it snowed

Sunday morning

Cate was so happy.

She tried to build a snowman.
No success.
She gets an A for effort though.

It's all melted now.
It was good while it lasted.

finally

It wasn't much but it was enough for Cate to scoop into a big bite and shove into her mouth without getting a pile of dirt and dead leaves in it too.

That was all I was hoping for anyway.

It's mostly melted now.

I'll just sit here and look at that picture of my stinkin' adorable kids while I patiently await the next storm.

Do you love their rain boots in the snow as much as I do?

Good.

wrapping up summer and stuffing it in the closet

I know summer isn't officially over yet but close enough. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't like summer. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to go outside in the morning and hear my kids say, "Brrrrrrr, it's freeeeeezing out here!" Sure, it's like 60 degrees but still. I love it.

So here's my last hoorah to summer. Some pictures I haven't shared. Stories I haven't told. Stuff we did. And after this I'm stuffing summer in the closet and hoping it doesn't show up too early next year.


The garden: Planted entirely by Dan and the kids. Our first garden. I've thoroughly enjoyed my pear tomatoes. Maybe I can convince Danny to eat some next year. He won't touch any of the tomatoes. He says they're dirty. Even after I wash them. He's been very aware of germs lately. Good thing I didn't show him the grasshopper poo.

Visits with Grama Bama: She came out twice this summer. And we spent time at her house too. She's a good grandma and we sure do miss her. Danny keeps asking when we can take a hike to her house. I keep telling him never but that doesn't seem to satisfy him.

The ice cream man: The kids go nuts when they hear that guy. When Grama Bama's here she whips out her wallet and everyone's happy.

Turning 38: I'm an even number again! Even better than that, I got to share my birthday with Dan this year. Even better than that, I got to wear a sweater on my special day. A sweater in the middle of June. I couldn't have asked for a better gift. It was lovely.



The wasted Nutella: I made the mistake of introducing Cate to Nutella. I spread some on a graham cracker and she ended up getting more on her face than in it. Next time I'll just spoon feed her. I was almost tempted to lick her face to not let that precious stuff go to waste.

The Great Purge of 2011: I started cleaning out drawers and cupboards in the kitchen. There's just too much stuff and I was feeling the urge to purge. Isn't this cheese grater just lovely? It got to stay based on looks alone. I've never used it.

The babies: I'm not sure who those are, maybe Kissa and Pissa. Or possibly Idda and Poopa. Who knows? Cate spent a lot of time mothering her babies this summer. It's adorable. I think her undies are a little too big for them still.

Turning 3: Yep, my baby's 3. It's good. She's happy about it and so am I. And I got away with not having a princess party. Hooray!



4th of July: Don't you love it when people take pictures of their toes? Me too. When you've got toes as lovely as mine it's hard not to. We spent two nights in a hotel and enjoyed the festivities with grandmas and cousins. My pedi got ruined from dragging my feet along the bottom of the hotel pool. One day my kids are going to swim all by themselves and I get to just sit on the side and watch right? I'm going to remain hopeful.

The dinosaurs: We've thoroughly enjoyed the family pass I won to Thanksgiving Point. Thoroughly. The museum is my favorite because it's cool inside when it's so blasted hot out. I told Cate to get on that rock so I could take her picture. The pose was all her idea. I kid you not.

More dinosaurs: Again, no coaching from me on the pose. I just told them to stand there so I could take a picture. Who are these kids? I think they need to be in an acting class.

Splish splash: I know we're all tired of seeing pictures of kids at the splash pad but come on. Look at that view. Those mountains are majestic. Plus, something free to do on a hot day. You can't beat that. And no swimsuit or ruining pedis for me. We all win.



Children's garden: A different park. I told Cate to not get too close. She didn't listen and ended up with a face full of water. She recovered and then we played and strolled around the gardens.



Road trip: I'm pretty sure I had the best seat for that whole trip. I only had to take care of Danny. He was easy because he played Angry Birds hour after hour. I actually got to read books and close my eyes and rest a few times. It was a real treat. Grama Bama got to cater to Cate's every need.

Happy kids: Running around half naked in the rain. Smiling.

Family pictures: Thanks to the lovely Christie. She makes us look good (just wish she could make me look about 15 pounds lighter). We met her at the Garden Park Ward in Salt Lake. The grounds were beautiful. And it's free! You can't beat that. Grama Bama came along and I'm so glad she did. Without her dancing around and acting silly behind the camera we wouldn't have gotten such great smiles from the kids. I just wish we could have gotten a picture of her shenanigans.



Speaking of stuffing things into closets, remember that picture I shared of my hideous closet? I cleaned it. And another one. Here's the pile o' crud from two closets.

And here's the after of one of them:



If anybody wants help cleaning a closet or two, I'll do it. I actually enjoy it.

