Word for the year!

I know that it is nearly February, but I have just come up with my New Years Resolution. I have been meaning to do it for weeks and heaven knows I have a lot to work on, I just never got around to it. That, being said, has a lot to do with my resolve this year. I have read a few other blogs that instead of the traditional list of things to accomplish or do better, etc., they chose a word that they wanted to represent this year. I thought about this concept and decided that it was the best way for me to go about this year's resolution. And the word is...(drum roll please)...

DO

I know, it's a very small word, but it has big, far-reaching implications for me. I have a terrible habit of putting things off until...someday. I didn't know what that someday was, all I did know was that it wasn't right now. Well, my someday has arrived. I can put things off no longer. I cannot wait until that "magical" someday comes and I find out that my road paved with good intentions has led me down a slippery slope to "you-know-where" (this is a G-rated blog!)
There are so many things that I need to DO...The first of which, is not spending so much time on the computer. It has really gotten out of hand and I think my family misses me. So the first thing that I am going to DO is take a week off from this machine. (Yikes!) Yes, a whole week! Kind of like a detox. And then after the week is over, I will gradually re-introduce it into my life and see if I can't control my time a little better. I don't want to have to give it up completely, I really love my computer! But, I love my family even more and there is definitely more that I need to DO for them and for my own personal growth. So, from this point until next Wednesday morning, I am signing off. No email, no blogging, no nothing. So if anyone need to get a hold of me, they need to call on the phone...or, better yet, stop on by.
I have been composing this all day in my head...and it was much better in my mind! I just can never get the thought out of my head and down on the screen like it was in my head. Oh well, not one of my talents, I guess...bummer!
So, that's that. I am off this thing to practice DO-ing uninterrupted for the next week...Wish me luck and I hope that I return next Wednesday with lots of comments about how much you missed me. I will surely miss all of you!

A Fond Farewell

Goodbye to a dear, sweet man. I will always consider him "my prophet." He signed my mission papers (President Hunter passed away just after I turned them in) and has been the prophet for all of my grown up life. I am grateful for his leadership, example, humor and life. He will be missed, but I am so grateful that he is able to rest from his labors and return to his lovely wife, our Savior and our Father in Heaven. I love you President Hinckley. Thank you for a remarkable life of service and faith.

Look what can happen in 6 years!

You can be born:


















You can have chicken legs: (1 month old)You can turn 1 and have a phobia of your right foot touching the grass:












You can become a big brother:You can turn 2 and get to play in a fire engine:
















You can turn 3 and look really washed out from mommy's old 35mm camera that was reaching the end of it's life:
You can turn 4 and have a really awesome birthday at Lego Land and your mom can make you an extra special lego cake even though she is domestically challenged and her camera can get stolen out of her unlocked car before she has a chance to download the pictures (still a very sore subject, I still weep from time to time over this!) and so you get to see a photo from Christmas before my 4th birthday:














You can become a big brother again (I just had to post this because it was so cute and I never got around to sending them out..it had something to do with having an emergency, horrifying c-section and moving out of state all in the same 2 week period!):You can turn 5 and be so totally thrilled about it:













You can start kindergarten:You can turn 6 and get a really cool, super soft Transformers blanket:








Whew! A lot can happen in 6 short years and the time sure does fly. Happy Birthday, Jess. I am so happy and blessed to be your mom. I love you.

The reason I can't really enjoy a shower...

That was nearly a full roll! Need I say more?

More January randomness

That's right...you gotta start 'em early! I didn't put my other two to work early enough and just look, they're inside watching a movie while their not-quite-18-month-old brother is out'doin' all the work. I better teach this one right, or I'd have to be the one shoveling, instead of just taking the picture!I'd like you to meet a new member of our family...isn't she beautiful? She will be the key to me not losing those pesky last 10 pounds as she is just too darn good at making those scrumptious desserts that I love so well. Especially chocolate chip cookies...yum!

Oh, what do you do in the wintertime when all the world is white and cold and you have 3 youngsters trapped in the house for days on end? You build one of these:Just in case you can't tell, it's a fort that takes up my entire family room. Here's what it looks like inside:
Personally, I don't see the appeal, but they played for a good hour so that I could waste time playing on the internet. Oh, sure, I had plenty of other more worthwhile things I could've been doing (ie: laundry, dishes, laundry, cleaning the bathrooms, laundry...you get the picture) But those would all be there later, what's the rush?!?We had a fun field trip with the MBASA (MBA spouse association) where Cosmo (BYU's mascot) came and took pictures with the kids. They enjoyed it. Can't you tell just by looking at Dyl's excited expression? We also played with a big parachute and cracked open a pinata. Always a hit (no pun intended!)

