Are You Really Reading This?

october-november in pictures

2011-11-28T07:38:00.000-08:00

This is the only smiling picture I have of Luke.

Helping mow the lawn

Father and son

Crawled, pulled up on furniture, started cruising all within a week

Princess Aurora, lizard, and witch

Luke with his dad, his hat, and his princess wand

In other news, I watched a bit of Pocahontas before Thanksgiving. Someone in High School said I reminded them of grandmother willow, we were not friends after that.

I did black friday from 4:30 am-7 am, and I got some good stuff. Next year I am going to have a different strategy. Mr. even got to work on time.

My birthday is coming and that means a sleepover at my mom's. We will play scrabble until I win or at least have a really good word.

Hip Hop LULU

2011-10-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

Miss Lulu has started taking hip hop dance classes. She had her first one last week and was a little shy, but I think she will have fun. So far she does not look like much of a dancer.

Luke started crawling last week and has moved on to kneeling and pulling himself up on different pieces of furniture. He is 6.5 months old. His dad calls him a daredevil. He still has a cold. Loves to eat. Rode all the way to Othello without crying.

Mimi is working on her multiplication and drawing skills. She is a good artist. I need to get her some sketch books so she can save some of her stuff.

I recovered the dining chairs again. They are more subdued than they were. Now I just need to cover them with plastic and refinish the table. And paint the walls. That's all. Maybe next week.

Noisemakers are for babies

2011-10-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

Mr. told me that as I put it on the dresser in our room. I have to say that I must be a baby because it let me sleep a few nights this week. I think the idea is to block out the noise so the baby can sleep, but when the baby is the noise--you have to change positions. I have been holding him until 3 in the morning most nights and then I put him in his crib. It is killing my back and such, so we are letting him cry. The girls haven't complained and I am doing it again tonight. Babe is on his 14th day with a cold. I am on day 7. Luckily, no one else seems too sick.

Next week is the primary program. Lulu is supposed to sing the 4th article of Faith with the sunbeams. She is having trouble with some of the big words, but she knows the tune. Mimi is on behavior modification restrictions. No TV, Wii, or Friends until she changes her tune.

Update

2011-10-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

Lulu wants to marry her brother when she gets older. I mean, she's only three, I am sure she will change her mind.

Mimi started 4th grade and has become a mystery. She is keeping her school and home life separate. Some day she will realize that her parents were right most of the time. Right now she thinks we want to make her life miserable. Limiting Wii and TV time. How dare we! Oh, and making her brush her teeth.

Little man is 6 months old. He is 29.5 inches long and 19 lbs 11 oz. He is learning to sleep a little better at night, but he still doesn't nap very well during the day. He likes his food to be shoveled into his mouth as fast as possible. The doctor said he is skinny and then I told him how much he eats. He said, "That's alot. But if he is hungry keep feeding him."

Mr. has been working hard. I have been trying to do some preschool with Lulu and make sure she has friends to play with while Mimi is at school. The other night I felt so blessed as I put the kids to sleep. Raising them is hard, but I sure am grateful for them.

5 months

2011-09-09T07:47:00.000-07:00

5 months

3 months

This baby has thinned out in the last few months. He is the size of a 1 year old--18 lbs and over 27 inches tall. We are busting through to 12 month size pjs. He had his 1st ear infection and didn't sleep unless he was held. Luckily he is over that sickness and is continuing to teethe. He has 2 teeth on the bottom. He is eating some foods. He likes squash and pears the best so far. Definitely not peaches. He just started going up on all 4s and can sit by himself for a little while.

We've got a big one!

2011-06-08T16:02:00.000-07:00

So little man is not so little anymore. At one month, he was measuring at the 50th percentile and now he is at 97% for both height and weight. 15 lbs and 25.25 inches. At first I was doubting that he was my baby because he was so small and now it looks like he'll be slamming through sizes of clothing just like his big sis.

He has been sleeping a lot today after getting his shots. It has been kind of nice. Dinner is prepped and the girls are playing.

3 more days of school. I told mimi she could be my babysitter for a dollar an hour. She said she would do it for $3. I thought she would be excited with $1 and I would get the deal of the century. No such luck. But she did say she would clean the house for $1.

true dat

2011-06-02T13:44:00.000-07:00

The truth of mothering a newborn.

The third time around is a lot easier than the first, however the fact that you don't sleep never gets easy.

When your baby naps, you want to nap, but the dishes and laundry need to be done too. Try to give in a couple times a week.

Eating real food instead of candy or crackers makes for a happier mom. Keep the fridge stocked.

When people ask if they can help, try to think of something instead of saying you're doing fine. Make a list. Call those who offer help.

The baby weight will come off eventually. Buy bigger clothes so you can still get dressed. Go to the gym or go for walks. This helps get rid of the crazy version of you that rears it's ugly head at times.

Husbands don't understand, but your girlfriends do. Find some good ones. Or sisters. Or moms.

A dirty house is next to godliness when you have a newborn. It shows you have your priorities straight.

Just when you think you're going to lose it, your baby will sleep or smile and make everything all right. Or your husband will have an epiphany and will pick up some slack. Things get better every week. Be grateful.

Babies grow fast. Take pictures, cuddle, laugh. Share the babe with the other kids and let them love and cuddle too. 3 year-olds make great sitters when you need a shower.

9 weeks today. The next miracle is scheduled to happen at 12. Sleep through the night. Fingers crossed.

post-baby crack-up

2011-05-24T18:29:00.000-07:00

Went to the chiro yesterday and he cracked the heck out of my neck and back. I am having numbness on my right side again, due to a pinched nerve of sorts. Might have to do physical therapy again. Can't wait to feel good and run again. But this little baby boy is worth pain. He actually slept 6 straight hours the other night, not last night. He is a good baby for me anyway.

Made a green smoothie, yum. Breakfast for dinner. Science experiment in the freezer. Due tomorrow. Good thing she told me at 5 this evening. We will be up late tonight.

6 week-old miracle baby

2011-05-14T07:06:00.000-07:00

The sleep fairy has just recently visited our home, providing 3 hour chunks of sleeping. Not bad if we can all sleep at the same time. Pre-sleep, some of us have been zombies. I have caught myself using soap instead of shampoo, throwing diapers into the laundry hamper, clothes going into the trash, putting Lulu's panties in Mimi's drawer--and her wearing them, waking up to phantom crying, putting the babe on the bed and not knowing how he got there, among other odd behaviors. This is all normal, right?

We have been out 3 times in 6 weeks, 2x Costco and 1x to Grandma's house. We ran into a friend at Costco and she said, "It's the mystery baby. Can I see him?"

We celebrated our 11th anniversary last week. We went to dinner and the gym. I actually ran a little and didn't die. Mr. proved that he works hard when he is at the gym. We will have to go again so I can show him what I can do when I am in shape. Always a competition.

Mr. surprised his mother and I with chocolate covered strawberries for mother's day. He ordered and had them overnighted just in time. He really surprised me. He has also been doing the weekend morning baby care. He also does evening bottle feeding so I can do the dishes and stuff. He has been a lot of help this go-round. Pretty great. Now all I have to do is stop nursing and then he can have sleepovers with his son every weekend.

Mimi and Lulu love their brother. They hold him and feed him and try to entertain him. He isn't really smiling yet or playing too much, but we are all loving him anyway.

These 6 weeks have gone quickly. My tiny baby is pretty chunky in the chin region but thin everywhere else. He survived his circumcision. No major accidents or blowouts. Just one clipped too close fingernail. He is still our easiest baby and one handsome fellow.

Lulu the photographer

2011-04-17T12:10:00.001-07:00

This is what we do during the day. Hang out in my room and take pictures of each other. She took the one of my eye and then the one of her brother. She improved quickly.

1 day and 2 weeks pics

2011-04-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

So far, so good. Big sister is sleeping worse than he is. We are having a sleepover everynight. Lulu on the floor and brother in the bed with me. Lulu has ear infections and strep. Might need tubes again or her tonsils out. Mimi has been getting herself up and ready in the morning. Thank heavens.

1 day skinny legs, light hair

2 wks

March 30, 2011--the short version?

2011-04-05T11:48:00.000-07:00

I had an appt that morning and told Mr. he should stick around because they would be sending me to the hospital. Wishful thinking. After the ultrasound I knew there was a chance it would really happen because my fluid was really high. They wouldn't want me to be home when my water broke--fear of cord prolapse. I was right. The doctor called Dr. T, who is my regular doctor, and he agreed to induce. Luckily, Dr T was on call at the hospital, so I was basically guaranteed that I would get a bed sometime that afternoon. They told me to run errands for a few hours and return to the hospital. When I checked in, I told them I was a 1 and 50% effaced. Which wasn't true, I was 2 and 70% when I was checked that morning. Nobody checked me to see if I had progressed. They just hooked me to the monitors and left. I made some calls to make sure Mr. and my mom would come and to see if my MIL could watch the girls. They told me there were 2 rooms opening up that needed to be cleaned, but they didn't have a nurse yet. One nurse called in and said she would work as long as she could be off by midnight. I told them it would only be 2 hours after they broke my water. I also told them that I knew a nurse--Kelly Knight and thought that she would come in if she weren't busy. So nurse Aggie was the first nurse. My mom came and then Mr. arrived--after going to the bank and going home to shower. We had to wait until 5:30 for them to start the pitocin. Right after they started the drip, they announced that Kelly would be coming in and taking over. That was the best news. She was fantastic.

My contractions were regular from the start and got more intense according to the monitor, but not really painful. The doctor came in an broke my water at 6:18. It actually started hurting within 20 minutes and the contractions were 1.5 min apart. I had them give me the IV bag so I could get an epidural. My plan was to have no pain while I watched American Idol and then have the baby. They gave me the epidural just before 7, Kelly held my had while the other helpers hid their eyes. It kicked in fast this time. I rolled over and tried to rest for a bit. Kelly checked me at 7:25--6 cm. Gave me oxygen to help baby through contractions. Checked again at 8:10--8 cm. Started shaking like crazy and feeling pressure. 8:13 ish--10cm ready to push. Baby born at 8:24. I was watching my mom when I was pushing and she was not looking so good. I thought maybe there was something wrong with the baby. Then I heard the Dr say, "We've got one going down." Mom passed out around the time the head came out. Sorry mom. The cord was around the baby's neck so Dr. T cut the cord himself and suctioned away. It seemed like it took along time for baby to cry. They said he looked "Awesome." Mr. ran to his side as soon as he was born and just stared. It was really cute. I kept shaking while I got stitched up. Mom came to and all was well.

Luke Campbell Walker--7 lbs 3 oz, 20 1/2 in.

