Thanksgiving!

We had a really nice Thanksgiving this year (actually two)! Thanksgiving day was really relaxed. We spent the day with my family. Even Uncle Craig and Aunt Cyndy were in town. It was really nice to see them...it's been way too long! It was really low key and just pleasant....just like I remember Thanksgiving being when I was growing up. We even got a few pictures...

Elliot cheesin' it up before dinner

Evie knew something good was coming

Elliot diggin' in

Evie thoroughly enjoying her first Thanksgiving meal


Then on Saturday we had a second Thanksgiving with BJ's family. That was also really nice and relaxed and an all around good time. We didn't get many pictures of the actual eating but we all went outside after dinner to watch our niece April perform some of her color guard routines (I wish we had gotten some pictures of the actual flag tossing....she's really good!) But here's a couple of Elliot and Evie...

We hope your Thanksgiving was as good as ours!

A Day of Firsts

Today was quite the day for us. Elliot helped make his first apple pie (he LOVES cooking).

Evie started really clapping for the first time. She was sure to stop and clap every time someone said "Yay!".

Evie met Uncle Craig and Aunt Cyndy(my dad's brother and his wife) for the first time.

AND.......

Evie took her FIRST steps! I can't believe it.....our baby girl is walking!

She's so amazing. It's been really fun to watch her reach these milestones so quickly. She wants to be just like her brother and I think that really pushes her to do things.

She's going to be running around with Elliot before we know it....yikes!

Am I the only one...

that thinks changing the diaper of a ten month old should be an Olympic event? Maybe. How about if I throw in changing clothes.....into an outfit including tights?? :)

Blast From the Past

So for the past little while my friend Koreena has been doing some "Memory Lane" posts. They are so cute and it's been really fun to read them and learn some things about her that I didn't know. And now I think I'm going to jump on the memory lane bandwagon and share something that not very many people know about me. If you promise not to laugh! At least not to my face ;)

Growing up I was a total fan of these guys......

That's right. The New Kids on the Block. Yeah, I know. I'm not even kidding. Go ahead and laugh.....but I guarantee that at least some of you were fans too.

I was pretty young still when they were popular. I think their big rise to stardom was somewhere in the very late '80's/early '90's. In fact my mom was nice enough to take me to my first ever concert (I saw on another blog they said the New Kids "took my concertginity" and it's the same for me) way back, EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO in 1990. WAY back then I wasn't embarrassed to be seen with my mom(I'm not embarrassed to be seen with her anymore either...just to make that clear) and the fact that she took me to the concert made her the coolest mom EV-ER....even with the older girls at church. I would have been in the third grade. There were much older girls at the concert, but didn't mean I loved them any less. It's pretty safe to say that Joey McIntyre was my first crush. I had it all figured out.....there was a 9 1/2 year difference between the two of us. I knew back then that he'd never be interested in such a little girl but by the time he was 30 I would 21 and that was perfectly acceptable, hee!

I was totally obsessed. I had all their tapes. I had a couple posters and a sticker book (remember it was a million years ago and I wasn't old enough to know about Tiger Beat magazine yet). I had to buy new stickers every time we went to the store so I could collect them all. I think I even had a pillow case and wrote some fan letters. I got a t-shirt at the concert and the boys made fun of me at school. They were SO jealous...you know they were!

Eventually the group broke up. There were no new albums. I grew up and focused my attention on other cute boys. I didn't even look back. In fact, had you asked me last week if I liked the New Kids on the Block I would have answered "Ummm, I DID....like forever ago". Sadly, my friends, it turns out that my NKOTB loving days are not yet over.

I heard a few months ago that they were reuniting and going out on tour. I had moments where I thought it would be REALLY fun to go. But being the "responsible" adult that I am now I just couldn't see spending the money on tickets when there are so many other things we need and want. So I just pushed the idea aside. Then on Friday I got an e-mail from the March of Dimes saying that the concert was on Saturday and they had a code for up to 6 free tickets (see could things come from supporting the fight againts prematurity). No WAY! I couldn't believe it. I gave BJ my best ever puppy dog face (yes, all that time spent practicing in the mirror paid off!) and he agreed to watch the kids so I could go. The problem was finding someone to go WITH. Hmmmm.

