Keeping Busy

So when I haven't been shopping or planning or cooking for our upcoming Thanksgiving week for twenty-one, here is a bit of what I've been up to.

This is my one and only Halloween picture. We took tons of them, but Sam deleted them all when he was holding the camera that night. So, here's my Pumpkin with our jack-o-lanterns. One was mean and one was nice. Our street was fairly light on trick-or-treaters but we went out with some friends on their busy, busy street. There was two way traffic on the sidewalk; I've never seen such a crowd. The boys got their loot and Michael fell asleep in the car on our drive home! Sam stayed up a little while and helped us hand out some candy to a few older kids who stopped by our place.

On Josh's birthday last week we went out and left the boys with a sitter. When we got home, this is what I found: bedroom light on and both asleep in the same crib. I guess they were a little lonely! It was sad and sweet. Sam's legs are on top of Michael, but he didn't seem to mind. Josh's birthday was fun, even if the whipped cream on top of his chocolate cream pie was rancid! He was a good sport.Here's Josh and Michael having a snack after church. Sam was asleep and Michael got to hang out with Dad all by himself for a couple of hours. It was a real treat for us all! He helped with some things around the house and generally followed Dad around like a little puppy dog.
And here is a slice of my life. Every day I get a bit schizophrenic acting out all of the princesses the boys ask me to be. I take turns being Princess Leia, Ariel, Princess Aurora, Ursula the Sea Witch, Maleficent, Maleficent as a dragon, and the blue fairy. Did I miss any? Probably, but you get the point. Usually they take turns being characters but once in a while they both have to be the same thing. Then we have Jack and "The Other Jack" from "Jack and the Bean*stalk", or, like below, we have Prince Phillip and "The Other Prince Phillip" complete with red capes tied around their necks. Listen to toddler heaven:



The best part is that then they kiss me to wake me up and we dance together and get married.

It's a Girl!

We had our ultrasound appointment today and the baby is a girl! We both had feelings like it might be a girl, but you never know until you see for yourself! We are so excited. Sam has been saying it's "Baby Anna" all along. Looks like he's right!

Younglings

Saturday was our ward Trunk or Treat party. We held it in the church parking lot. I have never been to an outdoor Halloween party in my life. I wore short sleeves and there were mosquitoes. The leaves are turning here and it's in the 70's. I think I'm going to enjoy the mild winter after all.

Michael and Sam are obsessed with Star W*ars and act it out all day long. "Don't destroy my planet Tatooine!" "I will knock down Darth Vader and then he will die." "He's nice when he takes off his mask. He's my dad." It is hilarious. I told a friend and she pulled out these two Jedi Knight shirts and belts she made a few years ago for her own boys. I was so excited! Halloween - Done! Josh picked up a couple of lightsabers and we were ready to go.

Imagine their excitement when there was a real Darth Vader at the party! Fortunately this five year old was kind enough to pose and play with the boys. Michael then spent the rest of the night chasing him around the party! He was in heaven and really thought he was Luke Sky*walker. He ran up and down the shrubs at the edge of the parking lot following a parade of older kids dressed as super heroes and other Star W*ars characters. We had to keep an eye on him, but he stayed busy defending the universe.


Sam was a little put off by the tweeners in masks and scary costumes and preferred spending his time with his friend from nursery.

Here they are with her older sister chaperoning in the middle. He asks to play with them almost every day and was happy to escort, and follow, her about at the party. Because they are wearing the same costume, they are officially "Younglings", young Jedi's in training, although they will tell you Michael is Luke Sky*walker and Sam is Han Solo. Sam gets to kiss me, Princess Leia, that way. Everyone's a winner! I wanted to get Princess Leia costume, but ran out of steam. Fortunately there were two other Princess Leia's at the party!
Together we'll destroy the Death Star and save the Princess!

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Leading the Rebellion is a real confidence booster and sure makes you hungry for some candy!

Josh was one of three chili judges and ate 15 different kinds of chili. Guess who won first prize?
Me!

Recipe follows:
Brown 1 to 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef, 1 clove minced garlic, and 1/2 c. finely chopped onion.
Drain.

Add:
Two 16 oz. cans diced tomatoes, undrained.
Two 16 oz. cans dark kidney beans, drained and rinsed.
One 16 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed.
1/2 c. ketchup
1/4 c. red wine vinegar

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer at least 30 minutes.

Add:
3 Tbs. chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. ground thyme
Simmer at least an additional 30 minutes.

Happy Halloween!

The Music Man

After a good night's sleep and on a more positive note I proudly present Professor Harold Hill!

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Pet Peeve

None of you are offenders, so I shouldn't post this here, but I am so tired of hearing the following when I am out with the boys:

Wow. You sure have your hands full!
I bet they keep you busy!

Yes I do and yes they do. I am sure we all cause quite a scene when we go out. They run away, they scream, they do what two-year-old boys do, and twice as much of it. It's gotten worse since they've given up naps and are generally unfit to live with after 3pm, but outings must be taken and errands must be run.

I'm sure it's exacerbated by the fact that I have had a lot of cramping and try to avoid picking them up. Even if that weren't the case, I can't pick them both up at the same time anymore, so that defeats the purpose.

What will they say when I have number three?

Vacation is Good for the Soul

I think everyone knows now that I am pregnant.

I really should dedicate a post entirely to that, but to save time I won't. We invested 2 emotional months and we have another miracle on the way. I am 12 weeks along and due on April 6. How special is that? The boys were due near Christmas, and this baby is due near Easter. We feel so blessed and are grateful beyond measure.