A few hours later, they took baby to NICU because his breathing was labored. They monitored him and Mr. stayed with him until they got an x-ray taken. The nurses watch him in isolation for 3 more hours and said he was fine enough to stay in the room with me. The next night, another nurse wanted to run more of the same tests, got concerned and called the pediatrician to listen for a heart murmur. He said everything was fine. The nurse came in every few hours and at one point, talked to me while I was half asleep and took the baby out of the room. I asked Mr if he knew where they were taking him, but he had been asleep too. He jumped up and ran and got the now crying Luke, gave them a piece of his mind, and came back to bed. The nurses didn't bother us from 1:30 to 6 the next morning and we actually slept.

We came home on Friday around 2 pm. He has been such a peaceful baby so far. The only time he has really cried is when his diaper is dirty or he has a burp. I went in for the post partum appt and they had me feed and weigh him. They said he only got 2 ml. So we are nursing and supplementing and glad that some people are a little more sympathetic to those with lower milk supplies. He has to have a CT scan of his chest to see if the cysts are there or not at 6 weeks. We won't be out and about much for 8 weeks because we don't want him to get sick. I feel fine, only taking ibuprofen for swelling. Living on little sleep. Lucky that it is spring break and family is able to play with the girls during the day.

37 weeks--no picture

2011-03-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

They scheduled me to be induced on April 4th. I told them I would be hitting the gym to help it along. My due date is the 7th, so they didn't give me much of a headstart. What a bummer, but the Dr. I don't want to see was on before then and I really don't want to see her. So I will take the 4th and hope for a little earlier, but not on the 2nd. Let's see if I can control that.

Last week, I measured 35 weeks and this week I measured 32 weeks, but I have gained 3 lbs. Not sure where it went. The babe appears to be 6lbs 10 oz and long-limbed. They asked again if my husband was tall. They could not get a picture of the cysts. That doesn't mean that they aren't there, but that there was too much stuff in the way to see it. My fluid went up 5 cm in a week, 10 in the last 2 weeks. I guess that is not a big deal. 2 more ultrasounds to go and 2 more Dr. appointments. I still don't feel bad, just tired of this stuff.

We finally got Lulu out of the crib. She helped put her brother's sheet on his bed and we moved her stuffed animals and blankets to her big bed. We've had 2 good nights and one bad. Which means I am getting 4-6 hours of sleep a night. I guess that is good for a pregnant lady.

I was hoping to have the baby this weekend or before 38 weeks. Maybe my water will break in the middle of the baby shower or at church. That would be exciting.

The end, almost

2011-03-11T08:02:00.000-08:00

Everything looked good with the babe this week. The new doctor was actually enjoyable to talk to. I didn't even mind the GBS test. He said this cyst is a rare thing and that if it comes to a surgery, hospitals will want us to come to their facility. He recommended getting a few opinions before we do anything. He also said, "Don't be afraid to rattle some cages if necessary." He also said that he would do more research, but from what he knew, it should not be a problem. So good news from another source.

He asked if I wanted a c-section or vaginal delivery. Then he asked if I wanted to be induced or start on my own. He said he would recommend induction at 39 weeks. So, next appt. I will be scheduled. We go to the specialist next week to have the cysts measured. Of course it would be nice if they were nearly gone. I am still feeling fine, hitting the gym, walking without a waddle. Last night I felt flu-ish and I thought maybe something was going on, but it never turned into consistent contractions for an hour.

Lulu has been asking me in the mornings if the baby came yet. I push out my belly and ask her if he came. She just says no and runs off. She is excited right now, hopefully she will be excited when he actually comes.

Still no name.

Heaven is...

2011-03-07T08:13:00.000-08:00

Sleeping all night without having to take a potty break.
Taking a Sunday afternoon nap.
Serve yourself Chocolate chip/PB M&M cookies for dinner.
Seeing a nephew get baptized.
Enjoying a baby blessing.
Teaching a lesson on Fast Sunday with a built in snack time.
Telling people the baby is coming this week (only in my dreams).
Going to the gym and sweating.
Prayers together at night.
Still being able to tie my shoes and shave my legs.
Getting to see the babe every week.
Seeing that our insurance really is paying a lot of the bills.
3 yr old still saying "Happy Valentine's Day" and blowing kisses.
Reading books with the girls.
Coloring and painting.
Free toothpaste.
Cartoons that we can stand to watch all together.
8 o'clock bedtime.

Other news

2011-03-03T08:16:00.000-08:00

Mimi finished her swim lessons at TCCC. She is a good swimmer, but still can't do the flip turn or dive in well. We are taking a break this session, but will probably sign her up for the May session. She is working on her multiplication tables at school and reading the rest of her little house on the prairie set. She still takes a 30 minute shower when I tell her to hurry. I think she took a 20 minute one once. She got a 4 inch haircut, but it looks like 6 with her curls. Perfect for the warmer weather we will hopefully start having soon.

Lulu is being bribed to sleep through the night. She gets a handful of change when she is successful. She wants to buy the elephant game with her $. She has been telling me some of her dreams lately. Today she said we were having a party and everyone was at our house. Earlier in the week she said she had a giant pink teddy bear. We might be able to make some of her dreams come true. She has been congested for 3 weeks, but doesn't really act like it is bothering her. She is a champion nose-blower. I think she says mom over a hundred times a day. I have found if I want some peace, I have to let her take a shower with her barbies. One day she took 3 showers. I was really tired that day.

We did our taxes and refinanced the house. This is good timing for all of the new baby expenses.

Mr. got back from Dubai and Kuwait. It took him 4 days to get over his jet lag. He brought back some sand and a stuffed camel for the girls. He is good at getting them fun things from his journeys.

I had an appt yesterday with a different DR. He said my weight looked good and that female sterilization is not painful. Then he gave me a pamphlet and said, "It's the bomb!" Next week I see another DR. I think they might do a cervical check. Nice to meet you.

Same as before with a silver lining

2011-02-25T09:42:00.001-08:00

I have been going to APW for my OB care. This week was the 3rd week in a row that I had to wait for more than an hour to see the Dr. I already knew that the baby had scored an 8/8 on the BPP. I was leary about getting weighed and then I had to wait.

The Dr. finally came in and he said, "I know you feel like strangling someone by now, I'm sorry." At least there was some sincerity in his voice. The truth is I was fine waiting. I just felt bad for my friend that was watching Lulu. It was an early morning appointment, so I told her there was no way I would have to wait too long. I was wrong. Then he tapped on the computer for 1o minutes and finally told me that everything looked good and that I was a go to have the baby at anytime. I guess as a "high risk" patient, the babe is allowed to come at 34 weeks. That is the silver lining to my 3 hour doctor visit. I am not expecting it, but that would be exciting to have the baby by mid-march.

I bought some diapers and got some little boy clothes from my sister. I guess we are ready enough for this baby without a name.

Another week, another ultrasound

2011-02-16T07:36:00.001-08:00

This week, I went to the specialist. They said everything looks good, as good as it can. I got the approval to deliver at Kadlec so long as things stay the same. The cysts have gotten a little smaller again, but not significantly so. He is weighing 4 lbs 8 oz. and looks bigger than he did 4 days ago. I guess that's what happens, but most people don't get to see it from the inside.

I get to wait 4 weeks this time before I go back to the specialist, so that is good. Still have the weekly BPP at the clinic. Last week they said things looked good, but I had to wait an hour for them to tell me that. In fact, things looked so good that the Dr. had to throw in some bad news. She said I was too fat. I have tried to tell people that I have gained a lot of weight, even though my belly and face don't show it yet. She confirmed it and was not so gentle about it--she told me no white bread, no whole milk (I don't eat those regularly anyway), eat whole grains (check), decrease refined sugar (that is true--halloween, thanksgiving, christmas, and v-day), and exercise more. I would gladly exercise more, but 3 weeks ago, they told me to decrease exercise. Then she said if you exercise you need to increase your food intake. What? I am sure she didn't really read my chart. I fought her every suggestion and told her that I was not gluttonous. 27 lbs at 32 weeks is not extreme weight gain. Ask anyone, except this Dr.

Oh, and she said my baby was breech and they would look at turning him at 34-35 weeks. Everything I have ever read says the baby should be turned by 36 weeks and some turn on their own even later than that. She told me that it was more urgent than I thought and that I was lucky my last one turned at 36 weeks. So that was friday and yesterday he had turned head down according to ultrasound. Not sure he will stay there, but this little guy is a real mover. Take that Dr.

Did you know you could text to Dubai and it would go through on a local number? I didn't until I got a message back saying it was a 12 hour time difference, which meant that I beeped him at 3 in the morning. Oops.

Keeping it interesting

2011-01-31T12:19:00.001-08:00

My last pregnancy was uneventful. I was hoping for the same, but sometimes things don't go like you think they will. We have been having serial ultrasounds to watch some cysts that are on the babe's lung. It hasn't grown and is expected to shrink or can be removed surgically. I now have to go in weekly for a biophysical profile and every 2 weeks to the OB and every 3 weeks to the specialist. I was wondering why I had been having to refill the gas tank more frequently.

The babe is finally getting chubby--3 lbs +. They are watching his growth pattern as well. Just to make sure he is still getting all the nutrients he needs. I am sure the Drs. are tired of me because, honestly, I am tired of them. We don't feel worried. Just annoyed.

Thanks to all of my wonderful babysitters for taking care of the girls.

Team Meeting

2011-01-25T08:46:00.000-08:00

As a mom, I think I felt like I was doing everything for everyone. Which is an exaggeration, but when you do and do and don't get much help yourself, it feels that way sometimes. When we got home from church this week, I asked Mimi to help put away the dishes. She got mad at me and said, "Why should I?" I tried to explain to her that she can learn now to help and then when she is a mom she can teach her kids to help. Then she won't feel like a servant or maid all the time.

Later, I called a team meeting. We talked about what a team was--a group of people doing something together. They try to win. They play football and get a trophy (per Lulu). We decided we can watch 1 show together in the evening. The rest of the time we will draw, play games, read, or bake together. At 8, we do a mess pick-up and then have prayers and go to bed. It has worked great. I feel better and everyone is contributing.

Last night we colored, made cupcakes, and mopped the floor together. We made some messes that led to the mopping. Everyone pitched in and enjoyed the fruits of our labors. This new schedule feels so much better. Now the challenge is keeping it up. Why did this take me so long to figure out?

Feeling it

2011-01-21T15:44:00.001-08:00

I have felt pretty good this whole pregnancy. Last time, I remember feeling good until I was 32-34 weeks and then I started moving slowly. I am sad to say that I am feeling it a little early. I have had to nap/pass out several times in the last week. I am just exhausted. Maybe it is because I am over 30 or it could be the lack of sunshine. Or it could be waking up at 2 in the morning and staying awake is not a good plan.

