Please excuse the blue bib on the baby girl! Here's a little taste of dinnertime at our house.
Soccer Practice
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
All the Posts I've Been Meaning to Write
Hello blogoshpere. Never fear, I'm still here. All of me. The baby weight and the split ends, but I have plans, oh I have plans!
I have a list of posts I have been wanting to write. It started in December. After posting about the boys' birthdays I was going to post about how I planned to get through the dark, foggy months by running. Who knew that I could have such a huge grin on my face while running in the misty cold morning air. All of those endorphins and Boston's "More Than A Feeling" on my mini iPod thingy are a powerful combination. They even made the pigeons on the roofs look beautiful with the morning fog on their wings. Then I pulled a muscle in my back. When that healed, I sprained my ankle. It's been six weeks and it still hurts (doctor's appointment tomorrow). BUT I haven't been running or even walking for two months so I figured I shouldn't post about that after all. 
Then I was going to write a post about the pigeons in our neighborhood. When I can see them on a neighbor's house I get so excited because it means they aren't on mine! I still don't like these rats with wings, but on above mentioned running excursions they have looked beautiful flying all out of formation but with a great "wooshing" sound that I have come to appreciate. These two are apparently in love and while the boys think it's cute to see the Mom and Dad pigeon, I can only imagine how many more little pigeons will grace our neighborhood when their love children hatch. Josh has lightened the situation by making up a bedtime story about "Harold the Ghost Pigeon" who knocks on our door one night to apologize for the mess he made on our driveway while alive. He turns into a prince at the end. It is hilarious. Harold has a British accent. Believe me when I say there's enough material for an entire Pigeon Post.
My four-year old son beats me at chess. No joke. I've never been able to see more than one move ahead, but Sam can and he loves it. I coach him a little, but he's good at it. It plays to his logic skills and he likes to make up stories about the battle while we play. "The queen is worried about the king but the knight will save him!" He is such a romantic these days and is very interested in how Josh and I met and fell in love. As long as he keeps his kisses for me, I'm fine with that!
I found out when there was free admission to the Air Force Base Aerospace Museum and we took the boys to climb into the jets. Sam has a Bilar candy from IKEA in his mouth in that picture! He loves to hear stories about when I was a little girl "named Nina." He wants to meet all of the people in my stories and see where it all happened.
He put his sweater on backwards but he put it on without force or begging so I wasn't about to tell him. He wants to be a pilot and live on a boat = Navy pilot. Michael likes the jets too but would prefer to live across the street from us when he is grown up and has to move out.
It was so windy it was hard to push the stroller outside and there were long lines for each plane because of the free admission, but they loved it. I made a list of the museums and historical sites in the area and we're going to try to see one a month this year. Last year we pretty much stayed at home and we're ready to get out and discover our city!
Michael went to the dentist for the first time. Here he is saying, "What am I doing?" I took only Michael and Anna and it was a nice date for us. He made the dentist laugh when he took one look in the hand held mirror he was given and declared, "No cavities!"
Anna is pulling up and trying to stand alone. She has discovered the phone and cries every time I'm on it because she wants to play with it. She has finally started saying "Mama" which fills me with love every time I hear it. She continues to be such a delightful, easy baby.
I have been trying to get organized and have finally decided to get my ankle looked at so I can start exercising again. I called someone from church who has a great haircut and will make an appointment for next week. I haven't had it cut since my visit to my old salon in D.C. last May and I feel like a shaggy dog or a country music star from the 80's. I can remember playing the Mandrell sisters and I'm pretty sure I got in trouble for wearing a shirt down around my shoulders like that when I was still a preschooler. Vanity starts young.
I have our meals planned out for an entire month at a time on an Excel spreadsheet and am starting to put my tasks and appointments in Outlook for each week. I have two twenty-minute windows to spend time with Michael and Sam in the mornings that I've been trying to use to help them learn to read.
