I still need to catch up on the vacation to California and I plan to do that really soon. But for now, here's a funny thing Will talked about on the way home from dinner tonight.
Will said, "When I am big and I can drive a car by myself can I go to DI? Buy some toys and then go home? And can I go to thrift town? Where else should I go?" He also talked about how he would drive Rowen around in his carseat, so when Will is 16, Rowen will still be in a carseat? So we were playing with our silly three year old's mind and told him that he could go find "chicks" (baby chickens) and pick them up and drive around with them. Then I said, and you can take them home, well, don't take them home, you can't take chicks home. Will said, "My daddy would say no bringing chicks home". Then he said, "I will pick up chicks and stomp on them until they are dead." I said, no you be nice to chicks, you kiss them. He then said, "I will kiss them and they will kiss me and then they will lick me and start biting me."
No joke. Just remember he is 3. He had no idea what he was saying but we were laughing so hard we were crying.
I am thankful for my silly 3 year old who can make me laugh. Who can also talk the entire way home for an hour. Really talk constantly for an hour. And who can scream, "I love you I love you I love you." I want to get upset for screaming in the car, but he's saying I love you, who can punish that? He is so sweet. And my silly baby who puts on his daddy's shoes and claps for himself! He is so sweet.
Amidst all of life's changes and challenges and disappointments, there is still plenty to be grateful for. With my new job, I get the duty or joy of seeing the sunrise in the morning, 5 days a week. Today I saw a herd of mountain goats, and I get to see stars, tons of stars, and breathe fresh mountain air (at 5 degrees). It's just beautiful. And I have wonderful friends and family. I could not get along without them. I am also thankful for space heaters.
Happy turkey day to you all!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Halloween
Thought everyone would like to see the Halloween costumes. I am proud to say they are homemade! My wonderful seamstress mother helped me with them, and I am really happy with the results. William's costume was a hit everywhere we went. He was so excited about it, he would bound into any room, run up to people (or into their houses while trick-or-treating) and say, "I'm Syndrome!" Which sounds like "synsssrome" when Will says it. And he talks so fast no one really knows what he's saying but us.
Rowen was Max from "Where the Wild Things Are". I was the monster who is also in that book. A lot of people thought Rowen was a rabbit, until they see the black tail, and then I have to explain. But a few people who are fans of the book got it right off the bat!
William, doing a Syndrome pose and eating a sucker! (The only treat he ate from trick or treating today! So far.)
A happy mama. With a costume that's really only half done. I need a black beard and a HUGE mouth with teeth, or as Will would say "owie teeth". I never did make the beard, but I did wear the makeup on Saturday to a Halloween party.
Our tails.
William got a new haircut tonight, I'll post pics of that soon. Actually Rowen had his first haircut the other day, inspired by the photo a couple of posts down from Home Depot. You'll see Rowen's hair getting really long above the ears. Ala Orthodox Jew. Don't know what it is, but genetically we must be Orthodox Jew, William had a similar hairstyle when he was this age. We just need to curl it and get black top hats for them.
And we are off to California tomorrow and there will be plenty of pics coming of that! Wish me luck on the 14 hour drive with two rambunctious boys who will be forced to sit in the car. What am I thinking? Oh yeah, redwoods, beaches, good friends, vacation, road trips....that's what I am thinking. But I do need some luck to survive the drive.
Rowen was Max from "Where the Wild Things Are". I was the monster who is also in that book. A lot of people thought Rowen was a rabbit, until they see the black tail, and then I have to explain. But a few people who are fans of the book got it right off the bat!
William, doing a Syndrome pose and eating a sucker! (The only treat he ate from trick or treating today! So far.)
A happy mama. With a costume that's really only half done. I need a black beard and a HUGE mouth with teeth, or as Will would say "owie teeth". I never did make the beard, but I did wear the makeup on Saturday to a Halloween party.
Our tails.
