Monday's Moments

Monday's moments that made Sunday's plane ride alone with the babies worth every crazy minute...

• Alec running around the backyard, coatless, with Alan's bicycle helmet on saying "I'm gonna' ride a bike someday."  All the while Mike laughed and cheered him on.
  

• Lyssa loving her Grandma Shannon while outside coatless.  Grandma Shannon was loving on her right back... and as you can only imagine everyone was excited about being outside coatless in February.  Spring really is coming!
  

• Lyssa tromping around the soggy yard, trying to walk on her own, not caring that the water was soaking through her soft soled shoes.  She was so happy to just be outside!
  

• Alec's new found "best friend/favorite person ever" status he has given to Mike.  I couldn't even read him stories or put him in his bed last night.  Alec insisted that Mike must do it.  What will we do when we go home and there is no Mike to hang out with all afternoon.
  

• Lyssa playing with itsy bitsy tiny popcorn kernels while Grandma Shannon looks on.  Grandma is notorious for letting my babies play with things I would NEVER give them... like paperclips, little fridge magnets, and coins.  Today it just happened to be popcorn kernels.  Of course she always watches them very carefully, making sure there is no choking involved.  
  

• Going to play at the tree house at the mall, walking with Grandma Marion at the Rec Center, sharing a most delicious smoothie, babies happily napping at the same time in the same room, eating a lovely spinach fritata for dinner, taking a brisk walk with my mom, conversing about the deeper meaning of this and that, and enjoying a hearty laugh during Carly's FHE lesson... 

These events may not have been visually documented, but rounded off the day beautifully.  

Talking with Nick and hearing that my jacket mysteriously turned up hanging all by it's lonesome in an open area of the coat closet at church Sunday helped too.  Thank you to whoever returned it. You and I both know you did the right thing.   

Oh, how I love vacation.

Organization is Key

Despite the fact that most of last week we looked a lot like this....I didn’t go insane.  I started working on some BIG projects, which kept my mind fairly busy even when we couldn’t leave the house…  I can't seem to pick a nice easy project right now.  It's all the way or nothing, and right now it’s all about organization.First off I'm trying to organize my home.  A very daunting task for people like us who gather clutter like it’s a collector’s item. Thanks to the trusty dishwasher, I've eliminated some kitchen clutter, but my closest have been looming at me ever since last November when a dear friend (who was babysitting my kiddos) asked which cupboard I kept my band-aids in because she couldn't find them in the overflowing closet Alec showed her.  They were in there, but only an expert clutter-er could find them.  So Friday was de-clutter the closest day, and let me tell you, it was an eye opening experience.  I spent lots of time refolding linens, throwing out expired medication, and boxing up baby stuff that we've outgrown.  I went to put away the infant car seat and noticed that the expiration date is December 2012... and I realized that by the time we have another baby it's likely that we won't be able to use it.  It seems like such a waste to stick a perfectly good car seat in the attic only to expire.  Does anyone have a need for an infant car seat?Second, I'm trying to organize my blog book.  Thank heaven Blurb's slurp feature is now working.  It was taking an astronomical amount of time trying to copy and paste all of my posts over, only to then find the photos all over again.  YEA for the slurp feature!  Just like a scrapbook, though, it takes a lot of time to edit all my text and format everything just the way I want it.My third task has been on my radar for a long time, but I’ve felt so overwhelmed that I keep putting it off.  I’m trying to plan out and organize my food storage, or more specifically my three month food supply.  Even three months is so much to take in and I didn’t know where to start.  Then last week I found this website that breaks down food storage into ten baby steps, making this task a bit more tolerable.  Through their site I found a excellent excel spread sheet designed to help plan out and organize a three month food supply!  Awesome in every way!  So after inputting lots of data I know exactly what I need to buy… now I just have to organize my finances to do the rest.Last but not least, I’ve been trying to organize a realistic half marathon training schedule.  I’m seriously considering signing up for the Dam to Dam, which is scheduled for the end of May.  That gives me many weeks to prepare, but I’ve never run anything near this far or intense, I don’t consider myself a natural athlete, and I don’t have endless amounts of time to run as a full-time mother of two.  Thanks to my friend Sara, I did find a beginners training schedule that seems reasonable, but will definitely still be challenging.  Now it’s really a matter of commitment and follow through… and finding someone who wants to do it with me.  Any takers?

