The Infangers

Zone Time

2011-10-29T23:07:00.001-06:00

I found this very fitting for our life now.

Pictures of Atleigh

2011-10-29T23:01:00.005-06:00

I've needed to post pictures of her forever now, so here are a few from a photo shoot my friend Brittney* did. They turned out so wonderful! She is such a sweet thing and I'm so glad to have captured these when she was so little still (she was 2 weeks old when these were taken). We love her to pieces! I always hoped to have a daughter but it is truly wonderful to have her in our home, such a blessing.

And for those who never heard stats, Atleigh JoAnn was born August 18th at 2:31 a.m. She weighed 8 lbs 4 oz (we were shocked how big she was, much bigger than both her brothers, especially considering I had gained way less weight during the pregnancy, woo hoo!) and was 20 inches long. Pretty cool that her new cousin who was just born this week was the exact same weight and length.

* Photography by Brittney Warburton (sethandbrittney@gmail.com)

The Baby Atleigh Song

2011-09-28T13:15:00.000-06:00

I need to actually post pictures of her, most of you probably know she has arrived last month (she's almost 6 weeks old already, crazy!), it's been a crazy few weeks around here! But in the meantime, I wanted to post this, it's a song my siblings dedicated to Atleigh. They have started coming up with songs for the new nieces and nephews, so this is hers. Imagine them saying "Baby Atleigh" instead of "baby monkey" in the song. As you can imagine the boys love it. And they love playing the iPhone game (2nd video) on my sister Andrea's boyfriend Justin's iPhone.

Caveman's Primary Talk

2011-07-31T21:03:00.000-06:00

Topic: I can prepare to go to the temple (or something like that, I need to find the paper to know exactly)

(Showed picture of Mount Timpanogos Temple) Last month my Aunt Val got married in the Mount Timpanogos Temple (it was SO cute hearing him try to say "Timpanogos"!). She and Will looked so happy. It was fun to see them come out of the temple. They had prepared to be worthy to be sealed in the temple. I can prepare to go to the temple by:

Following the prophet (picture of President Monson at conference from Ensign cover)
Going to church (picture of girl giving talk in Primary)
Saying my prayers (picture of boy saving prayers)
Reading my scriptures (picture of girl reading her scriptures)
Being nice to my family (picture of family playing games together)

I know that if I can be doing these things to prepare to go to the temple someday. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

He did a really good job!

Spring Soccer

2011-05-07T16:19:00.000-06:00

Not sure what I was thinking when I signed up Bubba for spring soccer, since spring in Utah is neurotic (more a delayed-onset winter!). Two of the games have been cancelled/rescheduled due to rain/snow, others have been freezing cold. The last 2 have been in the 70's so that's good at least. I guess what can you expect when the season spans from end of March to start of April. Still, I think will stay with fall soccer next year! Bubba is a funny kid, this is his tiger stance. Their team decided to be the BYU Tigersaurs (way to include all the kid's creative name idea, LOL) so they are often found doing this stance at the start of the game. As you can imagine, Bubba does it more often than that. He is learning better coordination with kicking, he still has a lot to learn but it's good for him to interact with other kids and learn to be part of a team. Plus, you can't beat the treats at the end of the game. And we finally got him knee-length soccer socks to go over his shin guards so he looks super cute in his soccer uniform.

Stake Easter Hunt

2011-04-23T16:09:00.000-06:00

Caveman's First Primary talk!

2011-03-20T12:30:00.000-06:00

Theme: We are led by a living prophet today.

-showed picture of President Monson
-read new verse from "Follow the Prophet" (see below)
-read D&C 1:38
-showed pictures of general conference and King Benjamin on tower
-told brief story of King Benjamin teaching his people from the tower, how they listened from their tents
-"Follow the Prophet" chorus
-testimony

Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to return.
He blesses us with prophets who help us to learn.
President Monson humbly leads God's church today.
As we heed his words we'll walk a righteous way.
(from March 2010 Friend)

Rex Lee Run

2011-03-12T16:06:00.001-07:00

Andrea and I did the 5K, I was super proud because I ran the whole time! (not that my time was anything to brag about...but being 16 weeks pregnant, I was pretty proud of myself!) Chris did the 10K and did a great job. My mom and brother Jake came down to hang out with the boys. We had a fun time. And Andrea won 2 Lagoon tickets in the raffle drawings, woot!

Run and hit...

2011-02-28T16:00:00.001-07:00

Our jogging stroller isn't supposed to have a swivel wheel. Luckily the boys were okay and the kid's insurance worked with us so we were able to get the frame and front wheel replaced. Scary experienced, we feel very blessed it was just the stroller that got hurt. Another reminder that drivers need to be careful when coming out of parking lots...

Bubba's Primary Talk

2011-01-20T21:02:00.001-07:00

The stories of the prophets in the scriptures teach me what I should do.

Jonah was a prophet. Heavenly Father told him to go and teach some people Jonah was afraid of. Jonah thought that if he went and did what Heavenly Father asked him to do that he would be killed. He ran away and was eaten by a big fish. While he was in the fish, Jonah repented and Heavenly Father told Jonah to have faith. Jonah went to Ninevah and taught the people he was afraid of. Heavenly Father blessed the people Jonah taught, and they repented. Jonah learned that when we do what we are supposed to do, Heavenly Father blesses us and keeps us safe.

Yesterday, my brother and I were fighting. My Dad told me I needed to come in and tell him what we were doing. I was scared. I thought he might eat me like a fish. I remembered that Jonah was blessed when he was obedient and I went to talk to my Dad. My Dad helped us stop fighting and he was proud of me for taking responsibility and being obedient. And he didn't eat me. I know that the stories of the prophets in the scriptures help us know what to do in our lives. Heavenly Father blesses us when we are obedient and he keeps us safe, even when we are scared.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

(Chris helped him with the talk and typed this up after.)

Car Show

2011-01-17T15:58:00.000-07:00

Christmas Morning

2010-12-25T15:54:00.000-07:00

boys and their toys

2010-10-17T15:18:00.000-06:00

One of the boys favorite things to do at our new house is to race up and down the sidewalks with their trucks. It really is so nice to have a yard for them to play in!!!

Trip to D.C.

2010-10-17T15:15:00.001-06:00

The boys had me take 2 of their stuffed animal with me on my trip. They were so cute about it. Though Ian was seriously worried I wasn't coming home, he asked if I would be home for Christmas!

Chris was kind enough to surprise me with a trip to D.C. to visit his sitter, Val (truth be told I was furious at first that he was sending me! I know I'm kind of a brat sometimes.) But of course I had a ball seeing the sites, went down to New York for a day, had some great "Jenny" time and brought the kids back fun souvenirs. By the time I got home I definitely had missed the boys but did appreciate the time to rejuvenate.

My 3 cute, sweet [most of the time] boys

2010-09-02T21:45:00.000-06:00

On the boat at Strawberry while Daddy and Granddad went SCUBA diving for crawfish (yum!).

Pool at Snowbird. So dang cute.

The boys with their pandas from China, thanks Andrea! They must have these every night sleep, it's one of Bubba's new comfort items when he's sad or hurt. And I know every toy seems to say "Made in China" but not like these, no, these were brought back from Beijing scrunched inside my little sister's backpack and lovingly packed and brought home as souvenirs for her adorable nieces and nephews!

Diver, diver!

2010-09-02T21:33:00.000-06:00

Caveman was a riot in the pool at Snowbird. He is getting really good at going under the water, especially after 2 weeks of parent/tot swim lessons in August. He is too dang funny!

Some of our Summer

2010-07-19T10:22:00.002-06:00

Bubba got his first stitches. On our first visit to the pool this summer, he somehow managed to hit his chin going down the slide (next time my child says, "One more time, by myself." pretty sure I will think twice before saying yes!) He was super brave though and didn't even cry while the doctor put in the "sutures" (Bubba didn't want stitches so the doctor kindly did sutures instead, LOL).

Chris took two days off of work and we did a staycation of sorts; one day we went to This is the Place which was a lot of fun. The baby animals were darling. I decided I want a pygmy goat someday. Then we went to Temple Square and saw the new display/model of the Salt Lake Temple and watched the Joseph Smith movie. It was a bit intense for the boys at times but I'm glad they got to watch it, and it has been years since I last saw it and was touched again.

Chris and I ran the Strawberry Days 5K and Bubba ran his first kids' race (1/2 mile). Then we watched the parade with my family and later that day went to the carnival and had our annual corndog and strawberries and cream. Caveman was excited he had grown enough and got to ride in the 4x4 trucks this year.

Swagger Wagon

2010-05-10T11:27:00.001-06:00

So Chris thinks I only want a Toyota Sienna when we get a van. Mostly I just think it will be nice to have a van in general, to have plenty of room and seats for the kids and friends or carpool (someday). though I have to admit I do love the Sienna in red :) The video is kind of silly but funny at the same time.

thanks to my family man

2010-02-16T23:20:00.003-07:00

"Family Man" from Trevor Little on Vimeo.

I'm so grateful for all the sacrifices Chris makes to take care of our family and to love me. And for my Dad who has does the same for my Mom and siblings. Also, a general shout out to all the great men out there who place their families as #1, oh how we need good daddies and husbands!

Slow down so you don't miss the sweet moments

2010-01-06T15:30:00.003-07:00

Cute Cooper came following me into my room yesterday morning. I was hurrying to get in the shower so we could go pick Ian up from preschool. But luckily I stopped long enough. Cooper had his little blue Book of Mormon in his hands and was saying "book, book" (which instead of "k" sound he puts more of a "t" sound which is really cute) "me". Then he pointed at my triple combination and Bible sitting on my bed and said "Momma". So adorable. Then we sat down on the floor and looked through our sets of scriptures together. Priceless. And amazing how these children really do come wired with such a Spirit and innocence about them. Oh how much I have to learn from my children!

Love my boys

2009-12-30T16:06:00.000-07:00

Polaroid Pictures

2009-12-30T15:53:00.008-07:00

During the photo shoot Becky's assistant (her sister) took polaroids. There were some fun shots, Ian especially showed off for this; he kept telling her to take another one. He thought the instant printed picture was pretty dang cool.

Family Pictures

2009-12-30T11:26:00.011-07:00

I won a free photo session (and some yummy snickernoodles) through a friend's sister's blog a few months ago. Becky Leung did a great job and we had a lot of fun. I know she was not quite sure what to do with Cooper who refused to smile in any pictures, but we just know that's how he is right now and so all the pictures she captured fit his personality perfectly. Check out her blog, I'd definitely recommend her as a photographer; she has a great eye and caught some really fun perspectives and shots of all of us. I especially love the vibrant colors, as well as the black and white versions. I just printed black and white shots for our living room and they look great on the entertainment center.

Christmas Card 2009

2009-12-30T11:21:00.004-07:00

We have a great time preparing our Christmas letter each year; Chris writes the letter and I open Photoshop Elements for the first time during the year to make our card/picture (and amazingly when printed as a 8x12 it turns into my sole scrapbook page for the year as well!). We love sending and getting Christmas cards each year, especially reading about what you've been up to during the year, so if we missed sending you a card this year via email or mail (we did a little of both this year) leave a comment or email me your address, we love staying up-to-date with friends and family, at least once a year via the annual Christmas letters.

Merry Christmas everyone!

My Mommy Blog

2009-12-16T10:36:00.002-07:00

I am realizing how much of me hasn't been recorded since I was on my blogging hiatus this last year or so. I would like to figure out a way to better record my life (and think out loud) than I have, but hopefully in a more balanced way. I am amazed by all the blogs out there, both personal family blogs as well as my recent frenzy following frugal blogs (and a few about marriage and organization). There is always so much to learn but always so much to do as well. I hope to continue finding good, healthy outlets, and I'd like it if I would allow myself time to enjoy recording about myself and our little family. I created another blog awhile ago, it's mostly for me and I don't post on it often, but it's a nice outlet/place for me to type down thoughts and ideas that come to me or that I learn from others in regards to being a homemaker, mother, wife, etc. Right now it will likely end up being a little of everything--preschool outlines, my thoughts and current quandaries about parenting, birth, nursing, housekeeping, pregnancy, marriage, the powerful influence of mothers and women, etc.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments if you have an interest in visiting it. I truly believe that as we support each other in our separate but similar efforts we are stronger and call all be blessed and grown and learn together.

www.littlejoysofmotherhood.blogspot.com

St. George Marthon 2009

2009-10-27T13:58:00.002-06:00

We had a good trip down to St. George. I love this chair at the gas station in Beaver (though I have to write that I am not a big fan of the car serviceman who works there--he told me my tire was going to blow out a few years ago--but that's a story for another day...)
Chris had said that we need to find a cool Cooper tires sign somewhere to hang in the boys bedroom (along with all their old license plates that border their room). I figured a picture with it in the background was almost as good. Coop couldn't have cared less. He was excited about his Swedish fish. Ian had been patiently waiting to get cinnamon bears since we left home (you can tell he's my kid! what 4 year old chooses those when you can have any candy in the gas station.
The boys were so good in the car. We had lots of snacks and activities for them to do. Cute Grammie sent them a notebook and little Sesame Street sticker books (as well as a bag of treats). Next time I need to remember to bring coloring books, crayons, pens and notebooks in the car (and a bag for garbage!). The boys were super cute reading their books. Cooper is in love with Curious George currently.
Okay now on to the actual marathon part--it is exciting to actually be writing this post! It is honestly crazy to realize I actually really did run a marathon! I always felt like marathons were for someone else, that you had to be an amazing or fast runner or to do one. I'd run track in high school but almost 10 years later had never really put fitness or running on the front runner in my life. Grant it there were lots of really fast, athletic people at the marathon but there were also tons of what I would call "normal" everyday people who chose to train for and run a marathon--and they did it! Just like me :) like I always thought I would do "someday"--it's pretty exciting to know I've done it now.

I watched the movie "Spirit of the Marathon" with Val right after Coop was born and there were 2 lines from it that really stuck out. One was that crossing the finish line of the marathon will change your line forever. The other was that you run marathon how you do life. I can honestly say the first is true; it is interesting as I've reflected the last few weeks after the marathon. Sometimes I honestly can't believe I did it! Others I feel so empowered to do whatever I want and am encouraged that when you put your mind to something you truly can do ANYTHING! The second quote worried me some since I remember thinking--I do life indecisively, so does that mean I may never even run the marathon?! But I was amazed really at how consistent I actually was with training and during the marathon. I felt like my attitude was just take it one mile at a time, keep going and be measured. So maybe what this actually tells me is that since I ran the marathon this way I can start to live more like this in my day to day life :)

My leg behind my right knee had been sore for a few weeks before the marathon. My inspiration on how to make it through this was to run on the indoor track. I was so anxious the entire week before the marathon! The trip down went well. The night before the race I made during to eat well and drank a lot. I got a good night sleep, got up about 3:50 a.m. ate some toast and bananas and a Kirkland breakfast shake, finished by gatorade and Chris took me to the bus. I met a really nice lady from Colorado who had run 14 marathons and we talked all the way up. I talked to some other girls waiting in line for the porta potties. It was neat how approachable and friendly everyone is, there was one girl who an elite runner but she didn't put on airs or anything, she was from Nebraska and really nice. I went to the bathroom (toilet was a hot commodity), threw my clothes back in the truck and did a little bit of warm-up/stretching. I decided to stretch and not start with the 4 hour pace, so ended up started about 11 minutes at the gun, which really ended up being fine. I passed a lot of people which was actually kind of motivating! I was getting ward between 1 and 2 miles so took off my gloves and long-sleeved shirt and deposited it by a van on the side of the road. I tied them together hoping that would help me find them at the end...but no...learned the hard way, really, don't wear anything you'll be sad if you lose (it was my cute soft black Modbe shirt). And I also got a little gold again a few miles later so tying it around my waste would have been smart. I'm glad to have learned things like this so next marathon I can know things like this!

