Caught in the Act

3 months ago

2 weeks ago

My family had a family reunion over memorial weekend in Tucson and I woke up early one morning and found Regan sucking on the hotel blanket. Yuck!!! Since then I have caught her sucking on the bottom of her pajama shirt during the night and sucking on another fleece blanket. Seriously, I thought we were over the blanket-sucking thing. Hopefully it doesn't get out of control.


Cute things I want to remember:

Regan was talking to my dad the other day and when it was time to hang up my dad said, "Well, I'll talk to you later honey. Bye." Then he hung up. She looked a little dumb struck for a moment. "I'm not his honey. Grandma's his honey."

Hahaha.....man she kills me sometimes.

She is so stinkin' sweet sometimes. Every prayer we include my dad in it and she has asked some questions about him and worries about him. My parents were up here for a few days and when they were going back to their hotel for the night, we were saying our goodbyes and she said to him, "Goodnight grandpa. I'll believe in your heart." So tender. She frequently tells me that she is going to marry him when she gets bigger.

She is pretty preoccupied with death. The ultimate sentiment she can tell someone is, "I love you so much that I do not want you to die." That's true love isn't it?

Sophie loves Regan so much. If I am disciplining Regan, Sophie will put her hands on her hips and say,"Hey! That's my sister!" I know that's your sister, but she can't do blah blah blah so she needs a time out. "But I love Regan sooo much!" Bleeding hearts of the world unite!!
I was going on an errand and Regan had already been out with Jason earlier so I said that Sophie could come with me. She was all excited until she found out Regan wasn't coming. Then she was BAWLING that we couldn't leave Regan! She stayed home to be with Regan instead of coming on an outing with mom. Best friends/worst enemies all wrapped in one package.

Jason: Who's the bubble king?
Sophie: I'm the bubble king!
Jason: Who's the dancin' queen?
Sophie: I'm the dancin' queen!
Jason: Who's the stinker pants?
Sophie: Regan's' the stinker pants!
Regan: Oooooo that makes me so mad when you say that!!

Sophie insists on praying every time we pray. She does a pretty good job, but the ending keeps me smiling. "In the name of Jesus Christ, A.M." (not p.m :)

Tonight Jason was making shapes and animals out of balloons and the girls were lovin' it. Regan said to Jason, "you're good to have around daddy!"

Jason

In May Jason graduated with his bachelors in architecture. He has put in a lot of work the past two years and I'm so proud of him. He got accepted into the new accelerated masters program at the UofU. Acceleration (aka death) means going summer, fall, spring, summer straight through. He will be finished in August of 2011 instead of May 2012. We are pretty excited to be done a year earlier, but the first week into the summer semester made us wonder if we'd made the right choice. Definitely the hardest week so far in this rat race and this semester may take the top of the hardest list. He has been working so hard and I hope he knows how much I love him and appreciate all he does for me and the kids.

My family came up as well as Jason's parents and 2 nieces. I'm kind of an idiot and forgot my camera so I took these pictures from Kandra's blog. I'm still waiting for pictures from my in-laws of the occasion. It was really special for us to have our family here for the graduation. They have been the greatest support to us and we seriously could not have done this without them. Thank you!
Just some fun pics when everyone was up here. Gavin is stinkin' cute and funny. Love him. Sophie is a fish out of water. Regan is kind of scared of the water unless she has a death grip around your neck.


Jason and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary on June 9th. I am still in shock. It really couldn't have been that long ago that we were married in the big sealing room of the St. George temple. I thought I was in love then, but those feelings pale in comparison to the love I feel for him 9 years later. It almost seems silly. I don't think I really knew what love was. He has taught me about service, unselfishness, honesty, saying sorry, and not taking myself too seriously. He balances me out. Heavenly Father really knew that I needed him, that he is perfect for me. Thank you Jason for being my knight in shining armor, and probably the only one who could put up with me (don't answer that), and thank you Heavenly Father for sending him to me.

Dear Gray Hairs

Dear gray hairs that have chosen to invade my head,

Why?
I've done nothing to deserve this premature sign of aging. I'm a good girl I am. Ever since Jason started this program, you have thought it okay to drop by at inconvenient times. During dinner, when I'm taking a shower, playing with my girls, without so much as a phone call to warn me. Maybe you thought I wouldn't notice if one or two of you crept in. Well I have!!! Just today I pulled 7 of you nasty critters out. If that wasn't enough you have begun hitting below the belt. I have found you in my eyebrows, my goatee, and even my eyelashes!!!!! What the heck is that all about?!?!? Are my nose hairs next?!? So I am officially writing to tell you I have had enough. If you do not quit this sordid attack, I will have to start coloring over you and I really don't want to do that. So play nice.....on someone elses head!!!