William got a new haircut tonight, I'll post pics of that soon. Actually Rowen had his first haircut the other day, inspired by the photo a couple of posts down from Home Depot. You'll see Rowen's hair getting really long above the ears. Ala Orthodox Jew. Don't know what it is, but genetically we must be Orthodox Jew, William had a similar hairstyle when he was this age. We just need to curl it and get black top hats for them.
And we are off to California tomorrow and there will be plenty of pics coming of that! Wish me luck on the 14 hour drive with two rambunctious boys who will be forced to sit in the car. What am I thinking? Oh yeah, redwoods, beaches, good friends, vacation, road trips....that's what I am thinking. But I do need some luck to survive the drive.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Family Travel
If anyone has a good tip for traveling a 14-ish hour drive with kids, let me know. But in my quest to find such information, I found this article. I will copy my favorite parts after the link. It really is what I should read about 5 times every day.
http://www.mothering.com/articles/growing_child/family-travel/pit-stops.html
If anything, being a mother has taught me pride has no place, plans are made to be broken, rules change constantly, dreams don’t always come true, and zippers in snowsuits seldom last longer than six weeks. It’s a profession of bewildering yet exhilarating proportions; qualifications are unnecessary, recognition is rare, and quitting time is nonexistent. The demands are colossal, but they are dwarfed by the rewards. Every day is an adventure. Every moment is precious. Every child is unique.
When my children are parents, I anticipate they’ll make the same miraculous discovery I did; mom’s mistakes weren’t as dreadful as imagined. I hope they'll be able to say that in our home hurts and adversity were soothed with the ointment of laughter, love and grace.
If my sons can take their places in this world as men of honor and distinction, then I will have done well indeed. It’s a responsibility and a privilege beyond mothering or fathering; it’s the living out and the passing on of all that is admirable, true, lovely, and good of the human spirit.
At times it’s a challenge I meet beautifully, but often I fail miserably. I believe, however, the road ahead will always abound with pit stops and pitfalls; it’s the way it’s traveled and the tracks we leave that count.
Well, there it is. I guess I am in a little introspective parenting mode these last two posts. Oh well, you'll either enjoy it, or you'll get over it. Either way it'll be okay. :)
http://www.mothering.com/articles/growing_child/family-travel/pit-stops.html
If anything, being a mother has taught me pride has no place, plans are made to be broken, rules change constantly, dreams don’t always come true, and zippers in snowsuits seldom last longer than six weeks. It’s a profession of bewildering yet exhilarating proportions; qualifications are unnecessary, recognition is rare, and quitting time is nonexistent. The demands are colossal, but they are dwarfed by the rewards. Every day is an adventure. Every moment is precious. Every child is unique.
When my children are parents, I anticipate they’ll make the same miraculous discovery I did; mom’s mistakes weren’t as dreadful as imagined. I hope they'll be able to say that in our home hurts and adversity were soothed with the ointment of laughter, love and grace.
If my sons can take their places in this world as men of honor and distinction, then I will have done well indeed. It’s a responsibility and a privilege beyond mothering or fathering; it’s the living out and the passing on of all that is admirable, true, lovely, and good of the human spirit.
At times it’s a challenge I meet beautifully, but often I fail miserably. I believe, however, the road ahead will always abound with pit stops and pitfalls; it’s the way it’s traveled and the tracks we leave that count.
Well, there it is. I guess I am in a little introspective parenting mode these last two posts. Oh well, you'll either enjoy it, or you'll get over it. Either way it'll be okay. :)
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Boys and tools
What is it with boys and tools? The kids LOVE Home Depot. They also love the carts they have there that are like a race car. This is one of the cutest pictures ever. Taken by Jason's iPhone. Gotta love it.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Today I learned...
