Santa

Now that I am a parent of a preschooler, I am realizing how strange Santa really is. Why is it that we teach our kids that this strange, jolly man brings gifts for no apparent reason other than you've been good all year (which is a real stretch, isn't it?)? Believe me, I am not going to stop doing Santa at our house, but it has just got me thinking this year. Then we load the kids up and take them to see Santa. Oh, won't this be a gloriously fun event. Elliot will be so cute and tell Santa she wants a swim baby and a ballerina doll just like we have practiced. And Grey will be so handsome and a little angel. Both will smile at the camera and we will all rejoice. This what we actually got:
My lovely daughter would not put her hand down and smile and Grey was just "Sweet, I've got something to put in my mouth. All is good with the world." Elliot barely squeaked out her requests and I had to interpret them after the fact. This got more thinking going...why do we make our children sit on some strange guys lap that is pretending to be Santa? It's a little weird when you think about it. Our past Santa experiences have been interesting too. Last year there is no picture because Elliot refused to do it. The year before when she was about a year and a half, we had Elliot all in a dress looking cute (because that was what I was going to do every year...note what my kids were wearing in this year's picture...the tradition didn't last). And this is the picture we got:


Still Elliot's first picture with Santa is my favorite. We met my mom in Tacoma and they had the best looking Santa ever and Elliot was so pleasant that afternoon. Plus she is just my little butterball in this picture. I love it!
I hope everyone had a good Santa experience, even if it is only good for a laugh!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday and I wanted to give a shout out to her. Justin and Elliot made a cake with candles and all. For some reason, he let her pick out the flavor so we ended up with strawberry cake with rainbow chip frosting. Not my favorite...or my mom's for that matter, but I think it was an excuse to enjoy a cake this afternoon. So thanks for having a birthday, Mom, so we could celebrate over here.

I am thankful so much for my mom and all she does for me. She is my best friend and a terrific grandma. I love her so much and am excited to see her and the rest of my family for Christmas.

Christmas Questions

So my good friend Heidi tagged me with these Christmas questions. I'm usually game for a good questionnaire so here is my stab at it. I'd love to see them on anyone else's blog!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both. Bags are way easier, but wrapping is still fun to do and to tear into on the big day.


2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. I grew up with a fake one and we did the real thing the first few years of marriage, but when you can get a decent artificial one for the price of a fake one with a LOT less work, I will sacrifice the ambiance and smell of a real one for a plastic one.


3. When do you put up the tree? Sometime early December. I am actually getting a little anxious this year.

4. When do you take the tree down? A couple days after Christmas. This year probably after the new year because we are out of town so long.


5. Do you like eggnog? Not really, but Justin and my brother drink it and sometimes add sprite. A little weird I know.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I remember a Barbie house that was pretty cool. Then I would coerce my brother into playing with me in exchange for playing He-man with him.


7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, several of them. Love them.

8. Hardest person to buy for? My dad and dad-in-law, hands down.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Elliot

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Usually mail. Debating this year on doing them at all. May send out a happy spring card later instead.


11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story. (Although Christmas Vacation is a close second)


13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Depends, but this year I actually got started early....like before Halloween.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so, but I wouldn't put it past me.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Fudge!


16. Clear lights or colored on the tree ? Clear

17. Favorite Christmas song? O, Holy Night, The First Noel and Where are you Christmas sung by Faith Hill.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Always stayed home as a kid, but now travel to parents

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? I think so...Dasher, Dancer, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Prancer, Vixen, and Rudolph. Yeah!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star that lights up.


21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning although we could usually convince whomever to let us open one Christmas Eve.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Everything is so busy. I am learning to do more online shopping. And snowy roads.


23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Nope, just all that we have.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Always order pizza for Christmas Eve. Crazy I know, but it's always the tradition and no one wants it any other way.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? No real wishes. Just excited to be with all my brothers for a few days.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a great thanksgiving at Justin's parents house in Spokane this last weekend. It was great to get the cousins together again to play. No limbs were lost or too many tears shed, so all in all it was a successful gathering. Much thanks to Grandma Jana and Grandpa Snook for the great food and the new toy we all got to play with.

All the older cousins just love baby Grey and he loves the attention.

Then there was the Wii. Justin and Kyle conned Grandma and Grandpa into buying one on Thanksgiving so we could all play it that afternoon. Boy, did we have fun playing too. It was great because even the little kids could have fun doing it. They especially liked the boxing and the tennis. The adults enjoyed the bowling, especially watching Justin with his fancy leg kick out bowling technique. The kids play room turned into Wii central...and soon was more adults than kids. What a hoot!

