welcome 2011

Welcome 2011.

I was anxious for you to arrive. Granted, we didn't greet you entirely proper since we rang in the new year somewhere around 8:45 p.m. But no matter. It was still a profoundly fun evening with good company, and good food (if I do say so myself).

But back to why I am glad for your arrival: 2010 was definitely memorable. With moving and everything else that comes with that, as well as the loss of a dearly loved lady, we ended the year in more of a frenzie then to be expected.

2011: I know you'll be a good one for us. I just do. Some evidence of this: yesterday (the first dreaded Monday of the year) I had the morning off. And it was lovely. Bug randomly had that day off and since he used most of his vacation time for funeral stuff, this day was preciously dedicated to my enjoyment. While Bug spent the morning carpooling kids to preschool, making DI runs, helping his mom, and being a dad I spent it shopping. And what better places to go when kid-less? Hobby Lobby. (I'll even admit I went to both Hobby Lobby's yesterday morning...I was on a particular quest) Target and Costco slipped in my line up as well. Can't tell you how much I enjoyed roaming up the aisles without having to pickup a bottle that had been chucked on the ground for the billionth time, or having to stress about something getting knocked over.

It gets better. When we all returned home from the morning adventures, I was able to sneak in some more me time watching a bbc show. I also registered for another art class. Hoping 2011 will be the big year to bring back oil painting in my life. Then after nap time: dinner out & delivering my sisters birthday present. Perfect day.

Thank you 2011 for already being kind. I can't wait to see what else is in store.

frosty

Dear Fellow Residents & Neighbors,

Please understand that if you have one of those inflatable Frosty the Snowmen in your front yard, we will find you. And when we do, we will put our car in park and not leave until we listen to Fiona Apple sing Frosty the Snowman the entire way through before being on our way. My apologies if this creeps you out. (can't say I wouldn't blame you)

If you'll notice, two embarrassed parents are in the front seat while a enamored wide-eyed three year old with a big grin is watching Frosty from the back seat.

We tried to just stick to Christmas Street this year (found at about 17oo south and 15oo east) but we are getting a little bored of it, seeing as how we go every night. (And if we don't make it, the three year old mentions it about a hundred times in her prayers that we can make it the next night.) As you can see, we have to branch out for our sanity. This being the case, we have been on the hunt for some good Frosty's around town.

So please, think nothing of it if you see us parked outside your house, night after night, for approximately 2 minutes and 10 seconds. It is all in the name of Christmas cheer.

signed,
a parent of a Frosty lover

P.S. what would it take for you to keep Frosty up for the next couple of months? It sure is nice to have him as a bribe to leave grandma's house when the three year old has the grumps. Think it over and let me know...

blue christmas

Sadly, I think we may be a little blue this Christmas. Our sweet, sweet grandma passed away quietly and peacefully last night. It was exactly how I would have wished for her to go, but nonetheless you can imagine there are a few of us who will be missing her.

Leah was always an angel to me and my family. I remember wanting everyone from my side of the family to meet her and grandpa because I couldn't think more highly of anyone else. I am so thankful that I was able to be blessed with the eight years with her. All the memories sitting around my in-laws table after Sunday dinners, swapping stories of our week, exchanging laughter, praise and love for each other. She truly had a gift that made everyone feel they were her favorite; that they were most special to her. I was so touched, that when we found out we were pregnant with a girl we felt strongly that our little one should be named after someone filled with so much good and love for others.

I am grateful that a couple of Sundays ago we went and visited Grandma and Grandpa randomly. It was snowy, and way too icy to be out, but wonderful all the same. Grandma had the usual smile and thankful words for us. It was the last "real" conversation we had, and the last time our kids got to hug and kiss her.

I am also grateful for the treasure of being able to visit last week when we knew the end was coming. In a quiet moment, when Bug and Grandpa were busy discussing finances and other matters I was able to hold her hand, and rub her arm silently communicating my goodbyes.

What a good lady. I think there is something special about someone so good passing to the other side. I know there is nothing but celebrations and welcome reunions.

And now as I continue on, spending my days in the same house she kept so neat and tidy for 50 years, I think of her often as I change the sheets, make the kids lunch, and tidy up the house. Thinking of her helps me to be more patient and loving with my own kids. I hope her sweet spirit can linger here always.

Love you Grandma.

xoxo

four stitches later

Sorry, once again I am pictureless. Lame I know. But its either this, or no post at all.

We had a rough holiday weekend, and I must confess this may be a little TMI. Reader beware.

