Meanderings in the Marigolds

3

2010-05-23T20:40:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my sweet katie girl!

Issie's Many Moods

2010-03-15T21:42:00.000-07:00

This little boy has definite personality. Be it elation or indifference, he gives every emotion his all.

The Potty

2010-01-26T20:52:00.000-08:00

Katie will not be told what to do. Nathan refers to her as our cat and Sam as our dog. With Sam, well, what you see is what you get. Crazy tantrum=crazy tantrum. Happy smile=happy smile. With Katie, things are a little more complicated. Crazy tantrum might equal I want more cheese, or lets go to the park or you didn't go the way I wanted to go home while we were driving in the car an hour ago. Happy smile might equal I'm going to put a leash around your neck and insist you walk around the house like a dog or I just poked Isaac in the eye and you saw me but I'll insist that I did not. Anyway, you get the picture. Lately, I spend lots of time and energy trying to get her to do what I want but make it seem to her that it was her idea and I had nothing to do with it. Unfortunately, it's time to potty train our little feline. She's ready, I'm ready; now I just have to convince her it was her idea in the first place. We tried a month ago but she did not want to thank you very much. She held everything ALL DAY. She did not care about princess unders, wet pants, chocolate chips. This girl dug in her heels. So, I put back on the diapers. Phew. They really are easier. OK. Time for round two. About a week ago, I happened to be looking at little potties on Amazon. Katie happened to walk by and spotted a pink princess potty that sings when you pee in it. WOW! She loved it and asked to order it. We've been anxiously awaiting it's arrival, talking about wearing unders and going potty in the potty. Tonight, it was delivered. I put it in the bathroom without saying a word, put Katie in the tub and left the room to change Isaac's diaper. A few minutes later, Katie comes running out, dripping wet from the bath with a huge smile on her face saying, "I did it! I did it!" We'll see how long the magical potty works it's magic, but at least for tonight, Katie is a big girl now.

Little Mother

2010-01-17T17:19:00.001-08:00

The Gang

2010-01-13T15:11:00.000-08:00

He's Here!

2009-11-07T20:27:00.000-08:00

It's time for me to go to bed. These days it's always time for me to go to bed. But, I just wanted to put up a picture of our sweet, little, new, perfect, baby boy.

Welcome sweet Isaac. (Katie likes to call him Isaacle.)
We already can't imagine our family without you.

Born October 23 at 5:59 am.

Goggles

2009-07-14T21:02:00.000-07:00

My kids HATE to get water in their eyes. Whether it be in the bath, in the pool, in the rain...If a small drip gets anywhere near their face, they both cry out for a towel. Recently, we've made a discovery that has turned bath time from torture session into underwater deep sea diving adventure. Enter the "the green goggles." Horray for simple solutions! Too bad it took Mom years to come to the idea.

O So Long Ago

2009-05-28T20:54:00.001-07:00

I know this post belongs in the should-have-been-done-months-ago category, but oh well. In April I took the kids over the river and through the woods to grandma's house in Illinois...We had so much fun with cousins and squirt guns and aunts and PBS Kids and making cookies and talks and sisters and movies and Mom/Grandma and cello concerts and Dad/Grandpa. We all came away exhausted but wishing for more together time all of the time.

Here is Sam in front of Abe Lincoln's home - Future US President material himself if I do say so myself - once he stops sucking his thumb that is.

And here is my little Nauvoo pioneer Katie girl. She would only wear the bonnet because her cousins were wearing them.

Recipe for Disaster

2009-05-05T13:34:00.000-07:00

1 Mom
- mix in bronchitis that turns into pneumonia
- stir in one cracked rib due to extensive coughing
- add a generous dash of morning sickness

to this add the following and mix well:
1 2-year old
- add strep throat
- whisk in HUGE throat glands
- add a diagnosis of Mono

Gently fold in:
1 4-year-old with nothing wrong with him who only wants to go out and play with his friends

Finally stir in:
1 husband
- add strep throat
- stir in major back pain

Mix until well combined. Enjoy your disaster.

Needless to say, don't come to our house.

