Nine Years

We celebrated our anniversary last weekend and went up to Park City. I admit I wanted diamonds but only got squares.  We went skiing at the canyons(not recommended, ever) because we had free passes. We arrived pretty late, ate lunch, then spent the remainder of the day skiing down the only two runs they had open.  I really enjoyed just getting away and having fun with Wes. After that we went to Grub Steak, soo good food, soo good entertainment.  

We picked the kids up the next day, (thanks jim and julie for watching the kiddos) and then headed to a christmas party at my Moms.  We also got to see the lights this weekend at Temple Square which the kids loved. We bundled them up in all their snow gear till they had a hard time walking.  Morgan loved the "space room" where the Christus stands, Carson enjoyed getting to walk around the temple and Malia just stared in awe at the lights, making soft little noises every once in a while.  It was definitely worth taking them.  I wish I had taken my camera, but got some pics on my phone-I will try to post those soon.

Malia is about 9 1/2 months now and is a fast little crawler. She loves crawling up the stairs and loves to get right in with whatever Morgan and Carson are playing. She and Morgan have such a sweet little bond.  I took Malia in for her well check and they had to prick her heal for a routine hemoglobin check. She cried and cried.  After calming her down a bit I looked over at Morgan who had his head buried in his coat.  He was quietly sobbing along with little Malia.   He looked up and simply said. "when she hurts, I hurt."  He has such a tender little heart. He treats her so sweetly, making sure she doesn't put anything in her mouth, telling her what a pretty little baby she is and he even makes a little heart shape with his hands to her when he leaves.  She in turn, loves to laugh at him and give him kisses.

 He noticed all her little bows and flowers and wanted to put them in her hair. All of them. So we did! then we put her in a pot.

It was also fun to see her stare in bewilderment at the lights we put up, so we let her examine them a little more closely.  For now, our tree is decorated, with all the ornaments on the top half of the tree.

Giving Thanks

I believe it's by no accident that Thanksgiving precedes Christmas. As if it were a preperatory holiday, filling my heart with gratitude for the many blessings that I have been given as we roll into the holidays.

I admit that Thanksgiving does bring some anxiety. Maybe it's just the fact that a good portion of  my Thanksgiving dinners were spent away from home at soccer tournaments in Las Vegas. Many a turkey dinner came from the buffet table at Excalibur where I was aptly entertained by the sound of slot machines the smell of cigarettes and waiters calling me honey.  Even though I was with some good friends, it made me realize how much I valued this holiday with my family.  Even more so, it made me realize that Thanksgiving more or less became a feeling in my heart, regardless of where I was or who I celebrated with.  

And I am thankful for that.

Around this time there also seems to come a better appreciation for religion in my life.  Of all things, this is one thing I am very grateful to have a knowledge of.  Without it, I would feel that accomplishment would have little value, morals would be a waste of time and hope would not exist.  I can't imagine a life in which the love and care of God was unknown to me, or had no real direction in which to steer my children and no incentive to progress spiritually.  It is the source of all my peace, love and confidence that there is great order and direction beyond this seemingly chaotic world.  Knowing this, and that all will be well in the end brings happiness to my soul. 

And I am most thankful for that.

 

(PICTURES: Thanksgiving Day and the annual family bare butsman 5k race.  Morgan was sooo excited for his first bike race and did the whole race on his bike.  Wes pushed carson and Malia in the stroller and I just tried to keep up. It was a very nice day.)

blahg

So is it better to have a private blog or a public one? 

just another fine day at the spa.

Today went something like this. First, a new hair-do.I awoke to my fantastic three year old twisting my hair in knots, it is a habit and he does it while he's half awake, sneaking in my bed as not to wake me...needless to say I had 3 good knots to untangle. Next, the milk bath.  I was holding Malia above my head. need I say more.Following that, Morgan and Carson proceeded to play doctor, I, the patient. "At least I can lay down for a few minutes," I thought.  Morgan took the blood pressure toy and said he needed to do CTR on me.  So he took out his toy chainsaw and proceeded to cut my leg off.  Luckily he had to rush to the potty and left Carson in charge.  He yelled from the potty, "Carson!  I need you to giver her the electric shock while I'm gone!" So Carson did, and I pretended to cry out in pain.  Morgan came back and said, "did you give her the shock?"  Carson said,  "yes but it hurt."  Morgan said, "well you forgot to put it on the no pain level!" Then they were nice enough to give me a back massage.  This is where they walk up and down on my back (which actually feels pretty good). Then Morgan made lunch while I was nursing and was so proud of his PB and honey sandwich.  (Which also showed up on 18 different spots on the kitchen floor.) He had also managed to make chocolate milk using chocolate syrup and pouring it into the gallon of milk. Also, being the kind brother he is, poured a whole bowl of the syrup for Carson who, of course, had it all over his face.  How else do you eat chocolate syrup from a bowl? I even got to stay in my jammies the whole day. We are all getting over sickness. again. It is so physically draining esp. when I am lucky enough to get whatever bug they caught at school last week- which I did-But more so it is emotional draining- wondering if they are ok, and how I am going to get three kids to the doctor this week, and realizing getting myself to the doc isn't happening in the near future.  I am just glad the worst I felt was on Sunday, when Wes was home to help.  Otherwise it's enough just trying to keep my head out of the water for another day, (and I'm hoping that day brings us all feeling better.)

