Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Sydnee likes her whip cream


Sydnee is such a picky eater. Some might argue that this is just payback for my pickiness, and they are probably right. The thing about it is that she is totally unpredicatable about what she will eat. Somedays she'll love something & the next day, not so much! Even though she is slightly lactose intolerant, she apparently loves whip cream...as you can see. :) Thank goodness for whip cream & goldfish crackers! What a diet!

A few good days


My girls have been especially pleasant this week. My guess is that they are glad to be home & on a normal schedule, since they have been here, there, & everywhere this summer. Ava decided to play hide-and-seek today (while I was watching of course) and this is where she fit herself. I'm just glad she got herself out, it was pretty funny.


*She's inside her little pretend oven*

Monday, July 30, 2007

10 Years is a long time















My bro & I before the homecoming parade. Doesn't he look happy? See my cute car when it was a cute car! Ahh, and Jake's Jeep...oh and the mini van, WOW- the memories! I was to ride on a float this night- I look like a politician. Funny note: the date on the picture says '94, I faintly remember that feature being broken on the camera- this was Fall of '96 not March of '94.





















My Senior picture...my Mom has a life-size one of these...I always told her if she missed me she could just talk to my picture.















My first high school play...there's no way you could figure out which one I am...my part? I was a tree. NICE!





















And we skip to when I was like 4...





















3rd grade...I hate that my curl is sticking up in the back.





















I believe this is kindergarten...WOW!

This weekend is my 10 year reunion. I wish I had more high school pictures loaded on my computer, but oh well. I'm too tired to do it at the moment. So about my reunion- I'm really excited! I can't believe it's been 10 years! I've been involved in the reunion plans & I think we're going to have a really great turn-out. I'm nervous & excited & anxious & thrilled all at the same time. So to celebrate, here are some pictures of me...a blast from the past, baby! I HATE pictures of me, so find this small break-down amusing, okay? :)

Friday, July 27, 2007

Day 3

The last full day at the reunion was spent playing games in the morning and going to the lake in the afternoon.

This was such a new experience for the girls. They really enjoyed pretending to sail on the boat my dad's cousin brought.

They really enjoyed going out onto the lake and playing the water.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Family Home Evening


Our FHE last night was about saying sorry. When you have done something wrong you need to say sorry & it makes us feel happy when we do the right thing. Our activity was decorating these happy faces with macaroni. All of my egg noodle hair has fallen off, but it was still fun!

Top left with spiky hair-Todd

Top right with curly hair- Ava

Below Ava's with cute "ears"- Sydnee

Lowest & most colorful without any remaining "curls"- Lindsey

We LOVE HARRY POTTER







Here are few pictures of Todd & I picking up our book at midnight. We're both finished & we loved every page! :) It was fun to be in the crowd picking up the book. It was especially neat to think about all the very different people with very different lives standing in line for 1 book. Way to go JK!



Monday, July 23, 2007

Motherhood Milestones

The wife of a friend of mine posted her thoughts on an article she read about Motherhood milestones & then her experiences with each one. I thought it was very thought-provoking, so I thought I would do it too. I'd love to know your answers as well!

Milestone #1: Admitting you can't do it alone.
For me this came a week after Ava was born. With all of the hormones & such that come after giving birth I remember having this weird protective emotion to her...I wanted people to hold her & such, it was just that I wanted it understood that she was MINE. It's all very weird to me now, but that's what I was feeling. I was especially keen on making sure Todd understood that as well. Then after about a week I snapped back into reality (thank goodness) and realized that this parenting thing was so much easy with 2 people involved (and the rest of the village).

Milestone #2: Realizing you're actually someone's mother.
Perhaps I'm still working on this one. I'm not sure when this hit exactly, but I know the impact of it all has deepened as my girls have grown older (yes, they are ancient at 1 & 2). Moments when in the middle of the night I hear my name being called, or when I'm the only one who can calm or cheer. This is also apparent when the girls mimic me, which they do a lot, it's a humbling & fascinating thing.

