CrAzY

We took this picture yesterday of Jonas on our bed wearing Miles' sweat pants. Miles thought he looked like Santa. But Ben and I think, due to his ears, he looks more like an Elf. A Very Cute Elf, of course!

So I had a crazy morning today! I worked Sunday nite and got about 3 hours of catch-up sleep Monday - divided between 2 naps. Then I worked 1/2 a shift last nite - getting home and in bed by 2am. But at least I got 5 hours of sleep.

So we all got up at 7am - well, Miles was probably awake before that, but he just hung tight in his bed until I got up. What a kid! We had some breakfast and then I wanted to get out and exercise because I'm a much happier person when I do. So I loaded the kids into the bike carrier thingy and took them for a jog - it converts into a stroller thingy. The run was awesome and I just loved it - the kids love it, too, because at the end of my run - near our house - is a home that has some animals. So we always stop and the pigs came oinking over to see us. They are little pigs and are so darn cute! I really love them. The calf and the sheep came over to say "hi" too. We had fun watching them - especially when the pony started chasing the pig around. Fun times were had by all of us!

We then got home and I tried to put Jonas down for his morning nap. About 20 minutes later (about 9:20), Jonas was crying - I don't think he ever fell asleep. Well I had scheduled a Doctor's appointment, for my eyes, for 9:30am but wasn't planning on going since I didn't line up a babysitter or anything. But since Jonas wasnt taking a nap, I thought, alright we're ALL going to the eye docs.

So I tell Miles to get his shoes on (thanks goodness for payless-version "crocs" which Miles can put on by himself) and scoop up Jonas from his crib in the closet. We then all rush out to the car and I throw my water-bottle, paperwork, and keys in the front. Well I accidently closed the door - which was locked and which my keys were inside the car! So now I'm locked out of my car. So we all ran to the back of the house - but no such luck, I'd locked the back door. But, alas, our bedroom window just had a screen on it, so I popped it out. Then I put Jonas in, then Miles, then I climbed in. I then ran around the house and finally found the botton-key thingy for the car. Yeah! So we got the car unlocked, kids loaded, and drove to the doctors.

Well I knew the only way I'd manage 2 kids in there was if Jonas was kept in his car seat. So I had to undo the whole seat-belt set-up and take Jonas and car-seat and Miles in the office. The 2 boys did pretty well in there. The waiting room had some fun toys for Miles, and Jonas and I enjoyed a couple rounds of peek-a-boo.

Then once inside the room we had to wait awhile. Thank goodness I thought of glove-ballons. They kept Miles entertained for a bit. I gave Jonas one to play with but then didn't think it was such a good idea as he kept trying to bite it. So I had to take it away from him. Well the poor boy didn't like that and he let me know it. And, of course, the doctor walks in at that moment. But he came to the rescue with a flourescent-colored walking, talking PIG. Perfect.

So we do all the stuff and he asks to dilate my eyes - he told me it'd be real quick. Yeah right. He puts that stuff in my eyes and then leaves for like 10 minutes. But the pig was a real hit and so we made it through the appointment.

Then upon leaving the secretary hands me these really cool "sunglasses" to help my eyes because of the dilation. So I walk out to the car in these great sunglasses with one kid struggling to hold his ballons, and another kid rocking awkwardly as I try to carry him in his car-seat. I get Miles in his seat and then struggle for 10 mintues as I get Jonas' car seat put back together. All the while my glasses kept falling down and I was getting blinded by the light.

So ONE and a HALF HOURS later we head back home! Gosh! To reward oursevles we stopped at McDonald's for 50 cent ice cream cones. Yummmmm, that made the whole trip worth it! The kids are now fed and resting in bed - and I will soon be joining them. . .

Pony-tails and Horns

First of all, I did not instigate this in any way, shape, or form. I don't know what Ben will think of me posting these pics cuz he wasn't such a fan of it and it actually kind of caused an arguement between us! He wasn't upset about it until we were going to go to some co-worker's garage sale and I thought it would be just fine to leave Miles' pony-tails in (I did take Jonas' out because, one, he wasn't really having fun with it. And two, it's already hard for people to tell if he's a boy or girl anyways). Ben, ummmm, felt otherwise. He started quoting lines from the Proclamation on the Family about gender indentity. I absolutely LOVE the Proclamation, but come on? I don't think Miles was putting pony-tails in his hair because he wanted to be a girl. In fact, he was calling himself "Ferdinand" and his pony-tails were instead "horns." (We have a book about a bull named Ferdinand - a bull, hence a BOY). So we sat in the car with Miles' pony-tails - or horns - still in. Luckily for Ben the garage sale was closed up for the day!

