random

Tap, tap. Is this thing on?

I really wasn't kidding when I said I'd rather nap than almost anything. So I take care of the things that I'm required to (keeping children alive, work, laundry - sort of), and then I take a nap. Oh I love naps.

But I still have so many things that remain undocumented, things I REALLY want documented. So let's do this thing. Just ignore that most of these are SO OLD. And none of them are in any sort of order. Alright then. Onward we go.

Annabelle had her hair chopped off. Per her request. I was a little nervous that she'd freak out when she saw the result of her decision, but good news - she loves it. I do too. Although she looks like an old grandma now. I'm really not into this growing up thing.

We went to the dentist for check ups and then for cavities to be filled (Belle had two, Lou had three - we're awesome). Look at Lou with the laughing gas. She was SO funny. But then she wasn't. Poor Lou. She was so ticked about her numb mouth, and she refused with the fervor of only a Lydia Lou to put the cotton thing in her mouth. So I had perhaps a moment of genius - I rolled up bread and put it in her mouth. That's right. You're welcome for that Pinterest worthy gem.

Annabelle chose one of those popper toy things we used to play with from the dentist's treasure chest. She thought it was hilarious that it would suction to her head. She didn't find it as amusing when she looked in the mirror and saw that she'd totally destroyed her forehead. She looked like an abused child. She was mortified. (So was I. But send her to school I did. CDC never did show up...)

Annabelle won herself a Bobcat Award at school. Each grade has a different list of age-appropriate requirements to check off (e.g., for Belle - all the sounds of the alphabet, her address, how to tie a shoe, etc.). Every year you complete the requirements, you get a special medal and the PTA lets you choose a book. In this child's case, I'm not sure which was better - the medal or the book.

Also, that's the Butler Bobcat. Not some prehistoric cat creature from the depths of the ocean. What the.

Grammy has the most epic treasures in her basement. Time stands still there. Including the MUSICAL Mickey Mouse sweatshirt from the seventies that STILL SINGS. Even after I accidentally washed it. Please note - she wore that sweatshirt for a week straight. 

So my mom write books. Don't you? Anyhow, she gave the girls a little children's book she wrote and illustrated a few years ago for Christmas. And one day after reading my mom's book, Annabelle wanted to know why SHE couldn't write and illustrate a book. And although I am not so crafty with actual scissors and tape and such, if it involves a computer, I can make it happen. We sat down together and she told me what she wanted each page of her book to say. Then I made her a list of illustrations I needed. I uploaded all of her illustrations and made a (cheap) photo book at Walmart.com. It turned out mighty cute, and she was mighty proud. :)

So this happened. And when I brought Lou up to talk about it, she said, "But Mom. It's a really good L-O-U!" When she's right, she's right. 

Plant time! We planted in early spring, meaning big tubs of plants lived in my kitchen until it got warm enough for them to go outside. We're hoping for peppers, tomatoes (two varieties), sweet peas, and strawberries this year.

We took the girls to the Utah Symphony's production of Peter and the Wolf. Before the performance began, they were letting the kids try out a myriad of instruments. I carefully steered my kids toward the not spitting instruments. Sanitizer can only do so much, amiright? I chose well - look at those babies. I'm trying not to get ahead of myself here but #musicalprodigies.

Just your every day Lou get up.

And let's go all the way back to snow. During the winter, Jess promised the girls that "next time" it snowed, they'd make a snowman. Well it never snowed again. So when we got that freak snow storm in the spring, the second he got home from work, they ran outside to build that snowman! 

Of course, it melted quickly. But don't you worry - Belle filled the part just fine. And then she made a tiny squatty guy out of the leftovers that I'm pretty sure is the cutest snowman in the history of ever.

And we'll end with this. (Not that I'm out of photos.) These dresses were contenders for my mom's wedding, but we found more tealy options. But still. These sisters. Sisters are just my favorite.

happy mother's day!