Grey got to have his first taste of "real" food on Thanksgiving too. We tried a little rice cereal mixed with pear juice. He seemed a little confused by the whole scenario, but I think he will take to eating pretty well. He just has to figure out what to do with it once the food is in his mouth. Of course, Elliot wanted to help in the process, too, bless her heart.

Earlier in the week, Elliot had a little Thanksgiving program at preschool. Usually I am a very prepared mother, I think, but something went awry this morning and I got to the school without my camera. I was just sick. All the kids looked so cute in their little pilgrim hats and bonnets. They had about 5 songs to sing and really none of them sang. Miss Cheryl gave a great solo though for the parents! They were all a little shy and uneasy with all the parents there. We had cookies and juice afterwards and Elliot showed me her thanksgiving projects. As soon as we got home I made Elliot put her hat back on and hold up her projects so I could at least get that picture.



Hope everyone had a happy and safe holiday. Now it is time to gear up for Christmas! I am actually well on my way to being done with shopping this year. I can't believe it! Maybe 2 kids and working is making me be a little more on the ball than usual!

The Bathroom...

A few of you heard our fiasco yesterday with our bathroom leaking, but here is the story and a couple pictures. I was giving the kids a bath upstairs getting ready for church and Justin comes up to let me know there is water coming from the ceiling in the downstairs bathroom (that is directly below the upstairs bathroom) and pooling on the floor. So Justin ended up staying home from church to figure out what the problem was. He started with removing the paneling and sheetrock from the area that was leaking and then realized that we would have to replace the whole ceiling so he exposed it all. Luckily the water wasn't too bad and the wood was just damp and not rotted or moldy. He figured out that the water was coming from the overflow valve on the upstairs tub so he replaced that and tightened everything up. By the time the kids and I came home from church, he was done and mostly cleaned up. We are going to leave the ceiling alone for a little while to let everything dry really well and make sure there aren't anymore leaks before sheetrocking it again. I am so blessed to have a handy husband that isn't afraid to get his hands dirty and figure out problems and has gotten very good at doing all kinds of handiwork around the house. Just another reason I love him! Here are the pictures of what he was dealing with.

BTW...the toilet is brand new as of a week or two ago. A simple "tighten the toilet bolts" project turning into "let's buy a new toilet" project. Justin has gotten very good at replacing toilets though and had that whipped out in no time.

Growing Too Fast

The other day I came home from work and saw the johnny jumper and exersaucer out and couldn't believe that my baby was big enough to go in either! I was figuring I would need to wait until he could sit up unassisted (which won't be long), but not true. He likes them both and is nice to have the variety. So today I waas making banana bars (a great way to use up a couple of expired bananas...let me know if you want a recipe) and put Grey in the jumper and took this little video. Elliot needed her time in the spotlight at the end too. What cute kids I have if I do say so myself!

Anderson 30th Wedding Anniversary!

This past weekend, Justin's parents celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary and they were so generous to invite us all to Hayden, ID to stay 2 nights and play at the water park and play place they have adjacent to the hotel. With 6 kids ages 5 to 4 months we were very busy and had a lot of fun. Friday we played mini golf and ate pizza and played arcade games.

Saturday we spent a couple hours in the water park in the wave pool and going down the slides (the adults had the fun there) and having all kinds of wet fun.

We bowled after lunch then had a couple of hours of well needed nap time.

We met for dinner at Tomato Street and had a fabulous feast there. Back to the pool until closing time and then crashed in bed. Sunday we got up and enjoyed breakfast together although everyone was looking pretty warn out by this time. We all had a great time. Thanks so much Granpa Snook and Grandma Jana!!! We love you!!!

Family Home Evening

Those of you with little ones know that it can be difficult to plan a worthwhile home evening. I love it when we have a new Friend magazine though because they have a little section in there for little people with a story and sometimes an activity. This month had a story about a girl that sent a letter to her grandma. So after reading the story, Elliot colored a picture for each of her grandmas and we put them in an envelope and into the mailbox. She was so excited to do this little project and hopefully will brighten each grandmas' day.