Usually it takes me about 4 miles to get warmed up and into a groove but it was awesome because I never had to "warmup" just felt good from start which is a big change for me from most long runs (or even just my regular 3 milers!).

I was feeling really good through mile 5, then about mile 7 you hit Veyo/volcano which is a long hill. I overheard a girl talking about who she was dedicating miles to which I'd thought about doing, so I decided to dedicate miles 1-7 to my 7 siblings, 8 to my mom and 9 to my dad (those were up the volcano), mile 10 to my friend Elizabeth, 11 to "Grandma" Lesli, mile 12 to my grandma who lives in St. George, mile 13 to the Parry family/their son Ben who is serving an LDS mission. I totally got into a groove/was focusing so much on running I didn't do any for miles 14-20. But I had already planned Coop to be mile 23, Ian mile 24, Chris mile 25, and myself mile 26, thinking of how I can continue moving forward, becoming better, making changes, doing things, like I did running this marathon! And also generally to just do more to make Christ and Heavenly Father more a part of amy life.

I honestly felt pretty good the whole time. There was a lot of up hill (plently of those! more than I expected even though Val told me and looked at map...not the same thing!). My quads were sore from the downhill but that made the uphills nice in a way! Amazingly I didn't use my knee bands the whole time!! They rode around my ankles the whole time. LOL. It is so ironic (and such a blessing) because my hurting knees were the reason I almost didn't start training for the marathon in the first place. So it was such a relief to not have them hurt at all.

I carried my Gu with me safety pinned inside my shorts and had planned to take it around mile 15 but at mile 13 I was needed it. I took one again at mile 19 and then about mile 23 (last push through town to finish, losing some steam but still going strong; there were many walking/run-walking the last 2 miles and I wanted to scream at them, you're almost there, keep running!!)

A couple motivators for me during the marathon--I was almost checking off miles in sets of 2 (shocking that I the to-do list queen would find this helpful!) since there were aid stations about every 2 miles. Mentally it was almost like rather than thinking "ok, I ran a mile" I would think in terms of the next aid station, which meant I just completed 2 more miles! The balloons hanging on the portapotties were awesome, it was motivating to see that shining ahead and know an aid station was close! I didn't end up needed to use the portapotties during the race, which made me really happy. I had really worried about that but using it twice BEFORE the race helped I'm sure.

By mile 20 I was feeling so encouraged and still had plenty of steam. By mile 21 we finally hit the final descent (no more hills popping up! that was a bit of a mental trick to work through) and I knew it was all "downhill" from here, which was very motivating. I was feeling great physically. I had wondered earlier if I'd hit the "wall" but I never did! I felt strong from mile 21 on, tired of course but just kept going, passing some people, encouraging some along (I told one guy to keep going and he said his calves hurt, should he listen to me or them?!). The cheering crowds were great! St. George seriously does an awesome job with their aid stations/volunteers; there were lots of people who were hurting and were getting rubdowns at stations.
You can see me at the very back in the blue, to the right of the girl in the orange. I didn't know if Chris would see me, especially since I'd started lately and didn't know if he'd just stand there waiting for me (especially with the boys' short attention spans). So I was so excited to come down the finish line and hear Chris' voice. Chris said I wasn't sprinting but was finishing strong. I felt like I was going pretty dang fast! But maybe after 26 miles that seemed fast :) I was so excited to come in under 4 hours!! At one point after my first half marathon I wondered if I could maybe qualify for Boston but then realized that was pushing it too far, my goal needed to be to finish. Period. I wore my watch during the marathon to pace myself back so I didn't start too strong, since I really wanted to finish, have energy for the end, and not get injured. My pace stayed steady the whole time, even up the hills, I was often passing quite a few people and staying strong. I was excited that my pace would likely put me under 4 hours. I realized early on that this pace would not qualify me for Boston (under 3:40:49 is the max time for my age group) but I was okay with that, that was not what running this marathon was about (it will be someday but not this one!) And I was so proud that I ran the whole 26.2 miles, other than walk-jogging through the aid stations; I'd grab a gatorade and then a water almost every time and took my Gus right before each of the 3 aid stations.
I was so excited to see the boys that I totally spaced getting ice to ice my legs (do that different next time!) and they had popscicles that I wanted to give to the boys. I ate bread and started to drink right away, walking around.
We ran into my aunt and my cousin's girls. They'd made me a cute sign, so sweet!
I did it! And was thrilled with my time of 3:56:09 for my first marathon! It was so fun to get the medal (and I'm still waiting to get my shirt in the mail--they ran out of my size, sad).

It's Wednesday now and I am feeling pretty good. Overall my muscles feel about back to normal, other than a slight nagging that is still in my left hamstring, though that was there about the last week or so pre-marathon so I was just grateful to run the marathon without it giving me much, if any, problems.

I am already trying to decide what marathon to do next! The Runners Series 2010 for St George Marathon opened up Monday at 9 a.m. and I was on at 8:59 a.m. to get Chris and I signed up. I also looked into a few spring marathons--Salt Lake in April or Odgen in May--we'll see what I decide. I'm not sure I want to start training again quite that soon, especially since those would be colder months to be training. Plus I really would like to run one with Chris. It was different but nice to be out there on my own for this one, focusing very closely on me, but I can also see how fun it would be to run with a family member and friend and enjoy the feeling of finishing together!

(The lists below are still in progress. I'll likely keep adding to them as I think of things that will be beneficial for me to remember for future training/races/marathons.)

Things I learned/recommendations of things that worked for me:

Gu: in training and during marathon
Gatorade: Highly recommend training with.

Things I know now/will do different next time:

Clothing/warmth: what wear, later in race if gets cold
Bus (not sure what I meant??)
Sunglasses are a must for me; next time may try a hat but was fine without it. I was worried I'd wish I didn't have my glasses or see people with hats and wish I had one. Not the case. Even if I do get a cool running hat in the future I'll still have to wear my glasses my eyes hate the sun.
Right after finishing the marathon--go directly to the tent and get ice! I'm pretty sure it would have made my muscles' recovery a little bit easier.

Exactly What I Needed

2009-10-12T12:49:00.017-06:00

Yesterday was Fast Sunday and I had a lot of things on my mind, some of which were weighing on me quite heavily. I also felt like I wasn't able to really be touched and feel like I need and want to. Luckily in one of the Lord's many tender mercies (grateful I actually recognized this one!) I was out hurriedly running around doing some things for Stake Primary and stopped long enough to listen to this song on the radio (Sunday music playing on either 106.5 or 100.3 FM). I heard the music start but got out of my but then had the thought, no get back in the car and listen to this song. I am grateful I did because the Spirit was able to reach my hard heart and soften it. It was one of those times when I could relate to something almost exactly. I realized again how dependent I am on Christ and how much more I need to turn to him each day. I am currently reading The Continuous Atonement by Brad Wilcox which is really helpful me to see and make the changes I need to draw closer to the Savior.

Then in Relief Society we had a lesson about families and relationships, which again, was EXACTLY what I needed. I was very grateful for the thoughts shared by others, as well as the Spirit that was able to touch me again. I still have lots of changes to make but do feel more buoyed up and encouraged that there is hope, I know ways I need to improve, and ultimately I can continue to change and become better.

(Note: This is a Christian artist, not LDS, which is of course just fine, I don't have any problems with this. But that does mean there are a few crosses shown in the video. Even though the cross isn't a symbol used in the LDS Church I still find the words and message about the Savior and His influence in our lives very inspiring and a timely reminder for me. There truly are so many inspired and good people and things in the world, of all faiths.)

What Matters Most

2009-09-19T20:35:00.004-06:00

Such good reminders. I love our prophet. He truly knows the things we need to do to be happy.

She Shops Smart Class

2009-09-17T23:17:00.006-06:00

For those of you who are in the area I'd love to have you come to a class I am hosting on how to save money on groceries, household items, toiletries, diapers, etc.

Thursday, October 15th @ 7 pm (at my house)

If you aren't local or want to learn about how it works before the class, check out Grocery Smarts (they have information for a few other states) or Tori's blog. I attended a class she taught a few weeks ago and have already had success saving money this way!

Here's what she will cover in the class:

-Shop at only one grocery store - no running around town!

-Buy all your families’ groceries, household, and personal care items (including diapers) all for about $200 for a family of four- while building massive food storage at the same time!

-No clipping and filing individual coupons- Quick and easy! A HUGE way to save money!

-Eat a healthy, well balanced diet, and have ease in meal planning!

-Free website and Free class - There is no cost to attend and no cost to use the website

-Get a newspaper subscription at a great price

What could your family do with hundreds of extra dollars every month? Bring friends!

For more information please call Tori Mitchell 801-369-0667 or check out her blog sheshopssmart.blogspot.com!

The Ultimate Mix-up

2009-09-15T22:27:00.001-06:00

So, funny story. Ian, Cooper and I are driving home the other day when Ian suddenly excitedly remarks: "Mom! I saw John Hannity!" Seriously confused, I cautiously began questioning him (trying to figure out what he was talking about, but not wanting to skew his answers). Here's the rest of our conversation:

Mom: Do you mean Sean Hannity?

Ian: No, Mom. John Hannity.

Mom: Are you sure you don't mean Sean?

Ian: No.

[He is started to really sound exasperated with me. So I decide to let the issue of whether it's John or Sean drop and try to figure out what he is actually talking about...]

Mom: Well, where did you see John Hannity? [Figured I'd just go along with what he was calling him rather than fight with a 3 1/2 year old about it and get nowhere...]

Ian: On that sign, flappy thingy back there.

Mom: What does he look like?

Ian: That black face man.

[It takes me a minute as I process these last two answers but I suddenly remember I saw what he is talking about a few days previously...but due to how hilarious this actually ends up being, I wanted to try and figure out where he got this idea before I said anything else.]

Mom: How do you know who John Hannity is?

Ian: He's on that radio, talk thing.

[Now mind you by this point I am shocked that my 3 1/2 year old has paid enough attention to when I do listen to the Sean Hannity show on KSL, which isn't often, but occasionally. Realizing that it is currently about 2:30 PM MST time, I turn the car radio to KSL 102.7 FM where the Sean Hannity Show plays Monday-Friday from 1:00-4:00 pm ("3 hours a day, that's all we ask," or something like that, right?)]

Mom: Ian, who is this on the radio?

Ian: John Hannity.

Mom: That's right, Ian! [I really am amazed he's picked up his name from his few exposures to him.] But Ian, I think I know who you actually saw on that sign back there. The picture isn't John [Sean] Hannity, that's our president--Barack Obama.

Ian: No Mom, it's John Hannity.

Mom: Okay, Ian, if you say so [Hey, I figure, I tried my best. No use debating endlessly with a 3 year old!!]

I am honestly not sure how he got the two of them confused, but man, if there were ever two people, opinions, standpoints, political views, etc. to get mixed up, this my friend, was one ironic and hilarious instance! I guess if nothing else Sean/John Hannity's voice has been influential via the radio. Just not sure how he ended up fusing President Obama's face/person with Sean Hannity!! My guess is that neither person would be very flattered with such a confusion.

(This actually happened in May 2009 and even months later and after multiple clarifications, Ian still gets confused and refers to President Obama as John/Sean Hannity every so often...gotta love the way preschoolers brains are learning to process information!)

Time Lapse

2009-09-15T09:50:00.000-06:00

This is another "old" post but it was such an odd experience for me that I figured I'd post it now anyways. Last December I took Cooper to the doctor for his one year well check-up (which just so happened to be the same day he came down with strep throat so luckily the doctor swabbed his throat and discovered that...so much for it being a "well" check...). During the appointment the doctor asked if I had thought about doing flu shots for the boys. I remember giving her kind of a weird look, wondering why in the world she was asking me about flu shots when it wasn't the season for those yet, then asking, "When do you usually get those?" to try and figure out why she brought this up. She responded that anytime would be appropriate since it was getting to be that time of the year, though she hadn't heard of any influenza cases yet.

And suddenly I realized it was winter again. A year had passed since Cooper was born. We had made it through the cold, wintry RSV season in Utah with little Cooper just a few months old, had moved to Las Vegas and weathered the heat, then returned to Utah and it was already time for flu shots again! At that moment I had seriously lost any grounding or sense of time; it was the strangest feeling. Luckily it didn't take me long to catch up to speed and remember how quickly time passes. And yet I was still left to wonder where the last 12 months had gone! It honestly felt like time had whirled by me in 12 minutes NOT 12 months!

(And here we are again, another year has FLOWN by! Isn't it amazing how time continues to go faster and faster the older you get? Remember when Christmas seemed to take forever coming each year. And now it's like you can hardly hold on fast enough as the busyness of each day whirls into an entire year lapsed.)

Beavers In The Desert

2009-05-31T20:35:00.003-06:00

Ian has been learning about different habitats in preschool lately. He has really latched on to the concept that we live in the desert (I think the fact that Radiator Springs is in the desert may have helped kindle that fascination) and asks questions about it all the time. Last night we went running up Provo Canyon on the Provo River Trail from Canyon View Park to the parking lot at Bridal Veil Falls. We were only about a half of a mile up the trail when we came across a large elm tree which had been partially gnawed through by some ambitious beaver. I pointed it out to Jenny and the boys. Ian asked if I saw the beaver or just the tree. I told him it was just a tree which the beaver had been chewing on. Ian pondered this for a moment and then asked, "Dad, do beavers in the desert chew on cactuses?" Gotta love the way this kid's brain works!

A Full Life

2009-05-31T19:59:00.001-06:00

When I was younger and my Dad was travelling internationally quite often, I talked to him one day about something new I wanted to try. I don't remember what it was, nor do I remember whether I actually ever did what it was I was contemplating at the time. My Dad told me that if we ended up with one thing about which we are passionate outside of work and family and church that we are lucky, and something to the effect that there would come a time in my life when I would really only be able to have one hobby because of some of the demands which would be placed on me.

These last two weeks during my training at the Law Enforcement Academy, we have had several classes called Healthy Lifestyles. During those classes and others, we have had lots of discussions about the need for variety in our lives. The training is, of course, geared toward police officers, so they spend a lot of time talking about how cops need to have friends who are not cops, need to spend time in leisure activities which have nothing to do with paramilitary tactics (paintball/airsoft wargames), martial arts, firearms, et cetera.

I think the principle applies to all of us. I have been graduated about five weeks now, and I am gaining a modicum of perspective on just how warped three years of hanging out with law students and just about no one else has made me. In the last month I have been running, working out, gardening, SCUBA diving, playing with my kids, working on the truck, decorating and spending a little more time with my wife, all things which I did not do often or at all during law school.

Even my dad, who has had the luxury of staying on the same continent for more than a few weeks at a time now, has rekindled his interests in motorcycles, SCUBA and a few others, in addition to fishing, which has always been his passion.

I find that for the first time in my life, I am really starting to look for new and different things with which to fill my life. I have tried some new things which I love (SCUBA) and some new things about which I am ambivalent (golf) and become interested in some things I never really got attached to when I was younger (hunting). Jenny and I have been able to spend time together with more and different people in this last year than during any other in our marriage.

I understand where my Dad was coming from-- time constraints can and really do impinge on the ability to have more than one passion. For now, though, I am grateful to be at a point in my life where there is a little running, a little camping, a little diving, and a little time spent with several different friends. My life is full of new experiences right now, and I am happy with that.

Another Favorite - REMEMBER! Have I seen His hand in my life?

2009-05-31T10:05:00.001-06:00

Church Response to California Supreme Court Decision on Proposition 8

2009-05-26T22:24:00.001-06:00

SALT LAKE CITY | 26 May 2009 | Today’s decision by the California Supreme Court is welcome. The issue the court decided was whether California citizens validly exercised their right to amend their own constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman. The court has overwhelmingly affirmed their action.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognizes the deeply held feelings on both sides, but strongly affirms its belief that marriage should be between a man and a woman. The bedrock institution of marriage between a man and a woman has profound implications for our society. These implications range from what our children are taught in schools to individual and collective freedom of religious expression and practice.

