Chad was really sick on Sunday. I was not looking forward to church alone with 3 kids. Especially, since Owen has been a pill in Sacrament Meeting recently. I only had to take Owen out once. I was avoiding that as much as possible out for fear of how my children would act if I left them alone in the pew.
When I came back from taking Owen out...he was still a pill but not screaming.
At one moment, he decided to sit still on my lap...for like 3-5 minutes straight. I was so grateful to be able to zone in on a friend who was bearing her testimony. We never hang out but she has become so important to me. Her baby had the same intolerances as Owen...and without her I don't think I could have survived it all. Now she is my visiting teacher and I love that.
During those few minutes that Owen decided to sit still I had my ah ha moment. She was talking about how complacency is never good. And recently she has felt complacent not realizing it was all that bad. (Seriously, don't we all feel that way!) But she said she realized she should always be challenging herself and trying to improve her life on a daily basis...and that would be the opposite of complacent. She talked about these two words that kept ringing in my ear: Essentials and Extras. When I've thought of those words in the past I've thought of physical belongings. I hadn't really thought about applying those words in my personal life.
It made me wonder...what do I view as ESSENTIAL and what do I view as EXTRA in my life?
She made it clear that she feels she gets these 2 mixed up all the time. (Don't we all?)
Do I make time to watch TV? Yes
Do I make time to read my scriptures everyday? NO
Questions like that were racing through my head. I don't think I'm choosing one over the other in the moment...but really that is what I do when looking back. I was disappointed in myself yet I felt moved to make a change. I realized I need to re-evaluate my priorities more often. They all too easily get jolted and mixed up. And that is not ok. By the end of her testimony...I had tears streaming down my face. Not tears of depression but tears of wanting to change.
This may sound lame but for me it was such a great moment...I never want to forget it. Because I don't know that last time I felt so moved to change by someone's testimony. And the fact that it was the only 5 minutes Owen wasn't being a terror during the 3 hour block says something to me. I was supposed to hear it.
So, here's to making some important changes and sorting through my essentials and my extras.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Halloween 2010
I was going to make my kids costumes again but really didn't feel it. They both wanted to be something that seemed so time consuming so I talked them into being "The Incredibles" since it's the last year our family would be perfect for it.
We borrowed Alexis and Carter's costume. Alexis' wig is a witches wig...but turned to the side to make it a side part and I cut the hair shorter. I just made the logos out of felt for the red shirts Chad and I wore. Because, heaven help us, you would have fainted at the sight of us in spandex. My wig was a punk rockers wig that my sister cut into a bob minutes before we walked out the door. I think she did a mighty fine job. I just happened to have a red sleeper for Owen in the right size. Random. The kids got way into it and really enjoyed us dressing up as a family. I think they've watched the movie every day since that night. No joke.
We had the movie playing in our car while everyone came by trick or treating. That was Chad's great idea. However, Chad also won two other battles. He insisted we use black face paint for the mask. I wanted to use toll paints since they dry and don't smear. And he would NOT let me paint Owen's face! Next time I will win those battles. But I guess I can't complain too much...he did agree to dressing up and spraying his hair yellow...that is HUGE for him.
These pictures were taken Saturday night at our ward trunk or treat. Being Activities Chair I was in charge of it. Luckily, it was combined with two other wards so we all worked together. It ended up being pretty low stress since they do a trunk or treat every year. They have fun booths...2 from each ward and there were a ton of cars participating in it. Just as candy ran out some couples from our ward came out to the parking lot to the music of thriller and did the dance full out. It was hilarious and so hard to tell who was who! Then...an impromptu kids dance party ensued right there in the parking lot...and the kids loved it.
You better believe my kids were excited to have Chad's family visit us since I couldn't leave our party.
I have to say the kids were super cool about not Trick or Treating on Sunday. We had a dinner here with my sister's and brother's families. I made 24 bread bowls that looked like pumpkins. My sister's made some yummy soups and my brother brought over some sides. After we crushed all the kids candy from the trunk or treat we set up our very own Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory so we could dip our caramel apples in any topping we desired. Sorry, no pictures. I'd like to kick myself for that. But we were enjoying our food and time together!
We borrowed Alexis and Carter's costume. Alexis' wig is a witches wig...but turned to the side to make it a side part and I cut the hair shorter. I just made the logos out of felt for the red shirts Chad and I wore. Because, heaven help us, you would have fainted at the sight of us in spandex. My wig was a punk rockers wig that my sister cut into a bob minutes before we walked out the door. I think she did a mighty fine job. I just happened to have a red sleeper for Owen in the right size. Random. The kids got way into it and really enjoyed us dressing up as a family. I think they've watched the movie every day since that night. No joke.
