slow and unevenly....I started cutting it every couple of months since she was about 14 or 15 months old and it has slowly thickened up. The last hair cut she got all of her hair was finally the same length-no baby layers...(although it is stacked in the back but that is on purpose) and she is four....
So sweet baby Faye is blond blond blond...and bald bald bald....Well I want to avoid the four year grow out for this sweet girl (because it has been traumatic for Taryn to want to be Rapunzel then have her hair whacked so frequently).... So I have seen lots of people who swear that shaving a baby's head makes the hair grow in fast and evenly...I talked to hair dressers who say the same. But really...Shave your baby's head???
I just didn't know if I could....I talked to Brent about it and he voted no way...my mom definitely voted no. BUT I was curious and hey she was so blond anyway that the fuzz she had was invisible...so after debating I did shave it off. I then handed her to Brent who didn't notice until an hour and a half later when I said "um did you notice I shaved her?" Anyway, it wasn't a big change after all the worry and now it is starting to grow back in-on the back and the sides anyway....I'll let you know if it comes in on the front and if it is any more even than Taryn's....

Taryn has started using the word phenomenal lately and it is sooo funny. She has this high loud voice and speech is a struggle for her so to hear her say phenomenal cracks me up every time. The other day she walked out with a pickle between two crackers and said "Mom this pickle is phenomenal!" (she has always claimed to hate pickles...)

Cami wrote her first book report last week. This is what it said:
"Fancy Nancy"
She helps Bree plan her party.
She goes to her Grandparents party.
She goes to the butterfly garden.

She also drew a picture of the butterfly garden to finish it.
I thought her report was phenomenal! (Fancy Nancy Bonjour Butterfly by Jane OConner)

Baby Faye following in her sisters footsteps and other highlights

So I asked myself this morning what have we been up to lately....so I got out the camera and downloaded pictures to see...

The other night our neighbor came over and asked to take the girls pictures for her photography class. Of course the girls were excited so the neighbor went and got her camera and I decided to snap a few before she got back.

This is so Taryn. Pink and girly and happy as can be. I love this girl.

Jocelyn in her tutu following her sisters example but not quite sure about it at the same time...
Attack of the tutu

This was a few weeks ago while making dinner. She usually likes to sit and watch me work in the kitchen but this night it was just exhausting apparently.

Every time I fold laundry Cami cuddles up with Jocelyn and they have bonding.

Jocelyn got an infected hang nail...and then the infection infected her whole nail bed and her finger...at this point after draining tons of puss from it I took her to the doctor where they decided she needed an antibiotic (per the fever and amount of ooze). She was not a big fan-fought it the whole time but luckily didn't learn to spit until the last day of the course.

This sight is so infrequently seen at our house that it warranted a picture...Taryn taking a nap. Last Sunday she -all by herself -took a snooze in the love sac and Cami covered her in a blanket...we thought it was very cute until she woke up and we realized she had a fever....which lasted several days....

Cami and Taryn were playing doctor and I walked in not a moment too soon...

She is getting big enough for the exersaucer...well big enough is relative-her feet don't touch the ground yet but she likes to push the buttons and make music. Thanks to Rebekah for the cool toy!

And that is what we've been up to lately...

hiking and horsing

Hiking-
So last weekend Brent's sister Carolyn and her gang came and hung out. We had tons of fun and tons of good food. Saturday we went to Snow Canyon State Park and hiked the hidden pinyon trail and then had a picnic and built sandcastles on the sand dunes. This was the first hiking for us of this year and we are excited to go back (after all it is only like 15 minutes away). We saw some new trails we want to go on. Usually building sand castles with this sand is fruit less because it is such fine soft sand but it had rained all week so it was still wet enough to build a great castle. We also had an exciting marshmellow war in the front yard on monday and a picnic at the park. What fun memories. We love having family visit.

