Tagged!

7 Things I Can Do:

1. Drive my husband totally nuts
2. Speak Spanish. . . once upon a time I used to dream in Spanish
3. Kick your trash at Wii Hula Hoop. Anybody have a grass skirt?
4. Run 4 miles without stopping
5. Pinch you with my toes
6. Roll my tongue both directions
7. Still do a cartwheel!

7 Things I Cannot Do:

1. Touch my nose with my tongue
2. Leave candycorn untouched
3. Crochet
4. More than one real pushup in a row
5. Take a shower in the morning without stepping on the scale first
6. Text. . . at least not like the crazy fast kids out there. . .they can do it without even looking at the phone
7. Let a ringing phone go unanswered. I am practicing this skill however, as I realize how invasive it can be. . . plus it contributes to the propetuation of my dual personalities. We all know how it works. One moment our horns are out, the steam is streaming from our ears -- then the phone rings and while our children look on in wonder they are confused at the puzzle before them. . . demon mother with an angel's voice. . . as we answer the phone. What? don't tell me you have never done this.

7 Things That Attracted Me To Chuck:

1. His geniune concern for the welfare of those he knew and loved
2. His mom (I have the BEST mother-in-law in the world)
3. His ability to calm me. . .a voice of reason
4. He is a gentleman. . . well not the "open the door for the lady" kind of gentleman, but well his own version of one. (I mean I had to ask him to kiss me).
5. His squinty eyed, deep from the belly laugh. (His son has the same laugh)
6. His independence
7. His sincere desire to do and be his best all of the time.

7 Things I Say Most Often:

1. What the heck?!
2. Oh my GOSH!!
3. Come on!
4. Hey (insert your name)! long pause. . . I Love You! over and over again. Game I play with the kids
5. Whatever. (Usually after a long debate with my children over some matter or another. I give up trying to convince them I know a little something about something, and just succumb to their adamant protests that they are in fact correct).
6. I'm workin' on it!
7. And the last one is one I can't repeat. . . I promised the kids that I would work on not saying it anymore. (Shame shame).

7 People I Admire:

1. Amy M- she is the one of most self motivated, productive, uplifting people I know
2. My mom
3. My dad
4. Emily A.
5. Andrea R
6. The really skinny, healthy, happy mom of three who picks her kids up from preschool the same time I pick Alaina up. (granted this admiration is of the "bite my lip-she makes me sick- but oh how I wish I was like that-variety).
7. Carlye D

7 Favorite Foods:

1. Spaghetti
2. Corn
3. Applesauce
4. Mint Oreos
5. Mexican
6. Jr. Mints
7. Cereal

7 People to Tag:

1. Mom
2. Andrea
3. Kaycie
4. Stacy
5. Denise
6. Jodi
7. Deanne

Gotta Love Him

So after reading the previous post "Not Chihuahau Poo", it is hard for even myself to admit that Matt is still irresistably lovable. How do you refrain from loving that toothy, dimple-dorned grin? Impossible! Motherhood is seriously the most intense rollercoaster EVER!

And look what he can do with a couple sturdy plastic cars! Alaina has a pair of rollerblades she loves to wear around the house. Matt is always trying to convince her to share. Finally he'd had enough and made his own!

Not Chihuahua Poo

This is what a little boy looks like after he has been caught doing something utterly unbelievable. Can't you see the look of "uh oh" in his eyes. He better think "uh oh".

I don't have dogs for this EXACT reason!

Sorry for the graphic pictures. But he deserves to have this moment immortalized. And until he succumbs to my urgent requests to get the toilet thing down, I will hound him about this relentlessly. Why are boys so hard to potty train. Too busy I guess. We have even tried bribing him with trains, train tracks, and tunnels. (Given his ardent love of all things locomotive I was sure we had the answer, but alas I was wrong. And the horrible possibility of stumbling upon more "chihuahua poo" is likely).

A Chance of Lifetime. . . And I didn't take it! TWICE!!

Count them. . . One
Two
Three

Should have joined them right? How often does the universe align in such a sign of magnanimous divine love? Well for this fool of a woman who didn't take her first chance. . . . the answer was twice!

