Wordless Wednesday

Me...wordless? Heavens no! This was supposed to be a picture post, but something funny happened today. Coming out of the gym, Isabelle yelled. "Mom, come beat me!!!!" In a totally happy voice. I realized how bad this sounded now that it was so public. We often will race doing things especially to the car and I always say, "I'm going to beat you." I think I need a new phrase.

Now for a "Wordless Wednesday."

Need a Laugh Today?

I don't know if anyone else finds this funny just to look at, but I sure do. She makes me laugh so hard every single day. Gotta love this goof ball!

My Tiny Baby

I finally got to take Michael in for his first well baby appt in 7 1/2 months. At 9 1/2 months he was only 14 lbs and 15 oz!!!! He's still not even 15 pounds! In all the pictures I have of him, you can't quite tell how tiny he is. I'm not too concerned because he eats a ton, is happy, and is hitting his milestones. Isabelle was a tank, so I was excited to have a tank of a baby boy. It hasn't happened. I'm sure he'll catch up sooner or later, but until then, we're gonna feed him like crazy and see if we can get any more weight on him.

Sibling Frustrations and Joys

Isabelle loves her brother. A LOT. She is always trying to help with baby Michael. ALWAYS. Michael loves his sister. A LOT. He has to always see her and see what she's doing. Isabelle just doesn't understand when he cries, STOP whatever she is doing to him. She thinks she is helping. However, Michael is also figuring out how to manipulate me. He loves me. He's a momma's boy. He knows that if Isabelle is in a 10 ft. radius and he starts to cry, I come running. I used to always come to the scene and there was definite need for mother intervention. Now sometimes she's not even touching him! Sometimes, he will see her coming and immediately look at me with a concerned face and I can just see him saying, "Mom, she's coming! HELP!!! Please do something!" What to do?

Isabelle is helpful and actually very helpful supervised. She helps with EVERY aspect of Michael's life. Dressing, diapers, stories, playtime, bedtime, etc. She can feed him. It's a big help when she feeds him. I'm ok with her feeding him as long as I get it ready and tell her what to feed him. The other day she put him in his high chair, and gave him some crackers and started mixing up rice cereal and a jar of baby food at like 3:00 (that's his dinner). You wonder where I was while this is happening? How long does it take to fold a small load of laundry? Long enough for ALL of this to happen. She's quick. She has dropped him on his head I don't even know how many times from moving him from getting into the dog food, or trying to climb up the stairs etc. She's being helpful, BUT...what to do?! Any ideas?! I'm running out.

However, all this be said. They LOVE each other. He will tackle her, and she will tackle back nicely as they laugh. He will not nurse while she is in hearing or seeing distance because he just has to be able to see her (as long as mom has him). Isabelle takes Michael on rides in the little red car and drives him around while they laugh hysterically. They snuggle in the grocery cart in the little seat part meant for one kid. Isabelle loves to get in Michael's crib in the morning and play with him. Bath time is just a hoot and you can't help but laugh as they splash around. I love when they just laugh and giggle and growl, and are so silly and it is the cutest thing on the planet! I just wouldn't trade it for the world. In fact I would even love to add another one to the madness. At the end of the day I love being a mom, but there are usually a couple of times during the day I just don't know what to try next with these two! It gives me yet another new respect for my mother. I'm so grateful for Mike and all the hard work he's putting forth for me to be able to stay home with these little sillies. All the little frustrations are so worth it for all the joy that comes with it!!!!

Happy 4th of July!!!!

Yes, that is the title of my post, but give me a break, I've moved since then. I have to post it because this is the closest thing to a journal I do these days...here goes!

In the morning we headed up to Mike's uncles cabin. We enjoyed the little Brighton parade as always and this year we had a fun little float. We threw just as much candy as got thrown at us.

We spent the day up there, and then headed to Mike's parent's house for driveway fireworks. Isabelle enjoyed sparklers this year especially with help from Grandpa or Mike.

Yes, we are all in jackets and under blankets...it was COLD!

Here is my cute son, yes, in a flowery beanie...it's all we could find. Did I mention it was cold? Hanging out with Grandma.

Michael looks fat here. Don't worry, he's still not.

I have different pictures somewhere, but couldn't find them. Plus my sister is missing my kids, so I put lots on.

