Merry Christmas

JW may not understand Santa, but he knows fun when he sees it.  When JW got his first glimpse of Christmas this morning, he said, "Whooaaaaa." Then he played basketball for about 5 minutes before he discoverd his tricycle.  Merry Christmas. 

Christmas Eve Eve

 My extended family always has its Christmas gathering on Christmas Eve Eve.  Our party is like any typical giant-family celebration with a lot of dust and chaos.  I look forward to it.  During dinner each family tends to group themselves together.  I like to move around and sit myself in the middle of other families, just to mix things up a bit.

Instead of the typical Santa Clause jingle jangle, we got in touch with our Dutch traditions with a visit from Sinterklaas.  JW was extremely curious of the jolly ol' saint, but he would not step within arms reach.  That would just be too big a risk of being swooped up onto his lap.

*$10 bucks if you can get a quarter in Kat's cleavage*

The Nativity demonstration came courtesy of the great grand kids. It was surprisingly organized considering the number of angels and shepherds under age 6.  It was narrated by Uncle 'Rad, who announced his engagement to his beautiful friend Wendy.  He had a little spring in his step all night.   

Gearing Up

Christmas magic is in full swing around here. 

Santa is waxing his sleigh and fattening up the reindeer. 

The big trip is nigh.

The Best Two Years

Music is "You and Me" by Francis England off the album Family Tree

JW, a year ago you were not stable on two feet, you communicated with smiles or tears, "ba ba" and "da da," gurgles and screams.  You found joy in crinkling paper, toilet papering the entire house and eating dirt.  You found comfort in your binki and were cool with a bottle.  We decorated the house for Christmas with little worry about you bringing down the tree or breaking mama's glass ornaments.  You had little interest in climbing stairs or going down slides on the playground.

A year later you can run, jump, kick and tumble.  You have a healthy vocabulary, almost always say "please" and generously give out "hugs."  You ask for your {my} iPad and you can maneuver the applications as if Steve Jobs was your father.  You like to draw pictures and paint.  You know the real purpose of toilet paper and even think you need to help out sometimes.  As first time parents with little experience we expected the worst when it came time to give up the binki and the bottle.  There was very little torture or trickery involved on our part.  We slowly stopped giving them to you and you carried on with life with little fuss.  The glass Christmas ornaments have been packed away because mama anticipated you would not be able to control your urge to touch every ornament on the Christmas tree.  Mama was right.  No matter how many times you have been told, "We look with our eyes, not with our hands," to which you always agree, I have found you on several occasions rearranging every bulb within reach.  You can identify Santa, and you know he says, "HO HO HO," but I'm certain you have no idea what Santa is really capable of doing.  You finally figured out how to go up and down the stairs without falling (and causing me heart failure every time) and you will go up and down the slide on the playground a million times all by yourself.   

One of the moms from the preschool asked me recently how I felt about having a two year old.  My initial response was basically eh, so what?  But the more I've thought about the last two years, how much we've grown, how smart you are, what a sweet boy you can be (knock on wood) I look forward to what the next year will bring and can barely fathom the possibilities.  Happy birthday, little buddy.

'Tis the Season

When asked what their favorite holiday is, most people will tell you Christmas.  I personally prefer Thanksgiving or the 4th of July.  Christmas is the last holiday on my list for reasons I can only tell my therapist.  I'm a Grinch.  All is not lost, though.  There are a few things that make me jolly for the holidays, along with reasons to leave the boxes of lights and garlands in the basement. 

Jolly: I love the lights.  I drive by Temple Square on my way home from work every night and just that 10 seconds looking at the lights brings me great joy.  Our neighborhood should rename our street to Christmas Lane because everyone has lights on their houses.  Sometimes JW and I will drive the long way home just to enjoy the lights in the neighborhood. 

Grinch: G will not put lights on our house.  Apparently this is a provision in our marital contract. So I do it every year.  Except, I am too chicken to climb the ladder to the highest pitch on the roof, so I just put lights on our bushes and around the windows and porch.  Last year half of the lights blitzed mid way through December and some jerk kids put our lighted reindeer in a precarious position.

Jolly: I LOVE glass ornaments.  The old world vintage kind with Santas, teapots, the pickle, icicles, etc. My entire tree is decorated with vintage glass ornaments, many of them nearly 100 years old.  My tree sparkles. It makes me so happy.

