LGisms

LG: Dad, when I die, I'm going to hide under my bed so Jesus can't find me.

Dad: Well son, that isn't really how it works. Jesus can find you anywhere.

LG: How does he do that?

Dad: I don't really know, son.

LG: Well dad, I don't understand how this world works. It's your job to explain it to me.

Dad: Uhhhh (as he feigns ignorance and leaves the room).

I find this perfect example of what is really going on in the parent child relationship. They don't know. We don't know. And at the same time both the parent and child typically claim to think they know everything. Good times.

Poo Poo Postscript.....
I also meant to add on the last post that I am appalled at the new commercials advertising a decorative "cover" for your naked toilet paper roll. Seriously, consumerism has reached an all time low. Seriously.

Potty Words

Due to the nature of the blog here, photos aren't really appropriate, so you will have to check back later (much later at this rate).

Boys. And girls. What is it about potty words that inspires such hysteria and obnoxious behavior in kids? The LG is all over the word "poop". As a result, so is the TP. Unfortunately for the LG, it isn't very funny when a 4 year old says it and he is directed to the bathroom where that word is most appoopriate. When the TP says it, however, we tend to snicker to ourselves, and the hysteria is passed on to the adults. This went on for an hour and a half yesterday in the car while we traversed the Salt Lake Valley (and even into Utah County - eyeroll) so I could finally convince the BK that when it comes time to buy we are sticking close to SLC. Anyway, by the time we got home, I felt like washing my own ears out. And, I think that will be the last time Grandma is willing to sit in our car for any length of time.

On other potty notes, the other day we went to Wheeler Farm with some friends. While feeding the ducks, the LG took off running (shocking, I know). I found him relieving himself in the "decorative/display" outhouse. As I shielded others from looking in, I was EXTREMELY relieved myself that it was only #1 since there was a nice mesh cover - which might have deterred other kids from sitting down at all - and at the least would have turned into quite a spectacle.

Thankfully, on this subject, and with much thanks (Grandma) to some lovely training pants that arrived in the mail last week, the TP is well on her way to using the potty. I find myself wishing on ocassion, however, that when she says she needs to pee, that I could just ask her to go in her diaper.

Poop.

See, it just isn't that funny.

Trying Times

Don't worry, nothing is seriously wrong with any of us. And times could be a lot more trying. We have just been doing a lot of complaining lately (mostly the BK and myself...okay, really just myself). It just seemed a fitting title for the pics I wanted to post. My dear Sis in Law agreed to take some pictures of the kids. I'm sure you know what then ensued, crying, whining, running through the mud, running outside naked, hair standing straight up. The usual, except heightened by the fact that we asked the kids to cooperate. Once we finally got them outside, I bribed the LG with promise of Legos if he would cooperate, and the TP was bribed with chocolate chips. I should have been more prepared. Needless to say, they are 3 children under 5 so getting a decent picture of all 3 wasn't really very likely to happen anyway.



Just a little update on each of the rugrats.

BIG H
Getting bigger everyday. Hard to believe this not so little guy is only 4 months. Man we love those cheekies. Both sets ; ) He's rolling all over the place, standing up for way too long, giggling, cooing and doing all sorts of other things that entertain us for hours. Then he sleeps (thankfully).



TP
This one will steal your heart and then steal the cookie off your plate. 2 is a magical age. She can talk (and does a lot), and everything that comes out of her mouth is still adorable. She's starting to lose some of her baby fat though and makes me think she will grow out of her 2ishness very soon. Very sad about that. She's very loving, cuddly, and can shriek like nobody's business. I would tell you some funny things she says except that it is more the way she says things than what she actually says.



LG
Much as this one tries our patience, I could write novels about the amusing things he says and does. While saying his prayers, I told him he should bless daddy (who was home while we visited Grandma) not to be lonely. His response? "Yeah, we need to find him a person". Hmmm, maybe not. Every morning he comes running (no exaggeration) upstairs and lands in a perfect superhero pose. Good morning to you too. He's funny and fiercely independent. Which is scary as a parent to this 4 year old. We just hope we all survive.



Otherwise, summer is flying by and I can't believe it is already August. Hopefully time to get back into a normal routine. Hopefully that will also include more blogging.

Blessings

The Big H was blessed last weekend in Logan by his proud Grandpa. I know all parents have high hopes for their children and it is always touchin to hear it expressed in a blessing in a sacred setting. Love, truth and health. I am so grateful to have /felt all three of those in such abundance throughout my life, and I pray regularly that my children will have the same.