My little sister gave in even though she didn't have the slightest clue who I was talking about. She was only three when they broke up after all.....BUT she gets the boy band thing. There was that stint when she was in the third grade with NSync and of course now with the Jonas Brothers. Yes, Ashley, I understand that the Jonas Brothers are NOT a boy band (but they kinda are). Or it could be that she was grounded and this is the one thing our mom would actually let her do.

Anyway, when we got there I thought maybe I had made a terrible mistake. I wasn't too into the opening act and was feeling a little bored and a little tired already. But then they came out and the place EXPLODED! Ashley even said at parts it rivaled a JB concert haha! I could not believe all the now Mom's that were instantly sucked into a time warp and transformed back to their 8-14 year old selves. Many of them were there with their daughters who are fans now because thier moms have passed that NKOTB love along to them (it works, BELIEVE me, or else I wouldn't have been caught dead at that Donny Osmond concert with MY mom) It took me right back to that concert, 18 years ago, and before I new it I was yelling and singing along. Ashley couldn't sing along (she didn't know any of the words) but she was a good sport and yelled with the best of them. And she's had The Right Stuff stuck in her head ever since.

It was funny to me to see so many grown women, many of which are now married, screaming for these boys (actually 40 year olds) that they loved from their childhood. It was little weird but so fun at the same time. The events center was oozing with nostalgia. I even saw my best childhood friend and a former babysitter there. PLUS boys are like a fine wine (or so I'm told I've never had wine so I wouldn't know) they only get better with age.

Oh and at the risk of sounding like an old fuddy duddy....with all the booty shaking and crotch grabbing that went on I'm surprised my mom took me to that concert all those years ago (but she deosn't remember that happening then.....neither do I really......but I do remember it from Saturday). Yikes! How times change, right?

Thankful Thursday

Here we go again :)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. There's just something about them. Maybe it's the fact that you don't eat them all year round so they seem more special once Autumn shows up. Or maybe it's just that fact that they are cookies. If someone dared me to eat my weight in cookies I think I would be very tempted. I might even do it if no one reminded me that it would make me really sick.

Elliot. Yeah, ok, I'm always thankful for him (and Evie and BJ too) but this week Elliot has been really good. Not just kinda good....REEEEALLLLLYY good. Yesterday I swear he didn't get into anything or scream or whine or throw a fit at all. And today he was good too. So polite and obedient. I hope this is a new phase that will last for a little while. I'm also thankful that he likes to help bake and go to the store with me, even if his Papa says those are girly things ;)

Headphones. For a couple of reason really. BJ can wear them while he's playing his games and I don't have to hear the sounds of guns or whatever else is going on in there. AND when Brent is practicing his, umm, how do I put this delicately? Oh, nevermind....I can't. When he's practicing his BORING songs on the piano, I don't have to hear those either. I still love ya Brent :)

The Scriptures. I love how whenever we read them the spirit is instantly brought into our home, even if the kids have been screaming just a few seconds before. I also love that Elliot gets them. We like to keep it short and sweet, just reading a verse or two and then a little explanation and Elliot always adds something that we didn't explain but that is exactly right.

I'm sure there's tons more I could add but I'm going to go work on some projects while I have the chance. What about you? What are you thankful for this week?

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Today when we got up we decided we needed to go to WalMart. I needed to get some more baby food for Evie and we needed a few supplies for the business too. So my mom, the kids, and I hopped in the car and headed on our way. When we pulled into the parking lot I heard Elliot in the back seat saying "We're here.....we came back....you brought me back!". He was really excited. We were supposed to go to the other day but he fell asleep before we got there. So I stayed with him in the car while everyone else went inside. He woke up right as we were leaving and was really upset that he didn't get to go. Fast forward to today.

We got out of the car, grabbed Evie and the diaper bag, got her situated in the cart and made our way inside. Magah gave in and decided to let Elliot walk. As we walked in the store we came across the WalMart greeter. Our WalMart (and I'm sure yours too) has a really cute elderly man as the store greeter. He's there most days we go and usually stops us to give Elliot a sticker and say hello. So Elliot recognized him.....the difference between today and the other times is that he was walking instead of in the cart. So he stopped to chat with the greeter for a minute. The conversation went a little something like this....

