Holy cow, how has another month gone by since I blogged last?! But I feel like I have tons of stories, so this is going to be a loooonnnnggg post. Ready?
First of all, Hattie and Tille are starting to get freckles! It’s so cute! They have a few light freckles scattered across their cheeks, and each girl has two or three on their arms. I think freckles are the best!
Hattie and Tille are learning to lock doors. A few weeks ago, I was making dinner, Matt was working at his computer, Tille was playing in the living room, and we realized Hattie was being pretty quiet somewhere else. I went investigating
and found she was in the bathroom with the door closed. I tried opening it, but she had locked it. It’s the kind of lock that’s just a button in the doorknob, and it unlocks by turning the doorknob. So I said, “Hattie, turn the door knob, open the door,
etc”. I could hear her in there doing something and definitely not opening the door. As a last resort, we can just stick a paper clip or tiny screw driver in the doorknob and unlock it pretty easily, but I was hoping she’d unlock it herself. Finally, she
opened the door and bolted. I took one look at makeup streaks on the floor and cupboards and knew she knew she what she was doing. Matt caught her as she was running away and gave her a scolding while I cleaned the bathroom and found a new place to keep
my makeup. A couple weeks later, we were at the cabin with some of Matt’s siblings. We were sitting out on the deck, and Hattie and Tille were bored, so we let them go inside and watch Sesame Street (we took an old tv up there and have it set up just with
a DVD player, and we get a few kids shows from the library before we go up each time). We didn’t think anything of anything, and went back out to chat and relax while they watched their show. Eventually one of them pushed a button on the DVD player and the
show stopped and they started crying. I tried to go in to fix it for them, but they had turned the latch on the door and locked it. And the keys were inside on the kitchen counter. We spent several minutes talking to them through the door trying to explain
how to unlock it, but they didn’t understand. Finally, Matt’s brother-in-law noticed that the front window is very easily removable. He spend maybe a minute unscrewing- by hand- a few little bolts, and the window just lifted right out. Matt climbed in (it’s
a big, waist-high window), and unlocked the door. Kind of unnerving that it’s so easy to break into the cabin, but it was a huge relief right then. We’re going to have to be way more careful about keeping keys on us or not letting the girls be inside alone
or something.
The week before that, our little family went up to the cabin just for the night to get some painting and other little projects done. While Matt was inside hanging curtains, the girls and I sat out by the fire. It was really quiet, and
then we heard a loud crash. We looked to the side, and a big deer was running through the meadow a few yards away from us. It stopped and looked at us, then kept going. When it got to the trees, it stopped and watch us some more. It was pretty cool. The
next day Matt saw a moose as we were driving through the mountains. I think that’s the most wildlife we’ve seen up there in one trip.
For their birthday, the girls’ cousin gave them some little purses that make sounds and have play cellphones, credit cards, keys, and bracelets. I don’t love that they’re already getting into all of that. But the next Sunday, as we were
getting ready to go to church, the girls picked up their purses from the toy shelf like it was no big deal and put them on their arms and went out the door. It was so cute! Every now and then still when I tell them it’s time to get in the car, they’ll run
over and grab their purses. Their birthday was fun. I made them a chocolate cake to look like a tree stump and we had an edible cake topper that was a picture of Masha and the Bear. We also got an ice cream cake in the shape a teddy bear head. It was super
cute and the girls loved it. Their grandparents and cousins and a few of their friends from the ward came and had fun. It wasn’t really a party, just a get together with cake. But they loved knowing it was their birthday and being celebrated.
A few days later we took Hattie and Tille to the Dr. for their 2 year check-up. They’ve never loved the dr. They get really nervous and usually scream from the moment the nurse starts weighing them until the dr leaves the room an hour
or so later. We braced for this visit. We kind of told the girls what would happen and that we’d be right next to them if they got scared. When we took them to the weighing station, they were clearly nervous, but held it in. Then when it was time to get
their heads measured, I reminded them that the nurse was going to put a funny hat on their head for a minute, and they nodded and calmed down and didn’t cry at all. Then when the dr came to examine them we could tell they wanted to cry so much, but they did
awesome! They looked so scared, and they both took a few big gulps of air, but they were stoic. The dr looked at Hattie first. I think watching Hattie go through it helped Tille. She saw that it was ok so she was fine when it was her turn. We were all
shocked how well it went. They even opened their mouths when the dr asked to look at their tongues. It was great. Two weeks later we took them to the dentist for the first time. We’d been getting them ready for weeks, telling them about the chair that
goes up and down, and that the dentist would count their teeth. They had us in different rooms. The dental hygienist with Hattie seemed kind of no-nonsense. Matt said they sat in the chair and Hattie lost it. It was a scream fest until they were done.
Luckily, the dentist got a good look at her teeth because her mouth was wide open screaming. I had Tille and our hygienist was great. Tille sat on my lap, and just like we practiced, the hygienist showed her how the chair went up and down, then she showed
Tille the different tools and let her push buttons to squirt water and air, and let her feel the polisher spinning on her hand. Tille did great. She opened when she needed to, sucked the vacuum thing, let the hygienist squirt water in her mouth, even let
her floss. And then the dentist came in and counted her teeth just like we talked about. Hattie and Matt were there for the last bit of Tille’s exam, and Hattie was nervous for Tille. Every time the hygienist or dentist got near Tille, Hattie would wimper
and bury her head in Matt’s shoulder. Hopefully next time they can both get the good hygienist. I don’t want them to be traumatized at the dentist’s office.
