The Buckleys: My birthday surprise

This year Bryan outdid himself for my birthday. All incognito, he researched and shopped around to find a beautiful Story and Clark piano on Craigslist, negotiated it to a great price, rented a trailer to move it and put in my living room with a big red bow. I was honestly surprised. The piano is really pretty and something I've always wanted in my own home.

Really, I'm not much of a pianist (although I should be after about 7 or 8 years of lessons), but I have made a goal to start at the beginning and relearn and am excited to have it available to my children to learn on.

Thanks Bry for the beautiful gift, and most of all for all the effort you went to surprise me. You are the best!

I want to remember it like this...

October 2010:

Both Ivy and Maya say "Dada." Maya says in her growly voice a very clear, "DAD!" They are growing up too fast.

Eleanore likes to look in the mirror next to our table while we are eating dinner and she'll often talk to her reflection. She'll say things like "Who are you?" Yesterday she said, "Bananas smell good. Dirty socks don't smell good."

Eleanore dressed up like a fairy and announced "I am a Fairy Gospel."

In preperation for Halloween, Eleanore has been talking about all the things she could be and pretending to be many different Halloween-like characters including a nice witch and a mean witch. The nice witch laughs like this "HaHaHa" (high pitched and smiling. The mean witch laughs like this "HeHeHe" (low voice and scowl).

September 2010:

A friend of my mine stopped by to visit and she had her friend's son, Adam, with her. Throughout our hour-long visit Eleanore kept repeating "Adam was a prophet, first one that we know..." over and over. I kind of felt bad for the boy (who incidently is not a member of our church and doesn't know that Primary song), but it was pretty funny.

Eleanore has picked up on a few phrases that I use...that I think I picked up from my pops. "I'm exasperated." and "Oh Fiddlesticks." The latter really makes me think of my Dad.

After Bryan brushed Eleanore's hair she turned and said, "Thanks, Sweetie!"

August 2010:

Out of the blue (during a converstation lull...the girl doesn't like silence) Eleanore will often suggest, "Let's chat!"

Eleanore announces. "I know Portuguese." We ask, "Really, what?" "Portuguese!"

My new name: "Momster." Sometimes, even "Momsterarooski."

Eleanore loves to give giant hugs (just what they sound like), big smackarooskis (big kisses), and little mouse hugs (whe touches my shoulder with both hands and then busts up laughing).

July 2010:

Walking outside, Eleanore began narrating: "It was a beautiful summer day..."

A few months ago a man in our ward fell of the roof. We were talking about it because we were going to bring them dinner, and haven't really talked about it since. Today when El woke up from her nap she whispered, "Mom, someone fell off the roof." I asked who, totally not knowing what she was talking about. "Brother Dumm." She announced. It was actually a man named Brother Barrett, but Brother Dumm was sick at the same time and Bryan went to visit him the same day. What a memory she has.

June 2010:

I often tell Eleanore that if we watch too much TV our brains will get mushy. The other day I told her it was time to turn off the TV and she said, "Yes, my hair is mushy."

I told Eleanore that the babies didn't feel good. She said, "Mom, when I'm a grown up I can be a doctor and take care of them."

Eleanore asked what "No problem" means. I told her it meant you'd be glad to do it. Since then, I asked her if she would like to finger paint, she replied, "I'd be glad to do it." I got the same response when I asked if she wanted a piece of candy.

May 2010:

"[Ivy] is a precious girl. I feel that in my heart," Eleanore after kissing Ivy.

"My hair is not a toy Mom," Eleanore to Mom after sitting through three attempts at French braids.

"It's hard being a big sister," Eleanore.

"I love you, I love you, I really, really love you," Eleanore singing very seriously and loudly.

Eleanore asked to watch a t.v. show called Max and Ruby, I told her, "No, I don't like that show. " She responded, " Then you go away and I'll watch it. I like it."

January 2010:

"Babies poop a lot," Eleanore to Mom as I changed yet another diaper. "Babies cry a lot," Eleanore to Mom about five minutes later.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

My birthday surprise

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