Grinch: I have a curious two year old.  Vintage glass ornaments just seem like a bad idea.  So I bought a box of shatter-proof (read: plastic) ornaments from the Costco knowing that JW would not be able to resist touching every "bulpt" (bulb) on the tree.  Now my tree has no soul.

Jolly:  This year I bought a pre-lit tree with zillions of white lights after more than 10 years with an old 6 ft. cheap-o delux tree that I spent 2 hours stringing 50 sets of lights to every year. Pre-lit has changed my life forever.

Grinch: Why didn't I do that 10 years ago?


What's your favorite holiday? 



Grandma, 1930



Grandpa, 1956

My cousin is in the process of scanning a box of old photos from my mother's side of the family.  He sends an email or two every week of each scanned treasure.  Here are two of my favorites so far, capturing my Grandparents {my mom's parents} in their youthfulness.  At first I thought this was Grandma sneaking out on the rocks to watch Grandpa fish.  How sweet.  Then I noticed there was a 26 year difference in the photo timeline.  I never knew either of them in this life, but I imagine they were wonderful people.



The Holstee Manifesto

This little manifesto is making its way around the internet and I must say, I like it.  I kind of want to figure out how to paint it on an old piece of salvaged wood and hang it on my wall. There must be a way...

Good morning, Winter. 

The first real snow storm of the year is always a merry event for me, in theory.  I always picture myself lounging around in my pajamas, sipping hot chocolate, watching movies all day.  Then reality hits - read: I have a two year old.  Forget about lounging around watching movies all day.  If I'm watching anything it's sound bites of Thomas and Friends, Super Why and The Cat in the Hat (sound bites = JW knows he can watch his favs through Netflix.  Five minutes into each show he decides he wants to watch something else.  It makes me totally mental.).  And lounging?  Come on, now.

JW was pretty excited about the snow.  He wanted to play outside all day.  I told him once he was dressed we could go outside.  Getting dressed was easy enough for JW, except he decided he was going to take a fashion note from Papa Bear and wear his sandals with his socks.  I refused to let him play in the snow in his sandals and he refused to take them off.  We made a trip to Payless and bought JW a pair of snow boots.  I thought he'd think they were cool until he refused to put those on as well.  This might be a long winter.

Happy Halloween

In the days leading up to Halloween, JW made it clear that he was NOT interested in wearing a costume.  I have had his Thomas the Train costume laying out for days in hopes he would find it as awesome as watching Thomas and Friends streaming through Netflix.  I've even put it on and danced around.  He thought that was funny.  I'd practically beg him to put it on and he was having none of it.

It should come as no surprise that I had zero expectations that JW would be dressed up for his Halloween parade at preschool.  So if he wasn't going to wear the costume, I was. 

  

 Suddenly he decided he wanted to wear the conductor's hat...

And moments before the parade, I asked JW if he wanted to wear Thomas {"choo choo"}. 

To my surprise!

We loaded into the baby bus...

and paraded around the block...

As soon as the parade was over, the costume came off, never to be put on again.  Thank you for humoring me, buddy. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Source: ihatemyparents.tumblr.com via Aubrey on Pinterest

I admit it.  I'm a yeller.  I try really hard to take a deep breath and just ignore the whining, crying and stomping, but sometimes it gets me and I yell.  Really LOUD.  It rarely works and usually just makes the situation worse.  Maybe I should try this new tactic.

Un Sospiro

Over the weekend I was going through my pile of music in an attempt to get organized, when I came across this Liszt piece, "Un Sospiro." I started learning this piece of music a few years ago for a piano recital and had it about 65% memorized when my life got a little out of control and I quit piano lessons. I'm kind of sad about that. Nevertheless, this piece moves me almost to tears. Close your eyes and listen. It's dreamy.

This leather beauty recently flew through my universe and caught my attention. I have a soft spot for Coach bags, and this persimmon colored Madison bag sits just right for Fall.  However, paying the retail price for this bag seems kind of foolish.  It is tempting though.  If I pull the trigger I might have to sell some junk on Craig's List so I can eat the rest of the month.   

It's Autumn Time

Today is the first day of Fall, my favorite season.  I can't pass up this day without letting you know this fact.  The cooler temperatures, red leaves, soup, sweaters, boots, every cliche, I love.  It's the final hoorah before hunkering down for the winter, which in Utah lasts until June.  I also couldn't pass up adding this picture, even if it is celebrating Halloween a little prematurely.  It screams FALL to me.  I mean, look closely - a jack-o-lantern, a witch and a black cat cruising around in a SQUASH!!??  Clever.