Elliot: HHHIIIIII!!
Greeter: Well hello there! How are you today?

Elliot: Good. Look, I gots a new coat.....see! (while point at his coat)
Greeter: I see, that is a very nice coat. I like it.

Elliot: We just gots it at Target!
WALMART Greeter: *Lots of Laughter*

Now, I don't feel guilty about that at all. I haven't ever pledged my allegiance to WalMart. In fact, I probably *like* Target more. And they had better coats, so that's where I bought Elliot's. WalMart has cheaper food. You do what you gotta do.....but leave it to a three year old to spell that out for the world. Or at the very least the WalMart greeter :)

Halloween Fun!

I know these are WAY late, but I thought I would share them anyway (there are more on facebook if anyone's interested). We had a super fun day. First Elliot had his first ever school Halloween party. He got to dress up, play games and have treats. The only pictures I took there had his classmates there and I didn't know if their parents would appreciate me posting them so I'll leave those to the imagination.


Then we hit up Papa Cardon's house. The kids don't get to see Papa Cardon as much as we would like but they always have a blast there! (even if their facial expression don't prove that)

Elliot fell asleep on the ride to Magah's house and was none too thrilled when we tried to wake him up...

But he perked right up for the Trick or Treating
Evie got in on the fun too
Back at Magah's house playing with the glow sticks
Elliot was mad about taking his costume off and had a bit of a meltdown....hence the costume over the jammies

All in all it was a fun day. I did learn a useful equation though.....
Overstimulation + Too Much Sugar = 1 Cranky Three-year old

Thankful Thursday

I know there is always much to be thankful for, but for today I am going to keep it simple.

I am thankful for good doctors. Over the course of my son's short life I have had the opportunity to meet and talk to more doctors than I care to admit or even remember. Starting with the complications during my pregnancy I have seen specialist after specialist. Some have not been so great. One was even heard saying something along the lines of, "well, we really ought to do an amniocentesis to rule out any chromosomal defects because we wouldn't want to jeopardize your life with a c-section for a baby that won't survive anyway". Some have belittled me in order to make themselves feel smarter I guess. Some have just done their jobs the same way a grocery store clerk might go about their job.....day in and day out not really trying but just trying to pay the bills. But some have gone above and beyond, and those are the ones that I am truly thankful for.

For the one that pushed a little known pharmaceutical study that helped save my son's eyesight even though they have since found better alternatives. Or the one who heard when Elliot was so upset at being temporarily lactose intolerant after a nasty case of rotovirus. He personally stopped at the store to pick up some lactose free milk to make his hospital stay a little more comfortable. Or the one I saw today that just took time to sit and reason with me.....to answer every question I had and a few I didn't think of on my own. It's these kind of doctors that remind me that there are people out there that really just care. Care about my son and how to make his life the best it can possibly be. Without worrying about getting the job done, or worrying about how many patients they need to see that day, or what money they might be out of by giving me their honest opinion rather than the one that brings in the big bucks (wether that money comes from me or the insurance company).

I thank you. And hope everyone gets the chance to see one of these kinds of doctors some day.

I've Decided

That I am not a fan of "adult Halloween". Or, in other words....."let's see how little clothes I can get away with wearing" day. Last year I went to the mall and I was SO shocked at how many girls were very scantily clad. Girls that I suspect go to BYU. The honor code doesn't just apply when you are on campus! I don't like naked girls. I don't like blood and guts. I don't like haunted houses. Blech!

BUT......

I DO love Barry Pan and Tinka-BoBo (aka Peter Pan and TinkerBell)


I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I LOVED watching Elliot trick or treat last year and he's much more "in to" it this year, so it will be that much more fun. Plus, it's Evie's first Halloween. Doesn't she look so cute in her costume? AND it's Elliot's first school party. Hopefully we make it out the door with the camera and all the corresponding parts ;)

We are going to have such a blast! Kid Halloween is awesome!

A Couple Things I Love About My Kids

So I was thinking last night and throughout the day today just how content I am with my life right now. I feel like I'm starting to hit my stride a little with this mommy thing. I know I don't really get it all. I'm still learning everyday. But I feel like I'm finally really enjoying myself, rather than holding on for dear life. So I thought I would take this chance to list some of the things that I just LOVE about my kids......

