Heavenly Hinkley

A while back when Jessica first started talking and learning about the gospel we spent some time teaching her about prophets. I remember reading from her Book of Mormon stories for kids and trying to explain to her what a prophet is. I used some elaborate demonstration to let her know how it works. I think she got it - I hope. Anyway she developed a great love for President Hinkley, the only living prophet she has ever known. One day during conference I asked her, "Jess, who is our prophet today?" With great enthusiasm at knowing the answer she exclaimed, "Heavenly Hinkley!"

With the news of our prophet's passing my first thought was . . ."Now he really is Heavenly Hinkley." We've been expecting this for some time and yet it still came as somewhat of a shock. He did give the impression that he was immortal. I know I felt at the last conference that perhaps this would be his last, but then he said, "I'll see you at the next conference. . ." and I believed maybe just one more?? Then last night - probably at just about the time he was getting ready to pass away, I mentioned in FHE that perhaps we should pray for President Hinkley because after all he was getting quite old.

When I told Jessica the news this morning her reply was, "Oh no! President Hinkley? But I love President Hinkley!" I assured her that the next prophet would be just as wonderful, but she wasn't ready to believe me yet.

I'm sure the world this side and the other is rejoicing at the reunion of President and Sister Hinkley on the other side. I honestly was surprised he made it this long without her. Good for them. The church is true!

Lily wants to dance too. . .

This past December, Jessica had a dance performance at a nursing home. With limited space available, Lily and I managed to squeeze onto the floor with her in my lap. . .at first. It didn't take long for her to get up and follow the teacher who was helping the young girls remember their dances. I was a little concerned that she would dart out onto the floor and join them. I think a few of the audience members were watching her more than the performers. When they did the tap dances, Lily learned that she needs to pick up her feet in addition to moving her little body around. She has since taken to putting on her big sister's shoes and "tapping" around the house. Today as Jessica got ready for dance class, Lily could not be outdone. I'm not sure how she managed to get into the leotard (it is on backwards by the way), but she certainly was ready for entertaining! (I realized that I wouldn't be able to rotate a couple of seconds after I started recording - I apologize for the need to look sideways.)

Depression

It's no secret that most of the U.S. is suffering from a financial depression of sorts. We're feeling it. I know my siblings are feeling it. The toughest part of depressions is explaining it to the kids. How does one tell a 5 year old that Santa probably can't afford to bring a $40.00 Barbie doll that should never come out of it's package, a mini atv, or whatever $100 craze is out there these days? Santa is all knowing and all powerful - money isn't an issue, right?
To escape the constant baggering from Jessica this year about the fairness of Santa Claus and trying to teach her the importance of being somewhat humble and grateful for what she has- especially in our humble financial crunch, I finally explained to her that parents have to PAY Santa to bring toys. "Do you really think he has all the money in the world? Parents give Santa what they can and he makes do with it to bring you the best of what you want. Your parents can't afford what you are asking for so you'll have to go light on Santa this year." She was a little subdued by that comment and quit asking for stuff - sort of. She really wanted that Barbie doll and when she saw the Furreal cat she asked if we could get it for her birthday (5 months away).

So maybe I was a bit harsh. . .? For a homework assignment she had to write a letter to Santa. Most of the kids had theirs written and turned in the next day although they were given a week. We were busy and didn't get around to it for a few days. Finally she wrote:



Dear Santa,

I've been a good kid, so bring me anything for a girl.

Love,

Jessica



Okay if she didn't have a dejected look on her face like she would get in trouble for asking for anything specific, I probably would have laughed out loud. Fortunately Grandma came through for her. Not only did Mom and Dad get her the $40.00 Furreal cat (the one destroyed below by little sister), but Grandma got her that $40.00 Barbie doll I told her was too expensive and unnecessary. Grandma's excuse - "Did you see how her face lit up when she got what she wanted?" Hmmm. Leave it to Grandma to spoil her rotten. Somehow even in a financial depression, Santa always manages to come through. . .

Half

This is the 1/2 part of the 2 1/2 children. Sonogram was taken at 9 weeks. Baby is right on schedule. In about 5 more weeks we can say for sure boy or girl.

I asked Lily yesterday who her mama was - she pointed at me. "Who's your daddy?" She pointed at daddy. "Who's your sister?" She said, "Jessie." And then out of pure curiosity, I asked, "Who's your brother?" she said, "Gavin." Hmm? Does she know something we don't know?

Glasses

Lily is enamored with "glasses". She discovered these recently - we got them at a baby shower for her 2 years ago. She came to me with them in hand and said, "Mama, glasses please. . ." But the please was more of a demand! She is very happy to be sporting her new look and can't wait til she can have her very own glasses like mom and dad. If she only knew what a pain they are!

Lipstick

Saturday, I got a phone call from my sister and had to take it outside since I don't get reception in the house. My husband was home and so I didn't think twice about leaving the girls in the house with him. I should have thought twice. . .