Maybe it's the time of year or that fact that Anna is beginning to need a little less of my time but I have this huge urge to organize my life and be in control of how I use my time instead of feeling like I am just responding to the needs of each day without a larger plan to prepare in advance for some of those needs. It's a hard balance between structure and spontaneity, but when I am organized and the basics are taken care of, there is more time to be spontaneous. I don't want to be so busy with tasks that there isn't time to sit and play with the lego creations or stack blocks. After all, I didn't wait eight years for these children only to spend my days ignoring them because the floor is dirty, but I also can't stand walking on unidentified crunchy objects. I accidentally ordered Anna some spring clothes online-- in size 5T. My brain has to have some order. I know that putting the kids first IS the right order of things, but it's just time for a little more structure and not letting Sam and Michael wear pj's at lunch.
I have a list of posts I have been wanting to write. It started in December. After posting about the boys' birthdays I was going to post about how I planned to get through the dark, foggy months by running. Who knew that I could have such a huge grin on my face while running in the misty cold morning air. All of those endorphins and Boston's "More Than A Feeling" on my mini iPod thingy are a powerful combination. They even made the pigeons on the roofs look beautiful with the morning fog on their wings. Then I pulled a muscle in my back. When that healed, I sprained my ankle. It's been six weeks and it still hurts (doctor's appointment tomorrow). BUT I haven't been running or even walking for two months so I figured I shouldn't post about that after all. 
Then I was going to write a post about the pigeons in our neighborhood. When I can see them on a neighbor's house I get so excited because it means they aren't on mine! I still don't like these rats with wings, but on above mentioned running excursions they have looked beautiful flying all out of formation but with a great "wooshing" sound that I have come to appreciate. These two are apparently in love and while the boys think it's cute to see the Mom and Dad pigeon, I can only imagine how many more little pigeons will grace our neighborhood when their love children hatch. Josh has lightened the situation by making up a bedtime story about "Harold the Ghost Pigeon" who knocks on our door one night to apologize for the mess he made on our driveway while alive. He turns into a prince at the end. It is hilarious. Harold has a British accent. Believe me when I say there's enough material for an entire Pigeon Post.
My four-year old son beats me at chess. No joke. I've never been able to see more than one move ahead, but Sam can and he loves it. I coach him a little, but he's good at it. It plays to his logic skills and he likes to make up stories about the battle while we play. "The queen is worried about the king but the knight will save him!" He is such a romantic these days and is very interested in how Josh and I met and fell in love. As long as he keeps his kisses for me, I'm fine with that!
I found out when there was free admission to the Air Force Base Aerospace Museum and we took the boys to climb into the jets. Sam has a Bilar candy from IKEA in his mouth in that picture! He loves to hear stories about when I was a little girl "named Nina." He wants to meet all of the people in my stories and see where it all happened.
He put his sweater on backwards but he put it on without force or begging so I wasn't about to tell him. He wants to be a pilot and live on a boat = Navy pilot. Michael likes the jets too but would prefer to live across the street from us when he is grown up and has to move out.
It was so windy it was hard to push the stroller outside and there were long lines for each plane because of the free admission, but they loved it. I made a list of the museums and historical sites in the area and we're going to try to see one a month this year. Last year we pretty much stayed at home and we're ready to get out and discover our city!
Michael went to the dentist for the first time. Here he is saying, "What am I doing?" I took only Michael and Anna and it was a nice date for us. He made the dentist laugh when he took one look in the hand held mirror he was given and declared, "No cavities!"
Anna is pulling up and trying to stand alone. She has discovered the phone and cries every time I'm on it because she wants to play with it. She has finally started saying "Mama" which fills me with love every time I hear it. She continues to be such a delightful, easy baby.
I have been trying to get organized and have finally decided to get my ankle looked at so I can start exercising again. I called someone from church who has a great haircut and will make an appointment for next week. I haven't had it cut since my visit to my old salon in D.C. last May and I feel like a shaggy dog or a country music star from the 80's. I can remember playing the Mandrell sisters and I'm pretty sure I got in trouble for wearing a shirt down around my shoulders like that when I was still a preschooler. Vanity starts young.