Horsing-
A couple of weeks ago my cousin Steven and uncle Gilbert let us ride one of their old horses (I think it was Sunny?). He was a really calm horse and just walked behind Steven the whole time without even being led with a rope. Cami loved every second of it and Taryn tolerated it. They even talked Grandma Rice into finding her inner cowgirl self-very impressive.

Jocelyn's first hike-she slept most of the way and ate at the summit and we consider this very successful.

All of the Weight girls trying not to fall off any cliffs...luckily there was only one real danger zone and our girls were freaked out enough not to get close to the edge. And yes someone did get wounded because of the dange stick but not seriously....

Carolyn, Freddie and gang

Just prior to going camping Brent found this thing in our backyard. It was humanely released back into the wild and it was cool to watch its colors change when we stuck on these rocks.

Taryn found a mini cave. You might notice we are all in short sleves and wearing hats so we didn't get sunburned. It was in the 60s and absolutely beautiful for February 13th.Cowgirl Cami riding all by herself and loving every minute of it...

This is as close as Taryn voluntarily got....we did make her ride but we don't have a picture because Brent had to go with her and convince her she wasn't going to die or get eaten...
Grandma Rice in a never before seen activity....Way to go mom!

You've come a long way baby

Our happy little family once Cami decided to come join us!

I know this is a little late...that seems to be how life is right now. BUT I couldn't skip a small celebration of Cami.

Cami turned 6 a couple weeks ago and I can't believe how fast the time has gone. Cami was such a miracle. She saved me from a huge loneliness. Even still I am amazed that we have her and she is really ours to keep. She came into our lives at the perfect time and the perfect place. She was such a perfect answer to so so so many prayers and pleadings. Seeing her sweet face reminds me every day that Heavenly Father is merciful and loving.

Cami is by nature a very sensitive sweet girl. She can't stand to see someone hurt or wronged. She can't stand even Disney movies where something semi scary or mean is happening. Every time Taryn gets in trouble she runs to her room and cries and hugs Taryn and tells her its OK. She is a good sister. She begs to hold Jocelyn every chance she gets and is really cute singing and talking to her. Lately Cami and Taryn have enjoyed playing steamroller and WWF in the living room and it is so funny to watch them enjoy each other in a crazy way.

After school Cami often comes running with her arms open to hug the nearest sister or mom. After work Cami plows Brent down hugging his legs. At bedtime she calls us in at least 36 times each night for just one more hug or kiss. She is so affectionate and loving.

She can't lie-at least not for long. She always comes to me in tears and confesses. Her teacher at school has told me very frequently what a smart good girl Cami is. That she plays well, and does her work well, and is never in trouble. She really works hard to do a good job of whatever she is doing. She can read almost anything she wants and is great with numbers too.

I really appreciate that Cami is an easy child to parent. She can have a completely rational conversation and accept the decision whether or not she likes it. She makes me feel good about myself even though I really can't take credit for her good little spirit.

Every day I am more thankful for my beautiful blue eyed beauty and for the happiness she has added to our family. We really scored getting Cami as a daughter.

Newborn Cami all ready so cooperative...

3-6 month Cami-she is still rarely found without pink kitty

Daddy's girl through and through

Cami about 8 or 9 months old. How could anyone not love that little happy face?

Cami about 9-10 months old all ready giving us fabulous family outings.

Cami about 12 months eating the plants...and confessing.

Cami blow terrific snot bubbles and giving us good laughs.

Cami 18 months old staring out at Lake Superior

Cami at age 2 with two of the cutest pony tails ever.

Cami age 2 1/2 loving the sunshine and soccer and making mommy love her even more.

Cami being a terrific sister age 4

Cami a few months ago. She gets cuter and more endearing every day.

I love you forever my sweet sweet Camilla.

