Day 1

First official day of summer break.

9:53 am: So far, so good.  Except for Charlie waking up at 5:30 this morning with yet another fever.  This kid is sick at least once a month...usually with a fever.  Is this normal?  It can't be normal.  So far we have had breakfast, gotten dressed, watched a little PBS kids, played outside (the kids are loving the new trampoline).  Charlie played with play dough, and Aubrey had a snack.  I have loaded the dishwasher, washed a load of laundry, made beds, and put Aubrey on the toilet 3 times in an effort to keep her dry dry dry, prevent accidents, and save $ on diapers.  So far, she has stayed dry.  Hallelujah.  I have not showered or put on makeup.  Aint nobody got time for that!  Just kidding.  I'm going to the gym later, so I didn't really want to bother with getting ready.

Good News: Over the weekend we took the kids swimming, and to the South Jordan country fair.  Both activities were quite enjoyable and relatively stress free.  Even for Aubs.  Except for when we had to leave the pool.  That was tough for her.  Major meltdown.

More Good News:  One of the aides in Aubrey's classroom has offered to help us out with Aubs over the summer!  Hooray!  I'm sure I will write more on this later.

Also, pictures to come later.

Peace

Things I Love About Spring



(Finally got my new laptop! Hooray!)

-Opening the windows in the house, and airing out the winter "funk"

-Daffodils and Tulips

-Needing a jacket in the morning, but being able to wear flip flops in the afternoon.

-Packing up the winter coats and boots

-The blossoms on our pear trees

-Rain

-Mowing the lawn for the first time.

-Pulling out the bikes

-Making landscaping plans

-The birds.  Oh the birds and their tweeting.  Charlie is in love with birds, and will stare out the back door all morning saying "Birdies, Mommy!  Tweet tweet tweet!"

-The return of the ducks to the neighborhood canal.

-Pulling out the patio furniture and umbrella, and eating lunch outside.

If You Are In The Mood To Waste Some Time

I had the random idea to compile some of my favorite Youtube videos that I watched in 2013.  If you are in the mood to waste some time...here you go.  Share some of your favorites with me, too!!!

-I want to be friends with these people.

-If you haven't watched So You Think You Can Dance...why?!

-Having a bad day?  Try this.

-Still having a bad day?  This makes me smile.

-This kick a** poem.  I know it seems a bit crass at the start...but it's really not.

-Learn what empathy is is this short video.

-Hey, guess what?  I kind of love Sara Bareilles.

-Wanna dance?  Of course you do!

-Awesome Ted talk by John Dehlin.

-Guys, I think rescuing doggies should be my new hobby.

Ok, I need to go to bed now.  But wait...

-You didn't think I would do a video post without some Avett Brothers, did you?

The Little Things

Tonight I made homemade chicken noodle soup for dinner.  It has been feeling so much like fall.  I've had the windows open in the mornings, and it gets downright cold.  I mean, we've been wearing socks for heavens sake.  Socks, and soup for dinner pretty much makes it official.  Summer is over.

Tonight we took the kids on a bike ride around the neighborhood.  We stopped at the park and pushed them on swings.  We rode to the canal and fed the ducks.  Charlie was is heaven.  He walked up and down the canal going "quack, quack, quack" like he was conversing with long lost friends.  Aubrey was confused when the bread ran out, and started throwing pebbles at the ducks.  Pretty hilarious.

The kids have colds.  'Tis the season for that, too!

We noticed that Cooper was starting to be more naughty than usual lately, and we realized that we've been slacking on exercising him.  His breed needs a ton of exercise, especially as a puppy.  For a while we were good.  Matt walked him every morning before he went to work, and I would play catch with him in the yard during the day, and walk him at night when the kids went to bed.  And he was a good boy.  Then we slacked, and it really showed in his behavior.  But Matt started running him in the morning, hiking with him on weekends, and I'm walking him in the evenings...and sure enough he is back to his angel ways.  This dog is going to keep us active.

This weekend is the autumn equinox, and we will be having our annual family celebration.  The following weekend my Momma and I are going away together for the weekend.  In October Matt and I are taking a road trip to Boise to see The Avett Brothers.  Lots to look forward to!

I got a wicked deal on KSL for some lovely leather arm chairs, and now I am in love with my front room.  It feels so good in there.  Then I sold our treadmill because it was never getting used (and why would it with all the walking we have to do with Cooper), and now our family room feels so good.

Tonight is Charlie's first night without the binkie.  I feel like the meanest mom on the planet when I walk in his room and he whispers "Bink? Bink?" and I have to tell him no.  But he chewed one up, and then another one, and another one.  When he chewed up the last one I decided that was it.  No more binks.  His dentist will thank me.

I bought the kids Halloween costumes.  Hooray for not waiting till the last minute!  Hooray for good deals!

Aside from breaking out with zits on my chin, I'm a happy girl.

Little Bits of Life

-I am chomping at the bit to get on an airplane.  It doesn't even matter where the airplane lands.  I just want to go.  I need an adventure.  Preferably an adventure near the sea.  I will be heading to Seattle in a couple of months, hopefully that will do the trick.