Jess went to London a few weeks ago for work. He was gone from a Sunday to a Sunday. In the middle of the week, I got news from our PTA that I needed a door size poster done in two days. (I'm the room parent for Annabelle's class.) The original instructions hadn't made clear when we were making this poster and it had merely said "a poster." Given my utter disdain for scrapbooking and using scissors in general, I figured I'd just whip one up on the computer and have it printed. No big deal. But door sized and right now? Not the same.

I got out the measuring tape to calculate just how many posters I would need to have overnight printed to make a door sized poster. Too many. It would cost too much. And I realized I suddenly had a whole ton of work to do. This isn't my first run in with our PTA's inefficiency, and I was frustrated. Add in my single parent status and my hormone overload, and I came undone. Had a full blown breakdown.

The girls each looked at me and ran away quietly. Lou came back first with a small paper with L-O-U (the only thing she can spell) scribbled above a little blob person. In the way that is only Lou, she gave me a hug before I could blink and told me she loved me. Belle was right behind her. She smiled her no tooth smile that is so very much her and handed me a note that read, "I rilly want you to be happee uhbout the big poster. Love  Annabelle." Then out of her small hands tumbled a dollar bill and 76 cents in change. Her own money to pay for the poster. So I could be happy again.

Yeah, I lost it big time.

These babies of mine are my best friends. We were without our daddy, but we were together, and when I wasn't taking good care of anything, they jumped to my rescue. They knew what I needed and were happy to help. I truly can't believe how lucky I am to be their mommy. They're growing up so fast, and it's so bittersweet, but how I love that they are my friends, that we talk and giggle, that we take care of each other.

Being a mom is basically my favorite thing. Ever. The best job, the hardest job, the most rewarding and sacred job. And I'm so grateful. An infinite amount of gratitude is owed to my mom, the one who did this first, who gave me the chance to try to be just like her.

And how grateful I am for one more chance as well, for the tiny thing stretching out my belly, a visible and daily reminder of how lucky I am - to be a mom. It's the best.

Happy Mother's Day y'all.

Photos from my mom's wedding (!) in April. I look sort of like a pioneer, I know. But there's a ten week (food baby) belly I'm attempting to camouflage. :)

again?!

When we were in Hawaii in January, Jess and I both agreed we needed to try and get our butts back to the beach in 2016. It's the most amazing place in the world and we just had to try. We decided that if we started saving and planning now, it was doable, and the only thing that would stop us is a nine month pregnant me or a tiny baby. So realistically, looking at our odds, we started planning on Hawaii 2016. 

One morning in March, I sat down next to Jess. He was perched on the side of our bed, sliding his (almost) matching socks on. "I don't think we'll be going to Hawaii next year." My comment came totally out of the blue, and he turned to look at me. "Whhyyyy..." I tried to be serious, but my face about fell off from the smiling. "Whaaa...wait...are you...are you pregnant?!"

I had tested early because that's what we Hashimoto's people do. I'd been testing and testing and testing early for two years. But this time I knew it was different. The whole month I knew. I woke up at 3 a.m. and I knew. And I was right. And I was so happy I couldn't sleep. I got up no less than ten times to stare at that plus sign, the one I'd been hoping for. This was real?! And even though at the time of the first test, our baby was the size of a poppyseed, the happiness was tangible immediately. Another baby?! We get to do this again?!

We get to do this again!

+ The baby will be about three months old at Hawaii time. Given the germs, we're out. Not to mention my (emotional) recovery and the hormones that shoot out my eyeballs with wild abandon. I'm basically a walking human hazard.

+ I've been soooo tired. Thus the lack of blogging. I seriously would rather sleep than almost anything.

+ I've been barely sick at all this time around! Not a single puke! Just super hungry constantly. I've had to change up my diet because of kidney stone indicators (I think it's sort of bogus), but what's new? I love not eating what I want when I'm pregnant! Doesn't everyone?! Not cool kidneys. Not cool. 

