Mom Test

Ok so I don't forward emails just on pure principle but a friend sent this and I've got to share so I'll do it on our blog
Mom Test
> >
> > I was out walking with my 4 year old daughter. She picked up something off
> > the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from
> > her
> > and I asked her not to do that.
> >
> > "Why?" my daughter asked.
> >
> > "Because it's been on the ground, you don't know where it's been, it's
> > dirty, and probably has germs," I replied.
> >
> > At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked,
> > "Momma, how do you know all this stuff, you are so smart."
> >
> > I was thinking quickly.
> >
> > "All moms know this stuff. It's on the Mom Test. You have to know it, or
> > they don't let you be a Mom."
> >
> > We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently
> > pondering this new information.
> >
> > "OH...I get it!" she beamed, "So if you don't pass the test you have to be
> > the dad."
> >
> > ''Exactly," I replied back with a big smile on my face.

Just kidding Dad's you know we love you!

Pumpkin Patch

We had a great time monday night at the pumpkin patch here in Tooele. Lizzie has been so excited about Halloween every time we go to any store Lizzie begs and pleads to see the Halloween stuff every house we drive by with Halloween decorations she lets out a little shriek and unfortunately I've been a slacker mom and don't have any fall decorations up whatsoever so we finally decided to get something Halloweenish. It was so cute to watch the kids (and Jeremy) run from Pumpkin to pumpkin trying to properly evaluate it's correct Jack-O-Lantern value. Really the only property that Lizzie was sure she knew a pumpkin needed is for it to be HUGE. It was great fun to watch Abby try to keep up but she was constantly sidetracked as she tackled every Pumpkin in her sight. When she was done tackling a pumpkin she usually tripped over the vines that were everywhere but just kept plugging along. Lizzie was kind enough to take Abby by the hand to try to show her a pumpkin that had to be smaller than her own but still had Abby test out the pumpkin usually by sitting and giving a couple of bounces on the pumpkin. After our pumpkins were selected we waited for the tractor to come by and pick us up unfortunately the tractor somehow missed us so we decided to hoof it back to the gate. Lizzie and Jeremy took 2 of the pumpkins and started walking. Abby and I took the other pumpkin and slowly but surely started to make our trek back. Jeremy and Lizzie were almost to the gate when the tractor stopped and picked up me and Abby. Jeremy and Lizzie were about 2 yards from the gate when the tractor man asked if they wanted a ride and Jeremy declined. Lizzie then yelled as we passed " I wanted a ride Dad" well this Grandpa inclined tractor driver went over to Lizzie and Jeremy after the tractor was unloaded and asked her if she wanted a ride. Jeremy took Lizzie and Abby while I waited in line to pay for our pumpkin prizes. Lizzie was so excited as the tractor took a tour of the entire pumpkin patch. Oh wonderful it is to see things through the eyes of a child and how magical and wonderful everything can seem. All in all a wonderful time and I think a new Rawlings Family tradition.
I'm afraid Abby will always have somebody holding her in a picture she just can't sit still for long
Notice Abby in the background tackling yet another pumpkin.
Hooray for tractors and Grandpa Inclined people who want little girls to be happy.

Fun Idea

So yesterday We had a fun little activity where we made homemade Oreo cookies. Delicious by all accounts Lizzie ate like 4 cookies and Abby had a few herself then we decided to decorate them as cookies. I'd seen a picture where they used black 'Pull'n'peels' and M&M'S for the eyes and I didn't have any of those but what I had instead was Tootsie Rolls so we warmed up the Tootsie Rolls in the microwave for about 15 seconds so that we could roll them into skinny little legs. Lizzie decided she wanted to color the frosting purple which was a great choice and then we dotted little eyes and a smile on the top cookie. They turned out so cute but Lizzie would not eat them she said that they were too spooky...We ended up giving them to her friends today but it sure was fun to make a spooky treat for her friends.

Birthday

Four years old and counting! Lizzie had her birthday last week and what a "BERRY BERRY good time she had. We had a strawberry shortcake themed party and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate this "Berry" happy girl. We are so grateful for Lizzie and we are oh so grateful she was our introduction child into parenthood. Lizzie is full of love and friendship and I'm just amazed at how concerned she is with other people and making sure that they feel loved. We had lots of fun with all of Lizzie's friends and somehow I forgot to take pictures of all her friends as they played strawberry shortcake games like: Strawberry Strawberry Shortcake (played just like duck, duck, goose), Rotten fruit (this game was adapted from her party last year were the kids just smash balloons) and then they picked fruit from the field ( i scattered starbursts and suckers all over the lawn and gave them bags to harvest the "fruit" in). We had strawberry cupcakes with strawberry frosting all though next year i think i 'm going to skip the whole cake part and get cans of frosting and then give them each a spoon . Anyhow it was berry berry fun. I was way excited about the decorations we blew up (when i say we i mean jeremy) red balloons and put black dots on them and then tied them with green balloons to look like strawberries. It was Berry festive. It was a fun celebration and Lizzie is already planning her 5th birthday party. Anyhow We love you Lizzie and are so grateful for your example to us as your parents and we are so proud of the good choices you are making so far in your short four years, you seem to have a way to touch many peoples hearts in the best way possible. Happy Birthday Lizzie!
No I wouldn't say she's present happy but you know who wouldn't get excited?
She made me laugh in this pic. Seriously can she be more stylin'
A pic of the "strawberry" balloons we had them plastered all over the house it was so fun!