Lulu has been good company. She doesn't let me sleep, but she does let me rest. She had been playing preschool games on the computer or playing with toys on my bed. She asks for something every 10 minutes, but she is pretty patient. We have not done many fun things during the day time, so we went to the children's museum yesterday. She loved it and wants to go back with her dad and her sister.

Ultrasound on Tuesday. Dr on wednesday. We are getting closer and that is exciting, but April seems far away still.

Re-establishing a due date

2011-01-15T22:03:00.000-08:00

They did it. A big deal, no. Possible, not really. This baby has been measuring small. Enough so, that they changed the due date without telling me. So I decided to to tell the doctors like it is.

When trying to have a baby, one has to pay attention to a few things and see spouse. With the due date change, we have the miracle of an immaculate conception. You see, I would not know all of these no-later-than dates had there not been a few significant events-- i.e. 10 k race on the 17th of July and a broken collarbone on the same day. Also, a family reunion 2 weeks later. Collarbones do not heal in 2 weeks = no seeing spouse.

I can give them a week. No spring break due date. Foiled again.

Best question an OB can ask: "Are you a control freak?" Many choice words ran through my head, but all I said was, "No." Obviously, we have a close relationship. And I get my way all the time.

Pregnancy weight gain

2011-01-07T11:46:00.000-08:00

I decided to check out a weight gain calculator for pregnancy. I know this is not an exact science, but it is still disappointing to see that I am 2 lbs overweight for this pregnancy. Not a ton, but I would like to end up weighing less than I did at my last delivery. Why does it matter? I guess it doesn't. The post-baby jiggle is not one of the joys of pregnancy. I have 12 weeks left. I could eat better. I could exercise more. I could sleep less. I could get back to the gym more that 2x a week. I will try to do all of these.

In other news, Mimi had strep. I had the flu. Lulu has slept through the night for a few days in a row. Great! She still won't get out of the crib. She barely fits now.

Grandma H turns 90 today. We had a party for her last night. She is so cute. It was fun to see cousins and let the kids play together.

We have another ultrasound on Monday. We will see how much he has grown this time. Last time his weight was up 50% in 2 weeks. That would mean he could be close to 3 lbs this time.

Mr. says we have a list of 2 names--one means hunter and one means crooked nose. Good choices. I am guessing I will have little say in this decision. Oh, well.

Her eyes lit up

2010-12-23T09:53:00.000-08:00

Lulu turned 3 yesterday. She loved opening her gifts. Her favorite so far has been her purple unicorn pillow pet she received from Gma. She had been asking for one for 6 months and I wasn't going to get her one, but I knew she would love it. She also loves this little bear puzzle she got from her other Gma. I am not sure how she will handle Christmas. She already has enough toys to keep her busy for a while. Maybe we should wait a week to open Christmas stuff.

She requested a pink cake with pink frosting and pink candles. Very simple and it made her smile. Love it. She was so grateful yesterday. It was fun to watch her excitement about the cards and each gift.

I let the girls open their Gma Christmas presents because we won't see her on Christmas. Mimi got a camera and Lulu got a scooter. They have been going around the kitchen on the scooter. I will be teaching Mimi how to use her camera this morning. It is such a grown up gift for my little girl, but she is growing up.

I have to make a few desserts and a last minute run to the mall, then I will be free the rest of the week. I am tired everyday around 5. So I best get moving.

Kicked in the Gut

2010-12-10T08:14:00.000-08:00

I have had that feeling for a couple months now and now we know why. You know the show, "I Didn't Know I was Pregnant," well, I knew--you didn't. We are due the beginning of April, hopefully by the 10th. I was late with my first and right on time with the second. That gives me a week beyond my due date. So from now on I am going to use the 10th and if it is earlier we'll all rejoice.
I am about 24 weeks and have gained enough weight to be 27 weeks, but look like I'm maybe 18 weeks or just chubby. I am hiding it well you might say. I haven't been pregnant sick, but I have seemed to pick up all colds that pass my way. Trouble sleeping already.

And the best news of all...it's a BOY. Yes, Mr., there is a Santa Claus!

Black Friday--the return

2010-11-30T09:37:00.000-08:00

I thought I was done with Christmas shopping for the girls, but I had to make some returns. I missed a couple sales by 30 minutes. I was too early. I guess you really have to pay attention to start times for sales. Nuts. Now I have to go out in the snow and search some more. The good thing is I got $100 credited to my card. I bet I can spend less than that and feel done. I still have to look for Mr., but he hasn't told me anything he wants yet. And of course I have to shop for myself. I am looking forward to doing this on my own some time in the the next 10 days. Lulu was a good partner yesterday, but it is so much easier on my own. Anybody want to babysit/shop swap?

Announcement, of the birthday variety

2010-11-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

There are 2 weeks until my birthday. Consider yourself warned. I am expecting something great this year. Hint, hint. I know Mr. looks at this blog, so that is for him. I will be 31.

Last night, as I watched NKOTBSB perform at the AMA awards, I realized that I haven't changed much in the last 20 years. I used to watch all of the music award shows and all of the miss america pageants and I still have to at least check out the music awards. I avoid the pageants, unless Mimi spots one and asks to watch the talent portion.

I remember going on a road trip with my mom and grandparents to Idaho and listening to NKOTB the whole way--on my mini-boombox (not even a walkman) with headphones. I think I was 10, maybe younger. I used to be able to sing every word of every song on the radio. I loved Debbie Gibson too. I still like to sing to the radio and encourage my little ones to dance in the car. Music is fun. We all need to dance a little more--even if we have no rhythm.

So, that is my birthday request. Sing and dance at the store or in your car. Make people laugh or let them stare. Maybe they will join in. This is especially great on Black Friday. I guarantee you will be smiling.

Vacation

2010-11-16T08:41:00.000-08:00

Right after the girls found out we were going to Disneyland.
1st day--at SeaWorld. It was so fun. And hot. We were expecting 85 for the high, but it was 90+ most of the days.

Mr. helped the girls pet and feed the dolphins. Lulu fed ice cubes because she didn't want to touch the fish. Mimi rubbed their heads very carefully.

This picture is actually from Friday. If you look in the background, you can see my parents. I talked them into taking a vacation and I am so glad they came. They knocked on our door (totally shocking the girls) in the morning and joined us at Disneyland for 12 hours that day. The girls loved playing with them. Most of the pictures of that day are on their camera.

Lulu driving the bumper car.

Wild Animal Park

It was hot and we were tired. The car thermometer said 101 when we headed to the hotel.

Lulu was shy when she took pictures with the characters. She loved Minnie's house. We got a few shots with some princesses and Pluto and Goofy. This was our first time really doing a character hunt.

We found Mickey! They were both excited and then Lulu got shy. Someday she'll learn.

The girls both had a great time. Mimi pushed us to stay out until 11:30 riding the rides. I guess she really wanted to make the most of her day.

Lulu kept calling the hotel the dentist. "Let's go swim at the dentist." "Are we going back to the dentist yet?" Won't she be surprised.

We went to Cheesecake Factory. We were ALL disappointed in the food, but the cheesecake was pretty good.

We spent a day at the beach in Malibu, checking out tide pools with Mr.'s sister. We had great weather and lots of fun.

We flew home on the same flight as my parents. It was a fun trip. The only picture we got of all of us together was at the airport. I really wasn't thinking about pictures by the time we were all together. I don't know how we will top this vacation.

The Surprise!

2010-11-09T18:37:00.000-08:00

I had Mr. take the camera and gave him the sign as I brought some gifts down the stairs. The girls opened their bags to find princess shirts and Minnie mouse jackets. Mimi said, "Oh, Thanks!" Then I held out some tickets and Lulu said, "Tickets to Mickey." And I told them we would be leaving in an hour and a half to fly to LA and head on down to Disneyland, SeaWorld, and the Wild Animal Park. We were there for a whole week and had a whole lot of fun. The movie of their reactions and crying didn't actually get recorded, but they were so excited. I have lots of pictures to share, but I haven't gone through them yet. I got my Disney fix and probably won't feel the urge for several years. It was a nice break and we got to spend some time with Mr.'s sister which was just as fun as going to Disneyland.

HIS Birthday

2010-10-28T12:12:00.000-07:00

What an eventful morning! Sarcasm. I have had a cold of sorts for a few weeks, tested negative for strep, and have lost all motivation to move beyond my home.

But that won't keep me down for long. Today is Mr.'s birthday and we are going to party it up. He has become more giving with age. He used to think he was invincible and now realizes he is not. He takes things seriously. Whether it is playing, working, relaxing--he is focused. My gift to him is a bed liner for his truck. He has to arrange it all and get it taken care of (the best kind of gift). We might see how much he can handle at Red Lobster at all-you-can-eat shrimp night. I will count, he will eat.

I have been keeping a secret from my kids for a few months. They will be excited. Mimi will forgive me for making her throw away the last cupcake instead of letting her eat it. I am almost sure of that.

2010-10-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

I didn't do the half marathon. 6 or 7 weeks ago, I decided I could go faster and ended up hurting my leg and back. I had built up to 11 miles and was sure I could beat 2 hrs. But, alas, it wasn't meant to be. I ran for the 2nd time the other day and was only able to go 2.5 miles. It is disappointing, but I know I can build back my endurance and speed in time. There is always next year.

Mimi has discovered a book series called "Warriors." She will not stop reading them. The warriors are cats. That's all I know about it. She is a great reader.

Lulu is singing more and more and loves playing outside.

Mr. went to Korea for a week. He brought back some dolls for Mimi. That is his tradition when he goes on trips. It's really cute and makes her so happy.

We are loving the beautiful weather and have been playing outside as much as possible.

Lulu-isms

2010-09-10T08:20:00.001-07:00

"Mickey Mouse is strong like me."

Frantically looking for a toy (at least that's what I thought), "I CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE!!! WHERE IS IT? [Pauses and looks at me] Where is my sausage?"

In crib this morning, "Mom, let me out! I gotta do poops!"

She's been saying prayers on her own and always remembers to bless her neighbor friend, Jenna, and the cousins she has seen that day.

Room switch

2010-09-08T08:02:00.000-07:00

We moved Lulu to the room opposite ours so we won't hear her noises all night. When she was little I wanted to hear her noises so I could help her, now I just want to sleep. I have to get some curtains for her room because she keeps waking up at 6:15. I would like her to sleep until 6:45 at least. I have tried to convince her that the big bed is where it's at, but she is still in love with her crib.

She woke up dry this morning, but I left her in her diaper while I helped her sister. So, now I am enjoying a lingering dirty diaper smell that will be in my room for a few hours.

I am liking our quiet days at home, but Lulu is missing her sister. Good thing we have neighbors and cousins around to play with. Lulu keeps trying to convince me that she is "really tall" so she can go to school with Mimi.

