what else? Halloween.

I'm not one to get too crazy about holidays, especially Halloween. It's fun but it always seems to go by too fast, with too much build up. But this year I attempted to be more festive...you know, for the kids. And Jeremy. Heaven knows that between my cooking (or lack thereof) and cleaning (or lack thereof) he's got enough reason to be frustrated with me, the least I could do is not be boring during the holidays.

So we did the whole pumpkin patch thing...sort of. We went to one up the street, it had no games, no hay rides, no corn mazes, just pumpkins and a big scary dog. And we managed to go on the one day of bad weather that we've had this month. Then we carved our pumpkins, but I didn't even have any candles to put in them.

I did however, make some costumes. Tyler said he wanted to be a pumpkin, or a "pump-kee" as he says it, and Alexis was a butterfly fairy. We bought the wings but I made the skirt to go with it. Both were pretty easy projects, but I still didn't finish Tyler's until we were walking out the door to the trunk or treat. Which, by the way, this was my first trunk or treat, and while I understand the reason for them, I think they are pretty dumb. And boy are there some greedy kids out there! I could go on and on about that...but I won't.

Now I will inundate you with photos because my dad took these with his NICE camera, so they are all around awesome. And then I will end my boring post about Halloween.

My mom just whipped up that hat for Tyler, pretty cool!

Maybe a modeling future for her?? Let's hope not.

Just looking at him makes me rethink my stand on pumpkin soup...

Tyler's friend Hayden dressed up like a pumpkin too!

And Alexis' friend Jackson looked and acted like he'd already eaten a bucket of candy...but he hadn't had any! He just loves Halloween!

Tyler's hair looked pretty cool after he took his pumpkin hat off

And unfortunately there was no visit from Barney this year. But while we were out trick or treating we did see a headless horseman. Some guy had covered himself in black and was actually riding a real horse around our neighborhood!

Wordless Wednesday

a perfect night for a talent show

"Laaaadieeeeeees and Gentlemen! Me and Tyler are brought to you by...A Talent Show!"

The first act: They hold opposite hands, and run around in a circle until one of them falls down.

The second act: They hold opposite hands, and run around in a circle until one of them falls down.

The third act: They hold opposite hands, and run around in a circle until one of them falls down.


The fourth act: An attempt is made to dance while singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", but one of the performers throws a major fit and refuses to perform that number. Or "Muffin Man", or "Old MacDonald".


The fifth act: Some somersaults and a little wrestling. One performer hurts the other, a yell: "YOU RUINED MY LIFE!" and a kick to the groin is made.

Finally end it all with a bow. Mom says "time for bed!" and every one's in tears before we even make it to the stairs.


Oh the dramatics of the theater! Aren't you sad you missed it?


P.S. Alexis had her very first primary program today and rocked it! She said her whole part, (and I quote: "As part of the plan, Jesus created this world for all of God's children"), all by herself! We won't talk about how she acted the remainder of the program, we'll just focus on her awesome speaking part!

go broncos!

Tyler is about as big of a daddy's boy as I've ever seen. All day long I hear, "Where's Ty-guy's dada?" "Ty-guy's dada working??" "watch baseball with Ty-guy's dada??" He really loves Jeremy and really really loves to watch football and baseball with Jeremy. His favorite part of fall?? Probably the MLB playoffs and World Series because he gets to stay up late watching baseball with "Ty-guy's dada".

Well, the other night Jeremy had a few friends over to watch the Bronco's Monday night game, which I hear was a disappointing loss. I don't care about football much, but I do at least ask who won, especially when it's his favorite team playing. Anyway, the point of this post is what Jeremy has now taught Tyler to say. Watch the video, and then try to restrain yourself from stealing my child, because he is just that cute. Especially when he (tries to) pump his fist in the air and says this:



Also, sorry for the grainy dark quality--in the evening our living room has about as much light as a dragon's lair.

Wordless Wednesday

have some pictures

I had ambitions of writing a good, somewhat sentimental, post a few days ago about friends. Jeremy and I are blessed to have some good friends in our lives, and this past weekend we got together with some of those good friends. However, as you may remember Alexis has been sick, and it lasted for several days. Then she gave it to me and I spent all day yesterday in agony, and this morning Tyler threw up too. He also did some other stuff, but I guess I've grossed you out enough already. We'll just say he's going through one diaper every 5 minutes and that's only a slight exaggeration. So anyway, my point is I don't feel much like being sentimental or writing a whole lot. But I do have pictures to share!

