Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)

Trick or Treat

2012-01-25T18:37:00.000-08:00

Seriously one of the best holidays ever! Gotta love Halloween and everything about it! The weather, the costumes, the parties, the pumpkins, hayrides, and who can forget the candy?!

Also making Halloween extra special this year was grandma and grandpa Darrington visiting from Idaho! We love having them here- and the kids love the extra attention, hugs and kisses and being spoiled. :)

Our kids (ok, and me too) love the idea of dressing up as a family. We decided to go with the theme of Peter Pan. Of course Bryce being Captain Hook since he is our Pirate man, Carter the main man, Peter Pan as he never slows down, has so much energy and moves about so fast it almost seems as if he really is flying... Who could be a more adorable Tinkerbell than little miss Aubryn leaving myself to be Wendy and Brady... hmmmm.... well we've got Smee or the Crocodile. We thought the crocodile was the best bet wearing all green and I would somehow make a snout or something and hang a timer/clock around his neck.... until I heard someone in Bryce's class doing the same theme and their dad going as Peter Pan's shadow. Easy and simple. Right down my alley and Brady's comfort level. Although I still think other trick or treaters were a bit concerned seeing a 6'5 man dressed in all black walking around the neighborhood... we got it. :)

To begin the day, we all went to Larriland Farm thinking we'd do the hayride, get cider, eat some apple fritters and pick some apples.... turns out...

With an early snow... apples weren't lookin so hot... pretty though right?

Brady with his three kiddos...

And Bryce did love making and throwing snowballs...

Watch out Grandpa!

I enjoyed being the one being pushed for a change... :)

Slim pickin's...

Good thing for Grandpa. He was determined... I was enjoying being pushed through the aisles of apples holding Aubryn, Carter pushing and Bryce throwing and eating snow... Grandpa walked up and down the apple orchard finding one or two here and one or two there until we got half a bag full...lol. At least we didn't leave empty handed. :)
Especially since pumpkins were so expensive! We decided after looking through them, to buy them at the grocery store closer to home. The boys were disappointed b/c they brought their dump trucks ready to find the perfect pumpkin... but I think they got over it and we were still able to have some fun.

It was our first year trick or treating in our new house as last year was Sunday. I wasn't sure how I'd like it as townhomes we got a lot of candy in a short amount of time as the houses were so close together. I seriously debated driving to our old house and trick or treating there. Turns our, it was great here! Still got more than enough candy and didn't feel so crowded and squished- kids could run around more. It was great! Oh, the kids had fun too.

Aubryn quickly got the hang of it! She mumbled her ick or eet and a-ooo (thank you) and toddled off to the next house. In fact, now that it's January and the boys still have a couple pieces left on the top of the fridge in their pumpkin buckets, she will point to it and say, "ween?" Or recently, "candy- ween?" Made an impact... :)

Our awesome cosutmes. I found my nightgown at the thrift store... although no one knew who I was... I think I totally look like her! Same color night gown, sash... come on now! At least our family knew as was excited about it... and of course no one got who/what Brady was. No, he is not a stalker... ;)

Arrrggg! Let's get goin mateys!

The trio!

Trick or Treat!

After gathering the loot, home again with the candy passer-outers.

Grandpa helping Carter find (or stealing) the best pieces... :)

Of course need to trick or treat and the Petersen Grandparents house and show off our cuteness!
Notice how in almost every picture Aubryn has a lollypop in her mouth? And no, it's not the same one... she must have had 6 or 7...
Maybe it was the candy high that led to this:

Aubryn trying out her wings...

All you need is faith, trust and pixie dust!

Gotcha!

Ok, maybe it takes faith, trust, pixie dust, laughter...

...and kisses!

Pirate Bryce's 5th Birthday!

2012-01-25T12:47:00.000-08:00

Happy 5th Birthday Bryce!
Bryce is still loving pirates. We even did a mural painting on his wall of an island and "X" leading to the treasure. It's super cute. I'll have to post a picture of it.
He had about 14 friends (most from church and a few from preschool and a couple of friends from the neighborhood) over for a "pirate party" and it was so fun. The weather was unseasonable warm for October (yes, his birthday is Sept. but with soccer and other conflicts, the party was October).
The best part was the treasure hunt at the end leading them all over the house- inside and out finally to a clearing woods with Carter as "Pirate Pete" standing in the wagon trying to protect his treasure. The kids threw "cannonballs" at him, knocking him off his "ship" to get the treasure. Inside the treasure box was the kids treat bags with tatoos, silly bandz, candy, necklaces, rings, gold chocolate coins and silver bubble gum coins.

ARRRRGGGGHHHH!

I went out of my comfort zone this year and made a super cool cake if I do say so myself. It was awesome! Best part was that Bryce thought it was aweomse too. :)

Aubryn was part of the clean-up crew eating left over cake and ice cream off guests plates... not to mention the top of the ice cream containers lid. Those little pirates better have a firm hold on their treasure with this little one around!

Friends

2011-10-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

What a blessing good friends are in my life. I just spent this past weekend with a good friend at the Time Out for Women Conference. I think having her there really made the experience more special and I got more out of it. We were able to "process" the things we heard, learned and felt at the conference together at dinner and on the drive home. I had so many moments of feeling like the Lord was speaking directly to me, I didn't just want to go home and get lost in my responsibilities and roles and not DO anything about the messages I heard and felt both through the speakers and the music. She is a safe person I can talk to without judgement, condemnation and loves me regardless of my shortcomings and at times I feel like I have more those than strengths.
Another friend just yesterday went clothes shopping with me FOR me. She came over to my house first to go through all of our closets to find outfits for family pictures. I am notorious for doing the classic white top, khaki pants and bare feet. This year, a different good friend is going to take our family pictures outside with this beautiful fall weather and scenery, so new venue, new outfits. After combing through shirt by shirt and talking about several possibilities, she loaded up her preschooler, my toddler and drove to the mall and target to help me color coordinate. This great woman is a mother of 5, wasn't feeling the greatest fighting off a cold and having a problem with her tooth, and still came over and then shopping JUST for me. AND she OFFERED to do so the few days before when we spoke on the phone getting her opinions about how she did pictures for her large family.
Good friends help me see the Lord in my life and feel of His love because just like this friend was so selfless or her time and energy - even though she didn't have a lot to spare. God is so willing and wanting to give us His love and His help if we chose to ask, seek it out and listen. Christ was the greatest example of all about selflessness. He came to the Earth entirely for our benefit and good. His life was one of service and love up until the ultimate sacrifice as he pleaded for each of us in the Garden of Gethsemane atoning for the sins of the world, MY sins... sins I hadn't even committed yet. God loved us... loved ME enough to allow his ONLY begotten Son to suffer so and not 'rescue' Him. Christ himself could have freed himself from such agony, such humiliation, such pain. Gotten Himself off the cross... but didn't. Why? Because of love. Love for me... for us all.
I'm grateful for friends to show me the love of Christ and love of my Father in Heaven through their sacrifice and love.
(Last years family picture in Hawaii... yes, white tops, khaki bottoms... but I LOVE this picture!)

Brady

2011-10-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

Seeing God today in my life I'd like to write about my husband. He loves and cares about me enough to sleep on the couch with his long legs hanging off the end because he has a cold. Not just any cold... this cold results in him sniffing/snorting/snoring... loudly! He knows I'm a light sleeper and was not sleeping b/c he was not sleeping. He sacrificed himself for me. I love the whole bed to myself and the quiet, but love him more and hope he gets well soon so he can come join me again in each others arms.
He is an amazing father and I rarely see as many dad's enjoy their children as much as he enjoys ours. He will wrestle with them, hold them in his arms (all three of them at once!) and go in circles singing "I've got the whole world in my arms..." as they crack up and get dizzy.
He initiates family scripture study each night at dinner and family prayer at night and in the morning before school and work.
He is always looking to "become" himself. He is able to take a hard look at himself, see where he may be falling short and acknowledge that, make a plan and move on. He works hard at communication and loving us all the way we feel and need it best... even if it might be foreign to him.
He is a good man. A God fearing man who respects and honors his role as a husband and father and respects and honors his family who depend on him so.
Brady is how I see God in my life today. To feel of His love and see His wisdom in ordaining marriage between a man and woman. To have this union be essential to His plan. Without each other it is harder to "become" the individuals He would have us be. To grow, and learn in love through our spouses. Thank you Lord for loving me enough to send me such a great man to love.

Each new day

2011-10-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

So one of my new goals in "becoming" (see previous post) is that I'm going to find God's love everyday. I know it is there, but sometimes I don't stop to notice it, or if I do, quickly move on to the next "to-do" on my list.
But I'm hoping to use this blog to take the time, notice and then record the hand of God each day in my life in the hopes of becoming more grateful, slowing down more, being present, and acknowledging the huge role He plays in my life even when I am too busy, tired or cranky to notice.
I didn't do yesterday yest so I will today.
I see God in my children. I see God in their smiles and in their eyes. I hear Him in their laughter, words of encouragement and kindness to one another. I feel it in their warm embrace, and as they take the other by the hand to lead another down the stairs, give each other hugs and kisses and work together to accomplish good. They are constant reminders of God's love for me as we share love for one another. What precious gifts he has given me. What sweet, glorious, active and mischievous spirits I have been entrusted with which allow me to never be bored and to always find humor if I chose to look.
Here are some examples from the day....

(she might need to join (or start)a self help group "binky's anonymous" as she is now not only trying to stuff in two binky's at once while holding at least one in each hand, but this morning she went for three...pretty talented I have to admit)

(Carter reading to Aubryn before bed).

(Bryce and Aubryn walking through a tent of apple trees).

(Discovering how to do somersaults in her crib).

"Becoming"

2011-10-23T05:10:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a wonderful weekend with some girlfriends at an event called, "Time out for Women." The speakers, the musicians, the company, the FOOD... all amazing! My mom and husband supportive enough to make it possible for me to go by tending to our children, my neighbor even helping out by coaching Bryce's soccer team for me for Saturday's practice, and driving Bryce there so Brady wouldn't need to have all 3 ready by 9am, just the one.
Other than the amazing women I was privileged to be around and share a car and hotel room with, something else amazing happened. I was filled.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I had almost forgotten that feeling. The feeling of peace and comfort, confirmation and strength. More powerful than any other feeling experienced while at the same time more gentle than any other feeling. I'm talking about the feeling of the Spirit. How it has filled my soul, my being, my heart.
I always hear from loved ones, "you need to take better care of yourself" or "put yourself first for a change." I have taken this to mean, "be selfish." So in trying to heed this advice (b/c in taking care of yourself means you can then better take care of others right?) I at times have tried to take the 20 minute power nap which sometimes becomes an hr or 90 minutes before another child comes home from school allowing another to watch a movie instead of spending one on one time like I envisioned or desired. But feeling drained and no energy or strength, I give into the flesh and turn on a movie. This always leave me feeling guilty and less than and not the mom I was intended or want to me. I loathe my physical and emotional limitations as I curl up on the couch.
Other times, I chose to catch up on a show that I missed the night before b/c bed time ran too long, or I decided to take the time to talk with Brady or clean the house, do dishes, laundry, etc, etc, etc. This is taking time for myself right?
Wrong. Although both those things on occasion of course are not bad things, but when that is what I'm looking forward to as a respite from my "real life" there is a problem. But today is different. Today is new. Today is beautiful. Today I am filled.
To stay filled and to truly "put myself first" in a way that is NOT selfish and VERY necessary, I need to take the time to think, to write, to ponder, to read, to meditate and pray. I didn't get any more sleep last night than usual. In fact went to bed pretty late at midnight and up again by 7am. I do feel tired. It was a lovely weekend but traveling makes me tired, talking to Brady last night and sharing what I had come to realize yes has made my body tired, but my spirit strong... and it is the spirit that carries us.
My body is sore, tired, tight... my spirit is energized and light and excited once again about my role as a mother, wife, and what I had forgotten, daughter of God.
Priorities need to change as my heart has been changed.
I need to put myself on that list of "things to do." This doesn't include a nap, or a movie/show I've missed. This doesn't include a huge shopping spree or time browsing facebook. For me, this involves getting to know myself again. To connect with my spirit. To getting to know God again. To getting to know my savior Jesus Christ and put into practice his redeeming grace. I've learned that "redeem" means "to change." It is a process... a journey and one I am now excited to be part of. Not drained at the idea of giving more than I have to give.
A light has been turned on. Both in my mind with these different "ah-hah" moments of what I need to do to reach the goals and become the woman I want to be, the mother I want to be, the wife I want to be, the friend I want to be, the daughter and sister I want to be... but also a light deep within me. A light that warms me to my very soul. The makes me feel light. This is the light of Christ and I'm so excited to get to know Him and His atonement better and allow the healing and the love and hope that comes from his redeeming grace.
I'm excited to have a personal relationship with both my Father in Heaven and my Savior. I felt at this conference an undeniable feeling of their reality. Which truly I had been questioning. But God is real. He DOES know me. He DOES love me. The same is said for my savior AND redeemer. I know that it is true, because I can not describe or deny the feelings I've felt. The answer I've received. It is a step in the right direction of my journey as I have a desire to know more about the life of Christ and do my best to emulate that life. And I know he will help me on my journey of "Becoming" as it is a process. But I know that I can as God and Christ sustain me, and carry me in my trials. I can have "hope smiling brightly before me" for that is how I want to live. That is how I am 'meant' to live. And with Christ brings new life and I feel like 'new life' has just begun. A life filled with light.

Back to School!

2011-09-21T09:21:00.000-07:00

Yes this post is very late.... but hey, it's the story of my life at this point I suppose. :)
Carter is entering the second grade and has Mrs. Titheringon which I could not be happier about. She is a sweet older woman who (as rumor has it) is a little disorganized but is sweet and loves teaching and the children. She also reportedly doesn't yell which is always a plus and will be a change from his teacher last year, Mrs. Fite. Don't get me wrong, she is a lovely woman, but could and did get overwhelmed quite a bit. Not that I totally blame her. With 28 young children in one small classroom... enough to make anyone a bit nuts.

Anyways, Carter has been enjoying getting to school on his scooter and sometimes to mix things up, his 2-wheeler. He convinced Bryce to ride along with him and I drive by slowly in the van. When we reach the corner just before the crossing guard, we say good-bye to Carter and Bryce hops in the van to head off to preschool.

We are at a new preschool this year with Bryce trying to un-do some of the damage done last year. He did not have a good experience and more than once I left him crying after I pried his arms from around my neck or leg. Broke my heart! I am not sure if it was the kids, the teachers, the huge age gap (not quite 3 yr olds- Bryce at 4 in Sept after a week of school... which is crazy btw...), but it was not a good combination which is so sad to me b/c preschool is a time to be excited about learning. To have a positive experience your first time away from home and it just did not happen at Ashton Christian Preschool.

So this year, we are back at Creative Learning Center where Carter used to go. I have full confidence in the teachers Mrs. Pascoe, and Mrs. Splain as they were Carter's teachers when he went there. Also the director is awesome as well. It felt warmer and "safer."

So far, so good. Most of our mornings have been "I don't want to go to school, I want to stay home with you," but there have been no tears or tantrums. He always seems happy when I pick him up. So I am hopeful that through positive repetition, he will continue to be more confident and comfortable away from home and meeting new friends and trying new things.
I do miss them though, and I know Aubryn does too. She walks around the house after dropping off Bryce (b/c she is used to him being home with her while Carter was at school last year), "Biish.... we-ah-oo? Hmmmm...." with her little hand palm up and a confused face with crinkled brows. It's cute... and sad. But it'll give us time to bond just us girls. :)

Intertwined

2011-09-08T18:50:00.000-07:00

I find it interesting how inter-twined the hearts of parents- mothers more specifically can be with their children. My heart is hurting right now for Carter as he struggles in school. He LOVES to read and is "above grade level" in reading (and why again are we labeling and categorizing our children?!) but seems to struggle with math and writing.
Other parents I hear saying how easy this and that is in school and how their child is not being challenged, and they are bored... and it makes me feel angry and protective. Boo hoo if your child is not being challenged enough. So what? Challenge them at home, give them more assignments after their homework is completed and teach them yourselves wherever their level might be. For others who are barely getting certain concepts and take so long to do homework and correct it in between the tears or frustration and calling himself stupid and hitting himself in the head and face b/c his brain is not smart feels like it is killing me. It hurts so badly to see your child hurting and suffering so much. I just hold him while he cries and we try again when he is ready. We take breaks if he gets too overwhelmed and he goes and reads on the couch. He loves to read which is such a blessing. We talk about how faith without works is dead and we can't just pray to get better, but need to practice and work at it as well. I hate the curriculum of "below grade level" or "above grade level" or heaven forbid, just "average." Why must we live in such a competitive world where everyone compares themselves to others to get a sense of self, a sense of worth. Why can't we know that we are enough just because we are children of God, we are children or our parents, and good, kind, loving people??? I hate it. I wish his class size was smaller b/c 28 is just ridiculous for more individualized attention. I wish I could go in and help out more and feel so guilty that I can't because I have two young ones at home. I want him to know how important and special he is and who cares what so and so is learning and can do... if you improve then you should be proud of yourself... I know I am. I couldn't stop the tears tonight after back to school night thinking about how insecure he feels about his spelling. Who cares really....? I am a horrible speller. That's why there is spell check- if I ever even chose to use it. The doesn't mean I'm not smart. I graduated at the top of my class both with my BS and in graduate school and that was with two children! Carter, you are so much smarter than you think and what the world might see as "smart" is actually not always right. Just keep learning. I hate to see his desire and curiosity and love for learning be impacted by his perfection. May the Lord heal both our hearts tonight.