Here came Halloween

Morgan has wanted to be Jack Skellington all year, ever since he saw Nightmare before Christmas at Abbie's house.  Carson was set on being a bat, not batman, a bat.  Grandma Julie made his costume and he wore it almost every day.  Morgan insisted I be Sally and so I was.  Malia was a strawberry and Daddy was the farmer who picked her.   Here is Halloween.

family pictures

I think the only thing harder than family home evening is family pictures.  Trying to get everyone dressed and maintaining some sort of composer for a decent picture is near impossible.  Then the pictures come out with our family looking calm and collected as if to say this is how we are all the time, happy and well groomed!   Yes that is the irony of it all.   It is nonetheless, still a treasure to me, a captured moment of family togetherness.

This picture was actually not part of the 'shoot.'  Our photographer led us to a friends backyard to do all the picture taking.  When we got there I realized it was Leconte Stewart's old home!  This is the entrance to his studio, he was a famous kaysville artist whom I admire and I thought it was pretty neat and wanted our picture in front of it (even though "the lighting wasn't good").  She took the picture anyway and it turned out to be one I liked. (She called it the tourist shot). The 'real' pictures will come later.

Carson and his broccoli

Carson loves broccoli, he planted it in the spring and when it was ready to pick in the fall he ate it like an ice cream cone.

so sick

Little Carson came down with such a sickness.  His fever ran up to just under 104 Friday night when Wes was gone hiking the narrows.  It was 1:00 am when I wished I had the calm collective reassurance that Wes and the optional blessing can bring. Thankfully, Carson was able to sleep and his fever didn't get any higher.  Unless the fever gets to 104 and keeps them awake i don't like to use fever reducers and mess with the bodies natural defense against infection.  So it was a relief to see it falling on it's own.  Anyway, I decided to take him into the doctor the next day but there were a lot of people there with masks on getting flu shots and what not, and I just decided to turn around and go back home. There seems to be such an overload of hype on the H1N1 flu and the vaccine.  Is it really necessary for healthier individuals? Yeah, I can see the point for people with compromised immune systems like diabetics, obese persons, some babies etc, and they Should get it! ).  But how is the body supposed to create antibodies and immunities if we constantly bombard it with temporary vaccinations?  There are some people who are actually immune to this influenza because they have had it before, and gotten through it just fine.  The vaccines should be saved for those who really need it and can get it when they need it.

Is this one of those things that is okay to do because everyone else is doing it? That doctors and chemists are pushing because of the money they make from it?

 To me it seems like society has embraced the path of least resistance and instant gratification to a such point that when we begin to experience any pain we must have instant relief.  Don't we gain strength (in more ways than one), by going through some pain?  Have we lost trust in our bodies and spirits ability to heal without being completely reliant on western medicine?(Keeping in mind there are exceptions of course, and I mean more severe situations where death is a very probable outcome)

I'm not saying I think all vaccinations are bad--some are given for good reasons.  I just don't like the pressure of conforming to the status quo when I feel it really isn't necessary (or right).

So who knows, my kids may already be sick with the swine virus, and I pray daily for insight as to how to best deal with what illness may come our way.  If the sickness get worse, I plan on calling the doc and getting some antibiotics.  I hope anyone who gets this illness gets through it without alot of complications.

Recap: Weekend in PC, rode bikes all around, enjoyed Conference, and the Soccer game Real vs. Byu, (fun game, Real was faster, stronger and harrier than Byu, no surprise there!) Morgan can't wait till Halloween and  I can't wait to get over walking pneumonia. maybe I should just lie in bed all day.  oh that's a good one.

Yay for fall, and Wes and Morgan

I love love fall.  The evenings bring  an ever so slight breeze that seem to wake up my senses to beautiful new changes.  There's such an amazing orchestra of color, sounds, feelings and freshness.  For me it's a feeling of completion, a harvest, an anticipation of get-togethers,  and snowy days on the slopes.   It is like the golden hour of a day, the last glow of light most enjoyed and savored before the sun takes its rest.  Fall rejuvinates my whole being. I love love fall.

 Both boys are in preschool now, Morgan on second year.  Both are enjoying their new 'independent lifestyles.'  I have thought alot about charter schools, so if anyone has any input about those I would greatly appreciate it.

Wes did the mountain xterra triathlon, although he was not excited about it, having done little training and falling sick the day of the race.  This season had been shot for both of us, Wes started the summer out by stepping on a nail, and I had the fortune of a stone vase falling on my foot while I was wiping little Carson's bum and didn't see it fall. (I know, random, the tiny bones took months to heal.)    