That said, I've been feeling sick and tired and when Josh said he was going to Washington for a week, I asked him if I could come along.

We spent the first several days with Grandma and Pepaw where we all got spoiled to death. I took 2 hour naps every day! I had my meals made for me, my laundry done, and my boys taken care of. I could feel the exhaustion and nausea fading away. I soaked in the sights of the green trees and the sounds of the singing birds. Our house has pigeons, but it's not quite the same.
Here the boys are feeling Tio's (Uncle John) and Pepaw's whiskers.
Then we piled into the rental car and drove down to D.C. I met my friend and her baby at the mall where we let the kids play on the indoor playground. It was cool and rainy and I was in heaven again! Who knew I would miss rain!
In D.C. we stayed the first couple of nights downtown with Josh in his hotel. We took the boys to see the Washington Monument, which they still pronounce "Mommy-ment." We took them to the Capital Building. I couldn't believe I had worked there for a year. It is the most spectacular, uplifting building and I didn't want to leave.

In front of the Supreme Court Building.

Next stop was the National Gallery of Art. I was so happy to be there! I used to walk there on my lunch break from the Senate and take docent tours. This time we took the boys to see an exhibit on Armor. They were in heaven! They love playing knights and were thrilled to see some suits of armor for knights and their horses. We ate lunch in the cafeteria and bought them toy knights and horses, one of which is already lost. This is the fountain in the cafeteria.
Sunday we spent with the Lowe's. Matt gave his homecoming talk in church and it was just like old times to eat Sunday dinner with them and spend the afternoon at their house. Michael and Sam have been arguing over who gets to marry their cousin Lydia.


It was a special treat to visit my friend Melanie. I met her over two years ago while we were both walking our babies around our apartment complex parking lot. Actually, we were both walking to the near-by grocery store for some social interaction with the employees there! She has been and continues to be a huge blessing in my life. Somehow we just "get" each other. She is a comfort to my soul and I hated to leave her! Her daughter played with my boys like they had never been apart and sat on my lap for half an hour being a cat. Her new son is sweet and good tempered and we had a great visit together over her homemade chicken soup and mixed berries with yogurt.

On the airplane out and back, Josh sat with the boys and let me rest. I read a book. I thought deep thoughts. I thought. I listened to the quiet. I listened to my boys chattering away a few rows behind me and I smiled.When I got home I felt rejuvenated. I have been cleaning everything that has been dirty for the last 4 months while I haven't been feeling well. I think this is the first time I've cleaned out my fridge when I wasn't moving, just for my own enjoyment. I put up our fall decorations and changed around a few of the pictures on our walls and am feeling more and more at home here. On our trip, my prayer was that I would come home and not be homesick for D.C. anymore. My prayer was answered and I feel more confident and sure of myself than I have in a long time.

Now, on to enjoying my second trimester and blooming where I'm planted.

I*KEA

I have a strange relationship with I*KEA. I most often go strictly for the cinnamon rolls, as I did today. With my Swedish background, I always hope I will find red candlesticks with hand painted white flowers, or some Dalarna hesta - painted toy horses. Instead, I find very functional and modern home goods.



I occasionally buy something. I think I have a stool, some plastic food containers, a salad bowl, and we did get some of their bookcases, but other than that, I lack the vision for putting their items together to look cute. I find myself looking at the giant murals of Smaland and Dalarna with Swedes dressed in traditional costumes and thinking to myself, WHY can't they just sell some things that remind me of that! Where is the Carl Larsson section? Why don't they sell the wooden Swedish flags that decorate the tables where we eat our smothered meatballs? I sigh with a homesickness for my family, precious traditions, and a father-land I lived in but don't remember.

On most visits, I ususally shop for about ten minutes before I begin getting a tension headache and have to try not to curse at my children because I am hopelessly lost and trapped in a maze of brightly colored plastic and low thread count linens. I can't find the check out fast enough for my wildly screaming children who hate the sensory overload of the downstairs Marketplace.

Today, I wanted to look at some curtains for our family room and thought it would be nice to get the boys a snack at the same time - the cinnamon rolls! It's hot today and they both wanted ice cream cones when they saw the pictures hanging above the cash register. While they've had plenty of ice cream in their short lives, they've never eaten it on a cone. I didn't know what kind of a mess they might make but I had a full case of baby wipes in my purse, and plenty of time to burn.

I handed them the cones with more than a little skepticism. I imagined them covered in melted stickiness in no time. They were thrilled with their first licks. I think they actually prefered it over trying to cut ice cream into bites with a spoon. They were covered with a few drips, but I tried to wipe off their chins and lick the cones clean once in a while for them.

You should have seen the priceless look on Michael's face when I said, "Yes, you can eat the cone." It was the same look as when I explained Halloween to him. An enormous smile, wide eyes, and giggeling! I laughed outloud it was so cute. What joy to discover an edible ice cream dish.

Just then, a woman who had been sitting at a nearby table walked up to me and handed me two dollars. She said she had been enjoying watching us and that she was happy to see well behaved children enjoying a treat instead of misbehaving children being rewarded with a treat. (Good thing she didn't see them in the car on the way to the store!) She wouldn't take the money back and insisted I use it to buy them another treat another time when we're out together.

In that small act, she gave me a huge boost in my mothering self confidence! What a simple thing to give a mother a compliment, but it made my day.

So , I didn't find any traditional Swedish folk art, or curtains, but I did find a renewed determination to actually be the kind of mom she thinks I am. That came in handy just now when I had to clean up the world's most disgusting potty training mess to date.

Thank you, kind stranger!

BTW, I found this website with some fun Swedish things for sale.