But apparently I don't learn from history. . . I let it repeat itself. Complete with three sleeping babies and one wide awake mommy. Can't even remember what I did instead of napping. But I know this much: If I had napped, I would have remembered!

Dare I ask for a third chance?

Camping 101

In August we went camping for the first time as a family. We had a beautiful view of a toll road behind us and the campground's trash dumpsters out the front door. But the dirt, the rocks and the stars were what mattered. Damon at little more than a month was a dream. . . went to sleep right on time, slept through the whole night nestled in blankets on the tent floor. Matthew, at almost three was, well EXCITED. After the novelty of flashlights, campfires, tents and sleeping bags wore off he finally nodded off to sleep as well. Alaina was intrigued by the short jaunt from the tent to the toilet, and insisted on traipsing out in her nightie, up the starlit road to the bathroom. Once that adventure was mastered she nodded off quickly. Mom and Dad slept comfortably on a inflation-challenged mattress. More like a night on the sea, what with every roll bringing a sudden and jarring change in altitude for us lighter bodies! But by morning we found ourselves firmly grounded, rocks embedded on our backsides to boot! The morning after kids still excited, and actually getting along. Not that we were exactly roughing it in the wilderness, but I guess this sort of thing really does inspire bonding, no super glue involved! Since this trip I have at least 2 requests a week for another camping soiree soon!

For Your Amusing Perusing!

Matt and Alaina at Temple Square (photoshop help)

Matt @ La Jolla Beach

Damon @ La Jolla while perched in the Baby Bjorn on my tummy

Damon @ home on the couch

Jake @ the church on the north side of the river

Jake and Ivet at the same place

Alaina Damon and Matt @ SLC Temple (some photoshop work done on this one)

Amanda and Josh's Wedding Announcements (photoshop as well, obviously)

Amanda and Josh

A Few of My Favorite Things

Little Girls and Fairy Wings - I wish the magic of childhood found a more prominant place in my memory. That's what daughters are for I suppose. What would I do if I didn't have her to remind of the beauty and magic of Fairy Wings and other imaginary things. And is it blaspheme when your 4 year old questions God's wisdom in light of the fact that he clearly forgot to give us wings? How could He commit such an oversight?


Little Boys and Potty Training (esp when big sisters help) - I must say I am behind on this one. Hesitant because invariably whenever I sit down to nurse Damon, Matt has to go to the bathroom. . . and he won't do it without help. So it is either me stooping over the john with one clinging for dear life and food to the teet, while I make a rather comical attempt at teaching the other how to wrap up business and keep it where it needs to go. . .OR a 'big sister' trying to help him. Hmm. . . I struggle as grown woman, with many years of 'going to bathroom' experience, with how to teach a little boy to go. How is my 4 year old little girl who is just barely beginning to notice certain anatomical differences, supposed to do it? Well, as long as I don't have too many more of these experiences: and we don't miss the window of opportunity entirely, resulting in a grown man with no restroom skills I suppose I will chortle along with the rest of you, and enjoy the memories I am creating with my children. . . .


The sound of cicadas - When we first moved here oh. . . 11 years ago. . . I was rather frightened of these bugs. . . greatful I never actually saw them, only heard their zappy, electric, eery song. But the other night as Alaina and I went on a "dusk bike ride" as she calls them, I heard these grasshopper like bugs, zipping out there quirky yet unique cant, I finally became acquainted and rather enamored with them. Still glad I can't see them, still glad I don't know exactly how many it takes to reach the startling volume they get to, but no longer afraid of them, and more intrigued with their peerless voices. And now they will be associated with the quiet, and special 'dusk bike rides' that Alaina and I enjoy on occasion, part of a sweet memory now.


Twilight Bike Rides - see above and read on. . . it must be a combination of the simple and the profound changes I witness when I walk behind her, straining to hear what she is babbling about up ahead of me, so when she pauses, I will have the proper response awaiting. The sun setting, making the mountains to the east a husky purple, the sky above a calming splash of warm pastel blues, pinks, yellows and reds. Alaina's own red hair, both infused with more fire and cooled by the twilight around her. The way she sits more confident atop the pink and white seat, the way she pedals slightly faster and stronger than the last trip down the road. Both moving further away from me and yet closer too, as she grows more confident in herself, and I witness the little woman she is becoming. This is one of my favorite things.