We had the movie playing in our car while everyone came by trick or treating. That was Chad's great idea. However, Chad also won two other battles. He insisted we use black face paint for the mask. I wanted to use toll paints since they dry and don't smear. And he would NOT let me paint Owen's face! Next time I will win those battles. But I guess I can't complain too much...he did agree to dressing up and spraying his hair yellow...that is HUGE for him.
These pictures were taken Saturday night at our ward trunk or treat. Being Activities Chair I was in charge of it. Luckily, it was combined with two other wards so we all worked together. It ended up being pretty low stress since they do a trunk or treat every year. They have fun booths...2 from each ward and there were a ton of cars participating in it. Just as candy ran out some couples from our ward came out to the parking lot to the music of thriller and did the dance full out. It was hilarious and so hard to tell who was who! Then...an impromptu kids dance party ensued right there in the parking lot...and the kids loved it.
You better believe my kids were excited to have Chad's family visit us since I couldn't leave our party.
I have to say the kids were super cool about not Trick or Treating on Sunday. We had a dinner here with my sister's and brother's families. I made 24 bread bowls that looked like pumpkins. My sister's made some yummy soups and my brother brought over some sides. After we crushed all the kids candy from the trunk or treat we set up our very own Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory so we could dip our caramel apples in any topping we desired. Sorry, no pictures. I'd like to kick myself for that. But we were enjoying our food and time together!
School Halloween Parties
On Friday before Halloween...Alexis' got to wear her costume to school. But she really wanted to wear her bride costume one more time.
It barely slides over her hips since I did make it to fit her body 2 years ago.
Not only do they wear their costume to school but they get to walk around the track where all the kids Kindergarten-5th grade are seated taking turns showing off their costume.
1. They take their chairs out to the track. 2. They watch all the kids parade by.
3. They strut their stuff. Hmm...not shy at all. I wonder who she gets that from?
1. Brooke: One of Alexis' many cousins in the parade. 2. Very creative...whoever that lego man is. But I felt so bad for the kid. He took baby steps around the whole track and had to take breaks every 20 feet.
Alexis' 1st Grade Class
Later that day I went back to her class to help out with the Halloween party. The kids had a lot of fun and I loved being in her class with her. I remember my Mom being at all my holiday parties so you bet I signed up for those first.
Yes...Alexis P. Because there is an Alexys D. in her class.
But there's more to the story. After the first few weeks of school Alexis came home telling me she didn't want the class to call her "Alexis P"...it was too close to "Alexis Pee." Like she was 'peeing her pants' she explained to me.
Then the boy next to her had an idea: "Lets call you Alexis Pitt." But she kindly whispered to the boy to NEVER call her that in front of the other kids. "Why?" he asked. "Because then all the kids are going to call me 'arm pit like they did in Kindergarten!"
Then they decided on "Alex." Which is too ironic because Alexis didn't know that is what Chad and I both intended on calling her as a nickname. In fact, that is what we called her throughout my pregnancy. But once her personality started shining through at 6 months "Alexis" seemed more fitting.
But, I can only imagine she NEVER answered to Alex...and so it got changed back to Alexis P. Which she accepts for the time being but isn't thrilled about.
While waiting for the older cousins to get out of school, these girls showed me their new way to swing.
It barely slides over her hips since I did make it to fit her body 2 years ago.
Not only do they wear their costume to school but they get to walk around the track where all the kids Kindergarten-5th grade are seated taking turns showing off their costume.
1. They take their chairs out to the track. 2. They watch all the kids parade by.
3. They strut their stuff. Hmm...not shy at all. I wonder who she gets that from?
1. Brooke: One of Alexis' many cousins in the parade. 2. Very creative...whoever that lego man is. But I felt so bad for the kid. He took baby steps around the whole track and had to take breaks every 20 feet.
Alexis' 1st Grade Class
Later that day I went back to her class to help out with the Halloween party. The kids had a lot of fun and I loved being in her class with her. I remember my Mom being at all my holiday parties so you bet I signed up for those first.
Yes...Alexis P. Because there is an Alexys D. in her class.
But there's more to the story. After the first few weeks of school Alexis came home telling me she didn't want the class to call her "Alexis P"...it was too close to "Alexis Pee." Like she was 'peeing her pants' she explained to me.
Then the boy next to her had an idea: "Lets call you Alexis Pitt." But she kindly whispered to the boy to NEVER call her that in front of the other kids. "Why?" he asked. "Because then all the kids are going to call me 'arm pit like they did in Kindergarten!"
Then they decided on "Alex." Which is too ironic because Alexis didn't know that is what Chad and I both intended on calling her as a nickname. In fact, that is what we called her throughout my pregnancy. But once her personality started shining through at 6 months "Alexis" seemed more fitting.
