Riding in the Van with Nicole

There are those times when kids say the cutest things and you think to yourself, "I've got to write that down."  Well, tonight was one of those nights while riding in the van with Nicole.  I thought I'd take this moment to "jot" it down.

We were driving to pick Hannah up from her TaVaci lesson and we were going along 200 East.  Nicole looks out the window and realizes we're right next to the Temple.  In her cute little excited voice she says, "Mom!  There's the Temple."

The following conversation goes like this:

Nicole:  "I wish I could get married there.  Mom, did you get married there?"
Me:  "Yes, Nicole.  I got married there."
Nicole:  "How many times did you get married there?"
Me:  "Just once."
Nicole:  "To Dad?"
Me:  "Yes."
Nicole:  "I know (little giggle).......he had a MOOSEstache!"
Me:  "You're right.  In the pictures, Dad has a mustache."
Nicole:  "Yea....and he kissed you on the lips in the Temple."
Me:  "Yes he did."
Nicole:  "And then he danced with you in the Temple."
Me:  "Ya think?"
Nicole: "Do you like him?"
Me:  "Yes.  I like him."
Nicole:  "I know.....cuz he has BIG muscles."

Oh my gosh!  She made me laugh!

Balloon Release

I'm sure everyone has heard on the news about the two little Powell boys that were killed by their father.  As I was leaving work today, I talked to my mom on the phone and she said here in Cache Valley they were releasing balloons at the old court house on main street in honor of these two boys.  I thought it would be fun to get all of the girls picked up from school and daycare and then at least drive by to see how many people were there and so the girls could see all of the balloons.  I chatted with Dave on the phone and he hadn't heard anything about it, which was surprising because the Sheriff was involved but he said if we found it he would be willing to leave work and come and see it too.

The balloons were to be let go at 4 o'clock.  The girls and I arrived there right at 4 o'clock and Dave was still a few minutes away.  He made it in time though and we decided to go ahead and join everyone on the from lawn of the old court house and listen to what they were saying.

As we got there, someone from the Children's Justice System that knows Dave came up and gave our girls three balloons so they could let them go.  This was really nice because where I didn't really know about it, I wouldn't have had time to go get balloons for the girls to release.

We made it in time to hear the director from the Children's Justice center finish her speech and then a song was played.  Of course I had to get teary eyed because that's just the type of person I am and music can really bring out my emotions.  The Sheriff spoke next and he did a great job.  This assembly wasn't just for the Powell boys it was for all children who are abused.  After his speech, there was a moment of silence and then on the count of three the balloons were released.

When the balloons were ready to be released we had all three girls grab hold of the string so they could all be part of letting the balloons go.  There were probably 60-70 people there that let balloons go so it was pretty cool to see them all float up into the air.

It's good for the girls to be apart of things like this but it's also a bit hard.  The girls and I then had a few errands to run and the whole time we were driving the questions were being asked and they're hard questions but I hope I embraced it with the option to teach the girls.

"Mom, why would a Dad do that to his kids?"

"Do you think he killed their mom?"

"Do you think the boys are happy now?  I bet they are because they're with their mom."

"Do you think the boys will automatically go to heaven?"

"Do you think the Dad is going to go to heaven?"

"But if the Dad follows Satan, how did he make it on earth?"

I just hope that in situations like this honesty is the best answer.  Even though you have to inform them that are bad people here on earth they are blessed with earthly parents that love them very much and will never intentionally hurt them.

Pretty cool experience.

Caught Being Quiet Again

Nicole can sure keep me on my toes!  Here's two more times she was caught being quiet.

When I walked in the bathroom on this one she says, "It's okay mom.  I want to be a witch."  I guess so.  She got in the drawer and decided to use the Halloween make up.

This one.....well....she just wanted to do her make up.  She looks a little worried to begin with that she's in trouble.

But how can you be mad at a smile like that?

TaVaci Christmas Concert

Tuesday, December 6 was the girl's TaVaci Christmas concert.  This was Nicole's first concert.  She was so cute!

Love the cheeser!

She's my poser!

And she's my conservative one!

Hannah had a large speaking part and she nailed it!  She spoke loud, clear and everyone laughed at her jokes.

Ashley had a solo part and she did awesome.  She invited her school teacher to come to the performance and it was so fun to see that she actually came.  Ashley was stoked.  I received an e-mail from her the next day saying how impressed she was with Ashley.  She couldn't believe that the shy, quiet girl in class could actually sing a solo.

It is so fun to go and watch the girls perform.  I am amazed at how much the grow with each performance.  I also have to admire the women that pull of this performance.  When we go and watch the rehearsing, I always wonder if it's going to be able to be pulled off.  It always does though.  They do a great job with the kids.

In one of Nicole's songs, they wore chef hats and held rolling pins in their hands.  As they had "attitude" hitting one hand with the rolling pin we were worried for the girl next to Nicole.  We were afraid she was going to bet dinged because Nicole was "into" her attitude roll.  However, the girl was safe but Nicole dinged herself.  It was a good chuckle.

Nicole also wasn't too impressed with the stage lights.  Towards the end she was shading her eyes with her arm.  "Whatever Mom, I couldn't see anything up there!"

At the end of the concert all of the children shout Merry Christmas.  This year they were surprised by a visit from Mr & Mrs Santa Claus.  It was so fun to see the look on the kids faces as Mr & Mrs Santa Claus came walking down the aisle.

Great job girls.  Each of you make us proud.

The Haircut

I really don't know what Nicole's fascination is with cutting her hair.

I was in the kitchen cooking dinner and was chatting with my mom on the phone.  I made the comment that Nicole was being quiet and I'd better go check on her.  I found her in by the cabinet next to Hannah's room.  She had drug a stool over to it and was playing with the stuff on the shelves.  She immediately turned around and asked if I could put her hair in a pony tail.  By the way she was acting, I could tell something was up.  I asked her if she'd cut her hair because I could see she was hiding something behind her back and covering something in the cabinet.  She told me no.  Upon further questioning, she still denied cutting her hair....even after I found the evidence of hair in the cabinet.

After this experience, we had to have the chat about telling the truth and telling a lie.  I was so upset with her that I had to bring her upstairs to Dave and cool off while cooking dinner. This wasn't her first experience with cutting her hair.  This was her third!

Oh....did I mention in two days we were scheduled for family pictures?  Yea....that's why I was a bit upset.

The next Thursday I was scheduled for a hair appointment.  I was able to take her with me to get her hair fixed but the family pictures had to occur with the lopsidedness.  At least these will be pictures to remember.....right?

Here is the haircut you get when you continue to cut your hair.

My hairdresser did have a nice long chat with Nicole that if she ever cut her hair again she'd have to have it shaved just like her Dad.

And then there's times like this when she's so cute!