The best part of the race was when Morgan, (who had gotton up at the crack of dawn to get his running clothes on) ran alongside Wes on the run.  It was such a neat moment, Wes slowed down just enough so Morgan could keep up before it got too steep for little legs to continue.  Even the runners behind him slowed a bit instead of passing.   One lady came up to me and said, "seeing him run with his father made my entire day, that is what this is all about!"  I thought about the truth of that short statement, how the finish line and the focus of getting ahead can sometimes deter from that which brings most beloved joy.  My children have taught me so much in the way of simple happiness: enjoy the little things, play together often, and believe we are superheroes.

Wes has his triathlons and I have mine.  From Morgan to Carson to Malia, changing, feeding, cleaning, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

The other day at the state fair, there was a baby alligator.  Since these are one of Carson's favorites, I thought he'd want to hold it.  Surprisingly he said, "No way!   He'll slap me and pee on me."  I couldn't stop thinking of a baby alligator slapping carson across the face in fast motion like on the little rascals. Next year Morgan wants to enter his corn in the state fair and Carson wants to enter his plastic sting ray.

Malia's first word.

Let it be written that Malia said her very first word today!

Dadda. 

I have no further comments. :)

I am Iron man and Five years Old

In case you didn't know, Morgan is Iron Man.  He has a little mole positioned directly in the middle of his chest, where he says his 'light' will be one day. He has determined that in order to make his suit, he is going to need metal, really hot fire, and careful hands.   So for his birthday he really wanted to make his iron man suit.  So with a few cardboard boxes, red spray paint, neon glow circles, and some beads, we were in business.    

After  completing their suits, the kids tested them out by knocking down huge walls, and throwing water balloon bombs at the chalk monsters drawn on the side of the garage.   We did "Pin the spark on Stark" and a pinata.   Pizza and a well designed cake followed, thanks gramma juwie for even putting a real light in his chest!  Iron Man even showed up.  Cousin gabe thrilled him by showing up in his Iron Man costume.

I enjoy throwing fun little parties for the kiddos, if not just to watch them run into each other wearing funny little boxes.

Now that he's five, Morgan is such a sweetie. He didn't ever have the terrible twos, it was more like terrible fours.  (and that wasn't even that bad) He also learned to ride his bike just before turning five as well.  He is a little straight arrow and Malia's favorite.  He is positive and sensitive.  When he's not having a good day he'll say, "All I have to do is look at that little Luci Malia and I am happy again!"   

He is an example to me in such a simple, beautiful way. The other day he said, "My heart hurts because I told a lie today."

Like Iron man he indeed has a light inside him, yet his glow can permeate even the darkest of days.

Malia is 6 months!

Malia turns 6 months today and is the sunshine of our lives! 

Here a a few of my favorites pics.  I still haven't 

managed to get some decent professional pictures of her though.  Morgan has come up with a few more names for her.  Some include: little statue of liberty, tasty little pina colada baby, and combining the words delicious with Malia forming Malicious.  

Her laughter is my favorite, hearing a belly laugh out of an infant cures all ailments!

Faith of a corn seed.

Sometime after planting a garden Morgan  got the idea of taking Orville Redenbacher kernals out of the cabinet and planting them in the front yard.  I told him it wasn't too likely that they will grow but he planted them anyway.  Sure enough, a few weeks later, little corn stalks began to grow.  I said, "Wow Morgan, how did that happen?"  He said, "I prayed for them to grow."  Once again I was put in my place by one who's faith comes before logic.  He knows anything is possible. The other day he was trying to squeeze through the fence, and I said it's too small.  His reply?  "I can do it, I have faith!"  Sure enough, a few minutes later he was free.  

Oh me of little faith!

lovely day at the spa.

yes, and I am lucky to say this is a typical day for me.

First, a new hair-do.

I awoke to my fantastic three year old twisting my hair in knots, it is a habit and he does it while he's half awake, sneaking in my bed as not to wake me...needless to say I had 3 good knots to untangle.

Next, the milk bath.  I was holding Malia above my head. need I say more.

Following that, Morgan and Carson proceeded to play doctor, I, the patient. "At least I can lay down for a few minutes," I thought.  Morgan took the blood pressure toy and said he needed to do CTR on me.  So he took out his toy chainsaw and proceeded to cut my leg off.  Luckily he had to rush to the potty and left Carson in charge.  He yelled from the potty, "Carson!  I need you to giver her the electric shock while I'm gone!" So Carson did, and I pretended to cry out in pain.  Morgan came back and said, "did you give her the shock?"  Carson said,  "yes but it hurt."  Morgan said, "well you forgot to put it on the no pain level!"

Then they were nice enough to give me a back massage.  This is where they walk up and down on my back. 

Then Morgan made lunch while I was nursing and was so proud of his PB and honey sandwich.  (Which also showed up on 18 different spots on the kitchen floor.) He had also managed to make chocolate milk using chocolate syrup and pouring it into the gallon of milk. Also, being the kind brother he is, poured a whole bowl of the syrup for Carson who, of course, had it all over his face.  How else do you eat chocolate syrup from a bowl? 

I even got to stay in my jammies the whole day.

How JULY rolled.