Kya strikes again, or is it ART?!?

Kya found a permanent black marker in my Primary Bag on a shelf while we were taking a short Sunday nap. She graffitied the couches and part of the wall. I told Kade I couldn't deal with this mess after just having had the Desitin problem the day before so he took care of it, but this picture was left on the wall because we didn't see it at first. (The marker is not out of the couch yet, we are trying some different cleaners to see what will get the marker out without ruining the couch.)
Monday morning the girls were up before I left for work and Kya gave me a big hug and then went over to the wall with this picture on it. She said it was the Robot Man's face. I took a different look at the drawing and I was amazed at what a good job she had done! How could I be mad about that! I told Kade and we were both a bit amazed since neither of us really does any drawing. We need to get this girly in an art class so she stops vandalizing the house and gets to make her art work more productively. I think we will make her an artists easle and give her an artists smock to wear so she can draw on it ONLY. We do have coloring books and art stuff, but it is never the only thing that is drawn on. Maybe we will have to put the art stuff on the patio outside until she is old enough to contain her art to the paper.
The face does look quite a bit like the Robot Man's face. Our little artist Kya.

New Balloon Creations: Robot, Missionary and some Sea Creatures

MISSIONARY MAN: My youngest brother, Chad, is coming home from his mission in Chilie in July and I thought I could try to make a missionary for him. My sister-in-law's brother just came home so I figured I could try it out for him now. It took a good 4 hours or so to figure it out, but I was pleased with the end product for the first time making a man. It will probably evolve a bit by July, so we will see what 'Elder Cottam' the balloon missionary ends up looking like then.
ROBOT MAN: This was my first attempt at a man and it looks more like a robot. My kids think it is hillarious!
So, Missionary Man is teaching Robot Man, or maybe the Robot Man is pre-mission and the Missionary Man is post-mission.
Here are some fun Sea Creatures that I learned to make. I've known how to make the octopus and the fish for a little while, but the crab, sea horse and dolphin are new. I really like the crab - he is a cutie. I will have to include them with our next Luau.

Kya & the DESITIN

This is a guilty Kya trying to wash Kiera and herself off from the incredible Desitin mess. We have a large pot of Desitin on the top shelf of the book case in the baby room. Kya got a chair from the Dora table and climbed to get the Desitin. While covering her room with Desitin she also put a healthy coat of it on little sister Kiera's hair. I washed her hair 9 times and still couldn't get it all out!
I (Mommy) was doing the dishes and thinking that Kya and Kiera were just playing in their room. Soon little white handprints were appearing on the hallway walls. I quickly went to investigate the source and found...
More and more little white handprints on everywall down the hallway and everywall in the girl's bedroom!
I believe my Kya is an artist (she is left handed) and so (several days later and looking back) I am trying to appreciate this as one of her pieces of art. She very maticulously covered every nook and cranny of her kitchen set will Desitin so it was all one smooth surface. It took an hour to clean the kitchen set.
More handprints on the dresser closet...
...and more on the walls.
I tried and could not get the Desitin out of the carpet. I am going to try some cleaner my mom-in-law gave us to see if that will do the job. I was pretty upset with Kya, especially since my Braxton Hicks were getting worse and worse the more I scrubed and cleaned.
This insident was unfortunately followed by some massive tantruming that lasted the next 4 hours because Kya was in a 5 minute time out. I vaccumed the house multiple times so I wouldn't have to hear her screaming tantrums. After the 4 hours of torture Kya calmed completely down and said she was sorry. Then, all of a sudden, I was her 'best friend'. Being 2 years old is a very bi-polar like time.
I don't write this to be negative about Kya, because I do love her very much. I write it so when she is a mom and she calls me crying about the messes her children are making and how they are destroying her house I can tell her to look at these memorable times that she created for me and we can laugh together about it.
I would like to formally appologize to my mother for ruining all her green plants as a young child. I don't remmeber much of the destroying I did, but I have heard stories. I also engraved my little sister's name in much of the wood molding in the hallway and then blamed it on her (she was not even in school yet and could not write her own name - I obviously didn't think that one through). I am sure that is not all I did and yet, my mother still loves me and I am grateful for that.

Happy Valentine's Day!

The girls woke-up to a special Valentine's Bear, some socks, a candy and a balloon scepter and crown. The bears are special because Kade actually gave them to me in our first years of marriage and our girls have liked them so much that they each got one to keep for their own. I am keeping the white bear for my own, which is the bear Kade used to officially propose to me with (That fun story is at the end of this blog submission). We will use the bears every year to help decorate for Valentine's Day. (Kari is above with her's.)