That sometimes your screaming kid doesn't NEED you to hold them. But sometimes after they stop screaming, they do. And after that, they are "happy now, so it's okay." And when you cry, they kiss you better and tell you it will be okay. They don't dwell on emotions, they experience them, and then move on. I also learned that the best thing you can do for your kids is shut your mouth. We were playing at the park, where there is COLD, dirty water and mud, and two little boys. After a few, "no, don't walk in the water, just throw the rocks in," I shut my mouth and they had a great time, Rowen even walking in the water and sitting down in it. I learned that your child's laughter can heal any pain. I learned that little boys experience great joy in mud. The whole world can be fun, if you let it. Sometimes your camera doesn't turn on. Sometimes you just need to remember the moment, and not capture it with a camera. I remembered that being a mom is the best job in the whole world. It's the hardest most demanding and most amazing and joyful job in the whole world. If you aren't on the way to a wedding, let your kids get dirty. If a bath can fix it, it is probably a great activity to participate in.
I have a little quote book in my room, one of those calendars you turn for each day. One of the quotes was this:
A boy is...a noise with dirt on it.
I couldn't say it better. I love my boys.
I have a little quote book in my room, one of those calendars you turn for each day. One of the quotes was this:
A boy is...a noise with dirt on it.
I couldn't say it better. I love my boys.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Still sick...
Well, once the boys got better from the intestinal junk, they've had coughs, strep throat (me and Rowen) and now fevers and body aches (Jason too!) So, since Jason left August 13th, someone in our house has been sick. Only Rowen and I went to church once in the last month and a half! Yikes! It's like the intestinal bug they had has wrecked their immune systems and now it's just sickness after sickness after sickness. I have to admit though that all these other colds and bugs aren't as bad as the intestinal one, so we are doing "better".
Other than that, we went to Thanksgiving Point gardens the other day, it was really beautiful. Reminded me of some gardens we went to in Salzburg Austria a few years ago. They are actually the gardens that the Sound of Music kids run through while singing the Do Re Mi song (i think). Anyway, they were pretty. Jason made fun of my reaction when Will almost stepped on a snake. I honestly don't care if it's "just a garden snake". It's a snake and I HATE snakes! Will seems to attract them, like when we went camping when he was a baby and a snake got in our tent. Since we have no idea how long it was in there, we decided Will's indian name would be "naps with snakes". So beware if you take Will hiking or camping, you're bound to see one. (Not exactly, because I am happy to say we have had several outdoor outings with no slithery friends in sight, but it's funny to say anyway.)
The President of Utah Friends of Midwives resigned the other day, making me President. So..I'll keep you updated on doing non profit type work for a cause I believe in. January will be CRAZY!!!! We are really busy during the legislative session.
Can't think of much else going on here, still loving the new dishwasher (running at this very moment).
Other than that, we went to Thanksgiving Point gardens the other day, it was really beautiful. Reminded me of some gardens we went to in Salzburg Austria a few years ago. They are actually the gardens that the Sound of Music kids run through while singing the Do Re Mi song (i think). Anyway, they were pretty. Jason made fun of my reaction when Will almost stepped on a snake. I honestly don't care if it's "just a garden snake". It's a snake and I HATE snakes! Will seems to attract them, like when we went camping when he was a baby and a snake got in our tent. Since we have no idea how long it was in there, we decided Will's indian name would be "naps with snakes". So beware if you take Will hiking or camping, you're bound to see one. (Not exactly, because I am happy to say we have had several outdoor outings with no slithery friends in sight, but it's funny to say anyway.)
The President of Utah Friends of Midwives resigned the other day, making me President. So..I'll keep you updated on doing non profit type work for a cause I believe in. January will be CRAZY!!!! We are really busy during the legislative session.
Can't think of much else going on here, still loving the new dishwasher (running at this very moment).
Saturday, September 8, 2007
HOLY BLOGGING...time to catch up!
Well, as far as being sick, the kids got better, and I got sick. So we've had about 2 days with no one sick in the house since Jason left to film this movie. He gets home tomorrow and I am not quite better yet. But it is so nice to have everyone keeping their food down. :)
Of all the cute things Rowen does, this has to be one of the top. If he isn't sure if he should touch something, he reaches his little hand out and then pulls it back and puts it on his tummy or chest, then reaches it out, and pulls it back, over and over, he's testing it out. It's so cute. Well, since he knows the doggie's water is a no-no, he has his cute hand on his tummy, and once he decides to go for it, he splashes and gets soaked, and then just to see what it's like, he sticks his cute chubby little foot right in it. Silly little monkey. (Excuse the photos being out of focus, my camera has been a little weird.)
