Its Always Fun When Grandma Comes

Grandma Nay came in May to help us pack up our house. While she was here she let Noelle put on her make-up, all by herself. Noelle thought it was great, however when it came time to show me what she had done, she knew that I wouldn't be as excited about it as Grandma was. I could tell she thought she was in trouble.

It took a lot to convince her that she was indeed not in trouble and that she should smile for a picture.

We later washed the mask portion off and just let her have the eyes done. I really hope she doesn't think she can play in my make-up the way she can play in Grandma's. (Note to Mom: If she does indeed get into my make-up, you're dead meat.)

The Guest Room

Really the only room that makes sense and looks cute. Come visit!

P.S. Look how soft my carpet looks in this picture. I love our new carpet.

Lunch Date with Noelle

Today Noelle and I ventured out for a not so fun and exciting eye appointment (you know, one of those last minute things you do before you have a baby?) I promised her that we could get a cookie afterwards at Paradise Bakery. Of course she had to go pee and making her hold it isn't as easy as we adults all think it should be. So yes after being so, so good (which she can also be so, so terrible) we headed over. Since it was lunch time I figured we might as well eat a sandwich while we at it and make a date of the day.
As usual the sandwich was good, we made it to the bathroom fine, cookies are always delightful, etc. Then all of a sudden I had that feeling, the one where you feel like you have tunnel vision (which I didn't really because the eye doc would have told me if I did) but that feeling when you look at your one and only child and think, this is not going to last much longer. Not even a week in our case. Then I thought this might be the last time we actually sit down and have a nice little lunch, eating cookies and not needing to talk, but just watch her be. She's big. She says funny things and she has a memory like Horton. I wish I could have preserved that moment. I was tempted to get the camera out of my purse and take her picture with sugar cookie all over her face. She was so content. Little does she know she's about to have her world rocked. I sure hope she loves her sister.

Car Seats

Nine or less days and "baby sister" can now officially come, because we now have a car seat in which to bring her home in.

I agonized over this stupid thing for so long that it seems ridiculous to me. I loved the one we had for Noelle and it served its purpose well. However thanks to one of the major airlines for hurling it through the air and snapping the handle in two. We compensated by duct taping it back together for the remaining months of use and then stored it wondering what we should do with our almost perfect car seat. When we finally moved I told Boo it was time to stop storing junk and we parted ways with our beloved car seat.

Fast forward three years and that car seat has been modified. Whaaa! No! Although it still has a decent consumer rating, it had been changed just enough to make it a little inefficient. Or if we found one that operated the same it came in a grotesquely pink motif or something with small animal type characters, neither of which I could imagine using. I must have looked at car seats for more than a life's worth of time, going back and forth, reading user ratings and even making Boo run around town looking for a store that carried enough car seats that we could compare them to each other. He became apathetic towards the whole thing and made me decide, since ultimately I'd be the one hauling it to and from the car. Oh the agony.

So we ended up with beauty. I hope I still love it in five months. I hope "baby sister" loves it too. I know Consumer Reports gives it two thumbs way up.

The Ten Day Count Down

This weekend has been loaded with all things nesting. Before Noelle was born I didn't do the cleaning kind of nesting. I quilted for friends mostly and then before I knew it she was here. This time however I feel I need to scrub the filth off of everything and have become much more persnickety with the clothes and the whole set up. It could also be that for once in our lives we are permanent. There is no looking to the future of getting out of a rental, or possibilities of having our lease be up and being asked to move. We're here for a long period of time. That being said I've been trying to make things a little more organized, because we can't live in chaos forever.
So for the next ten or less days we'll continue to get settled and be ready for "baby sister."

And for all of you just itching to come and see how hot it really is in Arizona during the summer, we now have a guest room ready for all things visitors. Boo says it looks like something from Palm Beach.

Life in the Slow Lane

I'd love to post something witty and exciting, but I've resorted to being a hermit on all days except Tuesdays. That is one day I'm committed to getting out. Its the day of the weekly doctor's appointment which we then tack ourselves on to playgroup in our old neighborhood since we're in that general area already. The rest of the week I sit around looking at things on the floor that will take too much energy to bend over and pick up. Noelle has started imitating the way I do this, which looks like she's getting down into a tackle position for football, legs spread apart, one arm down for balance. I'm sure its looks ridiculous to a three year old.
I'm also sure life feels like we're just moving along slowly because I sit around twiddling my thumbs waiting to get this baby out. It really not reassuring when the doctor says you could have this baby today or you might go until your induction date. Personally, I'm totally pulling for sooner rather than later. Life also might be in slow gear because its like we're living in the real life version of the movie Ground Hog's Day. The same thing over and over again. Starts with cereal, watch a few movies throughout the day, ends with Noelle in panties and tap shoes, clicking around on the tile in our house.
Maybe tomorrow I'll break up the monotony and be glad to have easy going days.