Kya
Kiera
Kari has chipmunk cheeks with the chocolate already in her mouth. They look so cute with their crowns and scepters. They went around waving the scepters like magic wands and singing "bibidy bobity boo" from Cinderella.
"Cheese", says Kiera. She is also trying to get her chocolate in her mouth before mom and dad hide it until they have had brunch.
Here is a special table set for Kari and Kya to eat at for our Valentine's Brunch.
We didn't get any pictures with people in it at the table for our Valentine's Brunch, but we did get the table. We had a Valentine's Day Brunch with Grandma and Grandpa Cheesman, Uncle Kyler and Aunt Hillary, Grandma Beth, Aunt Karla, Uncle Clint, and all of us. We had pink waffles and special Cheesman Reuinion Syrup (it is soooo goood!), pink milk, scrambled eggs and ham, and delicious fruit. We loved having everyone over and it was such a fun Valentine's Day for us!

*Cheesman Reunion Syrup:
-1 cup butter
-1 cup heavy whipping cream
-1 cup sugar
- a splash of vanilla extract
Mix all together in a sauce pan and stir until it boils. Let it boil for 1 minute and serve warm over the pancakes or waffles. You don't need to butter your pancakes or waffles with this syrup.

*My Sweet Valentine's Memories of the Past:

I remember growing up with homemade valentine cards, I especially liked making the snowflake heart ones. My parents had a tradition of leaving us a valentine card and some simple little trinket like a little cheap bracelet or styrophome hang glider by our beds for us to wake up to on Valentine's morning and we LOVED IT!!! The card would always be a cheesy and very endearing original poem from my dad and they were specific for us individually (I still have some of them and I cherish having them). Mom would dye the milk and pancake batter pink for our special "hot" Valentine’s Day breakfast (hot breakfast was a treat because it was usually cold cereal). Even more exciting than our own Valentines was to see what dad had done for mom. Every year we would wake-up and see what he had put on the kitchen table for mom, usually a spread of all her favorite little things. A bottle of Pink Catawaba (white and red grape juice mixed together) that they would share together alone later that night, shrimp and shrimp cotail sauce, her favorite crackers and cream cheese spread, nectarines, blueberry filled pastries, and almond Roca are the things are remember most commonly. Dad would top it off with a small bouquet of roses and an extra special homemade card for mom with an extra special original poem just for her (I don't remember being allowed to read those ones). I remember mom's reaction every year and knowing how much they loved each other! There is a picture of when I was one year old and my dad is holding me while he is standing by his Valentine's display at the kitchen table. He is wearing a white tux shirt and pants. The ruffles of the tux shirt had a powder blue edge. Growing up I always thought that shirt was the oddest shirt, but I'm sure she found it very romantic. I still know that my parents love each other a lot and they are a great example to me of how to treat your spouse.

One of my favorite Valentine's memories with Kade was our first. We knew we were going to get married, but the ring hadn't come yet so it wasn't completely official, but I didn't care I was just ecstatic that I was actually going to get to marry HIM! I would be in Logan on Valentine's Day so I left all the supplies for a great 'heart attack" with my mom and sister and they decorated Kade's room for me. I was so excited to have it be a surprise for him. I included a framed picture of us together and his favorite candies. The weekend before Valentines Kade and I were to meet in Salt Lake at Kade's aunt's home to spend some time together. I raced down to Salt Lake after classes on Friday, I was SOOO excited to see him! He had gotten there first and when I went to put my bag in the room I was staying in - it had burning candles, a big white bear with a valentine’s heart on it and it was holding a single white rose. There were also chocolates scattered all over. Kade (and his aunt lingered in the hallway) followed me in the room. I was definitely surprised! He motioned for me to check out the bear and the rose. After I did he asked me to really look at how beautiful the rose was. I did and it was beautiful, I commented on it and just wanted to go hug and kiss him. He was rather insistent that I continue to inspect the rose. I did and it was beautiful. He told me to smell it. I did and it was lovely. I still just wanted to kiss him, but he wanted me to smell the rose again and then again. I was obviously missing something and unaware that I was missing something because he asked me to look into the rose to see how beautiful it was as I smelled it - ahhhh! To my surprise I saw my very beautiful and nearly transparent ring in the rose! It was new white gold and really did blend into the rose petals. I was kind of shocked because I hadn't thought about an actual formal proposal. I took the ring out and Kade got down on one knee and officially proposed. (Kade's aunt is in the hallway crying and so excited because she knew what was going on.) Of course I said 'Yes' and then I finally got to hug and kiss him. It was such a sweet surprise because I really didn't expect it. I still have that white bear and I will keep it because it is mine from my sweet first real Valentines with my hubby.
I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day!

