easter goodies

Easter. Of course the real meaning of Easter is the very most important part of the celebration, but coming in at a close second is the fun of dressing my darling little girl in a new Easter dress- moms am I right?

Imagine my complete sadness when Ellery came down with a nasty virus on Tuesday and was still not well by Sunday. No showing her off at church for me. I did get to show off a handsome little man in a fancy new shirt and tie though, and that helped ease my sadness.

We had an FHA (family home afternoon) of dying eggs earlier in the week. McKay was into it, Elle wanted to dump everything out and Brian and I thought, "Is it really worth all this preparation and mess?" I guess it is.

I was sad for poor Ellery that she had to miss not one, but two egg hunts during the week. The virus she had really knocked her out. She hardly ate anything and all she did was sleep, snuggle and fuss.

On Friday two of my neighbor friends put together a fun egg hunt outside. McKay loved running around gathering the eggs with his friends- who happened to be all girls except little Sawyer.

Next, Aunt Jenn put together an egg hunt and picnic with the cousins. No pictures because Elle and I stayed home and the pictures Brian took were either really far away and boring, or of the back of McKay's head. (Okay, the real reason is because I forgot to upload them and I've already started all this so it would mess up my spacing)

McKay came home and noticed that I had set aside a few eggs in Ellery's basket. I told him that we saved some for her to have a little hunt in our house, since she couldn't go outside. I went to a baptism and when I came home there were eggs hidden all over our bedroom (and Brian had cleaned the whole house! Awwww.) McKay had planned out the whole hunt for Ellery. He hid all the eggs and was pacing by the time I got home. Ellery was still asleep and McKay could not wait for her to wake up. It was physically painful for him to wait. He was so excited for his sister and I was touched by his sweetness and thoughtfulness.

So little Elle did her little hunt in one half of our tiny bedroom and McKay looked on like a proud parent. At first she was cranky and didn't know what to do, but then he showed her how and she loved it. I love how fun finding plastic eggs is for kids. Why don't I hide things and have them hunt for them more often?

After church on Easter Sunday I peeled my little girl's pajamas off and placed her in her dress for dinner with the family. I at least wanted to put her in it for someone to see.

We had a yummy dinner at Lisa's and had fun relaxing and talking afterwards.

McKay had fun being with his cousins and getting spoiled by Grammy. She gave him a few new movies and consequently McKay was Monstro the whale and Otis the dog today.

Brian and I still haven't decided our Easter traditions. Every year it's been different. I am trying to decide what to do. Does the Easter bunny come, or do we just leave him out of it all? Do we do real eggs or plastic eggs? Do we do just candy, or candy and toys and all the other Easter goodies that are out there? If we do the bunny, do we do it on Saturday or Sunday? If we don't do the bunny, what do we do? And either way, how do we remind them of what Easter is really about? Do you see the stress I am under about these decisions? We have to decide by next year though, because McKay is smart and this year he was asking questions.

How do you guys do Easter?

having a lot of love in my heart. . .

for these girls. . .

and

realizing that we need more pictures together because i look pregnant in this one

and

happy anniversary to jana and mark.

i guess the pic is quite fitting after all.

thank you, edyta

Tonight I let my kids stay up a little later than usual and they watched the first twenty minutes of Dancing with the Stars with me. McKay was watching quite intently, and then we had the following exchange:

McKay: Mom! That girl's kinda naked, huh?
Me: Yep, she isn't very modest is she?
McKay: Yeah! And she's kinda pretty!

How do you teach modesty to a three year old boy? He spent the next few minutes condemning those who were "kinda naked" on the show, which is most of them, and I found myself getting into judging others and how dancers wear costumes and how those girls don't know the things we know about modesty. It all happened so fast. It was getting too heavy and complicated and definitely confusing my poor three year old.

What happened to the days when modesty meant that McKay couldn't run around the house naked?

All I know is I don't think I'll be letting him stay up for that show again. I guess I can be glad that he didn't want to wear one of the sparkly costumes this time, like he did when he was two after aunt Marilyn's dance concert.

And, I got some pretty good snuggling as we were watching the "kinda naked" girls. I can't complain about that.

little mother

Meet Billy.

A couple years ago McKay had a brief interest in babies. I, seeing no harm or embarrassment in letting my son explore this area of play, picked up Billy at Target for my boy. Brian died.

But McKay was thrilled with his baby. He hugged him and burped him and carried him all around the house. He was one proud papa. Billy actually has a twin too, Bobby. You see, Lisa wasn't scared to let her boy play with a doll either.

This baby phase lasted for less than a month, and Billy was then tossed into the stuffed animal bin and neglected, poor thing.

Meet the little mother.

A couple months ago she found Billy at the bottom of that stuffed animal bin. And she has hardly let him go. She would take him everywhere if we let her. . .along with her blankie, souci, bear, cup and anything else she decides to get attached to that day. She loves to carry things around with her.