Mimi and I went on a walk last night around the block. We might have to do that every night. It seems like after homework, she just wants to watch TV. She does have a long day at school and I am okay with a few shows, especially the ones she watches with her dad--Swamp People, Pawn Stars, and Swords. Awesome.

She has decided that she likes school for now. And she wants to be in Art Club. Which means she will give up her recess once a week to help paint backdrops for plays and assemblies.

Mr. is in the middle of 2nd cutting and having visitors from Japan at work. He is busy and tired and doing the work of 2 men. He is a good employee for sure.

Mad at Wal-Mart

2010-09-07T13:10:00.000-07:00

I got out of the store and the car next to me parked 4 inches away from my car. There was no way for me to get into the car on the driver's side. At first, I really was angry and wondered if I should wait to tell the person that they shouldn't park so close. Then I was glad that it was on my side and not Lulu's. Then I was grateful that I could climb in the passenger side and into my own seat without too much trouble. It was not a big deal. It is too bad that I wasted 2-3 minutes fuming.

Latest "artwork"

2010-08-18T09:58:00.001-07:00

I saw this pattern on a blog's background and decided to copy it. Thanks to a cup and a measuring tape, it came out semi-even. I painted the pattern all brown, let it dry, and went over it a gain with a blue color. This canvas was no longer white because I had repainted it several times. It would have been way easier to have started with a new canvas.

Cheap tickets, wrong dates

2010-08-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Allegiant air is having a sale the entire month of September. Too bad I want to go in November. Patience. Luckily, a couple of my sisters-in-law will be able to fly to L.A. for some fun.

Swim lessons are over and she passed. She was so excited. We went swimming at Memorial Pool to give her some extra practice time. She still does a head-first cannonball dive, but she does a beautiful breaststroke.

Time to get back to running. 6 weeks to the half marathon. I hope I can get my miles in, so it is easier. This is supposedly a family affair, so I do expect to see a few of you there. Not that we have to run together, but I'll buy breakfast afterwards.

We played all week last week and had a great time with friends and cousins. Then, Friday came. Friday the 13th. Mimi fell out of a car and hurt her wrist along with a few scratches on her face. A pivot tipped over on the farm. Sunday, Lulu fell in the family room and hurt her wrist. Now there are 3 left arm injuries in the house. Mr. says I better be careful.

We still need to do some clothes shopping for school, but I think we are all ready for it to start again. Time to go to bed a little earlier and ease back into a schedule. I will miss not having to use an alarm. That was the best thing this summer. I didn't always get to sleep in, but I only set the alarm 4 times all summer.

2 WEEKS!

Shopping Adventure

2010-08-03T06:49:00.000-07:00

We left at 6 am and got home at almost midnight. The sisters-in-law and I loaded up in the Tahoe and headed to Seattle. We hit Ikea--after 2 hours of shopping we had lunch in the cafeteria. The car was loaded with all of our purchases, including my giant mirror that Jo kindly sat under the whole trip. Went to South Center Mall. Took some pictures of the girls with their pink balloons. C did a shopping cheer and we were off. The girls did well, I got some spanx. We all had Jamba Juice. W did an awesome dance. We stopped at North Bend on the way home. Didn't find anything until I went to Bass and bought a couple hoodies. Could have bought a ton of stuff at the kid stores, but I controlled myself. Arby's for dinner. We made 5 orders through the drive-thru. Ju was in the very back seat and the cashier said, "You've even got one in the trunk." Yes, we were packed in there. Luckily, the 2 oldest got the front seat. Age before beauty. The baby came along too. He was so good the whole time. It was amazing.

Thanks to the fathers and grandmother who made this trip possible. Thanks for the conversation and the treats. Next year, we'll have to go on a trip to Utah and visit Jo or we could always head for the L.A..

What's the answer?

2010-08-02T14:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we have deep conversations at my childhood home. My father asked me what I do all day and figured that I am under-utilized. He asked if I had any causes. Well, I told him my cause was to inspire people to run and lift weights. That's not a cause I guess, but I do think a lot of mothers would feel better and actually enjoy it if they tried. He mentioned something about joining the Tea Party. What do I do all day?

Today: BY 2PM
Laundry
Dishes
Cleaned a couple dirty bums
Ran 5 miles, lifted
Grocery shopping
Picked and watered garden
Lunch
Math with Mimi
Draw with Lulu

Later:
More laundry
Dinner
Dishes
Shower
Naps--fold laundry

What should my cause be?

What week is this?

2010-07-20T08:31:00.000-07:00

Summer is flying by and I have lost track of what has gone on. The latest news is that Mr. broke his collar bone doing his ATV racing. He is such a daredevil. He is going to the specialist today to see what needs to be done. It is interesting helping him get dressed and things. I couldn't get him to take a day off of work.

I ran a 1ok and finished below my goal time. I think I could go faster, so I am considering the half marathon again. My official time was 56:11. I felt so good running. I guess actually training for a race helps.

Mimi is getting glasses. She is near-sighted. She looks so cute in them. We have to wait a week or two for them to come. She is excited. Swim lessons are going great. She is tearing through the Little House on the Prairie books. She has to read 60 pages if she wants to play on the computer.

Lulu is now doing her poops on the potty. She is wearing panties during the day and a diaper at night. I just don't want to wash sheets everyday. Everytime she goes #2 she yells, "I'm going to Disneyland!" We just might have to do that. Lulu is really strong. She can throw things far and fast. Yesterday, she threw the remote and hit Mimi in the eye. It was so sad. Lulu doesn't know her own strength and she can't aim. Mim has a little bruise, but not a black eye.

We were driving in the car and I was whistling. Lulu didn't like it and yelled, "No fwoo-fwoo." Obviously, I am not a good whistler.

My sister, Em, had a baby boy on Sunday night. They named him Adam Lawrence. He is cute. His hair is dark and thick and a couple inches long. She went to the hospital at 6 and had the baby at 6:48. She is amazing. I got to snuggle with him that evening. My first time doing that with any of her babies. It was neat.

Summer week 3

2010-07-07T15:21:00.000-07:00

This week we stayed with Grandma and Pre-pa a couple nights. They endured Lulu's sleeplessness and even invited her back. We have 1 pull-up at night days and 2 successes with number 2. I pretended I was Mickey Mouse and called her to encourage her to go and she did, but it was because she made the face and I ran her in. Afterwards, we gave high fives and had a little party. She strutted around saying, "Uh-huh, I'm cool, Uh-huh, I'm cool." I'd never heard that one before. It was really cute. Yesterday, I did something in the kitchen and she said, "My mom's cool." This morning, I was upstairs and she yelled that she had pooped. So I ran down the stairs and she was on the potty all by herself and she had done it. Hopefully, this continues and becomes the norm.

Mr. and I ran (jogged), a 5k in Othello. It was his first race. It was nice of him to stay with me. I was not feeling it and he felt great, so I know it was hard for him to go slow with me. I did PR, but it was about a 40 seconds slower than I had hoped. No T-shirt.

Mimi got new tires on her bike. We went to Greenies and got them fixed. They have some cool stuff in that store. I want to rent the kayaks this summer. Maybe next time we do a date night. It has been 2 months.

Next week, Mimi has swim lessons. She is excited to swim again. I finally got Lulu to go in the big pool with me. She kept saying that she couldn't get her ears wet. Once she got in, she didn't want to get out. She swam and pretended she was a mermaid while I held her tummy and shoulders up so her ears wouldn't get wet. We're going to try the Othello pool tomorrow and hope that we don't melt.

2nd week of summer

2010-06-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

We met a new cousin this past week and got to play at grandma's house. The girls rode their bikes a bunch. We went to the gym a couple times. Played on the swingset. Picked blueberries in the backyard. We are still trying to get Lulu to do #2 on the potty--had some messes on the floor that were oh-so-fun to clean up. Mimi went to her first activity day for church and loved it. We can't seem to sleep until it is dark outside. Have tried a few p90x workouts. The girls went to see Toy Story 3. Thought kids under 3 were free--not at Fairchild. They are free at Disneyland. A movie theater is not Disneyland. Mr. decided he wants to be an ATV racer. He didn't win his race. He says he will stop when he beats someone.

The Joker

2010-06-20T21:57:00.000-07:00

I made banana muffins with chocolate chips for breakfast and I figured while I was at it, I would make some Father's Day brownies. Of course these couldn't be just any brownies. I did the old black bean brownies. Mr. figured that I had stuffed them with spinach and Mimi thought they were good, but a little bit chewy. I let Mr. in on the secret while Mimi asked for seconds. I think I have a high tolerance for new foods and flavors, but these were rotten to me. I don't know how Mimi can eat them, but we told her she could have the whole pan and her eyes lit up. Scratch that recipe off the list.

1st week of summer

2010-06-18T15:55:00.000-07:00

Lots of bike riding. Crying. Naps. Hearing, "I'm bored." We made it to the park today. We will all get through this and we might actually get some work done around here. I had to let Mimi in on a little secret. The reason we have a summer break is so the kids can help out on the farm. Since we don't have a farm, that means she gets to help out in the garden and around the house. We will try to have some fun too. We went on a river cruise last Saturday. It was a blast. We can't wait to try out the 3-4 man tube. Anybody want to wake board on Saturday mornings, give us a call.
*** I have loved not setting my alarm clock.

Big Announcement

2010-06-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

They make a party-sized bag of peanut butter M&Ms!!!

I'm a dork.

Special Day

2010-06-08T10:06:00.000-07:00

June 5, 2010
This was my baptism dress. She looked so cute.

We had such a nice day. The grandmas spoke and the K and Mimi sang, "I'll Seek the Lord Early." Grandpas prayed and conducted. I didn't break down. Just a few sniffles during the opening song.

We had a great turn out. Thanks for coming. The room was totally packed.

Mimi had a good 2-day birthday. We love you.

This Week

2010-06-01T08:08:00.000-07:00

There are several events this week. But this one is the most exciting. If you would like to come, we would love to have you.

Wednesday at 7pm is the 2nd grade play, "Dinosaur Valley."

Friday is Mimi's Bday and OHS graduation for JoJo.

Saturday morning is the "S" family reunion picnic.

The play structure is ready to be played on. Come on over. We are discussing our man v. food challenge. More info to follow.