Then of course you have to have FHE treat. And for some reason I was craving a raisin pie. I don't think most people have even heard of a raisin pie, but it was one of my dad's favorites so we had it fairly often growing up. So I called up Mom today to find out how to make it. It actually is very easy, especially if you cheat on the crust, like I did, and buy a premade one. It got a thumbs up from Justin, but Elliot didn't really care for it. One bite took me back to my childhood. And tomorrow morning we can have it for breakfast, just like the clown arounds, right fam?

What's wrong with this picture?

So at first glance this would be just an ordinary picture of my little girl dressed in a rather unique looking choice of clothing. However, this was just minutes before leaving to go to church. Yeah. My mom always told me to pick my battles and that the funny dressed kids are the independent ones that dressed themselves, but really? Do I have to take Punky Brewster to church with me? If she really had her choice she probably would have been in ther "summer dress" (a sleeveless dress that is really thin and was cute in the summer, but it is barely 50 degrees out now- that dress is now put away in the garage with the other summer clothes) and flip flops (also now put away in the garage). Funny thing is that she wanted to wear jeans and long sleeved shirts all summer. Go figure.

HALLOWEEN!

What a night! Maybe a little too much for our little family. After dressing the kids in the their costumes (Elliot a cat and Grey a duck), we went downtown this afternoon and went trick-or-treating to all the businesses there. It actually was a lot of fun and we saw so many people we knew. Made us feel part of a community. Then to Burger King for a quick and nutritious meal (ha ha). And off to our tri-ward trunk-or-treat and carnival at the church. Poor Elliot about half way around the parking lot she was complaining that she was cold and wanted to go inside. I am saying, "No Elliot. We have to finish. You are having fun." I felt so bad. Like "you will have fun, darn it!" Anyways, we made it around and back into the church. A little hectic with so many people and kids and all, but had a good time eating goodies and playing little games. We were all ready to come home and crash. The kids are in bed now and Justin is helping at the high school football game. Halloween has never been a favorite holiday of mine. I don't have many memories of it as a kid. I remember a few random costumes (a witch several years, one year I was Charlotte from Charlotte's Web, can't really remember others) and I do remember my brothers and I dumping all of our loot out on the floor to sort it out and give everything with nuts to my mom because none of us liked nuts. Then we would trade and stuff amongst each other. But now with kids, Halloween is a little more fun. I am not into dressing up myself, but it is kinda fun to dress the kids up and have a fun day for them. And we have enought candy to last us until Christmas (but realistically it will be gone in a week or two...I know I have a sugar problem. It is the main reason I exercise regularly, I will admit. And I wonder where Elliot gets her love of sweets). Hope everyone out there had a good Halloween! And now the count down is really on for the holiday season!

Random Goodness

Amazingly enough, Elliot woke up in a good mood this morning. She tends to not be much of a morning person so this was so nice to have her happy first thing. The rule at our house is she has to get out of her pull-up before she can do anything else. She said okay right away, but wanted my help. Then she goes on to tell me, "Mom, it's okay that I peed in my pull up a little bit last night. I am still learning to go in the toilet." Oh, sweetheart. (We took this picture of Grey this afternoon and I had to put it in here...what a cutie!)

Then later in the afternoon, I was in the kitchen and I heard Elliot reading. I peaked in the front room and this is what I saw:

So dang cute seeing my two babies together like that. Elliot was reading to her brother. It doesn't look like Grey is really very happy, but I assure you he loves his sister and the attention that she gives him. Some times it seems to be "scary love" and "smothering love," but it is love nonetheless and he is becoming very durable from all of her "love." Hopefully she will be able to help us teach him all of the good things that he needs to learn.

Then Elliot and I started to make dinner. It is one of our favorites tonight- ham and cheese calazones. It is from kraft.com and if you haven't gone there and ordered their free magazine with awesome, easy recipes in it, do it today. It is a great magazine and a great site for very easy, but good recipes. All the calazones are is pillsbury pizza dough cut into 4 squares, put a slice of ham on each square, mix ranch dressing and shredded cheese together and spoon on ham, top with sliced tomatoes and fold the dough over on each one to make a pocket. Bake at 400 degrees for about 16 minutes and dinner is ready. Yummy! And Elliot even gobbles it up. Here she is sitting in her "special spot" where she always sits to help me in the kitchen.