 For now I’m off the hook and most of this stuff is on hold.  I’m on vacation, having a blast watching my two munchkins reacquaint themselves with Grandma Shannon… not to mention warmer temperatures and water that actually tastes good right out of the tap.  Man I love mountain stream water!  Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go kick back on my mom’s comfy couch and curl up with a book and a tasty smoothie.

Elyssa's One Year Photos

This post has been a long time coming.  A few weeks ago when we had our family photos done we also had Elyssa's one year photos taken.  Being our smiley cheesy girl most of the time, we thought getting good shots of Lyssa would be a piece of cake.  Boy were we WRONG!  She was so grouchy!  That poor photographer probably took a hundred photos trying to get Lyssa smiling.  I appreciated her persistence and think she got some cute shots, but at the end of the day I was reminded why I think I'll just do my kids photos myself from now on.  Maybe someday I'll invest in one of those flash reflectors. So now we'll move on to the photos.  We'll start with the personality shots... 

Animal crackers were the only thing that would console this princess, as you can see throughout the shoot. 

I tried to explain to Lyssa that I needed her to put down her crackers and smile for a few pictures.  She looked at my like "are you crazy?  Have you tried these crackers, Mommy?"

This was the winner of all the personality shots, which now decorates her nursery...

Now on to the more formal shots for the living room wall.  If you look close you can see tears all over this grouchy little girl's face.  Poor baby.

Nick tried to pull out all the stops, wearing props on his head, dancing, singing... not much made her happy though.

I liked this one a lot, but it was so washed that they didn't eve recommend buy it.

Cute, but I wanted something that would look good next to the picture I have up of Alec. I love those two tiny little teeth though.  

Little Miss Big Eyes

This was the formal photo we chose for the living room.  Not her typical happy cheese smile, but zoomed in a little bit it looked perfect next to the photo of Alec, and shows off a more formal side of my ever growing Princess.

I was thinking last night about how big Elyssa has become.  It doesn't seem that long ago that she could nuzzle in and fit perfectly on my chest, so tiny, sleeping peacefully.  Now she wants to do everything on her own, demanding independence.  She's constantly trying to walk on her own, meaning she's constantly falling down on our hardwood floors (note to self: buy a house with carpet next time around), meaning she has lots of bruises and cries about 50% of the day.  Lyssa won't let us feed her anymore, meaning she doesn't get as much food and there is always a mess for me to clean up.  Anything her brother is doing she wants to do.  She's very dramatic, but so very sweet.  When she calls out for "dadeee" in her almost southern accent, it melts all our hearts.  When she gives you those big open mouth kisses on your cheek, you can't help but forget about the tantrums.  When she blows you kisses, you can't help but want to give her a squeeze.  

I can't imagine my life without you, my dear miracle baby.  

We love you, Elyssa.  

Pretty Valentine, Sweet Valentine

There have been times in my life I have cursed whoever came up with Valentines Day.  Do you remember back in Junior High when you could buy your friends a rose and it would be delivered in homeroom?  I was always horribly jealous of those girls that got 10 roses.  Luckily I had the coolest mom ever who made the most awesome candy gram cards.  I wish we had taken pictures of those cards.  I would love to have proof of just how creative my mom can be... and possibly use that proof to help stimulate my own creativity in the future.  Anyway, back to V-Day!

Everyone was on the verge of being sicky, so we all slept in.  Then we had a yummy pancake breakfast, and Alec made his way down to the barber seat in the basement to have his ever growing hair buzzed.  After babies were bathed it was time for fun family presents.  Nick ever so generous and lovingly replaced my long lost jacket (see previous Sunday's post for details).  What a nice guy, eh?  Nick received a much need alarm clock... as his had lived a long life of 15 years and the volume button was ready to retire. 

  I found everything I needed for the babies in the dollar section at Target.  All things superhero work for this little man (notice his new favorite hat acquired on clearance from Children's Place last week).  Superman sunglasses and Mr. Incredible socks for Alec...

And Glamorous Movie Star sunglasses for Lyssa... 

Can't you just see her saying "I'm ready for my close up, Mr. Duval!"

