just trying to remember...: June 2010

30 June 2010

One Year.

Wow. I can hardly believe it's been a year.

June of 2009 was a month full of the unknown. Heartache, tears, peace, excitement, fear, faith, etc. We had no idea what life after June 30, 2009 would hold.

Look at us now. One year later and Boston seems a foggy memory. I'm so glad I kept the blogging journal I did and continue to appreciate the kindness and love shown to us throughout our weeks at Children's Hospital Boston. Those weeks remain some of the most important of our lives and of our little Brigham's.

25 June 2010

I'm 31 Today

And I think that's pretty cool.

I've very much enjoyed getting older and the 30s have been very good to me so far. I have felt more confident and stylish in my 30s. I love the phase of life I'm in with my children. I love the relationship I have with Stanton. In short, I really love life in my 30s. I wonder if I'll look back on these as the best years of my life? I suspect it just keeps getting better.

31 things I've learned about myself and the world so far:

1 Life is pretty much what I make of it.
2. I am loved.
3. God is real and really answers prayers.
4. Ice cream is worth every single calorie.
5. Cake isn't.
6. There's nothing funnier than a 3 year old.
7. Life is happier when I lower my expectations.
8. Family is everything.
9. My mom and dad were right about pretty much everything.
10. But it's still okay to disagree with them on a few things.
11. Skirts are a fabulous alternative to jeans and shorts.
12. Short hair works for me.
13. There's nothing quite like a good book.
14. Vacations are important.
15. Children are a blessing.
16. When I'm helping I'm happy.
17. To be trusted is better than to be loved.
18. Actions speak louder than words.
19. Making time for the things I love makes me more willing to love others.
20. Showering and getting ready every day makes a world of difference.
21. God is interested in the details of my life.
22. The laundry will never be conquered.
23. Communication is the secret to a happy marriage.
24. My kids still love me and know that I love them even when I yell at them.
25. It's better not to yell, though.
26. There are really good people to meet everywhere in the world.
27. Things that are worthwhile are often hard.
28. It's only a bargain if I would have purchased it at full price.
29. Miracles happen.
30. Friends are important.
31. Jesus loves me.

Family History Friday -- College Edition

Did you attend college? Where?
Yep, I attended Ricks College in Rexburg, ID (majoring in Communication) and Columbus State Community College in Columbus, OH (majoring in Nutrition).

Now I will ask myself another question:
Did you graduate?
NO.

Not from either college?
Nope.
Seriously?
Yep.
How do you feel about that?
Well, pretty loser-y, I suppose. But guess what? I did a lot of other great things instead. I took care of my nephew for the first 9 months of his life (he's almost 12 now, so yeah.....crazy), I worked in Salt Lake City (loved living there so very much) and actually supported myself, and I served a mission in Ohio (where I met some of the finest people I'll ever know). AND, leaving Ricks allowed me an escape from one of the darker periods of my life. So, even though I really wish I had finished college and had a marketable skill I could offer the world, life just didn't work that way for me. I can't say if I hadn't made some better decisions at the outset that I could have still had all the great experiences mentioned above AND a college degree, but somehow Heavenly Father allowed me to have those life enriching experiences in spite of my own lack of discipline. I'm really grateful for each of those opportunities.
I used to think that once my kids were all in school, I'd go back and finish college, but I have had a few personal experiences that have led me to the realization that the college ship has sailed for me. And I'm at peace with that. I know that for my children, it's going to be much more important for me to always be available to them at a moment's notice. I'm grateful Stanton and I are in a position where that's a possibility, even if the worst were to happen. Heavenly Father certainly had a hand in that and I'm so grateful for it.

What profession(s) did you pursue?
Being a mother, of course. And guess what? The things I did study in college have come in very handy in that profession.

Why did you choose those?
I chose communication and nutrition because they are two things I love. I still love them as much as I did then.

And finally, a word to my daughters: Don't follow in your mother's footsteps, please. Seriously. Become a dental hygienist or a pharmacist, okay? You won't regret it.

21 June 2010

Various Items

Just a little this and that to remember:

We tended Porter & Kamryn, my little twin nephew and niece, on Saturday. It was delightful. They are just barely 2, so a couple of months older than Cannon. He really enjoyed their company and since being with them, now refuses to drink out of any cup with a lid. He's doing a great job with it and well, it's nice to not wash as many sippy cups lately.