Angels among us

2011-08-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

Just another morning as a stay at home mom with 3 children carrying on the daily tasks as usual getting ready for school to start in two weeks (gasp!). We were running some errands this morning and somehow, somewhere I lost my keys. I know, I know.... "didn't you just lose them at the metro after getting back from DC?" "Yes, yes I did." But hey, it's been almost a month now, so I'm way over due to lose them again. (Not sure why I just had a conversation with myself but anyways...)
Aubryn had been crying/screaming (she has found her voice and her opinions) the entire time at the last store. I was ready to go, the boys were ready to go, heck, the whole store was ready for us to go. I check out, grab my bags, man handle Aubryn and she kicks and screams and goes limp not wanting to be carried, but she has already kicked off her shoes which have been thrown into a bag somewhere, shout out Bryce's name while we cross the street as he is spinning in circles repeatedly slowly getting farther away from me and I see a car coming, lecture the boys about proper store behavior, tell Aubryn we're going home soon and everything ok as she continues to screaming in my ear and have a limp body, and arrive at our van. I strap in Aubryn, other kids strap in their boosters, strap in myself, wipe some sweat off my face, look for my water bottle which I left at home and get ready to go. Only one thing... we need the keys. BOO!
I get out, continue to tell Aubryn we're going soon and she's ok, look all over the van. Boys unbuckle to help and in the process find lollipops which are more exciting to them than keys. I hand them each one b/c by this time it is 1pm and no one has eaten since breakfast and what's better for lunch than pure sugar?
I unbuckle and carry Aubryn back in, remind the boys we are going in not to look at more toys, but to look for keys, remind them again for proper store behavior, take a deep breath, hold back tears and walk in. I check at the front desk... no keys. I start re-tracing my steps. The boys are actually very helpful. We look all around isles, in the cracks, on the floor, in empty carts... I am even closer to tears starting to think about who I could call to come get us if it came down to it. I think to myself, it's a good think I left my car unlocked. Could we walk home?? The thought makes me want to cry harder.
I start to look around a bit more frantically in the toys isle and look down one Carter has been searching and see his sweet little head bowed, his hands clasped and his eyes closed. He is praying. He knows that God knows where our keys are. He knows that we are not in a great situation. He knows to "be still and know the (He) is God." I can't hold back the tears anymore. Here is my 7 year old teaching me in that moment. I am relying on myself to come up with a solution, and my child knows exactly who has the solution... and it's not me. Immediately I feel calm. I begin to pray too in my heart and continue to look. A lady approaches me and introduces herself as Ilene. She is in her 60's and has on bright pink lipstick. Her hair is white and she is kind. She says she overheard me ask the cashier if she found any keys and asks if she can help look. I tell her I would appreciate it. Some time passes and the lollipops are now just slobbery sticks, it is time to admit defeat. Perhaps it was in the previous store?? Sigh.
Ilene comes over and tells me she didn't find anything but asks if I would be comfortable enough for her to drive us home. She says she has a car seat strapped in her car already for her 18 month old granddaughter. Again, holding back tears. She asks if I'd like to see her license or anything else to verify who she was, etc, but I tell her I am trusting my instincts and heart and feel grateful she is so willing to help. She says she will bring her bags to her car and drive the car to the front entrance so I don't have to carry the baby around anymore. She tells me she has lost her keys plenty of time, but not with 3 small children and can imagine how hard that would be. I leave my name and number at the front counter. We get loaded into her car, then think I should leave my name and number at the previous store just in case it was there I left them. I run in quickly with Aubryn still on my hip and ask if anyone has found any keys, immediately the lady hands me mine. Relief rushes over me and I rush back to the car where this angel is entertaining and talking to my other 2 children. As we switch boosters back into our car, and get the kids re-loaded into the van, I give her a huge hug and thank her for being an angel to me and my family that day. We come home and I give Carter a big hug and tell him how blessed I am to have him teach me and be an example to me that day. How he remembered before I did that God knows and loves us all. How lost keys might not be a very big deal to him, they were to us and because of that, he sent Ilene and helped us find them. There are angels all around us walking about. I pray that I can at some time, somewhere be an angel is someones life as Ilene was to me today.

Checking it twice...

2011-07-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

On the way to Layhill gym where I was subbing a pilates class, Bryce and Carter were talking about what they were going to do there instead of just watch TV the whole time. (I HATE that they have it on)! Anyways, Carter brought his catalogue he made in preschool and adds on to periodically to look through and write Santa (whom he knows is not real, but keeping the "magic" alive for his younger siblings)informing him of his wish list. He said he was going to write a list, then he said, "well, maybe not a list because I don't want Santa to think that I'm greedy. Actually Santa knows everything so even if I write a list, he'll still know I'm not greedy and just giving him ideas." I said something about "yeah, Santa knows if you are bad or good, so he'll probably know that too." Bryce said, "Santa knows a lot but he doesn't know everything. He doesn't know when Jesus is going to come again. So, Heavenly Father is smarter than Santa Clause and Heavenly Father is even more powerful than Santa too." True that Bryce.

Painting the Roses Red!

2011-07-20T18:05:00.001-07:00

Oh dear... how has my life become a Disney movie? But not the princess and prince live happily ever kind. The one that is all kinds of psycho. lol!
The title is of course referring to the song in Alice and Wonderland when they cards plant the wrong kinds of rose bushes. White roses grow, and the Queen of Hearts has little tolerance for imperfections. The cards want to keep their heads so they frantically paint the white roses red in hopes that they won't be beheaded almost knowing this last ditch effort is pointless, but not knowing what else to do. (As I am giving this recap, I am reminded why my children have not seen this movie or many other Disney movies for that matter....).
Anyways, I totally felt like the poor cards the other night while trying to get bright red paint out of Bryce's creme colored carpet. We're in the process of painting his room. It's going to be very cool- a pirate theme as he loves pirates and peter pan. The top is a light sky blue (also painted ceiling which I've never done before), the bottom an ocean blue with waves going all around. On one wall we're painting a mural of an island with an X and treasure, palm trees and row boat. I had just completed painting the red X...the ONLY red in the entire room when Aubryn woke up from her nap. I did not close the lid tight enough as I would discover a few hours later at bedtime.
Brady was working late and I was getting the 3 kids ready for bed. As I was taking a turn brushing Carters teeth, in comes Bryce running around like a mad man screaming "mommy, mommy... paint spilled!" I turned an noticed red at the bottom of his foot as he ran back from the bathroom into his room. I scream for him to stop which he promptly did. WHEW! However, I see a big spot of red paint and several blotches (footprints) all over his comforter on his bed (the mattress in on the floor right now), and on his carpet, into the hallway, and back again.
I pick him up and wash off his feet in the sink, scrub the bathroom so there is no more red paint in there and decide it best to get the kids in bed before I tackle the stupid paint. I am not mad, probably b/c I was in denial mode and just getting the kids to bed. I figured it would be easier to clean without 6 little feet running all over the place.
So, it was an hr later I'm laughing about it a bit as I tell Brady b/c hey, what else are you going to do? Brady however was less than amused.
In hind sight, I should have tried to sop up the big circle of paint before it sunk deep... and I mean deep into the stupid carpet.
I google what to do with latex paint in the carpet and try just about all of them. Laundry detergent, hot soapy water, Windex, this magic potion called "blaze" a door to door sales man sold me a couple years prior... nothing. In fact, it is even worse bc the stupid paint smears and it's been 3 hrs. My fingers are red and raw from chemicals and scrubbing. It is then I am struck with a brilliant idea!
Paint the carpet a tan/creme color! I think this in genius although part of me feels a little unsettled about it b/c it doesn't quite seem sane or practical especially since I'm trying to get OUT paint. Why put more IN?? And yet, I couldn't help myself. Totally empathizing with the cartoon cards I share my idea with Brady who laughs and then looks at me like I'm crazy. I grab the stirring stick, get some paint and slop in on. I stir it in singing, "I'm painting the roses red...." which laughing a bit admittedly like a crazy person. It seems to work. I continue to paint the entire large spot, call myself a genius and go to bed satisfied around 1am. It at least was MUCH better 'looking' than before. It was now a slight pink, but mostly creme spot. I am satisfied and go to sleep. I wake up feeling a little less enthusiastic about what I had done the night before. I go in and although looks better than before, it was now thick and crusty tan. When I painted it, it was soft and wet from all the water, chemicals and scrubbing. Of course the paint hadn't dried either. Oh so discouraged. Off with my head!

Part 2: Titled: I am a goof-off

So, I go to home depot after looking up the cost of rugs, re carpeting and pergo flooring... not in the budget. You know what is? Goof off.
It says it's for latex paint in carpet even, and although it says to not directly spray into the carpet, I'm thinking that doesn't apply to someone who gave their carpet a second coat of tan paint. I spray that sucker right on there. Scrub, repeat... a few times. It's working I think.... it's working!
A few brain cells less, the carpet is more a pale pink/although still has some creme in it, and less crusty. Much less crusty. I couldn't take the smell anymore as it was potent, but I'm a bit hopeful. I will keep you posted. And looking back on the whole thing... from what I can tell at this point, I don't think that painting the carpet was really that crazy thing to do. It at least made the color not so bright, so the spot will be less noticeable.... if I ever get it out. We'll see... don't hold your breath- unless of course you are in the room with me as I spray the goof-off directly onto the carpet multiple times. :)

Smile!

2011-06-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

(BEFORE)

(After)

Notice anything different between these pics??

Our poor little Bryce needs to have his front teeth extracted. :(
He has suffered trauma to his front left tooth which also happens to be a fused tooth so it's like his front and the one next to it are one tooth as if cemented together. So, the front tooth died as a result of trauma (and to be honest with you I don't have any idea which one). This past Saturday was his 7th ER trip - 3 being for a split chin. This last time was for that reason. He was making a "pillow ladder" to the top of the coffee table and "surprise" the pillows were not a stable ladder so down he went. By the time Brady brought him, it was swollen too much to glue and too superficial to stich. No big deal, but when the Dr. looked on the inside of his mouth b/c he cut it in there too, he saw a red boil type thing above the front/dead tooth. (It turned like a brownish color about 2-3 months ago). This apparently is a sure sign of an abscess. A what?! Really, I had never heard of that before. I've had but one tiny cavity and always have had healthy teeth, and so have my kids so I did a little research. Did not like the results of the search. Basically, it's an infection in the tooth and the sore is b/c of drainage. To remedy the situation, the person needs to be started on an antibiotic to control the infection from spreading the other parts of the body and affecting the permanent tooth above the baby tooth. So, he was started on an antibiotic with the directions to see his dentist as soon as possible which we did today. She is not able to do a root canal b/c the tooth is fused the the one next to it AND the infection could return and we wouldn't know. Especially b/c it's a dead tooth, he wouldn't have the severe pain usually associated with an abscess. SO.... they need to be extracted. This is not recommended in her office b/c it is a complicated situation having it be fused. So, I called the oral surgeon who said they don't usually do anything on children under 8, but have sedation options so we're going that route.
(2 weeks later)
So, Bryce was very brave. He did very well through the procedure. They gave him an oral sedative he drank which was supposed to make him sleep in about 20 min. Bryce kept saying, "I'm still awake!" as if he had beat the system somehow the little stinker. After about 20 min though he did start to get calm anyways and just kind of stopped moving so much and sat there. The Dr came in and gave him another dose which in hind sight probably was not the best idea since he had already given him a good amount b/c "he is a big kid." But, he was calm and blinking heavy when the Dr and nurses came in. One by his waist and feet in case he moved, one by his head and then the dentist. He just kept looking around at all the people, then at me by his feet. He did this again and again throughout as if he was seeing them for the first time. They had the IV sedation available should he freak out and need it. But he didn't. He did so great and the Dr was so great! He held still while they numbed his lip, cheek and gums which allowed the Dr to do a series of shots (about 10) in his mouth (gums) before he pulled them out. His teeth started to separate as they came out, but I guess there is only 1 root for the 2 teeth. Interesting.
Anyways, that was the easy part. He bit on gauze for a bit and his lip and cheek were all big and swollen. I had to carry him b/c he was so floppy. But he was so out of it and did not like it. He wanted to walk but couldn't, he was concerned that he dropped his teeth but I had them, he wanted to carry them but couldn't get a grip on the bag... so he cried the whole way home. He did not like how it made him feel. I imagine it was like feeling awake, but not quite awake and I'm sure the numbing medicine was wearing off so he was sore on top of it in addition to being hungry since he couldn't eat or drink and it was already noon. He cried at home too- even when we tried to get him to watch a movie. He tried to stand up an hr or so later and fell... it was really sad. He had about 4 fudge-cicles and a couple Popsicles that day and eggs. We kept him on Motrin and Tylenol for the pain. I took him on a walk in the stroller later that afternoon to get some fresh air and he seemed to be doing a little better by dinner time but still cranky and out of sorts. We were supposed to leave for the lake for the 4th of July that day, but held off until the next day. The next morning he was fine. No Tylenol or anything that day. Only thing is is he wasn't allowed to swim for a few days so at the lake he was sad for the day or two but then got to swim after and had a great time. This boy has been through SO much with doctors! He did so awesome though. I have always loved his little smile with those fused teeth and crinkled nose and was mourning the loss of it before hand. But I do have to say, his missing teeth are cute too and he still has got that crinkled nose when something is really funny or he's smiling real big.

(Sheepie there the whole time and after of course...)

(on the boat a few days after)

Best Mother Ever...

2011-04-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

So it's official... I am the best mother ever. I had my reasons to think so before, but after this morning, it's officially official.
Started out great- Bryce had a playdate, Aubryn toddling around the house, me getting ready to go and cleaning up some dishes. I agreed to sub a pilates class in Layhill and Bryce and his friend were having fun together so I thought no problem to have him tag along too and they could continue playing at the gym's childcare playroom... which should actually be called the gyms tv room since that's how they decide to entertain the kids while you exercise (or in my case teach) which I think is SO great- esp. when it's shows I don't approve of and if you request the tv be turned off, it's not fair to the toddler already watching it. Boo-hoo. But that is a whole other story for another time.
Anyways, Aubryn does not like to be separated from me- at all. Not even to daddy sometimes. So, it came as no surprise when she started becoming frantic and crying when I hugged and kissed her and said good-bye. What did surprise me however is when I could STILL hear her from my class 20 minutes later. About 10 min. into the class I shut the door which usually stays open b/c it was so hard to focus hearing her is so much distress. "Does she have her binky?" "Is someone even holding her?" "Would the class mind too terribly if there is a baby on my hip while I teach?" "Do they have any idea of what they are doing in there or are they too busy changing channels and putting in another movie for the whole 5 kids in there?" (ok, so when I get stressed, I tend to get sarcastic).
So, at 20+ min. the childcare workers had had enough and just not able to console her, they come into my pilates class to tell me that I need to just take her back and my workout is done. The girls face was priceless when she saw that I was not a student but the teacher and could not simply come take her. Believe me I wanted to! This was so not worth the extra little money!
The girl says, "you're the teacher??" I ask if she has tried the binky. Reply: "there's a binky? where?" My reply: "the same place I told you it was 20 minutes ago when I dropped her off!" (but only in my head). Out loud I told her (again) where it was and off she went. Things got a little better from there. I could hear her cry off and on the rest of the time in equal proportions. The class was over 10 minutes early.
After that (and this is where the best mother ever part comes in) I took the kids to the McDonalds right next to the gym b/c it has a huge outdoor play place. Bryce always begs to play and eat there when we pass and I always tell him when the weather gets warmer. Today, the weather is warmer. We got some food and got ready to play. With my brain not being what it used to and after the stress of the baby screaming for 50 minutes, I brought the food outside and let the kids eat AND play. Bad mistake. Eat THEN play or play THEN eat. Either one is fine. What I did... not so much. The kids nibbled a bit here and there, Aubryn spilled some things and then the big shake I got us all to share spilled and the staff was none to happy about it. Sigh. Still, not a big deal. Overall the kids were having fun. I realized my mistake, had them sit and eat, and then play. All was well for about 20 minutes and Aubryn even had fun playing in the structures. She loved it -and the french fry I gave her- (1st and possibly last).
Time to go. Always the highlight of any event. Getting kids to get on shoes, jackets and getting in the car. Other than putting kids to bed, this has to be one of the least fun things to do... and WHY is it always so dog on hard?!? (deep breaths). Anyways, I even prepared with a 5 min. warning followed by the 1 min. warning which happened to be perfect timing b/c Aubryn fell off the last step and smacked the back of her head on the ground of course resulting in more crying and screaming for the day although I swear she's met her daily quota.
"Time to go!" I call up to Bryce in the structure. I wait b/c I know it's big and give him the benefit of the doubt looking for the exit or a slide to take him down as he is anxiously wanting to be obedient. I wait a little longer..... Now I'm done waiting. "Bryce! Time to go... where are you?" "Up here at the top of the slide!" "Ok, come one down it's time to go." "No. I want to stay here all day long." Few little words make my blood boil, but "no" from my kids is definitely one of them. "Bryce, come down here right now." No response. Now my blood is really boiling b/c few things other than a few little words make my blood boil and being ignored by my kids is one of them. I say, "Bryce come out right now or you will go on time out when we get home. You have 3 seconds. One... two.... three." Nothing. "Ok Bryce, now you are going to go on time out as soon as we get home. And keep in mind that I am not the only one at this play place. Other children are watching as our their parents and grandparents at my failed attempts to get my 4 yr old to obey me. And I am very aware of them watching and listening to me. Especially since one lady tells her kids they are not allowed to go up the slide b/c "this mommy" is trying to get her son to come down. And yes, Aubryn is still crying. "Bryce, every minute you make me wait is another minute I add to your time out." This is effective as he doesn't even understand the concept of time. Yes, I am awesome. (sarcasm again). Oh, and everything I say is extra loud since I'm saying it up a long twisty slide that echos all too well. And yes, I realize I am having a full blown conversation with myself since I'm the only one talking and I see his shadow at the top of the slide laying at the top waving his legs in the air with no intention of coming down. I half jokingly say to the spectators in the area, "I wonder if I should go up there and pull that little stinker out." One lady says, "you'll get stuck" and another says, "I'll hold your baby." She is probably the same lady keeping her kids out of the slide on account of mine. Screaming fit number two by the baby as I pass her off to a stranger. She looked nice and I'm sure her kids were in there so she can't possibly be a bad person and kidnap my baby right??" Yes, again... I'm awesome. I start to climb up the stupid brightly colored play structure that is very tall and of course he is at the very top. I try once more, "Bryce, if you don't come out in 5 seconds, I'm coming up there and pulling you out." One... two... three.... thank heavens I hear him coming down the twisty slide- barely though since Aubryn is breaking down for the second time that morning. I turn around to get her and realize she had been passed off to another lady. Oh well, the first one was a stranger anyways, what's one more... awesome. I have a little firm talking to with bryce, something about not coming back and how I was not happy, etc grabbed Aubryn and my purse holding firmly onto Bryces hand, and walked through the door (being held open for me by another stranger) and left with absolutely no dignity in tact.
Is it nap time yet?