My Handsome Men and a Little Lady

We decided to put Grey in his shirt and tie today for church and, oh, how cute he looked! He's been fun right now as he is starting to grab at things and really like interaction with people. We are struggling a little bit with day care and I think it is because I hold him so much that he doesn't like to be left alone much and Terri has to because she has 4 or 5 other children she is tending. It will continue to get better, or so I tell myself. And I am thankful that it is only 2 days a week. Here are a couple more pictures from this afternoon:

A few weeks ago, Justin and Elliot cultivated the last of our garden which was the squash. We have a whole wheelbarrow full of hubbard squash to either eat, give away or get rid of somehow. I like squash, but I don't know about that much squash. If anyone has some good recipes or ideas, let me know.

Poopy Diaper

I know all you fellow mothers will appreciate this. Grey tends to not like to poop on a regular basis. Like not everyday or even every other day. Sometimes we are going on a week. And this is him breastfed- I'd hate to see him if I was using formula. Anyways, he, not suprisingly, gets a little upset if it has been too long and this was happening yesterday. The doctor says to give him a suppository and he will go in 20 minutes. Not my child though. Did one last night and nothing. Did one again this morning and several hours later it finally happens. He and Elliot were in the other room and Elliot calls to me, "Mom! He stinks!" I don't get overly excited because he always has terrible gas. I evenually go in there and it really does smell exceptionally bad. S o I take him into his room and it doesn't seem too bad- nothing has leaked out...or so I thought. I get the diaper halfway off and partly cleaned then realize it is actually halfway up his back. And he is kicking around all happy probably because he is about 5 pounds lighter now. The more hygienic I try to be the worse it gets. And who ever said thay boys have fewer crevices than girls must have had a skinny boy because mine has plenty. Anyways we got it all taken care of. He is feeling much better and I am glad that he has cleared out a bit.

Hello? Is anyone there?

Elliot found this old toy cell phone the other day and hasn't put it down since. And it cracks me up the way she talks on it. She will come up to me frantic, "mom, where's my phone? I have to make a call." Or "I need to check my messages." Then she gets on her phone and the conversations go something like this: "Hi Kolby (her cousin). Yeah (pause) yeah (pause) No, I'm just watching a movie. (pause) My brother's crying. So your dad is fishing? Yeah (pause) I had time out today because I wasn't listening. (pause) Yeah..." And so it goes. I am trying so hard not to crack up as she does this because I don't want to embarass her and discourage her from using her imagination, but oh it is so funny. Once she was "on her phone" and Justin and I were talking. She comes up to Justin and looks sternly at him and puts her index finger up like, "excuse me, do you mind? I am on the phone, give me a minute."

Less Time

I started back to work last Wednesday and ever since it has been crazy. Even though I only work 2 days a week, it seems like the rest of the week becomes shorter too. The first day was especially hard because I had to race out of work (and even leave a patient and a dirty room for my wonderful co-workers to deal with) to pick up my kids because Justin couldn't because of parent teacher conferences (which are totally useless in my mind at the high school level, but that is another subject). I get to Terri's house to pick up the kids at 5:31 (pick up is 5:30) and ask how the day went. She says, "Well, Grey took an hour nap in 15 minute increments. Is that usual?" And her question came like, "if this is usual, I don't know if we are going to be able to keep this up?!?" We talked for awhile and both agreed that it is just an adjustment period and that both she and Grey will get used to each other over the next few weeks. Elliot did great- so great that she threw a fit about leaving. Thankfully I didn't have to go to YW tonight (Thanks Shana and Ashley!!!). I was able to regroup and gear up for the next work day. Grey did better on Thursday taking a 2 hour nap. We will see what this week brings.

And now, a frustration that I have to go deal with. I accidentally deleted my whole blog list instead of just one. So I need to go through and remember who all was on it and add to it. So irritating.

How little blessings come

I went to our stake standards night last night and many of my thoughts throughout the program were that before we know it we are going to be dealing with these hard issues with our children. It seems like they are going to be 3 forever, but they won't be and we will be dealing with dating and modest clothes and all that stuff. Then I had a totally unrelated thought about our family. We need to have Family Home Evening. We had it sporadically for a while, but nothing real consistent. It always seemed like every night was family night and unfortunately the tv was on and in the way. How could we have FHE when we needed to watch this show! But last night I knew that all of the problems (sleeping, screaming in the middle of the night, attitude, talking back, etc.) we have been having with Elliot could only be helped by us having FHE. They probably wouldn't magically all disappear, but it certainly wouldn't hurt and we would be doing something we should be doing anyways. So tonight I planned a FHE complete with prayer, song, lesson, scripture, game, and treats. Elliot loved the time spent all together and really I did too. With no tv. And tonight Elliot went to bed the easiest she has gone to bed in the longest that I can remember. No crying or in and out of bed or needing random things to go to sleep. Just brush teeth, 3 minute snuggle and she was out. I really think that Heavenly Father gave me an answer to prayer at that meeting last night in my random thoughts and as a blessing for being where I was suppose to be to support my calling. We will see if she wakes up tonight and how tomorrow goes, but I know that we are being blessed for having the tv on so much less and for deciding to have Family Home Evening.