Not yours trully,

Kristal D. Joy, esq.

These are a few of my favorite things

The primary wanted me to fill out a form on Regan's favorite things so I did one for her and one for Sophie.

Regan's Faves

Animal: elephant

Food: pepperoni pizza

Dessert/Candy: vitamins (what the?), and rice krispy treats

Movie: Blue's Clues

TV show: Go, Diego, Go

Color: blue

Book: Glooglie Eyed Pet Pals

Toy: bunny and "cheeto" (leopard beenie baby)

Primary song: I am like a star shining brightly

Thing to do: pick things (flowers, leaves)

Thing to do with mom: eat dinner

Thing to do with dad: hug him

What does mom say?: You gotta clean up

Is there something special that you do or like that you want us to know about you?

I want to look like a bunny rabbit. :)

(This pic shows their personalities to a T)

Sophie's Faves

Animal: tiger

Food: fish (um...we never eat fish)

Dessert/Candy: ice cream

Movie: Mary Poppins

Color: Pink

Song: Twinkle little star

Toy: clake (?!?!?) and bubbles

TV show: D-D-D-Dora

Thing to do: play outside

The answers after that, (like her favorite thing to do with me (see horses???)) got pretty vague and mumbled. Too much too soon ;)

(One of my favorite things...those puckery lips!!!)

From the Mouths of Babes

Today it snowed and it wasn't even April Fool's Day. I was kind of grumbling about the snow and Regan turned to me and said, "Mom, why are you mad at Jesus for making the snow?"

Boy did that put me in my place and give me a little eye-opening perspective. Gotta love it.

Odious Spring

THIS is how I'm doing. Sums up my life right now so I didn't want to have to redo all of that. I have had laryngitis for a couple weeks now too. I think my girls are happy because I can't yell at them to stop being crazy. I swear if my birthday wasn't in March, it would be my least favorite month EEEEVVVVEEEERRRR!!!!

My birthday was on Saturday and it was a good day even though it snowed and I was suffering horribly from allergies. I swear if it wasn't for my birthday, March would be my least favorite month of the year. Anyway, big thanks to Catherine for sneaking me some Oreo's (my fave) and especially for watching my girls so I could actually spend my birthday money this year instead of putting it in the bank to pay bills.

My birthday is also extra special because I share it with an extraordinary man....my dad. There have only been a handful of times that we have not celebrated together. Growing up, my mom would always bake my dad's favorite cake (carrot cake) and after alot of those I told my mom that it wasn't my favorite so she should make me my own cake along with my dads. She did, bless her heart.

I am the third child in my family and he would call me his favorite #3. He coached my basketball team in high school and it was great having him at everygame to watch us even if he was harder on me and my sister than anyone else. He is kind, generous, has a strong testimony of the gospel, and has taught me principles of the gospel, not by lectures, but by his example. He and my mom have been me and my siblings biggest fans and supporters in all things that we are pursuing.

Any opinion my dad has on things must be right, so that's what my opinion is. To me, my dad has always been that tall mountain that you know is not going anywhere.

(My dad with Regan)

I cannont even write this post without tears. My dad has an incurable, agressive form of blood cancer (multiple myeloma). It was diagnosed a year ago and my mom has kept him healthy this last year with a regimen of natural supplements. Today he started his first round of chemotherapy because the cancer has started to create holes in his spine and hips. The chemo is to hopefully slow the cancer down.

(My dad with Sophie)

It feels like someone has put a choke hold on my heart. I can't bear to think of some of the things he may have to go through. I especially can't bear to think of my life without him in it. He is just always that constant thing that you count on being there, like walls in a home. Like water coming out of a faucet. Like blood in your veins. How can that be taken away......especially so soon? I hope we have many more birthdays to celebrate together, but if not, I know the Lord has a plan....all is well. I love you very much dad.

In Ducky Heaven

Some of you may remember the beloved (abominable in my opinion) "ducky blanket". She attached herself to it when she was just a baby. I have let this abomination go on too long. It has distorted her teeth and caused her lips to suffer chapiness insufferably. It has probably caused it's share of sickness and it stinks intolerably even after it has been washed. What a bad hygienist I am. Give me a break....I haven't worked steadily in a year and a half. But it has been easier to let her have it than to take it away and have her crying at night, crying in the car, crying when she's disciplined, you get the picture.

Well I decided to bite the bullet. So I made a call to the "Blanket Fairy" and arranged for her to come and get Regan's ducky blanket. I explained all of this a few days leading up to this and she was not happy at first. One time she said she was going to find the Blanket Fairy and kill her. Wow, strong words for a little girl to be speaking.