Panic mode

2011-03-06T17:50:00.000-08:00

So, I rarely panic. Actually, I usually work best under pressure. In fact, can't remember the last time I did. Might have been while giving birth to Carter... or Bryce... or Aubryn. Ok, so giving birth sometimes puts me in panic mode with the feelings of "how the heck am I going to live through this?!" Other than that... I'm mostly panic free. Even when Bryce at 2 yrs old... and I mean a brand new 2 yrs old broke his arm, and needed surgery and 3 pins to fix it, I didn't panic. Broken hearted and pain in my gut for days before, during and after the procedure, yes, but panic no.
Today, I panicked.
During Sacrament meeting at church, I had Aubryn on my lap and gave her an apple slice- peeled to munch on. She has done this a handful of times at the house and does a good job just nibbling off little bits, chewing with her 8 front teeth and swallowing. It has been a while, and she must have been rusty because she forgot the chewing AND swallowing part. Instead, she choked. I'm not talking about a cough it up choke or scrapes on it's way down. I'm talking about a no cough, no cry, awful gasp type sound, no air getting in or out of her airway type choke. I couldn't believe this was happening. I didn't want to overreact... or panic, so I observed a bit, then when it didn't resolve itself and heard the "choke" sound I did a softer abdominal thrust above her naval. Twice. Smacked her on the back. Twice. Nothing... more "choke" sounds. Awful gasping for breath sounds. My mom who is also CPR certified and was an EMT and also broke my dad's ribs while saving his life doing CPR was sitting next to me. I turned to her, said, "mom!" and she took her over her lap and smacked her back. Twice. Nothing. She stood up (I might have first) and tried once more, before going out in the hallway to try again. Once or twice more and she was crying. A kind man in our ward(Dr) was coming down the hall b/c he saw what was happening. Well, everyone did actually. The pew we sit on happens to be the front row. So, out go mom and I, followed by Brady, followed by our two boys. Everyone afterwards told me it sounded like the whole congregation breathed a collective sigh of relief once they heard crying from the hallway. Other than a baby bring first born, crying never sounded so sweet.
(Super Grandma)

It took her a while to get calmed down... and me too. Didn't realize it until I was rocking her in my arms, wiping her tears and soothing her with my voice that I was shaking and couldn't really feel my fingers. I have to say for the rest of the day, I hugged and kissed and cuddled her a little more. My sweet precious angel, I'm so glad you are safe and you have angels watching over you- including your grandma Petersen.

(ice cream makes everything better??)

Parents Day!

2010-12-02T14:09:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday, Brady and I are woken up by "Hooray, Hooray, it's parents day!" Each was holding a tray with a very LARGE bowl full of generic Life cereal (they are right, it is not as good as the real "Ee-oo cereal" AKA "Life." Became "ee-oo cereal" when Carter was a toddler it had a picture of Curious George on the front of the box so he called Life, Ee-Oo cereal. The name stuck... and we all still call it that. Anyways... did I mention the bowl was very large? I'm not a breakfast person myself and need time to wake up and hydrate before I eat, but it was parents day like it or not. :)
The boys were so excited, had huge smiles on their faces and felt so proud of themselves. Carer says, you are always serving us so we wanted to have a parents day and serve you. So sweet.
In addition to the cereal... the very large bowl of cereal and milk, they brought us up a cup of cold cider I had made from Thanksgiving. A cup of very sweet and cold cider. They went back downstairs for a moment and I seized my chance to dump my cereal into the toilet. Poor Brady would have to fend for himself. He was a good sport taking bites little by little. I heard them coming back upstairs and I ran from the bathroom and jumped into bed... just in time. Next, the cider had to go, but how? They boys were enjoying watching us "enjoy" our breakfast. Sip. "Ummm... good" I say. I ask for a napkin, and they happily skip out to fetch me what I ask for. I hurry back to the bathroom to dump the cider. Brady is just cracking up at this point. What sweet boys we have, and I can't wait until next "parent's day." (Didn't realize it would be the following Saturday and every Saturday following. Had to make the rule that b in b was only for birthdays so it could stay special).

2010-10-25T08:37:00.000-07:00

Carter gave our family home evening lesson last night. He said he was going to do it on the scripture, "no unclean thing can enter the house of the Lord," and it went a little something like this:
Carter: "So, no unclean thing can enter the house of the Lord. That means you can't come in if your hair is messy... or you have on muddy clothes... or a mustache (Brady usually shaves before church)...or tattoos...or if milk is spilled all over and it's on your clothes and all over your face...So what you need to do is to take a shower or a bath, change your clothes, brush your teeth, and comb your hair. If you made tattoos on your body (my kids had colored on themselves with markers all over their arms and legs the night before)them scrub them off. They might not come off all the way, but do the best you can. When you do all of these things, THEN you can enter the house of the Lord."
I added my two cents about how our insides need to be clean too and what that meant and how the temple is also the house of the Lord, etc to be cut off halfway through what I thought was an excellent tie in with "mommy, I feel like you are giving my lesson and it's my turn for the lesson..." He then bore his testimony saying that he knew that we should be "clean" when we go to church but even if we are not, we can still go to church because everyone is allowed there even if they are messy (guess he did hear part of my 'two cents').

Baptism

2010-10-18T15:12:00.000-07:00

Just want to remember what Carter told me today in response to my question about baptism. I taught Relief Society this past Sunday in church and the lesson was about baptism. Having it on the brain, that morning while getting ready for church I asked Carter why he wanted to be baptized.
He told me that he wanted to be baptized so he could have the holy ghost with him all the time not just sometimes. That the holy ghost would always be with him unless he did something to make Him leave. He also said he wanted to be baptized so that he could live with Heavenly Father again and get the Priesthood.
I just thought that was profound for a six year old. He is such an example to me how sensitive his spirit is.

Happy Birthday Pirate Pete... I mean Bryce!

2010-10-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

Bryce turned four on September 17th. We gave him the choice to have a party here or to go on a pirate cruise with just the family since he is really into pirates. He chose the pirate cruise on the Chesapeake bay. It was great!
We first started the day off with breakfast in bed with sausage, waffles and whipped creme- a favorite! He also requested that Carter read to him while he ate breakfast which he did. :) We decorated the house with streamers, and balloons and Bryce and Carter enjoyed decorating the house and their rooms.
Grandma and Grandpa Petersen joined us for our adventure. We arrived in Annapolis a half hour early, did face painting, and dressed up as real pirates to go. Bryce got really special treatment b/c they knew it was his birthday.
Once we were out on the ship, we had to keep our eyes out for "Pirate Pete" who had the key to the treasure chest we were trying to find. Once we found him, the kids took hold of a water cannon to make him fall off his boat to get the key. Later the kids looked all around the water to find the "X" Bryce was the once to find it and they all helped pull it out of the water and got a handful each. Bryce even got to unlock the chest! On the way back to shore, the kids pulled out of the bay, "pirate grog" (creme soda)and drank up. It was yummy!
We came home, had pizza and pirate cake and of course opened presents. We were fortunate enough to have beautiful weather and it was a fun memorable day for our sweet little pirate!
Bryce's favorites:
Song: I am a Child of God
Toy: Pirate ships and cars
Food: Hot dogs, sausage, mango, eggs, anything sweet- he loves gum
Favorite thing to do: likes to ride his 2 wheeler, jeep, play outside, do artwork- especially watercolor and drawing/painting rainbows. He likes books and being read to.
Grows up: When he grows up Bryce wants to be a doctor for children and animals.
Favorite colors: blue and white
Favorite thing to do at school: ride bikes
Bryce loves to dress up! He likes to pretend to be a cowboy, superhero, pirate, knight, tiger...
He likes to play with his big brother and they play puppy (Bryce is usually the puppy and prefers it that way, trains, playing with stuffed animals or they are outside running/riding around.
He recently learned how to pump his legs on the swing all by himself and ride his two wheeler with no training wheels a few months ago. He is very proud of both.
He is learning to write his letter and identify a few.
He's been to the ER more times than children should with staples in his head, split open chin (twice), and chest x-rays all within the past year. Truly our Brycie boo-boo. Although recently he doesn't want that nickname b/c he wants to be "Brave Bryce" another nickname given by my mom for the first split open chin incident. This past time he was sad in the ER waiting for the Dr and said, "I really am Brycie Boo-boo...." poor thing.
He likes to play in the rain and collect worms. He just started playing soccer and I think his favorite part is the snack they get when they are done and the anticipation of the trophy at the end of the season. He wears his soccer socks around the house for fun and it make it look like he is wearing tights.
He just started preschool and loves it so far.
He has such a funny sense of humor and keeps us laughing. He is a little jokster and loves to make people smile and laugh.
He is such a light in our lives and an awesome big and little brother, and son. We are so blessed he is in our family! We love you so much Brycie!

Bryce's first day of Preschool

2010-10-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhh! I'm getting old and my baby boy is growing up! Bryce is now in preschool twice a week at Ashton Christian Preschool. He goes from 9:15am-1:45pm which seems like such a long day to be, but he LOVES it. His teachers Ms. Jane and Ms. Kristy are amazing and have enough energy to keep up with the 16 children. Bryce is the oldest in his class b/c it's a 3's class and he turned 4 one week after it started. He loves the playground, painting and being with friends. He loves that he gets to help pack a lunch like his big brother for himself when he goes to school. He is always so happy when I pick him up and excited to go.

First Day of School

2010-10-10T12:52:00.000-07:00

I can not believe that Carter is in FIRST GRADE! He is growing up so fast. As cliche as that sounds... it's true!
He is such an awesome reader and likes to read to Bryce and Aubryn. He is such a kind friend, sensitive and gentle. His favorite part of school so far is PE. His teacher this year is Mrs. Fite with 26 kids in their class!!!
Carter chose a monkey in space backpack.
We all ride our bikes to and from school. Usually Carter rides as well, this day he wanted to sit with Aubryn so she "wouldn't be scared and lonely."

Jersey Shore

2010-10-10T12:28:00.000-07:00

We got to go visit Aunt Brooke at her apartment in New Jersey. It was a short and sweet trip. We left on Thursday morning, went to the beach that afternoon. On Friday, we went to the beach in the morning, then headed home. Brady was working so it was just grandma, myself and the kiddos driving. It was SO GREAT! The weather was beautiful! The boys love the beach running around, making sand castles, pushing boats and cars in the sand and jumping over waves. Aubryn even did well sleeping in the stroller for a bit. There were crazy seagulls who stole a sandwich right out of my hand and a french fry out of grandmas. They had no fear... but they caused some in us!
Brooke made us chocolate chip waffles for breakfast and we even saw two baby birds try to take flight off her deck from their nest. Other than the beach, we did the boardwalk one night and the next afternoon at at the Rainforest Cafe for lunch- although Aunt Brooke had to work, so it was just us. We did Ocean City on Thursday and Atlantic City on Friday.

"Look I'm swimming!!!" Bryce being funny.

Aubryn's First trip to the Beach

Home, home on the range...

2010-10-10T11:54:00.000-07:00

We had been looking forward to our Idaho trip for so long and couldn't believe it when it finally arrived! So great to see our family across country (and grandma's horses)! We had so much fun! We kept busy with a parade, rodeo, fair, four-wheeling, collecting "farm fresh eggs," riding horses, playing with cousins, driving grandpa's backhoe, being spoiled by grandparents... it was awesome! The weather there in August is just beautiful and the mountains are gorgeous.
After looking forward to our visit for so long, it was so sad it went so fast and time to come home and start school. Both boys begged to stay longer and Carter actually cried.
Cowgirl!
Faster Grandma!
The boys had to earn their keep... cleaning out stalls

The boys were fearless 'loping' around the little arena.
Three cowboys, chewing on straw by the canal.
Farm fresh eggs!
Check out that scenery!

Bryce and Sophie taking a break from fishing and collecting flowers on the hills.

2010 Fourth of July

2010-08-10T13:34:00.000-07:00

Since my parents bought a house at deep creek lake, we've been celebrating the 4th of July there (about 4 yrs now). Always a lot of fun with our family and fireworks from the boat (and my brothers who like to blow up things and fire a bit too much. I'll say it again... has no one read, Follow My Leader?!)
Anyways... this year was no exception to the fun. It was beautiful weather with my parents, brother Brian, the Harris clan and ourselves. We went boating, tubing, fishing and had plenty of time to swim in their pool and hot tub. We made fires, roasted s'mores, and took the boat for ice cream at least once or twice.
It was so much fun, I decided to stay and have a friend come up and meet me for another few days and Brady went home with Brian and my parents.
Perfect way to spend our last days with the Harris family who went from there to Hawaii for 3 years. We miss them already!

Looking for "sea glass"- broken bottles smoothed over the boys think is treasure.

Bryce loves to fish

Fireworks from the boat

Watching Uncle Brian's fireworks

Table Manners

2010-08-10T13:27:00.000-07:00

For some reason, table manners is this unobtainable goal that we've had going on now FOREVER! Between getting up and down, laughing, touching, burping, passing gas, telling jokes that make no sense, feet on the chair, heads not over plates, spilled milk/water/juice/chocolate milk... it's enough to make me batty.
BUT...

...sometimes kids just gotta be kids. We'll try again tomorrow at breakfast.

Sillybanz craze

2010-08-01T19:21:00.000-07:00

So, this is the new hype here in Maryland... sillybanz. Little rubber bracelets in different shapes. Example- you can buy a packet of "animal" or "vehicles" and inside will be a bunch of different rubber shaped animals or cars/trucks, etc. A package of 12 is 1.99 and a package of 24 is 4.99.
Anyways, it's was the craze at Carter's school so he did some jobs, saved his money, paid his tithing and off to Hallmark we went to buy some. Bryce of course jumped right on board and did the same. Here are the boys showing off their purchase. Bryce chose zoo animals and Carter chose cowboy. Each came with 4 of each shape. Example: cowboy hat, horseshoe, bucking bronco, star...
They come that way so kids can trade and get some of each "theme."
After a "juice stand"(b/c I don't buy lemonade), the boys had enough to buy more. Carter bought Disney characters and Bryce chose glow in the dark (oooo-ahhhh) summer theme. Suns, sandcastles, etc...
They like to trade them with friends- or just give them away- or just accept from those who are giving to them. Very fun and luckily this fad is cheap. :)
From April, Carter is beginning to lose interest a little bit (we'll see when school starts up again in the fall), and Bryce is still really into them and likes to play the "sillyband game" that he made up with a friend. Apparently you roll it up and each guess what it is.
Silly little pieces of shaped rubber. What a genius idea...

Pumping Power

2010-08-01T19:11:00.001-07:00

Carter is so thrilled he finally learned how to do this...

...no, not kick you in the face, but pump his legs!!!
Suddenly swinging is something he LOVES to do and feels so proud doing it.
Someone was giving away swings, so you know me, a sucker for free stuff decided it would be fun to hang them under our deck. The kids love em.

However take note of Carters helmet. Although wearing it b/c just finished riding his bike, turns out itcan come in handy... we found out the hard way that getting too excited pumping can result in a too close encounter with the bottom of the deck resulting in a headache and goose-egg.
No worries, he just faces the opposite direction now and pushes off the deck bottom with his feet and his head flies high the other direction looking at the deck.

Biking boy

2010-08-01T18:48:00.000-07:00

I just have to say how impressed I am with Bryce. Not many 3 year olds I know can do this....

Ok, they can stand there straddling a 2 wheeler without training wheels... but he can ride one too. :)
He has been bugging me for months to teach him to ride, but I thought he was too young and told him when he was four he could learn. I decided just to take off the training wheels in June one afternoon while Aubryn was sleeping and Carter was riding his 2 wheeler and he would see how hard it was and try later when Brady got home. (I think it's a 'dad job' to teach their children how to ride a bike and since my mom basically taught Carter, I wanted Brady to have the chance with Bryce).
Anyways, he did not see how hard it was. In fact after about 5 peddles he told me to let go and that's the end of that. Brady drives up to Bryce hopping the neighbors curb (it's rounded so nothing crazy) and his mouth drops. I look at him and start apologizing and explaining the story. He replies, "well, maybe at least I'll get to teach Aubryn how to paint her nails." He was actually really happy for Bryce and super impressed- as we all were. Carter was excited to show Bryce how to start on his own and took great pride when Bryce told Brady that Carter taught him how to start on his own. Since then, we've switched him from his Thomas bike to a bigger one so his feet aren't so flat on the ground and he makes more distance with less effort. However... the bigger the bike... the bigger the fall.
To be continued(dah, dah, dum...)- in a scary, low pitch sounding voice.
biking buddies

Questions

2010-06-28T16:55:00.000-07:00

Carter thinks so deeply about things which of course result in a lot of questions, many of which I can't answer.
Tonight it was about the Resurrection.
Carter: "mommy if everyone and everything is resurrected, what about dinosaurs? What about T-rex's?"
Me: Yes, Dinosaurs will be resurrected too.
Carter: (worried expression)
Me: But in the scriptures it says that the 'lamb and the lion shall lie down together without any ire.' Do you know what that means?
Carter: No.
Me: It means that all the people and animals resurrected will get along and be happy. Usually lions eat lambs, but after we are resurrected, no one eats anyone. No one gets hurt, everyone is happy and gets along. In fact, maybe I'll take a ride on a t-rex.
Carter: But, even if they don't eat anyone, they are still so big. They will step on things on accident. Like buildings. They will crush all the buildings.
Me: I don't know how it all works out honey. I don't know if there will be buildings, or if all the people are together, and the dinosaurs are separate... But do you know what I do when I don't understand things?
Carter: Pray.
Me: Yes, you are right. We can always pray. And even if we don't get the answer, we can pray for peace and just to not worry about it. We can also have faith. Do you know what that means?
Carter: (shakes his head with tired, rolling eyes)
Me: To just trust in God even though we don't know everything. I know that God knows everything and has a plan. So, some things I don't need to worry about because I know He will take care of it. I just know we'll all be happy.
Carter: Did you know that some people pray all day?
Me: Like Enoch in the scriptures?
Carter: yes. Maybe some people here too.
Me: Maybe. I've never met anyone who has prayed all day long before though.
Carter: Me either. So does that mean they can't get a drink or something to eat because they are busy praying or can they take a break?
Me: I'm not sure how it works. I like to keep a prayer in my heart all day so it's like praying all day.
Carter: How do you do that?

And so it continues...

This morning it was, "did God really take a rib out of Adams side to make Eve? Good think I actually knew the answer to that one. And that was following the question "can boys marry boys and girls marry girls?"

Later it was, "will _______ ever get a blessing? (Dad is not a member of the church. And then "How?" And then, "what if she doesn't have Home teachers?