The other day when we were helping Jana and Mark move in to their new house she carried around a donut hole for a whole Saturday. Didn't eat it, just clutched it very tightly and felt secure that it was with her.

After having a boy first, I am kind of amazed at the natural maternal instinct that I already see in my girl. Receiveing the same promptings as McKay did at her age, she is comletely taken with nurturing this baby. How does she know? It's clearly something that's already in her. Something that already brings her joy. Something that's already fun to her.

I love that about little girls.

I love that she found him among a bunch of other toys and she was immediately drawn to him. . .

. . .and she's been feeding him ever since.

guess what we watched on sunday?

boys club

In my house it's becoming normal to be excluded. McKay gets a look in his eye. He gets a voice. He'll look at Brian and say, "Dad, we're boys, huh?" and then callously look over at me like I'm nothing.

He gets this way when he feels bonded to Brian over something that I don't like, do, or try to contest. Peeing standing up? Boys Club. Playing guitar? Boys Club. Jazz game? Boys Club. Beards? Boys Club. Chips and salsa? Boys Club.

(This is what the Boys Club does when I ask to take a picture)

The latest instigator is music. More specifically The Avett Brothers.

(image found here)

Brian found these guys a couple months ago and has been listening to them ever since. Consequently, McKay has become really into them as well. You know, Boys Club. Brian made the mistake? of showing McKay a video of them on YouTube a couple weeks ago. This took McKay's interest to a whole new level.

You guys know my son enough by now that you know he's hardly ever McKay. Lately, we've had Seth Avett around a lot. Seth Avett has a big old beard. And Seth plays the guitar and sings very seriously.

Although I'm not a member of Boys Club, I'm still quite a fan. Here they are singing their favorite song, which McKay requests often. Brian will hate this picture, but I think it's precious. And the best part is that McKay knows all the words. There's nothing cuter than hearing a three year old with such an adult song stuck in his head.

(By the way, Mack's favorite is Backwards with Time if anyone's interested)

Luckily I have this girl to keep me company. She's not allowed in the club either. We've got to stick together around here, her and I.

Avett Brothers. . .out.

mckay's necklace

McKay loves to watch out the window whenever Brian is on his way home. He does it all the time.

A few Saturday's ago I was cleaning out the fridge, which is in close proximity to this window. Brian was coming home from a long run and McKay was anxiously waiting at the window. He was playing around on top of the trunk that we have right in front of the window. He had pulled up the blinds all the way so the cord was long and he was just messing around with the blinds. I told him a couple times to stop, but was distracted when Brian called. Still cleaning and talking I heard McKay screaming and I looked up from the fridge and there he was. . .

. . .the cord wrapped around his neck, kneeling on a pile of bags right next to the trunk- his neck and body stretched as tall as they could go. He had wrapped the cord around his head and neck several times and then lost his balance and fell off the trunk. I threw the phone down and started unwrapping the cord. It was around his little neck so tight I could hardly get a grip on it. McKay had a look of complete terror in his eyes. As soon as he was free I pulled him into my arms and just hugged him for several minutes while he cried and I tried not to.

His neck was red like this immediately. I felt sick. I felt so horrible. My poor little boy almost strangled himself while I was eight feet away. I was so grateful that I was right there when this happened. McKay and Elle always play on that trunk and play with the blinds and it easily could have happened when I was in another room. I've read a hundred times in my Parents magazines about the dangers of blind cords, but I guess I just thought it would never happened to us. We were both really freaked out by the experience.

This picture was taken a few days later. He's got a nice permanent necklace now, that has faded a lot, but is still definitely there. Brian is wondering why I am posting about this tragedy on our blog- fearing that our kids will be taken in to protective services if I publish it for the world to see. And the reason is this: Maybe someone who reads this will be more conscious than I was about cords in their home.

And also because I wanted to show you all my baby's neck. I mean, look at it!

six years. . .

. . .and I still kinda love him a lot.

I've been holding this in for far too long!

The other night I ran to the grocery store to get some milk. It was about nine o'clock when I got home. Brian was laying on the couch watching a basketball game. Typical. I set my bags on the counter and began taking my coat off. Brian casually looked over at me and said,

"What are you doing in September?"

A suspicious look came across my face. "Why?"

"Do you want to move to Portland with me?"

Then I started screaming and jumping around. Brian was still just laying on the couch, but I could see a pretty huge smile across his face. He didn't get up and jump with me, so I had to jump on him. Then I thought, "What if he's messing with me?" and I had to make him swear he was serious. He actually got the call. And then I screamed some more in a pillow, because our kids were asleep.