But, I can only imagine she NEVER answered to Alex...and so it got changed back to Alexis P. Which she accepts for the time being but isn't thrilled about.
While waiting for the older cousins to get out of school, these girls showed me their new way to swing.
Tiny Baby Shower
Halloween week was a busy one. The Tuesday before Halloween, my friends and I put on a tiny party at our place for a friend who is having a baby. It was super fun.
The invitations were adorable. They were coin envelope size...and started off by saying "Tiny Belly. Tiny Baby. Tiny Party." Why? Because I look more pregnant than her...and she's due any day now. It's quite ridiculous.
The invitations were adorable. They were coin envelope size...and started off by saying "Tiny Belly. Tiny Baby. Tiny Party." Why? Because I look more pregnant than her...and she's due any day now. It's quite ridiculous.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Owen's 1st Birthday
This little boy had a Birthday last Thursday, October 28th.
And he turned...
Made the shirt myself via freezer stenciling. I love it. Thanks to Dana from Made for the idea and a totally generous blogger who I don't know named Allie from Really Quite Lucky for the stencil she perfected in photoshop. She sure made my life easier. I love people like that!
The Birthday Boy...
These kids just can't get enough of him and neither can we!
The Decorations...
We decorated our family room a bit. I normally decorate their room in streamers and balloons but I really didn't trust it would all stay up and feared Owen would start eating the decorations...so to the family room they went.
Alexis was a big help as usual.
The Guests...
We invited Chad's family over for a low key celebration. (My family was all coming over for Halloween in 3 days.) Somehow I missed getting a picture of Chad's sister, Kelli, and her cute family.
The Cake...
Dairy Free cake mix and frosting. (YUCK!) But the important thing was...I was still able to carry on the tradition of making him a mini 3 tier cake for his 1st birthday. Chad says I'm a want-to-be cake decorator...because my lines are all crooked. You got to love husbands! Sure I enjoy making things, even beyond fabric...but I never claim anything I make to be perfect. Ok...fine. Maybe, to my Husband.
He licked the frosting and it seemed like he ate a few bites. But after a little pushing around it just turned into a fun thing to squeeze and drop on the floor.
I made an Oreo Ice cream cake that, of course, had dairy for the rest of us!
Yah...it was really good. And I ate the last huge piece the other day after I had a really mean lady do my ultrasound. This was my real one...I didn't tell her I had gone to one of those cheap places to find out what sex my baby was. Do you want to know what she did after 45 minutes of not talking to me with the screen turned, taking measurements of my baby. She got my husband and looked to see the sex TWICE in 30 seconds and then said...
"Well, I guess this baby will have to be a surprise...it's' in a horrible position to be able to tell."
"Can't I do some stretches to see if the baby will move?" I say.
"Nope. That won't help! The exit is to your right." And with that she leaves out another door.
GRRR...Chad and I were mad. And I was mad enough to eat the rest of Owen's cake when I got home. There....I'm done with my tangent...now back to Owen.
The Presents...
Lucky Charms from Alexis and Carter; A mini beach ball from Carter (He just picked that out at the office for getting his cavities filled.)
A train from Kelli, Andrew & Conner; and a Dora and Laurie Berkner Band DVD from Grandma and Grandpa Pitt.
We got him this over-sized Tonka Dump Trunk since he pushes anything and everything around the house.
But you gotta love when your child gets all new presents but goes back to getting into things he shouldn't within a matter of MINUTES!
The boy gets up on the fireplace all day. He sits up there. He plays with his toys up there. He bounces to the music up there. But most of all he likes to get up on his tippy toes and reach into the basket and pull out DVD's...and then he drops them one by one and says, "Uh Oh."
What we love about Owen:
-He shows just about anyone how he can flex his huge muscles. Oh, it's so funny if you haven't seen it.
-He laughs just because everyone else is laughing...and then keeps laughing even when everyone is done.
-When he sees a TV he points to it and says, "Dor Dor." (for Dora)
-He will whack at your spoon if he's done eating and you try to feed him another bite. (I don't love it...but it's so Owen.)
-He LOVES his "Da-Da." Since Chad works upstairs anytime I bring him up to take a nap he yells "Da-Da" down that hall and we just have to go see him first.
-He will haul booty down the hall, up the stairs...where ever...if he hears the bathtub on. He could take a bath or go in the Jacuzzi all day and be the happiest kid in the world.
-He's at least out grown his soy problem. Whoo hoo! Next...we conquer dairy.
-He cheers like crazy at Alexis and Carter's soccer games. He claps and yells non-sense...because that's what we do.