We Moved...

Well we sort of moved, into the garage. We officially live on the other side of town. But with a few things to do before we could put our furniture in we had to put EVERYTHING in the garage. But now we're slowly filtering through and trying to get it all put in its new place. I'd post some pictures but we don't have the office up and running and we're currently using our ghetto laptop that has limited abilities. Internet being one of its only.

Luckily reinforcement is coming in about an hour and will be here all weekend She'll do a good job making things look cute and making sense of the space I have. Plus, she can lift boxes and I can't.

If you didn't get our new address in an email and want it let me know. We'll get it to you without sharing with the entire world wide web.

Moving side note: The new post office wasn't as bad as it could have been today. Pros: it wasn't over run with old people shuffling through the parking lot and the workers were generally nice for a change. Cons: The customers, there were some interesting folks in there.

The Bitter End

Why is it that I feel like such a procrastinator? Why is it also that every time we move we wait until the bitter end? It seems like each move is the same. I've even observed this behavior and promised that I wouldn't repeat such actions. But here we are, closing the month and you better believe we'll be here cleaning at midnight on Sunday, well aware of our own foolishness.

If You Think You're Having a Bad Day...

Then think of this bird I found on my patio that had a growth on the side of his face that was as large as his head. Then imagine trying to fly straight. I imagine he has to over compensate.

**sorry the picture isn't top quality, but it was taken through the window as not to add any more stress to this poor bird.

A Cause for Celebration

There really doesn't need to be a cause to celebrate with these fine ladies, but thanks to them for a great evening of pedicures and dinner to celebrate the upcoming arrival of "baby sister." I love you all!

Here's a fun game...guess which one is mine.

Movin' On Up

Doo doo doo, to the East side. Just like the Jefferson's, we're movin' on up, or down depending on how you choose to look at it. We're actually going to see what that "American dream" is all about. No more shrugs of the shoulders blaming a lame landlord or apathy toward yard maintenance. I asked Boo if this was my ten year anniversary gift and he replied, "Well it is a diamond in the rough." (shoulders shrugged)

Its actually not bad at all because it will be mine and I don't do junky. So next week when I sign my life away for a realized dream, give us a hoop and a holler for jumping in feet first.

The best part is that the commute will be one third the distance for Boo and can all be done on surface streets if he wants. We can even meet him for lunch on occasion without making up an excuse for being in the neighborhood and having to pack snacks for the journey. We'll even get our dad for an extra hour or two a day! That is worth the nights I lay in bed thinking about all the walls to paint and better (meaning cuter/stylish, however function is all Boo needs) ceiling fans I'd install.

Come visit anytime...from October to March.

I've Hit A Wall

Stick a fork in me, I'm done. The flies are driving me insane, and I think the culprit is our little pool in the back yard. It doesn't help that the door is constantly left open and when you ask Noelle to close it she will look at you plainly and say "No thanks." I can't sit outside for long for two reasons, one I can't get up out of the chair to fulfill all of Noelle's requests and two its to damn hot! My clothes are so boring at this point in pregnancy that I'd almost rather go naked. I wandered about Target looking at possible solutions to my problem, but I can't bring myself to buy anything when I know the end is so close. I just kept telling myself that I'd be so much more happy buying myself something fun when this baby is out. I'm already sick of packing boxes. I figure a couple boxes a day is sufficient, however by the time I get that far I'm pooped. So cleaning goes out the window as does any parenting strategies I thought I had before now. Noelle has decided to launch a revolt and is no longer the nice, compliant child she was even two weeks ago. She calls us "bobbin heads," which I'm not sure what it is but I've threatened vinegar and soap and she doesn't care. That's her personal insult to me. Maybe I am a bobbin head and just don't realize it. Needless to say, if you see a post on here and I've spontaneously combusted, you'll know why. I just have to get through the next month or so and hopefully I'll be blissed out on the idea of a new house and preparing to give birth. (Personally I'd rather do that right now than anything.)

Self Portrait

Noelle is a great artist. She especially likes to draw pictures of people. After a very long day of waking early, running errands, no nap, and eating lots of stuff she drew this self portrait.

She was really sad about five minutes before because I had told her that she needed to go to bed, but she wanted to watch the "dancing show" also known as Dancing With the Stars. So I put her little weepy self on my bed and she told me that her feelings were really hurting. So this is what she says she looks like when she's sad. I'm not sure where her mouth is, but usually she does draw a mouth, but the tears are a new addition to her art. Very funny and expressive for a three year old.