A Utah Man

Tonight was the rivalry football game between Utah and BYU. We are a split household. G went to the game with his BYU boyfriends. I told him if he wasn't going to take me, he had to at least wear his Utah t-shirt (deep down he's a BYU fan, but he keeps that on the downlow around these parts). He didn't wear his Utah shirt, but I bet he wished he had after that game!

Utah 54 BYU 10.

GO UTES! There's no doubt who this little man is cheering for!

"STOP!"

As JW is learning about the world around him, I have noticed that he tends to identify objects by the sound it makes. For example, when he sees a dog, instead of saying, "dog" he says, "woof woof" When he sees a train he says, "choo choo" For his toy monkey it's, "oohooh aahaah." You get the picture. Last night he started screaming at the top of his lungs, "STOP! STOP! STOOOOP!!!" So I asked, "Is that what mama says?" And without hesitation he replied, "...Yes..."

Now I know he's listening.

10 Years Later

Part of the beauty in working for an investment manager is the paid time off we get every year. 10 years ago it was a use it or lose it policy and since I never took time off, and my vacation calendar was about to rollover, I decided to take a week off.

I didn't go anywhere for my "vacation." Didn't have any big plans, except to clean up around the house. I got started early that day. Pulled out the vacuum and went to town in the living room. I noticed as I was vacuuming the light on my caller I.D. flashing. It was around 8:30 a.m., who was calling me? I didn't hear the phone ring over the vacuum. I stopped to see who it was and noticed that G (we were dating at the time) had called a couple times. Just then the phone rang again - it was my boss. She said, "Are you watching the news?" "No, what's going on?" I was clueless. She said, "The World Trade towers were hit by two airplanes and have collapsed..." I didn't grasp the magnitude of the situation immediately. All I really knew was that thousands of people went in and out of those buildings every day. This was a big deal.

I turned on the t.v. and didn't turn it off the rest of the week, or weeks, for that matter. I didn't go back to work for several days more than my "paid time off." Fear had gotten the best of me. G came over after work that night and was a mess. The firm he worked for was based in NYC, at World Trade Center. He was worried for his colleagues. We spent a lot of time watching the events unfold. Listening to the stories from the people who were there. We hoped for survivors.

10 years later we live by the cliche, we will never forget. We will never forget how evil evil really is. We will never forget the people who went to work that day and didn't go home. We will never forget their families. We will never forget those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of others.

Labor Day Canoeing

As my niece Noelle was planning her visit to Utah, she called Papa Bear and requested that he take her canoeing. I am not sure where she got the idea, but Papa Bear, being the accommodating grandpa that he is, went out of his way to make sure Noelle got her wish.

So he planned a little excursion. I don't know what I was expecting, but when I saw this, I wondered, is this safe? Is this legal? Maybe we should just go to Liberty Park and rent a paddle boat.... We launched the canoe with the babies sitting in the middle. We gave them strict instructions, "DO NOT MOVE." Canoes are not the most stable water craft, in case you were wondering.

Whoaa. Steady....steady...steady...

DO NOT MOVE.


JW thought I was a real jerk for not letting him play in the lake. Hey, you never know what might be floating in there---dead bodies much? Despite the murky waters, I think we all had a good time. Thanks, Papa Bear, for taking us out in the canoe!

Milk 'n Donuts

I kind of fell off the earth after my 30 day blog challenge. I have to admit, that challenge was exhausting.

We have been spending a lot of time with our family over the last few days. Auntie and Uncle Boo are in town and all JW can talk about is his cousin, "sis-sis". They have the best play time, but they fight like siblings. {sigh} Two year olds are the best.

Yesterday JW and I were picking up sandwiches at Subway to take to a family picnic. The lady standing in line in front of us sneezed. JW replied, "Bless you." That was the first time I've heard him say that. Be still my heart.

Precious Babies

I have been reading about the sweetest little girl's, Ruby Jane's, fight for her life over the last couple of days on this blog. As I read her story all I can think about how perfect (or seemingly imperfect) life might be today and how tomorrow it could all change. It is so hard for me sometimes to enjoy JW when he is being his typical almost-two year old self, but just the thought of ever losing him brings me to tears. Wow.

Pumping Iron

JW was telling me to get out of the way because if that horse shoe hits me, it's going to hurt. As if he's never heard that before.