Just a post

2010-05-19T06:50:00.000-07:00

I have loved watching the girls ride their bikes and even the whining that comes when it is time to go in.
Had a taste test with a sweet potato and a yam. The sweet potato fries at Costco are actually yams--unless 2 grocery stores had their produce mislabeled. I guess yam fries don't sound too appealing.
Realized that we spend $60+ a month on milk. Mimi and I only use it on our cereal and I eat oatmeal most days.
Got brave and wore a yellow shirt to church. I usually wear black or white with an occasional purple or red.
Clipped coupons and got tons of cereal and fruit snacks for cheap.
Went to the dentist and felt like the hygienist took her rage out on my gums--first time I have ever even felt the poking and prodding. I brush 3-4x a day and floss each day and sometimes multiple times a day. Maybe I need to drink some milk.
Think my running shoes might need replacing...AGAIN.
Got the garden planted.
Have to help build a swingset.
Listened to a phone conversation between Gma and Lulu. It was pretty sweet.
Sticking to my food budget. It is kind of fun, if you like the bare fridge look. I spent too much at Costco at the beginning of the month. Cereal for dinner.
Scouting locations for a winter vacation.

Nothing too exciting. We are so proud of Mimi for getting over her bike fear. Now she needs a bigger bike. I told Mr. we were going to have a party when the swingset is finished. We discussed a pre-4th of July hot dog eating contest. Any takers?

You do it too

2010-05-14T09:03:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think about running a half marathon again. I decided to try to do a treadmill 1/2 marathon. I ran and ran, but got a little tired and had to stop after 9 miles in 80 minutes. I walked for 45 secs. every couple of miles and took my water breaks. Next week, I'll try to do 10+ miles. Isn't that so fun.

I let the Kirby man in my house because I had been thinking about getting my carpets cleaned anyway. I had told him to come at 4:30. He didn't show until after 5:30. I told him that I wouldn't buy anything from the get go. That didn't stop him from trying. He was in my home for 3 hours. I don't know if he was strategically slow, like a car salesman, or what. Dinner came and went, bed time came, and went. Lulu loved all of his gadgets. Mimi said she would help me clean if I bought that vacuum. The best price he offered was $1729. Is that really a magic #? Well, if it's only 1700, of course I'll buy it!

So, my advice today is when a kirby salesman comes to your door, take him to a treadmill and challenge him to run 13 miles and if he can do it, listen to his presentation. I guarantee he won't stay at your house for 3 hours if you do that.

Christmas picture

2010-05-12T08:38:00.001-07:00

The long awaited Christmas post picture. This was the best one. Mr. is gonna love this.

The Real Mother's Day

2010-05-11T07:55:00.000-07:00

When I realized that Mother's Day weekend was going to be hectic, I asked Mr. if Monday evening could be my Mother's Day. He came home early and let me go out. I got a haircut (just a thinning), bought a lamp, got some PJs (I had a coupon from JCP that I had to use, so they were cheap), and a t-shirt ($6). Thanks for the great Mother's Day.

I put on my PJs and Lulu ran and hugged my leg and said, "You're pretty." Mimi said, "You look old fashioned." Later, we ate popcorn together and played on the carpet. I said, "Lulu, You're pretty." She looked and me and said, "I'm pretty, pretty, pretty crazy." Yes she is.

chapstick

2010-05-10T11:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes bubble gum flavored chapstick is just too irresistible. Lulu likes to play with chapstick like you play with dolls. There's a mom, dad, baby, sister. She makes them dance and sing and play. It is really cute to watch.

The game changed today when she took a bite of the sister. She started gagging and ran in circles yelling, "MOM! MOM! MOM!" I did a finger sweep and grabbed a washcloth. We scrubbed her teeth, but it didn't all go away. A drink of water, no dice. So, like any good mother would do, I gave her a piece of chocolate and she was all better.

Goodnight

2010-05-09T10:59:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, we had a birthday party and a mother's day dinner. Lulu's buddy/cousin had a party at the park. They had a lot of fun--there were tears when we left. Then we rushed to O-town, making a pit stop at the farm. Off-roading in a lowrider is not much fun. We finally made it to town and had a great steak dinner provided by my parents. The girls were exhausted when we headed back home.

We got home and Mimi went straight to bed. Lulu stayed up a bit until she had to go potty and then I put her to bed. She woke up 2x with a soaked diaper--11:30 and 12:35. Totally soaked. I don't know how she holds that much liquid. She woke up a little later and Mr. checked on her. She said she wanted her "pedal." Which means she wanted to ride her bike at 1 in the morning. Luckily, she went back to sleep. When she woke up at 8:30, the first thing she said was, "I want my pedal." She has just mastered her 12" bike with training wheels. She loves it. After Lulu finally stayed asleep, Mimi came in and jumped in bed because she had a bad dream. Happy Mother's Day!!!

Mr. washed the dishes and cleaned up a bit. That was nice. Mimi made some cards. Lulu took a bath and gave me a giant hug.

Mr. ran a 6:44 mile. I guess that means I better speed up. I have just been doing distance. In 4 days, I logged 30 miles.

It's our Anniversary

2010-05-05T07:23:00.000-07:00

2002

This is the oldest picture of us I have on the computer. I was at least 7 months pregnant with Mimi and we were living in Wymount, taking pictures with our awesome webcam.

We were married 10 years ago today. I thought Cinco de Mayo would be easy to remember and Mr. thought it would be great to celebrate our Mexican heritage.

We have lived in Othello, Provo, Reedley, Othello, and Pasco in those 10 years. We have owned 2 houses and had 2 daughters.

We both graduated from BYU and Mr. got an MBA at WSU.

We are on our 4th vehicle. We have been to Disneyland 4x.

Mr. has been Young Men's president, Elder's quorum president, primary teacher, nursery leader, and ward mission leader.

I have been a nursery leader 2x, primary teacher, RS teacher, Enrichment coordinator, seminary teacher, in Primary presidency, and activity days.

We've lived with mice, lived in 4 apartments, lived with my parents.

It is hard to remember life without a Mr.

It hasn't always been smooth sailing, but we have learned a lot together. I would say we have become better people. Love changes as you live and learn together. It gets better. Usually, Mr. talks about renewing our contract when it's anniversary time. Sign me up.

Just wondering

2010-05-04T08:40:00.000-07:00

What does it mean when a 2 year old says, " My bum is creaky?"

Where do you get cable spools so you can practice log rolling in your back yard? We did this when we lived in Royal City when I was 6. It was lots of fun.

Are husbands supposed to facilitate Mother's Day splendor when they are not your child?

Why doesn't strawberry deodorant smell like strawberries at the end of the day?

How many times can I paint the dining room within a year?

Will mountains of gravel in the backyard attract the neighborhood cats?

What is a good budget for groceries and household goods for a month?

Is forcing potty training damaging my child?

Why do weight watcher ice cream bars upset my tummy? I am not on the program. I just like the way they taste. Especially the raspberry chocolate ice cream bars.

At it again--new paint color

2010-04-30T16:32:00.000-07:00

3 words--blue strawberry pot.

Defeated--not a big deal

2010-04-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

I found the perfect dress. I wanted it. It was a good price. Waited 4 days. Found a coupon. Then it was a great price. Ordered it. Told it might be on back order. Got an email. Back ordered. Got another email. All back orders taken. No dress for me. Stink.

Gym Ninjas

2010-04-23T06:47:00.001-07:00

bodyblade.com

It is always entertaining, watching people at the gym. There are mirrors everywhere, which makes it easy to people watch--undetected. Yesterday was a special day. First, a guy came in with nunchuks--weighted balls on rope. He was swinging them around and jumping around. Then, in walks a guy with a bow staff. What? In my research, I learned that it is actually a body blade. You hold the center of the flexible blade and shake it. Or if you are a gym ninja, you pretend that you are fighting with the nunchuk dude while you shake it. It appears to be a similar workout to the "shake weight." I am sure it works, because they were really sweaty afterward.

I have also seen a body builder version of Vanilla Ice. He always wears a spaghetti strap tank top and likes to do posing while he pretends to stretch. When he leaves, he puts on a sweatshirt that has the neckband cut out and 3/4 sleeves.

There's a cute lady that must be 85+ who always has red lipstick on and some sort of bow in her hair. She is very frail looking, but she is strong.

Thank you, Gym Ninjas, for adding some joy to my workout. Because of you I beat my mile time. 6:58. Woo hoo!

Potty time

2010-04-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

Mimi 32 months

I have decided to actually train the little one. She has been going before bed and baths, but I haven't really tried during the daytime. We went to Wal-Mart and stocked up on starbursts and mini Reese's cups. I put the treats in a bucket so she could carry it with her when she goes to the potty. We also got a wiffle ball and bat, a movie, and a plastic watering can. These prizes are for all day dryness and #2. Mimi had an awful time with that. We got some princess panties--not pull-ups. We are set.

So far she had gotten 5 pieces of candy in 15 hours. She was wet when she woke up. Thank heavens she had a diaper on. She usually wakes up dry, so I think she might be ready for all of this. She just ran away. I better chase her just in case she is trying to find a quiet corner.

Family Fun

2010-04-19T08:29:00.000-07:00

For all you considering taking a vacation, you can now get great tickets from Pasco to Los Angeles. I found 4 roundtrip tickets for $302 and that's with all taxes included. I will be watching all summer for killer deals. Hooray! Allegiant Air.

We ended up having dinner at Bonefish. The Bang Bang Shrimp was awesome. The Chowder was great too. I got a porkchop that was okay. I liked the garbanzo beans and the broccoli better. It was fun to be together at the temple. Happy Birthday.

I think I might retire from this blog. My last few posts have been snoozers. Journal verses newsworthy.

I think I can

2010-04-14T14:41:00.000-07:00

Today was my run only day. My goal was 8 miles. My time was 69 minutes. I did have to stop to refill my water bottle, but I really wasn't too tired when I was done. I am feeling stronger and more energetic. I love that feeling.
Lulu is hitting the terrible side of 2. She has started yelling "No! I don't want to," and has stopped naps. Last night she woke up 3-4 times. I can't remember. I know I got at least 4 hours of sleep in a row. Poor Mr. is exhausted. I went and bought a white noise maker and we are going to try that for a few days. I think I will probably return it and just get a small fan, but I want to try it anyway.
My parents' birthdays are this week. My dad is going to be 60. We are going to go to the temple and then have a picnic dinner. We were going to go to Bonefish, but it seemed so costly after getting babysitters too. Maybe next time.
Mr. has been working on the backyard. He thatched and cut out sod for a play area and flower beds. We're going to do curbing and rocks in the next 3 weeks. I say we, but it will mostly be him.
Sweat confession--I like being sweaty after a workout, but yesterday it was a little embarrassing. I was wet all the way down my back and front. It didn't look good, if you know what I mean.

Flourish

2010-04-09T09:28:00.001-07:00

When I found this fabric, I thought curtains. Then I thought, too hard. Then I thought, cover a canvas and hang it. Then I thought, re-cover the chairs. I was only going to do 2 in this fabric and the other 4 in something more tame, but I changed my mind and did them all. Thanks to the purple bumblebee fabric store, I was able to order more fabric after craft warehouse ran out.

Now, I just need my Grandma's old floral couch.

"You go get it!"