Brian has been accepted to the Oregon Health and Science University(OHSU) Nursing Anesthesia graduate program. We are moving to Portland in September. WE ARE MOVING TO PORTLAND IN SEPTEMBER! Oh my goodness!

I'm so proud of Brian! He has worked so hard to get here. He has supported a family, gone to school, worked full time and gotten himself into graduate school. And he's done it all with ease.

I am feeling so relieved. Anyone who knows me well knows that this whole waiting period has been driving me a little bit crazy. Not knowing our future. Not knowing whether we're moving or staying. Not knowing if our plans will be delayed. I'm a planner. It was killing me. And now we know. And after I stopped jumping, I started thinking. I started thinking about what this all meant. We will be leaving our tiny condo, which I am SO ready to leave, but at the same time, it's still home. It's the house we brought both our babies home to. It's been our home for five years. And I like it. A little sad. I started thinking about moving away from our families. Our parents. Our siblings. Cousins. Our family. A lot sad. I started thinking about the rough two years we have ahead of us with an insane workload for Brian. Scary. Then I thought about being in a new state, a new town, not knowing anybody. A lot scary.

But then I thought about how lovely Oregon is and how much it seems to be the very best place for us to go. And I thought about how all three of my sisters and I have the same cell phone network. And I thought about how we are moving forward with our plans. And I thought about how good this could be for me and Brian- two Utah kids on their own, out in the world. And I thought about how we can probably rent a bigger house than we have now, with a yard, and a garage. And I felt happy. Really, really happy. And still scared. But happy.

And the "rumour" (for you Lisa) is that Brian and I will love Oregon so much that we won't ever come back. I don't know. I kind of like our families a lot. And McKay kind of needs his grandmas. And Brian kind of has to run marathons with his dad. And I kind of can't be the only sister who lives away. But who knows, maybe Oregon will win us over.

we went south

Brian and I headed to Vegas a couple weeks ago for a little getaway. It was wonderful to have nothing to do, no one to feed, no where to be.
I don't have a lot of pictures because I was trying not to vacation for my blog, if you know what I mean. If I wanted to take a picture, and it was convenient, I did. Otherwise, my camera stayed in my bag, or at the hotel. Here's what we've got:

Brian at Cheese Burger Las Vegas.



Me at Cheese Burger Las Vegas.




We tried the soft drinks from around the world at the Coca Cola store. It was fun. Most of them were nothing special.




Here's Brian tasting something. My favorite was Pine Nut from South Africa. Mmmmmm, so yummy. Brian liked Smart Apple from China. There was one from Italy called Beverly. I don't even know how to describe the taste, but it reminded me of vomiting as a child. Brian said it tasted like medicine. It was sick.


So there you have it. Four pictures. I guess I could note a few other happenings from our trip.

• I wanted to go to movies and eat. That was all I had planned. We never got to movies at home, so I wanted to make up for it. Well, there were no movies that we wanted to see. That was disappointing. But we did eat.

• We ate at the buffet at the Belagio. I am so not a buffet person. I am a girl. And a vegetarian. And I am a picky eater, who doesn't mind bland, un-interesting foods. I am a buffet owner's dream. Brian had to hold his tongue when I came back with my first plate full of watermelon and salad. He had a different approach. He ate more meat than I've ever seen that night. Making up for living with me, I guess. All around me I saw plates full of king crab legs. Piled six inches tall. Legs were just falling all over the place. Mostly men, including my husband, kept going back for these crab legs. I decided that I was going to try a bite. I wanted to know what the big deal was. Brian dipped a little piece in the melted butter and placed it in my mouth. I chewed. I tasted. I spit it out. I really tried to eat it. But I just don't like eating animals or creatures of any kind. I don't like it. I still really don't get the big deal about crab legs.

• After a disappointing dinner, for both of us, I decided I was going to get my money's worth in desserts. They all looked so good and I told Brian we would be trying one of each. And we pretty much did. Again, we were kind of disappointed. Out of the twenty or so desserts we tried, we only liked about three a lot. The others were either gross or nothing special. It was after these twenty desserts had been consumed that I looked down at my fork. I held it out to Brian and said, "Please tell me that's not what I think it is." A fly. A teeny, tiny fly on the upper part of my fork. My fork who's tongs were crusted with the dessert I had just eaten. Nice. We decided that since we had forked out a pretty big chunk of money for the gross buffet, we would tell the manager. I mean, if you have bugs in or on or near your food, that's what you do, right? Good news. Free meal! We were kind of really happy, especially since we didn't even like the meal all that much. We are thinking about bringing flies with us when we dine out. My little business.

• Vegas can be boring after a day or two. We don't gamble. We don't drink. We don't party. We don't have tons of money. We walk around. We eat. We look at people. We did a lot of that. I found myself excited to just go hang out in our hotel room because it is dirty and disgusting and busy out there.