Accordingly, the Church stands firmly for what it believes is right for the health and well-being of society as a whole. In doing so, it once again affirms that all of us are children of God, and all deserve to be treated with respect. The Church believes that serious discussion of these issues is not helped when extreme elements on both sides of the debate demonize the other.

(http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/church-response-to-california-supreme-court-decision-on-proposition-8)

Showing Love

2009-04-20T11:47:00.003-06:00

A good reminder of the type of wife, mother, etc. I want to be--HOW do/will I show my love for others?

Love this song!

2009-04-17T16:38:00.004-06:00

I love how good music makes your heart soar, lightens almost any bad mood (not that I can relate to that!), brings the Spirit and just makes ya feel happy! Plus I love Jon Schmidt and his amazing gift with composing and performing amazing piano music.

P.S. I'm listening to the song right now as I post this and Coop is bouncing up and down to the beat of the music! I hope my boys can grown to appreciate and enjoy all the great music out there.

Jesus the Christ

2009-04-17T11:28:00.008-06:00

This video has quickly spread across the web but I really loved Elder Holland's message and testimony of Christ and the Atonement. The images are beautiful as they play with his words!

Last Days

2009-04-10T14:27:00.004-06:00

So, I am sitting here in Room 320 of the Law School, waiting for my Very Last Class Ever (in a degree-seeking program) to begin. It is kind of strange, because I don't really know what to feel, or what I should be feeling. I am excited to have made it through three years of law school, but the fact that I will be forever done with law school classes here in about two hours is not really relieving because I know that I will just be right back here tomorrow studying for finals.

I know that I am going to miss being a part of the law school community-- I have had more friends here and felt more a part of things, and felt more normal than I ever have here at law school. (That probably says something about the collective proclivities of law students than anything else, but I have enjoyed feeling like I fit in regardless.)
I often feel this way during transitions from one stage of life to another. I struggle to know what to think about the closing of one era and the opening of another. I didn't really have a problem when I graduated High School, because I was really, really, really ready to get out of there. I didn't feel this way when I graduated with my undergraduate degree, either. That probably has something to do with the fact that I knew where I was going and what I was going to do next.

But I did feel this way when I left on my mission. And when I came home. And when I got married. Intellectually, I know that it is time to move forward-- really that there is nothing I can do to prevent things from moving forward. Emotionally, I am warming up to the idea. I don't really know what it is like to be anything other than a student-- just like I didn't know what it would be like to be a missionary or a returned missionary or a husband.

When I was a missionary, and the time finally came for me to transfer out of areas (I only had five), it was always strange to still be in the area for the last day before I moved. I would look up and down streets whose names I didn't know, but whose cobblestones and bento shops and newsstands were familiar to me. After a transfer call, those roads seemed like they didn't go anywhere anymore. They were closed off to me because I no longer belonged there. My sadness over leaving and in some ways losing places which were meaningful to me usually lasted until I got to my new area, where the streets stretched off into promising new directions.

I haven't reached that place yet. I am still kind of sitting here just trying to absorb the things that I am losing, the things that are coming to a close. It is extra weird because I will be back here in the library studying for the Bar Exam over the summer. I was here in the Law Library over the summer of my first year working for a professor, and this place is very strange without the students to bring it to life.

I think that what I am really trying to come to grips with is this; all my life, when things have changed, someone has been laying out the roads in front of me. Changing areas meant that I was heading somewhere new. Coming home from Japan meant that I would go back to school. Getting married meant that I would start a new life and a family with Jenny-- though learning to take the reins of all those decisions is a process I think we are just starting to understand. Graduating from UVSC meant that I would come to law school. Now, it is time to leave the law school and leave being a student (after 19 years of education). But the next roads... I don't really know what they are yet. It is slowly dawning on me that I will have to supply direction and initiative in ways that have not been required of me before. I get the feeling that this will be liberating and fulfilling in ways that I don't yet understand. Right now, it is a little bit unsettling and slightly intimidating.

Check back with me. I think I'm about to start seeing what my life is really going to be like.

{Create} Words to Live By!

2009-03-23T23:45:00.009-06:00

I loved this talk when I heard it last General Relief Society Meeting; I remember feeling the Spirit very strongly and being very impressed as I listened to Pres. Uchtdorf. I recently re-read it in the Ensign and was touched again, then came across this beautiful video tonight.

I think I am only beginning to understand what it means for me to "create" and how much happiness comes from creating things--whether as a mother each day or discovering hidden interests in decorating and painting (rough "talents" though they may be!). I am thrilled by how much pure joy I have felt during the past few weeks and months as I have been striving to give to people and things that are not empty but return dividends in feeling fulfilled and purposeful. Women are amazing and have so much good within them and that they can do; I am grateful that I have started on the path to discovering what I have to offer--all the Lord intends for me to be.

"The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create. That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come. Sisters, trust and rely on the Spirit. As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you" (Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Happiness, Your Heritage,” Ensign, Nov 2008).

Toyoda

2009-03-19T23:03:00.000-06:00

Today I took the boys for a run in the jogging stroller. Ian pointed out a Mazda that drove by (no surprise knowing the gear head that his father is...). I said, "Ian, we have a Mazda...What is Daddy's new truck?" Ian said: "It's a Toyoda [very excited] like that Star Wars guy." I was a little confused at first and amidst traffic noise tried to ask him to clarify. He quickly replied: "Toy-yoda. Like Yoda!"

It's a new...

2009-03-19T20:03:00.003-06:00

TRUCK! For anyone who knows Chris well, you know he loves anything with a motor--especially come springtime. I think Val once wrote me a "warning" letter when she was in the MTC, giving me a heads up that spring was getting nearer, which meant anything motorized--including a lawn mower--would grab Chris' attention.
But one thing Chris and I know quite well by now is that when the right thing comes along, most the time we know and it just seems like the "right" thing to do; maybe not always the most sane or realistic (hey, it is Chris and I we're talking about!) but workable, doable, and almost always a good thing.

Coincidentally (or maybe it was "meant" to be...) we were parked next to this truck at the Rex Lee Run last Saturday (hmmm, I just had the thought. Maybe this is Chris' silver lining for doing so well at getting into running...). Of course Chris was interested but I didn't take it very seriously at first. Then Chris' dad took it seriously. Then Chris asked me to really think and pray about it. Famous last words eh? At first I kind of "fought" him on that day and had a stubborn Sunday, but by Monday I felt pretty good about things and after having some open dialogue (it was even kind AND constructive!) we had both pretty much come to the conclusion that this was probably the right thing at the right time.

Needless to say Chris is ecstatic to have a truck. He already has a list of things that he will work on (over time of course, I do need to remind him occasionally). It is surprising that he got a truck this soon, especially since it was just Christmas that I made an "official" TRUCK FUND sign for his huge change jar. I will have to let Chris add all the nitty gritty details about the car. I can remember this much--it's a 1990 Toyota (pre-Tacoma), V-6, cab-and-a-half...I think that is about all I know. Oh, that and it fits my double jogging stroller in the back so we can conveniently throw it in the back and go for a jog on the Provo River Trail--which we did Wednesday night and it was fabulous! Chris definitely knows how to appeal to me since we now can haul my motherload of a stroller!
This is serious business.
No, actually it's pretty funny. (Except the part when they keep honking the horn...that gets old REALLY fast.)

The Many Faces of Cooper

2009-03-19T19:53:00.002-06:00

Cute...
and SO silly! His favorites lately are putting his shoes on (if the front door is open he is out the door in a flash). He loves putting stuff around his neck (I know, scary strangulation hazard), from my key chain lanyard to Ian's belts to his new Home Depot apron. He is such a funny but endearing kid. He loves to cuddle and will just stop playing sometimes and come over to say hi. Warms our hearts! Can't get enough of this cute kid!

Yummy Breakfast

2009-03-19T08:08:00.001-06:00

Chris and I have been doing better overall taking turns letting the other sleep in (really, we should just go to bed earlier!). The other morning this is what I woke up to. Chris had experimented with a homemade peach-raspberry-strawberry syrup which was delicious. I don't even prefer pancakes, but this definitely made them worth eating! I am so lucky to have a good husband who takes such good care of me (and my stomach)!

Rex Lee 5K

2009-03-14T22:55:00.004-06:00

Rex Lee Run was today--I'll add captions later but here are the pics! We had a great time and it was so fun to have so many family members there.

Little Chef

2009-03-14T22:34:00.003-06:00

Of course when Mom was wearing an apron to keep her newly-purchased white shirt clean (which I can't even blame my dirtiness on my kids as much as I'd like to!) that of course meant Ian wanted to wear one...which meant Cooper suddenly thought it was cool...luckily Ian got over the trend fairly quickly and "allowed" Coop to take a turn. Too cute!
Coop loves the fridge farm (and I know plenty of moms who can't stand this toy...for some reason I like it...)

Home is What You Make It

2009-03-14T22:05:00.005-06:00

Since Chris accepted the position with the district court and we know we will be in Provo at least another 1 1/2 years (or so) I feel like I am finally settling in for "good". I have often struggled with being content and not wishing to be in the next stage of life, but as I have mentioned before, I have not felt this tendency very much, which has been a huge blessing in my life. It also has helped me to reflect on "wants" and "needs" which is why we will be staying in our same apartment during Chris' upcoming clerkship. Some people may wonder how we can still stand to be in an apartment; of course I would LOVE to own a house and be able to decorate and have a backyard for my boys to play in (and a garage for my oldest boy to play in!) but in the meantime I can honestly say I am happily living in our "home" for now. Even though we never intended on being in this apartment as long as we have been (it will be 5 years this August) I think we are finally starting to put some "permanency" into it; though we can't paint the walls, my latest projects have been decorating and rearranging. I have a long list of decor to add to rooms and other projects to complete. I said to Chris tonight that I think we are really making things ours.

I also really liked this post on a BYU blog I recently came across about de-cluttering, as well as this quote: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful" (William Morris). It has made me think about what we have in our home, the feelings and atmosphere we are trying to create and what we can do (or not do) to have the type of home that fits our personalities, goals and most importantly, somewhere where the Spirit can reside.

Our latest project has been one that I have dragged my feet on and flat out refusing to even consider. Then suddenly one day I had a change of heart, I rearranged our bedroom and as of tonight (a big thanks to Kevin/relief for Julane for giving us the tank and gravel!) this is now what we see from our bed:
Lights on/lights off...
Which actually fits perfect in our room since we are going to decorate it with kind of a beach theme (hibiscus flower patterns, palm trees, etc). Not tacky, minimally and tastefully. Just enough to add some "fun" to the room. I will post more pictures as we do more decorating. Right now we are looking for a neat big beach poster to put in a big frame over our bed. That and we will be introducing African dwarf frogs and a variety of fish to their new tank over the next few weeks. Chris is excited for me to "decorate" the fish tank as well (we already have a really cool hammock/palm trees to start). And I think he is right, this could be a really fun family project and I think it adds even more to the atmosphere we are trying to create in OUR home!
Chris cleaning out the tank to get it ready. The boys know we are getting it but we are pretty sure they will be pretty stoked when they wake up in the morning. I am sure their next question will be (at least Ian since he can verbalize it) will be: Where's the fish? We took the boys to a pet store the other night with Grandie and Cooper was so excited to see all the animals, especially the fish. I guess that might have been what pushed me over the edge...it's amazing what mothers will do when they think they think they can bring a little added joy to their children's (and husband's) lives.

LDS Church's Statement on "Big Love"

2009-03-12T16:17:00.003-06:00

The following link to the Church's statement, as well as the video are beautiful representations of our beliefs in temples and an amazing portrayal of how well the Church responds to possible criticisms; I think we can all learn a lot from this, as it seems like this truly is the way our Savior would want us to act, respond and teach others about the truths of the restoried gospel. This is from the LDS Church's home page:

"Visit the Newsroom to read the Church’s official statement Church’s official statement on an upcoming episode of HBO’s Big Love that is said to depict temple ceremonies. If you would like to learn more, watch the video below that explains why we build temples."

Yay for Running!

2009-03-12T15:42:00.006-06:00

We are so excited for the Rex Lee Run this Saturday! We are doing the 5K, along with a bunch of our family members.

We'll for sure post pictures after the race. Today I went to the law school and went with Chris and the boys to a presentation by Prof. Tom Lee (son of Rex Lee) and Dean Hansen who knew Rex Lee back in the early days of the law school. It is inspiring every time I hear about this great man. Prof. Lee quote a scripture, Doctrine and Covenants 58:27 " Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;" He talked about how Rex Lee was an example of this, that he never intended to be the founding Dean of the J. Reuben Clark Law School or the president of BYU, or even the Solicitor General, but he was always anxiously engaged in looking for causes to be involved in, and as a result he led a full, energetic, enthusiastic life. He loved people and people felt loved by him. I am grateful for the legacy and inspiration Rex Lee is to me. It helps me to consider how I can be anxiously engaged and live my life in such a way to do great things within my sphere of influence. Also, I love that Rex Lee started running in his late 30's! That makes me feel like I can continue to make running an important part of our family. Prof. Lee said Rex Lee probably ran 12 marathons and because of his enthusiasm for running, all 5 of Prof. Lee's sister, his brother, himself and his mother have been runners. He said they used to go on Saturday morning runs as a family. I love that! And I love to see a wonderful example of the opportunities we have for good, to influence and to love and live life to its fullest.
This is before the July 4th 5K we did in Vegas; Chris' first. I promise it's addicting and so much fun to be with so many people who love to run (or hate it but still do it!) You can still register for the run: http://rexleerun.byu.edu/index.php
This is after the 5K our stake does twice a year (this was last October). I ran with the boys in the jogger. Luckily my knee has been doing better since then though I still am wearing the dang knee brace since it is still tender.

2008 Christmas Card

2009-03-12T15:27:00.002-06:00

Most of you probably got this in the mail at Christmastime (if not you can send us your address so we can make sure you get one this year :) ) We have a ball writing our letter and making this picture every year. I am hoping to get the full version of Photoshop Elements soon (hint, hint, my birthday is coming up) so I can do stuff like this more often. I loved being on yearbook in high school and have never been a fan of paper scrapbooking so this seems to be right up my alley. I love seeing what a great year we had in 2008 and it is so fun to already see all the fun memories and experiences we will have for 2009's Christmas card come December.

Bragging Rights

2009-03-04T22:12:00.001-07:00

I doubted Chris would post this himself, so I figured as his wife this type of thing is my prerogative. Ever since we ran the 5K in Las Vegas last summer we have been looking forward to doing more with our running. I am proud to say that Chris especially is keeping this going. He has been going to the indoor track 2-3 times a week since the start of the year. His goal is to run at least 100 times during 2009 (I think he is up 15 right now). I am extremely proud of him, his efforts and progress. The above picture is his first under 30 minute 3-mile run! He has been doing awesome! He is actually out for a run as I type this.

We are looking forward to the Rex Lee 5K next Saturday. We have races planned for the upcoming months as well. I am grateful Chris is trying so hard to stay in shape and push himself to achieve goals he may not have ever considered before. Keep running!

Making Friends

2009-03-04T21:30:00.002-07:00

Wow, so really I am discovering tons of drafts that I never posted during my hiatus from blogging (heck, I'm still on the hiatus but figure I can slowly post stuff when I care to, right?) Anyways, this is Ian making friends with another little boy at the park last fall. He was having fun throwing the ball to him. It's cute to see how much Ian likes to play with other children; he recently said, "I like making friends." We are trying to encourage him in his interactions so that hopefully he doesn't struggle as much as Chris and I have socially! He has a lot to learn (but what 3 year old has it all down yet?) about sharing and expressing feelings more appropriately, but he is such a sweetheart with a big heart and good intentions.