You know you need a break when...

You know that you are a mom that needs a break when you look forward all week to send the kids to daycare for the day so that you can have a mole removed. It is also a trial run for daycare with Grey, but most importantly I get a few hours to myself, even if that means having a part of my body cut off and stitched back up. I was even excited about getting the house clean because I knew that I could do it in record time and then have even a little bit of time to watch a tv show and work on my scrapping before I have to go pick of the kids. Oh, how things are so different for us moms. By the time 3:00 rolls around though it will probably be too quiet and I will need them around to frazzle me once again.

Craftiness

I am definitely not a Martha Stewart by any means, but I do like to make cute little things once in a while. Usually I am what I call a "good copier." I'm not so good at just thinking up my own projects. So I can't really take credit for this- I got the idea from a book, but the design was a little more original simply because I used what I had. It's a little notepad/journal for a sweet little girl in Olympia that just turned 8, Taylor. It will be in the mail today and I hope you like it! Congrats on your baptism!

I posted pictures awhile back of our garden. Actually Justin's garden because I can't take credit for it. Here is a "little" of the fruits of his labor. The zucchini was the biggest I had ever seen and we had a wheelbarrow full of corn. I spent the other morning blanching corn and shredding zucchini to freeze it all. It will be nice to have both in the middle of the winter.

I'm so pretty

Yesterday, Elliot was "helping" me put on my makeup and of course wanted to put it on herself. She looked oh so gorgeous when she was done. The pictures certainly do not do it justice. She had eye shadow caked on mostly one eye and in her eyelashes. At least she made it to the eyes this time...before it has been just smeared on her face. Then she takes tinted chapstick and puts it on her lips and almost from ear to ear on either side of her mouth. And I can always tell when she has been in my chapstick because it is rolled all the way up and then the cap put back on. I know, all you mothers know what I am talking about. It is a good thing they are cute!

Elliot was very tired tonight and so was Justin (still fighting a cold) so they both went to bed before 8 tonight. I put Grey down in his bed, but it didn't last. We have discovered the swing is something that he finally likes though so he has been asleep for a couple hours in that while I have gotten a TON of work done- young womens stuff, emails, blog reading, scrapbook stuff. It has been nice to have it quiet and no interruptions. Rarely happens around here. We may just have to do this more often. It is after 11 now, but I still don't want to go to bed!

My darlings

As much as I complain about Elliot and her sleeping (which hasn't been resolved yet...Justin has just slept in her bed with her for the past 4 nights) and about her irking me and driving me bonkers at times, she is a pretty funny kid. She talks non stop and very articulately if I can say so. The other day she got into the car after preschool and sat next to her brother and said, "Hey little buddy! What did you have for snack today? Momma's milk?" Of course he just smiled back and I snickered. Last night at dinner, Elliot sits down and says, "So Dad, how was work?" Oh, so precocious she is! And if you ask her what her mom and dad do, Dad teaches the kids and Mom cleans teeth. I mentioned "Great Scott" in a previous post and she also will say, "bills, bills, nothing but bills" which she got from one of her little shows. She's always trying to bargain too and swing deals to not go to bed or to get a treat. Always thinking and will at least try to get something she wants. She has a sweet tooth like her mother too. This morning when I asked what she wants for breakfast, her response was fruit snacks. Lovely.

Our little man is doing well also. He is sitting on my lap right now content as can be. He isn't always that way, but he is doing better than the first few weeks. And he has a smile that gives me goosebumps and makes me tear up! He had his 2 month check on Monday and he is already 14 pounds, 3 ounces and 24 1/2 inches long. Justin thinks he was jipped on the length because he only grew 1/2 an inch in 4 weeks. But gaining almost 2 pounds in the same time ain't too shabby. I think we better start saving now for our food bill in the coming years.

I just wanted to write a post of the goodness of my children instead of always a gripe which I tend to do too much of. I love them so very much and often can't believe they are mine.