4+1=5

2009-04-20T20:30:00.001-07:00

So I've failed again as a blogger but this time I have a reason that I hope might fly. Come November 4th, we're expecting to need several things we can't afford:

- a mini-van
- a bunk bed
- a cook
- a maid

A Few of My Favorite Things By Sam

2009-02-15T14:01:00.000-08:00

Let Him Eat Cake

2009-02-14T09:48:00.000-08:00

Sam has really been into Star Wars lately. Nathan lets him watch little clips here and there as a special treat. Sam also has a GREAT dislike for vegetables. Perhaps he takes after Uncle Jonny. In an effort to put our leafy green friends in a better light, we've decided to use the force. At dinner the other night, Nathan said, "You know Sam, Padowans LOVE vegetables. Vegetables are how they grow into Jedis." Well, that has really been making Sam think about things. We didn't realize how much until last night. Sam was happily watching his Star Wars clip when he suddenly said with authority, "Darth Vader eats cake all day long." Indeed. That must be why he never achieved rank of Jedi.

Life at its Finest

2009-02-01T21:52:00.000-08:00

Everyday life with kids is so everything all rolled up into one...so hilarious, so maddening, so exhausting, so exciting...every moment is charged with emotion. I just read a book my friend wrote and I love what she said about parenting...something like:
Parenting is not about giving yourself up. It's about passing yourself on...Nice, huh?

I'm so glad to have these two in my life.

Failure

2009-02-01T21:51:00.001-08:00

I have failed. I am a failed blogger. I am trying to repent.

Virtue

2008-10-21T21:21:00.000-07:00

I was talking with a friend today about Ayn Rand's book The Fountainhead. Anyone read it? It's length is well worth the thoughts it stirs up. The topic for the night was this: charity vs. self-sufficency. When I give $5 to the woman standing at the stoplight under the viaduct is it the right thing to do? Am I fueling her life with the wrong kind of sustainance? Does it matter what type of sustainance I offer? Is the offering of anything really just the offering of a crutch, a guised gift of almost certain continued dependance? A kind of fish vs. teaching to fish type of scenerio? Is my giving her the money truly for her benefit or is it also for me...to cool the boiling guilt, to add another point on the grand tally of kindness, to make others look at me and in turn have their own guilt rupture? The problem is, the answer to all of these questions is yes. I don't really believe we humans operate in pure alturism very often. Our charity is often pockmarked with our own shortcomings. This idea is troublesome at face value. Is charity as we know it really just a self-serving mask? Should we seek to offer others and ourselves self-sufficency above all else? Is charity in its earthly forms a hinderance to self-sufficency? Which is the highest of virtues, golden self-sufficency...or imperfect charity? The more these ideas and theories burrow themselves into my thoughts, the more I become a champion of impure charity over self-sufficency. The gifts we offer to one another, in all their immaterial and material forms, barnacled and scarred with our humaness, but also sparkling with threads of good, are what bind us. They make us real to each other. They open our eyes to the God in all that surrounds us. I know this, when I act on impulses of kindness I feel alive in the moment. When I do not, I sense a loss.

Hormones...

2008-09-16T20:28:00.000-07:00

Exactly who's in charge here?

Utahhhhhhh....

2008-09-04T14:08:00.000-07:00

We spent a week in Utah visiting my family. The kids loved playing with cousins, eating suckers with Great Grandma Greene, playing with cousins, running in Great Grampy Stephenson's house, playing with cousins...did I mention playing with cousins? We had a great time. There's a line in one of Sam's books called Grandfather's Journey that about sums up the paradox of visiting my sweet family while leaving part of my sweet family behind. It says, "The funny thing is, the moment I am in one country I am homesick for the other." Why can't we all live on the same patch of land?

Here are the suckers at Great Grandma Greene's
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And Great Grampy Stephenson's

Katie wasn't so sure about all the new things so she never left my side

But Sam...well...I had to bribe him to come back to California with me.