Hit Me Baby, One More Time

2009-02-08T22:24:00.002-07:00

So, you see that big board up there at the top of our blog? Yeah, that one. It is about nine inches square and about 3/8ths of an inch thick. There is one just like it hanging up a few inches above our headboard. It says something pithy about cherishing the past and living in the present. Anydangway, I had two dreams last night. In one, I got to drive a Nissan GT-R and I raced a guy in an Aston Martin One-77. It was a sweet, sweet dream, other than that the GT-R was green. I hate green cars. Oh, and the oh-so-gorgeous Aston somehow morphed into a Mitsuoka Orochi. Eeeew.

I digress. The second dream was that someone hit me between the eyes with a board. It hurt. A lot. Strangely. I woke up this morning with a little scratch and a lump just above my nose and the board was missing from on the wall. We didn't start to put the pieces together until an hour and a half later, when Jenny awoke to the smell of fresh blueberry waffles, sausage and eggs and discovered that she was spooning the pithy board on her side of the bed.

Now, for most of the day, we have been too busy to really discuss it, but as Jenny and I have been getting ready for bed, I have been razzing her about beating me up in my sleep twice now (she chipped my tooth within the first three months we were married). Her response? "Look, all we know is that you had a dream that someone whacked you with a board, that you have a bump on your head and that the board was on my side of the bed. That proves nothing!" You know what I say to that? GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY! :)

Living Life

2009-01-22T21:01:00.006-07:00

I was just reading a friend's blog and she said that she hasn't blogged in awhile because she has been busy living life. I really liked that. So I figured since it is almost February it was probably time to update my Christmas background, add a few pictures and philosophize for a few minutes. It's interesting how easily we can get caught up in things that don't really matter and how refreshing it can be to make positive changes. I almost have to laugh at myself at how "married" to my bad habits I have become over time and yet how much happier I am now that my priorities are more in order. Not to say that I am perfect or do things right everyday; I definitely have my moments. But overall it is so nice just to feel the peace that comes from not running after and spending most of your time on the things that don't matter as much. I am not trying to knock blogging or whatever other moms do to stay sane, because heaven knows I was thrilled to have my boys in bed by 7 pm tonight and have some time to do the dishes then just "veg" on the computer for awhile. But that is the difference for me. I don't have to be on the computer all the time. Before it was almost as if I felt like I was being unproductive if I wasn't completing tasks on the computer and yet the simple joys and responsibilities were sitting undone all around me.

I also have had to let go of blogging right now for the most part because I was so obsessive about making sure I had practically ever photo/event from our lives posted and that became an impossible task! No wonder I was feeling overly anxious!! I just looked in my pictures folder and had to laugh; my "to blog" folders date back to August. Oh well. I had figured at one point that the blog would be my "scrapbook" and that we would print it at the end of each year and have some form of family history. But I have just had to let it go; I don't have to blog everything, that's just not realistic and expecting that was not making me happy; it was making me anxious and upset, so silly. Funny that for awhile there I was willing to base my happiness on my life being "blogged" rather than enjoyed. It's fun to keep records. I love writing and I really do enjoy blogging, but not when it ends up hurting me or my family; I didn't like that I was being driven to do something at costs that just didn't make sense! So I hope I can be more balanced about my time and standards in blogging when I allow myself to do it more regularly again. :) I have been trying to be better about writing in my journal or recording thoughts about being a woman/mother on another blog, but I am taking the pressure off so life can be enjoyed not just pushed to a point that it's no fun.

So here is a very brief snapshot of what I've mainly been up to the last few months:

Trying to spend more quality time with Ian, especially during Cooper's naps. We made oatmeal cookies. We try to have quiet/reading time each day (unfortunately I am the one who wants to nap after this, but Ian thinks otherwise...). I also have started a schedule of an activity/"project" that we do each day. Last week went really well, this week being sick, I didn't have much motivation to follow through on my plans, but that's okay. Hopefully next week will be better and it is at least a step toward being more proactive in doing fun stuff with my kids!
Decorating the house for Christmas was a blast! (and then I took pictures of all of it, I was so tickled with how it turned out, I'm a nerd). Chris was really busy at the start of December preparing for finals so I was really proud when I went to our storage unit by myself (that would be a first) and got all the Christmas boxes and Ian and I set most of it up ourselves. We saved decorating the tree for a Saturday morning when Chris was home. I have to admit, I don't think I've ever decorated a tree in the morning but it was really fun! Since our boys just love getting up early it was still dark outside; it was kind of cozy and neat to be decorating in the still of the morning, wearing our pj's. That might just be a new tradition, we'll see. I bought a few new decorations on sale at Roberts and those are my cute stockings I sewed last year with the help of Chris' mom and sister, Robyn. They turned out great, I am very proud of them! And I do have to give Chris credit for picking out the fabric. I am one lucky girl, it's not many women who can get their husband in a fabric store, let alone have him care what you choose for stocking material!
Cooper discovered how to climb on the Cooper which was really funny. We took it to his 1 year pictures at JCPenney and had it in the picture with him which was cute. Cooper is a funny boy. My best guess here is that Ian depantsed (sp?) the poor child; Ian is very successful in the torturing his younger brother arena. Coop is still not walking yet, which is fine with me, since I am a little nervous to have both of them running around our apartment! He will stand up for a few seconds and has taken a few timid steps. Otherwise he crawls speedily around (we call him "Scamper") and love to get in to whatever he can--lately it is the hand mixer and onions from the cupboard. Tonight he decided to crawl into the dishwasher while I was unloading it and throw glass plates onto the floor; luckily they didn't break but he did act pretty put out when I scolded him. He looked at me like, what's your problem mom, I'm just throwing things! Leave it to mom, she always spoils the fun...
I keep plenty busy between the boys, the house, Law Partners, and my calling. Plus we started a little co-op preschool (Chris refuses to call it "Joy School" so I try to support his wishes....) with a few other kids/moms in our ward. At first I was pretty worried about doing it, even though we rotate and I only have it about once a month. We do it twice a week and have been learning the alphabet. It really has been fun to come up with creative ways to teach the letters, with games, books (have I mentioned I love books?! If you didn't know that, check out my goodreads! LOL), songs, crafts and snacks. This week was Jello jigglers for "J". All four of the children, including Ian, started Sunbeams in January, which honestly freaks me out. It's amazing how having a child old enough to attend Sunbeams makes you feel really old! Mostly I just pray for the teachers and hope they can have patience with my dear, lovable but energetic and talkable 3 year old! It's amazing how fast he is growing up and what a smart boy he is! I am amazed daily at the conversations we have, the things he says and remembers. What a joy! (and yet such a trial at other times!! He is definintely in the power/testing limits stage!!)
Mostly I just thought this was a sweet pic of Chris and Ian. Ian loves to cuddle. Today he came in and said, "Mom, hold me." Talk about melting your heart! How could it get any better than this? I wouldn't trade this for the world. But really the other reason I chose this pic is because I couldn't find one of Chris, especially not one of both of us in it. Crazy how you have kids and suddenly you and your spouse are really not that exciting to take pictures of! (not that we ever were...) I have really been trying to focus more on Chris lately. Luckily we have found a new shared hobby, watching "House" together. I watched one episode with him that was kind of risque which bugged me, but was glad I gave it another shot. Not that I love some of the junk that is in it sometimes (not that I'm trying to justify it...it is sad that TV has so much bad stuff in it nowadays!) but it has been something really fun for us to relax and look forward to. We ended up signing up for Netflix so we could get the past seasons and are also watching Season 5 currently which luckily has moved to Monday nights so it no longer conflicts with Chris' YM's on Tuesday nights! Post-FHE time for Chris and I! :) I know I have a long ways to go to learn to be the type of wife and person Chris needs, but it is reassuring to me that I recognize this and that I am trying to change, despite how slow and frustrating that process may be, especially to poor Chris who is incredibly patient with me as I strive to change.

P.S. I am on a huge red and black kick lately (I know the red shouldn't surprise many of you...). If you've seen my house lately I am doing red accents in our living room and working on a few other accent projects. Not quite sure when I am going to do those (could have tonight instead of blogging or doing stuff on the internet, but oh well, on the next "free" night I have) but it has been a fun new project just to add a little fun new decor to our house. I figure I should make this home since this really is "home" for now! The new pic at the top of our blog is a sign I bought a few months ago that I love. It fits in great with my new red/black theme, but more importantly really epitomizes how I am trying to live life now. Oh, and I was super excited for our new Valentine's day background as it too makes me just feel happy inside to see it, since it is totally fulfilling my red/black addiction.

Life is Good

2008-12-12T23:00:00.002-07:00

It's time for bed. Chris said my bedtime was 10 or 10:30 pm tonight. He's studying like crazy for his last final (I'm proud he's working so hard) and the boys actually went down by 7 pm tonight, which meant I was able to crash on the couch for a few minutes (unintentionally), do the dishes, and work on random stuff that piles up now that I am not being so OCD anymore. And I can tell you, life is so much better when I'm not freaking out about "everything" and trying to do "everything" and focusing obsessively on all the little things in life that don't really matter. I have actually played with the boys multiple days this week (it's still weird to me that I was actually paid to play and struggled even then; I still have plenty to learn!). Ian and I made oatmeal cookies today, since he's been asking to do that for weeks, it was a small success that I finally followed through after telling him over and over that we would.

I think it is far too easy to become complacent and end up doing things that don't really make you happy, even though it makes sense intellectually that what you are doing doesn't make sense. I know I'm being really abstract, but it all makes sense to me, and the past few weeks have been very therapeutic for me. I feel better. I feel happier. I feel lighter; it's almost as if years of worry are being stripped off as I refocus my attention and self on the best things in life. I feel good and I hope I can keep doing what matters most, 'cause life really is good right now.

Adoration

2008-12-06T09:50:00.006-07:00

I don't think I really ever grasped what it would be like to love your own children. But a year later, I guess I kind of feel like the Grinch whose heart grew three sizes. I am grateful for the growth I have experienced in the last year. Looking back there have been some really difficult times, but I feel blessed because I think I am better person as a result. It is amazing to experience the change brought about by a new baby. I think in a lot of way Cooper has helped me learn to love and play and slow down in ways I don't know that I would have otherwise. I remember when he was born, holding him and just staring at him, so sweet and innocence. It really is a holy experience to give birth and then hold in your arms a precious child of God, and to know that they are a little part of you, hoping with all your heart that you can be enough for him. When my father-in-law visited us at the hospital and held Cooper for the first time the night he was born, he became teary and whispered quietly that he was a very special spirit. I don't know that I quite understood then, nor do I think I fully do even now, but I do know I have been changed by Cooper. My heart is full with joy and gratitude for the love and happiness I feel as I hold and play with him. Motherhood is one of the most difficult things I have done thus far, but I am grateful for what it has taught me and for who I am becoming because of the sweet spirits that Heavenly Father has entrusted me. I know nurturing is my most important role and I hope that my boys can teach me how to be what they need.

(Note: I intended to post pictures of Coop with this post; a newborn pic from last year and a current 1 year one, but in my efforts to simplify--as you've noticed, simplifying lately means no blogging at all!--I am going to post it as is, and if I get time and it still seems "important" later, I will post it. I hope I will, 'cause he's such a cute boy, but right now, it's time for bed and sleep is what I "need" to be doing right now. I really am just trying to do what is needful and not feel like I "have" to do more than I can or should at the "right" time. Wow, I really am doing lots of philosophizing lately...it feels good though, I'm realizing I need to write more--I like it and I think it could be good therapy for me.)

Long Time No See...

2008-11-16T20:08:00.002-07:00

Hi everyone! Seeing as it has only been a month since we posted anything, I am hoping that not everyone has given up on us and that someone is around to read this post. Starting about the beginning of October, Jenny and I decided that we needed to spend more time focusing on each other, on our relationship and on the boys. The blog, despite being a sounding board and repository for lots of great experiences that we have had seems to take a lot of time. I am kind of sad that this last month has passed without letting all of you know what is going on in our lives, but I am also rather proud that both Jenny and I have allowed it to fall by the wayside during a time when we really need to focus on each other (and still have lots of other things to keep us busy).

We haven't forgotten you, and we haven't stopped being completely smitten with our kids and needing to put cute pictures of them up for all to admire. We just need to spend more time together. We'll try to get back on the ball here very soon and post pictures from Halloween, Snowbird (and the rest of our trip to Chicago from August... *sigh*), but for now we are content to just be spending a few more minutes together every day and have not really missed the extra time online. Thanks for sticking with us.

So Distracted!

2008-10-17T23:05:00.002-06:00

Two ironies need to be mentioned before I get to the meat of this post:

1) When I first had the idea for this post, I had left Ian on my bed where we were going to have quiet time and read stories because I needed to go to the bathroom (I figured that was a fair reason to have him wait for a minute). But of course when I went in the bathroom I "had" to take the dry clothes out of the dryer and switch the clothes in the washer to the dryer. By this time Ian was screaming, "Mom! Where are you?" and had gotten off the bed and found me in the bathroom. It was as if he seriously was wondering: "What happened to my mom?!!" What happened to her indeed! Poor distracted mother. I also then had to write myself a note to remember this idea for when I had time to type the post. Okay. Now I was ready for storytime. Poor Ian.

2) Chris left tonight around 8 pm to go back to school to work on a paper that is due Monday. He made me pinkie swear I would go to bed at 11 pm. I told him I would, not thinking it would be a hard promise to keep. If you look at the time stamp on this post you'll notice I broke my promise since it is now 11:35 pm and I am still writing this. I am also currently chatting with him, apologizing profusely that I didn't make it to bed at 11, but that this post will be worth it, especially considering the irony of it all!

Those are only two of the many examples of how distracted I get. It's why I am realizing I need to leave my computer off during the day because if I get on to hurry and do "one thing" it turns into way longer than that and my poor kids (or husband) get forgotten. I think I just have so much to do, so much on my mind, that I honestly don't know how to process it or get it done most of the time! My biggest effort right now is to reorganize and reprioritize. Tonight since Chris was gone I let myself have some "me" time and worked on the blog (as I'm sure you've noticed). There are many other things I could have, should have been doing, but I figured I'd let myself relax and play for a little bit. It doesn't mean I don't feel guilty or that I might regret it tomorrow when I wish the kitchen floor had been mopped when the boys were in bed. Or when I see the pile of stuff on my desk that still needs to be sorted through. But I really am trying to be more balanced. Chris and I often talk about Brigham Young's advice to the Saints that they have 8 hours of work, 8 hours of play (probably not his words) and 8 hours of sleep. Wow, I don't think it happens that way very often. I also often wonder why my house never gets very clean, but I am such a distracted cleaner; I walk from room to room with my hands full of stuff rather than being more efficient and focusing on one room/thing at a time! It would probably be really funny to be a fly on the wall and watch me wander around like crazy. Anyways, there is plenty more to say on this subject, but I really should go to bed for tonight. Though I do have one final thought, then a funny story that I received as an email a few years ago that I find all too fitting (and ironic, considering I broke my 11 pm curfew tonight!).

I often tell Chris that I can relate far too much with the "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" type books. Sigh. I am thinking I could probably star in and write one of my own books like that; I think I'd probably call it, "If You Give a Mommy a Minute." (I definitely would have to find someone else to illustrate it though!)

You may have heard of or read this before, but I love it, mostly because it's the story of my life!

"Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, "I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed.” She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning. She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer. She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry. She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair. She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her purse. Mom then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her night solution and age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails. Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed." "I'm on my way," she said. She put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on. She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and TV's, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework. In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals. About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. "I'm going to bed." And he did...without another thought."

With that said, I think I'll go to bed (a.k.a. chat with Chris and tell him I'll see him in a few hours, turn off my computer, take out my contacts, brush my teeth, wash my face, check to make sure the door is locked, check on the boys, say my prayers...you get the picture...).

