Last Saturday

We took the kids out to explore some property where we may move. We knew we had to get out to enjoy the gorgeous weather. But first the girls danced to music in the parking lot while we waited for BR to get our sandwiches.

6 months old

Beckham is 6 months old now. He is such a cute little chubby man. We love him around here. Just in the last few weeks, I have noticed a huge jump in his development. He is starting to do so many things, and is really growing out of his newborn stage. A few bits about Beck-a-roo

• He LOVES to be swaddled, and always has. He is a cuddler. When he was born, he would sleep great, but only if he was curled right up next to me. I had to sleep on the couch with him in a laundry basket next to me, and my hand on him to ween him from having to be in the bed with me. And always, if I would hold him to put him to sleep, he would burry his nose in my armpit and be out. Now he has settled for being swaddled. As soon as I wrap him up tight (the tighter the better) and give him a passy, his eyes roll back in his head, perfectly relaxed.
• He smiles at everyone he sees. All of our kids have been smiley babies, and haven't really been afraid of strangers, but this little guy smiles at everyone who looks at him.
• He is really scared by loud noises. Everytime, his lower lip juts out and he starts to whimper.
• He weighs more than either of the girls weighed at 1 year, and is growing out of his 9 month clothing.
• He loves to kick, kick, he is constantly kicking.
• He loves to play with toys and puts them straight in his mouth. His absolute favorite toy is a crinkly wrapper, and will cry if he drops it.
• He LOVES his bottle.
• He is an eater, and still eats (no solid food yet) about every 3 hours.
• He always smells good, even after he spits up all over, he still smells sweet. I don't know how he does it.
• He'll cry, and as soon as the problem is fixed, he is over it immediately.
• He loves his toes.
• He is always warm.....maybe hot is the word.... He always wakes up sweaty.
• When he is tired and gets excited, he tenses up his face, opens his mouth and growls.
• He loves it when I "eat" his neck.
• He LOVES to be thrown in the air.
• He babbles, and especially loves to say, "Bwaaa, baa,baaa, Bwaaa."
• Whenever I hold him facing me, he will open his mouth wide and try to "eat" me.
• He has the softest, squishiest skin on the planet.
• We adore him.

Her toothless grin

I was so sad for Liv to lose her first teeth. Mostly because I loved her little teeth, and losing them meant they were gone forever. But look at this cute smile. This picture was taken 2 weeks ago, and she has since lost 2 more teeth, and there is another one about to follow. That will make 6!

*I had to laugh when Liv came running down to me with her mouth slightly bloody and an excited expression on her face. She knew that her second front tooth was loose enough for me to pull it out. I was surprised because it hadn't been very loose that morning. When I asked her what happened she said, "Well, Gwen and I were fighting, and I thought about biting Gwen, and when I put my mouth on her back, I felt my tooth pop." Biting usually isn't an issue around our house, and I guess the one time Liv thought she'd try it out, her teeth didn't hold up =0). Better luck next time.

Boston

A while back, we planned a trip down to Boston to visit our good friends, the Plachinta's. Sadly, their little girl, Lilia, got sick the day before we got there and plans had to change. We decided to try out Priceline and booked a hotel. Over all, it was a fun little 3 day weekend trip, which included our first try at sleeping all 3 kids in one hotel room. After the first night, I learned an important lesson... Liv and Gwen in one bed is not a restful experience. Gwen woke up at least 10 times to Liv's kicking/cuddling. Beckham is the only one who slept through the night. We learned our lesson and put Gwen on the floor after that, and we were all much happier the following morning. Our activities included going to the temple, swimming in the Hotel's pool, going to the Boston Children's museum, and eating yummy food. Brad and I would freely admit that, other than the temple, food is our biggest draw to visiting Boston. We dream about it the whole drive down. Legal Test Kitchen was my favorite this time around. Here are the pictures of our fun. I think the girls would be happy if we had skipped everything else and swam the whole time.

A sappy love story.....8 years today.