2010-04-07T18:30:00.000-07:00

The newest response from the littlest cuddlebug. She also just tried to sell me her princess plates. "Two missing. Five dollars." What a deal!

We had french toast for dinner. I haven't had that since my fabulous stay at Kadlec over 2 years ago. Before that, I think I had french toast in Fresno, post 5K run, at Denny's, in 2004. It's just like eating donuts for dinner. Which means Lulu had one and Mimi had 1.5 and I had 2.5.

I ran almost 7 miles today in about an hour. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be and I didn't go as fast as I wanted to. I walked for about 5 minutes total.

My fabric to re-cover my chairs came in today. Picture tomorrow.

Another bright idea

2010-03-31T16:26:00.001-07:00

Lulu is not a sleeping princess. In fact, she can not sleep and still be a happy little girl. I, however, cannot be a happy girl without my sleep. But, I decided that if she wasn't going to sleep anyway, I would switch her to a big girl bed and let her cry it out. Bed rail, child-proof door knob, purple nightlight, and all.

This bed was supposed to be the answer to my prayers. HA!!!

We lasted 4 nights of not sleeping and the crib was resurrected. When I was putting it back together and I put her in the crib, she asked for the other bed. The big bed that she said she wanted to --"Throw it away. I don't like flowers."

We did 2 hrs of screaming last night. She pulled off the special door knob 3x. I don't know how she did it. I had a hard time taking it off when I wanted to. She finally fell asleep, but I slept with her. Bad, I know. She didn't ever wake up, but she was rolling all over the place and whining a bunch in her sleep.

So, tonight we are doing the crib-cry it out and hoping for the best. Poor Mimi does not like hearing her sister cry. I think I have one more sleepless night in me and then I might crack. Went to the urgent care and got some anti-biotics. I think that they might work better with sleep.

The other issue is she knows I will take her to the bathroom when she says, "PeePee potty." So she uses that to get out of the bed or to get a diaper change. We have gone through 3-5 diapers per night. She is going frequently on the potty, but not #2. She is the master manipulator and I am the sucker.

Glowing report

2010-03-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

I don't like going to teacher conferences, but it is hard not to beam when you hear so many nice things about your child.

Mimi's teacher said she was going to get the 3rd grade to send her work down to 2nd grade so she could keep her for another year. Mimi "is so sweet, so nice, so smart, independent, helps others, everyone likes her, she is a leader, she is a good girl. You are doing a good job." The truth is, it is her. We might be able to take some credit, but not too much. She is a good girl. She tries hard and wants to do well.

I hope she still likes school as she gets older and never loses her desire to help others. She is a special girl. We are so grateful she is our daughter.

Boogers

2010-03-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

view from our hotel room--imagining it is my current view

It started last Monday and has been almost continuous. Little feet running across the floor and yelling, "BOOGER!" In the middle of the night (4-6x) yelling, "BOOGER!" She is not in a foul mood, she just can't wipe her own nose very well. Mimi also has this issue. Her nose blowing is not as cute as a 2-year-old's.

I have been stuck for a week. I need to get out and do something fun. ALONE. While I wait for the babysitter to come home from work, I'll just stare out my window and pretend it looks like this.

Maybe I need a trip to Yakima--it is the "Palm Springs" of Washington.

Shopping spree

2010-03-18T11:03:00.000-07:00

It has been a little over 4 months since I bought my last pair of running shoes, but my knees were beginning to hurt and I wasn't feeling much cushion anymore so I bought some new ones. I took Lulu to Runner's Soul and we ran around the store for at least 20 minutes. She chased me and I chased her and in the end I came home with a pair of Brooks Glycerin shoes. I took them to the gym last night and did a test run--clean run--so I could return them if they felt wrong.

Shoes make a huge difference. Mr. said some girls buy heels and you buy running shoes. I can tell when they are dead and need to be replaced, but I usually push an extra month or more and end up with soreness.

We went to Payless and got the girls matching sandals and Lulu a pair of princess tennis shoes. She had been wearing skechers that I knew were too small for her, but they still went on without a fight. Her old shoes were 7 1/2 and her new ones are 9s. Swimsuits jumped in our cart at Costco. They have some cute ones this year. Cinnamon rolls jumped in too, but they weren't as good as Cinnabon or even Rhode's rolls. However, the strawberries and raspberries did not disappoint.

The girls are still fighting the sickness. We are staying home today and hoping for the best. I love being home. Thanks to Mr., I get to do it.

Breaking out of the post-vacation funk

2010-03-15T17:47:00.001-07:00

Mimi 4th Bday

All it took was a great deal on my shower cleaner and some toothpaste to ignite my semi-clean- freak fire. I am working to get out of this vacation funk and it has taken a whole week. Real life is a lot harder than vacation life. I am happy to be home and back together as a family.

Last week, I only did dishes, dinner (barely), and laundry. I was so tired and unmotivated. Today is the start of a better week. Phew! Washed dishes, cleaned the shower, mopped the floor, put away more laundry, ran a few miles, visited a sister, played with my girls, made dinner, contemplating FHE and treats. Things are looking up.

The Spring Cold

2010-03-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

We all have a touch of it. Lulu is hacking, Mimi is sniffing, Mr. has a sore throat, my nose tickles. It's not bad enough to go to the Dr, but I think it is one of those things that will just hang on for weeks.

We had a lesson on prayer in primary. I sure love those kids. They are so cute and they even listen most of the time. We have grown from 6 kids to 8 that come regularly. We play this matching game with paper plates and they love it. It is so fun to watch them cheer each other on and give each other hints. We took turns telling things we could thank Heavenly Father for in our prayers. They each had one turn and then they wanted to keep sharing ideas. They are grateful for so many things. I am grateful that I get to teach these kids and enjoy their sweet, simple testimonies.

The Food

2010-03-12T15:42:00.000-08:00

I didn't take any food pictures, except for these by the fruit stand.

He chose the backdrop.

We shared a coconut milk, some bananas, lychee, mango, pineapple, coconut and papaya.
The fresh mango was delicious.

We ate a few times at Ted's bakery--coconut cake, coconut turnover, carrot cake, omelets.

Killer Tacos--kalua pig tacos and fish tacos. Kind of like Tacos del Mar.

Konos--Wendy's breakfast burrito and Portuguese sausage (not so good) and rice. The sausage was like spicy spam. Mr. informed me that his was delicious and didn't offer to share.

Uncle Bobo's--Combo plate with pork shoulder, brisket, and ribs. Fresh, local greens salad.
This plate could have fed 3.

L&L Drive-in--we asked a lady at Kmart where a good "local" restaurant was and she suggested Chili's. So we drove around and found one that had pictures of Hawaiian meals on their windows. They serve everything with rice and macaroni salad. BBQ chicken, pork lau lau, kalua pig.

We never went anywhere fancy. We spent $30-40 on food and snacks each day(we could have gotten away with $25 and not been hungry or eating McD's). We shared a lot of meals because the portions were so huge. We usually only ate 2x a day and then had fruit. We kept a case of water and some pop in the fridge to take with us so we didn't break the bank with beverages.

Diamond Head Crater

2010-03-12T15:23:00.000-08:00

at the top
the crater

We didn't go workout before we did our Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head Crater excursion. We didn't go on purpose because we knew we'd be doing a lot of walking and that it would make up for not exercising. On our way to the Crater, he asked me if I wanted to race. Of course, I said no, but he raced me anyway.

The trail starts at this little parking lot with a shaved ice truck and some musical bathrooms. For some reason it was really funny to have Hawaiian music playing in a rest area bathroom. A sign tells you to make sure you have sunscreen, water, and good shoes. I think I saw more people doing this hike in flip flops than tennis shoes. The first part of the trail was a cement sidewalk, then it turned to dirt, then it started switching back on some rock, then some big stairs, then a narrow tunnel, then a set of spiral stairs, then climbing through a hole, then more switchbacks, stairs, and an overlook platform.

It really was a good hike. The book we had said it should take 1.5 hours--up, viewing, down. We did it in 40 minutes. Actually, I did it in 40 minutes. Mr. probably did it in 35. The view was beautiful. I thought we had some good shots, but we really only had 2 okay ones.

Mermaid Man and Surfer Dude

2010-03-11T09:48:00.000-08:00

Snorkeling at Ko Olina Resort.
This place was gorgeous.

Learning the rules and actions of a surfer.

His teacher's name was Lucky. Hale'iwa.

Paddling out. He was told he would be tired after an hour.
And He was. I stood on that rock point watching and taking pictures for 1.5 hours. This was our longest day on the beach.

But he rode quite a few waves and went for a whole 2 hours

He was glad to have a rash guard. Forgot to put sunscreen on his calves. They were red. Still waiting for them to start peeling.

All done. We were walking back to the surf truck and I spotted Bethany Hamilton. The teenage surfer whose arm was bitten off by a shark. They were filming a movie about her at our hotel and she was taking a break and hanging out with some friends. We didn't take a picture of her. I don't know what protocol for that kind of stuff is.

With Pineapple on Top

2010-03-10T14:42:00.001-08:00

On the recommendation of many, we went to the Dole Plantation.
We fed the crazy koi

Ate the Dole whip (this picture is post dessert, Heath still has hair on top even though it doesn't look like it in this shot). This ice cream is also available by the Tiki Room at Disneyland.

When we entered the gift shop, we were given a coupon and "won" some discounted jewelry. It was still a little pricey. Hopefully, our mothers will like it.

I had heard that pineapple grows on top of the plant like a flower, but it was still crazy to see.

Lost in Oahu

2010-03-09T17:29:00.000-08:00

We filed our taxes on Saturday night, booked a flight to Hawaii on Wednesday, and flew out early Monday morning.

This is Heath doing his best Jack impression on the "Lost" beach near Hale'iwa.
This is me looking sad and lost on the beach. I think I just look pregnant.

We found the airplane!!!

New Jeans

2010-02-25T07:52:00.000-08:00

I have jeans that tend to show my backside because they are too large. I have been waiting to buy any new ones until I feel like I have reached a more solid (less flabby) state. Last night Mr. offered to watch the kids and sent me to the mall. He is getting tired of me pulling my pants up. GAP jeans are my jeans of choice. I grabbed one size and they had room, so I grabbed another size and they fit. I don't know if their sizing changed because they went to waist measurements, but I actually bought a single digit. I might just go to a cute store and try stuff on.

So after I try on some more jeans, I am headed to cinnabon. Give me a break--there's a $3 off coupon.

Semi-productive day

2010-02-23T07:14:00.000-08:00

Mimi on bus.

Went to gym.-- 5 miles and shoulders

Looked for more princess nightgowns for Lulu.---got 2

Played at a park.