I have our meals planned out for an entire month at a time on an Excel spreadsheet and am starting to put my tasks and appointments in Outlook for each week. I have two twenty-minute windows to spend time with Michael and Sam in the mornings that I've been trying to use to help them learn to read. Maybe it's the time of year or that fact that Anna is beginning to need a little less of my time but I have this huge urge to organize my life and be in control of how I use my time instead of feeling like I am just responding to the needs of each day without a larger plan to prepare in advance for some of those needs. It's a hard balance between structure and spontaneity, but when I am organized and the basics are taken care of, there is more time to be spontaneous. I don't want to be so busy with tasks that there isn't time to sit and play with the lego creations or stack blocks. After all, I didn't wait eight years for these children only to spend my days ignoring them because the floor is dirty, but I also can't stand walking on unidentified crunchy objects. I accidentally ordered Anna some spring clothes online-- in size 5T. My brain has to have some order. I know that putting the kids first IS the right order of things, but it's just time for a little more structure and not letting Sam and Michael wear pj's at lunch.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Adventures in Space and At Home
Recently overheard in NASA training:
"Mission Control? This is Roger. Ready for take off!"
Both of the costumes said "commander" but we designated one the captain and one the commander to keep them happy.
"I see the earth! We're going to crash!"
"I'd better go fix the satellite. I'll take my oxygen with me for I can breathe out of the ship."
"Astronauts sleep standing up, Mom!" Maybe I should try that one at home, eh?
I didn't know they made such sweet astronauts!
Last Saturday we went to the Discovery Museum to see the new space exhibit. The boys played with that gear for about 45 minutes before the planetarium show. They've been excited to go since they turned 4 and can now be admitted! Michael especially loves stars, planets, and all things space. He knows the names of the planets, what color they are, that Mars has no atmosphere, that some are made out of rock and others gas. He wants to be an astronaut and a knight when he grows up. Weekend outings are so much fun.
Then we enter weekday life. Today I had to break out the bubbly. I like to keep a little fancy stuff on hand for emergencies and today was such an emergency. Grown up soda in a goblet always lifts the spirits and reminds me of life beyond the mess on the floor (and counter tops, and table tops, and in the bathroom, and . . . )
Maybe it's because I was away for bedtime last night at Relief Society and the boys missed me. Maybe it's because Anna was woken up 10 minutes into her morning nap and didn't go back to sleep for a couple of hours. This combined with a short night's sleep for me led to one of those moments when I think "Are these words really coming out of my mouth?" After yelling because the glass of water I had been asking someone to drink for three hours spilled all over the craft project on the table, I gave myself a time out. I ran upstairs and prayed out loud, alone in my room, and came back with resolve to get the boys' to a friend's house for the afternoon or to get out of the house together.
I put Anna down again and put on a movie for the boys to watch. Since we canceled our cable in October or November I keep forgetting that I can still put on movies to give us all a little rest. I took a nap for about half an hour and felt much better when I woke up. I fed the boys dino- nuggets, applesauce and milk and made myself a concoction with the above: Fresh Herb Salad with cilantro and parsley already in it, avocado, homemade croutons, grape tomatoes and entire can of tuna (26 grams of protein always helps my bad moods), topped off with some killer french vinaigrette.
Then Anna woke up and ate it with me. She loved the tuna and I loved her.
Then we took a deep breath and got out of the house for haircuts and frozen yogurt. We also stocked up on the sparkling water, just in case! Onward and upward. Bring on tomorrow.
"Mission Control? This is Roger. Ready for take off!"
Both of the costumes said "commander" but we designated one the captain and one the commander to keep them happy.
"I see the earth! We're going to crash!"
"I'd better go fix the satellite. I'll take my oxygen with me for I can breathe out of the ship."
"Astronauts sleep standing up, Mom!" Maybe I should try that one at home, eh?
I didn't know they made such sweet astronauts!