We have kept ourselves busy going to Hanksville to visit Jase. I told my mother that no one should ever be required to spend more than an hour there. I mean it. You could sentence someone to jail, and make them stay in Hanksville, no cell required. So, although we were sick, we made the trek to Hanks-hell twice. The first time the kids were still sick, and a week later, Jason and I both got sick. Then two other guys on the camera crew got it. (Sorry guys.) But it was worth it, William especially missed his daddy. This trip seemed to be extra hard on Will. He has definitely shown some anxiety about missing dad. He's had a much harder time going to bed, and it has shown itself in other ways too. So it was extra important to visit as much as possible, and it has been nice for everyone. The first weekend we went down, we drove to Torrey and then to Boulder (a beautiful drive, if any of you haven't been there, you should do this drive) and saw some Anasazi ruins at Anasazi State Park in Boulder. Then we drove around Capitol Reef and picked some fruit from the orchards there, had homemade ice cream and apple pie (made from the fruit from the orchards), and drove around some more. It was raining almost the whole weekend. We also left the camera at the hotel that entire time. So we had to go down again the next weekend.
The second trip down to Hanks-hell was fun as well. We went into Torrey again, by the way, Torrey is a cute little town and everyone should be required to spend more than an hour there. We ate pizza at a little place that was very cute and had horseshoes and frisbee golf to play with while you wait. It also had a really old rusty paver machine like Bessie from cars movie, William was VERY excited. (More rusty old cars movie characters coming later.) The pizza was good too. So, then we stopped and looked at some petroglyphs in Capitol Reef.
We took this picture on the way into Capitol Reef from Hanksville. It was raining a little, and it looked like snow was on these buttes. We don't think it was actually cold enough to snow, but that is really what it looked like. And it's a beautiful picture anyway.
You can see some of the petroglyphs toward the right side. Just to the left of that you can see some more "fresh" rock. Actually there were petroglyphs all along this cliff and the ones to the left were destroyed during a rock fall in the 1950's. I really really like seeing petroglyphs, it almost makes me giddy. I think I should have been an anthropologist. Actually I told my dad I wanted to be one a long time ago, and he told me that there was almost nothing I could do with a degree in Anthropology and I changed my mind. Thanks Dad. But still, I LOVE this stuff.
The decks where you go to see the petroglyphs are walled in on either side, so the kiddos can't fall off and can't escape except for the entrance. It was a great place for Rowen to crawl around and explore. He loved it there.
Okay, so I lied. There is one good thing about Hanksville. That is if you are a three year old boy. There is a rusty old broken down tow truck. Or as we affectionately call it, "Mater". William was so excited to see it. Now, I do have to tell you that there is a house on cinderblocks directly behind this. Not a car on cinderblocks, a house. Now that is white trash. Really now that I think of it, there are two other cool things about Hanksville, well okay three more. This is all if you are a little boy. 1. The toad that lives outside Jason's hotel room door. 2. The city park has back-hoe digger things. 3. There is a little rock shop/dinosaur bone shop, and the guy actually has reassembled a few dinosaur femurs in his shed in the back. No joke. There are three dinosaur femurs in the shed out back, he hasn't sold them to museums and made tons of money, they are just in the shed. It was really cool. They were from the Apatosaurus, or the former Brontosaurus.
Since William has mastered the use of my cell phone, the DVD player, and the computer, he has moved on to the digital camera. He snatches it up any chance he gets, and takes many pictures. Then, when I am ready to download my pictures, I get a TON of random ones like these. For example, today I was loading the pictures into the computer and there were a hundred pics, at least 30 of them were from Will. Some were even of his underpants, don't ask, I am not sure what he was doing. But he is a 3 year old boy. I will save you from putting those on my blog though, and go with some of the safer ones.