(us downtown Bangor on a date last Saturday)

Eight years ago today, I married this guy. We met as young college students at BYU. We fell in love eating sushi, studying in the library, hiking in the canyon, sliding down natural rock slides, meeting late after classes just to get a glimpse of one another before the day ended, and spending the longest summer of my life apart. I fell in love with Brad's dedication to the things he felt were important. He was dedicated to God, doing what he felt was right, dedicated to being a good friend, and dedicated to his responsibilities. I also fell in love with his way of looking out for others and being kind. He had an ability to really see me. And of course, I fell in love with BR's ability to laugh. We had fun together. We got engaged on November 13, 2001, and were trying to decide when to get married.... Which was pretty much the sooner the better. When the 1 week vacation we had for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics fell into our laps. We got married in St. George, Utah on the first day of the Olympics. In the St. George Temple, in the same room where most of my family for generations has been married. We made great use of our week long vacation by leaving early, early the next morning to spend our honeymoon in Tahiti... for sure my favorite place on earth =0).

It's funny because when I married Brad, I often thought about how much we were alike. Practically the same person in a lot of ways. As time has gone on, I have realized how different we are, how much our ways compliment each other, and how much our differences work to make each other better people. I love building our life together. I love having a partner in every turn of my life. I love how good Brad is at showing me that I am loved. I love you dearly BR, I love you more today than the day I married you and I would do anything for you. Happy Anniversary.

February 12, 2010

February 2010 12 of 12
A week ago, February 12th was scheduled as a normal day. Brad was going to a continueing ed course in Portland, and I had very average plans. Tuesday of this week, Brad came home and asked me if I wanted him to skip his continueing ed so we could go snowmobiling together instead. I, of course, answered YES, and thats what we did. Thank you to everyone who pitched in to watch our kiddos! We really had a super time. I discovered that I really like snowmobiling (at least in beautiful weather like we had today,)Brad got a kick out of me riding the fastest snowmobile out of our group (10 people), we were lucky enough to see both sunrise and sunset during our drives too and from Millinocket, I think the sky over Mount Katahdin was the the most vibrant sky I have ever seen, The views that we saw of Mount Katahdin were breath taking, and I got to visit Kokadjo, population 3 (as in 3 total residents)for the first time, We stopped there to eat a delicious, and very filling meal at the local ma and pop restaurant, all while warm, and outside in the sun. Best of all, I was on a date with my favorite person.....BR. It doesn't get much better than that =0). Beckham Spent the day with Bridgette, Gwen spent the day with Brad's assitant Kristin and her daughter, Liv spent the day at school enjoying her Valentine's Party, And to finish off the night, Brad had a fun date with Liv to our town's father-daughter dance, where they danced the night away =0). A wonderful day.

The fact is, I'm a Worrier....Wish I wasn't!

Where to begin..... Let's just face it, being a mom has made me a worrier. I was never one of those moms that follows their kid around from the second they start walking to make sure they never fall, or washed their pacifiers off every second to make sure they never got a germ. I'm more the type to look at the world around me and get a pit in my stomach just thinking about the horrible, evil that exists and the challenges it will create for them. I want my kids to be kids, I want their childhood to be relatively worry free, filled with innocence.

Lately my worries have been regarding the influences Liv is getting at school. We have entered a new phase of life where she spends more time away from me than with me. I don't like it one bit. She loves school, we all love her teacher, we have been very impressed with the little friends she has made, and over all it's been great. Still, I worry, is she strong enough to do what is right, even when her friends aren't?? And I've always thought. . . I'm not really sure what she would do. This is the story that she came home with today:

Liv: Mommy, Today on the bus, Katie said she doesn't like Chloe anymore and she isn't her friend anymore. (Katie and Chloe both ride the bus home with Liv and they all usually sit together. Katie is a friend who lives near by and is a year older than Liv.)

Me: Oh really :(. That's too bad, was Chloe sad?

Liv: Yeah.

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Then Katie asked me if Chloe was still my friend. . . and I said, "Of Course she is."