Milestone #3: Doing Mom duty--in public.
My friend took this to mean nursing. I'm going along the lines of having to discipline in public. Again, I don't have a specific first memory of feeling humiliated. I've always said I'd rather appear like the Tyrant Mom who won't let her kid get away with anything than the Lenient Mom who's kid gets away with murder. There are always moments, though, that are out of your control. Like about a month ago when Ava wanted to go to the toy section of WalMart. I told her "no, no right now" or something to that effect. She stood firm, crying loudly about her desires. I repeated my answer & walked off (still being able to see her). I went to the frame section where I needed to go & she remained for a few minutes. Then when she decided she's give in, she came running (still upset) toward me. Moments later she knocked over part of the aisle display on top of herself. I was ready to go into hiding & never venture in public with her ever again. :)

Milestone #4: Making a mom friend.
I had lots of Mom friends in Nacogdoches who all knew me pre-motherhood, but when I moved to Waco I arrived as a mother. I found this dynamic a little challenging. Ava was not able to walk & so I wasn't sure about attending playgroup. So I waited until she was up on her feet. I think it took me months to feel accepted- not necessarily due to my playgroup Moms, it was just all so new to me- a new identity. The first playgroup Moms that helped me get over this were Michalann, Michele, & Leah. Thanks to those pretty ladies!

Milestone #5: Feeling human again.
I haven't had issues with this for the most part. I have always thought of it as separate identities almost. I am me & I am also a mother. My personality is exhibited through my girls personalities. Ava is the energetic social side of me & Sydnee is the pensive and kind side of me. Being a mother is just part of who I am, I have never stopped being myself, although I continue to change & grow.

Milestone #6: Laughing at motherhood
I don't think I laughed about it until Sydnee was born & motherhood with 2 seemed so much harder. I think having 2 so close together made me relax to a point because I had to let go of some ideas & opinions. It forced me into a more typical LDS mother role to be successful. The idea of being everyone still in their pajamas at lunch time is more than probable, it is often a reality.

Milestone #7: Handling the impossible.
Refer to #6, it has been difficult for me with having 2- but I wouldn't change it. I think the timing of all of it was such a strain on me that it caught me so off guard. I found out I was pregnant the month Todd decided we were moving. We were moving to a new town, had no place to call home until our house sold (thank goodness for the Prices!), I had to leave a lot of comforts, & I already had a baby to try to take care of- remember Ava was 6 months old when I became pregnant with Sydnee. Man, we're crazy! And then Sydnee came- sweet & cuddly & the loudest, highest pitched screamer I've ever known.

Milestone #8: Believing you're a good mom.
There are only moments of this one. I'm not convinced I've accomplished this one yet, but hope for the future. I have moments, though, where I feel like maybe I'm doing alright. Like when Ava accidentally does something & hugs me & says, "Sorry Mommy". Or when Sydnee communicates to me that she wants me to pick her up "peez". It's too early to tell I think. The way that they love me despite my MANY faults helps me know that I can keep going & that I'm doing my best. So, we'll see...I can only hope! :)

I have been tagged...so I guess I'm "IT"

Tagged...
Here are the rules:
A. Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves.
B. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed.
C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.I was tagged, so let the fun begin....

I hope I get this right...just 8 random things about me...Hmm...I'm thinking these are meant to be less-known facts, so I'll do my best!

1. I have a really good memory for song lyrics. I think this is one of the blessings I have received from being a inadequately trained choir director. I just know in my head how the note is suppose to sound & what the words are...MOST of the time, nobody's perfect. :)

2. When something wakes me up, I am instantly awake & alert. I don't usually require a period of time to get my brain functioning. This is very helpful with a husband that is the opposite & that also walks, talks, & does crazy things in his sleep.

3. If I could have a second career other than a counselor (and presently a Mom & professional stamper) I would be a caterer.

4. I hate mice & rats. I am usually of a calm nature & do not scare easily...but put me in a room & tell me there's a mouse & you'll see a whole different side of me. This is not a challenge.

5. I began playing soccer when I was 8 years old & played all the way into adulthood. I have played every position. My father thought putting me in soccer would make me tougher (I guess I was a little bit of a cry baby). This theory worked except when I was put in the goal, I took everything that went passed me personally & could cry if we lost.

6. When I was a senior in high school I was a big drama buff & was considered a no-brainer for the lead role in the year's musical. I bombed the auditions & was given a silent role. It was a great learning experience & I look back on it with fondness.

7. I have 15/20 vision, which is better than the normal 20/20.

8. I consider myself to be a slower reader (probably because my husband can read so fast) unless I am reading a Harry Potter book. I finished Book 1-6 in about 3 weeks & I JUST finished book 7 last night (got it at midnight on Friday, finished it 50 hours later...with lots of stuff going on...like 3 hours of church :)!)

