Tibbslove

Reformat

2012-01-30T21:03:00.002-07:00

All blog thoughts have halted. I need to reformat my brain, thoughts, feelings... I don't know... something. It feels like I'm in a blog rut and need to freshen things up. In the meantime, here are some highlights.

Lucas and I are still swimming a few times a week, which has been delightful. He's a natural in the water and I'm constantly impressed/scared by his water confidence.
Matt is working hard for da' money and is now in his fourth week teaching a new semester at the University. In addition, he's designing a show for both the U. and Pioneer Theater.. so needless to say, the guy has a full plate... and could use some prayer. Just gonna throw that out there.
I just found out tonight... Lucas likes mushrooms. He asked for the mushrooms in my salad and ended up eating all of them. Isn't that kinda weird for a toddler?
I started helping out in the toddler area of our church, which is kinda fun. I always had anxiety when working with other people's kiddos, but I think that's worn off. We have some pretty rad kiddos in our church too, which helps.
When Matt is home, I've roped him into playing a board game with me called, Ticket To Ride. I love it and can't get enough. Poor guy. That being said, he beats me every time... and I keep comin' back for more.
Lucas' behavior is still that of a toddler, but he's on the upswing. Things go in two-week cycles and often worsen when Lucas is dealing with a growth spurt. His behavior tends to lag when he's growing. During the off weeks, he's a gem. We don't have the full-scale ohmygoshmychildisouttoruinmylife moments nearly as often... thank goodness.
Speaking of growing, I put Lucas on the scale today and he weighs 28 pounds. I nearly fell over... because that means he's gained 7 pounds since July! The child is a beast. I love that beast.

So... that's all I can think of these days. I'm still wasting my time reading fiction (and loving it), dieting (trying to get 15 pounds off), and have sorta gotten into the habit of hitting up the thrift store once a week. It's so fun! I rarely leave with more than two items and spending more than ten bucks, but I'm beginning to wonder if it's a habit I should keep in check. Hmm....

So there you have it. Due to my lack of inspiration, I've been doing a little blog surfing on the side and finding some good stuff. I just may have to share some of my finds.

Postcards From Yo Momma

2012-01-24T10:21:00.002-07:00

Do you guys read other blogs? If so, please check this one out! It will make your day.

http://www.postcardsfromyomomma.com/

Romp, Splash & Laugh Our Faces Off

2012-01-23T13:24:00.000-07:00

When you're a kid, there are very few things more exciting than the pool...especially when the kid I'm referring to is a mischievous toddler with buckets of energy to expend.

We've been hitting up the community pool three times a week and frankly, it's great. In spite of the snow on the ground, freezing temperatures and being banished to the indoors... we still get to romp, splash and laugh our faces off. Thank the Lord for indoor pools!

Taking A Break

2012-01-23T12:39:00.002-07:00

This past year I've arranged more room in my life for reading, and without regret. Anyone who knows me will quickly agree that I've always spent the majority of my reading with non-fiction books... often self-help and books on spirituality or parenting.

I'm gonna be honest... I'm tired of trying to fix myself. I'm tired of trying to be a better person. I'm tired of reading boring non-fiction.

The past few months find me spending my free time with fiction. I picked up a novel and found myself enthralled in the story. I was lost in fiction and it was wonderful! I'm not discerning nor do I seek out intellectual fiction... I pick up stuff that has a good cover or an intriguing summary on the inside flap. I choose books at the thrift store or pull books off the shelf from the greenroom at Matt's work (don't worry! I'll return it). I keep it easy.

I've decided to take an unofficial break from non-fiction. And it feels good.

You can see the books I've been reading to the right sidebar of this page. If you have recommendations, they're gladly welcomed.

Getting Out

2012-01-20T14:41:00.001-07:00

Lucas and I met up with Erin, Quentin and new little Isabella today. We were supposed to go to the aquarium, but judging from the parking lot... everyone from the suburbs was hanging out... with their six kids, of course. You can imagine what the aquarium looked like inside: chaos. We will have none of that.

So we went down to the mall instead. Obvious choice.

The great thing about South Town Mall are all the children's activities. We rode the train and the carousel. Needless to say, Lucas enjoyed every moment of it. And I got a few moments to chit chat with Erin! I would consider that a win.

This is Lucas' thrilled face as the train pulled out of the "station." He was beside himself with happiness.

The child could NOT wait to ride the reindeer... although once we were on the carousel, he realized how big it was. In spite of the apprehension, he asked for another ride within a few minutes of our first being over.

Here's to getting out of the house... and keeping my wild-child occupied with some fun during these cold months. I'm attempting to compile a list of places to go that are easy and fairly low-cost (this cost us more than I would like), because in desperate times, I often come up with a blank. This way... I'll be prepared.

Muddy Puddles

2012-01-19T13:22:00.000-07:00

Lucas has been unruly, no... straight up difficult. And I am at my wits end with the boy. The child is a toddler (two and a half) and given the personality he's been blessed with, he is going to push buttons/blow boundaries/challenge authority/try new things/ruin things/be loud.... and many more. So these days may just get more challenging for all three of us (here's hoping not).

To boot, we're trapped indoors most days and I can be the first to admit: My child is bored. Toddler plus boredom equals trouble.

So today... after a bubblegum and a body wash incident, I decided it was time to go outside and blow off some steam.

We've had some snow this week and last night a big rain...so there were snowy puddles everywhere. This is perfect for kiddos who LOVE to puddle jump. Lucas was in Heaven and by the time we got home, the boy had a muddy butt and soggy socks. Here's hoping I can think of some fun things to do this afternoon....

Practicalities

2012-01-18T14:29:00.000-07:00

I had my hair cut last weekend. I went from sexy to practical. Sigh...

From this...

To this...

I realize I now have a "mom" haircut... and I'll admit I wish it was a bit longer... but after a little grow-out I think it'll be perfect. It's easier to manage too... which is a HUGE win. Here's to practicality!

Winter Has Settled In

2012-01-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

Well... Winter has finally settled in. To be fair, it's been here for some time... the bitter, crispy cold... that makes your lips chap and nostril hairs freeze (not that I have nostril hairs... but yea). We've had the cold, that's for sure.

Last year we had mad amounts of snow. It seemed like there were only a few weeks out of the Winter we didn't have snow... and this year, we have only had a week or two of snow total! I'm feeling cheated... just gonna say it.

As a stay at home mother, I like the snow... because I don't have to go out into it. I'll be honest.

This week we've had some snow and we're expecting more. It's nice to watch it fall and sit by the window as the sun peeks out and warms the house. Yes... it's still bitter cold outside, but it's lovely from the inside. There is something wonderful about having four seasons and frankly without snow, it just doesn't feel like a real Winter.

So in my opinion... let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Nail Polish Carnage

2012-01-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

Last Friday night Matt and I were out for an opening night premier at the theater. Lucas was with the Cox family... pretty much doing what he always does: bug their kids. From the sounds of things, the evening went fairly normally... and then there was bedtime.

Now, I should preface this by reminding everyone how difficult bedtime has become with our child. It's not tears, or refusal to go to bed... it's refusal to stay in bed. Every night there is at least one swat on the bottom and various threats to choke our child to sleep (I'm kidding about the last part... not that it hasn't crossed our minds). He's sneaky too... like a ninja, he will climb out of his crib without a sound, flip on his light switch and play with toys. Unless we're sitting by the door, watching for light to seep through the cracks... or the little sneak accidentally grabs a toy that makes truck sounds.... we have no idea (NO IDEA!) he's up and playing. Argh.

So on this particular Friday night.... Emily puts Lucas to bed and he snuggles in as if he were good to go. And I truly believe he probably would have gone to sleep... if he hadn't heard her go upstairs. I can just imagine his inner monologue: "What!? Did Emowee go upstairs? Does that mean I'm alone down here!? Now's my chance!!!"

That little stinker.

Needless to say, Lucas caused quite the ruckus. The child helped himself to my bag of nail polishes, which were left on table... and by helped himself I mean he poured nail polish on various items in our room. The carpet, chairs, his toes... he even gave himself a lil' taste, because there was a small smidge of polish on the corner of his mouth. Sigh...

Our roommate Levi found the carnage and I can only imagine Emily's shock when she came down to survey the damage. I suppose it was better she found it, rather than me... because I would probably have come unglued. Lucas has been into everything lately... EVERYTHING!... and I find myself feeling less patient these days. I can't let the child out of my sight for thirty seconds.

But I digress...

The irony is that before heading out the door that evening, I told myself I needed to put that bag away... because Lucas can't keep his curious fingers out of anything. But I forgot. Dangit. Isn't that life. Most of the incidents we've run across... no... all of the incidents are my fault. My failure to plan ahead and envision the carnage my child is capable of.

So as you can see below... it looks like someone was murdered in our room. We're unsure how to remove the nail polish at this point. It's dried and has seeped all the way down to the padding. We're clipping pieces out of the carpet that will come out, but even then... that's not going to get the job done.

Monster Bath

2012-01-16T16:13:00.002-07:00

While house-sitting we took advantage of the glorious bathtub.! And by we... I mean Lucas. The child asked for a bath every day. Every. Day.

A few days prior to our house-sitting excursion, Lucas taught himself to be a monster. This resulted in making growling noises, scrunching up his face and chasing people throughout the house. Lovely.

Is there a better place to pretend to be a monster than the bathtub? If you're Lucas... it's basically the only place to be a monster.

Because now... he's pretending to be a zombie.... what a gem.

House Sitting

2012-01-09T10:49:00.000-07:00

This week, we're house sitting. It's lovely. And fun! We're spending some quality time with Henry... who is a big, fluffy dog... and cooking a few delicious meals... and snuggling on the couch... and taking baths... and watching movies... and having coffee dates! It's a great week to house-sit!

Here's To 2012

2012-01-04T15:02:00.004-07:00

The older I become, the less I care about the New Year. It's true. In fact, this year Matt and I sat on the couch, ate way too many crackers and cookies and watched lame movies. And at 12:02am we realized it was 2012 and gave each other an obligatory kiss...it went like this:

Matt: It's 12012!
Me: Wow... lucky you looked at the clock when you did.
Matt: Happy New Year!
Me: I guess we should kiss, right?
Matt: Um, okay.
Me: Well, if you don't want to kiss me...
Matt: Oh Beth....

Needless to say, we smooched.

All of this is being said because, I used to be thrilled at the thought of the New Year and the promise of new beginnings. There really isn't anything like starting fresh... beginning again... setting goals. Except when March rolls around and you've already forgotten your resolutions. Whoops. I can't even remember what I hoped for last year... but what I can remember are the hopes that took place throughout the year... to survive! Just kidding. My life isn't nearly that dramatic.

