And away they go

So my sister Melissa left. What a sad day. Tanner said, "I feel like crying." Well, I did. We live too far from family. And dear friends. Missing the Williams Family Vacation this week as well. I'll try not to think about it.

Melissa-isms, Headbows and the Food Network

I still get to have Melissa here. It is so neat to see my little sister with her first baby and watch her love and care for her. She is such a sensitive attentive mother and I feel inspired by her to better mother my own. As I mentioned before, Izzy seems so mild mannered. Maybe that is compared to my own beastly babies? The saving grace, and what keeps us thinking we can have more children, is that my babies do grow out of it. I wish I could say I forget the colic period, but that is a lie. The incessant cry seems to fade in my ears, but I do not forget. (can you hear the crying from Landon?) Melissa-ism #1: Landon crying in the car makes Melissa's "Ear Curdle". I mentioned I thought it was "Blood Curdle", but not to Melissa. Good to know.

Last night Melissa ran to Target to return something with Izzy. She came home and Izzy was crying. I picked her up and patted her and Melissa laid on the bed and said, " Why does my baby hate me?" WHAT? What in the world I thought? Izzy is calmed and soothed by her. Izzy can recognize her voice and settle. Izzy sleeps all day sometimes. I did laugh. But, Melissa was serious. It surprised me since I had been shopping with her and noticed her fussing more but nothing outrageous. As I mentioned, Melissa is so sensitive to her. Melissa said, " I hate when everyone is looking at me and staring at the store when she is crying!" I really tried to minimize the social impact for her. Melissa mentioned if she had babies like I had she did not know what she would do. Hence, the second Melissa-ism: she said I had the patience of Yoda. Yes, I said, Yoda. Like Star Wars. I will forever bear that as my highest compliment. Thank you Melissa.

As for headbows, I know my gal friend, Nathalie, makes really cute bows too (the headbands are cut from tights). Just a novice, we picked up some felt to make flowers, an idea picked up from Heather Bailey (whom my sister-in-law nanies for. I think Heather is famous, hence Jill is totally connected). Not too much effort and fun to do for my niece.

And with silk flowers

Finally, we hit this restaurant Melissa called me about months ago and told me I had to go there cause Bobby Flay from the Food Network did a show there. Lynn's Paradise Cafe. Totally quirky. Melissa had some weird Kentucky dish, that I have never had in my entire year here, and it was totally kid friendly. Glad we took our daily outing there.



And yes, that is a man-size teapot spouting dish-soap bubbles. In the parking lot. I told you it was quirky.

I have out of towners

Lucky me! Been a bit busy with my little sister, melissa, and her really sweet, super-squishy coma baby Izabelle (she sleeps alot, hence the coma part). We have managed to make her think I have lost my mind on some days ( I put Emma in the Car Seat and forgot to buckle her in. Melissa: "Ahh, she got out of her car seat!). In trying to protect Izzy from the bottom 2, we have stepped on Izzy's face, wacked her with a hard toy, and I dropped a bottle of shampoo on her head in the bath. She cries so soft compared to any baby I have ever had! I really can not get enough of her.

Melissa has been such a trooper! We stick to my one outing a day policy and so, we are homebound alot. Landon had to go to the doctor yesterday, he had a weird infected bite on his finger and it had to be lanced. They started him on antibiotics. No surprise to us. To costco today and hopefully the Zoo tomorrow. We also made Izzy some of the cutest headbands ever! Melissa is a good person to craft with- she beats Ryan anyday.

I love having out of towners like my sister.

Run, Run as Fast as You Can!

The dentist. Tanner had his cleaning and "inspection" and was deemed 4 cavities. Emma, upon seeing Tanner in the chair and the dentist in a long white coat reminiscent to Dad's (possibly to many pediatric practice exams?) would have nothing to do with it. So, almost 90 minutes later, and with 2 of the 3 running to escape the confines of the dental office and the 3rd crying to be let down. We left. With a sigh (and the receptionist saying for the 5th time, "You have your hands full!") . Outing for the day accomplished. And yet, Tanner still has to have his cavities filled. I'll save that for Ryan on his vacation.

So Nice!

I got a message and CD left in my mail box last night. In a previous post I had mentioned only one small moment of insanity- hence the package in my mailbox today. I will spare the details of my brief moment of insanity (yes, I am okay and it passed and I feel much better and I think I am normal). The note was heartfelt and the talk attached to it profound (My Home as a Temple by Kristine Manwaring) and a CD of consider the Lillies of the Field. Made such a difference in my day and was such a nice sweet gesture (thanks Marla)!

(Let me digress a bit about the talk, I love, " Christ fed multitudes with limited tangible resources in a miraculous example of His attention to our physical as well as spiritual hunger. He washed the feet of his disciples to illustrate the humble service required of a Master and to reveal what He was willing to do that we might be entirely clean. In the book of Moses he states that He, Himself, made the coats of skins to clothe Adam and Eve. When seen in this new light, my perceptions on tasks like peeling potatoes and scrubbing floors began to turn upside down and inside out. It was becoming obvious to me that when we care for the physical as well as spiritual needs of our families, we are patterning our lives after the Savior.")