Here's a picture of me. Grace took it. I just thought I'd post a lone picture of me for no other reason than I can (that's so out of character for me.) It's not the most flattering, but considering a 4 yo took it, it ain't too shabby. I hope it doesn't scare you off!Okay, it is a little scary...sorry!

On Saturday, I took Grace to a Best of Disney show and Princess breakfast at a local theater (and dang it, I forgot my camera) I am trying to do the whole mommy/daughter bonding thing as I have been feeling like she needs a little extra, undivided attention from her mother (she's very good at ignoring me and any request that I make of her.) So, we have this nice time and on the way home the following conversation ensued:
Me: did you have a good time?
Grace: *no response*
Me: was that a fun thing to do with your mommy?
Grace: *no response*
Not wanting to give up
Me: what was your favorite part?
Grace: *no response*
At this point I just turned up my music and sang to myself the rest of the way home.
Girls!
On the same token, Jesse and I went out today for some dessert at the Red Lobster. We had a decadent Chocolate chip lava cookie a la mode. Delish...you must try it. We had a nice conversation over dessert and Jess even got to pet a lobster. He was definitely the more fun date!

Random thoughts!

I have been extremely lazy lately in posting. I don't know why. Well, I thought I'd just throw a few things out there that have happened recently.
First off, Dylan is all better. After we got the nebulizer, we used it for a few days and he was doing much better and is back to normal now.
Second...I have to publicly thank Jenny Dahl. She was my Pink Christmas girlfriend this year and sent me this way adorable "T" plaque that matched my kids wall so perfectly:So cute. I love it!
Third, here's a video of Dylan and his buddy Luke having some fun. Dyl keeps running off screen to push the music button on his Leap Frog barn:


How much fun it would be to be a kid again!
Well, that's all I have time for today, Dylan just woke up, besides, I can't remember what else I wanted to post.

Sleepless nights and a trip to the ER

Saturday night I was up all night with Dylan. He has been having episodes every 3-6 weeks since last Christmas where he has trouble breathing. I took him to the Dr during one of these episodes several months ago and they said it was the dry air...nothing to worry about. We got a humidifier and use it religiously, yet he still keeps having them. Anyway, about 5am on Sunday, Dylan had been crying, unable to get comfortable and unable to be consoled (highly unlike him) so I decided to take him to the ER. I was tired and worried and I was prepared for them to treat me like an overprotective mom that brings her child in for any little sniffle (which I am far from!) I was justified! The Dr was very concerned about his breathing and considering admitting him to the hospital. They gave Dyl a breathing treatment, he had a chest x-ray and was tested for RSV among other things. The x-ray came back showing Bronchiolitis (no pneumonia, yeah!) and the other tests were clear and after the breathing treatment Dyl was feeling a lot better. By the time all the tests were in and the Dr cam back to see us, Dyl was running around the ER, flirting and playing peek-a-boo with the nurses. The Dr was surprised at the turn around and let us go home. But, not before diagnosing Dylan with Reactive airway disease (like asthma, they just don't diagnose kids this young with that) and giving us a RX for a nebulizer and albuterol to help Dylan breathe better. It made all the difference. Dylan is feeling much better and sleeping (yeah-now if the other two would've slept last night I'd feel much better today!) Can't they all sleep on the same night-oh what a miracle that would be!
Sorry, no pics again, I am being really lazy about those. I will get some on here soon.

Auld Lang Syne!

We sing that song (or at least think about it!) every New Years Eve at the stroke of midnight, but what does it really mean?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of Auld Lang Syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll sip a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

In literal translation auld lang syne means old long since or long, long ago but a more rough translation of the song is:
Should we forget old friends and the old days? Nah...lets drink a toast for old times sake! There are several other verses, but that is the gist. This had particular meaning to me this year as I have been able to get in contact with a few old friends this past Christmas season and it is always fun to reminisce about the past and catch up on the present. At the stroke of midnight on New Years, I was actually responding to an email of one of these friends. How appropriate.
Anyway, just some thoughts for the new year. I am going to post a year in review as soon as I come up with something clever, plus I will update on our trip to Cali. I will say just one thing. On New Years Day, we went to the Beach and it was 70 degrees. It was beautiful and we were way over dressed. There are definitely things I miss about Cali, but more things that I don't!