The way they smell (when they are clean, of course). But I'm not talking the smell of the baby soap or lotion....I love the smell of my actual kids. I don't know what it is, but I do.

That Evie has loved to be told she's pretty since she was just itty bitty. I know you think I'm making this up, but I swear from the time she first learned to smile she has smiled EVERY time we tell her she's pretty. She knows what it means. I promise.

How "I love you" is the first thing Elliot says when he comes into our room in the morning. I also love that he tells me I'm beautiful and that I'm his favorite.

The brief moments throughout the day when Elliot says "I wanna hold you" and he really means it. Sometimes he only says that to get down from the kitchen table or because he's jealous when I'm holding Evie, but there are other times when he really wants to be held. I know those moments won't last forever so I'll take as many as I can get.

Similarly, I love it when Evie rests her head on my shoulder and sucks her thumb. That's her way of giving a hug and it means just as much as when Elliot wants to be held.

Watching Elliot wave and blow kisses to his daddy when we leave in the morning.

How Elliot can be found singing various songs at the top of his lungs throughout the day. He'll sing anything and everything.....from Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam to the Indiana Jones theme.

That no matter how many times he has pinched or knocked her down, Evie still LOVES Elliot and follows him everywhere.

How Evie loves ice cream (whoops, I mean of course she hasn't tasted any yet) as much as her mommy does. And how her smile just lights up the room and gets everyone's attention. Her happiness really does spread like wildfire. She's our little angel.

When I'm lucky enough to be able to hold Elliot for a while, I love to put my hand on his chest to feel the gentle rise and fall from his breathing. And the feel the strong steady beat of his heart. There was a time that I was worried he wouldn't be able to do that on his own, and now that it's second nature to him I am so grateful. He's our miracle.

Maybe now each of you can take a chance to list the lovely qualities of someone special to you. If they are old enough to understand, maybe you could even tell them a couple.....you might just hear a couple in return :)

Perspective

After hearing about them on a friend's blog (thanks Angela!) I've really gotten hooked on two blogs

c jane

and

NieNie

they are both now a part of my "favorite things" list to the right....if you want to check them out. They tell a (true) story about a family coping with unbelievable heart ache, but how they are able to stop all along the way and recognize the hand of the Lord. And to show gratitude for the miracles in their lives. They have made me smile and cry. They have made me laugh and have caused my heart to skip a beat (when reading about Nie's recovery). They have reminded me of my own miracles and taught me that life is to be cherished.....even if it seems mundane at times. They have given me perspective.

So this week I will try to laugh a little harder, cuddle my kids a little longer, and love a little more. Truly cherish the things that are important to me.

Thank you Courtney for helping us to all be a little more Nie-ish!

Field Trip -- Take Two

Today was another field trip for Elliot's preschool. After the disaster that was last month's field trip we decided we better be on our A game. I had BJ charge the camera battery last night and get the camera ready. Then we set the alarm for bright and early and hopped into bed.

We got up after just a couple times of the alarm going off...that's HUGE for us. BJ started getting ready while I laid out the kids clothes. Then I made some eggs so as to not have a case of the empty tummy troubles that we had last time. The kids woke up as BJ was shaving and brushing his teeth. Then he changed diapers and dressed them while it was my turn to get ready. There was a lot of other scrambling around including grabbing coats and the camera and making sure the diaper bag was packed. We got the kids to the car, said goodbye to Daddy, rushed to Magah's house and made it to school with 7 minutes to spare....this is also HUGE since we've been late every other day of school for the past two weeks. Woohoo! We did it! We were totally ROCKING this field trip.

We hopped back in the car and headed for the pumpkin patch. It was SO much fun! There was a corn maze and a playground. Not to mention the bunnies and other animals and the TONS of pumpkins. Elliot was here and there and everywhere just having the most fun ever :)

The problem is, you're just going to have to take my word for it. Unfortunately, when I took the camera out to take the first picture I realized we had forgotten one little thing......the stinkin' BATTERY! Ugh!

Guess we didn't rock this field trip as much as we thought.

It WAS tons of fun anyway.