I have had so many people do nice things for me- I could fill an encycopedia! I thought about it off and on today and must share. Landon was born almost a month early and big. He was in the NICU for 14 long long days and it just seemed to be the worst thing that ever ever happened (yes, time does bring perspective) but I hated having to leave the hospital without Him. We were in a new state with a new job and new everything and it seemed pretty lonely. My mom was here and served my family endlessly (so nice) and then I got two large boxes on my doorstep. Postmarked Bakersfield, CA..... my home that we had just left. As I opened these boxes I was so touched too find a literal "shower by mail" from my home ward (so nice)- they had not forgotten me! The nicest, nicest, nicest gifts that were handmade and so loved! It touches my heart still.

Of recent, there has been the soup my neighbor fed me for dinner (so nice and yummy), the invite to FHE, the helper at the post office, the quick call to check on me by friends, the pick up of Tanner to get him to a movie I could not sit through with my two babies, my sisters (and sisters-in-law) always calling and telling me they love me, the verbal cheers of support I get from my mom and mother-in-law, all so nice! And, I am so thankful!

Always in Motion

Good Afternoon Landon

and... it's Friday

Just a bit to check "done" off my list this week:

• babysat (3 more plus mine at once) and snowcones x 2
• swim team first thing in the morning x 3
• organized pantry in the basement on costco racks x 2
• grocer x 2
• library with my 3, and one of which is a toddler that has no library etiquette, x 1 (that was enough!)
• to the zoo x 1
• swing, swing, swing x 3 (dozen)
• water in the inflatable pool x 2
• lunch for a friends bday x 1 (with Landon- not the most enjoyable)
• made some family blogs (yah!) x (whose counting ?)
• the mom things (like laundry- which did not get behind, the kitchen floor cleaned twice- on my knees of course, bathroom maintenance, daily vacuuming required with my kids, the lawn mowed too- okay, thanks Ryan to that) x done routinely
• ...and only a mild moment of insanity x (just) 1 (should you always tell the truth?)

I'm getting bloggy

I am getting so excited to have family start their own blogs.... thanks Jocelyn & Jamie, my web savy blog helpers.

Gotta Love Costco- Insider Secret!

So, today as I was shopping at Costco for laundry detergent, I passed an item in the cleaning section that listed it's price as ".97". I thought "hmmmmm- that can't be for real, but what the heck, I'll see what it rings up." Mind you, and I like to think that this happens to many people that go through Costco, I was trying to control my impulse buying. So, I got to the register, and yes, the Spot Chomp World's Best Carpet Stain Remover 3 pack was 97 CENTS! What a find! So, this is the secret:

Costco, NATION WIDE, lists products that end in .97 for, you got it, 97 cents. That's what the Cashier said! Also, if they are clearing an item, they do the same. The Costco Cashier says she sees this all the time. I wanted to know where a list was and she says Costco does not advertise or promote this "secret". You have to just hit it right. Often times there is a * next to the price.

So, in thinking, wouldn't it be nice if I got that Ipod Nano or WII or Steam Cleamer I was looking at for 97 cents? Too good to be true I'm certain, but I have my reciept that shows 97 cents. I'm a believer. I am going to be a very watchful Costco Consumer for now on! Hey, check it out at your Costco.

Grandma

I've been thinking about my Grandma. If there was ever anyone that I knew loved me as a child, other than my mom, it was my Grandma. Every day would start off with our arrival to her house. She would have hot cooked cereal for us and little tiny orange juice glasses filled with Donald Duck frozen concentrate orange juice. After breakfast, we would be off to school, my sisters and I, walking the few blocks or so together. We were welcomed home after school to a snack of cowboy cookies, or scratch chocolate pudding, or whatever she had made. She had these great little chairs that we could pull around to climb up on and watch as she worked in the kitchen.
My strongest memories are of sitting by her side as she sewed in her little tiny sewing room that housed bolts of fabrics and endless thread trimmings and buttons and zippers. I would talk with her as she sewed aprons or blankets or hemmed and anything that I needed she could make for me.
As I got older I would sometimes travel with her as she went to visit her mother in a nursing home. She would pack extra bananas and fruit and as she walked down the halls of the convalescent hospital elderly in wheel chairs would seek her out and were gifted her fruits and she would greet them all. She would visit with her mom, who was ailed with Alzheimer's and frail, and she would always take her laundry home to wash it herself.
She rode a bike for exercise, cleaned her shower with bleach, always had her bed made, never seemed to be sick, didn't like ice in her drink, hung her sheets on the line outside, and loved me. I say this because she was a wonderfully perfect grandmother to me, but would never receive the accolade's that those in the spotlight receive. Her days were repetitive and full (I'm sure) and her tender hand, encouraging word, and selfless manner have greatly influenced my life. Busy with my own small children, often times the pressure of having to take on "one more thing" can feel like such a dread. I watched my Grandma take on countless "one more things"- I was one of them. I am always mindful of how fortunate I was to be loved so well by her.