On monday morning, we went to Goblin Valley. This was Labor Day and there were only 3 other cars in the parking lot. It was early like 9 a.m. but not THAT early. It was nice and cool though and we had a good time. Will was a little scared at first climbing around with Daddy...
But then he let Daddy swing him really high, just as long as he didn't let go and launch him off a gobln.
Then we had a great game of hide-and-seek.
Some of these pics turned out really nice. We have been to Goblin Valley twice this year, and Will has been there 3 times already and he is only 3. I think we need to start camping in a new spot. Although it is such a fun place to take kids.
This one reminds me of a Thailand temple or something.
William got tired quickly and we headed back to the car before it got too hot. Also, we were trying to make it back to Hanksville without either boy falling asleep in the car so we could all take a nap at the hotel. Jason has been working so hard, working all night long and sleeping during the day, he was and still is exhausted and needed the nap too.
Well, it worked and we all had a long nap. Then we did Jason's laundry at the laundromat, saw the dinosaur femurs, ate some tasty cinnamon rolls at the Luna Mesa Cafe in Caineville, (a hippy organic farm, but cute and with TASTY cinnamon rolls), and headed home around dinner time, right as Jason was leaving to go film all night long. We drove home the Torrey way, a little longer, but much more scenic. It was a fun trip.
Now we are home, and the only interesting thing to report is that we got a new dishwasher! It is white, and looks way better in the kitchen than the old black one did. And it actually washes dishes, a miracle, I know. It really works well! I am so excited and might actually DO the dishes in a more timely manner now. I understand why the dishwasher was invented now. It does make life a little easier. The old one worked like this: wash dishes by hand, don't really rinse them, just half way rinse them, load into dishwasher, so they can be washed again and rinsed. The new one works like this: rinse chunks of food off dishes (if you want to) and load, and turn on, and voila, the dishes are DONE! No soap residue either! I am a happy woman!
Of all the cute things Rowen does, this has to be one of the top. If he isn't sure if he should touch something, he reaches his little hand out and then pulls it back and puts it on his tummy or chest, then reaches it out, and pulls it back, over and over, he's testing it out. It's so cute. Well, since he knows the doggie's water is a no-no, he has his cute hand on his tummy, and once he decides to go for it, he splashes and gets soaked, and then just to see what it's like, he sticks his cute chubby little foot right in it. Silly little monkey. (Excuse the photos being out of focus, my camera has been a little weird.)
We have kept ourselves busy going to Hanksville to visit Jase. I told my mother that no one should ever be required to spend more than an hour there. I mean it. You could sentence someone to jail, and make them stay in Hanksville, no cell required. So, although we were sick, we made the trek to Hanks-hell twice. The first time the kids were still sick, and a week later, Jason and I both got sick. Then two other guys on the camera crew got it. (Sorry guys.) But it was worth it, William especially missed his daddy. This trip seemed to be extra hard on Will. He has definitely shown some anxiety about missing dad. He's had a much harder time going to bed, and it has shown itself in other ways too. So it was extra important to visit as much as possible, and it has been nice for everyone. The first weekend we went down, we drove to Torrey and then to Boulder (a beautiful drive, if any of you haven't been there, you should do this drive) and saw some Anasazi ruins at Anasazi State Park in Boulder. Then we drove around Capitol Reef and picked some fruit from the orchards there, had homemade ice cream and apple pie (made from the fruit from the orchards), and drove around some more. It was raining almost the whole weekend. We also left the camera at the hotel that entire time. So we had to go down again the next weekend.
The second trip down to Hanks-hell was fun as well. We went into Torrey again, by the way, Torrey is a cute little town and everyone should be required to spend more than an hour there. We ate pizza at a little place that was very cute and had horseshoes and frisbee golf to play with while you wait. It also had a really old rusty paver machine like Bessie from cars movie, William was VERY excited. (More rusty old cars movie characters coming later.) The pizza was good too. So, then we stopped and looked at some petroglyphs in Capitol Reef.