Carter, my sweet boy. I hope you always come to me with your questions, even if I don't always have all the answers. I love you and your questions. :)

Little Miss

2010-06-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

I can't believe this baby is 5 months! We call her Little Miss quite a bit and she loves to have anything and everything in her mouth. She loves different textures and is always grabbing for things to suck and chew on, especially her hands.
She is such a sweet and happy little girl. Unless she is eating or trying to sleep. Poor thing has such digestive/stomach issues. After being diagnosed with reflux when she was barely a week old and being on prevacid, she has had pain laying down, or eating, and recently in the last month constipated (whole month without going on her own). What breast-fed baby does that happen to?!? Mine.
Poor thing. Just took her to her GI specialist this past week and in addition to tripling her prevacid, she is also taking milk of magnesia every day to help her poo. It's working, but seriously, these are medicines for ADULTS, not a toothless, hairless cherub faced baby! Sigh.
What's a mother to do?
So far, so good though. She slept for the longest ever last night at 4.5 hrs. It felt really nice. Didn't even cry for a couple hrs before bed like usual. Maybe the GI knows what she is talking about and I should stop calling her an idiot. Well, that's a big maybe. My goal is to still have her weaned off the medicines sooner than later. Especially the milk of magnesia. It's been 3 weeks.
On a happier note, she is now rolling over and just as happy as can be most the time. She loves to grab her cute little toes. She is so stinkin cute and I love her chubby little legs and big kissable cheeks. She loves her daddy and brothers as much as they love her. There is something so sweet about big brothers talking so lovingly, and holding/playing with her so gently and kindly.
(rolling over the first time)

Testimonies

2010-06-06T18:37:00.000-07:00

Carter loves to bear his testimony just about every fast Sunday during sacrament meeting. I need to start writing some of them down, and decided a quick post would a good way to document these sweet messages he shares with our ward and the Lord.
Today he said "My name is Carter. While I was listening and practicing my primary songs in my room, I felt the spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ amen."
He has such a sensitive spirit and I love it. He is a great example to his father and I in addition to his little brother and sister.
In fact, last month Bryce wanted to bear his testimony. I asked what he wanted to say and he said that he wanted to say that he loves primary and loves Heavenly Father and Jesus. We said, he could go bear his testimony if he wanted, but had to do it by himself. After patiently waiting up on the stand through about 4-5 people's testimonies, he got really shy and didn't want to go up anymore. Brady bore his testimony instead. Today, Bryce wanted to bear his testimony again but it got busy so didn't go up and his little feeling were so hurt and he pouted a bit. I think next time he wants to go up, instead of grilling him and making sure he knows he needs to do it on his own, a line up on the stand started so it was too late. I'm so grateful for my children and their testimonies. I feel so blessed and learn so much from them.

Fart

2010-06-02T15:28:00.000-07:00

I hate that word. Not even sure why really. I just don't like it. Our kids say "pass gas." Yeah, they are the cool kids in school for sure.
Anyways, of course hearing all kinds of fun words in kindergarten this year (luckily none too bad... yet), I hear Carter say the "F" word. Yes, Fart.
He asks me if it's a bad word. I told him it's not a bad word, I just think it's crude and there are other words to use instead. He asked, "what about 'toot?'" That's fine I say. He says, "and pass gas?" That too is fine I say.
So, Carter tells me after school they are reading a book from a series called, Arther the Farting Dog, or something like that. (I think it's Arther) Anyways... they are reading this in school and the teacher asked the question, "why did Arther fart so much?" Carter told me he raised his hand and said, "Arther tooted because he ate too many treats." His teacher asked him, "why did you say toot?" Carter said, "because fart is a cranked up word." I think he was going for the word, "crude," but whatever. Good for him! I am sure proud of that boy for keeping our family standards, even when he is not around the family. And not that "fart" is a huge deal, but it's the principle of it that makes me so proud of him.

Eeney-meany

2010-06-02T15:21:00.000-07:00

I'm not even sure how to write/spell Eeney-Meany... but I am enjoying the game. For whatever reason, arguments, disagreements, fights and whining/crying can all be stopped with this simple game. Lately whenever the boys have a "problem" with who's turn it is to play with whatever, this simple rhyme does the trick and no one even disputes the tiger who hollers who's turn it is.

After hearing how well it worked when they played, I thought I'd try it when they both wanted to say prayer at a meal, or both wanted their book read first. It worked for me too- not a peep after the rhyme had chosen. Why didn't I come across this earlier?!

Ours forever

2010-05-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

Today, Aubryn was laying on a blanket and Bryce was talking to her while I was in the other room. Bryce comes running in and says, "Mom! Aubryn is doing tricks!" I ask what she is doing and he says she is kicking her feet up by her head and trying to sit up. I get excited with him and he goes back in to play with Aubryn. A minute later he runs in again and says, "Can we keep her forever mommy? I want to keep her." Me too little man, me too.

Lesson learned

2010-05-13T19:24:00.000-07:00

While I was teaching pilates last month, the boys were being loud and crazy (as they tend to be while getting ready for bed), while Brady was trying to get Aubryn to sleep and Brady getting frustrated said to the boys something along the lines of, it hard trying to get her to sleep and the boys keep waking her up, so if they don't be quiet, they will have to put her to sleep. They were excited to accept the challenge. Carter sang to her for quite a while as Bryce and Carter both stacked blanket upon blanket upon stuffed animal on her. Much to Brady's amazement, she did go to sleep after 20 or so minutes. The boys did say how hard it was and I've even heard them remind the other at times, "shhhh... quiet or we'll have to put her back to sleep!"
Coming home that night to this....

... was interesting to say the least. Glad she didn't suffocate and that red stuffed dog, "Clifford," is about 5 times her size...

When I took off the stuffed animals and blanket and put them on the other side of the crib...

Seriously, all of that was on her and the picture doesn't even do it justice. Oh well... nicely done boys.

Another milestone...

2010-05-13T19:16:00.001-07:00

I love it when they grab their little toes!

She is getting so big so fast. She had her 4 month appt today is weighs 16.6 lbs which puts her in the 90th percentile for weight and measuring 27 inches long, she is off the chart for height.
She is so loved by this family, especially her big brothers. :)

Sometimes too loved... lol.

Bryce brushing her non-existant hair

Brycie boo-boo

2010-05-12T06:27:00.000-07:00

Bryce is one funny kid. Things he says just crack me up. His nickname has been Brycie since he was a baby and gradually became Brycie-boo, and then that graduated into Brycie boo-boo (a nickname my mom gave him b/c he always has a bruise, cut or bump on the head from all his "adventures"). So now sometimes for short we just call him boo or boo-boo. Anyways, thought I'd explain the title. Back to my funny little boy. He is always saying things that make me and those around him laugh. This is not funny to him though. When people laugh, he gets a serious scowl and asks (especially my mom)"why you always laugh at me??" I always tell him b/c he is so cute or because I'm happy and when I'm happy, I sometimes laugh. He is still not amused with our amusement.
I wish I did a better job writing down everything he says, but for now a couple things I remember I'll write here.
Of course boo-boo is always getting hurt b/c he is so fearless on his bike, scooter, running, or whatever else he happens to be climbing on of jumping off of. He ended up getting a little cut on his pointer finger below the joint and above the knuckle. On the left hand he has a hemangeoma (red birthmark) that we call his birthmark. When getting this cut, he was so distraught, not b/c it hurt but he worriedly cried out, "oh no!!! Mommy, look! My birthmark is ruined!" And he started to cry. I grabbed his other hand, put it in front of his face to show him it was on the other hand the whole time, and he looks at it says, "oh" and laughs. (showing off his birthmark)

After the dentist the other day, Bryce said he wanted to go back to the dentist b/c he wanted another prize from the box. What kid would do the dentist thing again for a cheap plastic frog? Probably the same one who wanted to get a shot last time we were at the doctors so he could get a dum-dum lolipop. Anyways, I asked him if he liked the dentist and he said he did, he just didn't like the vaccuum they stuck in his mouth.
The past little bit, we've been trying to memorize scriptures as a family. The bishop (my dad) invites the primary children to his office after church one at a time to share a scripture, article of faith or act of service they did that week. (Oh, and they get a piece of candy too). This past week we did a scripture from proverbs, "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." We talked about what that meant- how Christ is always there even if our family and brother is not and how he will never leave us and although we can't see him, we know he is there and 'sticks' by us.
Anyways, Bryce always quotes it (and sings it- b/c these scriptures are part of hide em in your heart which puts scripture to music), even after going over it with him quizzing him "who is that friend in the scripture?" "Jesus!" And thinking he understood it, he asks me a few days ago, why is the friend made of sticks??"
Even today I hear him singing around the house, "there is a friend, made of sticks..."

Easter on the farm

2010-05-12T06:03:00.000-07:00

Well, not really. It was a petting zoo actually, but it sure was fun. There is a little farm not too far from here that had an egg hunt. They also have storybook land where there are different sculptures/scenes set up like fairy tales. It was fun to go through a forest maze and stop at all the different set ups. Reminded me of my childhood actually since I had gone there as a child. Well a different place... this farm restored the originals from the old storybook land.
Anyways, they boys did a hayride, played on the slides in the shape of rainbows or a slice of cheese (hickory dickory dock), and best of all got to feed and pet some animals. They boys loved it and were pretty fearless. Bryce liked to chase the chickens... poor things. Carter fell in love with this one goat born in February so they share the same bday month.
Poor Bryce was on his first day of antibiotics for an ear infection and although wanting to have fun and be a good sport, whined and cried a lot of the time. Poor kid. I hate it where there is nothing I can do as a mom to help make the pain go away. The next day was Easter Sunday and we found baskets around the house with coloring sticker books, super-hero jammies (Spider man for Bryce, Batman for Carter), other knick knacks and best of all little tennis rackets with training tennis balls. They were so excited to go out back to the tennis courts and try them out, which we did of course. After church, we met at grandma and grandpas house with the Harris family for dinner after listening to general conference.
The kids caught tadpoles and frogs and all love playing on the trampoline and riding the bikes and scooters there. We found out the Harris family is moving to Hawaii in July for 3 years and are going to miss them so much- although it will be fun to visit. :)

Happy 6th Birthday Carter!

2010-04-23T08:04:00.001-07:00

Ok, since we're getting caught up, another wonderful event happened... Carter turned 6 on February 19. Happy Birthday big boy! With a baby a month old, we gave Carter the choice to have a small party at the house with 3 friends, or to go somewhere and he could bring one friend. He chose chuck e cheese with his friend and cousin Isaac. We ended up bring cousin Ben too b/c when I went to go pick up Isaac and bring him to chuck e cheese, Ben got on his shoes and started out there door until Shandra told him only Isaac was going. His little cute face was so sad and he looked like he was about to cry, so I brought him too (someone for bryce to buddy up with anyways).
Carter's favorite ride there is the helicopter that you peddle and go up and down. He harder you peddle, the higher you go. But his most favorite part is getting tickets. It doesn't matter the game, as long as he gets a good amount of tickets, that is where he is. A nice man on freecycle gave us a bunch of his old tickets his son was saving but had outgrown so we already went in with about 3000 tickets! Crazy! Carter was at the prize stand for a good 20 minutes trying to decide how to spend his tickets.
For his presents, we did a bike theme and he got a kickstand for his bike (which he's been asking for forever), a bell, a new spider man helmet and a bike bubble blower thing so when you peddle it shoots out bubbles. He also got a spider man plate set from grandma and grandpa Petersen, a leapster game and outfit for his ee-oo which had to have been one of his favorites.
They had a great night of games, prizes, pizza, presents and cupcakes.
Carter is into....everything. He switches back and forth from obsession to obsession but doesn't forget about the previous one, he just adds on. :) He is determined to be a store owner and has 6 stores so far he will own. Among them are a toy store, car store, train store, boat store, pet store, stuffed animal store. He likes to make books about these stores and get "information books" from the library to study up. He then copies them by hand into his own "book." He loves to make his own books as well drawing pictures and either writing words himself or an adult write what he dictates. He loves his stuffed animals and they have taken over his bed and room and sometimes the house.
He always tells us that things in his store will be only one dollar for us, but free for Aubryn b/c he "loves her the most."
On days he doesn't have enough money to buy what he wants or hears us talking about saving up for such and such (minivan, trip to Idaho...) he says, he'll make his store a free store and give away cars to people who don't have cars and give away toys to kids to don't have toys. Along those lines, he always asks me to bring him to a shelter to give his toys and clothes away to the children.
He is very compassionate and sensitive in nature. He is going to walk in a juvenile diabetes walk at school and opted to not receive prizes, but instead either "give my prizes to the sick kids or just give them the money help find a way to make them better."
He is becoming quite a good little reader and writer and I love to see the pride on his face when he does either of those things.
He is a sweet, kind big brother to his siblings, especially to his baby sister. He and Bryce are great buddies riding in the jeep together, or playing trains, cars or dressing up like "super-hero's."
Carter almost every fast and testimony meeting either wants to or does bear his testimony. It's typically about either attending the Twin Falls, ID temple open house and how he felt the spirit, or about how he loves the scriptures and knows they and Jesus are true, or this last week he colored a picture of Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove, showed everyone from the pulpit and talked about how he knew JS is a prophet and true when he saw God when he prayed.
Carter, true to form for the oldest child, loves to lead a game or be in charge of things. He likes to have responsibilities to be helpful and feel big. He likes to keep busy and play with friends.
According to Carter:
Favorite toy: Geo-trax
Favorite song: Follow the Prophet
Favorite book: Nobody asked me if I wanted a baby sister
Favorite food: Sausages
Favorite color: Green
Favorite thing to do: Riding in the jeep
Favorite thing at school: train center and math center
Wants to be when he grows up: Carter: "can we do a lot of things?"
Me: "Sure."
Carter: "Train store, pilates store, boat store, candy store, swimming pool store and that's it."
I asked him anything else? His response: "I like playing outside, and playing on our play structures, I like to play tennis." (we got them tennis rackets for Easter b/c we have a court in our backyard) "I believe Jesus and Heavenly Father are true."

(birthday breakfast in bed)

Blessing Day

2010-04-23T06:40:00.000-07:00

It's SO time to update... I can't believe how I seriously have no time now with 3, and a new house I'm still trying to move into, and clean, and re-organize, and clean, did I mention clean? Things tend to get messier with all the baby stuff and kids not as supervised and with my one arm/hand b/c baby is in the other. Oh well, such is life I suppose. Enough with excuses, onto my beautiful baby...
Aubryn's blessing was scheduled for February when the Darringtons were going to fly here on their way home from Orlando, FL. Of course, February was the snow of all snows, so airports were closed. We feel really blessed, they were able to fly back out here in March so they could be here for her blessing. Grandma Merz was able to come this time too and shared her 87th bday with Aubryn's blessing day. :)
It started out a little rough as Brady's mom that night said she believed he had strep throat and called in antibiotics. Grandma Merz had a nasty cough, and Brady and I were fighting off a cold and sinus infection. Not the best timing, but what can you do? It all worked out in the end and Aubryn stayed healthy. WHEW!
Aubryn had a beautiful dress knit by a woman in our ward and I could not help but be tearful during the opening prayer and announcements. Just looking at this incredible gift from God all dressed in white... the veil felt very thin. How blessed I am, and among all the clutter, mess, dirty diapers, dark circles under my eyes... I realize what truly matters. This is my purpose on Earth. To be a wife and mother and how I love my purpose and the people who give me that purpose.
Brady, Jason, my dad, Brady's dad, and Loren (our home teacher and friend) were able to take my sweet girl in their arms and Brady gave such a heartfelt, inspired blessing. I could feel the spirit so strong and the love that he had for our baby girl.
After church, we were able to come home, eat bbq chicken salad, bday cake for dessert of course and visit a bit. Pictures are always a little crazy with so many people, but managed to do that too.

Lucky to be alive... for now.

2010-03-01T16:05:00.000-08:00

This from the child who has been through surgery, had 3 pins in his arm and staples in his head. Seriously?!
(maybe you can't see there are two clear plastic bins on top of each other... some thought and effort went into this).
And yes, these are two seperate days... but in the same week. Sigh.

Aubryn update

2010-02-09T14:53:00.000-08:00

So it's true what they say about 3... it's crazy and I thought I didn't have much time before, well... it's been 6 weeks and no detailed post or additional pics or anything about our sweet little Aubryn. Sorry baby girl. The massive snow storm of 30 inches (with 10-20 more one the way) has not helped with all 3 home. Bonus: Husband trapped at home too- at least for now. :) Since they are at grandma and grandpas shoveling with dad and baby sleeping (for now) I figured this is a good time to post a bit.
One of my favorite things with babies is when they first start to smile (and sleep on a schedule and for longer than a couple hr stretches). Since we don't have the later, the first will keep me going.
Her eyes are getting more blue and she is starting to coo. I love it when she looks be in the eyes and "talks" and smiles at me. The long nights and spit up'd on clothes are even more worth it. She loves the light and it can distract her (momentarily) from a fussy-fit. She loves her big brothers who dote on her ALL the time. They talk to her and like to sing to her. Very, very sweet.
Little Aubryn has had trouble with reflux and been on prevacid for about a month now which has lessened the projectile vomiting to just normal baby spit-up (most of the time). She still seems to be uncomfortable frequently if not in total pain crying regardless of anything I try. have been off milk, milk products(didn't realize how much I liked butter and cheese), chocolate, nuts (including much loved peanut butter, tomatoes, broccoli, oranges, my vitamins (b/c they are food based and include broccoli and kale),... sigh. New foods include rice and soy milk and children's vitamins. Yummy and colorful :) Since those changes to my diet and her meds twice a day (which has been better the past 2 days since I got it flavored to bubble gum, she has been much more peaceful and happy. Once she even slept for 4 hours straight and I felt like a new person!
She is at least starting to be able to be comforted with a pacifier. She likes the same kind Carter had- the mam brand. I have a love/hate relationship with the Binky. It's great b/c it helps stop the crying, but you have to hold it in the whole time and once it falls out b/c she is almost asleep, the crying starts all over and you start again. At least there is a respite from the crying...
She weighed 11 lbs. on 2/3 so... just over 5 weeks old and was 22 3/4 inches long. That puts her at 90th percentile for weight and off the chart for height. She has her daddy's feet though and hope she doesn't end up a size 14 too! But with her everything seems so feminine and dainty- even her long cute feet.
I just love this little girl so much and love to hold her and kiss her. She is growing so fast, I need to remember that at nights and in moments of crying. Soon she will be coloring with markers on the carpet and riding a bike just like her brothers. I need to enjoy these moments, these smiles, the cuddles, the "talks" we have when she lays on the changing table so content after eating while being changes because I know it is all over too quickly.
Old pics from past month or so...
(we had a birthday party for Aubryn the week we brought her home. She gave Bryce a train set and Carter a kid camera).
(There is a pic of me around this age that looks just like this photo)!
(here's one of the boys so they're not left out riding on daddy's feet...)
(first bath...did not love it, even with the heater in there. Likes it now though).
(getting sleep where and when we can)!
(first bottle of mommy's milk (out of the 3 she's attempted)She did really well that first time though.
(Bryce trying to 'pump').
(Bryce nursing sheepie. I have a pic of Carter when Bryce was born nursing ee-oo too. Funny...).
(boys in the snow storm shoveling, climbing, and getting stuck)!
I love my family!

Welcome little one!

2010-01-03T17:38:00.000-08:00

Aubryn Naomi Darrington born on Sunday, December 27th at 7:48am.
Weighing in at 8 lbs 3 oz and 21 3/4 inches long.
Beautiful baby girl loved so much by her daddy, mommy, and big brothers Carter and Bryce.