Every year in October we go up Provo canyon to Bridal Veil Falls with our friends Kole and Dorothy, and eat dinner. We can't remember if this was our fourth or fifth year to do it, but either way it's become a tradition. Here's a picture of our second (though some argue it's the first) year going.And here we are this year:

Here's our kids:
Cute Stuff #1:
Cute Stuff #2:
And that's all I've got. Now I need to get back to laundry, and surprise! surprise!, change another diaper.

pumpkin soup

Last night Alexis and I made pumpkin soup for dinner. It was a recipe out of her magazine.

Since 4 AM this morning, Alexis has been throwing up. I don't think the two are related, but I can't be sure since I wanted to throw up while eating the soup.

Because of the throwing up she and I are sitting here doing nothing all day, just the two of us. We were supposed to go to a funeral for Jeremy's uncle, who was a good man that I really really liked. And I am sad that I can't go and participate as they honor his life, and express my condolences to his wife and children, whom I also really like. Hopefully Jeremy can convey it enough for the both of us.



Since I hate to leave things on a downer note here, let's get back to the throwing up. Do you know what looks the exact same coming back up as it did before it ever went down?

Pumpkin Soup. And I imagine it tastes the same too.

Happy 2nd

I always get emotional when my kids have birthdays. Those two days of the year are more significant to me than my own birthday. On those two days my life changed drastically and for the better. Nothing has ever challenged me more, or stretched me further than being a mother.

October 13, 2006 was a Friday. Friday the 13th. Jeremy and I went to the hospital early in the morning, because I was scheduled to be induced that day. I learned with Alexis that going past a due date is no fun, and that I would probably have to be induced anyway since my body most likely wouldn't go into labor on it's own until I was beyond tired of waiting. So in I went, and brought a big old bag of nerves with me. I left my then only child at home sleeping, unsuspecting of what the end of the day would bring her. I had so many emotions running through my mind and heart that I didn't know which way was up. I was excited to not be pregnant anymore. I was nervous that the induction wouldn't go well. I was scared of being a mother to two. And I was feeling guilty for what I was about to do to my daughter's world--which was shake it all up.

We had to wait awhile before I could be induced. The hospital was busy dealing with lots of people who wanted to have babies on Friday the 13th, and lots of other people who didn't want to have babies on that day, but had no choice. Once I was induced the labor went quickly, and mostly painlessly (thanks to the epidural). Both of my babies had passed their meconium while still in the womb, so both had to be whisked away from me the second they are out to be checked. Since I know no other way, this is fine with me because I usually need a second to catch my breath and wrap my mind around what I've just done. But that really only takes a second, and then I search the room anxiously trying to catch a glimpse of my new perfect child. This time Tyler's in the corner of the room, his mouth being suctioned by the nurses, all the while being watched over by his father. I wait on my bed, almost feeling forgotten, despite the role I played in all of this. Finally they announce his weight: 8 lbs 6 oz! I was so surprised because that's almost two pounds more than Alexis weighed at birth. Then they lift him off the table and bring me my baby all wrapped up in a blanket.
I looked at him. He fussed. I took in his tiny little facial features and tried to determine who he looked like. I compared him to what I remembered Alexis being like as a baby--no red face this time, and no white bumps, but still plenty of hair. He cried and made the face I now know so well, his lips huge and pouty and his nose all scrunched up. I fell in love. I did love that little boy, but it lacked the intensity I felt the first time around, which worried me. Would I not love my second as much as I loved the first? Every child deserves to be loved unconditionally by their parents and I was afraid that I would deprive him of that. Jeremy seemed to love him just as much. What was wrong with me?

A few hours later it all clicked. I can't even remember now what did it, it may have been the first time I fed him, but I do remember the feelings of the moment--the first time I felt that intense, protective love for my son. It was now there, just as strong as my love for my daughter. He was MY son and I was overcome with emotion about how strongly I felt for this little baby. I think my feelings of guilt towards Alexis got in the way at first, but nothing can come between the love a mother feels for her child.


I shouldn't have worried about Alexis, because while she practically wouldn't speak to me for a few days, she did love her brother. And her love for him, and his love for her, has never diminished.


So now he turns two. I can hardly believe that two years has passed us by and he has changed so much. His changes have led to my changes and his growing has led to my growing. But I still wish I could hold him as a baby just one more time. To smell his distinct baby Tyler smell, to cuddle him on my shoulder again, to listen to his little baby coos, and watch his eyes as he watches his big sister with adoration. However, where we are now is great too. He still watches Alexis like the sun rises and sets with her, but now he tries to mimic her. He still occasionally snuggles, especially if your name is daddy and it's bedtime or baseball is on T.V. And he still has the best cheeks for pinching and kissing.