We took this picture on the way into Capitol Reef from Hanksville. It was raining a little, and it looked like snow was on these buttes. We don't think it was actually cold enough to snow, but that is really what it looked like. And it's a beautiful picture anyway.
You can see some of the petroglyphs toward the right side. Just to the left of that you can see some more "fresh" rock. Actually there were petroglyphs all along this cliff and the ones to the left were destroyed during a rock fall in the 1950's. I really really like seeing petroglyphs, it almost makes me giddy. I think I should have been an anthropologist. Actually I told my dad I wanted to be one a long time ago, and he told me that there was almost nothing I could do with a degree in Anthropology and I changed my mind. Thanks Dad. But still, I LOVE this stuff.
The decks where you go to see the petroglyphs are walled in on either side, so the kiddos can't fall off and can't escape except for the entrance. It was a great place for Rowen to crawl around and explore. He loved it there.
Okay, so I lied. There is one good thing about Hanksville. That is if you are a three year old boy. There is a rusty old broken down tow truck. Or as we affectionately call it, "Mater". William was so excited to see it. Now, I do have to tell you that there is a house on cinderblocks directly behind this. Not a car on cinderblocks, a house. Now that is white trash. Really now that I think of it, there are two other cool things about Hanksville, well okay three more. This is all if you are a little boy. 1. The toad that lives outside Jason's hotel room door. 2. The city park has back-hoe digger things. 3. There is a little rock shop/dinosaur bone shop, and the guy actually has reassembled a few dinosaur femurs in his shed in the back. No joke. There are three dinosaur femurs in the shed out back, he hasn't sold them to museums and made tons of money, they are just in the shed. It was really cool. They were from the Apatosaurus, or the former Brontosaurus.
Since William has mastered the use of my cell phone, the DVD player, and the computer, he has moved on to the digital camera. He snatches it up any chance he gets, and takes many pictures. Then, when I am ready to download my pictures, I get a TON of random ones like these. For example, today I was loading the pictures into the computer and there were a hundred pics, at least 30 of them were from Will. Some were even of his underpants, don't ask, I am not sure what he was doing. But he is a 3 year old boy. I will save you from putting those on my blog though, and go with some of the safer ones.
On monday morning, we went to Goblin Valley. This was Labor Day and there were only 3 other cars in the parking lot. It was early like 9 a.m. but not THAT early. It was nice and cool though and we had a good time. Will was a little scared at first climbing around with Daddy...
But then he let Daddy swing him really high, just as long as he didn't let go and launch him off a gobln.
Then we had a great game of hide-and-seek.
Some of these pics turned out really nice. We have been to Goblin Valley twice this year, and Will has been there 3 times already and he is only 3. I think we need to start camping in a new spot. Although it is such a fun place to take kids.
This one reminds me of a Thailand temple or something.
William got tired quickly and we headed back to the car before it got too hot. Also, we were trying to make it back to Hanksville without either boy falling asleep in the car so we could all take a nap at the hotel. Jason has been working so hard, working all night long and sleeping during the day, he was and still is exhausted and needed the nap too.
Well, it worked and we all had a long nap. Then we did Jason's laundry at the laundromat, saw the dinosaur femurs, ate some tasty cinnamon rolls at the Luna Mesa Cafe in Caineville, (a hippy organic farm, but cute and with TASTY cinnamon rolls), and headed home around dinner time, right as Jason was leaving to go film all night long. We drove home the Torrey way, a little longer, but much more scenic. It was a fun trip.
Now we are home, and the only interesting thing to report is that we got a new dishwasher! It is white, and looks way better in the kitchen than the old black one did. And it actually washes dishes, a miracle, I know. It really works well! I am so excited and might actually DO the dishes in a more timely manner now. I understand why the dishwasher was invented now. It does make life a little easier. The old one worked like this: wash dishes by hand, don't really rinse them, just half way rinse them, load into dishwasher, so they can be washed again and rinsed. The new one works like this: rinse chunks of food off dishes (if you want to) and load, and turn on, and voila, the dishes are DONE! No soap residue either! I am a happy woman!
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