So this year I thought about a resolution that would really matter. One that not only affected my own life, but the lives of those around me. A resolution without selfish gain. I thought about my responsibilities, the people I care for and who care for me in return. I thought about the people I live with and in spite of the fact that our lives look very different, we still share a home. My resolution needs to be an outward act of God's love for me, thus an outward act of love.

As I thought more and more... it came to me. My New Year's resolution is to be a happier mother. I'm not saying I'm going to be a better mom or a nicer mom, but a happier one. Less sulky, pouty and grumpy (this happens a lot, people). I'm going to appreciate my role as a mother and as a result, my day job will be happier. I know, I will fail some days... but overall, I want to be a person who shares joy with my husband, my kiddo and the people I share a home with. I am passionate about my role as a mother and my attitude should reflect that.

Here's to 2012... and being a mom who doesn't hate her life!

Kidding again...

Kitty Stalker

2012-01-02T21:01:00.002-07:00

Someone likes to chase the cat... and when he has a camera in hand, he likes to take pictures of the cat.

Poor kitty...

A Little Getaway

2012-01-02T16:56:00.000-07:00

Matt and I had the opportunity to take a night for ourselves last week, so we packed our bags up and headed to Park City*. It was wonderful to spend an evening and a day with each other... talking about nothing of great importance, not worrying about when we had to return or responding to the small (but many) demands of our little child. We just wanted to be together.

For dinner, we ate at a little place called Windy Ridge Cafe. The restaurant was tucked in behind a few industrial buildings, but ended up being a charming, cozy little place. The decor had the feel of being at Grandma's house (as long as your grandma was big into Italian art deco and comforting colors). I had fettuccine alfredo, which was fabulous. Matt had a hamburger... which he claimed was "forgettable." If you end up there yourself, go for the pasta. You won't be disappointed.

For breakfast we ate at the Eating Establishment on Main. Fabulous. Good coffee, good crepes, good hash... overall, it was a win. I could have taken a book and read all morning in the room we were seated in. It was glass room, lit with natural sunlight. A small fireplace warmed the room from one side and folks mozied into the restaurant in various morning attire. Between the good food and good people watching, I'd recommend it to anyone!

I'm not sure why we didn't do this before... but anyone with little children, lemme just tell you... you HAVE to sneak away every once in awhile. It's wonderful to come home refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to be a parent again.

*For those of you who don't know... Park City is Utah's premier ski village just about 45 minutes East of Salt Lake City. The town is quaint, cold and full of diverse people. I highly recommend a day trip, at the least.

The Heart Is What Matters Most

2011-12-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

In spite of being far away, my folks went ahead and sent us lovely Christmas gifts through the mail. Two of Lucas' favorites are the Work Truck and his Crane... which he lovingly calls, Cranky.

This particular vehicle is used as a seat more than anything. Evidently, it's perfect to watch movies on. And... after a shower... it's the first thing that is sat on with a bare bottom. Lovely...

As you can see... this Crane looks nothing like Cranky (from Thomas the Train)... but any crane seen in town is called Cranky. Lucas will be in the back of the car, quiet (which rarely happens) and observing... and randomly call out: Cranky! Sure enough... there will be a crane in the distance.

Lucas ocassionally says: Papa or Grandma when he plays with these toys. That always warms our hearts. Toys are fun, but more importantly, the love from which they came is something to always keep in mind. No matter the gift... it's the heart that matters the most.

Thank you Papa and Grandma for the beautiful gifts.

Fruit Leather

2011-12-28T16:25:00.001-07:00

I'm not sure there is anything grosser than watching my child eat a fruit leather... tearing at it like a Velociraptor, while drooling like the Alien. His chubby little fingers become entrenched in the sticky, fruity goodness and eventually find their way into a super fuzzy blanket or his hair... every fiber clinging to those viscous fingernails and knuckle wrinkles. Lovely.


Even in his grossness... he's still pretty cute, if I must say so.

The Glow of Christmas

2011-12-26T10:46:00.000-07:00

Our Christmas Day was splendid, as always. And though the presents are opened, we continue to think on the gift of Love that was bestowed on us thousands of years ago. The gift of the child and eventually the man, never cease to offer peace, grace and love. The glow of Christmas will shine in our hearts for weeks to come.

As we ease ourselves back into the routine of things, we have so much to be thankful for. I myself am thankful for a beautifully healthy baby boy. I am thankful for a husband who is a loving father. I am thankful for parentals who faithfully encourage, and siblings who add warmth and fun into our lives. Our friends continue to enrich a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. I am thankful for the comforts of this life we live in. We've never had it better!

Merry Christmas!

Corinne Elisabeth

2011-12-24T14:36:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the World Corinne Elisabeth! You are perfect.

Grandma Lisa...

Grandpa Dan

Matt's sis, Bethany and her husband welcomed Corinne into the world yesterday morning. She's beautiful and we couldn't be happier for both the Tibbs and Alanko families. There is something so precious about newborns, that it breaks my heart we couldn't cuddle her, even a little.

We'll be thinking about you Gordon and Beth. May the Lord bless you both in this upcoming year as you venture into this ridiculously lovely world of parenting. We can't wait to meet your little one!

Baby Jesus - A Savior and Man

2011-12-21T13:14:00.002-07:00

Preparations for Christmas day are being made and we're nearly there! We have breakfast, snacks and dinner in mind. Gifts have been wrapped and the tree is decorated with photos of loved ones, memorable ornaments, and lights that represent the star that shone on Christmas night. Christmas cards with photos and sparkle sit on the mantle, reminding us of those we deeply care for. The stockings hang in front of the fireplace waiting for gifts to fill them... just as mankind eagerly awaited God's gift of salvation to fill our hearts.

As I contemplate Christmas Day and the celebration of Christ's birth, I can't help but think about Jesus Christ the man. This tiny baby... born in humbling circumstances to an average couple of meager status... grew to be a man who forever changed the World. Who knew that this baby and the beautiful stories that surround his birth would lead to a man who would bring life into a world of darkness?

"...I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35

As we bustle about in our consumer-driven world, we should always remind ourselves of the true gift God has given us. Our homes, cars, education, clothing, games and vacations are meaningless in comparison to the gift God gave us on Christmas Night; life. He gave us a child who would grow to become a man, and sacrifice his own life to give freedom from our own selfishness and sin. Christ would then rise again to spend eternity with our creator, God... just as we will do also.

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" He said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all the people. The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others - the armies of heaven - praising God and saying: "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased."

Luke 2: 8-14

Poo Goes Down The Drain

2011-12-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

WARNING: This post contains some descriptive notes that are a bit... crude.

The brunt of Lucas' potty training has been completed and for that I'm thankful. That being said, there are always little details that go unnoticed or unrecognized until we're in the thick of things. Things like:

Public Restrooms - I have a method!
Wiping - Degrading for all of us.
Pulling Underwear Down - Weird... but it's something parents do.
Peeing in the Shower - Socially unacceptable?

All of the above have been addressed...minus using the shower as a restroom.

Literally five minutes ago... Lucas... how do I say this?... took a poo in the shower. He calls out: Mommy! Mommy! Did! Did! Poop! Poop! YAY! Basically... he was so proud of himself for laying out a giant one and I can't say I don't blame him, but...

My child laid out a fresh one on the drain of the shower! Granted... I give him props for positioning it over the drain... because that makes complete sense, right? Poop goes down the drain. But... yuck. I gotta deal with this pooplog that is wet with shower water. Disgusting.

And then... do I chastise him for poo'ing in the shower? Or...do I say, "Good work dude!" Oh the joys of parenting...

This little guy happens to be sick today too... bummer.

The Christian Thing To Do

2011-12-18T09:51:00.002-07:00

We stayed home from church today. Lucas has the gnarliest cough and goobers leaking from his nose. Grossness abounds. Spreading toddler germs wouldn't be the Christian thing to do.

My treasure is in Heaven... because I'm such a good person.

Just kidding...

Christmas Day A Week Away

2011-12-17T20:59:00.002-07:00

I can't believe we're looking at Christmas day just a week from now! I LOVE the holidays and every year marvel at how quickly they fly by. This year... I blinked and they're almost here.

We won't be headed home to Oregon this year, which is a decision both Matt and I made for multiple reasons. The largest being, Matt has to strike (tear down) Annie on the 23rd... which means flying on the 24th... which isn't awesome. Secondly, money. This is our year of attempting to make wise and discerning decisions regarding our finances... and eight-hundred dollars in plane tickets just didn't feel right.

So here we are. I waffle back and forth between serious depression and excitement for Christmas day. I know it's going to be difficult... being away from family and tradition (even the weird traditions). The other side of the coin is a good one... because we'll have room to be selfish and take that afternoon nap. We'll only have each other to focus on and maybe it'll be just as much fun as being with my crazy Mom!

We'll see.

Annie Isn't So Bad

2011-12-13T13:57:00.001-07:00

As I posted before, Matt had been working on Annie for the holiday season show at Pioneer Theater. I went into the evening dragging my feet, because in my personal opinion...Annie is one of the most annoying shows on the face of the planet. I was stoked about snuggling with my man all night, but not about watching a bunch of gnarly looking kids singing and dancing for two and a half hours.

Lemme just tell you... I was thoroughly impressed with the production. The kids were amazing and adorable and believable! I literally had tears in my eyes at points, because they were so friggin' cute! All of the characters were cast with intention and it really proved worthwhile. After the show was over, I just couldn't stop talking about it.

Anyway... as usual, I didn't get any decent photos. I was wearing a great dress and some smokin' heels... which had to be taken off halfway through the evening, because I'm to weak sauce to grin and bear it. All of that being said, it was nice to share an evening with Matt. It's always a treat to be have an opportunity to see the project he's been working on and meet the folks he's been spending his days (and nights) with.

If you live in the Salt Lake area and haven't taken your kiddos to this show... do it, because it'll totally be worthwhile for your entire family.

Holiday Fun

2011-12-13T13:18:00.001-07:00

As you've probably noticed, not a lot of action has been taking place on the blog. And to be honest, it's completely skipped my mind some days. I blame it on Matt.

Matt has been home more the past two weeks, which is awesome! His last two weeks of tech for Annie... the guy logged 165 hours. I almost threw up in my mouth when he told me this gem of a fact. It's incredible how much time I have when he's busy in the theater and how I manage to be so productive as a means of staving off loneliness. Now that he's on a "normal person's schedule"... I'm one of the laziest, slovenly gals I know! We watch movies, eat delicious food, drink delicious beverages, hang out with some pretty great people, play games, chase Lucas around, enjoy holiday festivities and such (we do other things too... but this isn't the forum for that type of talk). And as I sit here and write, I wish it was always this way.