Selling Valentine's Day Balloons

I took a huge step forward and made a form for people to order Valentine Balloons. I only offered it to two locations because I wasn't sure exactly what the response would be like and I was pretty nervous to do this. I have done some birthday parties and Halloween and Christmas Parties, as well as decorations for events and other parties, but this is a new thing and it turned out quite well. These are some of the things I offered. Above is one of my favorite things, it is a heart crown and scepter. Those that ordered it loved it! My girls loved it too!
A single 5-6 petal flower.
A large balloon bouquet (except all the stems were green).
A four-petal flower.
A simple heart flower.
A bear hugging a heart flower (this was very popular)
These were some of the orders.
This is something I didn't offer for Valentine's Day, I figured it out last night (Feb. 16th). He is a fun smiley face man. I can do an alien also. It is for our neighbor who is in Red Cliff's Rehab after extremely invasive cancer surgery. I hope it will cheer her up! I love that the smiley face man acts as a vase and hold the flowers.
It was a good experience and everyone that ordered said they were very happy with what they received. I know what I would like to add for next year (a large heart and love birds attached to it).

Kari's 5th B-day Party!

Yes, our oldest child, Karinya is now 5 years old! She is looking forward to getting to go to Kindergarten sooooo much this next school year! Aunt Karla made this personal little cake for her on her actual birthday, which was February 4th. (Aunt Karla made and used fondant on the cake. It was her first attempt at using fondant. We have recently been inspired by 'Ace of Cakes'.)

Kari had a 'Ladybug' Birthday Party. It was her first birthday to invite friends over and we had about 16 kids. It was crazy fun! We made Ladybug Crowns, played a Ladybug Bean Bag Toss onto big leaves, played 'Grasshopper, grasshopper, Ladybug' (aka: Duck, duck, goose), jumped like Ladybugs on the trampoline, got Ladybug balloon bracelets, had our faces painted with Ladybugs, enjoyed a homemade Ladybug Pinata (from Aunt Karla) and ate grilled cheese, apples, and Chocolate Ladybug Cake and ice cream.
This was Kari's invitation.

Kari and her Ladybug Crown.
Cousin Hallie and Aunt Ashley are sporting their crowns too!
Happy Birthday Girl KARI!
Aunt Jennifer (who is a professional artist) sure bailed us out as she helped with the face painting! Thanks so much Aunt Jennifer!
Kari and Grandma Creta Cheesman giving each other loves.
Playing like Ladybugs in the backyard.
Lacey and Lindsay Mortenson, some of Kari's friends on our street.
Uncle Clint is helping to play "Grasshopper, grasshopper, Ladybug" (aka: Duck, duck, goose).
Jumping on the trampoline like Lady and Guy Bugs.
Getting ready for our Ladybug bean bag toss. Kari is talking to her friend Briggs Kirkland and cousin Ben is all ready to play.
Daddy is awesome at cooking grilled cheese and both Grandma Beth and Grandma Creta helped a bunch! Thanks so much for everyone's help!
This was lunch. We had grilled cheese and sliced apples, then Kari's ladybug cake that mom made special just for her. She was happy with her cake, which made me really happy.

Cute Kari with her Ladybug painted on her face. She just blew out her birthday candles.
Time to eat. Kiera is ready - bring on the cheese. Grandpa Brian loves to play with the kiddos. Cousins Haylee, Daycee, Braxton and Shaye were also enjoying and we loved having them there.
Time to eat the cake and ice cream. Some friends from the neighborhood were Sidney Sabaitis, Breanna Campbell and her mom Jennifer (she helped a lot controlling kids on the trampoline and thank you for it), and Sarah Hutchins. Kari's special friend from Pre-school, Emmie Campbell also came (in the pokadot coat).
I love this fun and funny picture of Kari so I had to include it. Sarah is wondering what Kari is thinking and Shaye is puzzled as well.
The coolest Ladybug Pinata ever! Made special by Aunt Karla. I love this because instead of hitting it we pulled strings and each string had a ring on it so even if they didn't pull the string that opened the pinata, they still got a ring.

Daddy makes a good pinata holder, doesn't he. He is one handsome guy! Aunt Brittany helped a bunch too - thanks to her!
Everyone is grabbing thier candy and putting it in a bag that they colored.
Present time and Kari is excited.
What a great 5th Birthday! We are so grateful to have our Kari-girl! Thanks to all her cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends, and of course her sisters that helped us celebrate! Kids left with their goodie bag and a Ladybug bracelet made out of balloons. We look forward to a great 5th year for Kari!