The rest of the day was spent trying to keep a fussy Lyssa happy, writing papers for class, cleaning up around the house, and reading lots of love stories to the bambinos.  Nick really wanted to take me out to dinner, but the thought of going out with the babies on the busiest restaurant night of the year was less than appealing.  Instead we got take-out from one of my favorites, Macaroni Grill.

Lyssa decided that one cup simply was not enough, and spent a good part of dinner trying to drink from her milk cup and water cup at the same time... talk about causing yourself frustration.  She's a stubborn one though, and would have no help in the matter.

The night ended with a scrumptious piece of chocolate cake, which had a candle placed in the center for 'Happy Birthday song' singing per Alec's request.  He thought the cake was so yummy he couldn't be bothered with silverware and decided to use his hands.  

So yes, another Valentines Day has passed.  It may be a Hallmark Holiday or Singles Awareness Day, but seeing as I'm no longer single, it's a holiday to celebrate love, and it helps break up the longest month of the year (February may only be 28 days, but I still firmly believe it's the longest month) I'm a fan.  Happy Valentines Day to You!

Nebulizer Treatment + 1 year old = Torture

The great debate today has been what to post... Valentines Day?  Super Hero babies?  Our Family Feast?  

The winner was The Nebulizer.  Yes, we are all sick over here... all of us.  Alec is getting over an ear infection and starting a little cough cough.  I have a nasty head cold with congestion and cracking sinuses.  Nick has bronchitis, a sinus infection, and one of the nastiest coughs of his life.  Poor little Lyssa Lou has a double ear infection, and possibly RSV.  She is wheezing and coughing something dreadfully unhappy.  

Results?  We all go to the doctor today, stay home from church, go through lots of hand sanitizer and tissues, and spend a lot of time at Walgreens Pharmacy.  Lyssa receives special nebulizer breathing treatments every 4 hours... which quite frankly borderline on torture.  Mommy dearest gets to hold a breathing mask over Lyssa's face while holding her head straight and restraining her arms.... for 10 minutes... every 4 hours.  Yuck.  The machine is LOUD, and Alec is always a little disturbed and very concerned for Lyssa when she's receiving her treatment.  "Mommy!  What is she drinking!?"  Poor baby Lyssa.  

The fourth time around today wasn't as big of a struggle.  Maybe she's getting used to it, accepting that like it or not it will happen.  Maybe she's recognizing that it helps her feel better.  Or maybe it was because Nick came and distracted her.  Either way, I still feel like it's torture... and I find myself singing, trying not to cry.  Those poor doctors and nurses at the walk-in clinic got a 10 minute serenade of "I am a Child of God" while I tried to fight back the tears.  

Since we're all sick-o we sadly had to cancel on our Sunday dinner guests.  Unfortunately unless we wanted it to go bad we had to eat it tonight, guests or no guests. So we had a delightful feast that will give Nick the best leftovers for lunches the rest of the week.  :-)  What a lucky guy!  Juicy Parmesan encrusted pork tenderloin, fresh green beans, twice baked potatoes, scrumptious grapefruit and spring mix salads, and lime rickys covered our plates, making a delightful feast enjoyed by almost all.  

Here's to hoping the babies sleep through the night.  Here's to hoping we all stop coughing and hacking. Here's to hoping everyone returns to healthy happy status before the babes and I head out on vacation.  Here's to hoping I don't go insane this week.  Cheers!

Family Photo Shoot 2009

We attempted to have family pictures taken at a studio.  Attempt is a really good word to describe it.  I know it's hard to get small kids to look at the camera and smile... especially when you are trying to put them in awkward poses.  These are good examples...

Lyssa was in the most foul mood ever...

and you can see that Alec wasn't really excited to cooperate either.

I probably would have bought this one if Alec's hand wasn't in his face.  The looks on Lyssa and Nick's faces are priceless.

Oh, so many tries, so little success with the small people.

This was the last picture we took... and you can tell that by this time the babies were not amused.  

So which one did we end up taking home?  This one... because not only does everyone look cute, but we look real.  I'm just not into the traditional studio family photos.  Maybe this Spring we'll find someone to take pictures for us playing in the great outdoors.  

For now this will do to cover our wall.