Bought more black bootcut leggings for Lulu.--because hers were "broken" (had a hole)

Hit Costco for under $60.--when I got home I realized there was "nothing to eat"

No nap for Lulu.

Bikes in the cul-de-sac.

Visit the neighbor.--left garage open

Headed home and saw that the doors were closed and locked.--no keys or phone

Went back to Luke's and played for an hour.

Mr. let us in at 6 pm.

Chicken and broccoli for me, tacos for Mr., waffles for the girls.

Almost booked a Hawaiian vacation.--couldn't stand to spend that much money

Huge sigh of relief.

Now looking at Vegas or SLC.

***cutting a wiggly 2 year-old's bangs with dull scissors leads to shorter bangs than you really wanted.

Sicko

2010-02-20T09:40:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I only moved from my bed to change diapers and check on Lulu when I heard her pushing a chair over to the kitchen. She watched shows and played by herself the whole day. I even watched me some QVC when there was nothing on.

I had some pop on the nightstand and she would sneak over and take a swig when she thought I wasn't watching. Mr. took the girls to Grandma's this morning so I could rest. And so I am blogging this lovely post and watching "A Star is Born."

This is the current dining room color. Drizzling mist.

Fun for tonight--taxes. It will be fun if we get a return.

I ran 3 times this week--3 miles, 7.3 miles, and 2 miles. I think I was getting sick on the 2 mile day. I had no energy at all.

Shaun White

2010-02-18T07:50:00.000-08:00

Shaun White--fueltv.com

My hair gets to the point that it has to be straightened or I don't like it. That doesn't mean that I always straighten it, it means that I often don't like my hair.

Last night as we were watching the Olympics, I realized that Shaun White and I have something in common. No, I am not a champion snowboarder. We both have wild manes of hair. His hair is longer than mine, but I am working on it. This picture is quite representative of my hair circa 1992. I guess it could be worse.

Shaun killed it last night.

---as I look at this picture, we also have a similar face shape. He might be my long lost brother.

Date Night Again

2010-02-14T09:33:00.000-08:00

Thanks to our friends, we had another great hockey date night. Dinner at Carl's Jr. via the drive-thru and spent time visiting with friends and cousins I hadn't seen in a while.

Just to clarify, I support Mr. in his outdoor activities, I just want to know. I was just disappointed that my efforts were in vain.

Mr. cooked up some steak and baked potatoes for Valentine's. We ate shrimp cocktail the night before. We all made sugar cookies together and now they are all gone. On to the next holiday.

Poor Guy!

2010-02-09T18:17:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I feel bad for my husband. He told me that he had a lot of orders to fill this week and they keep having to fix a machine. So, I decided that I would make an extra effort to have a real dinner and food he would like ready to go when he got home.

Today, I had things I needed to do and wanted to do, but I made sure I got dinner ready and skipped out on some wants. I noticed that his work boots were in the garage, but I just thought he had worn different shoes today. He got home is his sweat gear, aka underclothing for snowmobiling. Here I am feeling so bad for him and hoping that things were going well at work and he wasn't there. He smiled at me and said, "What?" I never get to do that, just leave all day, no kids, all fun, Miner's on the way home. He won't want dinner because he is stuffed already. He didn't even whisper the possibility of going today.

The principal was nice and just wanted to see if there was anything that was causing Mimi to be late. We discussed a few things and Mimi agreed to make it on time from now on.

Done painting.

Monday--7 miles, 67 minutes
Tuesday--3 miles, 28 minutes, 20 minutes weights

Up all night

2010-02-08T09:16:00.000-08:00

The bad thing about running in the evening is that it keeps me awake late. It gets worse when your 2 year old wakes up 6 times between 10 pm and 6 am. The poor girl didn't get her nap because Mr. and I wanted to go on a date. So we were both exhausted on Sunday, but she made it through. Mr. kindly took Lulu home early from church so she could get her nap. And she slept all night, too.

Lulu has a 4 month post-op visit this week. Hopefully the tubes are still there. She hasn't had any ear infections since. So we are grateful for that. Mimi has not missed the bus in a week. She said that she hopes the meeting goes okay. She doesn't want me to get in trouble. I took Mimi to get a haircut. It looks great and is so much easier to comb.

We went to the driving range for our date. I cannot hit the ball very well. I got blisters within the first 10 balls and then one broke open so I had to quit. Mr. is pretty good--he told me so. We also went looking at a few model homes. I would move if someone wanted to buy my house. We would like to live out in the country a little bit closer to work. It would be hard to beat the neighbors we have here.

Running: 3.32 miles 32 minutes. This was my post-golf run on Sat night.

Run like the wind--the giveaway

2010-02-05T09:38:00.000-08:00

I am attempting to run faster and farther these days. My plan is to post my workouts so all of you will want to join me in a race some time this year. As you see my slow speed, you will want to run with me because you will win. At least that is why my husband wants to run with me.

As a gift to you from me, I will pay your entrance fee. Let me know what race you want to run in WA state and I will do it with you. No triathlons. Only foot races. Limit 3 winners. Leave a comment and I will choose 3 out of a hat. If there is only 1 comment, you will have to run 3 races with me. Lucky you. (you can find local races on 3rrr.org).

The Principal's Office

2010-02-03T08:51:00.000-08:00

This is supposed to be a great occasion. A great post. A monumental achievement. Have a giveaway. 100 posts.

Life happens.

I got a call from the school asking me to visit with the principal. I asked what it was about, but I knew. Mimi is so slow in the morning. She rarely makes the bus and is late even when I take her to school. I get Lulu changed and then I go down and say we have to leave in 5 minutes and she is almost never ready. I even set the clocks ahead so she won't be late. Either she doesn't care or I haven't been serious enough when I talk with her and follow her around saying hurry up.

Her alarm goes off at 7:05. She doesn't always get up right away, so I go check on her. Tell her to take a shower (cannot shower in less than 25 minutes) or to get dressed. Watch her dress (if I don't watch her, she crawls back in bed), tell her to hurry up, brush her hair (she cries), set the timer to eat breakfast, tell her to brush her teeth, put on shoes, grab coat. After I tell her to eat her breakfast I go up and get Lulu, she sometimes will color or do something else that has nothing to do with getting ready. I get downstairs and it is time to go, but she hasn't eaten. I have sent her to school without breakfast, but I always feel bad.

All of this has been such a headache and I feel like she needs to take the initiative and go faster, but she only has one speed. Mr. says it's my fault. The only thing I haven't tried is kicking her out the door in her PJs. I guess that is the answer. When it's time to go, it's time to go no matter what. She made it on the bus this morning, with 5 minutes to spare. I still have to go see the principal and I don't want to.

Happy 100 posts!!!

Round 2--gallon of paint / heart cakes

2010-02-02T09:10:00.000-08:00

Mr. came home and didn't like the light gray. Which I already knew. I put up a dark color and he liked it. The truth is that drizzling mist was my first choice, but I thought it was too dark. It looks great wet and then it dries a little darker. I have to do the edges and a 2nd coat. So,this is the final color. I will not paint again until he goes on another business trip.

Car carts at the grocery store and hardware store are great fun. When there isn't one available, Lulu has a hard time dealing with it. She cried and cried when we couldn't find one at Lowe's. Luckily, we found the fire truck cart at Albertson's. I actually did some coupon shopping yesterday. I will definitely be under budget this week. Super bowl food will be pushed to next week's budget. I can do it. I will save some $$$ on my groceries.

Mr. still has jet lag. He couldn't sleep last night. I was sleeping soundly and woke up because of some noise downstairs. I rolled over and went back to sleep. Then I woke up again. I looked downstairs to see what was going on. He was watching a show and trying to hold in his laughs. You know, a muffled machine gun laugh. It travels pretty well when the house is nearly silent. At first I was mad and put a pillow over my head. I finally got smart and closed the door so I could sleep.

I made the girls heart cakes to decorate. They both did a good job. Lulu liked the frosting, but not the combination of cake and frosting. It's a lot less time consuming to make a cake rather than making dozens of sugar cookies, but we might end up making those too.

Round 2

2010-01-29T13:21:00.000-08:00

Yes, I painted it all and it looks fine, but.... It's too light and I think I will have to go a few shades darker. I kept thinking that I had seen this shade of gray/blue before. I found it today...at the gym. No wonder I liked it.

Got 3 more test pots. Notre Dame, Coastal Jetty, and Granite Dust. The Notre Dame said that it is a trend color. I asked the "paint expert" what that meant. Is it popular at this store? According to some designer? Based on national sales? No. It doesn't mean a thing. They just place them up there for fun.

Mr. comes home tomorrow from China. I told him that it was painted and that I was willing to repaint. I think I will repaint and go for a third if he doesn't like it. Which means I will be painting all night.

I asked this strong girl at the gym what she was on. It could have gone badly, but she was actually very friendly. She gave me her phone # and I gave her my email. She looks like an athlete and she has 2 kids. She said that she has a ghetto booty and cottage cheese thighs. It's funny what unites us at the gym.

Gray is not grey

2010-01-27T08:10:00.000-08:00

I am on another painting mission. This time I am looking for the perfect gray for the dining room. I looked at Lowe's and Home depot and came home with 8 test pots. I have a patchwork wall that looks fabulous and no clue which one to choose. One is brownish, one is blueish, one looks purple around 5 o'clock. Three look white, except when you hold it next to the baseboard. They all have great names--Manhattan mist, gravity, voyage, drizzling mist, pebble gray, silver leaf, polar star, and metropolis. I couldn't pick a color by staring at it on the wall, so I went for the coolest name and picked--gravity.

I got half of it painted, but still need a 2nd coat on the edges. Right now, it looks okay. I thought it had a browner base, but it looks blue. When it warms up, I'll finish and sit in it for a few hours. And then I'll be off to Lowe's for another gallon of another gray. That's just how I do it. Like v. love. I want to love the color when I walk downstairs. It's a hard thing for us non-designers. Last time I think I painted it 3x in 2 days. And then Mr said he didn't like it, so I painted it 2 more times.

I will post pictures tomorrow. Aren't you excited!

The Chocolate Egg

2010-01-22T14:41:00.000-08:00

This is a TMI story. Continue at your own risk.

Lulu and I were playing in my room the other day and she decided to climb up on my bed. As she was climbing, something fell to the ground. She looked down and this was our conversation.

Lulu: Drop it.
Me: Okay. Get down and get it.
Lulu: Oh, mom! Look, chocolate.

I figured it was some kind of tootsie roll or half chewed chocolate something. She brought it to me and I told her to not eat it because it was dirty. I would have told her to put it in the garbage can, but the last 3 times I had her throw something away, it ended up in the laundry hamper. Anyway, she put it on the dresser and went on her way. Probably 15 minutes later, I went to get a closer look and to throw it away.