A couple Saturdays ago I let the girls eat lunch outside on the deck. They were really excited to not only have an outside lunch, but to eat at the big person’s table. We were having a great time and the girls were doing really well (they
aren’t great eaters, so anything to get them to eat is a plus). As they were finishing up, a hornet came and landed on Tille’s plate. I didn’t want to freak out and panic them, so I just scooted the plate out of Tille’s reach and we watched for a minute.
The hornet cut a piece of Tille’s turkey off and then flew away with it. The girls thought it was so funny! Tille couldn’t wait to go in and tell Matt about it. We went inside and she went straight to Matt and said ‘bzzzzz’ and then made the sign for eat.
After she told her story to Matt, we got some crayons and coloring books and went back outside. We were having a great time, until I saw Tille had a look of terror on her face. I leaned over to see what was happening, and she had her milk cup between her
legs and the hornet was back trying to get a sip. We called it a day then and went inside. Every now and then she’ll tell us the story again of how the bee ate her lunch and drank her milk.
Hattie has started doing sneak attacks lately. I’ve been trying to get it on camera, but I haven’t been able to. She’ll hunch over and walk around like she’s sneaking up on someone. I don’t know why/when she started it, but it’s pretty
funny.
Three weeks ago we were in nursery having a regular Sunday. One of the bishop’s counsellors came in and asked if we could meet with the bishop right after church, and that they had lined up some ladies in the ward to watch the babies for
us. So we did. The babies screamed as the ladies came and took them away, and screamed until we finished and found them outside a while later. It was so sad. I got called to be the Young Women president. I was shocked. I haven’t been in Young Womens
since I was a young woman, 21 years ago, and from what I hear, the program has changed a little since then. But I knew almost immediately who all my counsellors and advisors would be, and it turns out two of them were the young womens presidents in their
old wards, within the last year. So that’s helpful. We got set apart last week and I’ve had A TON of meetings since then. I think it will be good. We have about 30 active YW in our ward, and they all seem pretty nice. I taught the laurels on Sunday and
it went well. I couldn’t believe how well they all get along, they all participate and make thoughtful comments. Things have definitely changed in the last 21 years. One of the things I’m most excited about is that our stake has rights to Camp Lamondi.
When I was little, our ward had tons of activities at Camp Lamondi, and it was always fun. My first year of girls camp was there and I loved it. I think I’m supposed to be reserving a spot for camp right now, so I’m looking into getting that. Last week
I went to my first YW activity. The girls were learning a hula dance to do at a ward luau (more on that in a minute). I had Hattie and Tille with me because Matt had a work meeting, so we were standing along the wall watching, but then Hattie and Tille started
dancing with the girls. They were going up and down and moving their hands how they were supposed to. They were really good! Matt and I have been talking since before they were born about getting them into Polynesian dance lessons, and now I think we definitely
will.
Last night we had a ward luau. As is the case whenever we go anywhere in public, Hattie and Tille clung to my legs the entire time. All through socializing before it started, waiting in the food line, and then eating, they were attached
to me (Matt was at work). But after dinner, one of the ladies in the ward (who teaches Polynesian dancing) put on a little performance. Some of the other kids went and sat on the edge of the grass to watch, so I told Tille she could go watch with them. She
took no convincing and just went, which, if you know Tille, is shocking. Hattie stood on my lap to watch for a minute, but then went and joined Tille. Every 30 seconds or so, they’d run back to me and say “Mom!” and point at the dancing, and then run back.
After every dance, they had enormous smiles on their faces and clapped like they had just seen the most amazing thing ever. It was so great. At the end, the lady let all the kids come up and dance, and both girls got right in there running and dancing and
having a blast. I think it’s the first time, other than at parks, they’ve been willing to leave my side in public. So much fun.
Oh, I Always Remember More TO Say After I Sign Out . Last Week Matt and I Dare The Movie 'The Peanut butter Falcon '. ItWas fantastic. You Should All See It. It Has Some Language But Not Too bad . AndI don't Know What Is Up With The Capital Letters Suddenly. I Can't Get It To Stop.
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| This is at the ward luau. You can see Tille running around in the middle with all the other kids |
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| more Fun At The Splash Pad |
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| look At These Cuties Reading In The Bath! |
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| And Reading After The Bath While They Watch The Neighborhood |
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| these Are The Birthday Cakes We Had |
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| tille Looks Especially Excited For Cake |
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| here Are The Girls And Their Purses Going To Church (Tille In Front, Hattie In Back) |
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| the Girls Are Enjoying Their Picnic Moments Before A Hornet Came To Join The Fun |
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| just A Perfect Saturday Morning |
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| here's how Hattie Likes Playing In Water. .. |
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| Vs. How Tille Likes Playing In Water (She's Playing With The Drips That Come Out Of The Faucet) |
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| sometimes HattieDoes morning stretches with me |
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| the girls Went To The Dinosaur Park With Their Cousins Last week . Matt And I Were Both At Work So We Didn't Get Great Pictures. This Is The Only One I'Ve Found, And There Aren't Even Any Dinosaurs . |
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| Hattie On The Left, Tille On The Right On Their Birthday |