Shake Up

We are crazy. I know. For those of you who don't know, let me convince you. A week before Big H was born, the BK started interviewing for a job in SLC. Never mind that I was ready to pop, he was scheduled to have his first interview with them coincidentally when I was in the hospital in labor. Fortunately they thought my screaming in the background was a good enough reason to let him off the hook. I'm embellishing a bit, since I don't really recall how everything happened. All I really know is that a week after Big H was born, we were pretty sure an offer was on the table that would require us to pack up and leave TX in 2 weeks.

The kiddoes a few days before departure.


Sometimes, you get exactly what you ask for. Sometimes that feels good, sometimes you feel like you weren't thinking clearly when you asked. So, with 4 week old baby in tow, we packed up the gaggle in our green machine minivan and headed for cooler pastures. Little did I know that I was headed for winter in April, May and possibly June (still waiting for some snow this month).

A gorgeous night for a sendoff. Roadside somewhere in the middle of TX.

We found a cute little place in Sugarhouse where we now feel we are back in Portland. We love being able to walk to stores, restaurants, parks. And I am particularly happy with our backyard that allows me to shoo my chillins outside. SLC is a beautiful city, and we are loving the mountains, being close to family, and feeling like we are somewhere we would like to settle. Settling is something we have been pretty bad at in the past, but the exhaustion that we are still recovering from is enough to keep us in place as long as possible.

Peek at our backyard full of poppies.

We miss our wonderful friends, but unfortunately (I can only speak for myself) that's about it. Bye bye TX!

View from John's new office. Any view would have been an improvement, but this view is hard to beat.

Happy 2 Little Roo

Hopefully I can find the will to do some catch up blogging, but for now it is best to live in the present. Our little TP turned 2.

She's amazing, wonderful, sweet and stinky. Perhaps due to the craziness of the last year (and the last 2 months in particular), it almost seems hard to believe she isn't turning 3 instead of 2. That is until I am just now reminded by her behavior which is pretty typical of a 2 year old. Some of her favorite things to do:

CLIMB. She's been adopted into the primate family. As I write this she is sitting on top of our kitchen table where I am trying to do my family history (blogging ; ) sticking her fingers and wires into the computer where they don't belong. She LOVES to climb onto the bathroom vanity and turn on the water. Notice I didn't mention anything about turning the water off.

FOLLOW LG. I always wanted a big brother to follow around (I'm sure my brothers would have preferred that as well). Anywhere he goes, she goes. Anything he loves, she loves. For better or worse they are inseparable.

SPEAK IN CODE. She basically says the first and last part of any word, sentence or phrase. "Yo ho, yo ho a pirate's life for me" = "Hi ho me". Pocket = pock. You get the idea, you probably just won't get what she is saying.

DRESS UP. Thankfully her tomboyish behavior is tempered by a high sense of style. She loves shoes, dresses, having her hair done, and thinking she is a princess - which she is.

What fun it is to have so much laughter and life in our home. She's a lot of sunshine and a little sass. Just like we like 'em around here. Happy Birthday Roo!

Every Princess needs a castle, and what do you get for building it? Either knighthood or a whap in the face. Royalty is so unpredictable.


I told you she likes looking pretty. She wanted to show you her hair.


Every superhero needs a sidekick. Especially one with a tiara, wand and a princess cape.

Lucky Charms

Lucky #3 arrived on St. Patrick's Day! We are so thrilled to have him here safely. It was relatively quick and relatively painless. After a quick 24 hour stay, we are now back at home where there are no needles, nurses or neon lights. Big H (as I will be calling him, in part due to the number of cheeseburgers consumed in that 24 hour period) weighed in at a strong 7lbs 14oz. He has hair much darker than even the LG's, his mother's nose, and his father's toes (poor kid on both counts), but is otherwise more good looking than we deserve.

For whatever reason, both the BK and myself feel overwhelmingly grateful that #3 made it here safely. Not because there was any reason to fear, but because it seemed like too much good luck to have things go well 3 times. Perhaps this made it all the more appropriate that he made his appearance on St. Patty's day. Here are a few more pics.

Also, SO grateful for my wonderful parents who have already been working so hard at cleaning up after us all and making meals for two weeks. I hope we don't kill them off in the next couple of weeks with Big H added to the mix.