-It freaked me out when his canines (the pointy teeth) grew in before any other teeth. That is super rare. But what's even more rare is that they grew in...in the wrong position...Next to the two front teeth! Now that he has his 2 front teeth he doesn't look quite so vampire-ish. It seemed so odd at first but now I'm used to his unique smile that no one else really notices.
-My absolute favorite thing is that he is so expressive. He loves picking Alexis up from school. He loves his Grandparents. And he especially LOVES when I walk in the door from work. His smile is contagious and it makes me so happy to have him in our family.
And he turned...
Made the shirt myself via freezer stenciling. I love it. Thanks to Dana from Made for the idea and a totally generous blogger who I don't know named Allie from Really Quite Lucky for the stencil she perfected in photoshop. She sure made my life easier. I love people like that!
The Birthday Boy...
These kids just can't get enough of him and neither can we!
The Decorations...
We decorated our family room a bit. I normally decorate their room in streamers and balloons but I really didn't trust it would all stay up and feared Owen would start eating the decorations...so to the family room they went.
Alexis was a big help as usual.
The Guests...
We invited Chad's family over for a low key celebration. (My family was all coming over for Halloween in 3 days.) Somehow I missed getting a picture of Chad's sister, Kelli, and her cute family.
The Cake...
Dairy Free cake mix and frosting. (YUCK!) But the important thing was...I was still able to carry on the tradition of making him a mini 3 tier cake for his 1st birthday. Chad says I'm a want-to-be cake decorator...because my lines are all crooked. You got to love husbands! Sure I enjoy making things, even beyond fabric...but I never claim anything I make to be perfect. Ok...fine. Maybe, to my Husband.
He licked the frosting and it seemed like he ate a few bites. But after a little pushing around it just turned into a fun thing to squeeze and drop on the floor.
I made an Oreo Ice cream cake that, of course, had dairy for the rest of us!
Yah...it was really good. And I ate the last huge piece the other day after I had a really mean lady do my ultrasound. This was my real one...I didn't tell her I had gone to one of those cheap places to find out what sex my baby was. Do you want to know what she did after 45 minutes of not talking to me with the screen turned, taking measurements of my baby. She got my husband and looked to see the sex TWICE in 30 seconds and then said...
"Well, I guess this baby will have to be a surprise...it's' in a horrible position to be able to tell."
"Can't I do some stretches to see if the baby will move?" I say.
"Nope. That won't help! The exit is to your right." And with that she leaves out another door.
GRRR...Chad and I were mad. And I was mad enough to eat the rest of Owen's cake when I got home. There....I'm done with my tangent...now back to Owen.
The Presents...
Lucky Charms from Alexis and Carter; A mini beach ball from Carter (He just picked that out at the office for getting his cavities filled.)
A train from Kelli, Andrew & Conner; and a Dora and Laurie Berkner Band DVD from Grandma and Grandpa Pitt.
We got him this over-sized Tonka Dump Trunk since he pushes anything and everything around the house.
But you gotta love when your child gets all new presents but goes back to getting into things he shouldn't within a matter of MINUTES!
The boy gets up on the fireplace all day. He sits up there. He plays with his toys up there. He bounces to the music up there. But most of all he likes to get up on his tippy toes and reach into the basket and pull out DVD's...and then he drops them one by one and says, "Uh Oh."
What we love about Owen:
-He shows just about anyone how he can flex his huge muscles. Oh, it's so funny if you haven't seen it.
-He laughs just because everyone else is laughing...and then keeps laughing even when everyone is done.
-When he sees a TV he points to it and says, "Dor Dor." (for Dora)
-He will whack at your spoon if he's done eating and you try to feed him another bite. (I don't love it...but it's so Owen.)
-He LOVES his "Da-Da." Since Chad works upstairs anytime I bring him up to take a nap he yells "Da-Da" down that hall and we just have to go see him first.
-He will haul booty down the hall, up the stairs...where ever...if he hears the bathtub on. He could take a bath or go in the Jacuzzi all day and be the happiest kid in the world.
-He's at least out grown his soy problem. Whoo hoo! Next...we conquer dairy.
-He cheers like crazy at Alexis and Carter's soccer games. He claps and yells non-sense...because that's what we do.
-It freaked me out when his canines (the pointy teeth) grew in before any other teeth. That is super rare. But what's even more rare is that they grew in...in the wrong position...Next to the two front teeth! Now that he has his 2 front teeth he doesn't look quite so vampire-ish. It seemed so odd at first but now I'm used to his unique smile that no one else really notices.
-My absolute favorite thing is that he is so expressive. He loves picking Alexis up from school. He loves his Grandparents. And he especially LOVES when I walk in the door from work. His smile is contagious and it makes me so happy to have him in our family.
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