Good night!

How to Use Scissors

2008-10-17T23:04:00.000-06:00

Today Ian wanted to cut out his "jellyfish" from when we had preschool at our house a few weeks ago. Unfortunately that same week, he had a slight run-in (or should I call it a "cut-in") with his monkey scissors, as Chris likes to call them. I thought I'd run into the living room and grab my camera and capture this cute preschool moment, but when I came back to the kitchen where the four children were busily cutting away on their project, one of the four children had a small cut in the middle of his t-shirt. Betcha can't guess who that child was! So we talked about the importance of being careful with scissors and only using them for paper (that and mom was reminded that scissors are something that needs constant adult supervision). Since then I think Ian has been fine using scissors with no further cutting-of-his-clothes incidents.

Fast forward to today. He wanted to cut along the lines on this picture to cut out the small pictures. I was doing the dishes but turned around to see him trying to get the scissors to cooperate, but it wasn't working like he wanted. So I bent down and placed his fingers in the proper place--thumb in the top, pointer and middle finger in the bottom--then showed him how to move his thumb and fingers open and shut to make the scissors move. Of course he had been able to cut things on his own before without knowing this exact positioning. But his time was different. He wanted to know how to cut a straight line and to be more in control of the scissors. It seemed like a good time to show him the right way to work the scissors.

As I helped him place his fingers, he asked me to hold the paper while he cut. Then I watched as he carefully moved his fingers back and forth so he would cut right along the lines and realized how important my job as a mother really is. And it's not like I didn't know that already. But here I was in the middle of my kitchen floor, realizing that I had just taught Ian to do something he had not known how to do. And it struck me--that is what my job is all about. Since I had previously been crouching down to help him, after having this "revelation" I sat down all the way on the kitchen floor with him, holding the paper for him and reveling in this moment.

It was a good reminder to me of the vital role I have to play as a mother. Today it was how to use scissors. I am sure there will be something else tomorrow. Some of it may seem insignificant, but I think the point is that our children need to be taught and that is our responsibility as their mothers and fathers. And hopefully a lifetime from now, my boys will be good men, husbands, and fathers because I took time to teach them what they need to do. I hope with all my heart that I can do that for them, that I will take the time to do that, that I can be the kind of mother they need and teach and love them each day.

Freshman Zoobies

2008-10-17T22:32:00.000-06:00

My sister Andrea just started her freshman year at BYU and has moved on-campus. She sometimes sends out an email update with pictures. She sent this a few weeks ago and I got a big kick out of it. Gotta love freshman! Those were the days. (If you can't see the picture very well, someone had taped the word "Freshmen" over the word "children" on the sign. I am pretty sure this was near her on-campus housing.)

Ward Campout

2008-10-17T22:15:00.001-06:00

Our ward had its annual campout in September and since we've never been able to go before I really wanted to go this time. Chris was worried about it being too cold (which it did end up getting very cold that night) so we went up that night for dinner then came up the next morning for breakfast. We still haven't taken the boys camping yet, but hopefully one of these times we will when it's a bit warmer (hard to know how to keep Coop warm enough when he rolls out of blankets so much!).
Ian had a ball playing with his friends Ty and Kaden. They are definitely boys. I think I need to start praying now for their Sunbeam teaching come January! Ahhh. I really am frightened at the prospect of Ian being a Sunbeam. I'm sure it will be fine, but he has so much energy, I guess I just worry how he'll handle an hour and forty minutes of more structured church. The kid loves nursery!
My good friend, Crystal and her daughter Alana. We thought it was pretty fitting that they were wearing pink and Coop and I were wearing blue hoodies. Way to contribute to the perpetuation of gender-color stereotypes!
Our good friends Billy and Cristian Rodriguez (And neighbors now! We love having them as neighbors!!). I always find little boys to just adore (my own of course), but Cristian is one of those little guys who just melts my heart. I just can't get enough of looking at him, 'cause he's so darn cute. I am a softy for the chubby cheeks too.
By the time we got up there the next morning breakfast was already put away (luckily we'd figured we were late and stopped at McDonald's on the way up). We did manage to get roped into taking a few chocolate muffins. Ian didn't mind, as you can tell. Beside him is Nathan Parry, one of my other favorite little boys. He's not so little anymore though! He will turn out and be baptized come March, but he was in nursery, only 2 years old when we moved into the ward! I have always had a special place in my heart for Nathan. He has a lot of energy and others struggle with that sometimes. But when I was Primary president, I realized how much my love for and relationship with him trumped any frustrations that could have arisen when he had a hard time sitting still or paying attention.
Cooper being cute, as always. But I have to mention it every time (I am seriously starting to wonder how many times I have used the word "cute" in this blog to refer to Cooper! I don't think I'll even attempt to count. You all know I think he's cute, but for some reason I just have to keep saying it. As always I can't ever get enough of this CUTE kid!!). He is definitely wanting to exert his opinion and independence. Not only does he want the solid food, but he's gotta have the spoon too!
I realized I didn't have a picture of Chris anywhere in this post, so I had to put in at least one in... this was about all I had to choose from. Long live the Nalgene bottle, I guess? They are pretty sturdy--that is unless Chris tightens the lid too tight on Jenny's or Jenny puts Chris' on the bottom rack of the dishwasher and the lid gets melted (Oops! Live and learn and try to remember better next time, right?).

What a Beautiful Feeling

2008-10-17T15:08:00.001-06:00

Ian was really excited when it started raining a few weeks ago. He was fittingly already dressed in his slicker jacket and pants. He specifically asked for my red umbrella, then set out for some fun in the rain. The little joys that children celebrate. It is a good reminder for me.
Just chillin' in the rain.

The Young and the Computer Literate

2008-10-17T15:04:00.000-06:00

I find it quick amusing when my grandma gets totally freaked out when my three year old little brother maneuvers around on the computer and she can't figure out what he did or how to do the same thing. In a lot of ways, I see this early technology as a blessing and a curse. Ian is able to practice his letters on sites such as Starfall and he loves PBS Kids, which is also educational, but I worry that he is dependent on the computer and TV for entertainment. I try to limit his usage each day and he still plays well, both inside and out, so I don't think I have too much to be worried about. But it really does make you wonder--if our 3 year olds are doing this much on the computer/internet now--what in the world will it be like when they have 3 year olds of their own? It's amazing to think how much it's changed in my lifetime, let alone the progress that continue to be made; I can't even imagine what it'll be like 20, 30, 50 years from now.

PG Pool (Better Late than Never!)

2008-10-17T14:34:00.001-06:00

I am almost laughing out loud that I am posting this in October...it's been sitting as a draft for awhile now...but I figure I'd rather have record of it, no matter when it actually occurred.

While we were back in Utah in July, I spent a few days with my family before heading to Snowbird. It was so nice to see Laura and her family before they moved to Oklahoma on July 28th where Ben is attending medical school. It was hard to come back and have them gone. When we were driving home from the airport after our trip to Chicago, we drove past the street where Laura and Ben used to live and Ian said: "I have an idea. Laura can move back from Oklahoma!" It was so sweet. We miss them a lot but are excited for their new experiences and that Ben is able to attend medical school.My mom and Cooper. He was a little nervous about the waterfall, but liked the water overall.
Jefferson, Laura and Madelyn
Jefferson going to splash Ian. Ya know, I have to admit it's kind of refreshing for me to see another child doing something to Ian (even just in play) since usually it seems to be the other way around, with Ian often "tormenting" other kids!
The Ritz crackers were a big hit. Ian was very kind about sharing (and eating plenty himself!).
Cooper and Uncle Jacob. I just realized Jake's shorts and Cooper's short have matching hibiscus.
Josh, Madelyn, Isaace (being silly), Ian on Grandma's lap.
Cute Cooper in his hat and wet suit. He was a big fan of the water rings.
Cooper was so funny with this tube. He kept pulling it toward him until it would hit him in the face. Laura was getting a kick out of it.

Like Father, Like Son/Build Where You Are

2008-10-17T10:11:00.005-06:00

It would come as no surprise to most people that one of the things Chris really looks forward to having when we get a house is the garage. So it probably shouldn't have taken me by too much surprise when I had the following cute conversation with Ian this morning:

I was making the bed in my room and Ian was playing with some books and knick knacks from our bookcase. He likes to climb up on the rocking chair and get stuff down. Sometimes I try to stop him from doing this, but most often I try to remind myself that most of those little things don't have much meaning really (not enough to get frustrated with Ian, for sure) and they honestly come more alive when I do allow him to carefully play with them.

This morning he got down a miniature pink resin house that my dad brought me back from San Francisco years ago. Ian was saying he wanted to live in a house like this. I asked him what he wanted in a house and he replied: "A garage." Then I asked him what he'd been in the garage. He said: "A car." I had to laugh. He then said he was playing on the grass outside the little resin house. I asked him if he wanted a backyard in his house someday too. His thoughtful reply: "We don't have a backyard right now?" I said, no, not really, but we do have a side yard kind of. (And as a side note, he said the house was in Seattle. Not sure where he got that from, or where he has heard about Seattle lately! But it was fun to tell him that our former neighbors, Shayne and Stephanie Holmes, who we love and miss, live in Seattle now.)

It is refreshing for me to write that we really are quite content where we are; not that we want to live in an apartment forever! But it's nice to not be whining or complaining or just dreading life until we "arrive" and get a house. I really am proud of myself that I don't feel like I am waiting to be happy or have life actually begin when we move into a house. The context in which Chris and I most often dream about having a house is just what Ian was talking about--a backyard. That really is the thing we most want for our boys. And there are many days when we say what Ian really needs right then is a backyard to go run and dig in. I know we will love having a house someday; it will be wonderful to have more space, hopefully more rooms and I would like to decorate and make our house "cute." I really am excited about the prospects of this, but it is so nice to not be wishing away these good years of our lives just because we aren't in a house yet.

One of the most important and life-changing lessons I learned in Nauvoo was that you build where you are. The Saints in Nauvoo didn't stop living because there was the chance that they would not be there long. And it's not like they had any certainty with which to believe they would be there long, considering their recent history, since many of them had left homes in Kirtland and then were driven out of Missouri. They also could have drug their feet about completing the Nauvoo Temple when at that point it was almost certain that they would not be able to enjoy it for long. And yet they went forward faithfully; they planted gardens, bettered their homes and made a good life for themselves exactly where they were, not thinking about the "what-ifs" of when it would end or where they would go next. I am sure there were doubts and that not everyone was strong constantly, but anyone who has visited Nauvoo should be able to sense of the permanency and livelihood that existed in Nauvoo because the Saints chose to make a good life for their families and serve the Lord where they were presently.

When we moved to our first apartment I never would have imagined being here 6 years later (grant it we are now in our third apartment in the ward!). Our bishop (former and present) shares a message with new members in our ward which always impresses me. He says essentially that during the time they live here, this is their ward, that they should unpack their bags and become involved, whether it is for two months, two years or ten. Which both of them can speak for from personal, since former Bishop Parry (who is now President Parry, second counselor in our stake presidency) and his family only intended to live her maybe a few years, if that, then build a house and move on in life. They have now been here close to 15 years, I believe. Our current bishop, Bishop Miller, and his family were ready to buy a house when he was called to be bishop a year and a half ago. What faith that takes. Their examples are a constant reminder to me that the Lord knows better than we do. I think sometimes our goals and expectations can get in the way of what the Lord wants for us and know is best--if we let them. I am learning to be still and let the Lord guide our life, because I truly know he can do better things that I can. I am realizing that when I get out of the way and am content with where I am much happier. I also know it is our choice each day to respond this way to whatever challenges or situations we encounter.

The Power of Church Magazines in our Homes

2008-10-17T10:10:00.011-06:00

During my masters I had a friend, Jenae Jory (now Parker-she got married about 2 weeks after our internship ended) who did her summer internship at the state hospital with me. During lunchtime I would often find her reading the General Conference issue of the Ensign from the previous conference. I told her that I often tried to read through all the talks before the next conference but had not been successful yet. I don't remember our exact conversation but I do remember being impressed that she made it a priority to read and study all the conference talks. That was something I wanted to do.

I am pleased (no bragging intended!) to say that soon after admiring Jenae's dedication I have since read each one in its entirety. And it has been wonderful! I am already so excited for November's issue to come out next month so I can start reading the amazing talks from this conference. There are always inspiring messages during conference, but this conference I was amazed how many were "for me." So I am even more excited to review them and find ways to implement the principle and become a little better.

Which brings me to my current effort to read the regular monthly Ensign on a more regular basis. It's amazing how many Ensigns we've had pile up over the years, many of which have probably only been thumbed through. I always get excited when the magazines arrive in the mail, and yet usually they end up in our stack of magazines and hardly get touched, until a few months later when I need to make room for the next one! So, using the same method that has helped me successfully read the Conference Ensigns--reading an article or two as part of my scripture study each day--I am pleased that I have read almost the entire October Ensign this month! And it has been wonderful. I have been struggling lately and the Ensign has buoyed me up and been somewhat of a lifeline when I can't seem to feel the Spirit or find the motivation to do other things I know I need to do. I have been inspired to improve in various ways as I read about real people, members of the Church, who have had experiences and increased their faith. I think it can sometimes be easy to forget that the Church magazines include great doctrine and opportunities to learn and increase our faith.

I also realized that our Friend has been neglected too. We take the current month's to church with us in Ian's church bag and sometimes look through it during sacrament meeting. And once in awhile we read a story for Family Home Evening. But overall, I realized we are under utilizing it. So yesterday during the day I sat down with Ian and read through a few stories. I realized we spent lots of time reading books (which is wonderful) but that I also want to make sure I am teaching my children the gospel, and the Friend seems like an easy way to do this. Ian is at the age where he is soaking everything in like a sponge and often repeats things that I am amazed he even remembers! I hope that as I read stories from the Friend that this can be another way that I can be better at teaching my children the gospel each day.

I am leaving both the Ensign and Friend in places around the house where I will remember to pick them up and read them. It's not that I feel like I have to read each magazine from cover to cover each month, but I hope that I will. Since I know how much strength I gain and how much power there is in their messages. I know these magazines are another way that the Lord sends hope and guidance into our homes. They contain teachings of our prophets, so they really can be considered latter-day scripture and revelation that comes directly into our homes each month. They are specific for the time in which we live, with talks centered on current issues and struggles. I know they are inspired. And during these trying latter-days I know our family needs whatever we can to be strong amidst the storms that surround us. My hope is that we can better use these words as tools to strengthen our resolve, faith and testimonies.

My Attempt at Motherhood

2008-10-14T14:56:00.004-06:00

It's definitely not why we had Cooper but it did give me a little chuckle when I saw this, especially since as I type this, Cooper is crying, having woken up early from his nap (darn it) and Ian had already refused to go down for a nap earlier despite my best efforts (double darn it). I am afraid I complain and whine more than I realize or would like. It is something I am working on (notice one of the books I am currently reading on my Goodreads list if you don't believe me). I really do want to be more optimistic and enjoy this (and all stages) of life more. Overall I feel like I have made progress in my ability to do this (at least compared to how I was a few years ago) and yet I know I am not being as purposeful in the type of mother I am being or the home I am creating. Sometimes, more than anything, I feel like I am in crisis mode, just barely getting through each day. This is definitely not the type of relationships or home I want to be building! No excuses, but I find it hard for me to balance so many demands oftentimes, and I usually end up putting Chris and the boys on the back burner to complete other projects. I know that my family is the most important thing in my life, and don't want it to be otherwise--and yet my actions and the time I spent focusing on other things, instead of them would often say otherwise. But I am working on this! As much as I struggle with it each day, I hope the fact that I at least notice my tendency to do this is a big step toward making the changes I need to reprioritize and take better care of the things and people that matter most.