I love my happy, silly, rough and tumble, chipped tooth, crazy haired, big lipped, full sentence talking, fast running but slow walking, left handed ball throwing, sweet little Ty-guy. And I hope he has a very very happy birthday.

Thursday already??

I realized it's been a few days since I've posted anything and that I should post something. The problem is, I have nothing in particular to post about, so I'll just share what we've been up to lately.

~I can feel the cold weather coming so we're trying to enjoy being outside before we can't anymore.

~We enjoyed listening to General Conference, and had a family party with Jeremy's family on Sunday. We celebrated three birthdays in the family, one of them being Tyler's. He got some toy dinosaurs and every time he wants to play with them he says, "play with Alexis' dinosaurs??" He can't be convinced that they are ACTUALLY HIS!

~Tyler was also very irritable over the weekend, and the reason is still a mystery. He then got even worse on Monday and I spent 3 1/2 hours of trying to get him to take a nap. I thought that maybe he had a bad case of teething, but that night he woke up and his whole top lip was swollen to about 3 times its normal size. I may not know much but I know that's not teething. So the next day I decided to waste my time and take him to the doctor (he also had diarrhea and a fever, plus the irritability). The doctor's diagnosis: the swollen lip is from some sort of trauma (i.e. Tyler fell down). My diagnosis of the doctor: he's an idiot who doesn't listen to people. I told him a million times that HE DID NOT HURT HIMSELF. But what do I know, right? I'm only his MOTHER, the person who spends ALL DAY with the child. Anyway, the swelling lasted until this afternoon sometime--so almost three days. And no Dr. Dumb, it never bruised or showed any sign of trauma. So I'm guessing it was an allergic reaction (don't know what to), or some tiny bug crawled in his mouth and bit him. I'd post a picture of it but Jeremy has the camera, so it'll have to wait, but boy did the kid look goofy.

~Also this week, I donated blood, and apparently I'm a slow bleeder. The lady kept telling me how slow I was, which made me start to feel kind of bad about myself. I mean, no one wants to be slow at anything. So I decided to look on the bright (though slightly morbid) side of things. If I'm ever left to bleed to death the blood will just dribble out of me, thus giving myself more time for someone to find me and help me.

~And from there I'll transition right into what I did today. Canned salsa. Tomorrow, I'll can applesauce. The next day I'll can apple pie filling. And then I will can no more.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have tonight's episode of The Office waiting for me on my DVR.

Monday

You know those days when everything is a mess? Your kids are dirty with tangles in their hair, and every space in your house is in shambles, and you just don't know what to tackle first. Because you also have a long list of projects to do: pants to be mended, quilts to be sewn, frames to paint, pantries to organize and a big ol' stack of books you want to read but have no time for. Plus your brain is so full of thoughts about your busy upcoming week that you can't organize them either. You know those days? I think they also go by the name of Monday. Yeah, now you recognize it, huh?

It's just another manic Monday
I wish it were Sunday...

creativity

Do you know what today is? Besides being October 1st (holy crap!), it's "Who said that? Wednesday"! Which is my really REALLY dorky way of saying it's anonymous comment day--I've never been good with alliteration. So I want comments to the question I'm going to pose--after the quote I will post, after this explanation paragraph--because I find the many abilities of different people amazing and I want to learn more about them. Also I figure I'll get more of you to comment if I make it anonymous. Plus, this way you can talk yourselves up if you want without feeling too showy!

So here's the thought provoking quote, by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf from last weekends General Relief Society Broadcast. If you are male or not LDS, still read it and comment!

"Our birthright and the purpose of our great journey on the earth is to see and experience eternal happiness. One of the ways we find this is by creating things...You may think you don't have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts--every one of us. The balance of creativity extends far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper, and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before. Colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter. What you create doesn't have to be perfect...don't let fear of failure discourage you. Don't let the voice of critics paralyze you, whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside."

Unfortunately I am my biggest critic. I criticize things I do to no end, especially my mothering abilities. Hearing this talk encouraged me to stop listening to that voice until it goes away altogether. And it's encouraged me to beautify the world around me--there's so much ugliness out there that we all need to counteract it with our creative abilities to make our world more beautiful.

So the question is, what do you create? Or what do you wish you created more of? Or what is your favorite thing to create? Be it traditional or not, please share!