With that in mind, I might not appreciate these times as much if they were the norm. So...I'll do a little updating today... but I can't promise I will be steady with posts over the course of the next few weeks. Please forgive me... I'm busy having fun.

Tradition, Hope & Togetherness

2011-12-06T09:30:00.001-07:00

Oh how I love the holidays! It's full of tradition, hope and togetherness. This past weekend we held up our tradition of going and getting a fresh (sorta) tree. Since living in Salt Lake, we've run up against the problem of no tree lots! Yep. Considering it's fairly high desert here, to truck trees in is quite expensive (unlike Oregon).

With that in mind, a family from Kalispell, Montana brings trees in every year and we have decided it's our tradition to go and help them make some Christmas booty by purchasing a tree from their lot.* The Robinson Tree Farm Lot is the friendliest, most helpful group of men I've ever met (ladies... you might check it out, if you're single! J/K).

Anyway... we brought our tree home and made an evening of it. I know I've already said it, but I'm just thrilled to have Lucas participate in a more active way this year. He's just darling and really wants to engage with us regarding all the activities we're participating in. He uses his words now, saying things like: Tree, lights, Jesus, Santa, Ho Ho Ho (expecting someone in the room to echo with, "Merry Christmas!") and Star! It warms my heart to see him learn so much about culture and tradition in our family.

Lucas put a few ornaments on the tree, with Dad's help, of course.

"Lucas, you have to be careful with the ornaments. Please don't throw them."

Ta-Da! It's much prettier in person. How does a person take great photos of their Christmas tree!? Ugh...

It seems getting a Christmas tree is always the kickoff for our Holidays Season. Nothing can happen until a tree is in place. Now that we're there, I'm looking forward to evenings with homemade nog, cookies and candlelit conversations.

*The lot is near Nibley Golf Course, off 700 East in Salt Lake City. Oh! And they only take cash or check... just so you know.

Going Like A Big Kid

2011-12-04T13:32:00.001-07:00

I don't know why or how... but something happened and Lucas is now potty trained! The kiddo hasn't had an accident or used a diaper in three full days. Yes, I said THREE DAYS! To sweeten the deal, he wakes us up in the night to use the potty!! I know, right!?

I gave up, threw in the towel...admitted defeat. And then this happened. Maybe doing nothing is the key to gettin' your kid on the toilet. I don't know. But I'm one happy/proud mamma!

Good job Lucas! Your growing up dashingly well!

Story Time

2011-12-01T19:58:00.001-07:00

Every night, Lucas is read a book before bedtime... sometimes four. We gather books that have a good plot (for a toddler) and good characters. We attempt to find a book that highlights relaxation and sleep... not that it does much good, these days... but nevertheless, a parent can try, right.

All of that being said, it's been a delight to start reading books that focus on the Spirit of Christmas. As we read, Lucas points out Mary, Jesus, the star and the wise men (he just says: wise). We talk about the animals in the shed where Jesus was born and how Mary is Jesus' Mamma.

This may be our first Christmas where Lucas understands and grasps the tradition and story behind all of this. Isn't that what Christmas is? To remember the gift God gave us... the gift of his own son as the ultimate sacrifice for our human sin... and to share it with our own little ones. This is such a precious time for many reasons, and the age Lucas is at really sweetens the deal this year.

Advent Calendar

2011-12-01T07:59:00.001-07:00

As a child, I grew up peeling back cardboard pockets to reveal chocolate or candy on each day of Advent. Grandma always sent us a calendar to ensure as children, we were getting the most fun out of our Christmas as possible. Even though I have sweet, fond memories of childhood Christmases, as an adult, I've dreamed of having a calendar that has more meaning, relationship and tradition. The idea of making my own Advent calendar seemed fitting.

Now that I'm hooked on Pinterest, there were so many ideas to take and make my own. Eventually I settled on clothes hooks and paper cards. I found myself a wooden plaque, used a little rubber cement to decorate and ended up with twenty-five ideas for our Advent season. The paper cards started out much larger, but ended up in a smaller size, due to the crowded nature of the plaque.

To me, Advent is so much more than gifts, holiday concerts and twinkling lights (although, those are a special treat during this time of year), so I was sure to include hot cocoa evenings with friends, big breakfasts with loved ones and opportunities to donate time or goods to those in need. As Lucas grows, we'll tweak our activities to ensure he's getting the most out of this Christmas season.

I'll admit... I'm not super thrilled how this turned out... but it's a start, right? Do you have an Advent calendar? What does it look like? What traditions does your family have during the Advent Season?

Advent

2011-11-27T13:40:00.001-07:00

As Advent is upon us, we find ourselves focusing on the beauty of this season. The cold, crisp days. The warm dinners with friends. Days filled with hot coffee and cocoa. But mostly, the season of Christ. The season of waiting on Christ and his birth.

How we celebrate this season is an indicator of our hearts. May this Advent season fill your heart with love and a real spirit of giving.

[AC] Promo 2011 from Advent Conspiracy on Vimeo.

Are We There Yet?

2011-11-26T13:13:00.001-07:00

If only I could get into my kid's head and rewire the way he deals with his bodily functions. It seems impossible right now and I find myself feeling like he's never going to get it...

But... we still sit on the potty. A lot. And... we go through lots of underpants. And...we don't leave the house. And... we get treats if potty happen on the toilet (which feels like an accidental miracle at times). And... we take Lucas to the potty with us. And... I'm beginning to wonder if he's gonna be four years old before everything clicks. Maybe it's too early? I dunno. He's two and a half... people judge me when he poops in a diaper now.

Sigh...

I know we'll get there. We just gotta keep at it.

Oh!

2011-11-25T13:23:00.001-07:00

Guess who forgot to pull the green bean casserole out of the freezer yesterday!? This girl.

I almost wept, knowing we'd be going without that cheesy, creamy, green bean goodness.

I PUT BACON ON TOP TOO!

Sadness...

Giving Thanks

2011-11-25T11:58:00.001-07:00

Thanksgiving is always a time of community, for us and most of the people we share it with. Through discussion and conversation, it came to light that most folks spend Thanksgiving with friends... at least those of us who do not live near family. We spend it with the people we consider our family away from home... and often those are the folks we're closest to.

Left to right: Jeremy, Haley, Douglass, Big Lucas, Josie, Eddie and Matt.

Left to right: Emily, Alidia, Cole, Levi, Cat and at the bottom... Aviana.

Yesterday was a day filled with laughter, food, fellowship and an overwhelming sense of good cheer and livelihood. Fifteen people filled Jeremy and Emily's kitchen and though it was tight, it was a physical indicator of how blessed we are to have one another. After the day was complete, I couldn't imagine spending it any other way.

Josie and Eddie... gave us the prom pose. Classic.

Matt was VERY excited for dinner...

Jeremy and Emily... many thanks for hosting such a great dinner!

A second... or maybe third helping of pie. They're all sugar drunk!

2011-11-23T19:21:00.001-07:00

Paper Stars

2011-11-21T15:40:00.001-07:00

They're so easy! All it takes is a little paper and a practice round. I tried one star with regular construction paper first... which is highly recommended. And then I made two of these cuties. I may make a few smaller ones and use them as Christmas tree ornaments!

If you want to try it yourself, there is a very helpful tutorial here at annekata.

Boot Scootin' Boogy

2011-11-21T14:36:00.001-07:00

In spite of my withdrawn and antisocial week, this past weekend was full of social fun. Josie had herself a birthday and we all went out in her honor. We hit up The Westerner, which is a big western bar south of Salt Lake a bit. Lemme tell you... lots of good people watching there! We saw all types.

Anyway... I did not manage to get a photo of the birthday girl (she was surrounded by so many friends!), but I did snap a pic with a few of my other favorites! Tim was attempting to get out of the photo, but failed. Aww... Tim and the girls. Just perfect.

Haley, Deb, Tim, Steph and Emily

I also managed to do a little dancing and a little mechanical bull riding, which I can be honest and say... I will never do again. This would not qualify as one of my more lady-like moments and frankly, it just felt silly. Oh well. I did it and there... it's done.

The dancing, was great. Especially since I had a pretty cute date. It felt like we were at a high school dance everytime we got out on the floor for a slow dance. Matt was a good sport.

So.. happy birthday Josie! You're a great gal and we had a great time at your birthday celebration! Thanks for being such a fun person!

Positivity And Love

2011-11-20T23:25:00.001-07:00

It's tough to explain... for someone like myself. I would confidently describe myself as a social person who gains energy and momentum in life through positive interaction with others. And yet, I find myself withdrawing at times... hiding, if you will.

Last week I didn't leave the house much and in fact, didn't do anything social throughout the entire week. I deliberately stayed home and avoided conversation that would evoke thoughtfulness or intention.

Why, I ask myself? I do not know. I suppose one could call it depression, but I didn't feel sad or depressed. I wanted to be alone during the day. Maybe it was laziness. Yes... laziness. I was willing to be alone, in spite of knowing it was unhealthy and unnatural for me... all in the name of laziness. I'm not sure that's the entire truth, but we'll call it that for now.

As I look forward to a new week coming, I realized I was fearing being alone again. No deep conversations to keep me going through the day and no dates lie ahead as something to look forward to. Matt is starting a tech week for Annie, and I feel the small dread that always creeps in, even though I'm fairly rehearsed and practiced with these things now. The afternoon and early evening were headed toward lowness and general poor morale... probably resulting in an early bedtime. Lame.

But low and behold... I have my small group... who also happens to be my housemates (most of them). And after Matt left for the theater, I granted myself permission to stay upstairs and chit chat with the people I also share a home with. Just this small amount of conversation made the difference in my attitude and I find myself encouraged and filled with some hope for this upcoming week.

It's amazing how people fill our lives with purpose. And when I'm void of people in my life, I also feel void of purpose. In full honesty, I haven't the faintest clue what type of purpose I serve with my housemates, but through conversation, laughter and vulnerability, I recognize a feeling of intentional relationship. Being alone is tough... and life can leave us in very lonely moments, but it's in these moments I should force myself to be immersed in purposeful relationship. In these relationships, I see parts of myself revealed that emit positivity and love. And isn't that what makes life a bit more bearable? Positivity. Love. I could use a little bit more of those these days.

"Sit On The Potty Chair"

2011-11-20T13:56:00.001-07:00

Our little man just went potty in his potty chair all on his own!

This is big people, REALLY BIG! Due to the aforementioned fever rash, Lucas has some irritation in his...um...err...diaper area... so I've been letting him run around as God intended; naked. It's fabulous. For him.