Knee owie

2009-12-04T13:40:00.000-08:00

We've been in and out of our new place all week slowly moving in, cleaning, etc. On Monday night, my grandparents from CO, my sister and her family, my parents and our family all met for dinner and then went over to our new house to give them all the 'tour.' The cousins had so much fun sliding down the stairs and running all over the empty house. Probably too much fun b/c on the way home, the boys were complaining about knees, shins, and tummy's hurting. We lifted up their shirts/pant legs to see the damage and they had some major carpet burn where it was bleeding. Needless to say, this left some nasty scabs. Especially on one of Bryce's knees. It's all purple and thick like he majorly scraped it on the sidewalk. Anyways, now on Friday, it's still tender and scabbed over. I asked him how it was feeling and he said, it was getting a little better and said, "maybe Jesus should heal me." We just finished reading about the miracles of Jesus in the scriptures. Innocent faith. Love it!
And today while driving home, we passed a church with a cross out in front and Bryce said, "look mommy, a cross! Jesus died on a cross..." and proceeded to tell me about the nails in his hands, etc. Then he asks me, "when is Jesus going to come again?" I tell him I don't know, no one does, that's why we always need to be ready. Bryce then says, "But I AM READY NOW! He is taking a long time..." Sometimes I feel the same way...

New-ness

2009-11-15T18:12:00.000-08:00

So a lot of change in the Darrington household this next month. First of all, we bought a single family home about 4 miles from here and we are so excited to move in the beginning of December! But before that adventure comes the adventure of trying to sell our townhouse which means keeping it clean. This has proven to be a little tricky the past 2 weeks as I need to have everything ready to "show" all the time and especially if I ever leave the house b/c someone can call at any second on their way. This is hard enough with two active boys, made a little harder by an ever growing little girl. Scrubbing and painting walls, doors and baseboards in addition to packing, organizing and cleaning is not exactly how I envisioned myself with 5 weeks to go (in theory).
So in addition to packing, cleaning and selling this place, moving into the other home in a little over 2 weeks, having a baby a couple weeks after that (again in theory), my little brother has decided to get married to a wonderful lady on December 29th, 5 days after my due date.
Needless to say, a lot going on which makes this an exciting/stressful time.
Oh, one more thing, Carter changes schools as well. He starts tomorrow but we've already met his new teacher on Friday and he knows 2 kids in his class which hopefully will make for an easier adjustment. We figure, new school first while still in the old house, then new house, then new sibling. A month or so is enough time for all those new things right? Hmmmmm.....
Still no baby name picked out, although Carter likes Sal-a-lean-uh. That's how it's pronounced anyways. His other top favs include, honey, sweetie or love. Bryce wants to name her "baby sister."
We'll keep you posted, but for now, that's the Darrington news!

Ghost-ez

2009-11-15T18:08:00.001-08:00

Tonight while putting Bryce to bed, he said he was scared of "ghost-ez." I tried to reassure him that ghosts were not real and that Carter was in the next room and mommy and daddy would be right down stairs. He could always say a prayer to Heavenly Father who would help him feel safe. Bryce said, "let's do that right now. I'll say it first, then you have a turn mommy." He got out of bed and knelt next to it and asked Heavenly Father to make him "not scared of ghost-ez and feel love in his heart." Then he said it was my turn. What a sweet boy and what faith. Again, another testimony builder that we should truly all become as little children. Sometimes I wonder who teaches who more in this family because I learn so much from my children about unwavering faith and trust in the Lord time and time again. Thank you boys for your testimony and example. I am so blessed.

Reprimanded by a 3 yr old

2009-11-04T05:32:00.000-08:00

Last night after the fifth time of telling Bryce to get back in his room and back in bed, I might have called the phrase up in a little less than loving voice. His response was a quiet but firm, "you need to speak more kinder to me mommy."
Thanks for the reminder buddy... you are right.

...it's keeps growing and growing...

2009-10-18T19:07:00.000-07:00

My belly that is!
Here's me at 30 weeks... here's to another 10 weeks! (unless it's like Carter's pregnancy... then, here's to another 7)!
(Or if it's like the pregnancy with Bryce... then, here's to another 12! But I sure hope not... let's hope for a 2009 baby...)

Father/Son outing

2009-10-10T13:46:00.000-07:00

(all ready to go!)
Brady and the boys took advantage of the beautiful fall weather by going on a bike ride. The boys were very excited about riding in the trailer (most likely b/c they knew they could pack snacks). So geared up with their two big packages of Costco sized fruit snacks, they were ready to go. They drove first to Bethesda and took the Capital Crescent Trail all the way to DC! I was SO surprised the boys lasted that long. I thought they'd sit about a half hour- 45 minutes tops, but all together they rode about 2 hrs and 14 miles. Apparently there was a lot to see and changes of scenery between the Potomac river, tunnels, trees and wildlife. They both brought a pair of toy binoculars to see animals along the trail. Bryce was so tuckered out, he just fell asleep on good ole big brothers shoulder for part of the ride home. I can't wait until I can join them, but I have to say, I did enjoy the quiet at home getting things done knowing they were having a great time. When is the next one scheduled???
(all tuckered out!)

Armor of God

2009-10-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

(Carter. Check out those gold painted Nike's)! - My mom taught seminary for several years and did this with her class. The apron as the "loins" and shoes are courtesy of her and her creativity!
(Bryce. "Hey! Who turned out the lights??")

For family home evening I gave the lesson about putting on the armor of God each day to protect ourselves from Satan's influences. I thought this would be especially good since Carter is out in the "world" not home near as much as he used to be.
As I read in the scriptures what each piece of armor represented, the boys took turns putting on that piece until they were completely covered and protected with the breastplate of righteousness, loins grit about with truth, feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation,and the sword of the spirit.
The boys - well mostly Carter understood it all when we broke it down piece by piece, concept by concept and it was really fun and they had a great time!

Welcome fall!

2009-10-10T13:15:00.001-07:00

The boys and two neighbor friends laying in the leaf pile they raked up. The two younger kids would pick up leaves one at a time and put them in a little wagon and bring them to the pile. Carter used a little plastic rake.

Go Sharks!

2009-09-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

The soccer season has started once again and Carter is on an instructional league through OBGC (Olney Boys and Girls Club). They play games like sharks and minnows, and passing drills for the most part and then the last 20 minutes or so, they scrimmage against each other. Their team is called The Sharks which Carter thinks is "cool." You know what else is apparently cool? Wearing shin guards and getting a treat after each 'game.'
(Go Carter Go! Check out his face. That's his 'game face' when he gets excited and determined. He juts out his lower jaw and sticks his neck forward, tightens his shoulders and makes fists. It's too funny and cute. He makes the same face when trying to catch up with the big kids in the neighborhood or at the park on his bike).

Poor baby

2009-09-18T18:43:00.000-07:00

Bryce has been having these abnormal bruises with masses behind them all along his spine for several months off and on. Sometimes they are directly over the vertebra and other times spotted along side of the spine. Always looking like an index finger print. He also has a sacral dimple the pediatrician has been watching since he was an infant. With those two things, his pediatrician recommended we go see a neurosurgeon at Children's National Hospital in DC. The same place he has surgery on his arm last November for a consult. We talked to the neurosurgeon who wanted to do an MRI. So, here we are on the MRI day to rule out any spinal issues such as a tethered cord or abnormalities that would require spinal surgery. It was such a long day and Bryce was such a trooper. Being almost 3, they needed to sedate him to keep him completely still. The MRI lasted just over an hr. We practiced for the big day by using a oxygen mask my friend gave us (she is a nurse) which I think helped a lot. Poor thing just looked at me with his big blue eyes and whimpered as I held him, with the mask on his face giving him "laughing gas" before they inserted the IV. He didn't try to pull away, but just looked into my eyes with his eyes so big with fear and wet with tears. I bet his body felt funny and he was scared. All I could say was "mommy's here" over and over as I held him. After laying him on the stretcher to get the IV with propaphol to sedate him for the scan, and being told to go wait in the waiting room, I left, went to the bathroom and balled for a good 15 minutes. My little baby, so trusting, so innocent, and not even fighting, just scared and tearful whimpering... I could not stop picturing his eyes. I didn't want to be away from him. I didn't want him to be scared. I suddenly was scared. What if something was really wrong with his spine?
They came and got me when he was done so I would be there when he woke up. It just an unsettling feeling seeing your baby with an IV, hooked up to monitors, and an oxygen tube in his nose. He woke up about a half hour later and didn't cry or anything. He wanted the tube out of his nose and IV out of his hand. The tube came out, but IV needed to stay a bit longer.
He was a little loopy and said, "My so brave at the doctors. My didn't cry like this, wah, wah..." I told his he was so brave and he could have a Popsicle if he wanted one. He was very excited b/c all morning he kept saying, "My SOOOOO hungry!" He couldn't eat or drink anything for the day and he last ate/drank at dinner the night before and was up at 6am. Poor thing. He kept the Popsicle down and so a bit later was able to leave to go directly to see the neurosurgeon for the follow up appt and read the results. All in all, we were there from 7:15am and after seeing the neurosurgeon, left at 1:30pm. LONG DAY!
Turns out, his spine is okay. Thank goodness! The dimple is just a deep dimple with no connection to the spinal cord which is great. The bruising however is still a concern for the doctors. The next step is to do a full blood work up and check for blood disorders. But for now, the MRI is done and Bryce is doing well. I just hate putting my baby through these tests- especially after all he's gone through, and continues to go through with his arm. I wish I could take it from him and do it all myself!
(playing Dr the night before his MRI. This is Bryce's turn to be the Dr. Check out those glasses!)
(Bryce's turn as the brave patient. We practiced taking deep breaths and counting slowly to ten).

(Bryce thought it was so special he got his own hospital gown. He said, "now I'm a princess!" Clearly he needs more guy friends! :)
(waiting, with sheepie of course for the anesthesiologist. The whole MRI process from start to having him wake up again was 4 hrs. Too bad the DVD player only had 10 minutes of power in it. Grrrr!)

Happy Birthday Brycie!

2009-09-18T18:13:00.000-07:00

Whenever I hear or say this phrase now I hear a parrot in my head repeat it twice in a high pitched voice. He got this parrot as one of his birthday gifts from us and loves it. He really thinks it is talking back to him or something. But for the whole day he said to it, "Happy Birthday Brycie!" and when the parrot said it back, he was so thrilled!
Anyways, we celebrated his third birthday this past Saturday at my parents home. They just got one of those huge trampolines that we played on, rode bikes and scooters, threw rocks and walked in their little pond in the back, ate hot dogs (one of his favorite foods right now... gross, I know), ate cake and opened presents. Whew! The Harris's came, and his little friends Ethan and Brianna Martin with their father, and of course my mom. Dad was away on business. :(
It was a nice day and they all had a lot of fun.
Bryce has blessed our lives so much with his gentle, easy going nature. He is always smiling and loves to share and play with other friends. He is so incredibly active and very coordinated for his age. He loves to ride his tricycle, Thomas "big boy bike" with training wheels, scooter (2 wheels), climb, run, jump...
He loves airplanes, trains, and boats right now and one of his favorite games other then pretending he is a puppy is to pretend his is water skiing. He shouts "hit it" and holds on to an imaginary rope for a few seconds then falls down to the floor. He puts his imaginary ski's back on and starts the process over again. Sometimes he likes to be the boat driver- on his trike with me being "pulled" (walking) behind. This gets us to and from the bus stop faster. :)
He loves books and will sit and read to himself, sing to himself, and talk to himself or stuffed animals and that darn parrot. He loves animals- especially puppies. He is fascinated/scared/loves the Grinch and the story of the three little pigs. He loves Carter coming home from school and hugs him for a long time each day when he gets off the bus. He also blows hundred of kisses to him as he gets on the bus and leaves for school. He is so funny and has quite the sense of humor. Each night he prayer for our neighbors hamsters, sunny and sky.
I can't believe he is three already. He lights up our lives and home and we are so grateful to have him as part of our family. We love you! Happy Birthday Brycie! Happy Birthday Brycie..... (- the parrots echo in case you missed that... :)
(starting the birthday off right with breakfast in bed. Carter almost more excited than Bryce at this point and insisted on being the one to help make it, tuck Bryce back in bed before he carried it up,etc... Bryce wanted big brother to eat with him in bed which Carter was more than happy to do)!

(Carter decorating with streamers all over the front and back yard. Very excited to help).

(Bryce LOVED the cake I made him and all day asked people, "you want to see my motor boat cake?" It was so easy to make and quite clever too might I add...:)

(just laying on the ground talking to his new friend...)

(Ended the party off right by "wading" in the little pond).

Labor day weekend

2009-09-18T17:58:00.000-07:00

Posting this a little late, I wanted to put up pics of our labor day weekend at deep creek lake. We are so blessed to be able to go there so often- whenever we can! It is getting cooler, but we still managed to get out there and ski and tube. The boys go SO fast now in the tube and Brady tried his hand... or leg at slaloming which didn't end up so well (as seen below). At least he was still in one piece!
(the boot of the ski stayed on his foot, but the rest of it not so much... how weird is that?! I've never heard or seen anyone literally break a ski before).
(The boys always start by throwing rocks in the water with clothes on standing on the dock or shore, but somehow they always end up in underwear, cold weather or not!)

(Carter quacking, trying to catch the duck).
(Early enough in the day- and cold enough that not many boats were out so I could go with the boys tubing without many waves and just glide over the water... at the beginning anyways).
(Bryce "water skiing." Check out those huge ski's and don't forget the pretend rope he's holding on to! It's so cute. But he doesn't look so happy I am taking a picture of him playing one of his favorite games).
(The boys with Grandma and Grandpa Petersen in front of their lake house).

What to say...?

2009-09-08T16:34:00.000-07:00

What is one supposed to say when walking along minding my own business and a neighbor asks first, "how are you feeling?" as if I just recovered from a major surgery or accident. Feeling actually pretty good today having worked out this morning by choice and not being paid to teach, I respond, "good. I'm doing well, thanks."
This is then followed by, "you look miserable."
Seriously??!
Good thing she didn't catch me on a day when I actually felt miserable. In fact I had just showered and rested a bit before seeing this neighbor. Hmmm... do I really look that bad? Maybe it's time to start wearing make-up on a regular basis and not just for church? Nah. She was probably just referring to my ever growing baby belly. And yeah, at 6 months, one might develop a swagger of sorts (okay, it's really more of a waddle, but still...). And yeah, I have 9 pound babies and this being the third, I'm showing sooner and bigger. Does this really warrant such a comment?
Although, I suppose I should keep in mind that this is the same neighbor who asked me when I was due when I had already delivered Bryce about 6 weeks prior.

First Day of Kindergarten!

2009-08-31T06:42:00.000-07:00

Well just sent off a part of my heart to kindergarten. I can't believe that Carter started school today and although I'm happy and excited for him, I can't help but be a sad for myself. I know, it's not like I'm sending him off to college or anything, but it still feels somehow that this is the beginning of the end. He is in the 'system' now. I won't have the majority of his time anymore. I know that this is part of learning and growing (for both of us) and a good and necessary thing. However, sometimes people have growing pains and I guess that is what I've having right now in the pit of my stomach and my heart.
I am just so happy that he was excited this morning and smiling. He is decked out in Spider-man with his backpack, lunchbox and water bottle. He seems ready for this new adventure and I'm so grateful for that. Hopefully I'll feel ready soon- is it 4:00pm yet?
Play by play of Carter's morning on the first day of school...

Tying his shoes getting ready to leave to catch the (gulp) bus.

Picture time

Walking to the bus stop with a neighbor we watch in the mornings before school

Watching the bus make it's way down the street

Getting on the(double gulp)HUGE yellow bus

Not pictured:
Mom giving several hugs, kisses and waving probably a little too enthusiastically with a big ole over excited smile plastered to my face before coming home, turning on a movie for Bryce to collect my thoughts/feelings and answering the question asked by Brady "what do you need?" by tearfully saying, "I need to hold Carter" and thinking "and never let him go."
Growing pains. A good, needed, painful thing.

Staying home is a privilege

2009-08-26T07:12:00.000-07:00

"Staying home is a privilege, staying home is a privilege, staying home is a privilege... " Sometimes chanting the same thing over and over while you are fuming on the inside helps. And sometime sending both kids to their rooms, chanting and blogging helps. (I'll let you know).
I need to remind my self that staying home with my kids and having the luxury to be the one to raise them, especially in this economy is, in fact a privilege.
Sometimes it's hard to remember that when you wake up to whining/crying/fighting, get out of the shower to whining/crying/fighting, finish breakfast with whining/crying/fighting, turn off the blow dryer to hear... can you guess??? It's a stumper. Anyone else see a pattern developing? Sigh. (That felt good). Bigger sigh. (Even better). Maybe I should take time to breathe more. People have said to me, "you are so busy, how do you have time to breathe?" Maybe I don't. Time to start putting into practice some of my social work skills I learned from a Stress management class and breathe. (I know can you believe that counted towards three of my masters level credits)? Regardless of how simple it sounds, I need to remember that.
Yet, I would not have it any other way. I want to see them learn new things, and the light in their eyes when they learn it. I want to be the one to kiss away their "owies" after they try to climb on top of the washing machine to help add the soap and are too impatient to wait for me to help them up, so climb onto a flimsy plastic laundry basket that of course collapses under them resulting in the long bloody scrape on the thigh from the dryer door being open (hypothetically speaking of course... not like this happened this morning or anything).
I want to read to them, to sing to them, to fix them healthy meals and to play with them. I want to be here when someone hurts their feelings to learn a life lesson and how to deal with it. I want to see and hear them laugh, sometimes being the cause of that sweet sound. I want to chase the "real Grinch" away with a flashlight when we play monster while the other uses the pincher to tickle it's tummy or grab it's nose.
Yes, staying home is a privilege. And I am privileged to be these two active, independent and sometimes stubborn little boys mother. I guess they can come out of their rooms now. Gosh, I love those kids.

Funny boys...

2009-08-03T09:17:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'm a bit biased, but I think my kids are the funniest kids ever. They say the funniest things.
Bryce while grocery shopping, tripped over his own feet because he rarely walks- he runs, gallops, jumps or skips. Poor thing landed smack on his belly with his little hands smacking the ground by his face. I go to help him up and he looks at me and says with a smile and little embarrassed giggle, "Woah! That hurt my baby! My need to be careful" and rubbed his belly.

