Superstitious

I am not usually superstitious... but lately I have been feeling a little OFF... Maybe it's because my eyes are all screwy and having problems with contacts... blurry, stingy, watery, dry... I totally take my vision for granted and have come to realized it because of all these troubles lately with my eyes.    Maybe it's the vision, or that I've had a MILLION things going on the past few weeks, stress, parties, primary, laundry... who knows?  vision, crazy life, All I know is that I am completely off my rocker because I totally spaced that fact that today is our Anniversary... our THIRTEENTH year is already off to a bad start.. how un- lucky for us!  I hope this is not a sign of what this year has in store for us because we could really use some LUCK in this our THIRTEENTH year!

We are full to the top of LOVE for each other and feel so blessed to be in the circumstance that we are in but sometimes a girl just needs a life plan, needs to know what is coming her way... you know? 
This down turn in the economy has been a real struggle for us and although we are LOVING and BLESSED we really need some LUCK this year so cross your fingers (or is that superstitious... will that jinx us?)  that we'll have a LUCKY THIRTEENTH!

I woke to a giant bouquet of flowers and the most romantic letter from my un-lucky (I forgot) husband.  Just after my heart soared, it sunk into my stomach (I forgot!)  How did he remember?... because I think he's had more on his mind than I have.  I tell you, superstitious or not... a lucky or unlucky year ahead for us?  Who knows?  As long as I have him by my side it doesn't matter.  Whenever I am down in the dumps and letting life get the best of me my Glen reminds me that money, owning a house, having a plan... none of it really matters... he says "I know it's cheesy Em, but as long as we have each other and our family, that is all that matters and we can make it through ANYTHING together!"  He tells me this and I roll my eyes ( like a teenager) and take a deep breath trying to remember my argument and then my heart just warms up and I can't stay frustrated with life because, well he is right.  So now it is my turn to say it, and I'll say it again... As long as I have Glen by my side nothing else matters.

So here's to Thirteen years!!??... (I cannot believe it's been that long!) bring on the LUCK but even if this is not the year  (13 does have a reputation, you know.)... that's ok... we've got each other and forever.

Happy Anniversary Glen-o you are my one and only.

Ten Months....

I took this little romeo to the doctor's office this morning for a well care check up. He is as healthy as ever, good eating habits, excellent sleeping habits... really what else matters but sleep?...  He is a smart little thing and was off the charts in all areas... ahead of the game is a always a good place to be.  There is one little area that he is lacking in though and that is weight.  He weighs 16 pounds 10 ounces which places him not just at the bottom of the chart but actually off the chart in the negative 5th percentile.  He has always been a bit shrimpy and since he's been crawling... he is staying the same weight.  His pediatrician is not too worried at this point and we'll just continue to watch his growth more closely.  It's really kind of weird because Oliver doesn't look like an orphan, scrawny...like a bean pole or anything... he is just a feather weight and on the short side too... so he looks more like a 7 month old than a ten month old.  Guess we'll put him on a diet of cheeseburgers and milk shakes and cross our fingers that he'll grow!  He makes up for his size in personality, believe me, he is such a fun, sweet, tease.  Just adorable!  He will be one in just a few short months, I love this first year of life so much... I am going to just hang on for dear life to these next few months that he's still a baby... oh how I love this boy of mine...

below is little video clip of some of Oliver's latest tricks... of course he wasn't the most cooperative and has had better moments... but check him out if you want too... don't forget to pause my music player on the right side bar so that you can hear!

T'was the Night Before Christmas

Yes, it's March and I am writing about Christmas... pretty embarrassing!  I am trying to catch up which means that I have to start from the beginning of where I left off... and it's been awhile- makes me so mad when I get this far behind but I am determined....This is my record after all and how can you skip Christmas?... I can't.  So here it is Our Christmas 2009.

On Christmas Eve we made cookies for Santa...

Set up, decorated and began preparations for our Christmas Eve dinner and program...

Ready for the party to begin...

Our usual Christmas Eve tradition is to wear the kids out by going sledding.  This year however, the snow was frozen SOLID and it was WAY to cold so Glen took the boys over to the church in the late afternoon to run around in the gym while I put Oliver down for his nap and made the final preparations for our meal.  My little sister Julie who lives in New York had just had her baby so my parents were out at her place to help her.  We invited my brother Steve and his family over for the evening

We ate the traditional french dip sandwiches, au gratin potatoes, green salad, corn, rolls and I tried a new recipe... rainbow jello that was such a hit at our Thaksgiving feast in Montana.  It was not as bad as I thought it would be to set all those layers.  I messed it up a little and some of the colors sort of ran together, but now I know some tricks and next time it will be easier. 

I think the boys favorite part of the dinner was pouring and drinking the sparkling cider and then toasting "cheers" over and over....

Just after dinner, Mathew my brothers oldest son started to complain that he didn't feel very good... headache etc... so he laid around while we cleaned up and decided on the plan for the rest of the evening.  We had all the kids open one gift -their Christmas Pajamas and by that time poor Mathew's headache had turned into the stomach flu.  My brother knew we were heading out to California the next day and didn't want to risk exposing us any further so we snapped a few pictures while Mathew waited in the car and then they headed home for the night.  (the rest of their family ALL had the stomach flu by the morning... bad night for them!)