And now YOU are tagged:
1 Mandy
2 Jim
3 Deena
4 MaLaan
5 The Kennedys
6 Todd
7 Michalann
8 Claudia

Have fun! :)

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Day 2

More driving Wednesday morning, more than we had anticipated. We thought the campsite was close to Steamboat Springs, but it was another 45 minutes past the city, but once we got there, we immediately started having fun. We camped on an island in the middle of Steam Boat Springs Lake where we had a great view of Hahn's Peak. This was the first time for the girls to be inside a tent...
Looks like they had fun!

After setting up camp, we enjoyed seeing family and having them meet Sydnee.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Day 1 - The Longest Drive

We left Dallas at 6 am Tuesday morning intending to find a place to sleep somewhere in Kansas. Lindsey drove most of the way to minimize car sickness and to get me to finish the fifth Harry Potter book so we could start listening to book six on CD. We anxiously hoped the girls would do well sitting in the car for so long and they did! Some things that really helped were having them open presents every time we got back into the car, taking 45 minute breaks where they could play on playgrounds, lots of snacks (they love YoGo's) and the dual-screen portable DVD player with their favorite movies and, of course, Charlie and Lola.


With some determination, we actually made it into Colorado that night, which made the final leg of the drive shorter, even though it didn't seem like it.

Sunday, July 8, 2007

Good News!

The rabbits moved their litter yesterday into the grass we left for them. Maybe we will get a glimpse of the bunnies when we get back from Colorado.

Saturday, July 7, 2007

Wildlife Preserve

Since it has rained nearly everyday for the last couple of weeks, I haven't had opportunity to mow the grass. Last weekend I did get to the front yard, but the back had started to go crazy.

Here's how tall it was compared to how it normally is:
We had noticed several days ago a couple of wild rabbits hopping in and out of the tall grass. We thought they were having a lot of fun, especially since Toby doesn't mind them playing in the yard.
As I mowed, I saw the rabbits didn't run out of the yard like they normally do when we go out there. They just stayed in the tall grass. I though it was pretty weird. On my fourth pass around the yard, I looked down at my feet because there was a dark patch on the ground and was moving: I thought I ran over one of the rabbits! Looking closer I realized I had uncovered a litter of 5 or 6 bunnies!
I had to be very careful about disturbing the nest because if I touched it, the parents would abandon them, so I looked as closely as I could to make sure I hadn't injured any of them. Fortunately, I had the mower raised an inch higher than normal so they were all okay, just scared from a 6 horse-power engine going over them.


According to the animal control, the parents should move the bunnies to a safer place, so I left a portion of the yard alone so the family can have shelter and food.
If you want to see wild rabbits, stop by. Admission will be free for a short time only.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Teaching Daddy About Animals

I wish I could've taken a picture of what Ava did tonight. We were playing in their room and Ava pulled out one of her books with pictures of animals in it. She pointed to a wolf and said "what sound make, Daddy?" She then held her hand out towards me with her open palm facing up as if she were conducting an orchestra. So I howled, after which she said "good job, Daddy!" We continued cycling through all the images: she would point and ask, "what that, Daddy?" (Me) "A dog." (Ava) "Good job, Daddy. What sound make?" (Me barking). (Ava) "Good job, Daddy!" I laughed so hard since that is exactly what we have done with her!

Overwhelmed about the Vacation!

I feel like I have so much to do that it will be impossible for me to get it all done...and I am having a major motivation problem BECAUSE I feel like it won't get done. This morning we started packing. This has been SO hard to do since we are going to Colorado, we need warm & cool weather clothing...so basically 2 outfits for everyday and several options on pajamas. Oh and I haven't even begun thinking about my clothing- this is suppose to be a vacation, right? (Whew)
Ava helped me pack the clothing this morning, so the girls clothes (except a few odds & ends) are packed & ready to go! I was going to do it last night but I needed to make sure I got the colors right...so when Ava woke up I asked her which one was hers & which one was Sydnee's...and I would have guessed wrong. Ava's is pink & Sydnee's is purple. These backpacks were $20 at Marshalls, they are heavy-duty & can be pulled as well. We'll put their 72-hour kits in them when we are finished. For the trip it will only hold their clothing, hair, & hygiene stuff...of course there will be a whole container for food, bottles, cups, containers, snacks, & utensils...not to mention travel toys. Did I mention I am overwhelmed?