I can't even tell you how proud (and happy) that made me. That may seem like a little thing, but I think it is HUGE. That takes a lot of courage, and a lot of kindness! I told Liv over and over again how proud I was of her and how I thought that took a lot of courage to stand up to her friend and look out for Chloe. What a good girl she is! Really, such a good girl.

I guess I can stop worrying =0).

Nervous

I started my painting of Gwen tonight. I finished phase 1....sketching. I am breaking 2 of my Cardinal rules with this one....1st- I am tweaking the photograph and painting from 2 different pictures that I am putting together, and 2nd- her shoulders are not square to the camera, and her face is at an angle to it. Its one of those things. . . I know better, BUT I'm feeling the urge to paint now, I want to do it this way and REALLY I don't want to wait.... It's also one of those things that sometimes works out and sometimes REALLY doesn't. I guess we'll see. Hopefully I'll figure it out before I've spent too much time with it. I'll post pictures soon. And, yes I did finish my painting of Liv (Last Spring). I'll post a picture of the finished product, as promised, as soon as I take one =0).

gWen'sday

Oh how I love 3. THREE has proven to be a fun, funny, happy, enthusiastic, giggly, big-girl year for our little Gwen. One of my favorite things about living with Children is seeing the world through their eyes. I love the words they use to describe what we see as everyday things that we don't think twice about. Like when Liv at age 3 couldn't come up with the word boat, and called it a "tubby truck." (smile).

Yesterday, Gwen said one of my favorites. "Mama, is today Gwen'sday?. . .not Tuesday or Thursday, It's Gwen'sday, right, Mama?" I told her, I was pretty sure she was right =0).

Some other things she says lately are:

• Lasterday instead of yesterday.
• While listening to the a song with the words, "I am special there's no one else like me." She got a confused little expression on her face, and said, "But Mamma's like me."
• The girls were having a Talent show, and after stating her name was going to be Corinne, Liv asked Gwen what her name was going to be. Gwen thought for a second and then said, " Um....Sally Rosie Popsicle?"

(This picture makes me laugh because it is so typical. Winter attire, MUST ALWAYS include a hat, scarf, gloves, boots, skirt or dress, and coat zipped all the way up to her chin, but anything covering her legs, and socks are both optional =0). . . .)

Happy gWen'sday!

A New Year

A few things always happen to me in January: I feel inspired to Prioritize (which always leads to a New Year's resolution), I decide I want to organize my whole house, and I turn one year older =0).

As for New Year's resolutions, two years ago I started a new personal tradition of coming up with one word I want to focus on for the year. 2 years ago, my word was Cherish, last year it was Childhood, and this year the word I have decided on is "Listen." What does "listen" mean to me? It means really listening to Brad, really listening to Liv, really listening to Gwen, and really listening to Beckham, so that I can really know them and really perceive their needs, and not just assume them. Really listening to my kids so that they will always want to talk to me. Really listening to my friends so that I can be a good friend to them. And taking the time, and humbling myself enough to listen to the Spirit, and learning about the many ways it prompts me, and directs me. Even, taking time to listen to nature around me. Maybe the word listen signifies slowing down, and taking it all in and learning about and from my surroundings.

As for organizing, I've caught the bug. If only I had more time =0). It may take me a while to get it all done, but I'm ready to purge and regain control of all my closets, drawers and hiding places. As proof of my urges, I'm reading the first book I have read in a long time, "Organizing from the inside out." Order, and cleanliness, Aahhh (That's my dream).

And for Turning a year older, As of Wednesday, I am 29. I take my birthday very seriously. I really look forward to it, and I love every bit of it. I had a really wonderful birthday this year. Starting with birthday wishes from my family, leaving a clean house =0), lunch with good friends, ice skating with my girls, and dinner with Brad and the kids. Brad proved his talent of gift giving once again. He got me an outdoor fireplace, I've been dreaming of roasting hotdogs and marshmallows ever since. Thank you to everyone who did something little or something big for me that day. You really made me happy =0).