Ikea's LATTSAM Children's Potty

I've planted his potty chair smack in the middle of the room, hoping his nakedness would encourage urination in the potty. Yea... it's been a day or two and the guy sits down and immediately says: "Done!" He's too busy to go potty. And would rather pee in the corner when Mom has her back turned... lovely and disgusting.

But today... he says: "Poo Mom, poo." (you should know that we cannot break our child from calling both pee and poo the same thing. It's all poo). So I casually say (without hope): "If you have to go potty, you need to go over and sit on your potty chair."

What does he do!? He meanders over slightly flexes his legs and starts going potty in the potty chair! I am speechless (which is a miracle in itself) and Matt is giggling next to me. Our little boy is peeing, standing up, right into his potty chair. Not a drop was spilled!

I'm sure this is the start of a long road ahead... but lots of praise and a lil' sweet treat hopefully got this ball rolling in the right direction. Here's hoping. And for right now, I just can't stop smiling at the image of my little baby peeing like a big boy in his potty... perfectly! Sigh....

Chocolately Star Cookies

2011-11-17T16:06:00.001-07:00

I should have known better... but couldn't resist sharing these little gems with my cookie-lovin' guy. After a nibble or two on these delicious dark chocolate covered cookies all I'm hearing is: "Star Momma... Star...More! Peese!!"

Can't say I don't blame him. If he weren't in the same room as me right now, I'd be shoveling them into my mouth by the fistful. THEY'RE SO GOOD!

Trader Joe's really needs to make an appearance in Salt Lake City... for the love of everything delicious and quirky. So... I smuggled some yum's in and now we're chompin' em' down! Good thing I have a buddy to share with.

What if we all ate our cookies with this much enthusiasm? Wouldn't life be grand?

Also... I recognize this is my second post in two days that involves cookies.... don't hate, people. We like our cookies here!

Cookies!! And Fever Rash

2011-11-16T09:50:00.001-07:00

Lucas is feeling better today. He woke up asking for "COOKIES!!"... but is still not back to his happy self. He's edgy and emotional. Poor fella broke down because his car went underneath the dresser and he had to get down on the floor to retrieve it. Darn it when things don't go as planned!

In addition to the emotional frailty, our little guy has a case of fever rash. Oh sadness. His diaper area and armpits seem to be the worse of it and appear to be sensitive (oddly enough)...the fine bumps all over his chest, back and belly appear to be painless. And... his face is flushed, which I haven't the faintest idea why...

But... we're up and dressed today! Playing with toys and eating full meals (with snacks, of course). Maybe Momma will make some cookies today...as requested.

He Is Truly Incredible

2011-11-15T14:27:00.001-07:00

Ahh, my precious little one. You are incredible...strong...intelligent and independent.

But now, in this moment...these days... your body is weak. You cry tears of defeat and I cry tears... of defeat.
What am I to do? How can I take this illness away... out of your body? Make you healthy and free of pain?

The mother's cry. Is it heard by God? I have hope that He sees my weakness, in spite of appearances. Does he cry this same prayer for us? I hold out and can only imagine the cry of a mother who is losing... I can't even say it. It's just too much.

"God, take these fears and this pain and my vulnerability. Make it a blessing. Make us stronger."

Tomorrow, this virus...this pain my child is experiencing will be less. He will laugh and run. And I... I will have immense thanks for a healthy, strong, intelligent and independent child. He truly is incredible. So is our boy.

We have much to be thankful for.

Sick Day

2011-11-14T11:15:00.001-07:00

Normally... we find ourselves dealing with a sick little boy WHILE we're traveling, but Lucas held off until we were home. Sad little guy can't keep anything down today. So we're watching movies... and taking lots of cat naps.

In his sadness... Lucas said his first full sentence! He said: "I want Daddy." Nearly broke my heart... precious lil' goober.

Nothing Like The Love of Family

2011-11-14T10:41:00.001-07:00

It's nice to back... although I think our trip to Portland was one of the most enjoyable we've had yet, which made coming back to Salt Lake a bit emotional for me. With that in mind, I had me a handsome man waiting... so I would consider that a pretty awesome incentive to head home.

The weather here turned SUPER cold and there is even a little snow on the ground (sad). While we were in Portland, we couldn't have prayed for better weather! It was sunny and neutral temps nearly the entire time we were there. If only we could have brought some of that warmth back here to stave off the winter chill...

All in all, we're ready to go back and be with family again. I think having a kiddo really solidifies the need for family and when I leave, it reminds me just how much I miss that support and encouragement we get from them. It brings me immense joy to see Lucas' face light up when Papa comes into the room or the smirk on his face when Grandpa Dan plays Thomas. There really is nothing quite like the love of family.

I couldn't resist snapping pics of the Fall colors over by Portland State!


This was taken at a pull-off near Terwilliger and you can see the Ross Island Bridge on the left.


Lucas waking up from a nap with a cheese snack and cuddles from Grandma.

Aunt Julie tickling Lucas while we wait for our lunch up at O'Conners in Multnomah Village.

Toddler Snuggles

2011-11-10T08:32:00.001-07:00

I just had to share....

On of the best things about this trip has been sharing a bed with Lucas. I know... most of you moms are thinking, "Wha!?"... but seriously. We haven't ever been a family where Lucas sleeps in the same bed as Matt and I. Even as an infant, I could count on one hand how many nights he spent with us in bed. Our little guy has always slept better in his own space and Matt and I... well... we highly value getting a good night's rest too, so no babies in the bed for us.

But, being here in Portland... Lucas is too big for the Pack N' Play, so he sleeps with me...and it's been so much fun! It's darling the way he snuggles into my arm at night, breathing softly. It's sorta like he slowly, but surely, snuggles his way toward me in the night. It breaks my heart when I wake up in the morning to his little chubby hand stroking my cheek. Oh the love of a child! He says, "Mornin'..." and smiles the happiest smile. It's just great.

I'm not gonna lie... I'm a little worried about the fallout when we get home. I suppose we'll just deal with that when the time comes. For now... I'm gonna enjoy some snuggles with my lil' guy.

Having A Good Time

2011-11-09T17:10:00.001-07:00

We're having a good time here in Portland. It's Wednesday and we'll be headed back to Salt Lake on Saturday. But in the meantime, I thought I'd share a little of what we've been up to.

It snowed on the way over, providing a picturesque drive.

Lucas can't keep his hands off Brooklynn's bike and helmet. He loves it!

Jacob really enjoyed the game we were playing... he he he.

Love hanging out with this guy. Rash took this at McMenamins. I had me a Ruby and it was deelish!

Two of my favorites!

Lucas and I have spent some quality time with a few of our favorites. Dad has been travelling, but we were able to spend a day with him last weekend. In addition to fun days with family, I've had opportunities to get out for drinks, dinner and fun. Lucas and I have spent short, but sweet moments with friends and as the week progresses, we anticipate more enjoyable moments with the people we love.

Ridiculously Good

2011-11-03T21:52:00.001-06:00

Gettin' up bright and early and drivin' to Portland tomorrow! It's going to be a ridiculous trip. In a good way!

The car is packed tonight and all we (Emily and I) have to do is get up at an insane hour, load those kiddos in and take off! We're hoping to hit Boise for breakfast. I can already hear that Grand Slam beckoning me...nothing like crappy diner food on a road trip. Deelish!

To boot... I'd rather brush my teeth in a Denny's than a rest stop.

If all goes well, I'll be in Portland in time for dinner. And then maybe I can watch some Star Trek with my Dad. Perfect.

Salt Lake: A Divided City

2011-11-03T10:57:00.002-06:00

Salt Lake City

Kyle Costello Missio Dei Community

Article by Missio Dei Community member, Levi Rogers
Salt Lake City, Utah. Depending on one’s particular background or personal history, the place could have a variety of meanings. One might think of mountains, skiing, the Olympics, or conservative politics. But if you are like the majority of people, you think of Mormons, the LDS church, and perhaps not much else.
As any church planter knows, or should, context is key. The contextualization of the Gospel mixed with an understanding of a particular city’s socio-economic-political-religious environment is invaluable to the planting of any church. Nowhere could this be truer than in Salt Lake.
We are a church plant called Missio Dei Community stemming out of Imago Dei Community in Portland, Oregon and the Orchard Group in New York City. Our lead pastor is Kyle Costello who grew up in the Mormon Church splitting time living in both Utah and a small town in eastern Nevada. Kyle made his way to Las Vegas (where he became a Christian, funny enough) and then eventually Portland before feeling the call back to LDS culture and Salt Lake City.
We started Missio Dei with the intention of being a community of Christ followers in the urban core of Salt Lake. We have a heart for the marginalized, the counter culture, and yes, Mormons. It’s not our posture to “do battle” with the Mormon culture or “take back” the city from them, rather its about seeking and serving all cultures that comprise our city. We believe God has been here working long before we showed up so our hope is that we can join Him in His work.

So our intention from the very beginning was to be a gospel-centered church seeking humbly and simply to do life together as we lived out the gospel amongst the religious and the irreligious.