This week is a busy one. We go straight from swim lessons in the morning to summer camp at preschool (the kids will be 10 minutes late with travel between the 2). Then we have piano lessons and practice on top of that, as well as a weekend trip south for a family get together. The next week is equally busy with swim lessons and a family reunion in Idaho on the agenda. This summer is absolutely flying by and I don't know whether to laugh or cry. It's the first summer of my motherhood life that has seemed to go by quickly. I'm definitely recognizing a shift to a new phase of life. I think if I had the option of bottling my kids at a certain age or phase, this would be the one I chose. At least right now. I may change my mind when they move to yet another phase. We're definitely loving life right now.

At this particular moment, Cannon is napping and Chloe, Lily, and Brigham are laying under the trampoline with a blanket, water bottles, and a basket of books. Summertime....and the livin' is easy....

Last night at 2 am, I woke up from a terrible dream. Our home had been broken into. The thieves thought we were away, but we were just downstairs. It ended rather humorously, as I ran upstairs and told the man to get out of my house. He made it out with just 2 apples. I saw that he wasn't alone in my backyard and I yelled to the others "You drop those apples NOW." They did and ran away. I was able to take the apples to the police where they lifted fingerprints from them and caught the bad guys. In spite of the happy ending in my dream, I couldn't get back to sleep. I had a gnawing feeling that we needed to lock all the windows. Stanton, who has a very difficult time getting back to sleep if he's woken in the night, was so kind about my neurosis and got up with me. We checked all the windows and discovered a few that were unlocked. I was able to drift back to sleep pretty quickly after I knew everything was secure. Stanton said he didn't have much trouble, either.

Finally, a funny conversation that I keep replaying in my mind. Yesterday Chloe asked me to come talk to her while she used the bathroom. She was asking pointed questions about the difference between girls and boys. We have a policy in our house that we use the real words for body parts and explain them as appropriately as age allows. So, Chloe and I had a conversation about the different parts that girls have compared to boys and how that's something that makes us different. After the conversation ended (with the reminder that we should only talk to Mom and Dad about things like that, not our friends, etc.), Chloe had just one more question:
"Now, can you tell me again, We have a what from China?"
I literally laugh out loud every time I replay those words. May she remain ever so innocent.

17 June 2010

Conversations

Brigham: Mom, I'm an awsted.
Me: A what?
Brigham: An awsted.
Me: An "awsted?"
Brigham: Yeah.
Me: What's an "awsted?"
Brigham: It means I'm weawwy tiyed.
Me: Oh! You're "exhausted?!"
Brigham: Yeah!!!

Lily while listening to the Let It Be album (the funny Dig It interlude between I Me Mine and Let it Be where John is talking in a funny voice and saying the FBI, the CIA, and the BBC, etc.):
the BBC, and the PBJ

Okay, I'm afraid that one got lost in translation..but it was a great moment of Beatles humor for me.

Lily: Mom, next time we go to McDonald's...now screw this into your mind...I really want a hamburger.
She is actually a frequent user of the "screw this into your mind" phrase...

Chloe wrote Stanton and I each a note a couple of weeks ago.

"Chloe dad
Dear dad
thank you
for beeing
nise this
weekc Chloe"

"Mom
Dear mom
I love you
thank you
for cleening
Chloe"

We have had to lock Brigham's door a few times because he gets out of bed and goes into the girls' room at night. He had an epiphany the other night. Brigham: But Mowmmy, how wiw I get out in the moyning?

We've been having troubles with our toilet overflowing lately (that's what happens when you have 3 TP happy kids, right?). Brigham: When we flush the toiyet and it overfwows, is that the toiyet fwowing up?

I've been doing a little summer school with the kids. Brigham was "working" on a worksheet where he was supposed to circle the picture that was different. The differences were pretty subtle, but within his range of capability. He immediately just scribbled on one of the pictures, which was met with exasperation from me...
Me: Brigham! You're not supposed to just scribble. Tell me which one is different.
Brigham pointng to the one he scribbled, which was not the different one: This one.
Me: Why would that one be different?
Brigham: Because I colored it blue.
What could I say except, You're right?!

