Mar 30, 2009

5 Months








Cooper made it to 5 months already...wow. He can almost sit up, sort of. Okay only for a couple of seconds and then he topples over. He actually hates to be put on the floor, so I don't know if he'll ever crawl. He still has the cutest smile, and he drools like crazy. Any yes, if you think he is getting balder by the second, you are correct. Actually he does have some blond fuzz starting to sprout now. He squeaks and squeals all the time, and I swear he says, "maaaaaaa" and it's for me.

Vegas Baby!








Vegas for spring break...week one. Loved it. Warm weather, a project, good food, and the kids had fun with their cousins. The mostly swam...even on the not so warm days, while Nickee and I made over her kitchen...I wish I had a "before" photo...

Mar 18, 2009

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Well, I didn't do much, but we did have a GREEN dinner. It was fun, a little green food coloring goes a long way...YUM



Dinner was a yummy salad with chicken and green dressing (made from cilantro, anaheim chilies...), grapes, apples, and green jello with whipped cream (green). Dessert was green angel food cake with lemoncream, turned green of course...it looked like slime, the kids loved it.

Mar 16, 2009

On a Lighter Note....

Okay, so I was total Debbie Downer last post, but just keeping it real. Things have improved around here. The quickbooks got finished, Cooper is feeling better...I actually got some sleep last night, and we have some cool friends (always helps to hang with some friends when you are having a tough week).
I really need to do a post about 2 weekends ago though because it was awesome. Tim's parents came down, and we managed to pack in a wrestling tourny for Josh, and a big dance performance for Tatym. We went to Josh's first tourny of the year and he got the Gold medal! He had a couple battles to win and we were so impressed with the way he fought through. He didn't quit even when he was behind and he ended up pinning some tough kids. My camera battery was dead at the tourny, so hopefully Grandpa and Grandma, or Ashlee got some pictures they can send so I can post them. Then after the tourny we ate lunch, rushed home to get Tatym ready for her Celtic Rythm performance in Nampa. It was so much fun, and she did AWESOME. She has improved so much, and her technique just gets better and better. She was super excited because she got her new dress...an upgrade from the last one, she thinks. All in all, it was a great weekend with much to be proud of.

Mar 13, 2009

Hatin' it....

Uggg... I hate weeks like this. I have spent countless hours getting all the business bookkeeping caught up and in to the accountant just in time for tax season. No easy process considering what the end of my year was like...I had lots to catch up. This has been followed up with yet another round of mastitis, and a very sick baby. Poor Coops, he has a fever, and a steady stream of snot running down his little face. And as is always the case, things are always worse at night. He has hardly slept for 3 nights, which means of course, that yours truly has hardly slept for 3 nights, which has of course lead to an extrememly messy house, me missing Piper's kindergarten registration, and overall frustration. Did I mention that for some reason, the radiant heat in our house seemed to quit working 2 nights ago as well, and that Tim discovered someone hit his car and smashed up the front bumper? Cause yeah, it has been a stellar week. Well hopefully this means things can only improve............at least that is the only thought keeping me sane.

Mar 5, 2009

Dropped off the Planet

Yes, I have kind of dropped off the planet lately...Let's just say this:
I am trying to catch up on 3 months of book keeping and banking so that I can turn in all my 2008 stuff the accountant. I also have a baby, who has discovered that he just wants to be held...the swing is no longer cutting it. Which prompts me to ask:
What does a mommy NEED these days? It's been 5 years since I had a baby, and I don't recognize half the new stuff out there...Is there a magic bullet/bumpo that can keep Coops entertained while I enter crapola on the computer? HElP!!!

Feb 14, 2009

A Day in the Life...


Oh...my owl

If I could just...


Yep...

That's what I'm talking about!!

Special Olympics

Boise hosted the World Winter Special Olympics this past week. Lots of people we know were involved volunteering, organizing, and hosting. We took the kids to watch the figure skating on Wednesday, and last night we had tickets to the closing ceremony. It was awesome. I was amazed by the amount of people and countries represented...over 80. Everything from Algeria, to Uzbekistan to the Isle of Man...???


The figure skating was so fun for us to watch. Most the skaters could kick my can on the ice, that's not saying much, but really it was neat to see their talent and determination. Our favorite was the guy dressed like Spiderman, and the Canadian guy who won Gold. We saw men and women of every age...up to 60 years old compete. I found myself teary eyed through many of the performances, and the medal ceremonies as well. I am a fan of joy.



Feb 9, 2009

25 Random Things

Okay, so I got tagged on facebook by Shannon, and then by Tam, so here it goes:

1. I detest the color purple...pretty much every shade makes me want to puke in my mouth. Funny, I used to love it, but I guess that's how purple is.

2. I love to cook. I am pretty self taught...my mom doesn't really enjoy cooking, but after a couple years of mac and cheese, pancakes, and cereal for dinner, when I was in college...I took matters into my own hands. I like variety too, and try to expose my kids to all sorts of different dishes.

3. I don't really like to shop...at all. In fact, if I could hire a personal shopper to do it for me, I would. Especially clothes. Ugg. I hate trying stuff on, I just want to pick something off the rack and get it if I need it.

4. I love black licorice and dark chocolate

5. I don't have any stretch marks from pregnancy...I guess I have really elastic skin. But I do have a few varicose veins now...ewww.