RIP Buck Infanger 1994-2008

2008-10-12T16:06:00.004-06:00

It is hard to believe, but the reason that we got a dog in the first place is because my Dad (bless his heart) just isn't a gardener. He is great at the landscaping stuff, and his tomatoes and squash always seem to turn out well, but anything on a much larger scale than that just never seemed to work. I blame the fact that he was gone so much that he just couldn't fix a week's worth of damage brought on by the neglect of everyone else in a Saturday afternoon. Needless to say, only the hardiest fruits survived this type of nurturing.

I had been pestering my parents about a dog for years when this situation really reached a head; my Dad had moved from Chris Hansen Laboratories to Pfizer in the early 1990's (he'd have to tell you exactly when-- I was young enough to still be pretty oblivious) and was traveling for longer stretches to exotic locales like Ireland, Japan and Milwaukee. The garden was not doing well (again) and my mom's allergies seemed to have abated just a bit. It was during this time that my Dad made a trip to Hatt's Ranch, the pheasant club to which he has belonged for about a million years. They had recently learned that one of their best hunting dogs, Spud, could climb fences and, coincidentally, that another of their best dogs, Cubby, was expecting a litter of cubs around the first of the year in 1994. Things just kind of came together.

On the last day in February in 1994, my Dad and I drove down to Hatt's and picked up the puppy he had selected a couple of weeks before. He was solid brown with a tiny white diamond on his chest. We had been trying for weeks to come up with a suitable name for him, and while Dad and I were making the 3-hour drive home (during which we got to clean up the first of many accidents) we settled on the name Buck.

Dad's garden had become a terraced, fenced kennel in the back yard with a doghouse, drain, water dish, et cetera. With it being the end of February, it was still pretty cold outside. Dad and Mom agreed (contrary to the carefully laid plan) to let Buck stay inside the house because it was so cold, and when March proved to be even more wet and dreary than usual, Buck received an extended stay inside the house. He was such a cute little fuzzball that no one felt really bad about it. Within a week or so, we started to find my Dad laying back in the recliner watching M.A.S.H. with Buck curled up asleep on his chest, and it wasn't long after that before Buck decided that he would rather sleep by my Dad's side than in my room-- and just that fast it became apparent that Buck was Dad's dog. It was probably two years before Buck spent a single night inside that kennel.

That was almost fifteen years ago, and since that time, Buck has become an integrated part of our family. When he was a puppy he would get stuck behind the couch or tired out in the middle of the staircase and cry until someone would come and hold him. He chewed on dang near everything in the house (including my Reader's Digest leather-bound edition of The Sea Wolf), and it seemed to take him a while to figure out the house-training thing, but that's probably only because while Buck had become Dad's dog, I was still the one who had promised to clean up after him.

He soon became a gangly, long-legged, paddle-footed juvenile dog with so much energy that he would do laps of the house when he got excited; these usually started with a full-tilt rush down the stairs into the living room, a banked turn across the backs of the couch and love seat and ended with Buck losing control and plowing into a wall somewhere-- he would be a drooling, lolling, upside down ball of legs and ears that could and would make anyone laugh.

Buck was present for most of the adventures of my youth. He laid beside me for two weeks each time I had knee surgery and kept me company, except when I got so desperate for entertainment as to watch Gidget Goes Hawaiian-- he drew the line there and would go hide under the stairs until the movie was over. He hiked in the Uintas with Dad and I for a couple of years; he would crawl into the tent exhausted every night because he spent the days running up and down the trail-- first to the front of the group and then to the back, just to check on everyone and make sure that they were all still okay. He learned to swim (sort of) when we were jumping off of an old stump into a clear mountain lake; he was so worried that we were in trouble that he jumped in to save us and then realized that he was half Chocolate Lab (a breed which swims) and half Visla (a breed which sinks). Luckily his front half was Chocolate Lab.

Buck was there the first time that I went driving with my Learner's Permit. In fact, he moved abruptly from his perch on the back seat to one just on top of my face when I hit the brakes too hard when turning off of State Street in Orem. By the time my field of view had been cleared of "brown, furry mutt", it was filled with something called "parked moving truck." Both Mom and I had an interesting time explaining that one to Dad when we got home.

Buck came with us when our whole family was on a handcart trek in 1996. Dad was in charge of the physical facilities, and our old Bronco served as the First Aid station. Dad tied a bandanna around Buck's neck and he wandered the trail every day checking on everyone in the whole stake to see if they were alright. When the time came for us to cross a creek swollen by a sudden downpour, Buck crossed and re-crossed the stream dozens of times just to make sure that each handcart got across safely.

Buck loved to go fishing with Dad, and would do his best to follow a lure or a worm to a hole, always looking back at us like, "hey-- you lost this! You want me to bring it back?" He always seemed amazed and a little bit suspicious when a fish would follow our line back in. More than once Buck jumped into a prime piece of the stream right about the time Dad's line hit the water, and Dad would often pull a fish out of the water from literally right under Buck's feet. I never was able to pull that one off.

Buck was true to his heritage and had a great nose for Pheasants. I think that the only trip to Hatt's Ranch that he missed since we have had him was this last Friday, and Buck was just too sick to stand. I think that it would have broken his heart to have been able to hear and smell the birds but not go running after them. Every time we would get out of the car at Hatt's Ranch, we would be parked right next to the huge holding pens where the pheasants are bred and raised. Buck would always take one look at the hundreds of pheasants inside the chicken wire and give us a look like "you guys, you're not going to believe this, but I have totally found the mother lode!"

Buck went running almost every morning for a decade or so with my Mom, and he loved her very deeply. She was the only one who could get away with calling him "Bucky." He just ignored the rest of us when we said stuff like that.

Buck became an integral part of our family-- not just immediate, but extended, too. He had his own seat in the car when we went to see our Grandparents. He was actually allowed inside Grandma and Granddad Infanger's house for Christmas and other events (more often than not there was a "To Buck from Gram" present under the tree), and my Allred Grandparents, who are fastidious in the way they keep their house and yard even invited him in. Grandpa Allred would rub Buck's ears and say, "How you doin' you old Meat Hound?" Many of my younger cousins called my parents "Buck's Mom and Dad" until they could remember "Aunt Alison and Uncle Rex."

We always knew that Buck would not be around forever. I remember being a kid, shortly after we got Buck (I know because I was still at the Junior High) and wondering whether he would be around long enough for my kids to get to know him. Buck had ulcers on his neck about six years ago, and we were afraid that he would not be able to deal with the infection. Luckily, he pulled through a removal surgery and kept on going. He had a tumor on his chest show up about three years ago, and we knew that his time was getting short. Earlier this year he developed two tumors in his throat to go along with the one in his chest, not to mention the arthritis and the hip dysplasia he's been dealing with for years. In the last few months he has lost an enormous amount of weight after losing his appetite and most of his ability to walk. We took him fishing with us to Strawberry on Wednesday, and after we got home, both Dad and I realized that we hadn't seen him wag his tail in a very long time.

Yesterday morning he went to sleep for the last time. I just can't say how much I will miss him. He taught our family much about unconditional love, gratitude, laughter and warmth. He was, at times, the only friend I really had. He was there when I decided to marry my wife. He loved my Mom and my Dad with a fervor I admire and to which I aspire. He was a loyal, valiant and brave protector when he felt we were in danger, and was so gentle that he let an 18-month old check his tonsils without anyone fearing that he might lose patience. We owe much to him. Our family is richer in love and kindness because of him. Godspeed, my friend. I am blessed to have known and loved you and will miss your kind eyes, your soft touch and your gentle kiss. I look forward to seeing you again in the next life and hope that when we meet that I will have learned to love as purely and as simply as you did.

Love the Fall Colors

2008-10-11T00:09:00.002-06:00

I know the snow is coming soon, but I have to celebrate the beauties of fall. My sister Andrea sent this as her "Picture of the Week". I love the mountains and autumn leaves and colors. This is a gorgeous place to live.

Ian's 3rd Birthday Morning

2008-10-10T23:09:00.007-06:00

I have always been a big fan of birthdays (including my own, if you hadn't gathered that before). So it's been fun to make birthdays exciting for my kids now. Chris did a great job decorating for Ian's birthday. I am sure I was being silly working on something on the computer. I am grateful we have such a good Daddy who is so involved and cares about making things like this special and important. (This also made me realize that I somehow forgot to decorate on Chris' birthday a few weeks before! I felt so bad when this dawned on me. No excuses, but my only consolation was that maybe I was just super tired after flying in from Chicago the night before...I can be spacey and kind of a slacker at times, but I at least usually try to be cute and remember fun stuff like this. Luckily, I did already have a gift for him, so I wasn't completely good for nothing that day!)
The house looked really cute. Ian was really bummed when we told him it was time to take it down a few days later. Pretty sure he'd be okay if we celebrated his birthday every day!
Chris also had the table set up really cute with some of Ian's gifts.
Ian was excited to get Chick Hicks. He had been asking for a Tractor, but unfortunately his parents learned the hard way that items such as that are going to need more time and energy to find (What is it with only being able to buy certain Cars in the three-packs with the same Lightning McQueen you already have two times over?!).
The hats might be kind of cheesy but the boys look cute in them! It's great how even simple purchases from the dollar store can be used again and again each birthday to add a little extra fun to the day (I think these were from Ian's 1st birthday!)
When I was growing up, my mom always let us choose a favorite cereal (even a sugary one, if we wanted) the week of our birthday. Ian is a big cereal fan (hmmm...another which parent-does -that-come-from trivia question; anyone else noticing a trend here?!) so I figured he'd get a kick out of picking one. Plus he'd be talking about and wanting Trix ever since we left Las Vegas, so I figured it would be fun. Chris took him to Smith's with him and said Ian was almost swayed to get Rice Krispies because it had Kung Fu Panda on the front (ah, the joys of marketing) but helped him choose by cereal not box decor. I may be opening a can of worms with the sugary/"fun" cereals, but I figure certain traditions are worth starting; I still have good memories of my years of "birthday cereals" (I still remember the time I chose Cookie Crisps. What was I thinking! They are okay as a snack food but not that great in a bowl with milk. I guess we all learn the hard way at some point).

I'm also finding it humorous that Ian's birthday is probably going to be broken up into at least 3 different posts. I guess as long as you are fairly careful, it's probably pretty hard to have too much birthday (unless you're Sister Bear, of course).

Tubby Time

2008-10-10T22:21:00.004-06:00

I think it must run in the family because our boys have the same love for the tub as one of their parents (I'll let you guess which one that is! Don't think too hard...).
Cooper has recently also become fascinated with the tub. It was a long three weeks when he couldn't get in the tub with Ian. He would seriously cry whenever Ian was in the tub without him and he could not figure out why I was giving him a sponge bath outside the tub.
Cooper helping Dad clean the tub (And yes, it needed it really bad; please don't look too close. If you do I apologize if you are completely grossed out. You know the loveliness of bathrooms in rentals). It also just occurred to me that maybe Cooper is already showing an interest in house cleaning. One of our other recent posts was him with the vacuum cleaner. Hmmm. This could be a good thing. I will take all the cleaning help I can get!

P.S. If you can't seem to get your tub clean, soon after this cleaning we found a "miracle" cleaning solution that has done wonders to our otherwise impossible to clean tub--Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. I don't know that they are necessarily intended for scrubbing tubs, but at this point I don't care what they are for, our tub looks better than it has in four years!

Squirt-up

2008-10-10T22:15:00.005-06:00

Soon after we got home from Las Vegas we were visiting Chris' parents and Ian decided it would be fun to run through the sprinklers. It wasn't an especially warm evening, but since he was enthusiastic about it, Chris figured it wouldn't do any harm. He also figured it wouldn't last long; and he was right. It didn't take long for Ian to get cold, but he had a ball for a few minutes! It's funny. Ian missed Utah so much while we were in Las Vegas but after we were back and he wanted to go to the "squirt-up parks" as he called them (aka the water splash pads at many of the parks in Las Vegas), suddenly he was saying: "Let's go back to Las Vegas." That comment has since stopped for the most part. Though when he can't find a toy his most immediate response is something to the effect of: "Darn it. We left it in Las Vegas." I love how his mind is working through concepts these days.

Everyone has Hobbies

2008-10-09T23:00:00.002-06:00

So, for Jenny relaxation is running or blogging or (don't tell her I said this) doing the budget. For me, it's cooking, playing with the boys or fishing with my dad. Ian seems to have inherited the penchant for reading that both Jenny and I share. Cooper...
Evidently he's an Eric Dyson fan. Every time we pull the vacuum out, he just gets really excited. He has learned that the vacuum lives in the closet and if we leave it open it doesn't take him long to get in there and start inspecting the seals and checking for clogs. ("Daaaad-- it's time to empty the canister again!") Come to think of it, if he wants to take up vacuuming as a hobby, I think I am okay with that!

Duck!

2008-10-09T23:00:00.000-06:00

Yeah, so we're trying to get all caught up with the pictures that have piled up on us in the latest round of craziness. These are some we took on my birthday when we went out for a walk to the Duck Pond on the south side of BYU campus (it's one of Ian's favorite spots).

Ian found the ducks!

The ducks (Huey, Dewey, Louie and Harpo) were pretty sure we were up to something.

We were. Ian got a big kick out of catching a duck. He kept thinking that he wanted to touch it but it took him a minute to convince himself that the duckling wasn't going to eat him. I was fairly confident that he was safe.
There was a wait for him to pet the duckling, but his reaction was worth it! He went nuts!

Cooper could hardly contain himself, too.

Whoa there, Cooper! Take it easy!

Despite the fact that we gave the duck his big break right here on the blog, he didn't stay around for long afterward. He gave us one of those "have your people call my people. We'll do lunch!" Yeah. We're holding our breath on that one. Five bucks says we never hear back from him and all the sudden he'll show up in an Aflac commercial.

No seriously! Come back! My Dad will be your agent! He needs a job!

Usborne Party

2008-09-25T14:23:00.012-06:00

I am hosting an Usborne Party next Thursday, October 2nd @ 7:00 p.m. at my house. If you are in the area, I'd love to have you stop by and look at the books. There are lots of fun, cute and educational books for all ages. The prices are very reasonable and it's always fun to have an excuse to get together with friends! (There'll be food, too, if that's a clincher for you.) :)

If you don't live near me or can't make it next week (or if you just want to see what they offer beforehand) you can check out the books and place orders online at: www.robynsreading.com then click on my name in the right column (The e-show will run from today through around October 2nd). These would make great upcoming Christmas gifts for children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, etc. I also have a copy of their catalog at my house if you'd like to look through it before the party. Let me know if you have any questions.

Yay for reading and good books!

We All Scream for Ice Cream

2008-09-24T23:06:00.001-06:00

Chris' sister, Robyn, came down a few Sundays ago with her four kids. Her husband, Caleb, has been out-of-town working for the past few weeks (I hope for all of their sakes, he'll be home soon! They are troopers.) and Chris' parents were on a cruise to Alaska, so we figured we'd "host" Sunday dinner at our house. Chris made an amazing pot roast with onions and potatoes in the crockpot, as well as some delicious gravy with the drippings. The kids got along really well, which was very exciting! Ian is actually making a lot of progress in sharing and letting other kids play with his toys (not perfect yet, but a lot better than before!). Thankfully there was no screaming while they played together! :) We had ice cream leftover from Ian's birthday dinner the Sunday before and the kids were all excited to sit outside and eat their cones, as you can tell. We figured we'd give Abbie just a cone, but she was not very happy with this and immediately walked back to me, handed me the empty cone and said "attgh"! Kids are so smart, even when they are younger and we think we can slip stuff past them. Nope!

It's really fun to have Ian have cousins so close to his age. We're grateful to be so close to them; that was one of the hardest things about being in Las Vegas, so it's kind of nice to be looking for jobs in Utah. We'll see what happens, but being near family is an important thing for all of us, if it's a possibility and seems like the best option otherwise.