And I don't know why but Bryce seems obsessed with death. When I say something like, "be careful Bryce, I don't want you to get hurt" when he's from the coffee table to the couch or something like that, he replies, "yeah, my probably die." Almost EVERY time. Maybe b/c his little friend hamster who lives down the street just died, but I think he said it before that. Sometimes after saying, "yeah, my probably die", he says, "You want me to die mommy? Yes or no?" My reply always the same, although now without the horrified feeling I used to feel at such a morbid question which is, "of course not Bryce. I love you and don't want you to die." I tell him that we have rules, etc to keep him safe because I love him so much I don't want him to get hurt- and especially not die.
It's just so weird how non-chalantley he says it like, "do you like ice cream? Yes or no?" Yesterday my friends neighbor was mowing the lawn without any shoes on and I made a comment without thinking to my friend about how he could cut his toes off and how dangerous that is. Bryce overheard and said, "that'd be sad mommy, then he have no feet and not walk and probably die."
Kids say the darnedest things! I have to say though, now hearing him say stuff like that all the time kind of makes me chuckle inside- yeah, now who's the morbid one??

What to do...

2009-08-01T06:43:00.000-07:00

...with a little GIRL???! Yep, that's right folks, somehow we've broken the boy trend and are expecting a little girl. I think I'm still kind of in shock, and although excited a little bit unsure.
During the ulrasound this past week after she told us it was a girl, we kept asking, "are you sure?" Brady kept saying, "that's awesome!" when she said yes.
That morning we asked the boys what they thought we were having and Carter said a "girl baby" and Bryce likes to say the opposite of what Carter says so he said "boy baby." Carter was thrilled to hear he was having a little sister and has not stopped kissing my growing belly and talking to her. (He is very excited that she now has grown ears and will be able to recognize his voice as her big brother Carter).
That afternoon we made sugar cookies with pink frosting and star sprinkles to pass out to family and neighbors to announce our exciting news. (We even gave the trashmen their own tupperware with cookies). Carter made a card and drew a "girl baby" with longer hair and earings "because she's a girl." He traced the words, "it's a girl" on the inside. Very cute. Bryce ate frosting. :) Okay, we all did a little of that.....

So, we find ourselves now contemplating girl names and as for myself wondering if there is a book out there titled, "how to do your little girls hair without pulling out your own."
We are so excitied to welcome this new sweet little child into our home in December!

Here are the ultrasounds we got that day. The top one she is covering her face with her fists, and the bottom is a side profile. Isn't she cute? :)

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

(both boys fell asleep on the way back to the house on the boat. This pic is just after they woke up and realized we were back, so that's what's up with the sleepy, where am I eyes).

We went to Deep Creek Lake this year again for the 4th, and it was cold and rainy... again. At least this time on the fourth it was more cold than rainy so fireworks were not cancelled like they were last year. It was so fun to watch them from the back of the boat and the fireworks were really good. I was impressed! Why go through the chaos of DC again?
(My mom, Brian and Carter up front on the way to fireworks).
(watching fireworks from the back of the boat).

(Sparkler fun)!

Brady and my brothers Matt and Brian all went tubing in the freezing, wavy lake. They like to have competitions on who can stay on the tube the longest so they try to push or kick each others tubes in addition to the crazy high waves that were sending them flying. Crazy boys.
They kids love to drive the toy motor boats in the little pool and go on boat rides to the creamery for ice cream cones.
At one point on the way to see fireworks, we almost had a casualty. Sheepie. One of our own. It was so windy he went flying off the boat. Luckily I noticed just a bit later and shouted to my dad to stop and turn around. After driving back with big eyes, I finally found him. His little head floating just above the surface of the cruel, cold water fighting to stay alive in the middle of that big ole lake. My family was laughing at me as I almost fell in to rescue poor sheepie. I missed the first time (I think my mom was hold my foot to prevent me from falling in off the front of the boat but also impeding my rescuing ability). I shouted to Brady to run to the back b/c "I missed him! I missed him!" and ran back as well. I told Brady as we were looking for him to come up the other side, if he missed, I was jumping in. And I was serious. Brady was the hero of the day and grabbed soaking sheepie and gave him CPR. WHEW!
(hero in action)
After that, I put on a life jacket in the case of another emergency, we could spot him easier and he wouldn't sink.

This might seem a little much for some readers out there. I assure you, it's not. We've even bought him a new sheepie- exactly like the old one. Except this one has paws that have not been sewn back on 50 times, and is actually white and doesn't have little holes/tears in his paws that I can't sew. He doesn't like the impostor. He knows his best friend. Sigh. The things we do for our kids.

When we got back from fire works on the boat, Matt and Brian (after driving to PA the day before to spend too much on fireworks) put on their own show. It was actually pretty impressive and I can't believe they sell those fire starters! Has no one read the book, "Follow my leader???" I must have referenced that book a million times throughout the course of the weekend. Does any one listen to me? No? But did anyone lose their eye sight and need a 'seeing dog?' No. But it would have served them right. Okay, I don't really mean that last part.
(Carter watching the loud home show).
All in all, it was a great weekend. I love this country that we live in and am grateful for our freedoms and the men and women who have fought and fight for us to have that great gift in this wonderful land. God bless America!

"Berry" fun!

2009-07-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

Ha, ha... I'm too clever. :) We've been blueberry picking a couple times in the past weeks and love going to Butler's Orchard where they have the sweetest, fatest, bluest blueberries. To make the experience even better, you take a tractor ride to get to the blueberry bushes that lasts a good 5 minutes at least. Carter planted himself right next to/under a bush and picked. Bryce, like the strawberry experience, ate. I drew the line when he took handfuls out of the bucket we had just picked and put in there.
After a fun tractor ride back, we played on their wooden play structures and the sack slides. The same ones were open that they had at "bunny land" in the spring. The boys played on those slides for almost 2 hrs! They were being so sweet helping each other up the hill (which is steep! I even slipped going up a few times). They just laughed and laughed the whole time. It was one of those moments as a mom when you love your job and being able to enjoy each day and experience with your children. I'm so blessed to be home with the boys and that Brady can provide for us enough to allow me that privilege. What a great day!
(My favorite part of the whole day)

Tractor ride to the farm)
( (Boys in action!)

Wish come true

2009-07-13T06:55:00.000-07:00

(Carter "petting" Bryce)

Carter finally got what he's been wanting... a puppy dog. This one just happens to be in the form of his little brother. For whatever reason, Bryce has decided that he is a dog. A "puppy" to be exact. He says, "let's play puppy" at least 5 times a day and even when he doesn't say that as an intro to the game, when he comes up to me panting and barking, it's a pretty good indicator he wants to play.
So from everything to climbing down the stairs on all fours- forewords and head first, to filling up a bowl of water for him to drink, he has turned into a canine. He goes by the name, "Clifford." "Puppy" will do as well. He also likes to do tricks such as shake the paw, 'bark,' sit and stay, and the like. He is very talented you know. When he is not being a dog, he still out looking in the neighborhood for dogs to play with and feed bones to. We have one down our sidewalk that plays catch with the boys which is really cute and of course my parents dog holly gets plenty of love and attention from both boys. Probably too many treats however. We like to "borrow Holly" from time to time and have her at our house to play. This is fun until we leave and she scratches up our door post- some more. Oh well... my kids do worse to my parents house when they "borrow" them I'm sure. :)

(I check on Bryce before Brady and I go to bed and find him sleeping with these in his hand...)

(Closer look...)

(Bryce just waiting for any dog to pass ready with his bag of dog bones in hand).
(Drinking from his water bowl, and yes he is just wearing underwear and a shirt and yes, that underwear is on backwards).
(A visist from Holly-dog).
(Fetching Sheepie).
(Climbing down the stairs)
(And every good puppy needs a dog house of course. We end up making these 'tents' to be his dog houses all over the house).

Another milestone

2009-07-12T15:41:00.000-07:00

(This is Carter's "Spider-man" pose- ready for action without tripping on his laces!)

Carter learned how to tie his shoes about 2 weeks ago. In the mall, he saw these spider-man "skater" type shoes that he thought were "really cool!" I told him he could get them for his fall school shoes if he learned how to tie them himself. After a nicely done lecture by myself about how it would take a while to learn and practice would be required, etc, he agreed and we got the shoes.
We sat down right next to the cashier on the floor while I gave him his first lesson in the middle of the Sears Department Store. We worked on it for about 5 minutes before I decided it was enough for the moment because Bryce had taken all the boxes off the middle display shelf, lined them up and proceeded to run and jump over each one in a line(about 7 boxes total)and hadn't quite cleared the last one after going through the 'box line' obstacle course about 5 times.
At home, Carter ran upstairsto get on his spider man pajama's so he would be totally in the spirit and "look like spider-man." Carter got changed and back to work. He didn't give up and kept at it. We took a break mid afternoon because we were both getting frustrated. My frustration because of his whining/tone, etc and his b/c he just couldn't do it quite yet, but was oh so close! He kept pulling the 'bunny ear' too far through the hole.
When he finally got it later afternoon he was so proud of himself and I was so proud of his perseverance and diligence! Now we have a great life lesson to pull out of the hat when times are hard and how nothing worthwhile is ever easy and all those great cliche lines. :)
Atta boy Carter! You did it, just like I knew you could!

These taken a week after just before sports camp when he realized he can tie ANY lace shoes- even his running shoes! TA-DA!

Typical FHE activity

2009-07-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

We have family home evening on Tuesday nights since I teach pilates Monday nights. Inevitably for the past few month, who ever gets to chose the family activity that night picks either hide and seek or 'monster.'
Monster for those who haven't played is quite simple. Brady is the monster, and the boys run. The boys can get caught several times and released, save each other, or come to base- me. The game is typically over when someone is bleeding, bumped or has a goose egg on his head.
This night, we played monster at the park and the boys (Brady included) had a blast!
The tire swing of course is "jail" where they need to stay until they escape without Brady seeing them. In my opinion, the tire swing is really a torture chamber b/c if anyone were to swing me that fast in circles... yeah, that's torture. For whatever reason, the boys find is hysterical.

(Off to jail)

(This was the first time I noticed Carter able to do the monkey bars all by himself. Boy was he proud! And so was his mama!)
(Monkey see...monkey do. Except Bryce just got there, swung, and dropped like the monkey he really is- from way to high might I add!)

On Christmas Eve...

2009-07-06T08:03:00.001-07:00

(Sing this to the tune of "Oh Christmas Tree") I'm weird, I know....

On, Christmas eve, on Christmas eve, we're going to have a baby
On, Christmas eve, on Christmas eve, we'll maybe have a baby.
Carter was three weeks too soon
With Bryce weeks late, I was a big balloon.
On Christmas eve, on Christmas eve, we'll maybe have a baby!

Yes, we are expecting our third little one sometime within the 5 week span around the due date which is Christmas eve. Who knows what to expect will the difference in arrivals between my first two boys. We are very excited (and a little scared) for this special spirit to be born to us.

As always, pregnancy isn't the easiest thing for me (or any woman for that matter)and nausea and exhaustion have been my constant companions. The past few days however, I didn't throw up once, which hopefully means now that I'm about 16 weeks, I'll be feeling better and better.

I'm already starting to "show" kind of but not really. It's that belly that kind of hangs out, bigger than normal, and feeling too sick and tired to care, let it. But, none of my clothes fit which is a big bummer and I'm not quite ready for maternity clothes. I guess I'll just have to wear my "does this baby make me look fat?" shirt more. I wore it to my pilates classes when I taught last week. I'm sure they were wondering what the heck was up with the woman who talks about "core strength" and the "abdominal scoop or lift" with her belly hanging out. :)

The boys know I'm having a baby and I've told them I feel sick. When I am feeling sick I tend to burp instead of throw up sometimes- gross I know! And with all my parenting about how burping is rude, I tell them, it's because I'm feeling sick growing a baby that I burp more). Bryce however thinks this is hilarious and says, "Baby! Stop burping mommy!" and cracks up laughing each time.
Carter says then, "Oh, Bryce, don't laugh and mommy, she is not feeling good" in a sweet voice.
I have the best kids ever. :)

Summer time

2009-07-06T07:28:00.000-07:00

(working side by side...)

We love summer fruit and especially to go to local farms and pick our own. We went Strawberry picking in June and had a great time picking and eating. Bryce mostly eating. :) Carter as always, was very particular as to what ones he picked. They needed to be just right. He is a great helper that way and I know I won't have green or tiny ones to pick out before we buy.

(how Bryce spent his picking time)

(picking out the reddest, biggest, most perfect berries he can find).

(all that picking... I mean eating must have worn out poor little Bryce :)

Happiets place on earth!

2009-07-06T06:59:00.000-07:00

I've been almost dreading posting our very fun trip to Orlando, FL only because we did SO MUCH is such a short period of time I know I won't remember something, or hurt my brain trying. But it's been a month so here it goes...
We flew to Orlando the last week of May, the day after Carter's pre-school graduation and met Brady's siblings, and parents for a fun filled week (almost)of Disney! We stayed at Brady's Aunt Susan and Uncle John's place in Orlando b/c they are mission Presidents there for another year or so. It was awesome! Food in the cabinets, dinner made for us a night or two... what nice hosts! THANK YOU!
We started off the week with a character breakfast with Mickey, Pluto, lilo and stitch. We quickly realized we should have been more prepared with autograph books. They boys loved that! Bryce was saying from the plane ride, "where is mickey mouse?" After breakfast, we went to Wet n' Wild water park which the boys loved. The next day was Magic Kingdom, which was fun. We got poured on in the afternoon for a few hours though which was a bummer. The lines were kind of crazy too (probably b/c memorial day had been the day before). But overall, it was a great day. We stayed until the 10pm fireworks which were amazing to see over Cinderella's castle. Carter and Bryce got to chose a souvenir- so after much tears, debating, talking and compromise... they decided to 'share' a more expensive souvenir and got the Disney train. It's a fairly big train with a few Disney characters that can go on board and even puffs real smoke. Pretty cool.
Then next day, animal kingdom. I actually liked this a lot more than I thought. Much more laid back and many characters so the kids could get their autograph books signed without waiting an hour. The lion king show was beautiful and very cool!
Next day, after discovering our passes had an additional day on it, we went to Hollywood Studio's (formerly MGM). That park was one of my favorites. There weren't really any lines, and full of different plays/shows which were so fun and the kids loved. The toy story ride was awesome! The rest of the family left the next morning, but we still had 2 more days left because we came down a bit after the others. So onward with the crazy week.....
We decided to do Magic Kingdom again and see if the lines were better and hoped for better weather. (Each day we did seem to wear our ponchos at least once).
The lines and weather were both much better. Carter, Bryce and Brady loved the teacup ride! Mostly Brady. He was spinning them crazy fast that all the other people I was standing with were pointing at them and commenting. Carter loved to drive his own race car on the Speedway. They both loved the little roller coaster in toontown. Peter Pan ride for Bryce and Splash Mountain for Carter were definite favorites. Carter still talks about Splash Mountain and how fun it was.
Our last day we were all Disney'd out. We opted for Gator land which was very cool. We fed eemo's, deer, turkey's and alligators. Yes, alligators. Crocs too. They sold hot dogs to feed them. It was pretty cool. Carter thought it was more cool to see a big bird sticking half out of an alligators mouth that he was trying to eat. Must have missed the 'attack' but lucky us got to see the bird get chewed (or part of the process. It was a big bird!).
It was great to see family and of course Mickey and friends. :) Other than mid-day meltdowns it really was the happiest place on earth and we made some great memories there! Oh, dont' worry pictures to follow when I have more time.... but which ones????

Quick question...

2009-06-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

Scripture power!

2009-06-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

As a family we've been reading scriptures every night at dinner time. It's been such a great thing for our family. The boys love hearing the scripture stories and looking at the pictures. They even will remember them when we try to tie them into every day situations. It's been a blessing in our family and really can feel a difference reading them each night. Carter even got up a couple months ago in sacrament meeting to bear his testimony about how he "loves reading the scriptures and knows they are true." It probably doesn't hurt that they get treats after dinner if they remember to remind us. It's cute though hearing them both shout as soon as I call them for dinner, "FAMILY SCRIPTURE STUDY!!!" Bryce says it at every meal.

Bryce's favorite story in the new testament is "cutting the baby in half." The story about King Solomon. For several days after reading the story, he kept asking to re-read it each night. He also liked Jonah and the Whale.
Carter's favorite story was Abraham and Isaac. He was so concerned that "what if God didn't make it in time and Abraham really did kill Isaac?" etc.
(In asking Carter his favorite story, he also said, after Abraham and Isaac, "I kind of liked all of them."

While I was teaching pilates last night, Brady and the boys finished the Old Testament (Scripture Reader Style). When we finished the Book of Mormon as a family, we went to Chuck E Cheeses to celebrate. Last night, Brady said to the boys, "we'll have to plan another Chuck E Cheese visit".... and then in the same sentence said, "actually, let's talk to mommy first." Carter said, "yeah, because mommy knows everything." What a smart boy I have. LOL.

Easter in June

2009-06-13T07:51:00.000-07:00

(How handsome are these boys in their matching shirts and ties)???
I am so behind in blogging events that I've wanted to, so here is a brief catch up with pics. First of all, Easter. It was a lot of fun. We have 1pm church so plenty of time for Easter festivities first. We found Easter baskets and then colored eggs. We went over to my parents house to meet up with the rest of the family after church for dinner. This year in their baskets, we filled it with little treats and then some tracks and a new train for their geo-trax set which they LOVE and are so into right now. Carter wants to make our house into a "geo trax city" and lets me know things we need to get rid of to make that happen. Entertainment center, couch, TV... you know 'extra' things like that. :)
(Bryce finding his Easter basket hidden in between the couch and wall)
(Carter's basket was in the boys bathroom in the cabinet above the toilet).
(Hmmm.... what's in here)?
(guess he liked whatever it was)!
(So excited about the trains, he didn't even eat his treats... for about 20 minutes anyways)
(Egg time)
(Why is it kids don't like eating the yolk? I remember throwing that part away too as a kid. But as a parent who buys the eggs, it makes me a little nuts. Just eat it)!
And the day before Easter, we went to Butler's Orchard to go to "Bunnyland." It was really fun and cute. They had a duck derby, tractor trikes, barn to pet animals, huge sack slides, little egg hunt, playground area, and a hayride. The boys had a blast!
(These slides were so fast! Check out Bryce's hair. He was a little daredevil and would not let Brady or myself go with him)

(They got to pet little chicks and bunnies).
(romping in the haypit)

(Carter very pleased with himself for lapping everyone on the tractor trike track and for learing how to do monkey bars by himself and even flip backwards and drop. Way to go Carter)!

Caterpillar fun

2009-06-09T11:37:00.001-07:00

(apparently caterpillars and worms get along fine when stuffed into a cage together... gross!)

