Mother Hen

It was kind of crazy sending Izzy off to kindergarten on her bike, but honestly, with Lorin by her side every step of the way (and I mean that to the extreme), I really wasn't nervous. Lorin has learned (because I've forced her to) to clean up my whole house if I ask, to bathe her sisters...just about anything I ask her to. Naturally, she has learned to be somewhat of a responsible mother hen.

My friends who see Izzy and Lorin on their way to school often tell me how great they are together. Lorin will be dictating instructions to Izzy from behind her on her bike the whole way to school--every twig, bump, crossroad, puddle or curve, Izzy knows about it ahead of time (and she is in front!). And then when they get off their bikes Lorin helpfully grabs the handle on the top of Izzy's backpack and lifts as they walk--you know--to relieve the heavy burden. Now how cute it that?!

I have been a tough mamma on Lorin--to the point of feeling bad about how strict I was. I will have to say though . . . she is one great kid!

4th of July Baptism

Lorin had been thinking of this day for as long as she could remember. It finally came and couldn't have turned out more beautifully. Great Grandmas Walker and Costley were both there even! Grandma Kofoed gave the talk on baptism and told a funny story about Lorin turning her Mom's hair white with her sins--a story of which she repeated the next day at church during her testimony. Grandpa Costley gave the talk on recieving the Holy Ghost and used a tuning fork as the object lesson--she got to keep it and thought it was the coolest. Just before getting baptised Lorin and Izzy sang a duet "I want to be a Window to His Love" and sounded as sweet as could be with their arms around each other. Her daddy then baptised her and she felt "so warm and clean." She then asked "I wander what my first sin will be?" I was a beaming mother and so proud of her beauty. As we talked about the Savior's example that morning, I could tell she was ready. What an amazing gift!

Lovin' being 8!

8 years old has been a much anticipated age for Lorin due to the excitement of finally being old enough to get baptised! She is awaiting that special day on July 4th in Utah.

Meanwhile she's livin' it up. She loves school! Loves soccer! Loves volleyball! Loves swimming! Loves wrestling (and pinning) tough boys and her Dad! Loves playing with friends! Secretly enjoys piano! Loves riding her bike! Loves her sisters! Loves life! Seriously.

She convinced me she's old enough to get her ears peirced. We decided to jump on it due to it being the one completely feminine thing she has chosen to do amidst all her self proclaimed tom-boyness. She mentioned it hurting a little when it happened. It was Izzy who got the horrified look on her face (while covering both ears with her hands) and the funny reactions from the window shoppers.


What a girl!

A Heroic Tale

Upon a warm day at the culdesac I say to Lorin, "just let Izzy try your remote control car..." with lots of reasons to deflect Lorin's complaints about Izzy not knowing what she's doing with it. With a "fine, but just for a few seconds" out of Lorin, Izzy licked her lips and took the controller in hand. I am not kidding, she pushed the lever and we all watched in horror as it headed straight for the huge street drain (Texas style street drain--you can't see it just below the curb, but a 5 year old child could easily slip down the big slot). Lorin and I let out a few squeeks and I think I said "stop her Cory" since he was the closest to Izzy. But it all happened so fast and before we knew it the car was gone with an echoing clack after a long fall.

Lorin ran to the drain in all her dramatic glory, fell to her knees, put her fists to the top of her head and let out blood-curdling "no....no....no" and on and on. Meanwhile a classic Izzy moment--not a word or change in expression.

"I think it's gone" came from Cory. I mentioned the possibility of holding on to Izzy's legs to see if she could reach it--not thinking too clearly--perhaps a bit unnerved by Lorin's wretchings. But we could still hear it down there when we pushed the lever on the controller, and we determined it had turned over onto its back. So we decided to pass an Operation Remote-Control Car rescue bill. After 5 or 6 trips back and forth from the garage, we came up with the right assortment of tools (many not pictured) to get the man-hole opened and a ladder. Here's where, according to the fair madens watching, a hero emerged. Cory climbed deep into middle-earth and re-appeared triumphant, remote-control car in hand...never again to be an ordinary dad...rather a real-life hero!!

Lorin noted a stronger family bond shortly thereafter!

Crazy Hair Day

Lorin's morning routine: Gets herself up way too early and has herself dressed, fed, hair fixed, lunch made, and piano practiced (which is when I wake up) 1/2 hour before she heads off on her bike to school. On crazy hair day I helped her so we also had time for some homework.


Second grade at Wellington Elementary has been a lot of fun for Lorin. They really keep her on her toes. It has been great to see her enjoy learning and getting all responsible. She helps me a ton at home. I'm afraid I've made her grow up too fast--a mother's got to worry about something, right?

Sunday Talk

Lorin was asked Saturday evening to give a Primary talk on Sunday. I mentioned that the more she practiced it, the more comfortable she'd be in delivering. She took that to heart and practiced about 30 times before church. I couldn't have been more proud as Lorin stood up in front of about 150 primary kids and teachers and delivered a completely memorized 2 minute talk complete with exciting voice inflection and personal application on how to "Love God with your Heart, Might, Mind, and Strength." Then Izzy got called up to be spotlighted (where Lorin was sitting at the stand) and Lorin gave her a sweet smooch on her way back to her seat. Later that night Lorin prayed that we'd serve God with the above-mentioned actions. What a good girly.

Just a cute shot of the two women who rule the roost :) ha ha!

Poor Lorin :(

A little horsin' around with Dad lead to a split eyebrow and an Insta-Care run for her and mom. Thanks to liquid stitches (aka glue) Lorin didn't have to face her worst nightmare (at least that's what she made it sound like all the way there) and get stitches. Out of all the sobbing comments on our drive, I think my favorite was "I should never have made that choice to steal Ryan's blankie..." which was what lead to Izzy and Dad attacking in honor of the helpless princess who's Cinderella dress was just too hard to handle on the run. Of course this was about the 20th time Lorin had delivered said offense--no mention of regretting the 19 before. Poor Lorin :(