The Next Elders Infanger

2008-09-24T22:16:00.001-06:00

My parents gave Ian this Sunday outfit for his birthday and he looks so handsome. He reminded me of a little missionary so I had to take pictures.
This picture reminded me of when we read scriptures with Ian at night--we read verses from his "big" blue Book of Mormon that we've gotten from the corresponding pictures/verses in his Book of Mormon Reader. In Las Vegas Ian started a few "scripture-reading" rituals. One was he would always say: "That makes us happy!" in a chipper voice right after we finished reading scriptures. He said it even after verses about murder and secret combinations. It was really funny. Most of the time he pays pretty close attention and will even repeat words we are saying, so I know he's listening, for the most part. But when he'd say this after verses like this, I'd just have to laugh and try to explain that it doesn't make us happy that that happened, but that we can choose a better way, and that will make us happy. The other habit he started was he would "have" to look through the pictures at the start of the blue Book of Mormon and label what they are. He knows Jesus, Joseph Smith, Christ visiting the Americas. He needs a little help with Lehi and the Liahona and Nephi on the boat. He forgets Samuel's name, but likes to say that he jumped off the wall. He often gets Moroni right, but sometimes calls him Ramoni (we giggle about that; I think that is a Cars influence). When we get to the page with Moroni putting the gold plates in the ground, our dialog goes like this:

Mom: Who is that?
Ian: Moroni
Mom: What are those?
Ian: The gold plates.
Mom: Where is he putting them?
Ian: In the hole.
Mom: Who finds them?
Ian: Joseph Smith [turning back to the picture of Joseph Smith]
Mom: What does Joseph Smith make out of the gold plates?
Ian: The Book of Mormon! [as he slams the book shut and looks at the cover]
Mom: And whose book is this?
Ian: Ian's! [hugging it, smiling, shaking side to side]

It is really cute! From the mouth of babes. It really is no wonder that Christ told us over and over to become as little children.This picture totally made me think of missionaries on splits! LOL. I am sure the local elders would kill for a ride like this to tract from. My cute boys. I am excited for them to be missionaries someday. I often mention to Ian that he will go on a mission when he is older. We have even started savings accounts for both boys, which is fun.

I also have been thinking a lot about serving a mission with Chris someday. I did not get the chance to serve a full-time mission when I was 21, but have started to read Preach My Gospel again and am striving to increase my abilities to be a better member missionary. I know I have plenty of room to grow in this area! My patriarchal blessing talks about missionary work, so I know it is a fear I need to face and with faith let the Lord increase my abilities and become a tool in His hands to bring people to Christ, because I know how important it is; sometimes it's just hard for me to open my mouth (About this at least! Maybe I just need to learn to start talking about the right thing!!)

Success?

2008-09-24T17:12:00.003-06:00

Hallelujah! Ian got a nap today. He really needed one today (just ask Chris' sister, Robyn, or half the neighborhood who likely heard screaming coming from our house about 1:30 p.m.) Somehow we got through the meltdown and were able to read stories and were laying down on my bed. Ian started to get up and fight going to sleep, but I firmly told him that if he didn't lay down and take a nap today that he was not going to watch movie, PBS, or play pbskids.org on the computer for the next week. He immediately put his fingers back in his mouth and we both fell asleep within minutes.

Some may say that was overly harsh or that I am threatening my child. I really don't want to do either of those, but I am realizing that even though he is only 3 years old, I can't let him run things to the extent that he can refuse things such as naptime without some consequences. I honestly don't know that he is completely cognitively, developmentally or emotionally able to process these concepts, but at the same time, I know I need to teach him and not just give in because I am exasperated, or because it seems like the easier way out for both of us (it's often hard for me to follow through!). I know I don't always handled things the best or most appropriate way, so I am very open to suggestions on how I can be a better parent. I just got a book on children and discipline today at the library; I really am hoping I can learn some new skills that will help both Ian and I to be happier. Not to complain or anything, but I honestly don't know where they got the whole "terrible two" concept--I have to say I think the "terrible threes" seem more appropriate to me. Now that Ian is able to verbalize and do so many different things, it almost has become harder to handle situations, especially sometimes when I think Chris and I expect too much of him. I have to remind myself--he may be smart and know lots of words and can talk to us, but he is still only 3 years old! We definitely need to learn to strike an appropriate balance between realistic expectations and remembrance of his age and developmental stage.

I ending up sleeping for a few minutes this afternoon, quietly slipped out of my bedroom where Ian was sleeping peacefully and ate a bowl of soup (It was 3 p.m. by now...no wonder I was so ornery...I had missed lunch in all our "chaos"!) and wrote in my journal for about 20 minutes until Cooper woke up. But I was grateful for the few minutes of down-time I got, even if it wasn't quite as much as I would have like. Ian ended up sleeping until a little after 5:00 p.m. which I usually don't like letting him do, but I figured since he'd been so out of it lately and hadn't had a nap in days, I'd let the poor kid sleep. Which meant getting him to bed tonight was a little more or a challenge (he was still down by 8:30 p.m. so not too bad). He ended up wanting to sleep on my bed, which I decided to let slide and not push the issue, since oftentimes we are putting him there so he doesn't wake up Cooper anyways (this btw, was after he had already woken up Cooper a few minutes earlier when he left his bed searching for his blanket, Cookie Monster, who was already in bed with him...!). I am also realizing that I need to be more flexible. I am afraid my need for control and to have things a certain way probably ends up being hard on my boys. I definitely I learning a lot from being a mom! They are patient to put up with my mistakes and learning curves. Hopefully I am getting better over time.

More Funny Car Sightings

2008-09-23T22:25:00.005-06:00

This morning we had an early WIC appointment at the County Health Department. As I hurried Ian and Cooper across the parking lot, our conversation went like this:

Ian: [Pointing to a black coupe] "Oooh. I like that car. What is it?"
Mom: "That's a Hyundai Tiburon."
Ian: [Pointing to a full-size white van]: "I like that one, too. What is it?"
Mom: "That's a Chevy van, Ian." [Sounding a little perplexed, but trying to be supportive, of course.]
Ian: "That one is hilarious!" [Seriously busting up laughing, pointing to a white car parked across the parking lot.]

At this point I was no longer paying attention to the make and model of the car, but was dying laughing myself because I could not figure out what Ian found so humorous about that particular car. On our way out the amusing car was still parked there, so I glanced over to see what it was--a Toyota Camry. I don't know about you, but I think there is something to be said about finding laughter and enjoyment in every moment of life. Leave that to Ian--it sure is a good example to me.

"I'm not tired."

2008-09-22T22:37:00.006-06:00

Anyone who has talked to me recently knows I am going through withdrawals--and am kind of freaking out. Up until recently I have been accustomed to at least 2-3 hours (sometimes more) of quiet, "me," get-other-stuff-done-time while the boys are napping. Now the three-year-old (who will not be named to respect his privacy) has determined that naps aren't a necessity anymore. Unfortunately his behavior and emotions don't quite agree with this yet. So by about 3 or 4 in the afternoon we are experiences more frequent, intense meltdowns than normal (notice, I did not specify that those were coming just from the 3-year-old...) and by dinnertime I am counting down the minutes until we can put him to bed! In the last 2 weeks, I think he's probably had one nap; maybe two. I don't even think I'm exaggerating (Chris can correct me if I'm wrong).

Ian's usual reply to my efforts to get him down for a nap is: "I'm not tired." Well, the one day I was able to get him down, this is what I found when I went to check on him and wake him up so he didn't sleep too long (I know. I never want to wake a sleeping child. But Ian tends to sleep too long during the day and then wants to stay up late...so what do ya do?):
And yes that probably is drool on the blanket (for Chris' sake--Ian gets that from his mom, not his dad). Another Ian funny on that note--the other day we were in his room and he noticed his pillow was kind of yucky. He started making faces and commented about it. I tried to explain to him that sometimes he drools or sweats at night and that it gets dirty. Mostly Ian just looked more disturbed. Maybe there really are some things children don't care about or need to know...even if they ask...
I love that little bum in the air! I've been trying to put him on our bed in our room during naps, since Cooper has been so finicky with noise and I want to have at least one well-rested child! Notice the big, red, fleece blanket underneath Ian? On a slightly off-subject, but related note--if your 3-year-old has had a few dry nights and woken up with a dry Pull-up, the first night to try leaving him in big boy underwear isn't the one when you put him to sleep on your bed...without any extra protection between him and your down comforter...

Now our new "naptime" is quiet time on mom's bed reading stories and attempting to have Ian fall asleep. I, on the other hand, would be happily taking a nap during this time if it wasn't for Ian kicking me and then telling me very decidedly that he is done having quiet time (and Chris thinks I wear the pants in the family...).

Chocolate Hoodies

2008-09-22T21:41:00.001-06:00

We headed out to the library for storytime last week and since it was a little chilly outside, I figured it was a good excuse to don the boys' new hoodie sweatsuits from Grammie and Granddad (Thanks again for all the clothes! You spoil us so much, but we are very grateful!). It also was a great opportunity to take pics of the kids! Plus, I love how their brown eyes match their outfits almost exactly--it's so cute! I love my brown-eyes boys. :)
Ian was excited about his VeggieTales movie from the library. I honestly can't remember why he was making this face, but as always, Ian comes up with something new and humorous.
They were being so dang funny making Cooper laugh.
Notice those teeth...he has 6 so far and is working on 7 and 8 right now. Crazy how many teeth he is getting all at once!
And Cooper learned to clap! He must have been inspired during storytime (since they clap after everything there) and picked up this new skill. It really is so fun how much he is learning; he can sign "more" and likes to point at things. He gets really excited when I offer his a sippy cup with juice or water, which he is getting pretty good at drinking out of (he prefers dumping it if he has c choice...) He claps at everything now, especially when Ian is doing funny things, which is often.

Learning Curve

2008-09-22T14:53:00.001-06:00

No one who knows me even a little bit will be surprised to know that I have been teaching Ian about cars. It's just natural for me, and I can't even enunciate how proud I was when, in mid-July, Ian started to ask us questions about the cars he would see in the parking lot. Friday night Ian and I were walking across the parking lot of our local Smith's and we were looking at all the cars. He was riding on my shoulders and we were having the following conversation:

Ian: I like that car. We should get one of those.
Me: That is a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I like those, too.
Ian: Oooh! I really like that one, dad. What is it?
Me: That is a chevy suburban. Let me guess. You like that one because it has two tv sets in the ceiling, right?
Ian: Yeah. It's pretty cool. We should watch Cars.
Ian: Whoa! What is that one, daddy? I like that one.
Me: Which one? The brown one? That is a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. I like that one, too.
Ian: No, Dad not that one.
Me: The silver Chevy Cobalt?
Ian: No, Daddy! The red one. (he points)
Me: Um, Ian... That's a shopping cart.
Ian: I know. I get to drive them at Macey's. They're pretty cool.

Now, riding lawnmowers, I get. Go-karts, I get. Heck, I even like electric motorcycles. But shopping carts... Wow.

I guess we probably could fit a small-block chevy in there...

Sad but cute!

2008-09-16T21:38:00.003-06:00

On Friday I was getting ready for our Stake Primary activity that was the next morning, so I stopped by my parent's house in Pleasant Grove to grab a few things. Cooper had been a little bit fussy when we got there, but then quickly got down on the ground and starting scooting around and pulling himself up to things. He found a nesting doll he wanted to play with so I set him in the living room floor with it and continued talking with my mom in the kitchen, which is right next to the living room. The next thing I know I see Cooper trying to stand up on the floor right below the stairs that go upstairs and then sit back down pretty hard and started crying. I was pretty sure that Ian and Isaac had just run upstairs, so I figured maybe he was upset that they were gone. He knows how to crawl up the stairs, so I assumed he was just frustrated. It was time for him to eat, which he did so reluctantly, still a little bit fussy. After feeding him he was still crying and we could not figure out what was wrong with him! My mom took him outside for a few minutes, then for some reason I ended up sitting back down with him in front of the steps where he had started crying in the first place. He was still really upset, and I wondered if maybe he was constipated (he gets really upset sometimes when he is pooping!) or tired or teething...but this seemed different. I was holding him and seeing if he would stand up when I realized that he would not put any weight on his left leg! My mom (who is an RN) felt his lower leg and he did not like that at all. So we wrapped it up with an ace bandage and decided to watch him for a little bit and see what he did, since we could not figure out what had happened that would have hurt him...but he still continued to baby it, being careful while scooting and when he did pull himself up to standing, he was wobbly because he couldn't figure out how to stand with just one leg (He looked like a flamingo! It was kind of funny).
So Cooper and I headed for the BYU Health Center. Cooper was really in good spirits most of the time (luckily he slept for a few minutes on the ride there, since of course it was naptime by then). He smiled and waved to all the people there and was friendly with the doctor. He really didn't like the x-ray or when the doctor touched his leg. From the x-ray it looked like everything was okay. But when the doctor zoomed in she said there were two places she wondered about, but that the radiologist would have to look at them on Monday (ya love how these things always happen on the weekend...). She said it looked like a "buckle"; to me it looked like a small chip had come out of his leg in two places, about an inch about his ankle. So she said to keep it wrapped, give him Tylenol and bring him back on Monday to see the orthopedic specialist.

Cooper did pretty well all weekend. He was fussy (but also is teething; almost has his 7th and 8th tooth already!) but we kept him on the Ibuprofen and Tylenol, so we made it through. On Monday we saw the specialist (who had NO personality whatsoever! I made a joke and was met with silence. Nice.) who said that the radiologist read the x-ray as normal (weird) but that he thought it didn't look quite right and Cooper was definitely still sensitive there when the doctor messed with it. The doctor called it a toddler fracture. Children's bones are so elastic still that they usually are pretty resilient, so the doctor said he would have had to fall pretty hard for this to happen (still not sure how that happened...!) It is a simple fracture so it's not broken through or anything, but the cast should keep it stabilized so it could heal more easily and that if Cooper fell again or was played with too rough by his older brother (not that that ever happens!) he wouldn't injure it more.

Cooper didn't even seem to notice the cast at first. He was really good while they put it on and was more interested in his seatbelt in his car seat after we got in the car to leave, than the cast. Since then he plays with it some, but otherwise is playing and scooting around like normal. I've had couple people tell me that it's so sad to see him with the cast, but that it's also kind of cute. I have to agree. He will have it on for 3 weeks, which isn't too bad. The doctor said oftentimes little guys will scoot right out of it, so if we can keep it on at least 2 weeks, that would be good. We'll go back to the doctor in 3 weeks. The hardest part right now is sponge bathing him since it can't get wet. Mostly it's sad because Cooper LOVES baths so much and has been so cute splashing and playing in the water lately. So that is our most exciting news this week!
Still moving around--no problem! He was completely fascinated with Chris' tax book. More than Chris is, I'm sure.

So Proud!

2008-09-15T22:59:00.004-06:00

First off, I apologize for the lack of pants (just ask our neighbor, Becky Williams, it could be worse!) but it's fitting considering the moment. This is Ian choose his daily potty prizes that he worked so hard to earn the previous day. As I mentioned in a previous post, when Ian goes in the potty all day (poop and pee; no accidents), he gets to choose a little potty prize the next morning. Some may call this bribery, but heck, at this point, whatever is going on is working so at $.20 a piece about anything is worth it right now. Kudos to Zurchers for their little toy bins. Ian had a great time picking out the prizes to put in his potty prize bucket.
Since it is part of being a parent to brag and be proud of you child, I am going to do just that. I was starting to go so discouraged about potty training. Chris will be the first to tell you that I was ready to give up and was honestly being a big brat about it. But we transitioned to underpants almost all the time (except at night, which is our next step when this bag of night Pull-ups runs out) and I think that has made a world of difference. We've definitely had our moments of frustration; it's not perfect yet and I have cleaned up accidents in more unique places than I'd like, but it's been worth it. I am SO proud of Ian! He has started to tell us when he needs to go, which is a huge deal! So if you are hanging out with us and you hear Ian say he needs to go, help us out and yell for us or run with him. He is doing an awesome job! For anyone out there who is still battling, be patient. It will come when they are ready. And when mom is ready to give what it takes, as well (hey, I can be humble--I'll readily admit that I wasn't ready to be potty training for the previous 6 months!).