Salt Lake City is interesting because as much as it’s popular for being the headquarters of Mormonism it is definitely a divided city. It is divided between the religious and the irreligious. The irreligious will by any means necessary let you know how “unreligious” they are. It is a harsh and unyielding subculture in opposition to the hegemonic. And the religious will never relent from confronting you with their message of piety and their reliance upon being in the majority. It is a stark divide that plays itself out in every societal stream of influence.
While still predominantly LDS, Salt Lake City contains a nearly equal split between Mormons and non-Mormons. Utah is often said to be 75% Mormon. However, recent analyses by the Salt Lake Tribune and The Pew Research group estimate that number is between 58-65% and slipping. As maybe is obvious, the state of Utah is predominantly Conservative and Republican, however Salt Lake City itself is far more liberal. In fact a majority of the LDS population (generally conservative) has moved from downtown Salt Lake and into the suburbs of Sandy and South Jordan. Salt Lake itself tips currently in the favor of non-Mormons at around 55%.
At Missio Dei we believe the Gospel speaks to any culture. Whether religious or irreligious, God’s Good News provides what any culture looks to idols to provide. For the religious in our city (both Mormons and Christians) worship the idols of morality, family, and the American Dream while the irreligious worship the idols of self-expression, freedom, and career. It can be easy to demonize the Mormon religion and write them off as weirdos, but this is not what we are called to do. We are in the peculiar place of having to appeal to both the religious and the non. The non-religious are shocked and giddy when we sit down and have a beer with them and the religious like us because at least we’re “Christians” like them.
The dominant way we live out our heart for our city is simply by doing our best to live out the Gospel in whatever particular context we inhabit. We go to BBQ’s and birthday parties, bars and restaurants. We invite friends, neighbors, and coworkers along the way, some of whom are particularly confused at a “religious” group containing members who will have a drink with them and at the same time discuss God’s grace and forgiveness in their life. We meet the city where it is at, rather than inviting it into our doors. We have house churches that are on an equal plane with our Sunday service to emphasize community and the idea that church is not a building. We teach through scripture exegetically, keep Christ at the center, worship together, and have monthly prayer nights. We err on the side of the un-programmatic but are still figuring this out. Missional for us is less about missional programs and activities, and is more about missional living through whatever vocation we are in currently.
I would like to close with our purpose statement, which in many ways sums up in a more theological sense what we are about:
As Missio Dei Community we exist to see the Triune God transform us into a worshipping community that practices resurrection.
What does this mean? For us, this means that it all starts with God. When we enter into this community with one another, we leave behind the idols and agendas of our past. We recognize that we are all created and gifted uniquely but it is by relinquishing stewardship of those gifts and talents to God that we begin to tell His story, rather than our own.
We believe it is only through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that we will become the worshippers we see the Bible calling us to. It is only through God’s grace and the Spirit’s transformation that we will become a community that serves one another and loves our city. It is only through the powerful work of Christ that we can join Him in counter-cultural acts of resurrection that proclaim a new reality.

http://gospelmovements.org/archives/salt-lake-city/

Haircut Confidence

2011-11-02T20:25:00.001-06:00

In the beginning, cutting Little Man's hair was soooooper stressful for me. He would wiggle and I would hesitate, worried I might cut too much. Or worse yet, I might cut something like an ear. My hands were ginger and often a bit shaky.

But now... I'm finding myself much more as ease as I snip small, soft locks of hair away. I understand more about the shape of Lucas' hair and how it fits his head. It's almost... fun! Cutting Lucas' hair is something I was determined to "get good at" and I think we're getting there.

Before....

After... with a little style.

Sanity

2011-11-02T14:20:00.000-06:00

We're all peering over the edge, looking for the same thing. Looking, seeking, reaching for something bigger than ourselves... meaning and depth in this life of disappointment. We want to feel as if there is a reason or a cause. And we accept that often there is no explanation...it's a sign of maturity and wisdom when a person can accept life as unreasonable... yet, in our hearts we long to know why.

While peering over this edge or chasing explanations, we all find something that brings us sanity... or so we think. Whether it's children, the bottle or an endless career, we hold on to something that brings us supposed clarity. And the irony? Those things can fail us. And we will again be seeking answers and reason.

Sweet Jesus Christ my sanity
Sweet Jesus Christ my clarity
Bread of heaven, broken for me
Cup of salvation held up to drink
Jesus, Mystery

To have belief in a God... a savior... brings an explanation into life that no other can offer. Times like these, when I attempt to be a good wife, good mother, good friend, good family member, good housekeeper, good anything... I can't do it without God.

It's a mystery and yet not.

Inspiration:

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/10/sweet-jesus-christ-my-sanity/

Hipster Kitties and Katy Perry

2011-11-02T13:34:00.000-06:00

On Halloween I got a text from my sister saying: "Halloweiner!" I must admit, it's one of my favorite holidays, even if it is the "devil's holiday." It makes me chuckle to think of folks who take themselves so seriously, they miss out on opportunities to be with their communities and have a little fun! The kids LOVE dressing up (so do the adults) and the thrill of parties and trick or treating get everyone excited.

This year, Emily and I went to a party with some friends and we took the opportunity to dress up ourselves. Now... mind you, we made efforts to look cute, but not slutty. What is it about Halloween that gives girls the excuse to look trampy!? Anywho... hopefully we didn't look too trampy.

I love how tough Emily looks here... tat and all!

Emily, Myself, Cat (Waldo), Levi (Katy Perry), and Lucas (Hipster Kitty). All great costumes!

As you can see above, our group had a pretty awesome time pulling the costumes together. I'm so bummed the picture is really poor quality... but I had to post it. It's fun when you realize just getting ready for a costume party pulls people together and creates a bonding experience. We all shared and showed off our costumes, asking one another for approval and nodding when we realized it is a total hit (example... Levi)!

At the party...Myself, Stephanie, Levi, Emily, Deb, and Cat.

I hope your Halloween was community oriented and gave you an opportunity to love those around you just a little bit more! And maybe you had a good laugh too. That makes any event more fun.

Chaos, Judging and Lots of Kids

2011-10-27T18:39:00.001-06:00

As a mother who values structure and control, I have put off chaotic places and events to take my child in the past two years. One of those places would be the Children's Museum. Whenever someone would talk about taking their little ones to the Museum, all I could envision was kids running everywhere, foaming at the mouth and acting like a bunch of little hooligans. In addition, I envisioned my own child joining the revolt and essentially turning to me, his mother and giving me the middle finger as he runs with the others like a pack of wolves.

Thankfully, that didn't happen this morning. But I'll tell you what did happen... my child took a giant dump in a fairly constricted place that quickly reeked of poo. Mind you, it wasn't like the poo just appeared. He grips something very firmly, gets red in the face and tears pool in his eyes as he's workin' on it (this is a fairly normal routine, mind you). Lovely. The first time he ever poops in a public place... would be amongst other mothers... who would totally judge me for not having my 15 month old potty trained. He might as well have taken a poo in Nordstrom. Sheesh.

All of that being said, it was a fun morning. Lucas was wiped out afterward and I think I've had my share of pushy, aggressive, non-sharing children for awhile. I couldn't believe how many six year olds literally ripped toys out of my child's hands... it was appalling... and probably something I'll be dealing with when Lucas is six years old too. Who am I to judge?! But seriously people... reign in your kids! Ha ha ha...

I should add... Lucas would walk up to a few kids who were nicely piling blocks up as high as they could, and punch the blocks. The block towers would crumble right along with the hopes and dreams of those five year olds. Sad? Yes. He basically ruined their lives on a repeated basis. So...yea. He's no better than those stupid six year olds I suppose.

Thankfully I had a buddy. Erin and Quentin went with us and it's always nice to have another mom you can trust around, even if conversation was impossible. I can't imagine going alone... that would be so lame. I'd probably follow Lucas around scowling at other kids and mentally keeping a list of which brats belong to which mothers... silently judging them. Erin's nice and her niceness rubs off. There wasn't too much judging today.

Maybe just a little...

The Museum has a real helicopter for the kids to get inside... it makes helicopter noises too!

Lucas and his copilot, Quentin!

Quentin and his lovely mother, Erin.

Restless

2011-10-26T13:43:00.001-06:00

Things have been challenging lately and I find myself seeking the guidance of the One I know directs our steps and leads us to righteousness. In doing so, I've found myself drawn to reading, listening and viewing only things that lead me to truth.

I keep going back to this:

Come Again Soon!

2011-10-22T14:54:00.000-06:00

Beth and Gordon were in town this morning for a bit. They made some time for us to all have lunch together, which was fun. It's always great to see family and catch up, even if it's just a few moments.

The giant beer bottle in Beth's hand is for Gordon... not Beth. Just in case you were wondering...

And... Beth is pregs (obviously!), so it was fun to hear a little bit about her experience as a first-time mom. She's going to have so much more to share after that adorable little girl enters this world. I can't wait!

Hope your visit was great, guys! Come again soon.

The Tempest

2011-10-22T10:37:00.000-06:00

On my own, I have never seen or read the Tempest... which to be fair, is probably one of the best Shakespeare pieces out there. It's riveting, humorous and touches on the important elements of the human experience... peace and revenge.

Matt and I attended the opening night show last night and I was deeply impressed with the visual experience Pioneer Theater offered through the show. The show had an element of Steampunk, which added a raw and Earthy feel. Chuck Morey (Artistic Director) pulled beauty and humor from the actors, emotion from the text and unique elements that stimulated the senses to cause goosebumps and chills throughout the entire show. I was on the edge of my seat, eager to see what happens next.

I highly recommend folks see this show whenever the opportunity provides itself. It's classic Shakespeare and though the language takes a few minutes to wrap your head around... you find yourself drawn into the plot and laughing at the old-world jokes, as if they were being told by friends of your own. The tears shed bring emotion from the heart and the sudden shift of ideals within the story brings back the feeling of hope for your fellow mankind. Go and get lost in a little Shakespeare.

Pumpkins and Hay Maze!

2011-10-22T08:54:00.000-06:00

Fall is the most delightful season of them all! I just adore the shorter days and cozier nights. It's true... when I worked outside of the home, I struggled with the darker mornings and sunsets that seem to come too soon. But now, I embrace them. The evenings are spent reading with a cup of tea and a candle. The mornings... getting up early to make oatmeal and coffee... and leaning into that snuggly bathrobe against the cool morning air. Ahh... Fall... how do I love thee?

With all good Fall activities, I try and get to the pumpkin patch. I'm not positive we ended up going last year and I'm sure I was disappointed. The pumpkin patch only comes once a year! This year, Emily and I took the kiddos to a place out of town and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I'm not gonna lie... legitimate pumpkin patches are nearly impossible to find in or around Salt Lake City, so when Emily invited us out we jumped the opportunity.

Anywho... as usual, I took a grip of photos. Rather than give you a play by play... I'll post a few cuties who got into the spirit of things.

Hay Maze! And as you can see... this is the general way things go.

Lucas running... again. The child wakes up running and ends his day running. He's FULL of energy.

Cole found himself a Wooly Worm. Cute!

Evaluating our picks... although, Lucas could care less.

Photo opportunity with Cole, Alidia and Aviana on the hay bales... and snack time!

Momma and her boy.

Rock! Rock. Rock. The child repeats words until I say, "Yes Lucas, you have a rock." Funny...

Happy pumpkin patching!

Bison On Antelope Island

2011-10-21T00:02:00.001-06:00

This afternoon, Emily and I took the kiddos out to Antelope Island... which is one of the many islands in the Great Salt Lake. Antelope Island is the home to wildlife, including Antelope (bet you didn't see that one coming) and Buffalo or Bison. The kids were thrilled to see such wildlife. There isn't a lot to do out there, beside hike on the sand dunes (ugh... tough walk) or wade in the salty, stinky water. So... We packed a dinner and watched the sun set. Best... idea... ever.

The Salt Lake... looking out from Antelope Island. You're seeing the Wasatch Mountains in the background.

Aviana and Cole with Lucas.... besties!

Emily and I

Lucas with his adorable flannel shirt... looks just like his Dad.

Delicious picnic... Goldfish, String Cheese, Fruit and Sandwiches.