Tractors, Horses, and Bunnies

2008-08-12T11:06:00.000-07:00

We took an morning trip to the San Jose County Children's Fair last week. The kids loved it. Sam loved it so much he insisted on taking Nathan back on Saturday so he could hold the bunnies, too. It was quite an operation. The whole thing was put on by local chapters of 4H. Wow! There were chickens, bunnies, sheep, pigs, cows (where does one raise a pig or a cow in the Bay Area?! The back patio?) table settings, pies, paintings, horse stunts...just tons of things that kids were doing and showing.

Sam got to ride a horse. He says he loved it, but his face was pretty tense the whole ride...

The tiny tractors were a little safer according to Sam. He protested being the older brother here. "Mommy! Get her out! She's too heavy!"

So Katie took things into her own very capable hands.

So I Think I Can Dance..

2008-08-12T10:53:00.000-07:00

So the other day, I was out doing my daily huffing and puffing in the park, watching everyone get their tai chi on and thinking about the advice from the Chinese grandmas about the best way to do sit-ups, when suddenly a song came on and I was swept onto my mind's dance floor. Lights were flashing, crowds were going wild, and there I was leaping, twirling, spinning, jumping...all over the place. I was elegant. I was breathtaking. I was amazing. I was born to dance. Too bad I could never get my body to agree with my mind. Sigh. Maybe in another life.

A Fast, Furious Post

2008-07-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post a few new pics. I've got a baby on my lap so the awe inspiring thoughts will have to come later...

Who Am I and Where Am I Going?

2008-05-27T20:45:00.000-07:00

Today I took a trip down memory lane. My siblings will really be the only ones to appreciate this to its full extent. We were playing this afternoon, when suddenly Sammy asked me what other kinds of instruments there were besides clackers. I couldn't help but cringe and know my mom would be secretly ashamed that my child thinks of clackers first when he thinks of instruments. So, trying to remedy my son's apparent lack of musical education, I pulled out my flute. It had a thick layer of dust on the case. I was tempted to write "Play me!" on it. That's how long it's been since I've cracked it open. Anyway, I got it out and played Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star for Sam and Kate. Both of them loved it! I could see these delighted but surprised looks on their faces almost as if to say, "Wow, Mom can do other things besides cut grapes into tiny pieces and clean sand out of the bathtub. Huh. Who knew?" The funny thing is, the moment I started playing, all of these memories flooded in. 5 am...Here comes Mom's heavy, determined footsteps down the stairs...Please, don't let her turn on the light...TIME TO WAKE UP! PRACTICE TIME!...lights flash on and off...There she goes to wake up Linsey next door...and then suddenly the house is alive. Les is on the piano, Linsey is fighting Les because she NEEDS the piano to practice, Lara is sawing away on her orchestra piece, my dad's cello begins to rattle the house keeping time (if not tune) with the organ concerto blasting out of the stereo, Stevie dreams about playing the bongos. And I am left, the one wind in a family of strings. Maybe that's why I always felt justified in "practicing" in bed, blowing a few notes now and then, hoping my mom isn't listening for anything more than just a few notes in the cacophony. Is it really 5 am? Yes, at the Greene's. Anyway, playing my flute today, I felt a tug. I miss those pieces of myself that I wrapped and placed away on the shelf for safe keeping after I had my kids. I guess it's time to dust things off a little.

Conference

2008-04-08T21:25:00.000-07:00

Sam really enjoyed all the remarks during this weekend's sessions. By the end, he was begging for more. I'd say we can check off raising up a righteous generation.

LEAP!

2008-03-01T19:02:00.000-08:00

I finally made it. 8 years old and still ticking. It was a good day. Nathan gave an almost impossible present...a few moments of feeling like a glamorous 21 year old again. For a fun 24 hours I had the reigns of a cute little red sports car. We drove to dinner on the freeway with the top down (California is lovely even in February), zoomed through the hills of Portola valley and drove to the top of the East Bay hills for a view of forever rolling green in one direction and forever expanding city in the other. All this with NO car seats in the back. Sammy even got to take a spin around the parking lot.

The Boys

2008-02-22T20:48:00.000-08:00

I LOVE watching boys be boys. I can't help but want to join in the running, screaming, hopping, skipping, rolling, jumping, laughing, jumble. Alas, Mommy just isn't as cool as Chase and I don't really belong in the gang. For little boys and their head on approach to loving everything in life, I am grateful.

