Back In the Saddle Again

After a 12 hour drive home on Friday, I spent 12 hours yesterday on my feet organizing my aunt's new kitchen in her new house. Between the two of those, I am bone tired. The kind of tired where your tibula just wants to relax. Instead, I am up and preparing to teach the nursery class in an hour. Which is going to make me absolutely collapse. I'm secretly praying that everyone is sick, or out of town for the holiday still. That makes me an evil and mean person, but my tibula doesn't care.

If I end up with the slightest bit of energy today, I am going to attempt some Christmas decorations. Otherwise I might just sleep the afternoon away. Which, at the moment, sounds like the better option. It's a rather overcast and dismal day. Perfect for sleeping. And since both kids ended up in bed with us last night, I'm sure that Dave feels the same way.

Is tomorrow really Monday?

Best Friends

Loree and I have had a really cheesy and dorky habit the past three years. We like to buy matching outfits - especially for the girls - and then take pictures. We are pretty sure that we can stretch this out until they are 18. Yeah, we're pretty sure they will love this tradition. Aren't you?

Josh and SpencerFall 2004

Fall 2005
Fall 2006
Fall 2007
Fall 2008

Clara and Hailee
Clara - 3 months - Hailee - 8 days old
Fall 2006
Fall 2007
Fall 2008

All Together Now!
Fall 2006
Fall 2007
Fall 2008 - introducing Tyler!

My Babies

I took care of Spencer for two years. This means that I still get little snuggles when we come into town. I don't know how I got so lucky to get all three at once!

Sleeping Like A Baby

My baby girl is turning three in March which means she is not so baby-like, sweet-smelling 100%, or....relaxing. Today, however, she was all three at church. Used to a 9:00am start, she was droopy-eyed by the time we got into Sacrament Meeting at noon. Around 12:15 she was snuggling in my lap. By 12:25 she was out with arms thrown to the side like a frog being dissected. She stayed that way for at least 20 minutes before I had to shift position. As I sat there smelling her hair and holding her hands I realized how little time I have left for these types of moments. I remembered when I was pregnant with her and how I snuggled with Josh that way thinking I didn't have much time. How have they grown so fast? I want her to just be a little girl and watch her sing and dance and twirl in her princess dresses. I want to keep her safe.

Now, Josh is all elbows and knees. No pudge to snuggle up to. He's still a snuggler, but it's just not as comfortable. He doesn't "fit" on my belly anymore. But when he is asleep and peaceful I see his baby face that I love. Sometimes when I sneak into his room to give him last kisses after he is asleep, he wakes up enough to whisper, "I love you, Mom." He wraps his little arms around my neck and lets me give his cheek 100 kisses. Last night I whispered, "Thank you for being my little boy." He whispered, "Thank you for being my Mommy."

If I had a dollar for everytime someone has said, "Cherish these moments," I would be rich. I do cherish these moments. Every. Single. Day.

That doesn't mean I am not excited for no more diapers. I'm just sayin'.

Twilight

Since I know the vast majority of the people who read my blog have either seen the movie or are refusing to see it, I probably am not giving anything away.

1. It was better than I thought it would be.
2. I could not get past all of the "Smell the Fart" acting.
3. It would have been better to not have the Cullens pasty because they weren't consistently pasty.
4. I felt like Melissa Sue Anderson (i.e. made for tv) would have a cameo about halfway through.

That being said, it was a good laugh and entertaining for a Friday morning movie.

Oh, and I liked Bella. Ironic since I hate her in the book.

Another note - even in Arizona the audience was largely made up of LDS women and school-ditching teenagers.

Very Talented

Arizona is Freakin' Hot

You would think that being in this kind of heat in NOVEMBER that I wouldn't want to eat, but I am acquiring a Vaca Booty and we haven't been here that long. I have dinner, lunch, dinner lined up for next week prior to Thanksgiving Day. Seriously - Arizona = food fest. And right now I am listening to vomit rock while Marty makes fajitas, but it is worth the blown eardrums for his fajitas.

This morning I said to Dave, "Did you hear what excellent thing Marty is making for dinner tonight?" He said no and I said, "Me, neither! But I'm sure it will be excellent!" And listening to Marty's cooking narrative I am positive it will be excellent.

But seriously - I miss the cold.

Silly Songs

One of the mommy gifts that I have been given is the ability to make up silly songs off the cuff without really having to think about it. This comes in handy during car tantrums. Last night we were driving home from my aunt and uncle's house and it was late and my kids were borderline feral. So I made up the following song to the tune of "I Love the Mountains". Feel free to sing it out loud while you are reading.

I love my Joshie
I love my Clarabell
I love my Shmoopie
and I love Raja Bell
I love my family
and the Phoenix Suns
Aunt Jemima, Aunt Jemima
Aunt Jemima, Aunt Jemima

Why Aunt Jemima? Their butter lite syrup is deeeelicious.

Close Encounter

I believe in miracles. I believe in prayer. I believe in paying attention to a five year old when he says he needs to go pee.

On the drive between Kanab and Page, Josh announced his need to go. We weren't far from Page, but decided to pull over. We slowed down and missed the first little turnout. Just for reference, the "shoulder" on that road is about two feet wide and it is a two way road. There are small pull out areas every half mile or so. As we came up on the second turnout, four deer started to run out in the road. Dave honked and they ran off, but I can tell you that if we hadn't slowed way down for the first turnout we would not have been able to slow down enough to avoid hitting them.

Lesson learned: When you say a prayer before traveling and ask to be watched over, pay attention to the little things that Heavenly Father uses to guide you.

Yeah, I Know

I said I wasn't going to post until I got back from Arizona, but I'm a flip-flopper on these things, ya know. Last night I headed down to the wild wilderness of Orem, Utah because my favorite oldest cousin, Sean, was in town. Sean has a Ph.D. in Family Science. I have a lowly Bachelor's degree in the same field. But I like to keep up on the happenings in the world of Family Science and Sean is always good for a long deep involved conversation.

Four hours later I was loaded up with statistics that scared the crap outta me, but I was also filled with hope. He emphasized that God loves each of us the same no matter what our choices, and has a plan for each of us. He talked about how for the past five years an overall theme in the Church has been hope. He counseled me to not take my counsel from fear. I told him I might stop watching TV altogether.

I drove home with a lot weighing on my mind and a stronger determination to just stay as close to Dave, Josh, and Clara as possible.

Gratitude

A New Year

I decided that I would just start a new blog with this transition, because it has been a year since I started on blogger and why not do a new one each year? I came up with a unique and original title, "Chronicles of the Flood Part 2". Don't you think that is a cool name? I like it.

I have a whole slew of ideas for my new blog, but I am going to wait until I get back from Arizona to really get going on it. So that will mean a two week hiatus. Will you survive? Will you miss me? Hey, a lot of you will actually get to see me!

So, get ready for a whole new blogging experience from me!