(team work finding caterpillars)

Bryce is my bug/animal lover. Everything and anything that is moves, breaths, or is fluffy or furry or slimy and bumpy... he loves. Every time it rains, he's outside "saving" the worms. He picks them up off the street and/or sidewalk and into the grass. He uses a cute, high pitched voice while talking to them and says things like, "it's o-tay little wormy, Brycie sabe you" or "dare you go little guy." It is cute to watch how gentle and sweet he is. Sometimes when they (or any bug) is dead or squished, he is sad for a second then says, "oh, poor little guy. He dead. That's o-tay. He happy. He in Heaven now."
A few weeks ago anyways, I decided to get the boys these bug catchers. Carters preschool has a huge open field out front with several butterflies and moths the kids ran around trying to catch for over an hour each time. Then of course, caterpillar season came about in May and oh the fun the boys had- especially Bryce. Carter is more into animals and flying things where Bryce doesn't care at all. The more slimy, sticky the better. :)
Bryce reminds me of my little sister Brooke in a way because she would love caterpillars, so much so, that she would put them in her pockets (which I've caught Bryce doing) and my mom would find them in the lint trap later of the dryer. Brooke would also want to sleep with her "pets." I caught Bryce doing the same thing and couldn't help but take pictures.

(laying in bed with caterpillar)
(tucking it in with his favorite blanket)
(close up of the comfy caterpillar).

"What kind of dog do you have?"

2009-06-08T17:49:00.000-07:00

"We don't have a dog" is the answer to the question asked to Carter by random neighbor-people as he hands out dog bones to each dog he sees pass our house- (or within eye distance of our house). Seriously, today, he ran after a woman and her dog (no, I didn't know them and yes I'm serious) and shouts, "excuse me lady! Excuse me lady!!" (Bryce running after him to keep up) And when she finally slows down, looks at him perplexed and he asks if he can give her dog a milk bone. This is usually when they question, "what kind of dog do you have?" comes about and the reply, "we don't have a dog, these are for the dogs in the neighborhood."

Great, now we are not only "the Popsicle house" (have I told that story before)? But now we are also the "milk bone house" with no dogs. I get the Popsicle thing... Carter and Bryce like Popsicles, but I think they like even more to distribute them to the entire neighborhood community- okay, just the kids most of the time, but we've got a lot of kids here in this townhouse area at the end of a cul-de-sac (how the heck to you spell that anyways)???
Anyways, we go through Popsicles like they are going out of style b/c we eat one each day and pass out about 10.
However, we don't have a dog (or any pet for that matter), my kids don't eat milk bones (that I know of) and we have a box of milk bones for the dogs who happen to pass. And if by chance they don't pass, don't be too surprised if my boys appear on your doorstep b/c they know you have a dog and are just not bringing it out at that very moment, but they have a strong need to give it a bone- now.
So, maybe I should have Brady buy stock in Popsicles and bones and we will get our money back? Or maybe it's just more important I teach my kids how good it feels to share and serve others. Well, actually, they are the ones teaching me I guess... I'm just paying for it. :)

Happy Mothers Day!

2009-05-23T20:44:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful mothers day this year! All my boys made me breakfast in bed and let me rest for a while and played in the basement. Bliss!
Just before church we went to the azalea gardens that is a huge park next to Brighton Dam with all sorts of beautiful colored azalea bushes overlooking the water. Depending on church time, we try to go every mothers day as it's my mom's favorite place. This year, my parents were watching my sisters kids, so it was my parents, little brother Brian, my sister's kids and our little family. It was a beautiful day and the perfect mothers day! Brady and the boys made me a cute picture album/book with pictures of myself doing fun things with Carter and Bryce. I love it! I feel so blessed to be a mother. I can't imagine a deeper love or more meaningful job.
how beautiful is this view?
Uncle Brian with some cousins
Grandma and Grandpa with all the grandchildren

HELP!

2009-05-23T20:41:00.000-07:00

Before I forget, I wanted to post a blog about another of Bryce's antics. He is just at such a funny age.
A few weeks ago he started this funny thing that if the windows were open upstairs, he would go to them, stand on his tip-toes and scream out "HELP!" "HELP!"
I laugh every time, but can't help but wonder what they neighbors might think...

2009-05-08T14:17:00.000-07:00

Today before nap time Bryce was saying how many friends he had and started listing them off. "Edan (Ethan), Ben, Isaac, Onna (Brianna), Connor, Spider-man..."

Mother's Day Tea (or juice)

2009-05-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

Today was mother's day tea at Carter's school. It was so cute. The kids made cards answering questions such as "My mom is ____ years old." "She weighs_____ pounds." Carter guessed that I was 5 years old and weighed 60 pounds. He is now the favorite child. :) j/k.
The rest goes like this:
My mom's favorite color is "all the colors in the rainbow."
The mom's favorite food is peanut butter and jelly." (maybe I need a little more creativity at lunch time??)
My mom likes "it when her boys help her clean the house."
My mom's favorite TV show is " a singing and dancing show."
My mom doesn't like to "clean the house." (Carter told me while I was reading this out loud with him, "you don't like cleaning up all our messes all by yourself, you like us to help too." How true, how true... Maybe I complain too much about cleaning up after them and how they need to pick up after themselves??
My mom loves me because "I'm so cute."
I love mom because " she keeps me safe."
We got to eat a treats each class made for the tea. Carter's class (Orioles) made lemon-poppy seed bread with glaze. Yum! Other classes made banana choc.chip bread, blueberry bread, tail mix and fruit salad. Of course there was the tea. There was juice for the kids.
Carter was too cute and asked his teachers if the tea was herbal tea. They told him is was iced tea. Carer told his teachers that we don't drink tea in our family only herbal tea, so he was wondering if we could have something else. His teachers said there would be juice for those who didn't want tea. What a good little missionary. :)
The kids than sang a song they had worked on with their music teacher who came in every Friday. They wrote the song themselves as a class to the tune of "Twinkle, twinkle little star."
The kids stood next to their moms and sang:
"I wish you a Happy Mother's Day
I'm going to give you a Mother's Day surprise!
I'm going to give you some chocolates and extra goodies;
I'll make you a card for your Mother's Day hours;
I'll decorate the house and make you a present;
Happy Mother's Day to you!"
They presented us with a "still life painting of purple azaleas in a blue vase" that they each painted and bracelets they beaded onto pipe cleaners.
(holding the beautiful painting)
It was a very fun, cute time. I got lots of hugs and kisses and special Carter attention which I loved. He made sure I always had what I needed and kept getting me more bread- even when I didn't want any more!

As a side note, on the way to drop off Bryce at my parents so I could go to Carter's school, Bryce was looking at me funny, searching my face and looking me over up and down. (I had put in my contacts, put on make-up and was wearing 'nice' clothes in preparation for the special event).
I asked him if I looked different. He shook his head yes looking a bit perplexed as he continued to looked me over. Then a look of clarity came into his face and eyes, he said excitedly, "you cute!" with a big smile on his face.
Ah-ha... so that was the difference..... :) Boy does he make me laugh.

Best way to wake up

2009-05-08T11:17:00.001-07:00

Isn't it great waking up to butterfly kisses? Yesterday I took a nap while Bryce AND Carter napped. Yahoo! I love it when that happens. I wake up to Bryce climbing into my bed, leans in close and gives me butterfly kisses on the cheek making us both laugh.

Overwhelming love

2009-05-05T19:13:00.000-07:00

(Carter)

(Bryce)

Before you read, I have to warn you that this post is a bit morbid...

I always knew I'd love my kids, even before I become a mother. But I had no idea. Loving them, caring for them, teaching them, hugging and kissing them...that is what I live for. In this moment of my life, my kids are my life. Of course, I love their father more than words can express, and he is perfect for me, but tonight my thoughts are on them as I replay a conversation I had with Carter in the car today.
I don't even know how it began, but I remember him saying, "you are going to die before me, right mommy?" I told him that no one knows when we are going to die, but yes, I probably will die before him because I am older than him. He then asked, "what will happen to me? Who will take care of me?" I can't believe he is asking these questions. The thought of not raising my children is my greatest fear. I always had thought that losing a child would hurt more than anything and that was my biggest fear. Not anymore. A few years ago, probably after having one, I realized that my worst fear was dying myself. Having someone else raise my children. How can anyone know them like I do? How can anyone love them like I do? Even the best of intentioned people who love them can't love them or know them like I do. That thought terrifies me which is why I don't think about it for more than a second. If I do start to think about it, I quickly replace that thought with another.
This morning, I felt I needed to think about it and explain to Carter. In a way I suppose it was a blessing. In praying about who would raise our children if anything happened to Brady and myself, I felt momentarily at peace with our decision before the gut wrenching feeling came back at the possibility of not raising them to adulthood and being there after that.
Anyways, I was thinking at the time I was praying, the boys need to know what would happen so they aren't blind-sided at losing their parents and now not knowing what was going to happen to them. But how do you bring up that conversation? "How was school and by the way, if we die you will go to...."
Anyways, in feeling this an appropriate time to talk about it, and answer his honest question I told him who would care for him and what would happen all the while fighting off tears. To make matters worse Carter asks if he can call the family member who will care for him, "mommy." I explain that I will always be his mommy, she is his....." He says, "Can I call her mommy if I want?" I tell him sure he can, whatever he is comfortable doing. He says, "ok, I'll call her mommy."
Feeling like I want to throw up at this point is an understatement. Carter then says, "mommy if you die, I will be so sad and cry a lot of times." I re-assure him that I will always be watching over him and in his heart. That we are still a family forever no matter what because daddy and I were married in the temple and we will be a family forever, even after we die. (I am getting choked up thinking about this wonderful blessing and promise. Yet still a sick about the possibility of not being here for my children on Earth).
Of course while talking I try to assure him (but probably mostly myself) that I am healthy and young and will not die for a very, very long time. That he will even be old too when I get old.
So aside from this depressing blog, I just wanted to write how much I love my life. My husband. My children. My heart feels like bursting with the love I feel for my children. How sacred the responsibility of a mother. How blessed I am to have these two strong spirited, righteous boys in my family. They are so special and I get the privilege of being there mother! What an enormous task and although sometimes- many times feel as though I'm lacking and not what they deserve, I am so grateful for the chance to raise them. To try again each day to be worthy of being their mother. How did I get so blessed?

Happy St. Patricks Day!

2009-04-13T07:21:00.001-07:00

(We did green eggs, milk and green dotted toast for breakfast. Now whenever we eat eggs, Bryce wants them colored. They loved making and eating them- especially Bryce b/c he loves the book, Green Eggs and Ham).

What the.....?!???

2009-04-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

Can anyone guess what this is???

Whoever guesses it, gets to keep it, so hurry and guess first! :)

Answer: Play-doh hairball of course!
Carter and Bryce were playing with play-doh while I was cleaning and talking of the phone. This ended up making play-doh balls and throwing them at each other laughing. After that, they made play-doh hats resulting in the play-doh hairball. This hairball is Carter's. Luckily, Bryce was able to get his out. (I told them not to put it in their hair b/c it would get stuck, which is probably why Carter took the liberty of getting the scissors and cutting it out himself and not telling me).

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree

2009-04-07T09:03:00.000-07:00

I'm listening to the boys play together in the basement as I'm cleaning the kitchen upstairs. I love that they can play so well together now...most of the time.
Anyways, I hear Carter say in an excited voice, " Bryce... you know what today is...." (suspense building pause) "ORGANIZING DAY!"
Bryce immediately exclaims, "Wa-hoo!"

That's right, I train them well. They know what's really exciting in life. :)

Conference Sunday...

2009-04-05T15:35:00.001-07:00

I just love general conference and this man. I know he is a true prophet of God and am so grateful that the Lord has sent someone in these latter days to lead and guide His church. We had a great conference day today. I planned on playing a few 'conference games' with Carter that of course involved candy. The first session I made a picnic lunch that we ate on a spread out blanket on our basement floor to watch it downstairs. Indoor picnics are always fun. Especially with juice boxes when it's not even a school day! After lunch, I put Bryce down for the nap and introduced the games to Carter. We had a list of words that he had to listen for and if he heard them in one of the talks, he got a piece of candy (we had skittles and m&m's in little baggies he could chose from). I had no idea there would be so many talks on temples. With temple being a key word, Carter ate SO much candy! It worked really well, and he was so into it. At one point, he even got up close to the tv so he could listen better. It was awesome b/c Brady and I were then able to listen too! We also had Carter identify the speaker with a list of pictures of the First Presidency and Apostles and members of the 70. When he did, he got to put a penny on it and then once he got five... a piece of candy.

My favorite part of conference, other than being with my family and not going anywhere this Sunday, and having Bryce actually nap instead of being so sleep deprived at church b/c it's at his nap time was Elder Hollands talk about the atonement.
I have always wondered why Christ while dying on the cross feels all alone and even at a point asks, "God, why hast thou forsaken me?" I didn't understand that at all. It was stated so clearly and powerfully today for me. Christ in order to truly feel what we all have felt and will feel in the future, also needed to know what it felt like to be without the comfort and presence of our Father in Heaven. He needed to experience not only physical death for us, but also Spiritual. He lived a perfect life, and always had God with Him until then end when it was necessary for him to experience that awful feeling of being alone. I loved that Elder Holland said that he believed that actually at that time, God the Father was closer to His son, than any other time, but Christ was not able to feel it. Wow. It was so powerful and spoke to my spirit so deeply. I'm so grateful for the holy ghost that I can know things for myself. To have them confirmed to me as truths. What an amazing blessing it is to be a member of Christs church on the earth today. I can't wait to read the Ensign when it comes out in a couple months and catch up on the sessions and talks I missed.
What was your favorite part about conference?

Outer Banks retreat

2009-04-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we had the opportunity to go with four other families to North Carolina to the Outer Banks. It's SO beautiful there. The weather was beautiful at 65 degrees and there was practically no one else there which made it even better. It poured the whole 5 1/2 hr drive there and was supposed to rain the entire time. I'm so glad the weather man is wrong the majority of the time! :)
Sat. morning right after breakfast we walked the 2 blocks to the beach. It started out overcast and chilly, but by 10:30 or so warmed up a lot so the kids could just wear their suits and t shirts. We even got burned a bit. The water was FREEZING! When my feet touched, it stung! Why is it that kids can't feel that? Or is it they ignore it? Either way, the kids were wet up to their waists (maybe numb?). They had a blast!
(Run boys run!)

(making a sand castle)

(I see Baywatch in Brady's future...)

(uhhh...did I mention Bryce was potty trained now? He was dancing around screaming, "potty! me potty!" and we told him to go in the sand at the edge of the beach. He was too nervous to go, so good ole big brother showed him how it was done.)

(the boys better side)
I even tried my hand at running. Well, kind of walking with a bounce because I was so slow. But I really loved it! It was beautiful as I ran along the surf with a gentle warm breeze. Not hot, not cold. Perfect! I was impressed with myself. I ran and ran and ran... or wogged, and wogged and wogged... (my mom's word for a combination of jog and walk). It was refreshing, and gave me time to meditate, contemplate, clear my mind and pray. What a beautiful creation the Lord has made for us, His children!
Brady enjoyed himself that afternoon paint balling with all the other menfolk. The women went out that night for dinner.
Sunday, we went to church and then to the sand dunes. It was SO WINDY! The sand hurt and it pelted against face and neck. We walked backwards for the most part to get to the hill and then once we arrived, and ran a little bit down, the sand went over the hill so wasn't so bad. Brady and I took turns holding Bryce who kept whining "owie, windy day!" Carter braved the wind and ran and jumped down the hill. Check out these pictures...

(running like the wind, in the wind)

(It felt like I was flying. I loved it!)

(Carter running down the dunes. Go Carter go!)

(Bryce hiding from the wind)
What a great vacation!

PLEASE READ- Important rule for all women to know (although should know already)

2009-04-03T15:27:00.001-07:00

Two weeks since the question was asked. Two weeks later, still not quite over it.
At church, a woman (who has kids mind you) came up to me with a big smile on her face and leans in close. Thinking I'm going to hear a super secret, I lean a little closer to her as well. She whispers with a little smile, "are you pregnant?" as if she is on to me and my secret. I immediately pull away, look at her and say, "no, I'm just fat."
She then starts rambling, trying to dig herself out of the hole she's dug. "oh, no, it's just that I am noticing every ones belly around me, because it's just something I am aware of on myself, so, and... uh..."
I start to walk away as she is kind of chasing after me trying to make it right. As if anything she could say or do at that moment would take away the embarrassment, and hurt I felt. I tune back into the rambling and hear something like how I've been looking tired lately too so it's not just the "pooch."
Seriously?!? This is supposed to be making it better?? "STOP TALKING!!!" I want to scream. Instead, I tell her, I'm on my period. So perhaps I do look a little bloated and I'm always tired. Didn't really plan on sharing that personal information that day, but hey, now you know my cycle.
So, to everyone out there- women especially.... here is the cardinal rule, if you really don't know it already. NEVER ask a woman if she is pregnant unless the baby's head is beginning to crown. Really and truly. Never. No exceptions.
In her defense, she is 10 weeks pregnant so hyper aware of belly's and probably looking for someone to buddy up with and be pregnant with which I get. But still, refer back to the rule. Never deviate from the rule. If you do, you might get a rambling person who is still upset about it two weeks after the stupid comment was made.

Dinner time prayer

2009-04-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

Carter was saying the prayer for dinner time not to long ago and it went a little something like this...
"Bless Bryce because I love him and he's my baby brother. I love him the most out of everyone. I love my brother but not my mom and dad. But I'm supposed to love my whole family so ok, I love my mom and dad too, but not as much as Bryce cause he's my baby brother..."

Snow white

2009-03-17T15:26:00.001-07:00

So we had our own "Snow white" experience over here today. We got this awesome blender yesterday at Costco with an awesome price tag attached. It blends up marbles, rocks, metal... which is perfect since that is what I typically make smoothies out of. It also blends up fruit with the skins and their seeds. The man selling the product was talking about how nutritious watermelon and cantaloupe seeds are and how great the inner most part of a pineapple is for you (the part we usually don't eat). We make smoothies at least once a day- especially Brady. He is the smoothie king and I can always count on being ready for bed at 11pm when he decides he has to have a yogurt shake. He made a big deal about it saying shakes and smoothies are his favorite all time thing and he usually isn't that passionate or opinionated about anything! So, I figured this would be a nice surprise for him (and me too since it makes bread by grinding grain and even soups!)
After bringing it home yesterday afternoon, we made our fourth smoothie this afternoon with lunch. I put in spinach leaves, flax seed, yogurt, strawberries (with stems on) and an apple. A WHOLE apple. The seeds are especially nutritious right???
So, I'm telling my mom all about how cool this blender is and all the nutrition we'll be getting now so and mention our afternoon shake. She says, "the whole apple?" I told her I at least took off the stem first. She said, "I think apple seeds are poisonous." Yeah right I think. Funny mom. But still on the phone, I google it. Google is always right.
So, apple seeds do in fact contain cyanide.
I thought this quote from the google site was fascinating, "At least within the realm of murder mysteries, cyanide is the darling of poisoners because it acts quickly and irrevocably, once a fatal dose has been ingested there is no effective antidote and death takes place within minutes."
Uhhhhh..... oppps.
Well, it said "fatal" dose. One measly gala apple isn't a "fatal" does right?
If this is my last blog, you'll know the answer. Crap. Great, another day goes by when I don't win mother of the year just because I poison my kids.
(quite the resemblance don't ya think? Of course the poision apple I offered was pureed).