-I have very slowly been weaning Charlie.  He is 15 months old.  I never would have thought that I would nurse this long...long enough for him to be at the point where he can ask for it.  Aubrey weaned herself when she was 9 months old, so I have never done this before.  He seems ready.  But am I?  I'm not sure we'll have another baby, so this might be it?  It's hard to let go.

-Speaking of nursing.  Charlie is down to 2 times a day.  But I have still been eating like he nurses 8 times a day.  Which equals me weighing more than I ever have in a non-pregnant/postpartum state.  I feel so disgusting.  So I am on a diet.  (I know, eye roll)  Basically, I'm not eating any white carbs or refined sugar.  And smaller portions.  I'm hoping that coupled with at least 2 miles on the treadmill every day will do the trick.  (P.S. I get one cheat day a week)

-Matt is finishing up his current project at work.  For the last 3 years his company has been building the college of Pharmacy at the University of Utah.  The building is incredible.  Very state of the art.  I'm really proud of the work he has done there.  It hasn't been an easy project, and he is quite relieved to have it be over.  I will post some pictures soon.  Jacobsen has just assigned him to a new project, and he'll be the project engineer for the building of the DoTerra Essential Oils campus in Pleasant Grove.  He's very excited for a new project and a shorter commute.

-I've been listening to This American Life while I'm on the treadmill.  Really, what has taken me so long?  Matt has been listening to that show for years.  Now I'm obsessed.  Who needs up beat music to work out?  Just give me Ira Glass talking about the public schools in Chicago, and I am set.

-Aubrey has her first loose tooth.  My girl is growing up.  It has been making her drool more than usual and have a harder time eating.  She constantly has her fingers in her mouth.  I'm certain that one day it will just come out while she's eating or something.  I hope it isn't traumatic for her.  We talk to her about it, but she has no idea what's going on.  It's so strange to watch her little body growing and changing so fast, while her mind and personality are seemingly frozen at such a young age.  I wish I could freeze time for her body too.

-I have found a few new songs that I am loving.  Here.  Here.  And here.  New music makes me seriously happy.  Do you have any suggestions for me?

Life Is Good

Life is good these days.

Spring showed it's face for a couple of weeks.  It was heaven.  We were out in the back yard every day during that dreadful last hour before dad gets home from work.  (Does this happen to anyone else?  Almost every day, my children become impossibly cranky about an hour before Matt is going to be home.  It's almost like they are trying to drain every last bit of sanity out of me before they turn on their charm for daddy.  But I digress.)

We were outside without coats, had windows open, and Charlie and I went on many walks while Aubs was at school.  I even took a few trips to home depot, making mental plans for flower beds and happy paint colors for our bathrooms.

Then it snowed.  But it's ok, I know how spring works.  And it's almost all melted again.

But spring really is a season of hope.  There is a light at the end of the dreary winter tunnel!  And this spring has felt like a weight lifted off of my shoulders.  The older I get, the more I realize the importance of breathing fresh air and feeling the sun on my face.  It does something for my soul that nothing else can.

Things to look forward to:

-A trip by myself to Seattle to visit my brother.
-New patio furniture to be delivered soon
-Planting flowers
-Our first little family vacation to Bear Lake
-Starting Aubrey's horse therapy again
-Longer days
-Sunshine

February

 Aubs isn't very good at sharing her iPad, so Charlie has to be sneaky and hover over her shoulder so he can see what's going on.

 Aubrey's first unintentional self portrait

 There were a few days last week where the sun came out, and snow started melting, and we decided to pretend it was spring.  It didn't last long, and we got more snow...but it give me hope:-)

 I can't get over what a big boy Charlie is turning into.  Where is my baby?!

 Charlie is starting to drop his second nap, so he ends up looking like this in the late afternoon/early evening.

 This picture cracks me up.  Can you tell she really didn't want to wear that thing?  Hahaha.

February has been full of sickness at our house.  Matt and I have been fighting the urge to just pack everyone up and head down south for a little sunshine.  If he wasn't so busy at work right now, we'd probably be relaxing by a pool somewhere.

Fingers crosses that March will bring better health and less cabin fever:-)

Life Is Good

Fall is coming.  I feel it in the air.  When I wake up in the morning, the house is COLD, and it is several hours before the air kicks on.  Last night while we were playing outside after dinner, Charlie's toes and fingers were cold.  He needed socks!  Gone is the stifling heat of summer.  I can't tell you how happy this makes me.  I'm already planning our Autumn Equinox celebration, and dinner parties involving soup.

School is going fantastically well for Aubrey.  She comes home everyday with a huge smile on her face, completely exhausted.  And she is huge.  Lately I've been hugging her and kissing her extra long...and I cannot believe what a big girl she is.