Produce Mania

I know I go on and on about this great produce co-op that we participate in every other week, but seriously I love looking in my fridge to find it full of good things, that we even eat. I encourage my Utah friends to keep an eye out for one near them since they just started doing produce offerings in that area. Check http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/ to see how it all works.

Let me just tell you what I got for my $15 today. (This does not include the extra stuff I got for volunteering)
Broccoli - 2 crowns
Acorn Squash -2
Lettuce
Cucumbers - 2
Celery
Apples - 7
Grapes, lots of grapes - 2 bags, don't know in pounds.
Bananas - 7 or so
Cantaloupe - 1
Pineapple - 1
Blackberries - 1 pint

Here's a picture from one of my first baskets. Look at all that good stuff. Its cheap too!

Its That Time of Year

Welcome to Arizona! We can all pretty much assume that from here on out its going to be hot and just get hotter before a major cool down happens.

Time for popsicles.

Time for swimming in the pool.

Chatty

Most mornings when Noelle wakes up she greets me with a very enthusiastic "Good morning." Then the next thing out of her mouth in a not so enthusiastic voice is "Where's my dad?" Every morning its the same thing. However this morning she was so chatty, maybe it was the fact that she fell asleep in the car on the way home from a friend's house at 5:30pm and I could not wake her to save my life. So after nearly fourteen hours of sleep she was a chatty little thing. Through her deep thoughts on things like pillows and blankets and what Dad might be doing at work and quoting lines from the movie Annie, she turned to me and said, "I love you Miss Momigan." as in "We love you Miss Hannigan?" Who could ask for anything better at 7:00 am?

My Sentiments Exactly

Cousin Jen posted this on her blog and I laughed so hard at points that I was crying. Because we've flown recently this is so fresh on my brain. Hilarious! Just think of me with Noelle in the back coloring away as we watch people trying to stuff their overly large bags into the overhead. I often have to laugh at those folks because I can use the space under the seat in front of Noelle.

Happy Easter

Well we "celebrated" our first Easter as a family. Nothing super fancy, just an egg hunt. She thought is was kind of silly. The Easter Bunny put plastic butterflies and ladybugs in the eggs along with some "bunny money," ie. chocolate coins.

It didn't take her long to bust into all her loot. This basically meant that she wouldn't be eating a decent breakfast unless the candy was sequestered by the parents.

Noelle in her new "poofy" dress.

Rach in all her Easter dress glory. (Picture taken by Noelle. Not bad eh?)

Magic

Noelle informed me today that she does magic tricks. When I asked her to show me her tricks she started waving her hands around and making some squilly sounds. And that my friends is how you do magic, when you are three.

Pregnancy

You would think the second time round I'd be smarter. But no. Anyone who has been pregnant would know that you do outgrow pregnancy clothes, especially the ones you buy early on. I put on one of my favorites and braved it out most of the day, only to realize while driving home that I quite possibly was cutting off my circulation at the waist. I'm sad. Time to move on.
Oh and 'baby sister' was much happier too.

Birthday Celebration(s)

What would birthday week be if it didn't include celebrating for more than one day? That's how its been at our house, one perpetual celebration. We celebrated with a birthday party/ playgroup hijacking. Since I'm a one-track-brain I made some poofy princess skirts for the girls. But what do you do for boys? Capes. Tell them they are knights capes and then they'll actually wear them. Thanks to Mama Heather for talking me through birthday parties. It would have been a real bomb had she not helped me figure out what three year olds like to do.

If you need suggestions use these: pin the tail on the bunny, memory with fairy pictures from your clip art files, jump the dragon's tail (jumping back and forth over a shiny belt like thing), freeze dance, Easter egg hunt, cake & ice cream.

Memory

Jumping the dragon's tail

Freeze dance

Party friends, poofy skirts and all!
Cupcake anticipation

Lesson learned - put better candy in the plastic eggs. Note to self, Dave likes chewy Sprees.

Noelle had fun with her friend Bea. Thank you Sundahls.

After a week in Massachusetts we joined up with Grammy, Great Grammy & Great Papa, along with all the aunts, uncles and cousins would could imagine. Noelle got to have a joint family party with cousin Andrea who turned five. We took a train ride on "Dinah" which Noelle thought was great since she didn't have to sit the whole time.

Thanks to all of you who have helped us celebrate in one way or another. I think next year we'll just have a family night at Peter Piper and call it good.

Back Up to February

Despite thinking that I don't get out and do much, its a good thing I have pictures to remind me that I'm not actually becoming a hermit. Here are some of the fun things we did during February and March.