Sometimes They Catch a Glimpse...

I had a Relief Society meeting last night (which was so inspiring, by the way). Stanton was home with the kids and had put them to bed. After they were all in bed, he went out to the chicken coop to see how things were going out there. He spent about 15-20 minutes out there and when he started to come inside, he heard wails and crying. Upon coming into the house, he found all four kids together upstairs. Chloe and Lily were sobbing, Brigham was crying because they were crying, and Cannon was playing with toys.

Stanton went to them and hugged them and asked what was wrong. Chloe, through her sobs, said, "We thought you and Mom had left us and I was so worried because I thought I was going to have to be in charge. (sob, sob, sob) And I thought I was even going to have to take care of the chickens."

It turns out that Brigham had come into their room (a bad habit he's been practicing lately) and when they came upstairs to tell us, they couldn't find either of us and got really worried. Brigham got Cannon out of his crib because they just all needed to be together at a time like that, apparently. Stanton, of course, assured them that we'd never, ever leave them alone without either us or a babysitter. He said Chloe really looked so relieved that she wasn't going to have to be in charge of all those kids by herself.

As sad/humorous as it was, I have to admit, it's good for them to feel the weight of responsibility (every so often) that Stanton and I carry each and every day.

And are you having visions of The Boxcar Children? I know am.

16 June 2010

Instead of Actually Updating....

I played with Blogger's new layout helper. It's fantastic!

So...whaddya think?

05 June 2010

Cute Skiing Pictures

This is how far behind I am on the blog. SKI season, people.

Anyway, on the last Saturday of the season, we took the girls up for the Snoopy Carnival. They do a 3 hour lesson with lunch and games and prizes, etc. The girls loved it and I loved getting a one on one lesson from Stanton. I made some huge improvements in those 3 hours. I wonder how easy it will be for me to pick back up next year.

Anyway, a few lift pics from the day.

Again with the cross-eyes. I stand by its being funny, though.

Lily's doing it, too! Oh, wait, that's still Chloe.

Stanton with the girls. I rode single behind them. We can all get off the lift without falling now. Stanton is pretty proud of us.

Walking

We took our kids on a walk on the one nice Sunday in this cold Cache Valley Spring. They were cute.

Don't we live in a pretty place? The girls were riding ahead on their scooters, I believe, which is why there is no photographic evidence of their participation in this walk.

Brigham has had a little scoot along 4-wheeler thing for a long time, so we haven't really felt the need to get him a bike or scooter. Turns out we should have. The boy has no idea how to peddle a bike (even with training wheels) and is about as clumsy on the scooter. He'll figure it out someday, but until then, I'll be pretty ashamed of myself.

Later in the afternoon, Stanton's sister Emily and her family stopped by to introduce us to their newest addition, little Matthew. He sure is cute. Me in this picture, on the other hand? Not so much.

So there you have it, children. Evidence that your dad and I did actually take you on walks...sometimes.

Chloe Lately

Chloe's finally recovered from her post-vacation naughtiness (she has a hard time readjusting to normal life and it takes her....a WHILE), so I'm in the mood to post about her cuteness again. :)

She hadn't done a puzzle in quite a long time, but decided to work on her 100 piece Littlest Pet Shop one finally. She finished the whole thing by herself.

Ha Ha. The girls think making cross-eyes is so funny. Grandpa David likes to remind them that he was born cross-eyed and it's not so funny. It is, though.

Her friend, Winston D., taped her favorite flower from his yard on our door with a cute little note.

She was a rat in her Kindergarten Opera (part of the Utah Festival Opera program). These are from the dress rehearsal. The actual performance was the day we left for Hawaii. She felt bad about that for a moment, but then remembered she was going to Hawaii. I particularly love her pink shirt and pink rainboots.

She's fantastic with Cannon and (mostly) patient with Brigham and Lily.

Oh, how she loves babies.

She had her dance recital recently. I love that she chose her pink cowgirl boots to wear to the auditorium.

Just a side view.

And with her whole class. Such a pretty little thing. And as pretty on the inside as she is on the out. Also, she loathes mascara, which I think is pretty rad for a 6 year old.