My husband was busy working on installing our new whirlpool tub so he wasn't paying any attention to what the girls were doing. When I left Lily she was toting around Jessica's dance bag and her baby doll, a current passion. I had also turned on the disney channel to keep her occupied. When I returned she was passed out on the couch face down and away from my view - her nap time was way over due. I didn't want to bother her so I checked in and left. My husband told me later that she had gotten into some lipstick and he left it because he didn't want to wake her up. I hadn't seen the lipstick and imagined a few lines on her face - not really a big deal, right? Right.

I went back in the office curious now about the lipstick and where she could have gotten it from. She sat up and I noticed that her face was blocked in red from chin to hairline and covering her ear. It was all over her hands, the couch she was laying on, the carpet below was also colored a bright red. Jessica's Christmas present, a "furreal" cat was also decorated a bit on his fur. I quickly grabbed up Lily and took her to the tub thinking, "This is what happens when I leave my husband to watch the kids!"

It took me the better part of 30 minutes to scrub the lipstick off of Lily's body parts and it left a nice pink ring around the tub. I couldn't help by think of Cat in the Hat - yep, the same ring. Now at least I know where they got the idea from. The carpet took me an hour to scrub and it still has a light pink hue in our brand new light beige carpet. Seriously the carpet is like 2 months old. As I was cleaning the carpet I noticed the dance bag and remembered the red lipstick that Jess and I had put in there for a performance last month just in case she needed to reapply before her number. I had completely forgotten it was there. If I had my choice of crayola markers or lipstick to find smeared across my child and furniture - I'd choose the markers. They are water soluable and come off much quicker than the almost impossible to remove lipstick.
Of course my husband took no responsibility for the incident claiming I shouldn't have left her alone to go talk on the phone. He's probably right. He can't be trusted to be a mother. He is the fix it man. Fix the door, tub, walls, light switches, electrical wires, cables that need rewiring, etc. His focus is ONE track. On whatever he is working on at the moment. I should have known better than to leave a curious, highly mischievious almost 2 year old in his care. Oh well, life is too short to remain upset. And it's kind of hard when you've got that cute little grin and laugh staring up at you from the best hugger ever.

How can anyone stay mad at that face?

This one could get away with murder!

Little Intuition

I was in a class once that argued about whether or not personality is nature or nurtured. After watching my own children grow and mature over the past 5 1/2 years, my argument is nature! Lily is living proof. At 21 months this little one has a mind and personality all her own.
She loves music. Before she could walk, I observed her as she crawled over to a toy, pulled herself up, pressed the button to make music and began bouncing her little bottom up and down in rythm. The girl can get down! She has since continued to delight and amaze anyone who happens to catch her in the act. She loves to stomp her feet, move her hands and bob her head. Especially in sync with Rascal Flats' "Bob that head".
More recently she has attempted to mimic the sounds by singing in her own style. If I pay real close attention I can sort of hear the tune and words to familiar songs. Of all the music she loves to bob around to, last Sunday she surprised me by announcing her favorite.
I was struggling to put her into the tub to get ready for church after a late night. She ran from me and to the computer room where she pointed at KZION, a religious online radio station and said, "I like that!" She has since begged me to put on her Children's Primary Hymns CD during naps and at bedtime. I suspect she can feel the spirit of that music and it resonates with her. It doesn't surprise me too much considering I joined the church choir while I was pregnant with her and performed a few weeks after she was born with her at my feet listening in perfect contentment for a baby.
Lily is a sneaky little one. She is very curious and loves to laugh. Her sweet adorable personality and best hugs ever have won our hearts over time and again. She has wrapped her daddy around her little finger and wormed her way into everyone's heart. Gotta love that girl!

Lost Teeth

How often do we walk around blind in the world with our eyes wide open?

My husband is a neat freak. His OCD often causes him to move things out of sight. Unfortunately he doesn't often remember where he moved them. I have a photographic memory and typically I remember where I put things. When they're moved, they're lost. I can't count the number of times I've asked. . . "Where is the . . .?" With the response, "Open Your Eyes!" and the counter response, "My eyes ARE open!" Only to come and have him find the lost item hidden behind something else and not where it should have been. It started off as a huge annoyance until Jessica was quick to point out to her dad one day that "Mom doesn't like it when you say 'Open your eyes.' " After that we have slung the phrase around as a family joke whenever something is seemingly lost.

A few weeks ago, Jessica lost her first tooth followed promptly by the second. It's been quite an experience for her and for us, wondering just how much wiggling to do and how often. Should we yank it out quick or let it fall out on it's own? How long is too long to wait to get it out? We all survived the ordeal and it's the first time the Tooth Fairy has come to visit the Marcano residence. After going to bed early the first night and waking up less than thirty minutes later, she burst into tears because the fairy hadn't come yet. I explained that it must be because her dad and I were still up and the fairy couldn't possibly come while we were witnessing the arrival. She insisted that we go straight to bed and tried again. The Tooth Fairy did come and Jess was happy to earn some money to stock up on none other than her favorite candy or gum.

So today we had our photo shoot for posterity. For some reason I had a hard time getting a shot of those tiny little lost teeth. The first shot would have been perfect had it not been for the obvious flaw. "Open Your Eyes!" I commanded. She promptly obeyed and we all fell into a fit of giggles.