Last Saturday we went to the Discovery Museum to see the new space exhibit. The boys played with that gear for about 45 minutes before the planetarium show. They've been excited to go since they turned 4 and can now be admitted! Michael especially loves stars, planets, and all things space. He knows the names of the planets, what color they are, that Mars has no atmosphere, that some are made out of rock and others gas. He wants to be an astronaut and a knight when he grows up. Weekend outings are so much fun.Then we enter weekday life. Today I had to break out the bubbly. I like to keep a little fancy stuff on hand for emergencies and today was such an emergency. Grown up soda in a goblet always lifts the spirits and reminds me of life beyond the mess on the floor (and counter tops, and table tops, and in the bathroom, and . . . )
Maybe it's because I was away for bedtime last night at Relief Society and the boys missed me. Maybe it's because Anna was woken up 10 minutes into her morning nap and didn't go back to sleep for a couple of hours. This combined with a short night's sleep for me led to one of those moments when I think "Are these words really coming out of my mouth?" After yelling because the glass of water I had been asking someone to drink for three hours spilled all over the craft project on the table, I gave myself a time out. I ran upstairs and prayed out loud, alone in my room, and came back with resolve to get the boys' to a friend's house for the afternoon or to get out of the house together.
I put Anna down again and put on a movie for the boys to watch. Since we canceled our cable in October or November I keep forgetting that I can still put on movies to give us all a little rest. I took a nap for about half an hour and felt much better when I woke up. I fed the boys dino- nuggets, applesauce and milk and made myself a concoction with the above: Fresh Herb Salad with cilantro and parsley already in it, avocado, homemade croutons, grape tomatoes and entire can of tuna (26 grams of protein always helps my bad moods), topped off with some killer french vinaigrette.
Then Anna woke up and ate it with me. She loved the tuna and I loved her.Then we took a deep breath and got out of the house for haircuts and frozen yogurt. We also stocked up on the sparkling water, just in case! Onward and upward. Bring on tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
I Love Clearance Sales
I coerced the boys to go to preschool today and took Anna to Pier 1 in my arms. I used to love going there in high school and dream about how I would decorate my kitchen when I was married. I haven't been inside for so long and had a lot of fun looking around with Anna. She was dancing and "aaah" -ing along with the world music playing inside. I never could have gone in there with Michael and Sam but Anna like looking at the pretty things with me and it was very relaxing! I might have to go again. They said they have new mark downs to clearance every Wednesday.
Here is what we got, for $12.00.
I got the bowl and plate to use as serving dishes, not at the same meal, I know.
But, what do I put on that bird plate? All I can imagine is California roll sushi, which I don't make, or petit fours, which I also don't make. I guess a simple salad would work. Suggestions???
The ornament was $2.50 at 75% off. It says 2010 so I thought I'd give it to Anna for her first Christmas. Maybe I'll get her one every year on clearance and when she gets a Christmas tree of her own, she'll have a nice start on her ornaments.
Here is what we got, for $12.00.
I got the bowl and plate to use as serving dishes, not at the same meal, I know.
But, what do I put on that bird plate? All I can imagine is California roll sushi, which I don't make, or petit fours, which I also don't make. I guess a simple salad would work. Suggestions???
The ornament was $2.50 at 75% off. It says 2010 so I thought I'd give it to Anna for her first Christmas. Maybe I'll get her one every year on clearance and when she gets a Christmas tree of her own, she'll have a nice start on her ornaments.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Baby Anna
Wonderful, wonderful Georgianna pretty, sweet baby of mine! You are mine today, let's say hip-hip-horray! For our Georgianna! Wonderful, wonderful, Georgianna divine! The day before she was born I listened to an LDS Conference talk about mothers and daughters and I knew I was in for a special experience with this girl. It's only just begun. 
We can't get enough of her. We are all smitten. She lights up this place. When Josh talks about her his voice goes higher. When I talk about her I get a far away look in my eyes. Michael loves to stroke her cheeks. He prays for her teething pains in every prayer and this morning Sam said, "I just can't stop loving Anna! She's so cute!" 
We can't resist her. She is at high risk of being utterly spoiled.
Can you blame us? She smiles when she sees us. She claps when we talk to her. She laughs when we play with her. She plays peek-a-boo with a blanket and gives herself the giggles when she pulls it from her eyes. Incidentally, those eyes are about the same color blue as that dress. Gorgeous!
She was given this dress as a Christmas present from my sister in law and we couldn't wait to put it on her. She actually clapped and giggled when I pulled it over her head and it made a crinkiling sound.