Do You Know the Way to San Jose?

2008-02-22T19:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we rode the train. A good time was had by all. Except for the train's brakes terrorizing Jacob, Sam running from seat to seat looking for a good place to take a nap, no parking places at the station, and trains that only come every half an hour, all went off without a hitch. In my single days, I never would have guessed I would be riding public transportation for kicks but I have to admit I love it. I feel so cosmopolitan riding with all of those people coming and going. I really love that moment when the train jerks forward and you can't tell if you're going forward or backwards. Anyway...viva la Caltrain.

First Things First

2008-02-22T19:38:00.001-08:00

It was a momentous day. Katie had her first chocolate chip cookie. The face says it all.

Justification and Come-Back Lines

2008-02-05T20:38:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I spent the better part of an hour deep within the throws of self-justification. It went like this: Sam wanted to ride his scooter. He also wanted to go the Junior Museum and Zoo, "To see all the animals." So I packed up the kids, and the scooter and the helmet and the baby bjorn and the jackets (which by the way, must be removed for any length of car ride) and the snacks and the hats...you get the idea. When we got the the museum I discovered that, of course, it is never open on Mondays. So we decided to pull out the scooter and go for a ride. Sam is just learning to ride his scooter, and while he's pretty good for a three year old, he mostly makes little hops for a few seconds and then walks it for a few blocks. So, when he decided to throw a tantrum in the muddy parking lot about not wanting wearing his helmet, I took the survivor's route and let him go without it. (Sorry Jen.) We were riding (walking...you see, I'm still self-justfying) the scooter happily for about a block when out of the blue a women on her bike pulls over in our path. She looks at me and in one of those gentle, condescending ways says, "You, know, I had a really bad fall on one of those scooters. You really should put a helmet on him. At least that's what I think." I said thank you and walked on trying to be calm, but inside I was so mad. I spent Sam's whole ride and the ride back home thinking of the most stinging comebacks I could think of and justifying my son's lack of helmetage in every way I could. But, in the end she was right. Was she right to stop me and tell me her opinion? Probably not. But she was right about the helmet. No denying it. That night at dinner Nathan said I should have just given her the bird and walked on. So, to the mother who has never given in to her child in order to keep a semblance of sanity (there's the self-justification again), this is for you.

Two Little Munchkins

2008-01-23T20:58:00.000-08:00

I think Sam has finally accepted Katie into the family. One of his favorite games now is to play two little munchkins aka. any time the two of them are in very close proximity. He climbs into Kate's bed and jumps around, asks to be in her swing at the park, hops into the her bath, and even includes her in his prayers. I'm not sure how Katie feels about it but Sam thinks its the cat's meow.

It's Gonna Blow!

2008-01-19T13:53:00.001-08:00

Make a wish Sam!

Can It Be?

2008-01-19T13:44:00.000-08:00

Oh to be three again. Our Sweet Little Sammer Boy is three years old now. I can't believe it. Has is really been three years? Has it really only been three years? Most every night before I walk out of Sam's room I whisper in his ear, "I'm so lucky to be your mama." and I really do feel that way. I have learned more about myself from Sam...how I can stretch, what I can give, what I think I can't give but then somehow I can, who I really want to be, how I really want to treat people...than from anyone else. Happy Birthday to you Sammer. Thanks for making me a mommy.

Splish Splash

2008-01-18T19:59:00.000-08:00

Katie has two love affairs. One is taking a bath and one is being outside. She can be in the ultimate grumpiest of grumpy moods and if I plop her in the bath..all is well.

Period.

2008-01-18T19:54:00.000-08:00

Why am I so grumpy? Why am I so tired? Why am I having maniacal chocolate cravings? Oh...Yes...How could I forget?

Over the River and Through the Woods...

