Be Smart

This is Stanford University. Josh wanted to take me to see it this weekend. Now I know why.

It is the most beautiful, impressive campus. I lifted those two pictures above from Google.We drove to the Bay Area yesterday for a couple of touristy things. It was Josh's birthday this weekend and this is how he wanted to celebrate. We went to the computer museum and drove through the G*oogle and A*pple office campuses. Josh loved being around all of that creativity and said he learned a few things about trips with kids: make a list of all the things you'd like to do. Cut the list in half. Add two hours to your estimated time. Then cut two more things off of your list. He was a good sport!

We left Stanford wanting to be smarter. I would love to sit in a big chair and read all of the books I saw through the windows in neat little rows on bookcase after bookcase. Then I would need to discuss them with a professor, and then probably hire someone to explain what they just said to me. These people are smart.

Wouldn't you want to walk there on your way to class? It just inspires learning.

There was a wedding going on inside this chapel so I couldn't peek my head inside but its exterior is beautiful. There were two other brides having pictures taken around campus - it's that beautiful.

Maybe if I'd gone to school there I would have been smart enough to wait for that man to stand up before taking a picture of the church! Sorry who ever you are!
We asked Anna if she wants to go there someday and she seemed excited about it. Michael is set on the blue school - BYU, and Sam the red school - the University of Utah. I hear they're more affordable anyway.
It was fun to go out on an outing. It's been a few months. It was hard to stop and nurse Anna so often and she didn't get long enough naps, but she can recover tomorrow. We live so close to San Francisco and the Bay Area is so full of things to do. We'd like to get out and see more of it.

Tonight Josh is at a church meeting and I put the boys to bed. They do so many precious things every day and I forget them so fast. This morning while I was getting ready for church Michael heard Anna crying in her crib on the nursery monitor. He turned off the monitor and went in and played with her until I could go pick her up to feed her. Tonight he cleaned up all of the legos even though "Sam made the mess."

We had our monthly ward dinner group tonight at the home of a Mexican couple. They made chicken enchiladas, rice and beans with pork that would make your mouth water. After dinner Michael he said his tummy was "just the perfect coziness." I think that was the best compliment the chef could have received.

Ahh. Gearing up for another week. Goodnight friends and family.

"How Old Are You Today?" "I'm Good"

Guess who turned three years old this month?

We had a small family party at home because Josh had the flu. They each picked out their birthday cake mixes at the grocery store; Michael chose chocolate and Sam chose fun-fetti. They were sooo excited about the cakes! I don't think they understood that they would be getting presents until the moment came and then they were absolutely besides themselves with excitement! It was so fun to watch them open each package and squeal and shout! They have been in love the the movie "Cars" since they got it for potty training achievements this summer but haven't had any toys to go along with it. We decided to make it a "Cars" birthday and gave them models of the characters from the movie and a couple of action toys.

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Our favorite part is when Michael squeals upon opening the present. The joy was tangible. We were sad to see that he fell off of the bench while we were singing to Sam. We didn't even notice it until we watched the video! Michael didn't understand the "How old are you" question and kept telling us he was "good" instead of "three." It cracked us up.

They share the toys and play with them together, all day long. In the morning they skip coming to find me and head straight for their new toys. They ask me once a day if they get to keep them forever!

Something snapped on that very day and they've had some accomplishments since turning three. Sam decided he didn't need to sleep in a diaper and woke up dry for three nights. Michael has started dressing and undressing himself as much as he can and they have both ditched the sippie cups. I told them we were giving them to the sippie cup fairy who would give them to babies who needed them, but they were in the cabinet until yesterday and they never asked for them.

There are more milestones that seem to coincide with this birthday, but I can't think of them right now. I am loving my three year olds. They are so helpful, funny, and loving. They are kind to each other, bright, eager, and endearing. We are looking forward to a very exciting Christmas and Sunbeams in the new year!

Happy birthday to my miracle boys. You continue to bring joy and light into our home and hearts daily!

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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Mr. Sunshine

Last week when we got back from the family reunion it was time to re-stock the cupboards so I made a trip to the local Super Wal-Ma*rt with a list a mile long. Motivated by a strong drive to feel a sense of accomplishment by planting a garden this summer , I started in the garden center and picked out a couple of tomato plants. While I was picking them out I heard a horrible, terrifying sound. Michael had fallen off of the side of the shopping cart where I didn't realize he was perched and landed on his head. On the cement. It sounded like a watermellon hitting the ground and I was too afraid to look for half a second. There was no blood and he was conscious so I threw the tomato plants into the cart and scooped him carefully off the ground.