+ This bean will make an appearance in October. I'm technically due October 31, but I find that holiday to be the most distasteful day of the year and will be doing aerobics to bounce the kid out a week early. (Seriously.) Or I will cross my legs until November 1 if that's what it takes. No lie.

best day ever

Ummmm. Yeah. So about that catching up. Before I do that, I want to talk about today.

Today I took the girls to This is the Place State Heritage Park by myself. This isn't really remarkable except that I can't remember the last time I took the girls to a museum or park or something of that nature without friends. Without a mom to gab with and a gaggle of kids to run around with. It's my favorite way to catch up with friends who have moved - not too far away, but just far enough away that we don't see each other enough.

But today, it just so happened that the weather was perfect and the girls were dying to see the baby animals and I had nothing else scheduled, and so we went. Just the three of us. And it was perhaps one of the best afternoons I've had in ages. I had hours with just the girls to talk. To giggle. To answer their funny questions about pioneer life and stinky animals. To duck into the historic homes and agonize over which craft to do. To sit with them and focus. To listen. To listen. To listen.

We took our time, wandered around, made friends with the artists helping with crafts. We waited for the train and when it rounded the corner I laughed myself silly at how happy they were to ride a train on wheels. They were so happy to be there, just being there. 

When we got in the car to head home, Annabelle said, "I'm going to go home and draw pictures of everything we did today. So I don't forget." And Lou got to ride a horse - finally. In other words - best day ever.

Indeed.

This is probably my favorite photo taken of Lou in the history of ever.
So happy.

Baby chicks. Maybe the cutest things in the world. 

Note that there are three arrowhead necklaces. Yes, I made my own. What.

They stamped leather here. It's kind of hard to see from the photos, but it was a huge hit with these two.

Their instructions: just stand normal. Oh that Lou. 

Yes, trains are that exciting. :)

Oh how I love these people. :)

so behind!

Ack. I've never before in the history of ever been this lame on my blog! I realize maybe two people have noticed, but for me, it's a bummer! This is my little place to corral all our comings and goings plus random thoughts that mean mostly nothing. It's just that I am so. behind. So many things to post. But I'm determined to catch up in some measure. 

I have a few random Hawaii photos left over. I know. We're probably totally over Hawaii. But I will not be over Hawaii in a few months when I wish I could be there. So here are a few (read: a couple zillion) more!

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The resort my parents-in-law stay at has fun little workshops. The girls got to color a little tote bag (note that Belle is still coloring long after everyone else has moved on - gotta get every. last. thing. colored) and we made pretty Hawaiian flowers for our hair. Not pictured here: we took ukulele lessons. More on that later.

Our hotel had beautiful ponds full of koi fish. Every morning the kids went out to feed them. The ponds were also home to some big ol' frogs that would come hopping about at night.

We went to church while we were there. Such a beautiful meeting, and a family picture deserves documentation. So often one of us is behind the camera. I love to hoard the ones that have all of us.

And the hula lessons. Please note that cute grandpa in the top left joining in. Makes my day.

Uncles Jeremy and Wayne (a native) would track down the best spam musubi in the world for me. Breakfast of champions folks. Also, I picked up a koa wood ring pictured there. Quite rad if I don't say so myself.

I love how hard the kids sleep in Hawaii. The sun sucks everything they've got, and boom. Overall, sleeping in Hawaii is the best sleep in the world.

Lou found some horses. Of course she did. (It's a huge life size chess set.)

Annabelle missed tumbling while we were in Hawaii, so we sent her coach some pictures of her practicing on the beach. :)

My brother-in-law Tanner and I were a little on the obsessed side with getting a real ukulele. We signed up for a little lesson, and walked out totally sold. If you have any musical background, or even the wish to have a musical background, try the uke. YouTube a few tutorials, and you'll be playing full songs within hours. Literally. Tanner, Whitney, and I all visited Lahaina Music (best people in the world) and picked out a real uke. We then wore those things proudly all the way home. We've also named our uke band - The Beach Bums. Like The Beach Boys. But far lazier.

And now for a bunch more beachy photos because beach.