Here's the label that my Grandma had pinned to the closet door. Looks like back in her day there were three large boxes in that closet. I can't bring myself to take that label down. I like it.



Finding stuff when you clean out closets is kind of fun.

Anybody want a vintage Karl Malone poster? You gotta love The Mailman.



And who doesn't love a big foam cougar paw? It's appropriate for today I guess.



Go Cougars and goodbye summer!

a birthday of sorts

This here blog turned two years old on Friday.

If I was a super cool blogger I'd have some kind of spectacular giveaway to celebrate.

A way to thank my amazing and faithful readers (all 13 of you).

I'm not a super cool blogger, so no giveaway.

Spectacular or otherwise.


I celebrated this morning (a few days late) by sticking two candles in a cheesecake cookie bar.

Then I lit the candles, had a moment of silence, blew out the candles and ate the cookie bar for breakfast.

By the way, that moment of silence was spent contemplating whether or not I should eat the cookie bar.


Since I'm not a super cool blogger and I don't have a spectacular giveaway, how about I just share these recent internet searches that led the crazies (and semi-crazies) to this here blog.

Just a warning: if there are spelling mistakes, they belong to the crazies, not me.

what to buy grandma for birthday 97
Not sure why someone would search the internet for ideas for that one.
Just make her something for cryin' out loud. She's 97.

tony's casserole
It was yummy while it lasted.

slow cook chicken tenders
On the menu this week. Woo hoo!

despicable me "not cool"
When Gru reads the book he wrote to the little girls...gets me every time.

green eggs and ham cookie recipe
This sounds quite disgusting.

toothpick sculpture for kids
Maybe we'll try that again this week.

Oldsmobile Ray Banana
Huh? Very strange.
I don't even want to know what they were looking for with that combination of words.

i could really use a laugh
Me too, internet stranger. Me too.

And my very favorite internet search leading to this here blog:

newphew "puke in my hands"
I've never had a newphew puke in my hands.
A son, yes.
But never a newphew.
Maybe someday.
Hopefully not.
But maybe.

introducing...

my newest nephew


born at 9:15 this morning

added to the list of family members born on the 21st
including
his Grama Bama
his cousin Justin
his Aunt Jenny
his cousin Cate
his brother Kris
and
his cousin Abby

7 pounds 13 ounces
20 inches long

Congratulations to Judy, Dave, Jarrett and Kris!

He's a keeper!

she's with child

{on June 21st, one month before the due date}

This is Judy.
She's my sister.
I'm seven years older than her.
In our adult lives, I've always been able to fit her shoes.
Winter coat.
Sweaters maybe.
Never pants.
Sometimes shirts, but not usually.

But now.
I weigh 9 pounds less than my drivers license says and 5 pounds less than I did at the end of forty by forty.
Go ahead. You can hate me.
And my pretty much 9 months pregnant sister is wearing the pants I fit into 6 months ago.
My old pants are now her maternity pants.

How's that for making me feel like a Fatty McFattington?

She says the butts of my too-big-for-me-now pants are too big for her (not my fault she's got no junk in her trunk).

That baby's coming out any day now. Dan's guess is Saturday night, just so we can all be extra tired for church on Sunday morning.

Whenever he comes, I know my newest nephew is going to be a cutie. How could he not?

And I'm pretty sure Judy won't be needing my fat pants much longer. Any takers?

How can you resist an offer like that?

a new cousin

a brand spankin' new baby cousin

born on the Saturday before Mother's Day

just like Dan...40 years ago

keeping my germs to myself

Cate is tickled pink.

I'm going to have to see what I can do to get a real live baby of our own around here.

reconciled

It happened this morning.
My drivers license weight and my actual weight have finally reconciled.

rec·on·cile

to bring into agreement or harmony; make compatible or consistent

And lest you feel a twinge of jealousy, don't.

I ate celery for this.
I exercised my butt off for this.
I drank lots and lots and lots and of water for this.
I stopped eating Ben and Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk for this.

Just be happy for me.

I am.

p.s. I haven't weighed 138 pounds since 10th grade (maybe 9th). Those are my feet though (and I desperately need a pedi). I just weighed myself on the carpet. Apparently, it's kind of like weighing yourself on the moon. I'm not sure why I didn't try this earlier.

two outta three ain't bad

Upon returning from his workout one evening, Dan told me that my husband used to be old, fat and out of shape. Now he's still old, but the fat and out of shape parts are getting taken care of. (Those are his words, not mine. I'd never call him old.)

So here's the Forty by Forty update.

It's been eight weeks. As of Friday morning (our last weigh-in), we have both lost exactly the same amount of weight. That might not be true anymore though. We went out to eat with Grandma and Aunt Nancy on Saturday. Some of us pigged out on cheese fries and ultimate dipping sauce.

