More of the Party

There were just too many pictures to put into one post and I really want to remember this night!
It was photo crazed, so many shots of so many people. Here is a group shot of the siblings

Candice pretty much rocks. She made a rice crispy cake into a tank in honor of the nights festivities. She even made her own fondant for it! Complete with an army guy sitting on the top. And oh my did it taste good!

Here is Mr. Tank surrounded by his infantry.

It was so laid back with so much time for conversation. Just easy and natural, so perfect.

I don't know if this was meant to be part of the decoration, but intended or not I love how there was this sunblock stick set out amongst all the little army guys! It's gonna be hotter than hades at Ft. Jackson so I thought this was very fitting!

I was absolutely floored at all the decorations that they had set up. Teri said she just went to the recruiters office and told them her son was leaving in a week and they loaded her up! They had information set out about army life, Marcus' job and even some cute pictures of when he was little.

Teri and Darrol put in so much work to make such a wonderful BBQ for everyone. There was mountains of food, BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, salads, fruit and veggies, chips and fresh salsa, it all tasted so amazing!

I didn't notice this sign up until half way through the party, it is now sitting in their front lawn.

Olivia had so much fun playing with all the family! She was just beaming all night, even without having a nap that day! She especially had fun with "Auntie Shelly" (Michelle) her namesake. Teri and Michelle had Olivia a lot on Friday and Saturday. Olivia even took naps with her Auntie on Friday and it's been "Auntie this..." and "Grandma that..." ever since.

Bud and Great Grandma Radder

Little Bianca, so happy all the time!! The only downside is there weren't very many opportunities for Konks to crawl around and this girl is go-go-go, so that got a little frustrating for her but she had huge smiles for anyone that so happened to glance her way.

Grandma Teri even brought fun games for the kids to play with, Olivia was so sad to leave her that night. She just kept begging to go to Grandma Teri's house!

Marcus with almost all of his sisters (Ann lives in California). Candice, Darlene and Michelle.

Thanks to everyone that came, we had so much fun!

"Ah, summer...."

"Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it." Russel Baker

I am loving how all this vitamin D is making feel as golden and happy as this smiley sun. I do not like how unmotivated the heat makes me feel in regards to any kind of house work or productiveness.
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I have little to no appetite when it is hot like this, nothing sounds good unless it is ice cold fruit or otter pops. If we ever get stationed somewhere hot I don't think I will have any problems maintaining my weight loss... I might even loose a couple more pounds.
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All I did yesterday (besides parent my children) was read a book (HUNGER GAMES.... oh my heck... SO GOOD), drink crystal light and graze cold watermelon chunks. Today I am going to attempt to be a little bit more productive!

Her Job

No matter how many times I put all the couch cushions back together on the couch, she will take them apart to rearrange them how she thinks they should go. Couch cushions and chair cushions intermingling. Blankets going where cushions should be, all the cushions piled high into a tall pillowy seat for a giant.
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Then she also sees it as her job to take off any article of clothing that I put on her (when we are at home). I even have loungy shorts and shirts that are more comfortable for... well... for lounging about our house, but even those come off minutes after they adorn her skin. So her uniform is just her in her diaper, prancing about my house, rearranging all my couch cushions.
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I can't say I blame her, I would love to able to just prance around the house in my underwear all day with my biggest task to decide how the couch cushions should be adjusted.
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It's a hard job but somebody has to do it.

Crazy House of Nicknames part 2

Our nicknames tend to be evolutionary. Besides Konks, which is fairly obvious and only stuck because it was Olivia's nickname contribution, we seem to take the road less traveled on the nickname department. Olivia's nickname is a prime example.
It started when we would sing crazy made up songs for her when she was a baby. Rhyming types of songs
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Olivia, my shmolivia
Riviera Oliviera
Oliviera Arriviera
Arrivederci my little DERCI
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And then one day Marcus just started calling her Derci all the time, then I started calling her that too. Then all of a sudden she was big and tall and walking and talking and calling HERSELF Derci... like in the third person...
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"Mommy? Mommy! Yook Mommy, Derci is dancing!"

"Mommy, Yook, Derci so pwetty now"

"Derci is SAD"

"Derci be careful with Konka" (while trying to stuff her into a suitcase)

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In case you are wondering arrivederci is Italian meaning till we meet again or farewell. No we are not Italian, we just know random foreign language words, after singing to her about riviera's it just kinda fit in the song.
Pronunciation click here , and it is just the last part, not the whole word.
Also I think she likes it so much because it is way easier for her to say than Olivia. Olivia is quite the tongue twister for toddlers.
So now you know!

"... and the rockets red glare..."