Night-time Serenade

For the last week Alec has been singing himself to sleep.  We go through our usual sleep time routines, and I turn out the lights and leave him in his bed.  Within minutes the little guy starts singing lullabies to himself at the top of his lungs... and sometimes it will last for a half hour!  Hey, as long as the little man isn't crying or keeping Lyssa awake I'm totally cool with it.  Why mess with a good thing?

Last night I put him to bed a little later than usual because #1 I was exhausted and didn't feel like fighting him to bed, and #2 I wanted to see if he would just go right to sleep without the serenade if maybe he was more tired when I put him to bed.  Turns out it doesn't matter what time of day I put him down, he needs to sing his little heart out for a while, which (to be honest) totally melts my heart and makes my day.  I caught this on video (outside his room... sorry there isn't any video.  I would love a hidden camera to see what he's doing while he's singing... but for now this will have to do. )  

Enjoy!  I sure do.

 

A Better Day

Old habits can be broken, but it takes a lot time and perseverance.  We have this horrible habit of going to bed at 11:30pm or midnight, making it hard to get up early in the morning to exercise.  So exercise during the day!  The YMCA has free childcare!  Only we've already tried that a few times and things got traumatic and painful really fast, with most of my workout being the time I spend trying to get Alec to the car, up the hill to the Y, and then through the nursery gate.  No, that simply will not do.  I must go in the AM while sugarplums dance in the kiddos heads.  And I must go.

It's not so much about losing weight, strength training, or looking good for the next swimsuit season.  I don't pretend to think I look like a super model, but I'm pretty comfortable in my skin (now that I'm not pregnant or seriously post-pardum... I'll sing a different tune during those painful months).  I exercise because it keeps me sane and happy.   I can almost guarantee I will be in a better mood, be more productive, and will be a more patient mother and loving wife if I exercise.  So why do I fight the buzzing at 6:02 AM?  For starters I need to go to bed at a decent hour. I also need to remember how I feel after I run.

The first few minutes of my runs are always a little sluggish, but if I push through to the five minute mark my endorphins kick in and I start smile.  I occasionally drum on the treadmill to the tunes from my i-pod.  I smile at the people that walk by in the gym, and sometimes I catch myself laughing out loud at the lady with 80s hair doing aerobics on TV.  Around the 2 mile mark I feel complete, do a little cool down, and head for the lifting machines where I give my arms and shoulders a little work out to balance out the muscles that carry around babies all day.  I feel good.  I look awful, but I feel like a million bucks.  

I hurry home, listening to the local weather forecast.  Mostly cloudy, high chance of rain, with warm temperatures.  I can handle that.  I run in the door, kiss Nick goodbye, and jump in the shower.  As I watch my reflection in the mirror braiding my hair, I hear little voices just waking up for the day.  Lyssa is cooing and loving on her monkey.  Alec is singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with so much fervor and passion that you know he means it.  I can't help but smile. 

A friend calls to invite me to lunch.  Nick knew it was laundry day and completed a load for me before he even left for work.  Occasionally the sun peaks through the clouds, and I'm reminded that Spring may not come right away, but eventually it will come.  All the rain will turn the world a lovely velvety green and everything will bloom again.  

So what if we can't get Alec into the ENT doctor for another two weeks.  

Today is DEFINITELY a better day.

Someone Took My Jacket...

It was just another typical day in nursery.  Some kids cried, some hit, some pushed, some fell down and got goose eggs on their poor little heads.  Some kids listened, Alec didn't freak out every time I walked out of the nursery, and we all practiced saying "I love you, Mommy!" in preparation for Valentines Day.  

Not necessarily a bad day, but I still felt pretty beat after spending most of the morning with my kids (while Nick was gone at church meetings... funny that not even Sunday is sacred or a "family day" but that is a whole different topic in itself) and then all afternoon with a bunch of cute napless kids.  I knew that Nick would have even more meetings after church, meaning I get to go home alone with my hungry crabby kids.  

YEA for me! (dripping with sarcasm)

As chaos ensued in the nursery room, the last child is picked up and I make my way down the hall following Nick with Alec, Lyssa, the diaper bag, and my Singing time Valentine poster in tow.  I walk to the coat closet to grab our jackets... and mine is gone.  My black The North Face Windwall jacket that my dad lovingly gave me for my birthday last year was gone.  The babies coats were still there, but mine was gone.  