2008-01-02T15:34:00.001-08:00

We just got back from Grandma's house. Wow is pretty much all I can say to sum up the whole event. We did it all Santa Barbara style. Christmas 2007 will be remembered for jumping on the trampoline, riding the new scooter, a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve, ATVs at Pismo Beach, an over active night time heater at the Mounts house, candy canes that turned your mouth bright blue and green, apples to apples, a Fat and Thin story from Grandpa and The Creamation of Sam McGee from Grandma, cousins, cousins, and more cousins, walks on the breakwater, talks in the kitchen, sharing time, and best of all two dates in a row. We can't wait to do it all again!

Shopping

2008-01-02T15:28:00.000-08:00

I just love this picture of Katie. She looks so proud of herself for learning to sit up all alone in the shopping cart. Or is that just me projecting emotions onto her? I was so happy when I realized I didn't have to carry her around in the baby bjorn at Target anymore. My back and shoulders breathed a collective sigh of relief.

We Are A Happy Family

2007-12-20T09:42:00.000-08:00

Here it is...The official holiday family picture. Nathan kept asking, "Do we look like a fun family?" I think the answer is yes.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

2007-12-20T09:34:00.000-08:00

Christmas is really here! I am so excited. I never thought shopping for Santa would be so much fun but it is! Sam says he wants a scooter and a candy cane from Santa. Katie...well she just wants milk and pureed peaches. I think we can oblige.

You've Come a Long Way Baby!

2007-12-12T16:42:00.000-08:00

Katie Girl has gone from this:

To this:

Our Sweet Little Gleeoh is sitting up! Yay!

Loosing Health Units...Must Rest...

2007-12-11T13:30:00.000-08:00

Okay, okay...so I've watched Toy Story 2 two too many times but it's exactly how I feel after last night. Here's the play by play:

11:00 I close my eyes
11:15 Kate cries
12:30 Kate stops crying
12:31 I close my eyes
2:30 Sam runs into our room crying demanding milk
3:00 Sam stops crying
3:01 I close my eyes
4:30 Kate cries
4:31 I give in and feed her even after the doctor has insisted she's taking me for a ride with these night time feedings - it's just easier than listening to screams for an hour
5:00 I close my eyes
6:00 Nathan's alarm goes off
6:30 Sam wakes up
7:00 Kate wakes up
8:00 I finally drag my weary body out of bed so Nathan can go to work

Sigh...Will I really look back on these days with fondness? Today I'm not so sure.

A Double Edged Sword

2007-12-03T13:36:00.000-08:00

Funny how so many things in life can be everything all rolled into one. My family came to stay for Thanksgiving. My whole family. The experience was the literal embodiment of this idea. There were people and their things EVERYWHERE tucked into EVERYPLACE in the luxurious 1000 square feet that we call our own. We had bags under the bed, car seats in the front hall, ruby red princess slippers in the bathtub, toothbrushes under the kitchen table, all complete with a fine dusting of craisins and playdough bits over everything. No child got a nap longer that half an hour. We never got out of the house before noon, the breakfast dishes never got cleaned until after dinner (ok...that's not all that different from normal life around here), kids watched way more movies, ate way more candy, and stayed up way later than normal. In short it was two weeks of chaos. I complimented Nathan on his patience and he looked at me with weary eyes and said, "Avoiding something isn't patience." I guess he did come home lots later than usual. But now that everyone is gone, it's utterly empty and I don't just mean my house. My heart feels a little empty too. I guess the foundation under all of that chaos was the only order that really means something...love. Come back everyone...come back soon!

Oh Yeah...I Remember This...

2007-11-07T20:12:00.000-08:00

My heart goes out to my friend Deborah. She just had her second baby exactly a week ago. My heart doesn't go out to her becasue of the baby. Babies are wonderful and magical and a complete miracle. However, my heart does go out to her because of the baby...and the toddler. I took one look at her face this morning complete with the cliched and almost cartoon looking dark circles and knew as only one who has just recently emerged from those deep waters knows. Those first few weeks of a new baby when there are other babies at home make me want to write to the publisher of What to Expect When You're Expecting and tell them to delete the comments about "napping when your baby naps." That taunting advice is just plain mean. So Deborah, this blog is for you. I know I cannot wish you a good night's sleep tonight, so I wish you the ability to remember this too will pass. You might even find yourself in a few years thinking "Hey, that wasn't so bad. Maybe I can do it again."

