Busy Girls & Broken Fingers

Alexa has amusing commentary on just about anything that's going on. Today, while I was putting a band-aid on the paper cut on her finger, she goes, "Okay, this is weird. Your hand is broken. My finger is broken. It's just so weird."

(Allow me to interject that neither my hand, nor her finger are actually broken, but apparently to a four-year-old, an ace bandage and a band-aid are clear indications of fractured appendages.)

Last night when I was putting her to bed, she was asking me if I've ever read her a long book. (I'm assuming she meant a chapter book, as they call them in schools nowadays. That's the word on the street, anyway.) She said, "Have you ever read me a long book? I mean like a long, long, LONG, long book." I told her that I know I have read the older girls long books before, but didn't think I had read her one yet. She nodded in a very understanding way and said, "Yeah, that's because girls like me are too busy for that."

Indeed they are.

{good thing she wasn't too busy to stop and enjoy this delicious Klondike bar...}

Bum Hand and Other News

So, my hand is still bugging me, even though today it's been ten days since I fell on it. (I'm feeling sillier and sillier about this whole thing as time goes on.) Two wonderful people brought us dinner last week to help out, which was such a lifesaver, and you better believe we made those meals stretch! Basically, we have had a lot of leftovers/cereal for dinner/rotisserie chicken nights because as soon as I start thinking about needing to make dinner, and all of the chopping and prepping involved with making just about anything, I totally balk; basically, that's the time of day when my trusty hand is hurting the worst and I'm feeling the least capable of accomplishing just about anything. (I blame cute Spencer and his homework-hour table-climbing shenanigans for that.)

Last night I caught Craig just in time on his way home from work to have him pick up some bagels so he could make his famous bagel sandwiches for us for dinner.
There are two things I love in particular about those things:

1) Craig makes them.
2) I don't.

Oh, and also, they are super delicious and go perfectly with Orange Julias, (as we like to call them around here.) Breakfast is the dinner of champions, that's what I say. Plus, did I mention that Craig makes them?

In other news, you will never believe this, but school in our district was CANCELED on Monday due to massive rain and flooding. Canceled. Can you imagine? I mean, we live in Phoenix. The only kind of inclement weather we have ever been exposed to is triple digit heat for 5 or 6 months out of the year, and that certainly doesn't keep us from going to school (though it does account for inside recess sometimes!) And not only did the girls not have school, but Craig's boss also texted and told everyone not to come in because the flooding was so bad. Sweet, right?

So, we did what any family would do when they find themselves with an unexpected free day: we watched lots of tv and took naps. It's really amazing how much you can get done in one day!

This is the flooded greenbelt across the street from our house. It seriously looked like a lake. Other greenbelts around the neighborhood were so full of water that people busted out their boogie boards and actually went swimming in them.

Dis. Gusting.

Christmas On Our Minds

I am trying something new this year. It's called: Start Christmas Shopping in August So That You Don't Have to Spend a Fortune On It In November and December. 

(This is a big deal. I am truly a procrastinator at heart; but, Saving Money trumps Putting Stuff Off, at least this year, so I'm going for it.)

Since I am starting early, that means I had to ask the kids recently what they wanted for Christmas. Of course, they diligently produced their lists; Julia's features a "yot," (don't worry, we won't really get her one until she learns how to spell it correctly), Alexa has requested all things beautiful, from "beautiful dresses," to "beautiful jewelry," and Vanna, our future entomologist, wants a "text book of bugs."

I didn't realize that asking for their lists at the end of the summer would fully insinuate Christmas into their brains so early in the season. (And by "early in the season," I mean, "not the Christmas season at all.)

Alas, I should have known better, for I am seeing touches of it all over now...

{tree}

{letter}

{The Santa Clause 2}

{Christmas music dance party}

And so, in the Monson house, on this day in early September, it's beginning to look...

...just a little...

...like Christmas.

Testing our Patriotism

Once upon a time, Craig painted Julia's toenails in fabulous patriotic colors and designs for the 4th of July.

Then he let her paint his nails, because that's the kind of cool dad he is.

And then she proceeded to voice her disappointment that he would be removing the nail polish before he went to work the next day. I believe the conversation went something like this:

Julia: Are you going to keep the polish on for work tomorrow?

Craig: Uh, no.

Julia: Why not?

Craig: Honey, I am a professional. I work in an office. I can't just show up to work with nail polish on.

Julia: Oh what, so they would fire you if you came to work with your fingernails were painted?

I mean, we're patriotic and all. But we do have to draw the line somewhere.

My Boy

This is Spencer.

He has fuzzy hair.

And a winning smiling.

Sometimes, he eats shovels.

Oh, I love him so.