Haircuts are the Best!

My kids have been looking over-grown for a little while now. Braden gets that way within a month or so, and Jade has never had a hair-cut before in her life. Well, until today, at least. Her hair was typical baby hair... flighty, thin, shapeless, yet cute. She had the classic phenomenon where her hair was much longer in the back than on the sides creating a slight mullet feeling. I decided that even though I hated to shorten her already short hair, it was time for a trim. She is over two years old, for goodness sakes. She'd even been asking me for a "carehut" for several weeks (she gets annoyed by hair in her eyes). The mission was to even things out a little and cut off some of the ratty curls in the back. So that's basically what I did. I stuck to the back and evened it out. I didn't really touch the sides aside from basic trimming of rogue hairs. When I was done, her hair was still falling forward in her eyes, so I trimmed the bang area just enough that it wasn't poking her in the eye. They are still long enough to sweep them to the side (which I find very cute). She was fairly cooperative and it turned out fine. I think it will be fun when the sides catch up. On Braden I just took a number two to his whole head. At first I only cut the sides (just to tease him) and asked Braden how he liked it. He said it looked like a Mohawk and you can see by his expression his thoughts and feelings on the matter. Not so supportive... I fixed it and he was very happy (and silly) about it. Haircuts are the best!

Later

Yesterday, I was given permission... uh... scratch that... I was FORCED to slow down. As you know, I've been trying to build our little nest exactly so, and as a result I think I may have been putting the wrong priorities first. I have this list (it's what I do... make lists) that is titled TO DO THIS WEEK 6-23-08. It is very long. A lot of things on the list are necessary such as changing our address with companies, cleaning the bathrooms, doing laundry, organizing and unpacking. Other things, however just serve to make the list look humongous and insurmountable... examples: find the perfect Houndstooth fabric, find the perfect fish fabric, sew curtains, sew pillows, go to IKEA and buy several items that would make everything come together better, etc. When I made the list they seemed pretty important, but it was just a lapse in judgment, I'm sure.
As the week has gone forward, I have been able to accomplish many of the items on the list, I have also found many more items that have been added to the list. The list is a never-ending source of task management, and you could even call it a slave driver. Well, anyway, back to yesterday... I was driving to the dry cleaner to pick up Spencer's pants, (one of the tasks that wasn't on the list, but still needed to be done) when my check engine light came on. AHH! This WAS NOT going to help with the list! Anyway, I pulled over and turned off the car. I needed to do some diagnostics on the engine (ha ha I needed to look in it and hope some inspiration would come to me), but I couldn't have the car sitting out in the sun with the kids inside for more than about 5 minutes. We were very close to my in-laws home, so I turned the car back on and drove there. They offered the garage, so I let the engine cool down and then proceeded to check things out with Kara. The fluids were fine, the belts were in tact... all was well aside from a very high pitched, yet subtle, ringing sound. I decided to drive it home and we've been here ever since. Yes, I know... a whole day and a half without running an errand... a little creepy. But, it's been good to slow down today. I played with the kids (imagine that... something that should have made the top of the list). We got out the costume box and had a blast. Well, mostly they had a blast and I took pictures and then organized things when they were done. I also got to make a batch of banana bread (thanks for the whole wheat, JulieAnn) with Braden. He kept giggling the whole time he was stirring. It was cute to see him enjoying himself so much. We also started a short chapter book together, "The Happy Holisters and the Indian Treasure" (a relic of a book from the 50's where the family is perfect and treat every person and animal just as they ought... I figure it's a good influence although completely impossible) I'm going to read him a chapter each day. So, as you see, once again my plans being "thwarted" has proven to be quite enjoyable and healthy. We'll deal with the car (and the list) later.

Geeks!

I know that I'm probably the last person to find this, but I just have to share it anyway. This music video by Weezer is so magical. It's for their recent song, "Pork and Beans". It features tons of YouTube stars and it's freakin' hilarious. They even got the unicorns from candy mountain in there. You've just got to love Weezer. They're such geeks!