So I don't know? Was I wrong in letting Miles go to a garage sale looking like that? I mean, I wouldn't take him to church like that. Or am I just a girl thinking it was a pretty cute and totally harmless thing to do?

Response to e

So you have to read my sister's blog first to understand my blog. Here is a quick link to her blog page: http://grandpreghetto.blogspot.com/. The blog I am responding to is titled, "One Size Fits All...Or Does It?"

So the great question - does one size fit all? YES, well. . . almost. Erin talked about the 12 milion people in our church, but I will venture to not only include the 12 million people of our church, but the billions of people Everywhere. How can one size really fit that many people???? Well the world is full of people - all kinds of people: fat, thin, tall, short, black, white, nice, mean, etc. There are so many differences - yet there are so many similarities, too. Perhaps even more similiarities than differences if we really took time to think about it. And the biggest and most significant similarity we have? Children of God.

I bring this up not to sound too preachy, but because it's true and it needs to be brought up to answer the question of one size fitting all. I'm a mother of only TWO. In the 9 months that I've been this mother of two I've seen incredible differences in my two boys. Not only in their physical appearances, but also in their personalities. Yet with these differences there are similarities too. Just today I was writing in my "Words of Wisdom" book (yes, erin, i really do use that book you made me!) that Jonas clapped his hands for the first time today. I then looked back and saw that Miles, too, had clapped his hands for the first time right around his 9-month old mark. Just one of the similarities they have. I also have seen how the same toys and the same developmental tasks have made both of my boys happy.

Likewise our Father in Heaven knows our similarities - the similarities that exist because we are all human. It doesn't matter that one is Asian and one is Ukranian - we all belong to humankind. And because of that there are similarities that are universal and one-size fitting all. When Heavenly Father came up with the Plan of Happiness I think He determined it based on what would, indeed, make us happy. And having a family is central to His Plan - because He KNOWS that will make us happy. He doesn't make a commandment for us that we have to eat Rich's Whole Wheat Bagels for the rest of our lives because it won't help Everyone progress and reach that state of happiness He desires for us. But he does command Everyone to "multiply and replenish the earth," i.e. to have a family, because He KNOWS that is what will help us progress and ultimately achieve happiness.

Are there exceptions to the rule? Of course there are - but they are such in the minority that Heavenly Father does not focus on them. When the Lord gave the commandment of "Thou shall not kill," he did not say that "thou shall not kill unless the name of the person to be killed is Laban by the hands of Nephi." But that was an exception to the rule. But a very small exception and one that is not for Everyone. So I guess how do we know if we are an exception to that rule? We receive a very big impression from our Heavenly Father, giving us a sure knowledge that we are one of the 0.001% of the population that does not fit that mold, or commandment, entirely.

So when the question was asked, "So then, what do people do who do not necessarily want these things," a very good point was brought up. It's that we don't Want these things. But, luckily for us, Heavenly Father KNOWS that we Need such things. Trust me, there are many hours - and perhaps even days - when I don't know how on earth motherhood can lead to happiness. But at those times I just have to have trust and faith that Somebody else does KNOW.

I mean we learn things in motherhood necessary for our development and salvation that would be difficult to learn elsewhere. Like having patience when your 2-year old tells you he wants the green granola bar, no the red one, no the green one, no the red one, no the green one. So you give him the green one and he screams for the next 15 minutes because he does NOT want to eat the green one! Or sacrificing your nice wardrobe because probably every shirt you own, if examined close enough, would have some spot of spit-up or other dirty gooey hand-print mark on it. Or long-suffering the first few months of your baby's life as you you endure those endless days (i.e., sleepless nites). Or submissiveness as you forgo many of your own dreams and desires and instead focus on your children's dreams and desires. And finally charity as you endure all these things and still have never loved anything more than your children.

So do we just "jump in and do it"? YES. Why? Because HE said so. And why does He say so? Because He KNOWS the way to happiness, we don't.

So, erin, what this all boils down to is: Just give my boys some Galbraith/Huband cousins someday! Love ya!