The Sunset... amazing!

It's chilly as the sun sets... and man he's cute!

Once A Year Is Good... More Would Be Great

2011-10-19T17:22:00.003-06:00

Kirk and Aimee were passing through town last week. Kirk snapped a photo of us, because we've not seen each other for over a year! The last time we were together... Lucas was turning one. I'll post both pics for some perspective.

Aren't they just the cutest little guys!?

July 2010

October 2011

It'd be great if Lucas and Trip could spend more time together... but at this point, I'm pleased that we've been able to see each other at least once a year! Thanks for stoppin' in Kirk and Aimee! Love you guys.

Windows And Viewpoints

2011-10-17T15:37:00.000-06:00

What's a better way to kick off the week, than a trip to the Salt Lake City Public Library! We are immensely blessed with the coolest library!

After find some neat books in the children's section (which is adorable, btw) we headed up to the fourth floor to enjoy the view... and check out our new reads!

This is the atrium of the library... the books on the left and study/quiet areas on the right. Windows abound!

Fun areas all over the place. Even areas to rest your head.

The Library has a unique architecture and one may find themselves exploring areas they've never seen before. There are nooks, cranny's and vantage points everywhere! Lucas found the steps up to the rooftop garden... so I followed in pursuit.

This is the rooftop view toward the East... and what you're seeing are the Wasatch Mountains. Beautiful!

Salt Lake City lacks certain things every city should have (a decent art museum), but after having a library as great as this, I fear we're spoiled!

Basket-Case

2011-10-15T20:25:00.000-06:00

Lately I haven't been able to muster up the motivation to write about anything. Most likely it's due to the fact that I've been in my head and unable to recognize great moments that are totally blog-worthy.

It's tragic when we get caught up in the circumstance and are so full of emotion, that we miss the beauty and shimmer of life. I've been so down-in-the-dumps these past couple weeks that I am giving up opportunities to see the joy and light of life.

In full honesty, we've been undergoing a lot of change and being the type of person who processes/dwells on things, it takes me time to get over the hill. In addition, Matt has been working so much... too much. This girl misses her friend!

Anywho... I can't write about it too much, or I'll get all emotional. Gotta push forward (and drink more!). Seriously... wrangling a toddler these days is gonna push me into full-blown alcoholism. I'm not even kidding.

That being said, I'll do my best to remain attentive to the simple joys in my day and focus on the positive. I'll share it too... so you all don't think I'm just a basket-case who always feels sorry for herself (because, you might be right).

I Like This

2011-10-10T14:22:00.000-06:00

It's a night-light that glows perfectly. You just push the top of the shroom and it lights up beautifully. I find it charming.

You can get one too, at Target.

Gimme Dat!

2011-10-08T15:24:00.001-06:00

Lucas figured out how to use the camera... all on his own. This last one... is me gettin' him back!

Move, Hibernate, Dwell, and Come Up For Air

2011-10-07T13:56:00.000-06:00

A few days have passed and I've yet to post anything of sorts. It seems even a little fluff would be nice right now... but I seem to be barren with thought or depth. After all the moving we've done this is a totally normal pattern for me... move, hibernate, dwell and come out for air. I think we're progressing into the dwell portion. No more hibernation. Yay!

With that in mind, the majority of this week was hibernation for me. I didn't shower all that much (my housemates are SO lucky!), unpacked a bunch of 'ish and pretty much only left the house twice... to go to Target. I'm sure that every time we move... Target makes bank on us. Darn them for being so awesome.

Oh! And I ate a lot of chocolate too. Because what's hibernation without chocolate, right? And... coffee. They go together.

To be honest, I think I've been spending too much time downstairs... but it's all part of the process. Familiarize myself with my surroundings... become one with the walls, carpet and low ceiling. We're gettin' there, that's for sure.

We've also busied ourselves with creating a home-like space, and though it's far from being what I consider tidy or clean... it has an element of cozy. I enjoy a good challenge when it comes to arranging a new space, but having stuff to put away isn't fun. I often wish I had huge chests to just dump stuff into, and then I would shut the lid and everything would appear to be tidy (oh man...this could be a huge metaphor for my personal life). But... like I've been told... you gotta deal with the stuff and then everything feels right. Yea...

This week has provided cold weather and snow (which is ridiculous, considering last week was in the 90's), so I find myself lighting a candle and reading a lot of the time (and eating chocolate...of course). Here's the book I'm reading...have you read it?... I highly recommend it... especially if you're a brainwashed Christian or religious nut like me (I say this only half jokingly). I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. It's a truly beneficial read if you're genuinely interested in loving others.

So clearly... I could have written this week, because this post is getting long and personally, I don't like reading long posts. Short and sweet, people. Get to the point. This post has no point... just a few cute pics and my wandering thoughts. And... I'll leave it at that. Catch ya later... I gotta get back to dwelling.

Making Adjustments And Settling In

2011-10-03T13:27:00.000-06:00

This will be a short post, but I wanted to pipe in and give a little update.

We're all moved in. Hooray! We officially moved out on Friday and that was a fairly smooth day. Of all the moving experiences, I would say it was the smoothest, least stressful of all. That may have to do with the fact that I'm not eight and a half months pregnant or dealing with a twelve month old. We had some great helpers too... which makes a huge difference. The guys were amazing and worked their hineys off!

So here we are... our first Monday in, and still adjusting a little bit. Lucas has been waking in the night and insisting on sleeping with us, which has been a challenge. We let him sleep with us one night and now he's adamant about waking us up at 1:00am and demanding it. Ugh. Nevertheless, we push through and insist he stay in his crib. Oh the joys of change... we see it so clearly in our children. They cry and push back...but eventually we'll all know what's expected of us again.

So... I'll post a couple pics here soon. After the dust settles.

This Is Our Plan!

2011-09-28T10:29:00.000-06:00

Well... here we are... two days and counting. Two days for what, you say? Two days till we move out of our apartment and into our friends' basement.

What!?

Yes.. you heard me right. Matt and I are moving into the home of our friends and living in their basement. Classy... I know. But hear me out.

For years we've lived with financial debt. The kind of debt you always have if you go to college and then grad school and then have a baby. The type of debt you tell yourself your college career will pay off and "it won't be long now" until things are above the board. The kind of debt that is looming... always.

In full honesty... we don't live in the type of world where going to college guarantees a debt-free, financially easy life. Our nation is drowning in debt... drowning in choices that are poor and selfish and instant-gratification. Matt and I are weary and have decided that we can no longer live this way. We can't "rob Peter to pay Paul" anymore. It's not fair to each other, our family and our future generation.

So... our amazing friends came to us and proposed that we come up with a plan together. This plan is non-traditional, not super attractive, nor is it socially acceptable. To pack up your family and live with friends? Who does that!? It can be embarrassing to tell people that you live in the basement of your friends' house... but it's more embarrassing to live with debt that is slowly crowding out the beauty and freedom in your life.

In light of Matt and I's challenge to eliminate financial debt from our lives, we encourage you to do the same. Do something daring! Something exciting that will not only free you from this bondage, but also teach you the value of sacrifice and community.

"A man in debt is so far a slave."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Grandma Marjorie Tibbs

2011-09-28T10:15:00.001-06:00

On a heavier note... Matt's Grandmother Tibbs went to be with the Lord on Sunday evening. Our thoughts are with the family as they process and celebrate her life. We pray it would be a healing and uniting time for all.

A Short Visit

2011-09-28T10:12:00.000-06:00

Our visit with Matt's folks was very nice. It's always a delight to see Lucas interact with his Grandpa Dan and Grandma Lisa. We were able to share a little slice of our life with the two of them: taking them to church, exploring Matt's workplace and seeing the "sights" of downtown Salt Lake City. Though it was a short visit, it was a very rewarding one.

Autumn Sunday

2011-09-25T10:35:00.000-06:00

It's officially Fall and for this I couldn't be happier! Yay for crunchy leaves, short days, cool evenings and everything orange!

On another note... Matt's folks are here! Wahoo! Posting may be less frequent... because we're having a great time together!

Enjoy this beautiful Sunday with those you love!

Hooray For Homemade

2011-09-22T21:19:00.000-06:00

Today... I tried my hand at a little homemade interior decoration. And I'll be honest... I'm pleased.

After a little planning and forethought, I put together a little something that coordinated with the colors in our home. I picked a photo and bam! there it is. I'm fairly pleased. It's fun to create something from scratch.

Here's the cool thing... these frames were bought months ago at Ross for five bucks each. And the paper and doo-dads were on hand... so this little project probably cost me a little over ten or eleven bucks. And it's hand-made!

It's no Etsy find... but a good start, for sure.

Smoothie Time!

2011-09-21T12:17:00.000-06:00

We're hooked on smoothies... especially blueberry spinach! Yum!

Brisk Morning Clarity

2011-09-21T08:30:00.000-06:00

Getting up early to greet the sun before it has a chance to peek over the mountains is a rarety in our home. But this morning it was I who was up. A wet baby with whimpers and cries stirs me from the warmth of the Hubs. After a diaper change and snuggles and kisses I find myself alert and awake. But still... I lie in bed for another hour. It's still dark, but I decide the day has started.

There is nothing really quite like being up while the World still sleeps or shuffles in their slippers around the kitchen. I'm awake and walking through the brisk morning dew. Headed to coffee with myself and a good book. With my thoughts and the prayers that soaked my heart during that last hour in bed. The thoughts seem to race and fill every crevice of my mind.

I should do this more often... like, every morning. If I awoke earlier would I be able to enjoy the serenity of quiet? Would I embrace my ability to acknowledge gifts and joy without the distraction of cooking, cleaning, preparing and teaching? It's amazing what a little perspective and a clean slate can do for the heart.

Mornings are the perfect slate for the searching heart.

Me Oh My...

2011-09-20T22:17:00.000-06:00

It would seem I've been doing a lot of complaining lately... mostly regarding home life and my extremely active child. I don't know what's going on. Matt's been working a lot and I have been spending extreme amounts of days alone... which if you know me at all, you know is incredibly stupid. This just leads to trouble most of the time. Or... I could be gearing up for Shark Week... which is a euphemism for something else... ifyouknowwhatImean!? Or Lucas could just be a full-blown toddler who continually pushes buttons and the such. Or it could be all of these forces combined... which is probably the case.

Today was a rough one... that's for sure. My dear child found yet another Sharpie (damn you Sharpie!) and in the moments when I put a load of jeans into the washer, he managed to desecrate a side-table and a wall in our bedroom. It was utter defeat. There were no words. Just steam coming out of my ears.