Wednesday afternoon as we were settling down from driving to Heber the night before with all the fam to ride the polar express (loved it again this year), A was playing with B in her room. I was on the phone with my mom telling her how funny A was when she got disappointed that Santa hadn't given her the barbie house she is very much looking forward to on the train ride. (didn't occur to me to explain the need to wait for Christmas)
As I was doing so, I heard the door slam hard to A's room.

I'll fast forward the details, but it resulted in one very bloody and badly cut finger (along with some bruises) on the little guy, and as a result the little girl getting an ear full for an entire week about how we don't slam doors.

Thank heavens we live close to Primary's.
Thank heavens my mother in law could rush over to babysit the instigator.
Thank heavens Bug got off work immediately when I called him, after I had tried unsuccessfully to stop the bleeding and was starting to panic a tiny bit.
Thank heavens for my little trooper. He started flirting with the nurses as we waited for x-rays. The doctors also were so impressed by how happy he was that they elected to not put him under, and just numb him locally. (that part will probably rank as one of my least favorite moments as a mom. hated watching my little guy being held down and bawling as they stitched him up.)

So for the past week, he's stumbled around with a little cast on. That's right, 4 stitches in the index finger at 12 months old apparently earns you the right to wear a full-on cast from finger tip to elbow.

Yesterday we went to the pediatricians to get the stitches out. More blood. More heartbreaking cries. No good. No good at all.

This morning, I about came unglued when A attempted another door slamming. I overheard Bug talking to her:
"A, mommy and daddy have asked you not to slam doors because we get hurt. You keep doing it and it makes mommy and daddy upset. What should we do about it?"

A's response: "um...pray?"

10 for this week

I am back, and without such a long pause as usual. My last post of 10 things I've been busy with seemed to generate a small yet significant response. So here again:

the 10 things that have kept me busy lately.

01. This guy (B) turned one. He pretty much did "head shoulders knees and toes" with his cake. Hand clapping, hair grabbing, squealing, and giggles were in abundance...and that was just my reaction. We busted a pinata in our new cozy little family room, and afterwards the panic button for the security button did get bumped...and cops did show up. Good to know they respond quickly I guess. Happy Birthday Mr. B.

02. As noted, I have a picture here. It was no small feat. We are still operating under unusual computer circumstances, so I took my overly loaded camera to my parents house to download to a disc there. After successfully crashing both of my dad's computers, I bring you the one photo above. Yeah for small steps.

03. Can I brag? My Christmas Shopping is almost complete. But don't get me wrong. You WILL spot me out and about on Black Friday. Hopefully this year we will not be caught on the news. (sleeping in my clothes, no care for hair or makeup is not a look I care to have broadcast on several channels). The shopping is complete largely due to A's trips to preschool. Then B and I are off packing in the errands until he falls completely comatose in the car seat.

04. I spent a really great weekend taking a time out with the Yoho women. It was perfection wrapped up with good food, inspiration, laughing, some sleeping, and me revealing my fault of occasionally screaming with my mouth closed in my sleep. (try screaming with your mouth closed right now: I dare you). Loved every minute.

05. Planning Christmas outings. A week or two ago I had Bug sit down with me and list out what traditions are pivotal this season. Want to know what made the cut?

riding The Polar Express~Temple Square Lights~watching Elf~~Christmas Street~going to a movie on Christmas Eve~zoo lights~breakfast with Santa

If you have interest in joining with us, let me know.

06. I continue to attend the new ward. I think I must know how to spin a good one, because I think I could start selling tickets to the "unusual" Relief Society lessons going on. Man, oh man. Also in other good ward news, they don't even have our phone number yet. We are trying to ride that one out for as long as possible.

07. However (big downer here) Bug and I couldn't avoid the bishopric counselor who made a bee line through the long narrow chapel, past all the overflow chairs to the very back row (to where you will find us sitting these days) and asked us to speak this upcoming Sunday. Happy Thanksgiving and Black Friday to us. Our topic: Doing your Duty. If you talk about it for too long, Bug starts to get the giggles, immaturely relating it to bodily functions. Men.

08. I finished my second piece of commissioned art work this afternoon. B was down for a nap, and A breathed down my neck the entire time asking if she could paint too. (deep sigh) not quite the environment I had envisioned for the long hoped for art studio I would one day revel in, but nonetheless I have produced my first piece of art in my studio. A very happy moment for me.

09. I rearranged all my furniture in my front room. So now there are new nail holes in the recently painted walls. What is wrong with me? I know, I know. A form of OCD for sure. Yet, I must say it looks better, and now I have a natural spot for our Christmas tree (which is NOT up yet...for shame if you thought I was one to bypass the Thanksgiving Holiday).