Maybe I can be crafty!

2008-09-15T22:42:00.007-06:00

Anyone who ever knew about my last cross-stitch knows it was a project that spanned many years. I began to wonder if I would finish it before I had grandchildren, but I finally did finish it before Ian was born and am super proud of my accomplishments. I love seeing it hanging in the boys' room.

So when we got some cute "IAN" block letters from our friends, Jared and Julie Bristow, when Ian was born I did the most sensible thing I could--I hung them on the wall just as they were--nice, lacquered white. Then of course we had Cooper and I decided he needed his name on our wall too. So I went to Roberts and found some letters. But these were unfinished, so of course I had to paint Ian's too. And rather than making the project as simple as possible (let's be honest, I know nothing about painting) I decided that I'd paint the front of the letters blue and the sides accent colors from the boys' room (red, cream, green). This ended up looking super cute when it was done (I'm glad I did it) but ended up being a huge pain during the process! I will have to post pictures when I get them hung up, but they are finally done (after about 9 months!).
So here is my evidence that I can be crafty. Actually it was pretty fun. What I've realized is that I don't just sit down and work on other projects well (unless they are on the computer or involve my calling or responsibilities like Law Partners). This really helped me realize I need to take time for myself and hobbies. Like I need to play my poor neglected piano...there are a lot of things I have let go over the last few years. I think being "busy" with school and kids, I have forgotten to let myself be and fill my life with things I love. Sometimes I am not even quite sure who I am or what I like or want to be or do. Anyways, I am trying to recommit to doing more of the little things that matter instead of staying busy with lots of things that probably aren't as important for my personal and family's well-being. Maybe this is one of those "good, better, best "that Elder Oaks spoke about a few conferences ago.

I also have to note that while I was having fun finishing my project in the living room, Chris was in the kitchen baking Ian's birthday cake:
What a cute daddy! I will post soon about Ian's birthday, including pictures of Chris' awesome decorated cake. I love that there are no gender boundaries in our marriage as to "who" does what. I have to say we have a pretty dang good set-up. Brad Dowd, a mutual friend of ours from Pleasant Grove (actually the person who set us up on our first "blind" date) always told Chris he would make someone a really good wife because of all the things he did, like cooking. I definitely can't complain about the balance and contribution Chris brings to our marriage and to me. I need him in so many ways!

I also just realized that as I am writing this post, Chris is--again--in the kitchen baking--this time it is chocolate chip cookies for me because I said a treat sounded good tonight. What a sweetheart. I definitely am so lucky. Oh, and while I'm on the subject and bragging about Chris' cooking and kindness, he made Sunday dinner yesterday and a vegetarian lasagna (pretty much made up the recipe, his first time doing one like this) Saturday for my newly assigned visiting teachee, Casey Jensen, who just had twin girls last week. The Jensens were more than impressed. I told them if it was good I was going to take credit and if it wasn't, I'd tell them Chris made it. Of course, they said it tasted great and I ended up giving credit to Chris anyways. He is cute about cooking. I like that he enjoys doing it, and I definitely can't complain if he likes doing it!

Cooper's New Tricks

2008-09-15T22:34:00.004-06:00

Pulls himself up to standing position next to whatever he can get his hands on!
"I got it!" (grabbing Ginger's tail; Ginger wasn't a big fan of this one)
Scootin' around--he has this funny almost lizard-like scoot, where he moves his arms/hands back and forth to move forward. It's super cute. He's getting pretty fast.
He is starting to get up on his knees and crawl for "real" a little at a time. Usually he ends up quickly changing back to his scoot.

Cute Kid!

2008-09-15T22:24:00.003-06:00

I know it's no surprise that I can't get enough of Cooper. He just keeps getting cuter and more fun every day (every week, for that matter, Chris!). There is just something about him that melts my heart. He wasn't a big fan of the hat, but I thought it was adorable! Notice the red shirt--it was Chris' when he was a little boy. I love dressing the boys in stuff that was Chris'. I guess it goes to show that fashion really is cyclical. That, and I think it might mean Chris is old.

He's Come Alive this Year!

2008-09-15T22:18:00.005-06:00

Chris' mom gave us this toy to give to Cooper for Christmas last year. We almost felt a little silly giving it to him them (we felt silly giving him about anything at that point; he was only 17 days old) but 9 months later, it's amazing how much Cooper has changed! He is motoring around, playing with toys, making car noises and driving them around, and my personal favorite, terrorizing his older brother (or at least that's how Ian sees it). I think I'm starting to realize why older siblings need younger siblings--they need someone to help them learn to share and be nice. Remember, I am the oldest in my family...hmmm...I have 7 younger siblings...maybe I am slow at learning.

Chicago Blog-- Day 2 Museum of Science and Industry

2008-09-14T20:41:00.011-06:00

So, Day 2 in Chicago was scheduled for the Museum of Science and Industry. The museum is only about ten blocks away from the apartment where we were staying, so we walked south with the boys as soon as Cooper woke up from his morning nap.

Alan and Melanie had headed down about 45 minutes before we did (their kids were ready before Cooper woke up), so the first place we went was to the ice cream parlor in the Old Chicago section of the museum. Both Cooper and Ian had milkshakes and Ian had a PBJ and we were all fueled up and ready to go.

I'm not sure if this is the same spoon that Cooper had on the airplane the day before, but he sure seemed entertained by it! He was a good boy the whole time we were there and shortly after this picture moved into the Moby for another nap. Robyn and Caleb gave us this umbrella stroller for Christmas, and it was great unless you were on a slick surface... MSI is a couple hundred thousand square feet of travertine. I was about ready to smash the wretched thing because without any friction the front wheels turn in and it persistently refuses to travel in a straight line. I'm pretty sure that they invented an eighth circle of hell for the sadistic and nefarious designer of this particular torture device.
When Jenny and I were at MSI last year, we saw this exhibit and were just dying for Ian to see it. They have an entire automated assembly line with all of the spiffy robots doing the sorting, assembling, sonic welding, testing, et cetera of a little gyroscope that you can order in three colors and with your name laser etched on it. It was fun to watch the robots work and I wasted no time helping Ian scan in our little order slip. (I might have been a little excited about the robots, too.)

Once you scan in your order the system places it in the queue.

Then you watch as the robots sort out the parts for the colors you picked, install the bearings, retainer ring, antenna tip, and weld them all together with ultrasonic pulses. I think that Ian thought that the robots were cool, because he was definitely enthralled by what was going on, but I am not sure how much of the linear process he got. We had fun anyway.

This is what we were looking at through the glass. We actually got to watch the whole process three times because the first two times Ian's gyroscope was assembled it failed the quality control check at the end of the assembly line. I'd say we definitely got our five bucks worth. If you look closely, you can see the little purple gyroscope in Ian's hand; it looks just like the blowup on the display above his head. The first words out of Ian's mouth just about every morning from then until we got back from Chicago? "Daaaaaad! Where's my spaceship?"

MSI has what must be one of the largest model train installations around. There are dozens of trains running around through about 5,000 square feet of display space with synchronized sound effects and lots and lots of details. It must be some model train fan's dream job.

Part of the display is a scale model of the downtown Chicago area from Michigan Avenue going east out to the river. Right here I am pointing out to Ian where we popped up from the Metro station right by Millennium Park. Some of you may recognize that building from Adventures In Babysitting. It's the Smurfitt Stone building, just in case you were curious.

I got a kick out of the things that Ian really found interesting. I was nerdy enough to want to read about the oversize drive wheels fitted to this steam locomotive which allowed it to set a land speed record at one time. Ian and Peter were more interested in having a discussion over whether they were seeing bear tracks or deer tracks. Funny kids!

I'm not sure if you have to have a learner's permit to drive one of these things, but I am pretty sure that if this was the real thing that my insurance agent would rapidly develop an ulcer. Cooper spent a lot of the trip hanging out in the Moby. He was a good boy about taking naps in there, but he never seemed to grasp that his was the best seat in the house.

One of the displays which is kind of a tradition at MSI is the hatchery-- one end of the display has an incubator for the eggs where you can watch the chicks peck their way out. As we were looking through the glass it occurred to me that hatching eggs is a way better way to have offspring than doing the whole pregnancy thing. Seriously. While the kid is being born mom and dad can be of celebrating and having dinner together. (Or, in the case of chickens, being dinner together... ) I'm going to suggest to Jenny that we try this one as an alternative birthing method.

The other end of the incubator holds the chicks for a few days until they get shipped off to wherever it is that they go (my bet: Foster Farms. Hey, someone has to pay to keep the warming lights on.) With the attention span of our toddler, the 4-12 hour span it takes for a chick to get out of the egg was not nearly as enthralling as watching the little fuzzballs run around.

Cooper even seemed to get that there were cute things there behind the glass. There is one picture that didn't turn out very well where Jenny has turned to try to get Ian's attention and you can tell that Cooper is unhappy about having his view obstructed.

It will come as no surprise that my very, very, super-duper, uber-favorite part of the whole place is the U-505 experience. This is an actual German submarine which was captured during WWII by an American hunter-killer task force. The story of the capture and the subsequent intelligence coup reaped by the Allies is fascinating, but no less fascinating is the story of the red tape, technical planning, restoration, historical fact-checking and engineering which resulted in it's being towed across four of the five great lakes, hauled out of the water, across a freeway and installed at MSI-- and then it was moved all the way around the building and installed in this underground exhibit after fifty years of being on display out in the sun. Pop culture tidbit: the engine room of the U-505 was used for filming a number of sequences in the movie U-571. I bought a book and have been reading up on it. Love it!

The display is dimly lit in order to slow the degradation of the decking and other materials on the sub (and it gives a very cool ambiance because they variegate the lighting to look like you are underwater), but it makes taking pictures very tough without auxiliary lighting.

One of the attendant submarine displays had you try to trim the ballast tanks in a mock sub. I figured that since I had read a fair amount about subs and had a pretty good idea of what you were supposed to do I would be a whiz at it.

Ian totally kicked my butt. It's harder than it looks!

You pass through the circus area on the way back from the submarine. Ian roars!

We had to coax Ian into the seat of the tractor, but he thought it was pretty cool once he finally got in. What tractor? Where? I'm still playing with my spaceship!

Ian came up with this all on his own-- there was no coaching. I cracked up.

There is a very thoughtful children's play area called the Imaginarium. We went in so that Ian and Andre could play, but Cooper thought that the little water toys were awesome. We need to get some video of him in the tub, because he just goes nuts when we let him play in the water.

I love the look on Cooper's face here.

I'm tired!
This was one of the coolest things that they had in the Imaginarium-- it was a water kaleidescope. They had all of these plastic beads in the water and little pumps for stirring them up and then the orange tube you can see in the foreground has mirrors mounted in it so that the swirling beads created a really cool effect. Cooper (and I) got a big kick out of just watching stuff flutter around in the tank. Jenny was great about making sure that Cooper got some play time.

Thankfully, the museum had the forethought to include pint-sized slickers along with all of the water-based displays. The only downside to the slickers was that we just kind of turned the boys loose to play, and it was dang hard to get their attention after we told them it was okay to just go play!
This display had different colored lights that cast different shades of shadows. Most people just stuck their hands under the lights. We just stuck the whole kid under there.

Coming soon: Day 3!

Play: The Language of Children

2008-09-10T16:13:00.000-06:00

Wow, I feel like I am being even more philosophical and academic than I usually am (I, of course always have something to say. But it seems like a lot of the time I just talk to fill silence, even if what I'm saying doesn't have much substance...Just ask Chris. He gets an earful most days!). But since these pictures are from our trip to a children's museum, where children play, I figured it'd be an appropriate time to put my play therapy knowledge to good use. Since I think I have forgotten how to play, it was a blessing to get paid to play with other children for a year and a half. I honestly think that might have been the Lord's way of trying to help me relearn some skills to I can be a better mom. I love watching children play. I love that it is what they are supposed to be doing! A lot of times I think we expect too much of children; now I'm not saying that we shouldn't have rules and expectations and discipline, but play really is the mode through which children learn, explore, interact and become adults. Honestly, I think we all as adults could use a bit more playtime ourselves. Christ often said that we needed to become as little children. We definitely could learn a lot from observing children.
Here we are at the Leed Children's Museum in Las Vegas (I warned you all in a former post that I had a ton of catching up to do!). This was at the end of July about a week before we moved back from Provo.
I love the look on Ian's face. Pretty impressive bubble!
If you can see the number at the top, it says 78 mph. It created a pretty good breeze in there!
Not exactly sure what Chris was doing (or thinking, really) but obviously the museum is not just for the young in age.

"That will be $25.00, sir."
"Sweet. How much money can I get with this card?!"

The Woes of Potty Training, Part 532

2008-09-10T14:22:00.002-06:00

First off, I want to warn fellow wife bloggers that disabling their husband's access to their blog, especially via mobile blogger, could save everyone a lot of embarrassment (though it probably will make your blog a lot less funny...). But since one of Chris' favorite hobbies is torturing me, I probably won't do that anytime soon. Now, I'm not one for potty talk, but just to make sure we're all on the same page--if you do ever end up accidentally using the bathroom where your son has been previously target shooting, flushing your toddler's target practice down the toilet, he will probably ask later where they are. Enough clarification on Chris' prior post? :) (I know. TMI for me too. We'll blame that on Chris, at least to start with!)

But since I've already started with the TMI, I do have to say that the title for this post isn't entirely accurate. Since starting this post (over a month ago; it's been rotting in "drafts" ever since) things have started to look up in the potty training arena. Hurray! I had decided that September 1st would be my day to do some things differently and transition to regular underwear most of the time. We ended up running out of day Pull-ups on August 25th so we started that new adventure a little earlier than originally planned. I am thrilled to announce that we have made a ton of progress since and Ian has earned multiple potty prizes the last few days (he earns those each morning when he has had a completely dry day--poop and pee in the potty ALL day!). Anyways, so we are super excited and very proud of Ian. He is such a big boy. I am also pleased to report that there have not been any other incidents with cereal and toilets.

To Blog or Not to Blog?

2008-09-05T10:17:00.003-06:00

Really, it's not a question at all for us! But seriously, lately it seems like so many other things have taken precedence (getting moved back in to our apartment, our trip to Chicago, 1L Orientation at the law school, Law Partners, church callings, the semester starting...). Sometimes it feels like the list of "things to do" could go on and on. And yet I miss that our blog has been so lonely the last month! (Seriously, I think this is the longest hiatus we've ever taken!!) So I am recommitting to getting back blogging again soon. We have a TON to catch up on and I've missed reading all of your blogs the last little while too!

That and I now have a personal testimonial of how blogs can be a saving influence--like if your external hard drive completely DIES before you are able to get all your pictures from the last 2 months off (and that was your only copy of most pictures)--except for if you've been on the ball with blogging (which thankfully, we had been!). So there, if you need a justification for the hours you spend uploading pictures and typing away, I was able to calm most of my hysteria knowing that at very least, we had highlights of all the major events from the last 2 months. This also would be a plug for backing up your hard drives, especially your digital pictures, since as we all know, those pictures most often can't be recreated. Especially when you have kids who are so adorable and change so often ("Cooper has come alive this week!")

Anyways, so "hi" to everyone for now--the Infangers are still alive and well and hopefully we'll be bloggin' again soon! (which will probably mean an inundation of pictures all at once when I make the time for it soon. Really, it's usually all or nothing with me! So in the meantime, gear yourselves up and be excited be caught up on our lives fairly soon--I hope! :) )