6. I have never had a cast or crutches

7. I don't have a middle name

8. I am a voracious reader...I love to read. I probably average 4 books a month, and that doesn't feel like nearly enough, but I can do it easily if I only read when I sit down to nurse Cooper. I am also a really fast reader, so that helps.

9. I don't really like to take baths...I prefer the shower.

10. I hate "diet" anything...I think artificial sweeteners are toxic, and taste gross, and I try really hard not to eat anything with more than 6 ingredients, and definitely not with ingredients I can't pronounce. More on that in the book, "In Defense of food", by Michael Pollan...good read.

11. I really like reality t.v. Biggest Loser, the Bachelor, Survivor...I record all of them on the DVR..and I LOVE my DVR... would refuse to watch t.v without it.

12. Tim and I dated, and broke up two years before we actually got engaged and got married. It is a weird story, and if you want the REAL version...ask me not Tim.

13. I am obsessive about creating family traditions with my kids. I tend to go overboard sometimes creating them, (though my friend Sally makes me look like the biggest slacker around) but I think it is all worth it when the kids talk about "what our family does", for Christmas, birthdays, etc.

14. I hate that my face (closer to 40ish) doesn't match how I feel (20ish), but I am generally opposed to cosmetic procedures, so I just don't look at myself in the mirror that much...especially up close.

15. I bite my fingernails, not obsessively or anything, but I just don't like them longish at all, and it is a habit I have had since I was 8.

16. I am working really hard at being a better listener. I tend to interrupt alot when in conversation...so rude, I hate that I do that.

17. I love breakfast...seriously. I eat a big one every day, and I love it so much. My favorite is french toast and bacon with grapefruit juice. But most times I have a bowl of oatmeal and a protein shake. If I skip breakfast I eat junk food all day long.

18. I have really stumpy and crooked pinky fingers...it is some weird genetic trait I got from my mother...thanks mom. I am definitely not a hand model.

19. I used to cry anytime I was in a fight or confrontation...no matter how small, but have toughened up considerably as an adult. I still have big tear ducts, but now it's more sentimental crying than frustrated crying.

20. When I was in college I had one of the crappiest jobs around, I worked in a potato chip factory 12 hour shifts, 7pm - 7am, I came home covered in potato chip grease and salty from head to toe. Yuck. But oddly enough I still enjoy potato chips.

21. I am not a very good swimmer.

22. I love to paint. Canvases, walls, it doesn't matter...I just love to throw some color on something and see what happens. It is immediate gratification.

23. I like to write...funny poems, stories, etc. I have a whole notebook full of stuff I have written, but I don't know what to do with it. Maybe books someday...who knows.

24. I talk on the phone with my sisters almost every day. So needless to say, I have a good international long distance plan on my phone.

25. I like to travel, but I hate to fly...it's problematic.

Feb 4, 2009

Windows





So one of the things I love most about our house, is all the windows...huge, light giving windows. But occasionally, I find myself wondering how many neighbors have seen me in the kitchen getting myself a snack wearing my sexy g's, and been permanently scarred...so today a nice man came and gave me an estimate on blinds. When I saw the total I knew that I wiould have to rob a bank to actually afford it...and that made me want to eat half a chocolate cream pie...so I did. Is that so wrong? I bet half the neighborhood saw me shoveling it in too, seeing as how we don't have any blinds...

Piper is FIVE





My baby girl is five...wow. Five years ago on Super Bowl Sunday, Piper made her appearance. She has always been positively bubbly, happy, and fun. She is always the life of the party. She has a stubborn streak that can impossible to contend with, and an opinion about everything. From the time she could walk and talk she has wanted to dress herself, and she has her own ideas about fashion...I never buy her anything without her prior approval because she won't wear it. She loves playing with all her siblings, and she still considers herself "the baby girl". She loves pineapple, swimsuits, and showers. And she would have 2 of each everyday if she had her way. Love Her!!!

Drool





Holy Schmoly does this kid drool. Josh did too. Is it a boy thing?

Jan 26, 2009

Jui Jitsu Tournament



Tim and Piper had their first Jui Jitsu tournament over the weekend in Twin Falls. Piper was pretty nervous, but she got on her gi, and then they called her out to the mat, and then....she got a gold medal. There were no other kids there in her 40 pound and under category. But she did get a big collective.."Awwwwwwww" and lots of applause because she looked so darn cute!





Tim looked cute too, and could have got the gold medal as there were no "masters" in his weight class. (Masters means: old guys) But instead he fought in the young guys division. He was a little unprepared for the big adrenaline dump he got in the first minute of his firt match, and was quite shocked to find he was completely drained, and numb,(even his tongue was numb)by the second minute of his match. He did great, almost sunk the triangle, but lost it and got arm barred. Then he went out and rolled with another 20 year old from his J.J. school, he got beat, but gave it his all. Not bad for an old man who has only been doing this a few short months.
The cutest thing was, that as we pulled in to our house, Josh said, "I feel kinda happy and weird." Tim said, "yeah, that was a fun day as a family wasn't it?", and Josh said, "yeah, but I am feeling proud of you Dad." Awwww. It was sweet.




These were the only pictures I got of Tim, as I was holding Cooper, and video taping the actual matches. Maybe I will get ambitious and put the video on here...maybe...