Chloe has become an excellent reader over the last few months. There aren't many words she can't figure out. I've had a bit of a rough time motivating her to read on her own, though, which concerned me for a while until I remembered that she's a kid and shouldn't ever feel pressure about things like that.

She finally told me the other day that she gets a headache when she reads and that's why she doesn't enjoy it. I have an eye appointment for her on Monday, so we'll see if it's eyesight or if it's just not something she finds a lot of pleasure in yet.

Also, she has been making word search puzzles for us lately. I love them! She hides real words up and down and backwards and forwards in the puzzles and really loves making them! It's things like that that make me realize I have zero need to stress about her reading on her own, for pleasure, right now.

I love Chloe's good phases. I always love Chloe, but I don't always love the phases she passes through. The good ones appear to be lasting a lot longer lately, while the tough ones are fading more quickly. I love seeing her grow up and mature. She's a good little girl and we sure love her.

04 June 2010

If You Give a Chloe A Camera...

Or, better put, if you sort of pretend you didn't notice her taking it without permission....
You'll get more pictures than you can shake a stick at. (I'm only loading about 1/3 of them here.)

Very cute (and awesomely chubby legged) baby cousin pictures.

Sweetheart miracle cousin pictures.

Fellow Kindergarten buddy cousin pictures.

Beautiful aunt (and mom of said cousins) pictures.

Mom & Brother of the photographer pictures.

Messy little brother pictures.

Unflattering, neglect revealing, mulch sparse pictures.

Lovely Spring blossom pictures.

What in the what? pictures.

Mom didn't make her bed today pictures.

Garden in the making pictures.

Artistic perspective pictures.

And some fabulous self-portraits.

I Do Have Other Children

And I plan to post about them. Cannon's just got a little bit of favorite child status at the moment.

March + April + Cannon = Not So Great

Cannon had a rough March and April. He got his pinky finger slammed in the back porch door (the hinge side) and, after about an hour of me trying to convince myself it didn't need it but finally decided that since it just. wouldn't. stop. bleeding., ended up going to the emergency room. The ER doc assured me that it was totally necessary that I brought him in, as his finger was ripped clear to the bone under his fingernail.

A little warning now:

If you're weak in the stomach...

Or don't like blood....

Or get queasy at the sight or talk of mangled up body parts.....

Stop reading now.....

Okay, now, here are the pictures for the rest of us freaks.

PS...the pictures really aren't that gory. And they were taken with my phone, so they're not even that crisp.

This is before the fingernail was removed.

After the local numbing didn't work, they decided to sedate him. I was grateful he hadn't had much to eat yet. They papoosed him, which looks so mean, but I'm a real believer in the things. Sometimes I wish I had them at home. I kid. Sort of.

He fell asleep rather quickly once he was bound and drugged.

All iodined.

And in La La Land.

A blurry, but better look at the damage. The fingernail was off here and if it weren't blurry, you'd see the itty bitty tip of his bone sticking out of the mangled, chewed up bed of the pinky nail.

Looking much better and all stitched up. The doc stitched the fingernail back on to act as a splint. It was supposed to stay on for a couple of days after the stitches were removed, but ended up sticking around for almost a month. The longer the better, I say. Doc also assured us that the fingernail will look really wonky for a year or so, but should then grow perfectly normal.

Bandaged up. And....not at all interested in waking up. He ended up sleeping for a good 45 minutes after the procedure was finished. He was so incredibly good during this whole experience. The doc and nurses all commented on his sweet disposition and good temperament throughout. He only wore the big bandage for a day. After that, we just used a regular band-aid.

A couple of weeks later, he happened to be scheduled for a double-ear tube procedure, so we asked his doc to just remove his stitches (saving a second trip to the ER). The timing was great. How nice of Cannon to get persistent ear fluid and infections from December to April so we could get those stitches out without an added inconvenience.

Here he is getting ready for his tube surgery:

He was loving the iPhone.

Loving it so very, very much.

He made friends with the little girl next door. And also, he looks extremely adorable in that hospital gown.

He wore that cap for a sum total of 7 seconds.

The whole procedure lasted about 15 minutes and he had zero trouble with the anesthesia or procedure. And no more ear infections!!! Yay! And his fingernail is already starting to grow back!