4th of July was so fun! Church was awesome and I was baby less for the last hour and actually got to listen to the lesson during Relief Society, which is always a plus. After naps we got all gussied up and met our dear friend Kaitlyn at WCC to take some family pictures before my man leaves. They turned out so great, I will be sure to post them when Kaitlyn is done editing them.
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Olivia was feeling a tad under the weather, but there is nothing like a little firework action while the rain starts to drizzle to lighten ones spirits!
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Trevor filled our bellies with flap jacks AKA crepes (do you pronounce it CRAYP or CREP?? Don't worry Kaitlyn... I know how YOU think it should be said...)

Then we went to a super fun place to watch the super fun fireworks with our super fun friends.

We cuddled and bundled up to keep warm and fight off the mosquito's. It was so cozy and so fun.

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We went rounds about whether we loved being out for the fireworks, or we didn't love it. At first we loved it, the kids played, the adults talked. Then it started getting cold and we didn't love it. Then some fireworks started to go off and we loved it again. Then the mosquito's started biting and then we didn't love it. Then we didn't think we would be able to see the big show and REALLY didn't love it. Then Blainey said the fireworks were beautiful while Olivia fell asleep on Marcus' lap and then we loved it again. Then Isla started to get over tired and not happy and we didn't love it so much. Then some hoodlum kids scared the crap out of us with their firework negligence and we didn't love it. Just as we were about to call it a night the BIG show started and we all ended the evening feeling like we loved it the whole time.

Bianca, meanwhile, slept peacefully in the stroller after "Uncle Kaykin" walked her to sleep...even during all the firework booming and ker-powing. Olivia LOVES her Uncle Kaykin (Kaitlyn), we love the nickname so we make sure to reinforce it at home so it will stick ;) (IE: Olivia are you excited to go to Uncle Kaykin's house??")
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We also may or may not have gone to Edaleen again for ice cream tonight. We may or may not have been there two days ago. We may or may not have a problem.

My name is Vashti.... and I am an ice cream-aholic.

"...at the twilight's last gleaming"

There is something so perfect about summertime and slurping big ice cream cones. Sitting out on picnic benches and talking, watching girls whose pants are stained red from berry picking walking past to get the largest ice cream cone that they sell. After dinner last night (at the twilight's last gleaming as it were) we headed out to Edaleen dairy to get our daily dose of calcium (and sugar) and invited Grandpa Radder and Great Grandma Radder to join in on the fun. And BOY was it ever!!
This little girl has got it figured out. She knows exactly how to work her magic on Grandpa to steal pretty much any food he might be eating.

I ate my ice cream pretty fast, but it sure made me happy! Olivia was helping Mommy to take pictures that night.

We had so much fun just sitting there and talking, enjoying each other's company. Discussing big events that are ahead on the horizon, feeling the support that our family is giving to us through this time.

Grandpa had a pretty big ice cream cone... I'm pretty sure that he only got like two bites of it whilst this innocent looking baby danged near gobbled the whole thing. She's a messy eater, Grandpa doesn't seem to mind.

My big little girl is always so shy, even when she knows the person, it takes her a while to warm up to the situation. We were just starting to coax some smiles out of her at this point. Nobody better to bring out those smiles than her Daddy. It's getting close folks, in two short weeks my man will be heading off to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for basic training.

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It's starting to get crazy around here, almost reaching a fever pitch as we scramble to get everything squared away for his absence. I am so proud of the man, husband and Daddy that he is. I am so proud of his desire to serve our great country. It is going to be hard for him to be away, but I continue to take GREAT comfort in the fact that I know that this is direction Heavenly Father wants for our lives right now. Even though there are so many details not quite figured out yet I remain calm because I just know that everything will work out the way that they need to, that it will all be okay. I am just trying to cherish every minute that I can get with him, while I can get it.

I'm pretty sure that ice cream tastes better when you have half of your cone on your face, I'm pretty sure there have been scientific studies on this point. Try it if you don't believe me.

Flavors of choice were vanilla/strawberry swirl, almond, blackberry and raspberry cheesecake. The almond was to DIE FOR, seriously perfection in frozen dairy form.

Konks had ice cream dripping down her chest to her diaper, and she was in absolute heaven. It was so perfect, such a great kickstart to our Fourth of July Festivities. I hope everyone else is having a wonderful holiday weekend!

Magical McMagicalness

Tomorrow I have a date with destiny, and it will involve vampires and wereboys
I just love how you know that a day is going to be awesome. I know that I will scream and ooh and aah like some hormone crazed 13 year old. I know I will eat yummy food. I will stand in line to get my most perfect seat and not even care that I am a Mom to two kids amoungst a sea of teenagers. No manner of cheesy dialogue or lingering stares (from the characters in the movie, not the people watching the movie with me... well actually...) will slow down this fun train.
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It's going to be awesome.

I'm going to love it.

I can't wait!