We were so sad to see Steve and his family leave but we stuck to our plan and did our annual sing-a-story of Christmas nativity where we sing and tell the story of Christ's birth as we make the nativity scene.

Then we made reindeer food... some oats and some glitter to sparkle in the moonlight- lighting the way for Santa's sleigh.

We tracked Santa on the online satellite to see how much time we had before he'd be here... his next stop was New York city... the boys couldn't wait to get to bed, Santa was on his way!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

They quickly set out the cookies that they made and wrote last minute letters full of pleas and professions of "goodness".... Evan, Eli and Gabe all slept together in Gabe's room which was all lit up with Christmas lights.  I laid with them and just as they were drifting off... we heard the sound of sleigh bells overhead.  Sleepily they grinned as we talked about the hopes and plans for the next morning.  Little did they know that we had a big surprise waiting (A trip to California, including a trip to Disneyland!)

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of Christmastime danced in their heads...

During the week I had been preparing for Christmas morning the best that I could... it's sort of hard to pack secretly.  :)  We did have everything wrapped which was a first and of course that ended up being a huge help.  We knew that we had a big day of driving ahead for us and so we worked quickly... There was excitement in the air as we finished the last minute details with the boys sleeping soundly... I love the feelings of Christmas, the magic doesn't go away with youth, in lots of ways it is actually more magical now.  This was a 'Christmas to remember' one of our best...

details to come soon...

St. Patrick's Day

Now I remember why I don't scrapbook anymore.... I have been blogging for about three years and it starts to feel a bit like groundhogs day... the same vacations, places, birthday's and holidays.... all the pages and writing starts to sound the same...  At least with a blog I do have the option to copy and paste so it's not as much work!  You know- copy the story, just add the new pictures.  Hmmmmm although very tempting (pretty sure I did it last year) I guess there are usually a few differences from year to year.  I am not going to re-write (or paste and copy) all the details of our St, Patty's Day traditions so if you need a refresher click HERE

The boys painted and decorated treasure boxes for the leprechauns.  It was a bit last minute and Glen had to scrounge up whatever boxes we had in the garage.  I was at the temple.  He had all the boys painting as he was feeding them dinner and also doing last minute fix-up's for the pinewood derby... I told you he is amazing!  anyway, here are their creations.

and here they are placing the treasure boxes out in the moonlight...

Gabe was very curious about all the happenings and talk of  leprechauns... so we explained what leprechauns are and that they like to play tricks while we are sleeping at night etc...Well he has the typical imagination of a two year old and he started to get nervous thinking about little men in green sneaking into our house... We all did our best to reassure him but as I tucked him into bed he asked thoughtfully "mom... do leprechauns bite?"  Poor kid!  Needless to say he had a hard time getting to bed. 

The morning of St. Patrick's Day the boys woke up to find that indeed the leprechauns had come.  the little rascals had played a few tricks on us like turning our milk green, hiding our shoes, turning our pictures upside down etc...  They also left a few treasures for the boys in their boxes, brought green donuts for breakfast and left trails of gold and chocolate everywhere they went...

It was beautiful day... a little on the HOT side so I loaded up the little ones and we grabbed their daddy for a quick picnic at the park

Oliver LOVED being outside and was just taking it all in.  He is a very curious boy, always thinking.  He LOVED the swings and cried when he had to get out.  curious and a bit strong willed... and oh, I love his eyes... always full of expression and twinkling. beautiful baby.

It was Gabe's first swing of the season and he was a little resistant to "going high".....at first.

Gabe and Oliver have become the best of friends...people told me in the beginning that someday they would be... sorry people but I wasn't so sure.  It was a rough start, their friendship.  But now it is solid and I love to see the love between them.  little buddies.

Ollie crawls a million miles a minute.  He is fast.  He loves to climb the stairs and he loves to pull up to things and walk along them.  He really enjoyed the freedom at the park and so many new things.  He does not like it when we try to hold his hands so that he can walk... I think it's a little too slow for him but  mostly he likes to be in control.  He starts to sit down and cry until we let him go and then he's off... crawling to his next adventure.  Oliver gets frustrated quite easily and lets us all know exactly what he wants... and that he wants it NOW yet in the same instant he is the sweetest baby and totally irresistible.  He loves to play and tease and often pulls my hair or sinks his teeth half way in to my arm... just trying to start something.  His favorite game is to make a sound and have everyone copy him. he is pretty proud when he's the boss... and this St. Patrick's Day post had turned into an update on Oliver.  Great!  I can check that one off my list now.  While I'm going I might as well add that Oliver knows a few signs he can sign "all done" and "eat"  we are working on a few others, and it is so fun that he can do it!  he waves bye bye and blows kisses.  He plays I'm a little teapot and pattty cake and is learning to "roll it."  Some guy at the park asked me how old Oliver is and I sat there for a minute, not wanting to answer, I haven't had to think about it and no one has asked me his age for awhile.  I know how old he is everyday but I push it to the back of my mind because I don't want it to be real.  I finally answered "He's ten months old"  and I got a big lump in my throat.  Pathetic, I know. 

Ok one last Oliver tid bit... He is a ham...  fourth boy has got to do something to get some attention right?  Well he steals the show from his dramatic wide mouth fake cry to his scrunched up nose grin... showing all his teeth.  I can't get enough of him!

Actually I can't get enough of ALL of them...

My little leprchauns.  I am so LUCKY to have them!