Pre birthday ice bash

The week before Cami's birthday we still hadn't planned a party. So I wanted to do something exciting for her but I wasn't sure I had a party in me. Brent came home from work saying he'd found cheep tickets for Disney on Ice and I was sold. I was a little nervous to take Jocelyn out but I knew the girls would absolutely love it. So we did a whirlwind trip to Las Vegas and back. We dashed down for dinner at the Rainforest cafe. The girls were a little nervous about the snake in the tree and the thunderstorms until Brent took them on a walk and showed them it was fake and very cool. We then headed over to the stadium where the girls changed into their Disney princess garb and found the cotton candy (which was expensive enough to make up for the discounted tickets : ) ). They are truly girls after my own heart. So they settled in and watched the show and ate cotton candy out of their pixie hallow hats...They both were captivated the whole time and it was so fun to see their faces. I think Taryn's favorite was seeing Aerial ice skate but Cami was all about the fairies. Jocelyn was a really good sport and only made a peep when she was starving. We headed home and after Brent was properly caffeinated we made it safely home at 2 am. Needless to say the girls were tired the next day but what a great night of memories! I love my girls and thanks to Cami for giving up the friends party in favor of a date with all of us!

Cami making friends with the animals

The girls and the fish-all of whom were named Nemo, even the ones that looked nothing like Nemo.

Brent is so lucky to be surrounded by so many beautiful girls! (Yes he does think so)

The girls hoping to meet are real live princess at the stadium (no such luck but they did of course see them-just not close)

Taryn enjoying (and not sharing) the cotton candy and flower hat....

Cinderella/Cami also in her hat and loving (and sharing) her cotton candy.

This is how their faces were all night long...

Sears....three kids in an hour

So I have been meaning to take the girls to get their pictures taken but taking all three kids seemed daunting and making three trips to take them individually seemed daunting...SO when Brent's parents were able to be here to help I hurried and made an appointment. BUT the catch was Cami had school an hour after the photo studio opened. SO we tried to do all three girls in the space of an hour....This is how it turned out...Not spectacular but their lives have been captured for yet another year...and hopefully Jocelyn will learn how to smile more on demand before we do this again. Incidently the girls have come up with another nick name for her (besides the ever present baby faye nick name). They call her google eyes (from a book they read) and hopefully she takes it as a compliment as she is old enough to realize what they are saying. Big thanks to Grandma and Papa for helping with crowd control!

Jocelyn Faye 3 months (almost)

Taryn 4 years (and a little)
Camilla 6 years (almost)

Jocelyn's blessing day

Since last weekend was a long one and some of the family could travel down here we decided to bless Jocelyn. Brent's parents and a couple of my sisters were able to make it as well as the local family. I always love blessings because of the glimpse of the baby's spirit it gives you. I have always been in love with Jocelyn for being willing to come to our family but I very much appreciate her little spirit too. She is a fairly easy going baby. She rarely gets worked up despite being carted around the universe and smothered by two older adoring sisters. She consistently sleeps 7-8 hours through the night. She is beginning to really smile and have conversations with us. She seems to be on the verge of rolling and is getting such cute chubbies. We feel so lucky to have her. And in true fashion of a third child we forgot to take pictures until we got home and had family dinner with everyone. Here are some of the highlights of my beautiful, perfect baby...WOW I almost can't believe she is ours and we get to keep her!!!

Daddy and princess #3

Daddy Mommy and Jocelyn Faye-picture taken by Cami-impressive huh? She's secretly been practicing (see last post).

The power of the priesthood....lookin' good guys..lookin' good!

Ok for reals-Uncle Glen, Mark, Dad, Me, Papa, and Uncle Josh-I'm so lucky to have so many men who love me!

Rebekah, Amy, Mary Esther, Sarah and Jocelyn-(The rice girls)

Mom, Grandma Rice and ME!
ME and great Grandma Jennings (great in every sense of the word).

Papa and Grandma Weight and ME!

Self?Kid photography

Lately every time I download pictures from the camera I find a few extra ones I didn't take...After investigation Cami and Taryn are great self/closet photographers....Here are a few examples...