10. If you're still following along my little list on whats been filling up my calendar spaces lately, then let me brag for this one. Bug has been watching some of my BBC movies with me each night. What is it like to have a husband curl up in bed with you and watch 8 installments of the BBC Masterpiece Classic Version of Emma? Or get as rilled up as I do watching (one of my favs) Wives and Daughters you ask?

bliss.

That's it for this week.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

justification

I realize that its been an entire month since I last posted. I was starting to think maybe of dropping off?

Yet here I am.

Apologies for yet another one without pictures. I hope to post some soon of the new house. For now the top 10 reasons it has taken me a month to get back on here:

1. Read 'The Hunger Games' trilogy. This didn't take me 30 days to read. Instead I did it in more like 5 days, which is slow according to the general public's average of a book a day.

2. House projects. And there's a zillion. I did help Bug cross off 'hang lights in A & B's room' off the list just now. However, instead of diminishing the list seems to be breeding. Naughty thing.

3. B turned ONE this past week. Can't believe it. Seriously. He has kept me busy pulling out electrical cords, flinging himself down our stairs, pulling/crawling/climbing everywhere, laughing at just about everything still, and overall just maintaining his status of "easy baby." Love him.

4. A started preschool. This is something I am absolutely relishing. We had a late start due to the move, but I managed to find somewhere to slip her in. She is having fun, but you better believe that those 2 1/2 hours without her are the busiest for B and I. We knock out errands left and right. Hip hip hooray for running errands with one kid.

5. Made my kids Halloween costumes this year (this is where a picture would be appreciated, I know.) As if nothing else was happening, I decided to make their costumes. A: Little Bo Peep B: a sheep. It was too cute. Too bad the rain interfered with the Sheep making it out to trick-or-treat at night, but don't worry our cute duo made it to the zoo, and to visit grandparents all over the valley.

6. We have really slow internet service here. I think I have pulled out clumps of hair over this alone. Otherwise, you totally would have been kept in the blogging loop more often. I swear.

7. I am trying to put on a happy face about the new ward. The first Sunday in Relief Society included the phrase from the teachers mouth "Asian women are found to be the most titillating" on a lesson on pornography (?) and I found myself wondering if this is what I've been missing in YWs all these years. (p.s. the lesson was intense. If you want the full report I'll be happy to oblige.) I have made it to a playgroup, and will probably return to RS since they have me committed to saying a prayer.

8. A has been in ballet, and had her little recital. In Bug's words: "this is the cutest thing I have ever seen in my life." Also, I realize a picture would be absolutely fitting here as well. Sorry. But it was amazing. And A did great. So proud of her.

9. Creating a routine over here at the new house. A had a rough start at adjusting. My parents (bless their hearts) basically adopted A & B for a week or two during de-wallpapering and moving. When A finally moved back in with us, it was hard on her...making it hard on us all. Thank heavens for the upgrade to a king size bed so she could come crawl in between on scary nights. She does still ask to go to the "other church" on Sundays, but I think we are back to "normal functioning" again.

10. We still own and are working on our old house. Another shout for joy because Bug has finally agreed to hiring out the majority of the work. Seems two houses (and a cabin) to maintain and care for is more than we can chew. Look for our new transition as landlords at the end of the month.

Well? Am I justified? Shoot. We are all busy, aren't we? And now the holiday season is upon us there's not a moment to loose. I have some grand plans for some Christmas presents, some commissioned artwork to get done, and lots of festivities to plan and arrange in the near future.

As my dad always says "No rest for the wicked."

just checking in

yes I am still alive out there in blogland, albeit barely.

And I should be using these minutes to be packing, but instead am resting my tired muscles.
That's right.
I am now knee deep in the process of disassembling our home,
watching it as box by box it turns back into a house
until it doesn't feel like it was ever ours
then hefting each box into the car
down the street a few blocks
and into the "new" house.

Miss A still refers to it as Grandpa & Grandma's house and corrects me when I try to teach her it's ours now. What to do to help her understand? I bet when we make the big final move this weekend she'll soon get it.

Bless our family that spends each night, hour upon hour, readying the house with us.
Bless the friends that have taken A, so I can work like the wind.
Bless my parents for practically adopting the kids every day (and night).
Bless my husband for witnessing some pretty intense meltdowns.

Bless us all, since once we're moved we're far from over. Bug will immediately begin work on reassembling this house (aka putting ceilings and walls back up in the basement, new cement, etc)
And then we'll be off to experience life as landlords.

Wish us luck.
and energy
and emotional stamina
and good health.

We'll need it.