How I Spent my Summer Vacation…

We took a little drive to the Pacific Northwest to spend a little quality time with these smiley folks…

 

Then we found as many small children as we could so we could all enjoy the SuperMall together, because nothing says family togetherness, fun, and good-thinking like a trip to the extra-super SuperMall …  

 

 

 

 

 

We got some face time with Uncle Kyle and Aunt Kari’s wonder-pony, Chance, and as a bonus- some quality cousin togetherness at the zoo…

Kylie got some piggy-back rides from Uncle Jens…

  

 

 

 

 

And then it was the water fight of the year in Gramma Jan’s backyard, where everyone got points for participation, strategy, and wetness.

Much fun was had.

           The end.

big television debut…

So my Mongo Flower Carry All got a little air time this morning!!   

http://connect2utah.com/2news-this-morning-story/?nxd_id=96915

**sorry the video is a bit “choppy”—but the dancing is still amazing…

the summer season is upon us…

  Curtis, the eldest of the Goff children worked on his eagle scout project,

and then headed out west for the Stake handcart pioneer trek, completely delighted to have his camera-wielding mother follow him  (for the record, I did ask him if he would like to have suspenders like some of the fellow pioneers in front of him—he said “no”,  I said “whatever”)…

Kylie, aka Miss Pink Sparkly Hat, had her debut as a background singer in her class production about traveling to Mars; of course I’m sure that was the topic you figured the play would be about with the sparkly hats and all…

Morgan anticipated the blessed day when she would be getting her driver’s license (still a few years off) and if she is so lucky, she may actually be able to pilot our beloved blue “driveable wheelbarrow”…

Cael remained a little unsure about his feelings after his first tooth “just fell out.”  It had been loose for about a month and the time had come.  There’s still some work to do on the toothless grin front…

  Kendell played shoulderbag model for her mom’s first (hopefully not completely last, who knows) original bag…

while I’ve tried to make other people jealous with my finely manicured nails, but hooray, my “Mongo Flower Carry All” pattern is d-o-n-e- DONE!!

My Parallel Universe…

  

Says Cael:  “My mom likes to go to Disneyland.”

Says Mom: “That’s right, Cael, I am your mom and I do like to go to Disneyland.”

Says Cael: “No, my other mom.”

Says Mom:  “You have another mom?”

Says Cael:  “Yes, I have another mom and her name is Kristie.”

Says Mom:  “You have this mom, Kirsten, and another mom named Kristie?”

Says Cael:  “Yep, and my other mom likes to go to Disneyland and buy me suckers.  I have another dad, too.”

Says Mom:  “Who is your other dad?”

Says Cael:  “His name is Paul.”

Says Mom:  “That is your dad’s name…”

Says Cael:  “Yep, and my other dad is named Paul, too.  And he likes to go to Disneyland.”

Says Mom:  “So you have one mom, Kirsten, and another mom named Kristie, and two dads both named Paul?”

Says Cael:  “Yep, and my other mom loves to buy me suckers at Disneyland.”

I must admit to some emotional confusion--I’m not sure if I should be insulted or intrigued, or if I should really accept that this child is clearly suffering from severe sucker-deprivation.  (He is right on the money about his regular mom not buying him a lot in the way of suckers, though.)   Hmmm…this is the same kiddo that just informed me that he would like some fishy crackers tomorrow for “Kids Day” because today is “Father’s Day” and since I gave him the “every day is kids day” line and he is a kid, he would like some fishy crackers.  For Kid’s Day.  And his other mom would love to buy him a sucker… 

Things that put a smile on my face…

My dancing girlies, Kylie and Kendell with their end of the year gala, where both of their parents were actually able to see them perform in all of their dancing glory, as opposed to missing their routines while attending to their convalescing brothers (as was the case with little puking boy and big shoulder separated boy in the emergency room at the St. George competition in March)…

 

Cael’s end of the year field trip to Wheeler Farm, where he had soooo eagerly anticipated bringing his very own carrots to feed the bunnies, only to be denied and completely bummed out by the sign “please don’t feed the rabbits.”  Oh well, he gets points for preparedness and also shaking-it-off-like-a-champ-edness…

Preschool was so great for Cael this year!  Letters, numbers, field trips, crafts, songs, magic tricks, buddies –of course the letter “H” is still the BEST!!  We LOVE Miss Amber—such a grand year!!

  One of the many bonuses of being married to the wonderful husband that I am married to is the delightful extended family I consequently acquired!!  Cousin Christy’s beautiful wedding was so lovely and fun, complete with a real photo booth (so clever and totally fun) for mementos…

I LOVE the library!!  Are you kidding me??  Hart to Hart Season 1 on DVD??  How can you  not love Jonathan and Jennifer Hart, along with Max the Butler/all around domestic great guy, Freeway the dog, Hart Industries, and a car phone in Jonathan’s Mercedes?  So sweet…

I do love finding sweet notes from one sibling to another—Curtis does feel strongly that this kitchen stool should stay in the kitchen…

 

Though the lighting is less than super, I do love the orange “Nie Nie skirt” (pattern by Pink Fig) that was my first project for my new high-powered corporate gig at The Material Girls Quilts (actually it is very part-timish)—I LOVE pretty fabric and Kylie LOVES ruffles…

And then there is our goofy kitty cat, Zeke.  It would be so much easier if he could just talk and tell me exactly what is on his mind, but when he jumps up on the barbeque, stretches out all tall, and peers inside longingly, I generally get the idea… 

Good Good Times…

Captain Birthday here made the official jump from being a little guy of 4 to being a “big one” who is 5 YEARS OLD!!  He requested a Haunted Mansion (“Nightmare Before Christmas” style) birthday cake—fortunately, Jack Skellington is not a character of intricate details.  Also fortunately, Target has some fantastic striped birthday candles right now that add so much to any birthday celebration…

The parents of the birthday boy with the very favorite tree during its limited engagement week-long glory of blooms…The Goff Family spring soccer  superstars—Cael was initially devastated to find out that he wouldn’t be on the black jersey team.  He has quickly adapted to his team’s color scheme and the rest of us are also adapting to seeing him in purple at all hours of each and every day and night…

And HOORAY!!  A grand and glorious weekend was had by me!!  My one and only delightful mom came with my one and only delightful sis, who also brought her equally delightful lovely little lady, Miss Kate.  Their flight was delayed 3 hours, but we most certainly made the most of our limited time together…

We made our venture to Alpine to the fabulous “Dear Lizzie”—oooh, such fun lovely things to look at and such fun tasty items to taste…

And if one yellow apron is good, three must be super good…

Love my sis, love my mom, love my husband for holding the fort down on Saturday while I gallivanted around to every girly place we could think of in the valley and beyond…

Easter Weekend and Furniture Re-Do…

I am obviously all about clever titles, but that is exactly what’s going on—gathering with family for Easter festivities and updating furniture!!  Oh, can you even stand the excitement?!

The lovely and colorful Easter girl cousins: Morgan, Kendell, Aspen, and Kylie…

Serious Easter Egg Hunt for Kylie, Kendell, and Cael…

Coordinating Cousins: Stockton and Kendell  (Paul didn’t get the light gray and white memo)…

An old and inherited (nevertheless appreciated) peach Laz-E-Boy ready for some new life…

A sad, sad table in desperate need of something (although Cael doesn’t seem to mind, as long as he can play “go fish” with mom on it)…

And now for the big reveal:  Slip-covered chair and repurposed mod-podged world map covered old/new table!!

Our goal is to be a family of geography wizzes, well that and also not to see the sorry table top underneath…