What is it they say? Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

Needless to say, I've scoured the apartment for any remaining/hiding Sharpies who are obviously out to get me in their pact with my child to destroy all things pretty in our house. They are packed away nicely... where grubby fingers can't find them.

Hopefully.

And here's to a more positive attitude and a mind set on thankfulness. To be thankful for a child who has the ability to be curious. And thankful for a loving husband who works hard for the money. To be thankful for the little things and the big things. Everything.

Tomorrow will be different. I can feel it.

Here's hoping.

In everything give thanks... for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Resigned Creativity

2011-09-19T20:49:00.000-06:00

This is me and my face. My face is resigned and non-verbally saying: "Not cool, dude. Not cool at all."

When lame things happen in our house they typically take place literally 10 minutes before bedtime. I'm not sure why... but it's the truth. And tonight... while doing dishes my creative and inspired son decided to do a little decorating.

Not just any decorating... decorating with a permanent marker... on our TV! "NOOOOO... NOT THE TV!" I could hear myself shouting before he threw the evidence across the room and burst into tears. Yes, he knew he was being naught and, yes... I yelled at my child. So judge me. *

So yea. Somehow Lucas got his sticky, chubby little grubs on a thick, black Sharpie marker. And by somehow I mean, I forgetfully left it sitting on the edge of the desk after drawing mustaches on the all animals in the zoo pamphlet. Yes... I always use my time wisely and yes, today was just one of those days. Again... go ahead and judge me.

Anywho... here's what I walked in on. Feast your eyes on this!

Oh yea... and the first things that came to mind were:
1) Matt's gonna be so mad at me
2) How in the World am I gonna get that off!? Ugh.

And then there's the child. It's in his ear canal, his nostrils and on his tongue I don't imagine Sharpie tastes all that great. Oh the creativity!

After some scrubbing and a few chipped nails, here's what were workin' with now. Just a little residual on the console and even though it's hard to see... there is some on tv plastic too. I can't figure out how to remove it. Ideas?

* I am not proud of the fact that I raised my voice at my child and wish I had better self-control. That being said, I will not omit very honest facts regarding child-rearing... raising of the voice happens.

Monday Zoo Trip

2011-09-19T16:23:00.000-06:00

And... here are some cute pics from our zoo trip this morning:

Can't believe how big The Boy looks!

"Lucas! Stand still!" Alidia and Aviana attempting to convince Lucas to take a pic. Impossible!

Our favorite animal... who never fails to impress. The giraffe. Such gentle creatures.

Wishing It Was The Weekend

2011-09-19T15:43:00.000-06:00

Mondays totally stink! True story. This is due to the fact that Matt goes back to work and I find myself back at the daily grind. I know, I know... I should find joy in my daily grind; serving my family and making our house a home. But c'mon... I like lazy Sunday mornings better. I like late dinners and up-all-night discussions. Can't do those after Monday. Gotta get back at it.

And here we are... Monday.

I shouldn't complain. Lucas and I went to the zoo this morning with a few of our favorites. That's a great way to spend Monday morning! It was a cool, crisp Fall morn and I wore jeans for nearly the first time in months! I love the zoo this time of year. All the wild and crazy Utah kids (and there are lots of them here!) are back in school and the zoo is left to the home-schoolers and little ones like Lucas. There is no pushing and shoving to see that sad gorilla behind the glass... plenty of room for everyone. Yay.

But in spite of the zoo... I'm finding myself in a slump this afternoon. Lucas is thrilled because Grandma Judy sent a bunch of toys... so he could care or notice less that I'm feeling poopy. That's a good thing. I know I'll snap out of it, but in the meantime, I'm gonna continue wishing it was the weekend.

Fabulous Meaningful Conversation

2011-09-17T13:49:00.000-06:00

The evening Matt and I shared last night was fabulous. Our evening started with a predictably delicious meal at Pago. Matt had a burger and I had a steak... because the only meal that came with their mashed potatoes was the steak. Lemme tell you... those mashed potatoes should be called buttery, whipped, delicious potatoes. Yum!

Caviar Potato Skins With Local Artisan Cheese Infused with Espresso and Blueberry

The Steak... and the Potatoes hiding under the Steak.

Hello Handsome

After a coffee we headed to the theater to see "Next To Normal", which is a show about the realities of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. I truly believe everyone should either read the show or see it for themselves. It's a beautifully sad show and hides no aspect these very real disorders that so many of our loved ones deal with. You'll cry your eyes out and you'll have meaningful conversations afterward. Isn't that what theater is about?

Matt was exhausted, so we skipped the after-party and headed home for some serious sleep. My poor man was up again this morning for a new round of technical rehearsals for the University Theater. Midsummer Night opens this coming Friday and there is much to be done in preparation for that. Even still... it was good to spend an evening with my Hubs and see his hard work in show. Until next time!

Just Us Tonight

2011-09-16T13:16:00.000-06:00

Tonight the Hubs and I are going to see the opening night showing of "Next To Normal." I've been told I'll cry my eyes out. Hopefully for good reasons, because things have been a bit emotional around here already.

Matt's been working too much. I'll say it. It has to be said. I'm selfish and I like havin' my man around.

So tonight will be dinner at Pago (yum!) and the show. Maybe an after party. We'll see... because Hubs has to be in another rehearsal tomorrow. Of course.

I'm trying to not be bitter.

Cage Crossroads

2011-09-15T10:42:00.000-06:00

We're at a crossroads right now and I'm not sure what to do? This morning I woke up at 7:38a to what sounded like Lucas playing in his room. of course I thought to myself... that's crazy. He's in his crib. But then it hit me... that sneaky lil' man climbed out. Big sigh...

Lucas has always been brave and when it comes to an obstacle, there is very little that gets in his way. He was awake... so why wouldn't he get up and play with toys? Sure this makes sense to a toddler, but to Mommy and Daddy... it's nice when WE decide getup time. It's all about maintaining the upper-hand, right (I say this sarcastically)?

Anyway I'm weighing the options and quite frankly I don't know what to do!? It's clear he's "ready" for a big-boy bed, but am I? I don't want my kid getting up when HE wants. I like the fact that his crib is a pseudo cage and for the most part, when I put him into the crib, I know he's safe. He's not chasing the cat, squirting bleach in his eyes or lighting the house on fire (all of these things have almost happened... so yes, my fears are valid). Giving the Lucas the freedom of making bedtime choices means more work for me.

On the other hand, I know that we're gearing up all of these big things: potty training, no more high-chair, big boy cups, and big-boy bed. For me to hold off on developmental growth is unfair and for selfish reasons. Lucas having a "real" bed could be a great thing. Some days he asks for a nap and the idea of him putting himself into bed is thrilling (for all of us). He's growing up and this could be a big and great way to start learning how to be a big boy.

Sigh.... so here we are. A two-year old who can climb out of his crib. What to do? What to do? Here are the options in my mind:

Discipline Lucas and teach him it's not okay to climb out of the crib.
Remove the side of the crib and deal with him having his own opinions regarding nap-time/bedtime/wake-up time.

I just don't know if I'm ready to give up the cage. It's pretty awesome.

What did you do? I could use some perspective here.

Weird Molars

2011-09-14T21:10:00.000-06:00

Today I endured the dentist. And now I'm enjoying a beer (or two)... because going to the dentist is probably in my top five reasons life isn't always great. A few others would be giving birth, Walmart on a Saturday, and backne (that's acne on your back... in case you didn't know). Going to the dentist always induces sweaty pits, headache, ringing in the ears and feelings of exhaustion after a huge dump of adrenaline in my system. I kid you not. We're talking about sweaty palms and shaking hands. There is nothing fun about the dentist.

I should be fair... my dentist is the nicest guy. He's down to Earth and speaks openly with me about himself and his family. He's from the Northwest. And he tells me in advance when he's gonna jam both hands into the farthest corner of my mouth, resulting in "a little bit of discomfort." Hmm...at least he gave me a heads up. He also says things like: "you have weird molars." And: "Does it bother you that your teeth are so close together? I mean, how do you floss!?" Thanks buddy. Thanks for the authentic bluntness. To be fair... he did tell me I have "pretty teeth." Evidently they're weird, close together and pretty. That'll do.

My weird, close-together, pretty teeth!

Anyway... today's fillings (yes... multiple... thank you child-bearing years) resulted in a capped tooth. Oh gosh. There go my nerves. Not only am I thinking about him accidently drilling into my tongue, but now I'm thinking about the bank account. Great. There goes my idea of a new dress for this weekend (not that I was planning on buying a three-hundred and fifty dollar dress... but still). Mr. Nice Dentist did me a big favor by showing me my tooth after he had scraped all that goodness/plaque out and lemme just tell you... it's a good thing I have big molars! Ouch. Better cap that baby.

So... the beer tonight will calm my nerves, hopefully relieve some jaw discomfort (no jokes needed here folks) and perk up my pride a bit. I mean... I'm not less of a person just because I've had ten... TEN!... fillings in the last three weeks. I SWEAR I BRUSH MY TEETH! Stop judging me now... seriously. It's not my fault... it's my weird molars.

Deep Fried Twinkie? Why, Yes Please!

2011-09-13T13:09:00.000-06:00

There is nothing quite like a deep-fried Twinkie... well... lemme rephrase that... there is nothing quite like your first deep-fried Twinkie.

On Thursday night, Lucas and I went to the Utah State Fair with Emily and the kiddos (this was before Emily and Jeremy flew out late that night) and I had a wad of cash in my wallet.

Now... when you go to the fair with small children and no spouse there are very few things you can blow your cash on (mind you... State Fair is like Mecca for people who LOVE blowing cash); I could not ride the Kamakaze, or throw pennies at goldfish, so instead... I had to buy food. And not just any food, terrible, deep-fried, sugary, unsanitary, delicious, food. The Elephant Ears were out of sight, so I decided I was going for the gold. I was gonna be brave (and possible gonna go into cardiac arrest). I was gonna eat a deep-fried Twinkie!

I'll never be the same.

It was pure Heaven.

As you can see... Lucas was a big fan too. I mean... who wouldn't be!? Greasy, sugary, creamy. I think I've found my new Fair Food. And it's a good thing the fair only comes once a year!

So we sat and ate junk food (there were apples and peanut butter sandwiches mixed in there too... so you can stop judging me now) while watching the Rodeo.

This also happened to be Lucas' first Rodeo and he's hooked. I couldn't help but smile at the joy and excitement he experience when the horses came out. He kept screaming: "Neigh! Neigh"! And to boot, there were ambulance nearby, which is a huge bonus in Lucas' book. Animals and EMT vehicles: win.