In Order

This week has been a lot of work... joyful, wonderful, liberating work. The move was very successful and we had the help of many individuals. Thank you to all who put so much effort into serving us. You will not be forgotten. Now that we are in the new place, I've just been trying to find places for everything and also getting rid of more STUFF. Why do I always have so much of that? It's been an adventure, for sure. In the last two days, I have acquired a table and six chairs, two bar stools, and a new TV stand. I have sold a refrigerator and three accent tables. I have donated two boxes of random things to Savers, have posted several other random things on Craigslist, and have given a couple things to interested parties. I have also purchase three cans of paint to transform some of my furniture. The place looks OK now, although there are still a few boxes that I need to find a home for. I can't wait for it to look amazing and personal in here. The thing that is seriously lacking is photos. I need to fill this place up with photos of people. I absolutely love photos of people and find myself glued to the computer looking at them at least tri-weekly. So, I figure if I have them on the walls, I'll always feel surrounded by people I love! The home also lacks draperies, and I know it will feel so much for homey and comfortable in here with those and other additional textiles. My sewing machine won't know what hit it once I'm through. I hope to have everything done in the next week. We shall see. I will post pictures when I feel like the house is in order.

Moving!

Oh, by the way... we're moving on Saturday. I didn't really forget to mention this... there is another reason I didn't blog about it. Here is the story: On Sunday (the 8th) we were sitting in Sunday School when a friend of ours, Nathan sat down next us. This is notable, because he and his wife, Bethany had moved out two weeks previously. So, delighted to see him again, we asked how he was doing. He returned the favor and we reported that life was good and that we were currently looking for a place to live. This is where it gets interesting. He pulled us out into the hall and explained that he was here on business, and that he was just on his way to cancel his lease on the old apartment, but instead, he felt like he should go to Meadows ward. At first, it sounded like their old apartment would be too expensive for us, but after calculating everything, it turns out to be a pretty good deal... in an awesome complex. I hate feeling unsafe in my home, and so I'm glad we don't have to live in central Mesa somewhere (no offense, Chelsea and Darin). Also, we get to stay in the same ward till the end of the year, which I think will be good for the kids in their classes. The lease ends at the same time Spencer gets his review at work, and it gives us enough time to get things in order without being stuck for too long. We feel like it fits for us in so many ways, and we feel really good about it. Anyway, we got the keys from Nathan on Sunday, within two days, we had been approved to move in and then today, we were able to sign and take over the lease. Everything has been happening like clock-work. And that is the reason I didn't blog about it... I thought that for sure there would be a snag. I guess I've developed a haunting thought that when things are working out, it's just a matter of time before everything comes crashing down. I feel more cautious and wary than I would have a year ago... a negative side effect of the trials of life I suppose (don't worry, the positive effects outweigh this trivial problem) . Despite this thought, I'm pretty sure I can be excited now without setting myself up for disappointment. We've started moving some of our stuff in already, and I was able to unpack a few boxes. I feel like I will never just look over my stuff again... I will always notice it and how much I like it and I'll always be grateful for the blessings I have. I don't deserve any of it, and I know it's silly to get so emotional about some dishes and small kitchen appliances, but whatever... I am an emotional and often silly creature. I hope that this feeling stays with me and that I can remember how dear some of the common things in life can be as I learn to appreciate everything I have. The things that I will treasure more than the stuff I've missed though, is just being with my family... without distractions, and to have my own space and alone time to think or even to cry a little when I need to. I can't wait to manage a house again and to be able to be with Spencer exclusively after the kids are in bed. We really do need to get to know each other better and enjoy each other as people. Anyway, I'm just excited and grateful, and I'm sure I will write more about this. We're really moving!

Moments

Sometimes I just have to ask myself, "Why?" I got a shower this morning and as usual, I told the kids to stay in the basement and to take care of each other, and that if they needed me, I'd keep the door unlocked... our normal every day routine. My shower was pretty quick and when I got out guess what greeted me in our bedroom? Jade and Braden were sitting on his bed with guilty looking faces. On the floor were approximately 14 empty Dasani water bottles and caps in a big pile. They had wasted what was left of an entire case of bottled water and poured it behind Braden's bed on the carpeted floor. It took me an hour to move Bradens bed, vacuum the floor with the shop-vac and then soak it up with towels. During that hour, they sat on their beds and then on the towels (to help soak up the water) with their noses in the corner. I hope they learn something from their day of no fun and no freedom, since that is what will be happening today. As for me, I just have to keep reminding myself that the "joy of motherhood comes in moments."