Family Reunion

We spent several days at our home in Idaho last week with G's family for a little G-family reunion. JW was exhausted at the end of the day after being loved to death by his cousins. It was pretty much the best week of his life.

Find Me a Rainbow

With a pot of gold to share.A beautiful view out my backdoor tonight.

Only in Utah...

...does half a city camp out for two days for a parade to celebrate Mormon pioneers. I got to watch the parade out my office window. I'm a sucker for parades. Plus I ran the infamous D-News Pioneer Day 10k with Kati. What a country!Happy Pioneer Day!

Water Fight!

Today was Family Fun Day at Great Grandma and Grandpa's house.

JW found a bucket of water balloons... and figured out pretty quickly if he tossed the balloon, it would explode with water.

Before long, others noticed and joined in the fun.

And a water fight ensued.

He started it.

Discovery Gateway

Today I took Dubs to Discovery Gateway, a children's museum full of hands-on exhibits and activities. I was not entirely sure what to expect and wondered if he was too young to really get into it. As you can see, he had no trouble having fun. He thought the ball throw tube was the best thing ever.

This is a little platform to build a house with blocks, then you turn it on and it shakes to mimic an earthquake and you see if your building survives. JW couldn't help but shake his booty with it.

Gramma Nay has these gears on her refrigerator so to see an entire wall of gears was just too awesome for this little man.

The best place of all...the water center! If he wasn't trying to drink the water, he was pouring it on himself. He was soaked, but so happy.

I just got invited to Google+. I'm flattered to be in the elite test group, but I'm not really sure what I'm doing. Should I be nervous that my name is now public, with no control over privacy? I think I understand the "circles" bit, but I'm not sure how I get people in the circles. Please, if you know how to use this really cool new Google thing, tell me what I need to know.

Day 26: Lasagna Face

Give this kid any combination of noodles and tomato sauce and he is sure to have a good time over his entire body.

Day 25: A Day On the Beach

Bear Lake

Building sand castles on the beach.

Day 24 - Always Planning His Escape

JW recently started joining the toddlers in nursery at our church while I attend my classes. He has struggled a little when I drop him off. He gets sad and I often stay with him until he gets comfy, then I sneak out. Today was not any different, except that I didn't stay. One of my favorite people was in the nursery, so she took him and within a minute he seemed content. Meanwhile, I enjoyed my classes.

When church ended I went to pick JW up from the nursery. Unfortunately when I got there, JW was not there. I asked the adult who was there (not the same person who was there when I dropped him off) where he was. She responded by saying, "Who?" as if she had never heard of the kid, so I drew a composite sketch for her. She said, "Oh, he left with So-n-So." After "So-n-So" was nowhere to be found, I sent out a search party. Several minutes later I hear a voice yell from down the hall, "Here he is!" There was JW wandering the halls, all alone, with a giant smile on his face as if to say, "Look mama, I escaped!"

Day 23 - The Stork made a Delivery!

Welcome to the family

Nicholas James!

My sister has been willing this baby to be born for what seems like weeks now. Anyone who has had a baby understands the need for pregnancy to be over. I talked to my sister yesterday morning around 11 a.m. She was sitting in the kiddie pool in her backyard with her two girls. Life as usual. Around 7:30 p.m. my Mom called me a little frantic that she could not get a hold of my sister. A few minutes later we got a message that this sweet boy had been born. Within a few hours this proud auntie was on video chat and got to meet the little man. He's awesome.

Congrats Rachel, Boo and big sisters Noelley and Sis!!

Day 22 - Space: The Final Frontier

Today marks the last launch of the space shuttle, as the U.S. government has brought the program to an end. It has been on the news all day, as if the country is in mourning. I can not lie, I am a little sad to see it end, although deep down I think it will be back {a new president, better economy, not to mention the nauseating idea of sending our astronauts on Russia's space shuttle - I imagine the cockpit smells like cigarettes and stale beer - could bring this to pass}.

My first memory, like so many kids of the '80s, is the Challenger space shuttle. I was in 4th grade and along with thousands of other kids that day in 1986, watched live as the Challenger disintegrated just over a minute after launch. It was a confusing moment and as it all became clear I can remember being sad specifically for the brave teacher, Christa McAuliffe, who for a brief moment inspired me to want to be an astronaut. Ever since then I tend to hold my breath after each shuttle launch, hoping for the best and fearing the worst.

In honor of all of those who have dedicated their lives to space exploration, I hold my hand over my heart. It's not over, just a temporary break before we're back in space.