The Big One

2007-10-31T13:58:00.000-07:00

At about eight last night, I was building yet another track for Thomas and his friend Sam when the big one hit...at least that's what I thought. I heard a loud rumble like thunder but it lasted for a LONG time and the floor started to move and roll. I got really scared. I immediately went into worst case scenerio mode and saw technicolor visions of collapsing floors and crumbling walls. Even today, after nothing of the sort happened, I keep replaying these 9-11esque images of me with Sam and his little friend Jacob who we were watching last night, trapped under miles of dust and debis in the dripping dark. What I would do? How would I calm them? Even worse, how would I protect them? Feed them? Rescue them? I am trying to figure out what it was about the quake last night the got me into such a state. I think for the first time I was faced with a real situation where my kid's lives could have been endangered. I don't even know how to write about it except to say that I am still holding onto a little bit of the terrified adreneline that saturated my body last night. All day, I've found myself holding them longer and hugging them harder and looking into their faces more intently...just in case. I love those babies.

Say Cheese...

2007-10-24T16:43:00.000-07:00

Since Sammy was tiny he has loved anything with wheels. Ever since he got to "ride" on Eric's motorcycle the obsession has increased ten fold. Sorry Grampy Greene. The no motorcycle rule seems to fade with the generations.

Don't you just want to reach out and SQUEEZE those cheeks? I love this girl!

I know I bought this for Sam to live a wish from my childhood...seems he's inherited my sweet tooth.

Thanks Aunt Les and Uncle Adam for the stylish RL shirt. It's my favorite.

Sometimes I'm afraid Katie will think the world was only meant to be seen from the Baby Bjorn. With all the time she spends in it, it's no wonder my back is going numb.

A Little Summer in Autumn

2007-10-24T16:17:00.000-07:00

It is so beautiful today. Sometimes the amazing weather here makes me want run out and shout at the clouds, "Rain already!" Sam, Katie and I went to a pumpkin patch today (a California phenomenon. I don't remember them as a part of my Utah childhood.) and I was regretting not bringing my sunscreen...at the end of October!! I have many memories of freezing my legs off while trick or treating because I refused to cover up my costume with snow pants. Here we are, Halloween is in a week, and I'm afraid that the kids will dehydrate in their monkey suits. I know those reading this who live in more typical climates will roll their eyes, but admit it. It feels so good to wake up, look out the window and know that today is definately a sweater day. When you do find yourself smiling at the bite in the wind and sunlight filtering through the yellowing aspens, think of me in California and know that eternal spring isn't always paradise.

More Pictures

2007-10-04T15:04:00.001-07:00

Two little monkeys...getting ready for Halloween

Trying to get a picture with Mom in it is a little tricky

It's even harder to do with Katie

I love this one of Sammer saying CHEESE!

To Be Real

2007-10-04T14:30:00.000-07:00

Today this is the experiment: to be real. Why is it so difficult to do sometimes? Why do I find myself hiding behind a mask that I think others want to see? Why is it so hard just to be me...to be real? Today in the shower I was thinking about this dillema. I kept thinking about the Velveteen Rabbit. When you've loved and been loved so much that your seams are ripped and there is no shine left in your nose and you only have one button eye left that's hanging on by a frayed thread...then you are real. Is it the loving that makes you real? Is it the love that gives you the power to say, (and excuse my French), "To hell with what they think. I'm me and I'm great." Maybe so. It's also something to think about that in the story of the Velveteen Rabbit, it is the love that hurts and exhausts and uses and breaks apart and finally transforms.