Charlie is a mad man.  He cannot be contained.  He is here, there and everywhere.  I love it.   Diaper changes are nearly impossible.  The kid does not stop moving.  He is so much fun.  He is so generous with his smiles.  He babbles a lot.  My favorite is when he takes a break from nursing, looks me in the eyes and says "ba da bla ba da!"  I imagine him saying things like "Did you eat Indian food last night?  Lay of the curry, lady!"

The new Avett Brothers album came out 2 days ago.  We listen to it in the car and while we make dinner.  Last night after the kids went to bed, Matt and I painted another coat on the stair rail while we listened to it.  And we talked and talked.  It is amazing how doing something to mindless and tedious with your hands can make you so free for communicating.  I learned that Matt wants to get a guitar.  He already knows how to play a little (did you know...Matt can do everything), but wants to learn more.  I support this endeavor  wholeheartedly.

Matt is getting ready for the yearly Grand Canyon hike.  I am so green with envy, I can taste it.  I want to go so bad.  Maybe next year, when I'm not breastfeeding anymore.  He will have a great time, just like always.  It will be my first time being alone in this house over night.  I hope I will be able to sleep!

Last week I killed a snake in our back yard.  With a shovel.  I hesitate to offend any readers that mat be lovers of all life...but I cannot abide snakes in my yard.  My babies sit on that grass.  So I hurried the kids inside, and chopped that sucker in half with a shovel.  Then I got a case of heebeejeebees so bad I needed to take a shower.  I made Matt take care of the remains when he got home.  I mean, a girl can only do so much.

iPhone Photo dump #4

iPhone Photo Dump #3 (Charlie Edition)

 Aubrey LOVES her new brother.  She always wants to see him, wave to him, hold his hand, and hug him.  She is very sweet.  Just the other day I was in the kitchen doing something and heard Charlie start crying in the front room.  I walked in and saw Aubs trying to give him his binkie.  Oh my cute!

 Charlie sleeps best when he is wrapped up like a little burrito baby.

 This pictures makes me laugh so hard.  Charlie got his first two fingers in his mouth while he was rooting (waiting for me to whip out the boob sandwich).  This is exactly how Aubrey sucks on her fingers...All.The.Time.

 Stella is fiercely protective of Charlie.  She sits and stares at him like a little guard dog.  If he is crying or fussing she will follow us around like "what are you going to do about this?!  fix it!"

 I love Charlie's profile.

 Daddy snuggles.  I love the triple chins.

 More loves from the big sis.

Holy crap, I am a milk machine right now.  I texted this picture to Matt and other day saying "Look how much I just pumped!"  His response?  "Yamma Hamma!"

iPhone Photo Dump #2

 Matt requested a pumpkin spice cake  in November.  I took this picture and texted it to him so he could look forward to coming home from work that day.

 Aubrey sleeps with such abandon.  I took this picture because I was feeling especially jealous of her ability to sleep flat on her stomach.

 Aubrey riding Torgan on one of the last warm days of the year.

 I put this rocking chair together today.  It's the first piece of furniture I have ever assembled by myself.  I was pretty proud of myself...except it took me an hour and I really hurt my back in the process :-)

 A couple of months ago Aubrey fell down the stairs at grandma and grandpa's house.  It was pretty epic.  Her nose bled, and we thought she might have broken it.  But it mostly turned into the gnarliest rug burn ever.  The scab is long gone, but her poor little nose still has a red mark from the incident.  Hopefully it will go away someday.

 This picture was taken sometime in November, which I now refer to as the hellish month of sickness.

 

Matt bought me this gigantic tub of tums when I first started getting heartburn.  I am about 2/3 of the way through it now.

 Aubs did something totally uncharacteristic two days ago...and fell asleep in my arms in the late afternoon.  She doesn't get a nap on school days, but she apparently really needed one that day.  And I thoroughly enjoyed holding her while she slept.  It reminded me of how little time we have left as just the two of us.

 Me today.

In other news, the baby is still breech.  My doctor went ahead and scheduled a c-section for me.  In my heart there is still a tiny bit of hope that he will flip at the last minute, I will go into labor early, and he will not be too big to fit.  But I have also prepared myself mentally and emotionally for the inevitability of a c-section, and I suspect that that will happen.  So I have been busy busy, nesting away and getting everything ready.  He will be here so soon!  Look for an announcement soon after Christmas :-)

iPhone Photo Dump

 Ever since I got my iPhone, I've gotten into the bad habit of neglecting to use our regular camera.  Even though the pictures I take on my phone aren't as good quality wise, it's just so convenient, because I always have my phone with me...and I always forget my camera.  The problem is that I rarely upload the pictures from my phone onto the computer.  So here are a few iPhone photos from the past little while.

Aubrey enjoying a smoothie on one of the first warm days of the year.

 Pretty flowers that Matt bought for me just to be nice.

 Aubs wiped out on the couch.

 Playing dress-up at my Grandma's house when I went to Ohio.

 Pretty self explanatory:)

 Heaven.  I mean Florida.

My wild little sleeper...curled up at the foot of her bed.

4th of July swimming at Matt's brother's house.

 Matt's face cracks me up in this one...

 My haircut.

 

My Avetts :-)