Anyway, the night she was to come Regan understood what was going to happen. In exchange for her blanket, the fairy brought Regan a pretend doctor kit. She loved and played with that thing all day yesterday. Last night Regan had a more difficult time accepting that her ducky blanket was really gone. Tears were shed(plenty of them). Abominations were directed at the blanket fairy. Why, oh why was the blanket fairy so naughty?!? (sob sob) The ducky blanket wanted to be back in her life!!! (scream scream) She wanted to give it a hug and a kiss right now!! (bawl bawl)

I explained that the blanket fairy comes when the blankets are hurting the kids teeth and lips.
"But mama, my ducky blanket always climbed into my mouth. If it says sorry and gives me a hug and a kiss, can it come back into my life?"
"No, I'm sorry. I don't know where she took your blanket."
"But my ducky blanket wants to say sorry and it won't climb into my mouth ever again!! I can't go to sleep without my ducky blanket!!"

On and on this went. During the night she woke up and cried for her blanket. Today she has been asking for it. If she didn't put it in her mouth it wouldn't really be an issue, but alas so it is and so it must be.

On to other news...Sophie is still crazy as ever. One morning she nabbed Jason's shoes and this is how I found her. So funny. I just love her wild, crazy, untamable hair (gel helps a little). She is very independent and has to do everything "my big-girl self". Regan started saying that when she was smaller and Sophie picked it up. My mom made these cute Sunday clothes for the girls for Christmas and I had to post a picture of them for her. Everyone at church loved them. My mom is very talented.

This is my new love. I was down in St. George and stopped at D.I. and found this beauty. It is solid wood, very sturdy, and very comfortable. I am going to re-finish it and it will look awesome. The only problem is that it's in SG and I'm in SLC. No good.
I really don't have room for this in my apt. So I'm either going to sell it to make some moolah, or keep it and sell my glider. I'm leaning towards the latter.

Hope you guys are having a wonderful March!

Well, I have been quite busy lately with this humanitarian project I have taken on. I am pleased with how things are going, but could still use some donations. If you haven't helped me then I hope it is because you have helped in other ways.

I took a trip to St. George and had a great time. My sister came up and we hung out for a couple days. (Sorry Kelly, I'm such a slacker loser and didn't email you back.)

We went to a duck pond by my in-laws house and the kids had a great time feeding them and chucking rocks into the water.

This is my first time uploading vidoes, so I hope this works.

Pendants and Photo Mattes

I had an idea that maybe some of you would be interested in. From now until March 13th, any pendants or photo mattes bought from my shop will have 50% of the proceeds donated to my Haiti Relief Fund. The other 50% will go towards my costs of the pendant/matte and shipping of the pendant/matte to you. So free shipping too! Come on people, can't beat that! Get something totally awesome and help people too! Pendants are $5 each (chain not included), Photo mattes are $10 for and 8x10 and $15 for an 11x14.

Please visit my store for ordering information: Kristal's Digital Creations

Haiti Relief Effort!! You Can Help!!

I have felt so much sadness over this disaster in Haiti along with other disasters that happen all over the world. I always want to help but never end up doing anything unless it is through a church service project.

Well this time I'm not going to sit idly by and just pray that they get some relief over there. I actually want to be proactive. This is where all you bloggers out there come in! I am going to be putting together some hygiene kits and quilts and really need some donations of either items for the kits or money to buy items. I have a button on my side bar that you can donate money (even just a couple dollars) if you don't have time to get the items and send them to me.

Below is a list of the things needed for the hygiene kits and things needed for the quilts. You can send finished kits/quilts or various items in any amounts. d I want to be able to take these items to the LDS Humanitarian Service Center (where they will ship these items for us) by March 13. My goal is 20 quilts and 200 hygiene kits. I don't want to put my address on here but you can email me for my address. joykristal at gmail dot com

Please refer to THIS link for more instructions on the quilts and humanitarian aid kits.

QUILTS

• Material (cotton, cotton/poly blend, or flannel)


• 6-8oz bonded batting

COMPLETED HYGIENE KIT INCLUDES:

• Gallon size ziplock bag


• 2 unbreakable combs without sharp handles


• 4 toothbrushes (in an unopened package)


• 1 tube of toothpaste (6-8oz, no pumps)


• 2 bars of soap (3.5-5oz each)


• 2 hand towels (approx. 15x25 inches)


• (dish towels and washcloths not acceptable)

Please link this on your blog, facebook, whatever. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, make it a party! Lets spread the word! You can make a difference!

My first scrapbook page in who knows how long! Kind of feels good to get back into it.