The House Hunting Adventure

I'm plumb tuckered out!

I got to go with Mike for a few days to Spokane to find us a place to live. He had Monday off, but had to work Tues and Wed. The plan was to drive home Wed/Thursday to drive back up with the moving Truck, Sat/Sun for work on Mon. That was the plan....see later post.

We left Sunday and dropped Isabelle of at Mike's mom's. My idea of a 2 year old for an 11 hour drive, hotel room, and house hunting didn't sound fun. Thank goodness for grandmas! We had to tote Michael along. He did awesome for the drive up. We came the Coeur D'Alene way. We discovered for this drive, even if you don't think you need gas, potty, or food in Idaho Falls....YOU DO! There is NOTHING until Missoula other than teeny little places that you leave behind a leg or an arm for a tank of gas and some food. It's a good few hours of nothing but beautiful scenery. The drive up was gorgeous. It didn't feel as long as it really was. We made it to Spokane and got lost a gazillion times just trying to find the hotel. We got settled in our hotel and went to buy a GPS. That thing saved our lives for house hunting. It was awesome! Not to mention there are LOTS of one way streets and even more streets that look like major roads only to end in nowhere. That night we drove to the temple.

I only had a few stipulations for our house. The floor was clean enough for me to let Michael crawl around and the yard/street was safe/quiet enough for Isabelle to play. I'd also like to not feel like I'm going to get shot or mugged in my neighborhood. Well the first few places we saw maybe only hit 1 of the 3.

My favorite one...We're standing in the living room of a house and looking out the back window. The lady showing us the house said, "I do have to tell you that is the prison you're looking at. Some lady got really mad when I didn't tell her that. It's only a minimum security place, so they aren't that bad. They also do trash pick-up around here, but they're always in their orange jumpsuits and easy to spot." We're looking at an empty field and then a prison. Nothing behind this backyard and a prison except a wheat field? Thanks, but no thanks. Unfortunately, that place had new carpet. :(

By lunchtime, I had to drop Mike off for a lunch meeting and went back to the hotel for Michael to take a nap. I was so bummed and sure we were moving to a hole! After Mike's meeting, he got some input on where to look and that helped alot. We found lots of areas we liked, but nothing for rent. Along the way we met THE Gonzaga bulldog mascot. She was really cute, and I don't normally say that about bulldogs. We found a few places I was sure we were going to get some sort of disease just from setting foot in the house, and the million dollar homes. It was an adventure.

The guy Mike is replacing suggested we come look at his duplex. It fit all the requirements!!!!!! Tuesday night, we were calling his landlord and were able to sign a lease Wednesday morning.

Michael did great on the entire trip of being in the car for 3 days, until our drive home. He finally decided he was done, unfortunately it was 5 hours from home. He gave in and slept the last 3 1/2. Needless to say, it was a very LONG hour and a half!

We lived to tell about it and had lots of adventures in those few short days.

At a gas station: YEAH! I'm out of my carseat!!!!!!

The Waiting Game comes to the final stretch

So a year and a half ago, Mike applied for a job with PSS which is a medical sales type job. His best friend from high school works there and loves it and is good at it. He thought Mike would as well. These two boys are often the same person in different bodies. We went to the temple soon after he applied and Mike felt very strongly that he would work for them. I however, did not feel the same way. On and off again, there would be a job opening, but it was always filled internally. Along the way, he had a few interviews, but nothing ever came of it. In June, I started looking at teaching jobs. I found a 1/2 day 1st grade at a local elementary school. I decided to give it a shot. We could do 1/2 day with Mike watching kids and it would also give us access to insurance for me. I started the stuff and felt really good about teaching again. I even got really excited. I called my old principal for a letter of recommendation and instead of a letter, I got an "interview." She had 3 openings and wanted me to come back. She complimented me on how good of a teacher I was and it made me feel so appreciated (something not felt often as a stay at home mom). I went to my old school and saw all my old teacher friends and even one of my old kids who is now is a 5th grader! I loved being back. I decided to take a PM kindergarten spot. So excited! Mike only had to do lunch and naps with the kids and I still got my fun mornings with my kids at home. It was going to be perfect.