I picked it up. It did not look like chocolate. I smelled it. It did not smell like chocolate. It was not chocolate. I took it and flushed it down the toilet and washed my hands. I was grateful that Lulu had not tried to eat it herself. I ran and found Lulu and washed her hands. I laughed and laughed. You wouldn't think so, but it made my day. Always an adventure with little Lulu.

Love for the Mimi

2010-01-22T09:19:00.000-08:00

This picture is from Christmas at the W house.

She hasn't been getting a lot of postage lately. Mimi had her"8 is Great"meeting last night. The Primary has done a great job making all of these kids feel so special. We have about 15 baptisms in our ward this year. That means these kids will have a big group of church friends to lean on as they grow up. She is such a good girl. She has her struggles, but all in all she is a sweetheart and always has been.

Mimi has been working hard at school and is looking forward to next year and being in more activities. Hopefully we will get her piano lessons going and pick a sporty thing she would like to do--in addition to swimming lessons. I am excited to have the two girls riding their bikes in the cul-de-sac as it gets warmer. Mimi is such a good helper with her sister. I don't know what I would do without her. She always plays with Lulu after school and gives me a break to do stuff around the house or take a shower. We sure love her.

Age

2010-01-19T15:15:00.000-08:00

You know when you look at certain blogs and guess how old the writers are? I have been so wrong lately. I would have guessed that most of the local bloggers are older than me, but they usually aren't. A lot of them are 30 or younger, with 4 or 5 kids. I am way behind.

I must still be dressing or acting like a college student or a skater. What is a 30 year old mother of 2 supposed to be like? Or maybe I actually do look older than them.

I have to laugh at myself when I harmonize with the music on the radio--my mom did that and it drove me crazy when I was younger. Now, I realize that I am becoming my mother and my father as I sit here and think to myself. Maybe I'll be cool when I'm a grandma.

The InnKeeper

2010-01-18T21:43:00.000-08:00

Bet yours didn't look this good.

I'm Stuck

2010-01-18T09:42:00.000-08:00

Lulu was playing behind the nightstand in her sister's room this morning and got stuck. I was sitting by her and told her to run and tell Mimi that she was stuck. She said, "Okay!", and ran into the other room. Guess she wasn't really stuck.

New tunes

2010-01-13T08:37:00.000-08:00

I have not been listening to music when I run because most of it is a pre-injury running mix. Which means that the songs are pre-March 2009. Monday, I put Lulu on the bed with me and we shopped for new music. If she moved and grooved to the song, I bought it. Now I have a new 30 minute playlist that will keep me going. I have not been able to capture the awesomeness of her dancing on video. I'll have to keep trying before she grows out of this stage.

Mimi is still having trouble catching the bus. I told her that for every missed bus, she will go to bed 15 minutes earlier. She made the bus today after hiding in her room for 10 minutes because she was too cold. She doesn't realize that getting dressed will make her warmer than laying down on top of her covers in a t-shirt. Is 61 degrees really too cold?

Mr. has decided that in order to please the Wii, he needs to drop a few pounds. His solution is to not eat. I am going to make a chocolate cake today, just to test him.

I bought new pillows for the bed and it actually has helped me sleep better. I was thinking that we needed a new bed. I am glad that it only took a $7 fix.

Date night

2010-01-12T13:58:00.000-08:00

We went on a double date on Saturday. Dinner on a trash can lid and some bowling. I am not a fan of the restaurant we went to. The food was fine, but not good. It was fun to spend time with another couple and have some conversation. Just so you know, the delicious cornbread muffins are normal sized, but they have over 600 calories each. The server told us before we ate, not after.

I think the Wii bowling threw off my real bowling skills--which are lacking in the first place. I didn't even break 80 the first round. The second round, my score was 116. That was nothing compared to Mr.'s 5 strikes and a couple spares. I think he ended up with a 175." Go Bowl" in Pasco has all you can bowl between 9 and midnight on Thursday nights for $9--if I remember right. Whatever it is, it's cheap. We payed $34 for 8 games and we had free shoes. It seemed like a lot. I guess it's like going to the movies and getting a treat.

Thanks to mom for driving here to watch the kids so we could go out. She's the best. It was fantastic.

Brought to you by Jeopardy

2010-01-05T16:16:00.000-08:00

A. Falling down the stairs.

Q. What is what happened to me Christmas morning as I ran to catch the expressions on my daughters' faces?

A. 12 bags of candy.

Q. What is how many bags of candy I bought because I had coupons?

A. Crab cakes.

Q. What is the new recipe I tried out on the family for Christmas Eve dinner?

A. A round belly.

Q. What is the profile of Mr.'s Mii on Wii fit?

A. 47

Q. What is my Wii fit age--the first time?

A. 0

Q. What is the number of people who showed up to my New Year's Eve party?

A. Blue's clues

Q. What is Lulu's fave new show?

A. Still up.

Q. What is the Christmas tree?

A. CTR 4

Q. What is my new calling this year?

A. More than I should admit.

Q. What is the # of hours we spent beating the new Super Mario Bros.?

A. You're so embarrassing.

Q. What is what Amy said when we danced around the room after beating the game?

A. You can be silly if you want to.

Q. What is what Mr. told me after watching "500 Days of Summer"?

A. A good time.

Q. What is my description of the past few weeks.

EMERGENCY

2009-12-28T14:56:00.001-08:00

Sometimes when your husband yells that he needs help right away, he really doesn't. He and the girls were downstairs and I thought that someone had gotten hurt, but no. He wanted me to take a picture of him right after he had lifted weights and Mimi wasn't getting any good shots. I had told him that if he ever made me take pictures of him, I would post them. I will not put you through that. Sometimes an emergency is not an emergency.

1st Haircut

2009-12-18T14:10:00.000-08:00

I trimmed Lulu's bangs, so I guess it really isn't a haircut. It took about 5 tries, and it isn't perfect, but her bangs are no longer in her eyes. She looks a little older to me. My baby is growing up.

Christmas Letter 2009 (picture added later)

2009-12-16T18:22:00.000-08:00

Joy to the World

The Heath Walker Family Letter 2009

Lulu--Finds joy in some of the simplest of things. She has discovered dress up and pretend play. Most mornings she wakes up meowing. She is learning that she can‘t live on milk alone. Her favorite food seems to be chicken nuggets. She loves her Mickey and her blankets at bed time. She finally has started sleeping through the night more than not (this week). She will be 2 in a few days. She is her own person and a daredevil. Lulu is an actress and knows that her sad face will melt our hearts. She is a ton of fun at 38lbs.

Mimi--She is a bookaholic. She read 10 chapter books in less than a week and asked for more. Her teacher says she is a wonderful student. She eats more than everyone in the house. She thinks there should be a 1:1 food-treat ratio. She is the best big sister. She asked for certain toys for Christmas so she could play with them with her little sister. Mimi likes to draw and paint and do lots of art projects. She had a lot of joy going to the movies with mom. She wants to be an art teacher when she grows up.

Mary--I had planned on becoming a “real” runner this year, but injury ruined my plans. Instead, I found joy visiting family. Made some new friends. Mr. and I went on our first solo overnight since Lulu was born--Pearl Jam in Seattle. Then we hit IKEA. We decided we should do something like that a few times a year. I turned 30 and had a sleepover with my sisters at mom’s house. Went on a few baking rampages--don’t believe all of the best ever recipes. Want to take on a Man v. Food challenge.

Mr. --Most of his dreams were fulfilled this year. He was able to wakeboard on the weekends this summer and go to the gym during the cold months. He loved the PJ concert. Farmed timothy. Is now the ward mission leader. Had 3 lbs of crab legs for B-day. Went to Japan. Worked hard. Stayed with the girls overnight. He got a new truck in October and said, “A son is born, and his name is Tundra.” Is responsible for most of the fun times we have. Can’t believe he is so lucky.

We are thankful for the joy we have experienced as a family this year. As Christmas nears, we are grateful for the Savior and all that He has done for us. We know that all good things in our lives are blessings from our Heavenly Father. We hope you all have a Merry Christmas.

Love,
The Walkers

I want a TV in my room

2009-12-13T09:41:00.001-08:00

It's true that Mimi has not told us anything she wants for Christmas this year, but I didn't expect her to tell Santa she wanted a TV. I am sure he won't be bringing her one. She said if she doesn't get her own TV maybe she would take the one out of the toy room. The one in the toy room is almost 10 years old, we bought it on our way home from our honeymoon--I think. It will be staying there until she is big enough to carry it up to her room by herself, which means never.

Lulu kept yelling, "Santa, Santa." We didn't practice what to say, but I whispered to Santa that she wants a kitty. I am pretty sure she won't be getting a kitty from Santa, but a girl can dream. She took her treats and danced around. She didn't even care about her cinnamon roll after she spied Santa. My memory of Mimi at her 2nd Christmas is that she would say "Duntda" for Santa (she was 18 mos.).

A little girl followed Santa to the room where he changed after the party. She yelled out, "Scott Haws is Santa. Look, Scott Haws is Santa." I think she is almost 5. It was really funny.

How does Santa do it at your house?

2009-12-10T18:33:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2005

We have not had a consistent Santa through the years. Sometimes he wraps the presents he gives and sometimes he doesn't. He always fills the stockings. He always eats the treats we leave. I am just curious as to what Santa does at other homes. Please share how Santa does it at your house.

A Good Day

2009-12-09T11:41:00.001-08:00

Sometimes, all it takes to make a day a little brighter is a new pair of underwear.

Yesterday, I ruined a batch of rice krispie treats and made the greatest chocolate cake that tasted okay until I added the best ever frosting and it ended up in the trash.

Today, I ran 3.5 miles and lifted weights. I will make rice krispies and win this time. I tried to do the microwave route, but forgot that mine runs hot and takes less time--therefore, burnt marshmallows. I was planning on making treats to take around this week, but now I might just give an ornament or something. I did, however, make a yummy batch of chicken and dumplings--my one triumph of the day.

Maybe I'll wear new underwear tomorrow too.

****The picture is from almost 2 years ago. Time sure flies.

30 year-old sleepover

2009-12-06T17:54:00.000-08:00

My mom hosted a sleepover party for my birthday this weekend. My 2 sisters and my mom and dad treated me to my choice of dinner, breakfast, and lunch. We played 2 rounds of Scrabble and ate a yummy carrot cake. My sister said I had to stay up until midnight, so I did. I probably should have gone to sleep earlier, at least I got to sleep in.

We had some good discussions and we each got a father's blessing. It was so fun to spend time and actually get to hear each other talk and learn what each other's concerns are. When I got home, the house was picked up and that was great. Luckily, Lulu slept all night for her dad. Mr. and I went to the temple and my sister took care of the kids. I had a good birthday.

I have no profound thoughts on being 30. It just means that my parents are getting older.