Despite all that greasy goodness, Dan and I are 70% of the way to our goal. I'm still eating celery. I still don't love it. I'm ok with oatmeal now. It's all I've eaten for breakfast for 8 weeks. I'm never going to love it. As long as it's apples and cinnamon flavored, I can handle it. I haven't had a bite of Ben and Jerry's since January 16th. I miss those guys and their frozen chocolaty goodness.

Celery
Oatmeal
Ben and Jerry's

Sometimes two outta three ain't all that good either.

I'm expecting

another adorable little nephew
to make his appearance
this summer!


Congratulations
to
Judy and Dave
and
Jarrett and Kris!

called to serve

4-month-old Andrew and his Uncle Dan
(the day Dan returned home from his mission)


Danny was playing in his bedroom this afternoon.
I heard him saying, "Going on a mission!"
over and over and over again.

I went into his room and asked him what he was saying.
He said it again.
"Going on a mission!"

You'd think he was playing with little plastic missionary action figures, right?
Not so.
He was playing with two little pirates, making them say
"Going on a mission!"
to each other.

I'm not sure why he was saying those words today.
I've talked to him about going on a mission before, but not recently.
Maybe he overheard us chatting with the family this weekend
about waiting for his cousin's mission call.

Well, tonight we found out where Cousin Andrew will be going on his mission.
He's been called to serve in the Illinois Peoria Mission.
I'll tell Danny in the morning.
He was already asleep when we heard the news.

Today's been a big day for this family.
Cousin Andrew received his mission call
and Danny was asleep before 7:30.


Congratulations, Andrew!

Maybe we'll come visit.
Peoria is the world headquarters of Caterpillar, Inc.
My little boy loves heavy machinery.
And he loves you, too.

a primary miracle

Ever since Danny became a Sunbeam a few weeks ago,
I've been saying lots of prayers.

By myself, of course.
But mostly with him.

Every night, beside his bed.
Mostly he just listens.
Sometimes he joins in.
Sometimes he suggests things for me to pray about.

For the past two weeks during our prayers
(each and every night and sometimes when he requests a prayer at nap time)

I've asked for him to be able to love primary

and to go by himself
(that's usually where he pipes up and asks that Daddy can stay with him)

then I pray again that he can go by himself
(and he pipes up again and asks for Daddy to stay with him)

then I move on and pray that he can have fun with his friends

and be happy and not cry

and learn fun songs with Glenda
(our neighbor who teaches the songs in primary)

and love his teachers.

Well, today it happened.

I walked with him to the primary room.
We went in together.
The primary president said something nice to him
(and called him Daniel).
I asked him where his seat was.
He showed me.
He sat down.
There were no other kids in his class there yet.
His teachers weren't there yet.
I told him I was going to my class.
I gave him a kiss.
He kissed me back.
I told him to be good and have fun.
He said, "O-tay."

And that was that.
He stayed the whole time.
His daddy was nowhere in sight.
He didn't cry when it was time to go to his class.
He learned a song about a snowman that he sung for me later at home.

the end

It's a miracle.
I couldn't be happier.


Then there's this kid.

She cried for at least the first 20 minutes of nursery.
Maybe more.
I could hear her.

Finally the teacher came and found me.
Cate promptly snuggled onto my shoulder
and slept for the remainder of the time we were at church.

I guess I know who I need to be praying for this week.

for the next baby boy

I'm wishing I had a baby boy right now.

Not so I can start wearing nursing bras again.
Not so I can lug around a ginormous diaper bag.
Not so I can change more diapers than I already do.
Not so I can be up all hours of the night for feedings.
Not so I can be the sleep deprived zombie version of myself again.
Not so I can listen to more crying in the wee hours of the morning.
Not so I can start using burp rags for something other than dusting.

Here's why.

So I can see how precious he'd look in this t-shirt.

No baby boy for me right now.

Maybe I'll gift it to a sister-in-law if it's four in a row.
Maybe to a sister if it's three in a row.
We'll have to wait and see.

In the meantime, get your own here.
(the t-shirt, not a baby)

p.s. I am in no way a fan of the books or the movies.
I want to make that perfectly clear.
I just think the shirt is terribly clever and oh so precious.

p.p.s. If you happen to see Jarrett or Kris, don't tell them.
It's still a secret. Don't tell Danny either.
I don't want to be the one to have to answer the
"but how did the baby get in there?" question.
They're saving that privilege for Grama Bama!

she's mobile

Cate performed her first act of genuine crawling today.
Actually, she may have done it earlier while I wasn't looking. I'll never know. I don't spend all her waking hours staring at her, although I'm sure she'd like me to.

She's been getting around for the past few weeks by leaning way over and then sitting back up. Somehow this has scooted her around the floor. If she falls over and lands on her tummy, she can sit back up.

Now that she can crawl, I can stop worrying about the fact that she has rolled over only twice in her entire life. I guess she just wasn't interested. She's moved on to bigger and better things.

And getting into EVERYTHING.