Anna isn't in a hurry. She does get impatient to be dressed so she can go play with her brothers, but she enjoys spending time with us and looks into our eyes a lot more than the boys did. Every night when she's ready for bed I "blow" out the lamp and she buries her face in my shoulder. I feed her in the rocking chair and if she doesn't fall asleep nursing, she starts to say a soft "Ahh, ahh." I know that means she wants me to sing to her and I love it. I want time to stand still except that I know I will continue to love her even more as she grows! What a gift she is!
She is becoming a social butterfly. At church today she looked at every person who came into the mothers' room and had to have a little chat with them before she'd go back to nursing. She enjoys playing with the other babies and crawling through the tunnel of chair legs in the classrooms. 
She is such a lady. We named her little stuffed bunny Lady. It's always in her crib and I've watched Anna crawl to her and snuggle up when she falls asleep. Anna is so dainty. She helps us dress her by putting an arm through a sleeve and loves to have her teeth and gums brushed.
Here she is with her friend who came over to play last week. They are two weeks apart and her mom is my good friend. Anna kept trying to eat the polka dots off of her shirt! When she saw her today at church she squealed and crawled over to her as fast as she could. We're glad they get along because her brother is friends with Sam and Michael too and we love to get together to play.
We're looking forward to more fun and giggles from this sweet girl! She's teaching us all, even me, about womanhood. Somehow I feel more special seeing how special she is. We are all respecting women and motherhood more with her in the home and it's a sweet lesson. She will indeed have two very protective brothers to watch out for her and she will teach them a lot about love. We are so very grateful to have her in our family.
We can't get enough of her. We are all smitten. She lights up this place. When Josh talks about her his voice goes higher. When I talk about her I get a far away look in my eyes. Michael loves to stroke her cheeks. He prays for her teething pains in every prayer and this morning Sam said, "I just can't stop loving Anna! She's so cute!" 
We can't resist her. She is at high risk of being utterly spoiled.Can you blame us? She smiles when she sees us. She claps when we talk to her. She laughs when we play with her. She plays peek-a-boo with a blanket and gives herself the giggles when she pulls it from her eyes. Incidentally, those eyes are about the same color blue as that dress. Gorgeous!
She was given this dress as a Christmas present from my sister in law and we couldn't wait to put it on her. She actually clapped and giggled when I pulled it over her head and it made a crinkiling sound.
Anna isn't in a hurry. She does get impatient to be dressed so she can go play with her brothers, but she enjoys spending time with us and looks into our eyes a lot more than the boys did. Every night when she's ready for bed I "blow" out the lamp and she buries her face in my shoulder. I feed her in the rocking chair and if she doesn't fall asleep nursing, she starts to say a soft "Ahh, ahh." I know that means she wants me to sing to her and I love it. I want time to stand still except that I know I will continue to love her even more as she grows! What a gift she is!
She is becoming a social butterfly. At church today she looked at every person who came into the mothers' room and had to have a little chat with them before she'd go back to nursing. She enjoys playing with the other babies and crawling through the tunnel of chair legs in the classrooms. 
She is such a lady. We named her little stuffed bunny Lady. It's always in her crib and I've watched Anna crawl to her and snuggle up when she falls asleep. Anna is so dainty. She helps us dress her by putting an arm through a sleeve and loves to have her teeth and gums brushed.
Here she is with her friend who came over to play last week. They are two weeks apart and her mom is my good friend. Anna kept trying to eat the polka dots off of her shirt! When she saw her today at church she squealed and crawled over to her as fast as she could. We're glad they get along because her brother is friends with Sam and Michael too and we love to get together to play.
We're looking forward to more fun and giggles from this sweet girl! She's teaching us all, even me, about womanhood. Somehow I feel more special seeing how special she is. We are all respecting women and motherhood more with her in the home and it's a sweet lesson. She will indeed have two very protective brothers to watch out for her and she will teach them a lot about love. We are so very grateful to have her in our family.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Snow Angels
On New Year's Eve we drove the kids up to the mountains to see the snow. It never snows at our house and they didn't remember ever seeing it or playing in it. I rummaged through some yet unorganized bags in their closet and found some mittens and hats that mostly fit!