• I like to shop on vacation. Brian does not like shopping period, but especially not on vacation. This was a problem. We decided we would take one day to shop and went to an outdoor outlet mall close to the strip. We went in dozens of stores. We bought one thing. A pair of flip-flops for Ellery. We spent three and a half hours shopping and all we had to show for it was toddler shoes. I was not happy about my Vegas shopping experience, and annoyed at outlet malls. Brian was glad shopping was over. We were meeting friends for dinner and so we didn't want to go back to our hotel, so we decided we'd just go to the restaurant, which was in town, not on the strip. We were about an hour early, and I spied a Ross nearby. I told Brian that instead of waiting in the car I was heading into Ross. And guess what? I got my shopping fix. . .in Vegas. . .in Ross Dress for Less. I got a shirt for $3.99. I got some fun heels. I got a skirt and a few other shirts. My total: $36. That's my kind of shopping.

• We had dinner with Molly and Jason. It was so fun hanging out with them and seeing their beautiful home. Seeing them was probably my favorite thing that we did. We only see them about once or twice a year, so it was so fun to get together. They introduced us to Rock Band and Molly made the yummiest dessert. Mmmm, Mol, I'm pretty sure I'm going to need that recipe.

Brian and I decided that, although we had a great time, that was the last Vegas will see of us. The next trip we take just the two of us has got to be somewhere tropical. Or a cruise. But we'll have years to plan this one, so I'm not holding my breath.

my thoughts during a jazz game

Sometimes I feel like all Brian does when he's home is watch basketball. He'll tell me that there's a Jazz game on that he wants to watch and because I'm such a wonderful wife, I usually let him watch in peace.

And then a couple hours later I'll ask him if it's almost over.

And he'll say, "Yep. There's ten minutes left."

And if you're a wife of a sports fan, you will know that means at least twenty minutes.

So a half hour will go by and he's still watching. It's then I realize he's been watching a whole new game for the last hour.

This happens quite often. We only have one tv. And we don't have tivo. So I get annoyed. Maybe I want to watch the Bachelor. (oh stop)

So on Friday night I decided that instead of getting annoyed, I'd watch the game with him. I don't mind watching basketball, actually. But for different reasons than Brian. Here are my deep thoughts:

• I get that Deron Williams is the best player. I get that the Jazz are lucky to have him. What I don't get is his hair. It's ruining the fun of having the best point guard, whatever that means.
  
• For the last year or so I keep telling Brian that everyone in the NBA travels all the time and nobody calls them on it. I always yell out, "TRAVEL!" every time I see someone do it, which is quite often. What is wrong with the refs?! Brian has always been confused by this and it wasn't until last night that I learned that I didn't know what traveling actually means. I thought it was that they have to bounce the ball after every two steps. Brian laughed at me. So really, the NBA hasn't been traveling as much as I've thought.
  
• While we're on the subject, I thought that you only got a strike in baseball if you moved the bat a little, like you were going to swing, but then changed your mind and decided not to. That is not a strike, in case you thought it was. You get a strike even if you don't move the bat a little.
  
• The Jazz were playing the Denver Nuggets, and I'll tell you they have the ugliest player on their team, bless his heart. I could not look at him. He was nauseating. I don't even know his name.
  
• What if I could be this amazing basketball player? I might have this hidden basketball talent that I've just never developed. Or maybe I have amazing potential in the world of...
  
• Kyle Korver is my boyfriend.
  
• Carlos Boozer has an unfortunate last name. He is my age, which is unbelievable to me. He looks old.
  
• I learned that they call Mehmot "Money". I am enjoying this nickname.
  
• My very favorite thing about watching basketball, or any sport for that matter, is seeing tender moments between the players. It's especially captivating if the tenderness is between two players of opposite teams. Like if they hug at the end of the game. Or if one knocks another down and he helps him up. Or a little slap on the bum. I live for those.
  
• I hesitate to share my last basketball thought, because it's a good one, and it could make me very rich. So don't steal my idea. Really, don't steal it. I just have to find out who to contact. Anyway, I am always fascinated with the players tattoos. They have them all over, covering each arm and who knows where else. I am fascinated by this. Wouldn't it be great to have a show with the players explaining their tattoos and when they got them and what they mean, etc...? I know! It would be great! It's going to be great. Like there was one player who had the WB shield/symbol on his arm. Why does he want the WB shield? What does that signify to him? I need to know.

I don't know if anyone is still reading this. I'm getting bored myself. The end.

we're in love again

I don't know if any other parents go through this with their kids, but I am constantly falling in and out of love with mine. Of course I still love them both like crazy, every single second of every day- you must not forget that. But I find myself "in love" with them at different times. Last week, when Elle wasn't napping and when she was whining and screeching about everything we were not in love.

I'm happy to report that we're back on. Even though she's still screeching about everything.