With one hand I pushed the cart, with Sam still sitting in it, over to the cashier and handed her the plants, told her I couldn't get them right then because my son had just fallen out of the cart. She called the manager who brought ice and a clip board with accident clarifying anti-law suit paperwork for me to sign, and suggested I take Michael to the emergency room.

Since I had just hit my head the week before, I was very worried about him and decided that's what I should do. But, three problems existed. 1- I didn't know where the emergency room was. We're still new here and haven't seen the nearest hospital because it's essentially in the hood. 2- I didn't want to take Sam with me and keep track of the two of them in an emergency room with no lunch during their naptime. 3- My cell phone battery was dead so I couldn't call anyone for help.

I said a prayer and realized I was close to Josh's office, so I drove there and ran into the lobby asking the concierge to call Josh and ask him to come out front immedieately. Realizing it was lunch time, I worried Josh would be away from his desk, but he got the call and came out a minute later. He took Sam into his office with him and gave me directions to the hospital. He gave Michael a blessing right there in his car seat and Sam wanted to help. Sam was upset and didn't understand that he is too young to help, but we were so touched by his concern and testimony of the power of the priesthood.

Off to the hospital I went. Michael started singing in the car and I calmed down considerably when he started moving his head from side to side and talking to me. We checked into the ER, they asked him to step onto the scale, and they gave him lots of stickers. The first nurse we saw told me she thought he needed to be admitted and observed for a while so we hung out in a curtained-off area while the nurses monitored his blood oxygen levels and his cognitive responsiveness. He got apple juice and was only disappointed that he didn't get to see any ambulances like I had promised him.

They put a monitor on his toe with a red light that made his entire toe red. I played "This little piggy" and he had forgotten all about it and laughed and asked me to do it over and over again. I had to keep him on the bed and keep the light on his toe at all costs, so we were doing lots of toddler tricks when I heard the lady on the bed next to us ask the nurse about "that sweet little boy over there." This woman was being treated for difficulty breathing and she said that Michael's little voice was helping her calm down and feel better.

I was so worried about him when I heard his head hit the ground. I thought it had broken. I felt so helpless without a phone and not knowing where to go. I am so grateful he is ok and that I knew where to go for help. An exhausted neighbor of mine ended up watching Sam for the afternoon, along with her own three kids. Michael has been bringing people comfort and hope since he was a baby. His infectious smile, heavenly blue eyes, and hearty laugh cheer up people in shopping malls, grocery stores, and now emergency rooms.

He is our butterball. Our baby bear. Our potato bug (because of the way her curls up when tickled). I sing him "My Girl" with "Michael" in it because he (and Sam) are my sunshine on a cloudy day. We are so greatful that he is ok! I guess the warnings on shopping carts are there for a reason. I went back to Wal-Ma*rt late that night to do the shopping. Since then, I've gone back to putting the boys in the double stroller and getting only as much as I can fit in the basket underneath. I hope that works for a while. In the meantime, he is so prone to head injuries, that we're considering getting him a real Luke Skywalker helmet to prevent future incidents!

Risky Business

Anyone see a resemblance? Right down to the socks and the singing. I took this picture of Michael after church on Sunday when he wouldn't change into a different shirt and I had to take off his pants because we've been POTTY TRAINING!Two weeks ago yesterday Michael found the "Thomas the Tank Engine" underwear I bought at Target a little while back, to be prepared. I asked him if he wanted to wear it. He said "yes." And so it began. I had noticed I didn't have anything to do that week so I thought we'd stay at home and give it a try. He had been sitting on his potty chair for a few months with his clothes on and "went" a couple of times over General Conference weekend when he learned he could earn a Skittle or an M&M for this accomplishment. I set the timer for 15 minutes and tried to get this guy who hates drinking to drink a lot so he could have some success. He had fun at first, was thrilled about the candy, and then started throwing fits whenever I took him into the bathroom. He would rather watch t.v.. The next day I took him about every 30 minutes to an hour and he did much better. He likes to dump it into the big potty and rinse out the bowl (while I tense up hoping he won't spill it), flush the toilet, and put the bowl back on his potty. Then we go straight into the kitchen for his candy.
He can hold it I know, but he doesn't know when it's coming. I still take him every hour or so and don't know how to teach him to just go in when he feels it coming. Maybe that will come later. For now, I take him into the bathroom (kicking and screaming) and then he forgets all about whatever activity I just ripped him away from and gets all excited about his candy.
One issue, though, is poop. I never know when it's coming and he likes to do it in his underwear. I, however, hate cleaning it up. Chocolate cake batter (above) is fun to clean off. Then your kids smell like chocolate all day when you kiss them! Poop, however, is a different story.
Today after lunch it was actually Sam's that caused the problem. (See above photo illustration). The boys watched Handy Manny or some tool cartoon this morning and decided to "fix" the lamp. Sam is interested in touching the contents of his diapers lately and evidently went to work on the lamp after checking his diaper. I heard Michael screaming, running away from Sam and saying "No!" and went in to check on the situation. Here's what I found:

Sam's face and hands covered in poop.
Michael's face and hair streaked with poop.
Poop on the lampshade.
Poop on the armoire.

I changed Sam's diaper and washed him off. Then I noticed Michael had pooped in his underwear. So I cleaned off his bum, washed out his underwear, then washed his face and hair in the bathroom sink. He'll only has a couple of bruises on his forehead from the faucet as he wouldn't hold still. I think I got it all cleaned up but I still smell something bitter following me around so I can only assume it got in my hair too.
The good thing is I can never get enough of this delightfully ticklish na*ked boy. After story time this morning I decided to walk around the corner and stop in See's Candy for a treat. We've been in California for four months and I haven't had a single white chocolate-covered divinity puff. Although I think this whole affair could have been caused by babies on chocolate, the little buzz helped us all handle it with humor, except for the moment I spanked Sam for smearing his poop on his brother. But, after that, we were all laughing and I still hear them awake upstairs. Michael is singing "Now Let Us Rejoice" with one change; he sings "and some will molest them from morn' until ev'n." instead of "none." It cracks me up. Again, probably because of the chocolate.

Moral of the story: Parents who do chocolate have kids who do chocolate and although potty training stinks, (pun intended), with enough sleep and a little chocolate, you can come away from a day like mine and just say, "na*ked toddlers are cute."

Guess potty training is a "Risky Business."

Three Guesses

I'll give you three tries to guess what Michael is going to be for Halloween.







One.









Two.








Three.





Hiya, Cowboy! He's just discovered this hat and can't leave it alone. He puts it on first thing in the morning and it's the last thing he says goodbye to at night. He wears it outside to ride his bike. He loves it and and I am so excited because I've been planning on him being a cowboy but didn't know how I would get this hat-hater to keep the cowboy hat on. He took care of that problem himself and I can't wait to see him with a little bandanna tied around his neck.

Sam, of course, is going to be an Indian!

Monkey

Meet Monkey. That is as creative as I get on names, so he'll have to wait until Michael can talk for a better one. After the boys were born their Aunt Sarah and cousins Rachel and Brooke sent us a box full of gifts. In the box was this stuffed animal monkey. I thought it would be rude to give it to Sam as he actually LOOKED like a monkey when he was born, down to the same hairline and pokey-outey ears, so Monkey was given to Michael.


I tried to get him attached to it last spring, but it was a one-sided relationship and Michael didn't pay any attention to him. (I can't get that picture to rotate around.)



Now, however, they are inseparable. Michael feeds Monkey, brushes his teeth, brushes his hair, and kisses him on the lips a hundred times a day with a loud "Mmmm!" Before bedtime and naptime we walk around the house together looking for Monkey and calling out his "name." When we find him Michael bursts into an enormous smile and reaches out for his little friend. He's had a few baths in the washing machine and is holding up well. So here's a long-overdue thank you to Aunt Sarah, Rachel, and Brooke for what has turned out to be a match made in heaven.

Michael dropped our camera a week or so ago so we haven't been able to take any new digital pictures. I am taking some pictures with a disposable camera we've had in the cabinet for about 5 years. I hope the film isn't too old. Anyway, until we fix it or get a new one, I'll have to use old pictures.

We're going to the beach with my sister Friday and hopefully she can take some pictures and share them with us. Wish us luck with no naps and trying not to burn the boys! I think they will be in heaven as water and sand are their 2 favorite playthings.