Lessons in Girlishness

Man, where did this girly girl of mine come from? When I was growing up, it was all about the Tonka Trucks and the dirt and playing with my brothers. Of course, I did have dolls and Barbie's and stuff, but I remember a lot more building huts outside and paving roads in our little backyard city (which Allen was the mayor of, naturally). So, how did I become the mother of the girliest little creature ever? She flirts half the time and then acts coy and shy the other half, asks me to put bows in her hair if I neglect to, walks around with her hands posed out at her sides, always wants to put on my make-up, and talks in a super high voice about puppies or kittens or babies of any kind. She also loves kissing people and will sometimes just kiss my face repeatedly until I make her stop. It's so funny how she stares me down and then zeros in on the kiss. She is a little too good at it, actually. And, of course, being the girly girl that she is, she absolutely LOVES to wear dresses, skirts, and feminine shoes. She's my little super girl, and I love her so much. That picture above was how she naturally decided to pose for the camera. What a little lady! I can't wait for her to be old enough to give me lessons in girlishness.

Morning Like Today

This morning Spencer and I had the privilege of going kayaking with friends, Jami and Dallas, and Cambi and Joey. The kids stayed with Grandma Lilly (who we appreciate so much). We headed out to the Salt River around 5:30AM, stopping for some good old fashioned gas station breakfast on the way. We dropped of our car at a parking lot and piled in the truck and went to the top of the river. Life was good. We got in the river and began paddling around. I was lucky enough to be using an inflatable kayak which (I am told) is virtually impossible to tip over. Dallas was in some fancy sports kayak, and all the others were in pretty typical kayak kayaks. After we had been on the river for about 15-20 minutes, Dallas had a funny sensation that he was lower in the water than he had been before. Yes, he was, in fact sinking... and not that slowly either. The plug from the back of his kayak was missing and the whole things was filling with water. So, we all parked it off to the side for a time while we tried to figure out a solution. In the end, Spencer found a shotgun shell and stuffed it into the hole. That lasted for awhile, but later Dallas replaced it with a portion of the foam lining from his kayaks interior. We were on the way again. Then we came to the first "rapids". Up until this point, the water had been pretty flat, basically like kayaking on a lake. We were making it through the rapids which included two very large rocks when the unfortunate happened. Cambi, who was trying to avoid the first rock, ended up hitting the second rock sideways. I felt like I was watching a slow motion video, her kayak tipped up, she started trying to compensate by throwing her weight, but in the end, the river won. She abandoned her kayak before it tipped all the way over, and made sure she grabbed her paddle. You could see how cold the water was with one look at her face. The men pulled the boat ashore to tip it over, and Jami and I made sure Cambi made it to the shore too. She got back in, not too much worse for the wear, and we moved along. The rest of the trip down the river was pretty peaceful. The only other tipping we had was by the boys who were making it a goal to tip each other over. In between those times we found other things to amuse. The surrounding were beautiful and green. We saw several beavers, although not from a close distance. We also saw myriad of beautiful and interesting birds and lots of fish. We talked and did things like paddle around the bridge pillars or try to paddle through the reeds. It wasn't too hot, and it was just awesome. There was a time when an investigation was made when Cambi spotted a "dead body" down in the water. Luckily, it ended up being a sweatshirt caught on a rock. All in all, the kayaking was very chill and enjoyable. When we got to the end, we were all pretty tired. We pulled the kayaks out and up to the parking lot. When we got there, the car wasn't there. Turns out, we were at the wrong parking lot, but it wasn't a big deal. The car was just a short walk away. Spencer and Dallas went up to it, and found that we had a flat tire. Not a low tire, mind you, it was completely flat. Well, luck favors the prepared, and so the guys were able to put the spare on in no time. We finally got out of there around 11:15 and went promptly to a Taco Bell where we changed clothes, scarfed food and drank as much water as humanly possible. It was such a fun adventure, and I hope to have another fun morning like today.