I'm mad.  Why would someone take my jacket?  I would like to think that someone accidentally took it... that someone got it confused with their own jacket... Only it wasn't even hanging up.  I had put it on top of my babies jackets up on a shelf.  There was nothing even remotely similar hanging up on the coat racks.  

Funny that I almost didn't wear my jacket today.  It wasn't all that cold and I didn't want to carry it around the church, but I shook off these warning feelings and took it anyway.  How am I supposed to get my kids to wear their jackets if I don't wear mine?  Besides, by the time we leave the sun will almost be gone and it will be cold. 

Then when we got to the church I put my keys in my jacket pocket.  As I went to put our coats on the coat rack I felt prompted to take my keys out and put them in my diaper bag.  I'm glad  I listened to the voice in my head that time.  

I know it's just a jacket.  Jackets can be replaced... even if I don't have the money to replace it with something that works as well, looks as nice, or actually fits (one of my biggest problems with jackets is that they rarely fit my shoulders).  As I walked out to the car in the dropping temperatures I was cold and mad. 

And I'm still mad. 

Happy lame Sunday to me!  It's all too easy to sit down and think about my fussy grouchy kids, my MIA husband, my hermit calling in nursery, getting NOTHING out of church as I try to attend sacrament meeting with napless children all for the sake of "teaching by example", and wondering if the time and effort that goes into my calling really matters at all.... only to know that another week of being home alone with my children will start tomorrow.  Can you tell my kids were sick all last week and Iowa Winter is beating me down?

Good thing the last two days have been unseasonably warmer and sunny.  Good thing I have good friends that care and love me and my kiddos despite our faults.  Good thing I know the gospel is true.  Good thing I'm going on vacation in a few weeks.  Now if you'll excuse my grouchy self, I'm going to eat a chocolate chip cookie and try to smile at my whining kiddos.  

~Something Appreciated, Something Cute, and Thoughts on the Spirit of the Individual~

As previously mentioned, we got a dishwasher!  YAY! 

And for those of you wondering, yes, I did have to scrub with bleach for a very long time to get make it nice and clean.  It was gross, but I'm cheap and would much rather clean something up and make it new than spend a couple extra hundred bucks to buy it new. 

The casualty?  My dear pink pants.  Oh, how I wanted a pair for so long.... only to kneel in bleach water while cleaning that dirty dishwasher.  Sad.  They were a size too big, and I did get them for $5 from DI in the first place, but still... sad.  Maybe I'll find another pair of pink pants at DI next time I go out to Utah. I know, I'm cheap... or maybe just thrifty... I guess it just depends on how you look at it.

Speaking of thrifty, Crafty Chrissy strikes again (for a meager $3 might I add)! Can I show you something cute? Alright, I will!

I must admit that last night as I was making this fabulous tutu I started wondering to myself "What if Lyssa doesn't like it?  What if Lyssa isn't the tutu kind of girl? What if Lyssa doesn't care about being a dancer?  What if Lyssa doesn't like or care about anything I like?"  

It's not that I want her to be exactly like me.  In fact, I feel strongly about letting your kids be individuals, not cookie cutters with their likes, dislikes, activities and lives planned out for them.  

My parents believed in the spirit of the individual too... which sadly is one of the reasons why none of us kids plays the piano despite my mother's amazing musical talents.  We all do lots of other things, even some of the musical variety.  But we certainly aren't cookie cutter kids and I appreciate that. 

So why do I care so much if my kids love music or love to dance?  As I've been scrubbing my wood floors and dirty windows today I have contemplated this topic.  I think it's because music, dance, theater... all are things that are important to me and have enriched my life, so it's hard for me to imagine them not being important to my kids.  

I guess when the time comes I'll learn to love other things because my kids love them.  I'll cheer them on as they play sports that I don't find interesting.  I'll support them in the good choices and activities they choose because that's what good parents do.  That's what my parents did.  

Luckily for me....

(for the time being) Lyssa Lou loves the tutu and couldn't get enough of it this morning!Now, if you'll excuse me, my floors are clean, my cute babies are waking up, and the 50 degree weather outside is calling.  

P.S. Oh!  And Blurb is currently working with Blogger... which totally made my day yesterday!  Thank you Hilery for the heads up!  You are truly fabulous!