It was a fun, sugary night before kicking off our weekend and though it feels so far away already, I'm happy we were able to enjoy just another great aspect of this city. The people were friendly, the fairgrounds were clean and the snacks and entertainment were divine.

Would Do It Again In A Heartbeat

2011-09-12T14:10:00.000-06:00

Okay... this weekend was indeed a bit insane. I'm feeling it today after actually getting a full nights rest. It's funny how a person can run on pure fumes and adrenaline for days at a time, but once you let down your guard, you feel the actual effects of exhaustion.

Matt was in tech all weekend (and will continue to be in tech for two more weeks), so essentially... I was on my own. I made efforts to keep it busy and light. I probably would've burned out had it not been for my dear friends, Josie and Eddie. They both provided some support on Saturday afternoon and it couldn't have come at a better time Thanks guys!

So yes... I'm exhausted. But wouldn't have done anything differently (maybe kicked a few kids out of my bed) and I'm happy to say, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Seeing Jeremy and Emily come home with a twinkle in their eye made it all worthwhile. All of us with kiddos know what traveling with kids and without kids is like and I think it's safe to say, traveling without kids is divine!

And oh! how the kids missed their parents! It was precious to see the excitement in their little bodies as we drove to the airport to meet the folks. They couldn't contain themselves... singing songs about how beautiful their Mom is and how funny their Daddy is (Alidia's song about her Mommy's beauty turned into a song about her own beauty: "My Mommy is so pretty... I am so pretty, I am so pretty!"). Distance makes the heart fonder, for sure.

I have lots to catch up on in my own home... so I'll post more details later... and with a couple photos, of course.

It's Gonna Be Insane... In A Good Way

2011-09-08T13:31:00.000-06:00

This weekend is gonna be... crazy! I am hanging out with a few of my favorite kiddos while their folks go on a spectacular wedding trip to New York. Um... lemme rephrase that... Jeremy and Emily are going to New York to participate in another couple's wedding. Jeremy and Emily have been married for... um... awhile. A long while.

So with that in mind, I'm hoping to post pics and lil' tidbits (when I'm not pulling tidbits out of my hair) to keep the folks in the loop. I'm pumped and have some pretty great plans for activities and such. And it'll be the best weekend ever for Lucas... because he gets to be with "siblings" nonstop!

Here's to seeing what having four kids would be like... if three of them were spawned from someone else's loins and all came to me ages three to seven.... so... yea. Wish me luck!

What's Your Name

2011-09-07T15:28:00.000-06:00

Lucas and I are playing with Legos and I say, "What's your name?"

He replies: "Dadda!" And laughs out loud.

Special child...

My Smart Little Helper

2011-09-07T10:35:00.000-06:00

It's a weird moment when you realize your child is more observant than you. Lucas misses nearly nothing and now that he's talking, he constantly is alerting us with words like, "Moon, stars, car, truck, siren-sounds, cat, dog, horse...." and the list goes on.

Yesterday he and I went to leave Emily's house and Emily so kindly put the stroller into the back of the car for me (she's a friendly little helper too!). I had forgotten to empty the little console area of the stroller, so a bunch of stuff fell out onto the ground. No biggie. We picked up the toys and packed Lucas into the car as normal. Lucas is telling us something, but in my efforts to get a small amount of adult conversation with Emily (her kiddos were in the house = no distractions) I rudely ignored my own child's words.

We said our goodbyes and wrapped up our conversation. I buckled Lucas in safely and he continued to say the same word over and over again. At this point I realized he had something very important to communicate with me and tried to understand. I could not. I gave up and proceeded to shut his door and get into the drivers seat. Lucas continued with his word... over and over again. Ack! I sensed his frustration, but had no clue (mental block here people... because his word wasn't that hard to understand) what the child wanted. I began my pre-drive procedure: seatbelt, keys, phone. Hmmm... where was my phone? And then it struck me! Lucas was saying "phone". Where was it?

I remembered leaving it in the stroller and then I realized it must've fallen onto the ground with the other schtuff. I didn't see it? Weird. Maybe it slid under the car? Sure enough...it was laying on the ground, behind the tire on Lucas' side of the car. My child misses nothing.

Such a strange moment for me... have you ever felt this way? In a flash I envisioned years from now... when Lucas is current on electronics and media and I haven't a clue what he's talking about. I see myself asking him questions to gain information about the World we live in and trusting his solid advice. My baby is getting big, and though I won't get the cart before the horse... he's a smart one and not too far from now, he's gonna be my hook-up and save me from my own scatter-brain oblivion.

Simple And Sweet

2011-09-06T11:43:00.000-06:00

This past weekend was a full one... but Sunday we made sure to spend a little time hangin' out. Our favorite thing is to hang out front... because I can chill with a cup of coffee and Lucas can explore to his heart's content. Win.

Much time is spent moving these planters. They were supposed to be beautiful flowing flowers... but I cannot make anything grow for the life of me! Anywho... they're happy sprouts that seem to intrigue Lucas for extended amounts of time. Another win.

As you can see above... Matt's a bit sunburned. He was in a car accident on Friday and ended up waiting out in the sun for a few hours. Talk about salt in the wound... like it's not bad enough having a serious fender bender, but then to acquire a fancy sunburn. Bummer.

Thankfully... everyone is okay. Both vehicles had to be towed... but Matt and the other fella walked away unscathed. Oh! And Matt was driving a work truck... so we still have our fully-functioning hooptie. And a fully-functioning Matt. Phew.

Sweeping is pretty high on Lucas' favorite list. If the broom is in hand... we have to keep a healthy distance. As you can see... the broom handle is perfectly positioned to knock out teeth or poke an eye out... and I frankly, will have none of that. When Lucas is "sweeping" I often feel like a broken record player... "Lucas, please keep the broom on the ground." Over and over again. Sigh....

Matt is fully immersed in work now. We won't see him for the next two weeks and sadly... he's already running on fumes. This weekend was a treat. We spend a lot of time together and with friends we adore, which is a great way to recharge right before a couple intense weeks of work and responsibility. I am learning to appreciate the greatness of small things and this weekend was a healthy way to acknowledge the beauty of the simple and sweet.

Some Days....

2011-09-05T09:45:00.000-06:00

.... you just wanna take your pants off.

Today is Labor Day. Hope you're sitting around, relaxing with people you love.

Decompress

2011-09-01T22:26:00.000-06:00

So... Matt and I are hooked on Battlestar Galactica. I just had to come out with it.

It seems after having a baby our idea of relaxation and "letting down" has changed a bit. I'd say we've probably stepped down to low-brow ways of escape and decompressing... which I'm not ashamed to admit. Watching TV is nice. No, it's great! After Lucas goes to bed, it's just too much to pick up projects or assume heavy responsibilities. I'm too tired. Not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. A day of constant problem solving and diffusing leaves me weary and in need of something requiring very little.

Right now it's Battlestar Galactica and a few months ago it was Dr. Who (and will be again when I can watch the new season episodes!) and months from now it'll be something else. Something mindless. Because frankly... whether it's sitting on the porch watching traffic, scrapbooking or watching TV shows on Netflix, it's a way to relax. And relaxing is a highly necessary thing right now.

How do you relax daily? Weekly?

It's A Bike.

2011-08-31T20:21:00.000-06:00

Lucas' fascination with bikes is over the top. The boy will hear a motorcycle from indoors, stop what he's doing and yell, "Bike!!!" And he'll keep saying, "Bike, Bike, Bike..." until someone acknowledges that yes indeed, that was a bike. The only thing cooler than a bike is a train and I'm just going to be honest here, odds are very low that Lucas will ever have his own train.

But... Lucas now has his very own bike (ahem.... it's actually a Tryke). Again... if it has wheels or spokes, it's a bike in his mind... so I'm not gonna go burstin' that kids bubble by trying to convince him otherwise. It's a bike. And it's a step in the right direction, because he's all brave and guts with that thing. He couldn't wait to get his little butt on that seat and try his darnedest to peddle that bike around the house. Unfortunately, it's a tough ride on the carpet and small spaces in our little dirt shack.

As you can see, Matt and Lucas (just Matt) put the bike together. Lemme just tell you... this is no Ikea situation. You need a hammer, a wrench and a screwdriver! Serious work here people... serious work. Oh! And of course... Lucas needed the flashlight. Because every good handy man has a flashlight.

After quickly realizing that we don't live in the type of home my parents lived in while I was growing up (spacious)... we took Lucas and his bike outside. And he was in Heaven! The child refused to get off the bike so we could take it down the stairs. Yea. He pretty much runs the show around here. Needless to say, his slaves (Matt and I) picked the bike up while he remained steady on the seat and set it on the ground. And then Lucas proceeded to "ride" his bike.

I say "ride" because, the Tryke has a pole attachment on the back, which allows the parentals to push the child, should said child be too young (or weak) to pedal themselves (I should also add... the attachment is a great way to keep your child from being overconfident and riding themselves into a six-lane highway). Basically, it's a win-win.

Our house... the crusty one on the left.

Pedaling isn't the issue... it's steering that is a problem.

I'm such a big boy!

That Sweet Boy

2011-08-30T20:40:00.000-06:00

Ahhh... the challenges of parenting. They're fleeting and yet ongoing, it seems. In the moment I tell myself, "this will pass, this will pass, this will pass." And yet, I feel the emotions rising within and my feelings taking over. In the moment, it doesn't feel like it's passing. It feels like day in and day out of tantrums, tempers, throwing, hitting....timeout and the daily swat to the hiney. The blood rises to my face and I feel the tears sting my eyes... no, I will not let my very young child see me cry. He's not ready for that. But oh.... I want to cry. I want someone else to be in charge.

Today was that day. A lack of sleep creating tension? Maybe. Or just the age. Probably a combination of both... but I'm worn out. I hit my breaking point when lunch was willfully dumped on the floor... as those young eyes looked straight at me. They looked at me with a certain determination, yet I still don't know why the beans ended up on the floor. I'll probably never know. What I do know is that I was so angry with the little one, I couldn't utter a word. I couldn't even say, "no no." I think he found that more upsetting than a warranted reaction. But I was tired and like I said, worn out.

Bedtime was early. Hubs came home early too... which is why he's wonderful. I'm sure he'll make up for tomorrow. But his love is evident and for that I'm grateful. In my worn out state, I will say prayers tonight and hope for a better tomorrow. But I won't hold my breath... because this is toddler time and when it's toddler time, there are no rules. I'll remind myself that this is a time that won't last forever and when he's eleven, I'll remember the sweet boy. Maybe. Or maybe I'll remember how much of a little rascal he was. Either way, I'm sure it'll be with a smile on my face.

Here's to trying again tomorrow.