Ouray

Today we headed out early to Ouray to get into the beautiful San Juan Mountains. We had a great day. We were actually able to do some real hiking, which doesn't happen too often with 2 little ones. But Miles and Jonas both went in the backpack carriers and did great! Jonas was called a girl twice by fellow hikers - and, noooooo, I didn't dress him up in my cute girl stuff! (But now I'm thinking I might as well since everyone thinks he's a girl. . . Ben wasn't too keen on that idea.) After hiking we went to a park in Ouray and ate our lunch and played around. Although Labor Day weekend is not the official end of summer, we are glad that summer is UNofficially over. Fall is THE BEST. After 4 1/2 years my husband has changed the errors of his way and now declares that fall, too, is his favorite season. (It used to be summer, but I think summer has fallen to maybe 3rd or even 4th on his list. How I married a man who originally claimed summer as his favorite season is beyond me. . . But I'm glad I did)




I know it doesn't look like it from here, but they really did have a good time. Jonas loved pulling at my hat and hair. And Miles kept saying that we were "trying to find Nemo." Needless to say we did not find Nemo in Ouray. Better luck next time, I guess.









This picture really doesn't do the mountains justice - they are so beautiful! This was the same hike that Ben and I did on our 1-year anniversary. A lot has changed since then. . .












Yes, I can see how some people may think my little Jonas is perhaps a girl. . . he's beautiful. (Don't worry Jonas, I'll stop calling you beautiful by the time you go to Kindegarten. By then I'll stick to "handsome.")

a Big day

So we had a fun day - a little bit off the usual and so that is good! We started it off by watching the WM truck come and pick up a dump box that has been parked across the street from us. It was real exciting - especially for a 2 1/2 year-old truck-lovin' boy.







Next I babysat for 2 other kids - Sydney and Easton. Sydney is about 3 months older than Miles and Easton is about 4 months older than Jonas. We had a good time. Everybody basically just did their own thing. Sydney and Miles enjoyed the playdough - Miles was grilling chicken and Sydney was making "nooooooddles." I'll get to babysit them every other Thursday and so I am sure we will all become bosom buddies.















When Ben got home from work Miles got to pick out a "prize" from the prize box. We started this chart awhile ago and when Miles does something good (not every time), he gets a sticker on the chart. Then with his 10th sticker he gets to go to the "prize box" and pick out a new toy. I went to the Dollar Store yesterday and got 5 different toys. Miles pick today - a flying helicopter thing. He absolutley loved it and we had a lot of fun with it - until, ummmm, I broke it! Miles totally forgave me and I promised to get him a new one tomorrow!


Then we decided to go on a family bike ride. So we loaded the kids in the bike carrier - with both of them crying. I'm not sure why - Miles broke down for some reason and perhaps Jonas was a little frigthened of being "alone" with Miles. :) But we consoled them and actually had a great ride! I was in the back to monitor the actions of Miles versus Jonas - I only needed to intervene a
couple of times and so I count that a big success!





We rode to a park by our church and had fun playing there. We fed Jonas some "lasagna with meat sauce," but known by those who know better as "Clown Make-Up." He really fits in with looking like a clown. I really think he's going to be the "clown" in our family. I mean that in a good way! He's just always doing silly things to make others laugh - it's so fun. He just loves to have fun and laugh.

Jonas' First Haircut

So this past week I've wondered if Jonas has an ear infection or if he's teething - due to some increased fussiness, pulling at his ears, etc. But perhaps it was just his long hairs hanging down over his ears! So I decided to give him his first haircut - well, more like his first hair snippet. I cut one side a little too short and the other side just right. With practice hopefully I'll get better! Let's hope snipping his hair will stop his fussiness and that he won't wake up crying for a couple of hours during the nite - but, for some reason, I doubt it. :(

Rain Jackets

For some reason Miles gets so excited when I ask if he wants to wear his rain jacket. It's cute. We've been getting afternoon/evening rainstorms that have been nice. We haven't gotten too much rain, but it does cool down the air a bit. That's Ben wearing my "new" (garage sale) rain jacket and getting the corn ready to grill. And, ummmm, Ben wonders why Miles' favorite color is always "pink." Go figure - apparently Miles' mom AND his dad both really like pink. . .

When Jim and Diana came over they took some photos for us. I tried to post a few more, but my computer is just so slow and the connection is not really good - so I didn't. Thanks again, Jim and Diana, for the pictures - we really love them.

Here is an update on the family:

Wilson -- he ran out of food early Sunday and so he is quite hungry.

Jonas (8 months) -- he loves to stand on everything; it's all he wants to do. He still does the "worm" crawl and is quite expert at it. I did see him do a few real actual crawl steps yesterday and today. He has become quite fussy with meal time and nap time - blah! He hates chunky food. At my mom's house he wasn't too excited about it, but at least ate it. Well here I bought some different brand and it is way chunkier - he gags and even barfed once. We've started giving him "cereal puffs" (i.e. expensive cheerios), but he doesn't even try to eat them. When I put them in his mouth, he just either forgets about it or gags. I don't remember Miles being this opposed to food?