Back Online

2007-09-25T21:30:00.000-07:00

Phew! For the past month, I've been waiting, waiting, waiting for DSL to come back into my life. A move messes lots of things up. Many of these things, like naptime, I fully expected to surrender to. But connetion to the outside world? I must say, it's been a rocky road without the internet. And to think I didn't even send my first email until I was on my mission. Anyway, I'm back. I had several lighting bolt moments today regarding how much my kids notice me. My sister-in-law, Ginger, sent me a little article one mom wrote about how she feels invisible, likening herself to the builders of the cathedrals in Europe, and I must admit, a little joke I have with Nathan is that I feel like the Bones...the one that holds everything up and together, but nobody ever sees. But, today, I had these little moments when I just thought to myself...Huh...maybe they are all just pretending not to know I am there. Like tonight, we went to dinner at Deborah and Eric's. Kate was one the floor so I could eat a taco at lightening speed, but in typical Kate style, she was fussing becasue she was not being looked and cooed at. Well, Eric walked over and started talking to her in a friendly, sweet tone. She immediately started screaming, sticking her little lip out as far as she could. As soon as she saw me she broke into a smile and settled right down. SHE KNOWS ME! I thought. What's more, I think she likes me. Also, Sam has started trying to read my moods. If he ears even a little tinge of frusteration in my voice, he stops everything that he doing, even if it means parking Lightening McQueen and asks, "Mommy, are you happy or sad?" He's done it a few times in the past weeks, but today, he did it about five times. Maybe I'm like the fire bug (or in our house otherwise known as the boxelder bug) They wear their bones on the outside which makes them next to impossible to get rid of. Maybe that's more like me these days. I'm still the bones, but maybe I'm more visible and undestructable than I think...

Ode to the Lys

2007-08-28T15:40:00.000-07:00

I love being named after such a beautiful little fleur...

Good-Bye

2007-08-27T14:06:00.000-07:00

I am terrible at saying good-bye. I dont know why I hate the leave taking process so much. The big good-byes are definately the worst...you know, the ones where you will probably never see a person who's been your friend again for a long time. What do you say in those moments? "See you later!" seems so shallow because you know that you probably wont. "Been nice know you" sounds like you're at the end of a really bad break up. "I'll miss you." never seems like enough. I guess I take the coward's way out most of the time. In the moment, I prefer just walking out the door unnoticed. But I always regret the openendedness afterwards...Last Sunday was our final day in the Menlo Park Ward and I feel like we sneaked out. If any of you out there read this and are feeling like we cheated you in the good-bye department, I hope you feel better knowing its becasue I'm alergic to the whole process and we plan to be back. We're ony 15 minutes away (ok...20...) so I hope you'll be down for a visit now and again.

What's a blog without pictures?

2007-08-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

I love reading what people write, but I love, love, love the pictures. Here's a few of my latest favorites

Its Been Awhile

2007-08-21T13:56:00.000-07:00

I started this blog with high hopes of joining the blogging community in full force. Alas, l seem to have approached the whole thing much like I do journal writing. I get all excited, buy a pretty new journal, write one really energetic new entry and then forget the whole thing for a year until I see a nice pretty new journal in some shop window just begging to be filled up with my thoughts...and the whole circle begins anew. Oh well. Can I fall back on the "I have a new baby" excuse for at least 3 more months? I promise to try to be better. Today is a red letter day becasue I got both kids to take a nap at the same time. Lately, Sam boycotts nap time all together until he collapses in a heap on the living room floor. Kate is still not old enough to know that you have the option of boycotting the nap yet but I fully expect that sometime in the next three years I'll hear much kicking of the wall and pulling out of clothes from the dresser instead of peaceful sleeping. Glorious day today! I got them both down at the same time. It is nothing less than a miracle. Thanks Angie for inviting us out for a morining of swimming and sunshine. I think it did the trick for us all.

The Dynamic Duo

2007-08-05T21:52:00.000-07:00

Sam and Eva Splashing at the Police Station Fountain

Sam and Eva Having a Marker Fight

Please come back Eva! We miss you already!

Nursery without Eva

2007-08-05T21:31:00.000-07:00

OK. I've started my own blog. After I read Jessie's I thought, "Hey, that looks fun." So here I am. Today was the first Sunday Sam went to the nursery at our church without his best friend Eva. Eva moved to Wisconsin yesterday. It was sad. He walked into the nursery room and said, "Where's Eva?" I had to look at his sweet little innocent face and tell him again that she is in Wisconsin now. He looked at me with these sad brown eyes and said, "No she's not." How are we ever going to get along without them?