Well to make a long story short, the week I needed to sign paperwork for my teaching job, Mike got an interview with the Regional Vice President of this company. He was offered the job. I couldn't believe it! It's been a great learning experience. Timing has been everything along this. We still don't know where we're moving to and when, but we are not going to be staying here in the Salt Lake area. It's going to be a hard transition. I love my house, neighbors, and ward. I have some of the most amazing friends that have been so supportive through Clomid, a couple of pregnancies, unemployment, and just plain life. Isabelle has a little crew of her own friends she asks for all the time. Michael was one of about 20 baby boys born in a matter of a few months (no I'm not exaggerating). It's going to be hard.

I grew up away from ALL family. I know how to do it. I know I can do it. You make family out of friends. My best friend growing up I call her parents aunt and uncle and her my cousin but there is no real relation. We have an extra grandma from this same philosophy. HOWEVER, I've experienced living by siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents, and it is really nice too.

I'm really excited for the adventure ahead of us. At this point there are still A LOT of unknowns. But I do know Mike is back to his old self. The stress is a much different stress and I like this stress better. I know we're going to have fun and meet lots of new people and find some more family where ever we go.

What's the real definition of dental floss?

Dental Floss: a soft, strong waxed or unwaxed thread, usually made of nylon for drawing between the teeth to remove food particles and prevent the buildup of plaque.

Dental Floss: a soft, strong waxed, mint flavored thread found in our bathroom top drawer for toddlers to pull out ridiculous amounts and suck on to be left on the floor wet for mom to step on later.

Yummy!

Michael started solids and of course Isabelle is there for every bite. She loves those dang puffs. I started telling her she could have one for every bite of Michael's food that she would eat. She decided rice cereal with peas wasn't worth a puff. However, she watches me like a hawk when they are out, and I know she's sneaking them.

After he started getting the hang of things, and a million times asking, I finally let her do the job. She's a pro! I forgot how time consuming those first weeks of spoon feeding solids is! Isabelle still shoves the spoon a little too far down his throat sometimes, but soon enough, I can send her to go feed Michael completely independently! She loves to get it all ready for me and lines it up on the counter. It's really cute!

Happy full baby!

He really likes food and he's finally gaining some good weight. He's now eating all veggies, rice, oatmeal, Ritz, Club crackers, pretzels, and bread. He also loved fresh mango. I love it when you can stick them in a high chair, plop some crackers down, and you can finish those last 5-10 minutes of dinner prep hysteria!

Family Fun at Yellowstone

We just had my family reunion. Everyone was able to make it, including both sets of grandparents. This year Danny was in charge and it was AWESOME! We had a great cabin with a big living area for visiting, games, and chocolate consumption. I think I was the only person who lost weight on this trip thanks to my very happy baby boy. (I really miss chocolate!)

My dad's parents turned 90 last year and my mom's parents turned 80. We had a silly little birthday party for them including homemade birthday hats with Styrofoam bowls and pipe cleaner. I am so lucky to still have all 4 of my grandparents. It was a great chance to make some more memories with some of my favorite people! And yes, all 4 of them hiked Yellowstone too.

Isabelle had a blast with cousins. And I also determined, it's not just the age. She really is crazy intense!

We were able to go on a few hikes despite the weather. It was FREEZING!!! We woke up to snow, and then had lots of rain, but still had a blast! We all agreed we were glad we weren't tent camping.

And you thought she went somewhere without her sunglasses! HA! (Today she walked into church with them on. I didn't even notice until she started to get snickers and compliments on them. )

LOTS of game playing. Mike and Sam were in heaven to have someone to play.

Dancing princesses. Isabelle's more of a hip hop kind of girl. It was drastically noticeable next to graceful ballerina Jane.

I got LOTS of help with Michael.

Yellowstone day was the nicest day we had. We actually saw blue sky and some animals!!! Last time we went to Yellowstone we didn't see a single buffalo, just an eagle and 4 deer. This time we saw a ton of buffalo, lots of elk, and even a bear!

Waiting on Old Faithful.

Yellowstone Falls, thanks for the cooperation kids! I was hoping to get a new decent family picture...oh well!

The whole clan, minus my dad's parents. They got really cold at this lookout point waiting for everyone to arrive. We had to make a mad dash back to our car. Isabelle decided to drop her pants to her ankles with 30 people looking on. Apparently she needed to go to the bathroom. What a goof! Such a fun trip! I love getting to spend time with my family.