Miles (almost 2 1/2)-- he went to nursery yesterday without screaming or crying. We went over to some friends house yesterday and he pushed Luke (2) down twice. He really liked the "sticky popcorn" they had (i.e., caramel popcorn). Today we went to the park and he was climbing the really tall and steep ladder/stairs for the slide - well, ummmm, he fell off about 2/3 of the way up. How do we survive to our 80s???? He cried and cried and got a little bruise on the side of his face - how lucky were we!? I made him go back up - he wouldn't climb, but let me hold him while we went up together. So we slid down the slide and then finished up having a great time at the park. He's got one CrAzY imagination - I LOVE it.

Ben -- did a great job of doing all my "to-do" items when he was here and I was in Utah! He likes to take the 2 boys out in our little bicycle carrier thingy - too bad Miles can't contain himself from picking on Jonas and so they usually have to come back earlier and with a crying Jonas. He absolutely LOVES his job as a nurse and is really excited about the prospect of being a nurse for the next 40 years. Or, ummmm, something not even close to that.

Emily -- is trying to recover from working Friday and Saturday nite and getting sub-optimal sleep on Sat. and Sun. I had a completely confused and mean patient both nites that kept me extremely busy - I am pretty sure he swore at me in his gummy (his dentures were out) Spanish. Whatever. He finally went to sleep after being awake for over 36 hours straight - after I gave him 1 vicodin, 1 ativan, and 10mg ambien (not all at once, mind you - but within 6 hours). That would have made me sleep FOREVER and never wake up again - at least in this world. Anyways, my goal is to have more than ONE girl participate in my YW lessons. Yeah, good luck to me.

Okay, that's it.

The Provo Half

So here we are finishing up our half-marathon - wahooo! Although you can't really see me, I did run it and I did finish it - promise! My sister and I ran this same race 2 years ago and I think we beat our old time by like 30 seconds. Nice. It was a really awesome race - it's just so beautiful running down the canyon and it's fun to run it with my sis. I loved it. But I also loved the fact that now I am done "training" for it - whoppeee!

Here I am with my "li'l" cheering squad - they were great! My mom, Ben, Miles, and Jonas were all there to greet us at the end. Jonas was real glad to see me. Miles was real glad to eat my pancakes and other "treats." It was a fun morning spent in Provo - after the race Ben and I drove around the campus and our old "stompin' grounds" before heading home. Those were some good days back there in Provo. . .

Highlights of Week One in Utah

Well we've been in Utah since Tuesday and have been very busy - but having a great time! It's always good when surrounded by beautiful family and friends - and mountains, too! We love it all. So here are some of the stuff we've been up to while here. . .

On Wednesday we went hiking to Donut Falls - something we do every time we come to Utah. My dad came with us and we had an excellent time! We just love being up in those beautiful mountains. Miles and Jonas had a great time, too. Afterwards we had a little picnic - we were joined by 2 obese chipmunks. My dad helped them in their obese-ness by feeding them some of our bagels. How nice.
























Thursday was spent in the Paul F. and Shanna P. wedding festivities. It was so wonderful to be in the Salt Lake Temple and witness such a great event. It was quite reminiscent of our wedding - pre-wedding dinner at the Lion House, marriage ceremony at the SL Temple, reception that nite, etc. It was great and the couple was ever so dashing.

The big activity for Friday was the Zoo. Miles' favorite animal this time was the Zebra. I don't know why - it's just what he said when asked what his favorite animal was. He also loved the train ride. A fun time had by all.

Saturday morning Ben got up with me a little after 5 am and we headed up to Snowbird - the ski resort. I then ran down while my wonderful husband biked down - all the way to my folks' house. 12 miles in preparation for the 1/2 marathon next week. Ben hardly had to pedal as it was basically all down hill - I was very glad for the company and we had a pretty good time. But my quads are now definitely feeling the effects of downhill running. AIYIYI. Anyways, later that day Miles and Jonas enjoyed playing in the tiny kid pool in the backyard. Miles, of course, loves everything about water and so had a great time! Jonas really got into it, too, and splashed around for quite a while. This is what happened to his hair post-pool. It used to stick up on it's own, but is a little longer now and doesn't. But with a little help from me, we got it all up and nice again! It's my mom's favorite hairstyle for Jonas and so I thought I would do it for her. Turns out I quite like the do! Anyways, that's our week! (p.s. Jonas pulled himself up all by himself with not an ounce of help from anyone! he's getting so big!!!!)