It was about 65 miles away. Michael kept asking if we were there yet. Things got very exciting when we started seeing cars with a foot of snow on them driving toward us, coming from the mountains. They wanted to have a snowball fight so we all teamed up against poor Daddy who took it all in the right attitude and pretended to be hurt and surprised by every teeny tiny ball of snow they threw.
Here I told them to make snow angels but I didn't tell them how. They figured it out all on their own. Maybe they've seen it on TV.
And the Littlest Snow Angel. Anna in her knit hat that is getting too small for her.
And, to end the year, I sprained my ankle when I slipped on the snow. I'll spare you a picture. That's why I don't like the stuff! We haven't missed it but it was beautiful in the mountains. I like being able to get in the car and drive away from it. I've spent a lot of the year sick and hope the injuries will end along with 2010.
It was about 65 miles away. Michael kept asking if we were there yet. Things got very exciting when we started seeing cars with a foot of snow on them driving toward us, coming from the mountains. They wanted to have a snowball fight so we all teamed up against poor Daddy who took it all in the right attitude and pretended to be hurt and surprised by every teeny tiny ball of snow they threw. Here I told them to make snow angels but I didn't tell them how. They figured it out all on their own. Maybe they've seen it on TV.
And the Littlest Snow Angel. Anna in her knit hat that is getting too small for her.
And, to end the year, I sprained my ankle when I slipped on the snow. I'll spare you a picture. That's why I don't like the stuff! We haven't missed it but it was beautiful in the mountains. I like being able to get in the car and drive away from it. I've spent a lot of the year sick and hope the injuries will end along with 2010.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Joy to the World!
Merry Christmas one and all!
We had a great Christmas Eve and day here at home. Clearly, the boys enjoyed being wise men in our nativity Christmas Eve. We danced through the house singing in Swedish and Sam asked me what are we doing? Why are we doing this! I missed my family a little, but it was nice to have a quiet (relatively) night at home together. The kids went to bed at normal times and we went to bed early, exhausted with colds. We did stay up the night before that to watch "A Christmas Carol" and wrap presents. Somehow it's so hard to stop and make time for that. We had to put it on the calendar!
We had a great Christmas Eve and day here at home. Clearly, the boys enjoyed being wise men in our nativity Christmas Eve. We danced through the house singing in Swedish and Sam asked me what are we doing? Why are we doing this! I missed my family a little, but it was nice to have a quiet (relatively) night at home together. The kids went to bed at normal times and we went to bed early, exhausted with colds. We did stay up the night before that to watch "A Christmas Carol" and wrap presents. Somehow it's so hard to stop and make time for that. We had to put it on the calendar!
Anna had duel roles in our nativity. She was both an angel and baby Jesus. She has such a glow about her that she was a perfect fit for them both.
Christmas morning the boys went downstairs without us. They turned on all the lights and the Christmas tree, and got a stool to reach their stockings and take them down. We came down and they opened one present each from Santa and played with them for an hour before Michael said, "I think we have even more presents!" They were so sweet.
Sam's At-At falls apart just as easily as Josh's did when he was a little boy. I guess the tradition carries on. Michael loves this fire truck set that actually squirts water (in the garage only!) at the flaming building.
Anna got her first doll who she smiled at and held. It made me cry a little. Next year we're really going to get some girl toys around here! Mostly she played with the wrapping paper.
For posterity, here is a picture of all of the Christmas crafts the boys made at preschool. Carefully recorded in this picture, I can now throw them all away and clean up my fridge door!
Anna also got a toy cell phone that plays songs and lights up. She loves it!
I saw this costume set a while ago and picked it up for Sam and Michael. They were almost Buzz and Woody for Halloween but I didn't find them in time for that.
"You've got a friend in me!"
I'm enjoying getting back into a routine and using my time for organizing the house. I'm extra behind on things because I threw out my back the week before Christmas and spent a couple of days in bed while the house got messier and messier. Yesterday we went to buy some toy bins and cleaned out the toy closet. There is a bag of baby toys Anna may enjoy soon and a bag for the trash and one to give away. The boys understand where everything goes and that if it's not cleaned up before bed time, it gets a time out for two weeks. If that doesn't work, we'll have to threaten giving the left out toys away. Yikes! We're so mean!We hope everyone had Merry Christmases.
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