Happy in My Body

Way back in March, I wrote a post about how I was motivated to begin exercising. I was feeling the stress of swim suit season upon me and I was wishing my swimsuit covered basically my whole body. In that post, I also stated that I would post a follow up about how I was doing with my exercise routine in "about one month". Well, I haven't forgotten that statement, and although I have procrastinated, I am now going to write this very over-due post. Lets see, when I first set up an exercise group, we determined to jog. We started out at the same time and just went at our own pace. We were all over the place, Kara and I jogged/walked at about the same pace so we stuck together. Loren and Jill set up a healthy walking pace and stayed together as well. Cameron ran circles around all of us. I remember seeing him running across the road in front of us several times and wondering how the heck he was in so many places at once. So this routine lasted for approximately one day. The next morning, Kara was ready when I arrived and then the morning after that, I ended up waking her up. Then the rest of the week, I didn't even bother going over there... I just enjoyed sleeping. I realized quickly that if I was going to get anywhere with my exercising goal, a few things needed to happen. 1. I needed to follow through even if others didn't, 2. I needed to get a pair of headphones that wouldn't fall out of my ears in order to drown out the horrendous sound of my lungs gasping for air and 3. I needed to stop trying to exercise before I was willing to be awake! So, the next week I went at it hard again. I started jogging at night after the kids were in bed. On nights that I either didn't feel like jogging or if Spencer was delivering pizza and not here to be with the kids, I would try to do an exercise DVD. A couple times I jogged over to Kara's and did a DVD with her. We also occasionally ran at the high school. That was really fun. Mostly, I just made sure that I was doing SOMETHING at least 4 nights a week. I'm happy to say that I've stuck very well to my goal since that time (aside from last week in Park City where I tried to jog and nearly fainted with lack of oxygen). I haven't really seen "results" in the way of a slimmer waist or cute arms and thin thighs, but I have earned the following things: I do not get as tired when I jog, I feel stronger, I sleep deeper, and I feel far more confident and grateful for my body. Luckily, these are the things that are most important to me. Our bodies are a fabulous gift from our Heavenly Father. I believe that I should love my body in whatever shape it's in and always be grateful for it. Taking care of it will help me love it as I should. And so, after all these months of working hard to take care of it, and at this time in my life, I can say that I am really pretty happy in my body.

Great to be Home

Well, we are all home safe and sound. During the trip, I took 417 pictures. Here are just a few of them with explanations. I had such a relaxing time on vacation and it was so cool. Now, I am happy to be home with Spencer and to sleep in my own bed (although sleeping on the top bunk of a bunk bed was also a new and pretty cool experience). It's always great to have a vacation and when it's done, it's also great to be home.

SATURDAY: Cameron holding Jade during one of our side-of-the-road pit stops

SATURDAY: Allen standing in front of the luxury van

SUNDAY: Joyfully (ha ha) working on humanitarian service

MONDAY: Mom rocking out on the drums (she was a natural at Rock Band)

MONDAY: The kids at the Salt Lake temple Visitors Center

TUESDAY: Chelsea is cute

WEDNESDAY: A bee on a blossom

WEDNESDAY: Chelsea and I on a swing at Grandmas

WEDNESDAY: The gang at Grandmas

WEDNESDAY: A birthday "cake" for Cam the night before they all took off.

WEDNESDAY: It wouldn't be a party without Darin playing some tunes.

THURSDAY: Jade saying "peep peep" to the chicks at Thanksgiving Point

THURSDAY: Braden just got licked by a cow

THURSDAY: Delinquent minors

THURSDAY: Corrie showing Elle the big horse

THURSDAY: Jade gets a pony ride at Thanksgiving Point

THURSDAY: Braden getting ready for the pony ride

THURSDAY: Cameron and I kept track of llama sightings on the trip. I think we saw over twenty during our travels. Here are a few at Thanksgiving Point.

THURSDAY: Corrie holds "Blueberry" the newborn goat for the kids to pet

FRIDAY: I took the kids swimming when my parents went to the temple

SATURDAY: Driving through Manti on the way home

SATURDAY: Braden on the drive home