Dumbo

2009-03-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

My kids LOVE Disney's Dumbo as of late. They watch the pink elephant part and rewind it again and again cracking up laughing. I think it's weird they do that since I would always fast forward that part because I thought it was creepy scary.
However, despite serveral little issues I have with the movie (ie bird smoking, calling names, etc) I have to say what concerns me the most is Bryce running full speed and jumping off the bed screaming "ME DUMBO!!!"
Yeah, really, he did. A few times. So we've also had the talk that Dumbo flys, Bryce doesn't. A few times. He says, "Dumbo fly, Bycie not fly," but we'll see if that stops him.

Full moon

2009-03-17T12:48:00.000-07:00

(Is it still indecent exposure if your bum is this cute?)
Bryce has been doing an awesome job using the toilet. I've been letting him run around without a diaper if we are home (sometimes with pants on, and sometimes without- as you can see). I put a diaper on him when we go out, but today it's been dry all day! What a big boy! He is 2 1/2 today actually.
We have a Elmo potty book that we read when Elmo teaches his doll baby David how to use the potty. At the end it says, Elmo's a big monster now! Bryce says now, "me a big monster now like Elmo!" Cute kid.

I knew the boys were too quiet upstairs...

2009-03-17T11:52:00.000-07:00

Closer look...

You should have seen the walls and floor... I just thought pads on the fan were amusing.

(FYI, after a few inquiries about how they got the pads up on the fan, thought I'd update this post. Our bed is just below the fan so they can jump and stick. Or Carter is almost tall enough that if he stands on a pillow or two and on his tiptoes he can reach it. So there ya have it folks!)

Welcome Home Elder!

2009-03-17T11:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm SO behind in the journaling portion of the blog. I always tend to write these random thoughts/ideas/happenings, and don't blog events as much. I'll try to do better. So here is the first bit of news....
My little brother Matt came back from his mission in MN! It was so great to meet him at the airport. Jason and Shandra and their kids came as did our family and of course my mom and dad. I've joked calling my mom a "psycho type girlfriend" with all the letters, emails, care packages and constant thoughts for Matt.
It's been so awesome getting to know Matt now. He truly has grown and matured into a man (and not just because he's gotten buffer and taller).:)
Welcome home Elder! We've missed you and are so proud of the service you've done for the Lord these past 2 years. We have all truly been blessed by your selfless sacrifice.
(holding up signs anxiously waiting to see Elder Petersen come through the terminal gate)

(comparing 'battle wounds from similar surguries a few weeks apart)

"To be learned is good..."

2009-03-14T08:35:00.001-07:00

But how wrong is it that I learned more from "There is No Place like Space" by Dr. Seuss than I've learned in the past 6 months plus??? For example, Jupiter, although the largest planet, is so light it could float on water?? And Neptune gives off a blue hue??? I know, you all sit there as amazed as me... don't pretend like you remember this stuff from 5th grade. (And if you really do, don't tell me).

But, I can whip up cookies, or brownies from scratch without a recipe, recite "green eggs and ham" perfectly without looking at the book, kiss away boo-boos, comfort fears, make a great el dorado beef cheese casserole (and say it without mixing up the words three times fast), sleep on a sliver of the bed because two children and a 6'5" man are in there with me, function (although barely) on just a few hours of sleep, can tell what my children want/need based on the type of cry, pack for one adult and three children for a week vacation and not forget anything, have inventive ideas to keep my kids occupied in the store, doctors office and car, teach my children manners and respect, teach them about the Lord and his love for them. Mostly importantly I can love with all my heart with complete selflessness and be happy doing it.

So what if I forgot that Mars was cold with red dust? I know other things. :)

On that note though, I can't to see what I'll learn from "Dinosaurs, the real monsters."

Parenting poll

2009-03-07T13:40:00.000-08:00

So I have a question for all the parents out there. Actually even people who are not parents can answer. (Although I don't think many people read this blog. Maybe I'm boring, maybe I don't have many friends... or both! GASP)
Anyways... it's not that big of a deal but still something I wonder how to respond to. Here is the situation:
Carter likes to save his money and buy toys he saves for (or candy/gum when I let him). So that's the thing. "When I let him." Should I have a say what he spends his money on?
He constantly says things like, "I want to buy one for me and one for Bryce, or one for me and one for Uncle Matt or daddy or a friend or everyone in my class"- if it's candy or gum. If he does by one for everyone in class, he's spent his 15 dollars already he's worked so hard to save. Is that okay? I have a hard time letting him do it although I do sometimes.
Today he was browsing the toy store while waiting for new tires to be put on Brady's car. He saw a harmonica and wanted to get one for Bryce too. So he spent his 10 dollars on a five dollar harmonica for him and for Bryce. Here are some pics. It really is sweet and exciting for him to give gifts because gifts is one of Carter's love languages. So is it my issue I need to get over and just let him spend all his money he's worked so hard to earn? Feedback please!
Carter almost more excited than Bryce for him to open the gift he bought him).
(making beautiful "music" together)

Toddler bed update

2009-03-07T12:29:00.001-08:00

Thanks to all of you out there who offer sympathy and/or suggestions to help my little Bryce man sleep in the toddler bed. Here is the update....
I moved all the furniture and books out and put everything else up high. No way to climb on top of anything to get to the high things since there was no furniture. All he has now is his toddler bed in an empty room. One thing I forgot...

This was behind the dresser so we hadn't put one of the covers on it that slide over when you put the plug in. He pulled his nightlight out of the original socket, tried to plug it into the unprotected one and shocked himself. I hear him crying hard, run upstairs, and see him holding his finger. He shows me his finger and through the tears says, "dat got me!" pointing to the electrical socket. Crap.
Other than that one time my son almost electrocuted himself, things have been going really well. We didn't even have to lock him in his room for the past two nights and nap time is no longer an issue- he stays put! Miracles do still happen in our day and this is the proof! :) I guess we'll keep our Brycie after all.:) I'm glad cause I really love that little guy!

Demolition men!

2009-03-07T12:23:00.001-08:00

Brady and my dad doing bathroom demolition. Under the original flooring there was black mold, and also on the studs. Gross!
I'm SOOOOO excited to have it all clean, new and shiny! We are going to have a new shower and floor, vanity and sink! Wa-hoo! As a bonus, our closet is going to be reorganized... or maybe I should say, organized for the first time)! I'll post 'after' pics when the job is done.
Thanks guys, love you both!

Spring is in the air!

2009-03-07T12:07:00.000-08:00

You know what that means....

WORMS are in our hands!

(Shortly after this picture, I turn around and hear, "oh no!" The worm had become two).
Bryce carried this worm around for about half an hour pushing it in his dump truck and talking to it. He'd say in a high sweet voice, "ohhh...it's o-tay wom, Bycie hab you. It's o-tay..."

(Daddy and Bryce digging a hole to make the worm a 'home'- my attempt to keep it outside).
(my attempt failed. This is the worm... now three worms on our window sill.

Happy 5th Birthday Carter-O!

2009-03-07T11:11:00.000-08:00

(Carter eating his birthday breakfast in bed holding up how old he is. I told him he could have anything he wanted, but he just wanted "ee-oo"cereal (Life) and juice. Easy enough).
Carter turned 5 on February 19th, but we didn't tell him he was five until that Saturday when he had his party a few days later. He had a race car party at the church. We were going to have it here at our house, but 13 boys in our townhouse didn't seem like the greatest idea. Especially since we (okay I) wanted to do relays and race cars and the like. I borrowed 13 old tires from a local auto place here and set them up to play musical "tires." They had to run around like race cars and when the music stopped, they needed to make a pit stop in one of the tires. It was lots of fun. We made candy race cars, did a race car scratch craft, played "vroom, vroom, go" (AKA duck, duck, goose) with them sitting in their tires, had a relay race and of course pinata. But just before that we ate race car cake. YUM! I had a lot of fun decorating it too. Carter invited his soccer coach who was sweet enough to come for the first hour, and he invited his primary teacher who also came for the first hour. It warms my heart to see all the people that influence my sons life make such an effort to show they care about him.
We ended up getting Carter geo trax grand central station which he shares with his brother- that was the stipulation since everything seems to be "his special toy" lately. We got Bryce his own train so they won't have to fight over the train it came with.
(all the guests around the table ready do a car craft wearing their 'race car helmet' masks).
(They had to go through a tunnel, step through the tires, jump over the 'river,' go around the cones, and throw a ball into a tire before running back and tagging the next person on their team. SO FUN!)
(pinata fun)
("Happy birthday to you..." Carter later told me he was "a little embarrassed with everyone singing to him").
(Fun race track cake I made... Carter put in most of the white lifesavers in the middle. What a great helper he is!)
(After the party which I thought was a huge success, I asked Carter what his favorite part was. He said, 'getting presents and the pinata).
Carter is really into making books now by drawing/coloring on printer paper, and/or writing random letters on the pages for a "letter page." He then staples them all together to be a "book" and gives them away as gifts or saves them for the library he wants to have someday.
Carter is a sensitive little boy who loves to run, bike, scooter, and play with friends. He loves the outdoors! He loves to talk and has a great imagination. He becomes fixated on things for a while (ex. making our house into a library, or our basement into geotrax city). He is very creative and asks a LOT of questions always wanting to know how and why. He's a great big brother and he and Bryce have really started playing together well. He loves preschool! He still loves trains, planes, boats and cars. Anything remote control is "cool." He likes playing soccer and loves eating candy/gum or anything sweet. He is into working to save money to buy things he wants. Yesterday he wanted to buy more geotrax tracks and today he wants to buy a four-wheeler that kids ride.
Here are some answers to questions I've asked him:
Favorite vacation: Disney Cruise
Favorite scripture story: When Nephi builds a boat
Favorite color: blue
Favorite toy: race car
Favorite friend: Braedon, I mean everyone. I mean Kyler, cause we played together yesterday.
Favorite treat: cake, candy and gum
Favorite family activity: hide and go seek
Favorite book: leaning about dinosaurs that used to be on the earth
Favorite movie: Geo trax All Aboard
Favorite thing to do: Go with daddy places and geotrax, geotrax, geotrax!
Favorite song: I'm a child of God
We are so grateful to have you in our family sweet boy! We love you!

But HOW?

2009-03-06T15:27:00.001-08:00

Here is the conversation I had with Carter at 10:55pm- yes, PM last night.
He comes into my room says, "I'm thinking about sad things and feel sad." I bring him back to his room, hold him and rock in his chair and ask why. Here is the conversation while primary church songs play on his CD player.
Carter: Because I'm thinking of Jesus
Me: Those thoughts should be happy thoughts because he loves you so much. Why do you feel sad?
Carter: I don't know.
Me: Sometimes when I feel the spirit and the love that Jesus and Heavenly Father have for me, I feel so happy I cry. Do you think that's what you are feeling?
Carter: Well, I know how the spirit feels, but how can the holy ghost be with me and be with everyone else at the same time?
Me: Because he is a spirit so we can feel him all the time. He lets us know when what we hear is true and when we feel good inside and happy and peaceful, that's the holy ghost also with us.
Carter: Why is he called a ghost?
Me: It's just another name for spirit. We can call him the holy spirit if you want. It just means he doesn't have a body like Heavenly Father and Jesus do.
Carter: Why?
Me: So he can be felt by everyone in the world.
Carter: But how???
Me: I don't understand everything right now, but I have faith and believe that because the spirit does not have a body, we are able to feel him with us.
Carter: Some people didn't believe in Jesus. But I believe in Him. Do you believe in Him mommy?
Me: Yes Carter, I believe in Him. I know he is the son of God.
Carter: Me too. But how cany the holy ghost be with everyone? Can you show me a scripture that talks about that?
Me: (a little stunned, feeling unworthy to be this child's mother b/c I don't have all the answers...not even close). I say, I'll find you one and share it with you in the morning.
Carter: Ok. I think the holy ghost just goes around and around in a big circle (drawing a circle in the air with his finger) super fast so he can get to everyone.
Me: Hmmmm....maybe. But I think he's with us all at the same time.
Carter: But how?
Me: It's like when someone is baptized, they get to become a member of Jesus Christ church and then receive the gift of the holy ghost to be with them all the time when they are doing the things that Heavenly Father wants them to do. If they make a mistake, the holy ghost can't be felt anymore.
Carter: We all make mistakes. Then I'll just pray and make better choices, and then he'll come back.
Me: That's right.
Carter: Good feelings come from God. Bad feelings come from Satan.
Me: (Not sure how deep to go...) Whenever we are making good choices, we feel good and the spirit can be with us. All good things come from God. That's right.
I tuck Carter in tell him I love him and go downstairs to talk to Brady and my brother Matt who just got back from serving a 2 year mission for our church. I tell them the story and ask them for the scripture. I then go back to Carter ready with my D&C 130 28-29 talking about how God and Christ have a body of bones and flesh and the holy ghost is a spirit so he can dwell in us. Feeling satisfied I've given my preschooler some scriptural knowledge and answered his question, he looks at me and says, but HOW?

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

2009-02-23T10:58:00.000-08:00

I don't even know where this quote came from but it fits perfectly for the subject of nap time/bedtime. When your children are infants and don't sleep at night- or in the day for that matter, and then cry (and by cry I mean SCREAM) for at least 3 hours EVERY NIGHT- (this was Carter for the first month and Bryce for the first 10 months...yes, ten) and you are SOOOO sleep deprived you can't see straight and so nauseous because you are so exhausted you want to die; I would say it's the worst of times. Then, they start napping on a schedule and sleeping through the night and finally you can count on that couple hour break in the day, and having your own time to regroup and maintain a bit or sanity at the end of the day, is the best of times. However... when you are trying to get a child to transition from a crib to a toddler bed, we have again entered the worst of times stage. Of course not as bad as the infant worst of time stage, so I'll call it the 2nd worst of times stage.
I don't know what to do with my sweet, cute, smart (too much for his own good), inventive, curious, energetic, full of life Brycie. We have been transitioning for about two weeks now trying different things. The whole super nanny idea of waiting outside their door, and when they come out, you do not say a word, pick them up and put them back in bed did not work. It backfired. Bryce thinks this is a great game and opens the door with a huge smile on his face, reaches his arms up knowing he'll be picked up, laughs when we do so and put him back in bed... repeat for 2 hours. Okay, so I'm tired. I need sleep. I'm done with super nanny. Next great idea: put a child-proof door handle on the inside of his door so he can't open it. Backfired: He can figure out the child-proof lock by just dumb luck and persistence.
Next greater idea: Lock the door from the inside AND put a child-proof handle on- so even if he can twist the child proof handle, it's locked and can't reach his little fingers in the child-proof handle to unlock it. Backfired: He now needs to entertain himself in his room which would be fine, but he does it by taking off his PJ's AND diaper. So when we check on him before we go to bed he has 3 pairs of different urine soaked PJ's in his drawer (nice of him to put them away), a squishy carpet spot and a naked Bryce finally asleep before midnight.
Next bigger and better idea: Put his PJ's on backward with the zipper in the back and just twist the little feet around in the front so he can't take off his PJ's and diaper. Backfired: Now that he can't entertain himself by peeing on things, so he rips up books, smears desitin and A&D cream on the carpet and himself, turns the rocking chair upside down to climb on and jump from, attempts to climb the dresser/changing table by pulling all the clothes out of the drawers and climbing in and up them to get to the top of the dresser. (Can anyone else see another broken limb in this child's future???) I know these things only when I hear a loud crash sound and Bryce starts crying. I run upstairs and my 'greater idea' of locking the door from the inside AND putting the child proof handle on backfires against me as now I'm struggling to fit this stupid little pin in the hole of the doorknob to unlock it to see if Bryce is okay. I get in, and hold Bryce making sure he is okay (he is, although miffed at the dresser for throwing him off) and notice the tornado called Bryce that has attacked the room. The middle dresser drawer metal is bent and broken-(yet to be fixed if it even can be), desitin stains the floor, rocking chair tipped over, and we are short a few more books.
Okay, so here is the new battle plan because seriously, did I mention I'm tired? We do this at nap time AND bed time. The struggle for at least 2 hours and by that time, nap time is over and then he falls asleep at 5:00pm exhausted because he didn't nap and stays up later to do the bed time struggle. Oh, and as a bonus, he gets into our bed in the middle of the night (which at this point I allow because I don't have the strength and energy to put him back in his own bed worried he won't go back to sleep, and then I won't get sleep either. So, I just scoot over and in comes Bryce man.
Back to the battle plan...
1- Turn the knobs the other way around so I can just lock it if the "firm warning" he gets first doesn't work. This way, it's easier for me to then unlock it should he need me quickly like when tornado Bryce struck.
2- Continue to put PJ's on backwards
3- Remove EVERYTHING from his room other than his bed.
4- Pad the room.
Okay, maybe not number 4, but the other 3 I'll try. Then at least I know he is safe (although who knows what he'll come up with). And hopefully slowly, I can put back books, clothes, diapers, sheets, etc. once he gets that he needs to stay put and does.
I realize this is extreme. I'm open for suggestions. And please, super nanny if you are reading this and have Bryce-proofed your technique, please, please, please, give me a call. We need to talk. I'm SO ready for the best of times again!
(Good thing he is so dang cute!)

Pilates faux pas

2009-02-19T20:38:00.000-08:00

So in my class tonight, I am preparing them to do shoulder bridge, an exercise where most your weight is on your heels boosted up to the ceiling. There was a new student in the class and I said to her "you'll want to take your socks off so you don't slip" and looked right at her. She still didn't take off her socks. I go over to her and say it again and she says, "I can't, I have a fungus on my foot." I say (without thinking), "oh yeah, leave them on then" inserting my non-fungus foot into my mouth. People start kind of snickering and chuckling. Think I'll see her next week? Not betting on it...

Random pics of the past few weeks

2009-02-15T17:35:00.000-08:00

(For whatever reason, Carter decided he wanted to wear underwear as a hat on the way to school).
(Bryce:"hello? Papa dare? Hi papa, oh, okay, bye.") Check out those froggy rain boots:)
(Carter learning how to eat with a fork and knife)
(tucking sheepie in for a nap and reading him a bedtime story)
(making cookies with my little helpers. Unfortunately Carter turned on the mixer at high speed just after I added all the flour. They both got covered - especially Bryce and had it in his eyes. This is him still not happy even after I cleaned him up).
(messy cookie helpers giving hugs)
(evidence of that hug).
(Bryce has been ripping books lately which has cost me $15 so far at the library).