First we went to Las Vegas for Valentine's Day weekend to see our friends the Stringham's. Treyden and Noelle made Valentine cookies while mom and dad went on a Valentine date. We don't usually make a big deal out of celebrating and it became apparent as to why when we went out to catch a movie and neither of us had a wallet. After our movie Treyden was very concerned about giving us a cookie and presented it with "Happy Valentine's Day, I love you." Shocked us all sweet boy.

This is the train "museum" in Boulder City - just outside Las Vegas. Treyden loves trains and Noelle thinks they're pretty neat too. We even got to ride on a real train.

Noelle and her little dog friend down the street. I think this is a funny picture mostly because the dog is oh so nice to let her carry her around. Noelle thought it was great to have a dog that would 1) let her and 2) wasn't too heavy.

I even got a quilt made and gifted in the month of February.

Then March rolled around. Grammy and Papa spent a week with us and while they were here we went to the McCormick Stillman Railroad Park. Grammy said she used to take Boo and uncl Justin there when they were kids, but it didn't look quite the same as it did back then. Noelle rode the carousel about ten times and mom and Grammy would take turns riding with her. Carousels are her favorite.

We also managed to go to a spring training baseball game between the Brewers and the Cubs. Noelle wasn't so interested in the baseball as she was fixated on finding some popcorn. She was a happy girl with her giant bag of kettle corn.

Then it was time for Dad to go and enjoy his man-cation with all the uncles while Auntie and Elizabeth came to Arizona to get their fix of vitamin D. We enjoyed some shopping, eating, beading, hiking, and Chihuly. If you're local I'd recommend checking out the Desert Botanical Gardens while the Chihuly exhibit is in town. The flowering desert plants aren't too bad either.

Noelle at Hole in the Rock in Papago Park.

The Youth of Today

I'm still trying to figure out how to raise my almost three year old. However as I go through the daily grind of timeouts, potty breaks, and scrubbing green highlighter masterpieces off my wall I am ever so frightened by what is to come.

Lately I've been observing some of the youth that I work with at church. I am appalled, shocked, absolutely flabbergasted at the things they do and things they deem to be acceptable.

One instance was a boy who thought it would be funny to eat as many desserts as he could by making a sandwich out of two pieces of chocolate bread with two cookies in the middle. That was only his first round. After I explained that it was time to sit back down and that the desserts were really for our "guests" (we were hosting the old folks for a talent show), he looked at me and said he was the guest. I think my eyeballs may have popped out of my head. Is back talking to adults okay now days?

Another thing I don't understand is cell phones. I guess I really missed this boat or am still missing this boat. Is it so hard to leave a cell phone home from church for three hours? Or in the car? I realize some people have super sophisticated phones that pull up all sorts of information which may be useful during certain meetings, I can adapt to that. However texting during sacrament meeting (yes, I've watched my own teenage siblings do this) or during a lesson, seriously? Am I just getting old?

Lastly, why do the youth of today agree to babysit if they aren't really willing to work? I'm paying good money, money that they probably could make at a fast-food restaurant only after being micromanaged and paying taxes. Is it really that hard to work when you're getting paid? Is money not a good motivation anymore? I recall hearing of one father telling his daughter who was just starting to get calls for babysitting gigs that she should find things to do even after those kids were asleep because she wasn't getting paid to sit there and watch TV. Isn't that the truth? I'm not asking for maid service, I'm just asking not to come home to a bigger mess than I might have left. To use common sense.

Am I being unreasonable?

A Virtual Valentine

Since most of you who read this aren't close enough to share a real Valentine with, I thought I'd send you a virtual heart shaped cookie. Take your pick. For the recipe go here.

Aren't they so cute - there is plenty of frosting to switch things up with some left over.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I just had to add this picture in from our park day Valentine party.

Noelle was loving her heart shaped sucker.

Happy Birth-week to Boo

Its that time of year again, the birth-week celebrations seem to start and then its one after another. For Boo's birthday we got all our former band mates together for some RockBand World Tour, Animal Bingo (best game for little kids ever), pizza, & carrot cake. Thanks to the friends that came and helped make Boo's birthday extra special.

Check out our band! Camille is the designated lead singer because she knows almost every song ever sung.

Boo is the designated drummer, although others did give it a try.

The concentration is thrilling, isn't it?

Best bingo game ever - look at all the junk on the table. It was great.

Tiny Dancer

She really is the tiniest in her class. We started dance classes three weeks ago and these are just some clips from those classes. I wish I had some from the first day because she was the class clown and preferred to watch that first day instead of do the dancing. The first clip is from the night we got her tap shoes, she was all ready for bed, but then we had to take her jammies off so that she could tap around the kitchen. Watching the video makes me want to preserve her in a jar. She's at a perfect stage where she says funny things (she called me a knuckle head the other day) and she does funny things. I love her right now.