And lastly, I have started a project for the year, I plan to take 12 pictures to document my day on the 12th day of every month this year. Here's the first one:


12 of 12|January 2010|Tuesday|

• Woke up at 6:30(I always feel tired waking up when it's dark outside)
• Helped Liv get ready for School.
• Sent Liv off to School and cleaned up the house
• Bathed and dressed Beckham, and then put him down for a nap so I could-->
  
• Showered and got ready for the day, Gwen (as always) came upstairs as soon as she heard the shower, took her clothes off and hopped right in the shower with me.
  
• Went over to Amy's house and enjoyed her light filled house, and had fun talking as we organized a closet.
• Went to Target still in a good mood, and got sucked in by the heart shaped measuring cups and spoons in the dollar section.
• Played *Play*Dough*, I must have been in a good mood, because I dread Playdough messes =0).
  
• Brought Gwen home to meet play with Nana.
  
• Did a bit of organizing and catching up
• Liv came home to play too.
• Took the girls to the gym to meet Brad
• Went to the church for a Young Woman's activity.
• Hung out with the 12-18 year old girls from church and talked about our theme for this year, Joshua 1:9, "Be strong and of a good courage."
• Came home to Brad.
• Looked through Liv's back pack and was taken by this homework assignment......was amazed that Kindergartners can do story problems that include multiplication...
• Got into my cozy warm bed next to my personal heater (BR) and enjoyed Beckham sleeping through the night =0).
  

Our newest family hobby

Nana and Pugga came with us for our first outing. By the end Liv could do it all by herself!

Both of the girls got ice skates for Christmas, Gwen's were originally worn by Brad's sister in the 80's.

This is what Beckham looked like the whole time...asleep =0).

Mr. Mom

Before I plow ahead into the new year, I have to document at least this one major happening in our December 2009. Two weeks before Christmas I went in for surgery to have my belly button repaired. When the doctor told me that it was going to be a lot easier than I thought, he was talking to the wrong two people. Because Brad and I already had expectations of ease. I'm talking I thought I'd go in, come out, and be up and running in a few hours.... Our house looked a little something like this:

• Two sick with the flu/needy girls, one 3 month old (nursing) baby boy.
• One needy/loopy, in-bed mom who can't remember anything for more than 30 seconds, says crazy things, and can't lift anything (including before mentioned baby) for 6 days and nights.
• One Mr. Mom.

Brad pulled it off incredibly well, and without complaint, I can't imagine it was easy.

Don't worry, I'm up and running again.....but this time it is without the umbillical hernia!

Christmas Eve 2009

Christmas Eve consisted of our traditional extravaganza. I never quite know what kind of reaction we are going to get when we invite everyone to a talent/non-talent show. We were more than impressed with everyone's entertainment, which consisted of the nativity, piano playing, child solos, chimes, rapping, gameshow style frosty the snowman, and a one of a kind nutcracker play.

We also took over the dinner portion of Christmas Eve this year, which meant that Brad had his maiden voyage as head chef, taking over his dad's job of preparing the fish chowder. He did a great job. And no one can say they left hungry.....next year we will try to make about 1/4 as much food, our refrigerator is still bursting at the seams.

Merry Christmas 2009

Christmas is definitely my favorite day of the year, and this year may have been my favorite Christmas ever. It was perfect. The girls woke us up just before 8:00 a.m., we woke Beckham up, and headed down stairs. The first thing we always do is check for evidence that Santa was here. Brad (our tooth expert) verified that those are infact Reindeer teeth marks on the carrot. Santa was spoiled with two different kinds of dessert this year!

Next we took our time opening and enjoying presents.

For the second year in a row, the most excitement came when opening Barbies.

My Boys!

Here the girls are, excavating jewels from sandstone, and making snoopy snowcones......yum, I could go for another one of those right now =0).

Probably my favorite thing of the day was this headband that Beckham got in his stocking....Mistletoe ( = lots of kisses)....fitting.

One of my best, most unexpected gifts was that Beckham slept through the night for the very first time on Christmas Eve night- 8:30 to 6:45! Wahoo!

And then we stayed in our pajamas, enjoyed each other's company and played all day.