Going to miss these mornings

As summer ends and winter gets closer, the days obviously get shorter and the sun rises later. Lately, I have been running a couple times a week before Justin leaves for work which means I am up, gone, and back before 7 am. This morning was next to perfect. I left just after 6 when the sun was just peaking over the horizon. It was cool enough for a long sleeved t-shirt the first couple miles, but I took it off part way through the run. I ran by the elementary school and bus barn and on the back roads towards Soap Lake. I got up onto the canal and ran home and got to see the sun rising. It was so nice and peaceful- very few cars, no people. Just me jogging away listening to my tunes and my thoughts. I love starting my mornings like that and I am going to miss it when it is too cold or dark or icy to do so. I thank my husband for letting me go early. He likes to get to the school early because that is when he gets his best work done, but he gives me a few mornings to do what I enjoy and what helps me be a better person. Soon it will be more gym time than road time, but spring will come again and I will be out on the road as soon as possible. And actually, the winters here do make it possible to do some outdoor running. I just have to bundle up and watch for slippery areas.

And now I am going to put something in writing so there will hopefully be no turning back. I have actually told a number of people already too, but this is going to make it official. I am going to try to train for a marathon this coming May. I really have no desire to run the 26.2 miles, but I want very much to be able to say that I did it. I have done 2 half marathons and cannot really fathom finishing that and turning around and doing it all over again. But I know that people in less shape than me have done them successfully. And this will be one spring that I won't be pregnant, nursing will be less by then, the race is on a Saturday in Spokane, and everything seems to be too perfect for me not to do it this year. I am afraid that if I don't know I won't have the chance again. I will have to do some training on the treadmil which really stinks, but I will manage. Again, I have the support from my wonderful husband who will help give me the time that I am going to need to do this. I will get this marathon done and then do one or two mini-triathalons which is what I really love to do . I like the variety of those and summer time is a great time for those races. So now I am committed to reaching this goal bearing no injuries or broken elbows (kept me from a triathalon last summer).

Little rest for the weary

No improvement really with the sleeping lately. We all needed a good night's sleep last night so Justin slept with Elliot and I took Grey and all went to bed early. We all slept pretty well I think except Justin has been fighting an illness and I think it is getting the better of him. He just informed me that he is coming home after school to take a bath and then just chill the rest of the night. I am getting my hair done by Elliot right now as I type. Lovely. Grey is sleeping hopefully soundly for a while as he had shots this morning at his 2 month check. As much as I know they are for his good, it still stinks having to poke him 3 times and make him scream so badly.

Lately, besides not sleeping well, Elliot has been talking about our "old house" and our "new house." Apparantly we are suppose to be finding a new house because she doesn't like our "old house." One day she went into this elaborate explanation about wanting a blue house and her room was going to be purple and Grey's room was going to be blue. I don't know where she gets a lot of the things she says. Lately too she has been saying "Great Scott!" Makes me laugh.

Gotta jet...the little one has awoken.

Anyone want a 3-year old?

I get the question all the time, "so how is the baby sleeping?" and believe it or not, he is doing great. Last night he slept from 9 pm until 4:30 am in his own bed (those who know me know what a miracle this is). He's not a real consistent napper yet, but that may come. Now, Elliot is a different story these days. Last night she screamed in her bed for almost 2 hours. Usually if she wakes up, I can go lay by her for a minute and then she calms down and I can go back to my bed. Not last night though. And the two nights prior haven't been much better. I don't know what her problem is other than no binkies anymore and pure exhaustion. The transistion to preschool maybe too. And probably when I go back to work part-time it will happen all over again. It is so frustrating and makes everyone is such a foul mood the next day. I'll tell you what, I was tickled to drop her off at preschool this morning, even though she was clingy and "shy" (her words). Oh, the trials we go through with our children. And I know they won't get easier, just different.

Elliot's Dance Attack

I've been trying to get a video on the blog to try it out so here it goes. I had a different one taped that was better, but too big to put on the blog. So we retaped today and got this. Elliot loves to dance to her favorite song, "Apologize." She always has to get her dancing skirt on and you will see part way through that she has to make sure her baby is okay. But then she tosses the baby to the side! Watch out, Grey! I don't know where she gets the dance moves. Definately not from me or her father! Should we be worried? :)

LOST

Besides the scooter this weekend, Justin and I made a big decision to forgo our television service for a while. We figured that we were spending an awful lot of money just to have a time waster sitting in our living room. But don't think we didn't think this through first, especially with season premires coming up in a few weeks. We hooked up the computer to show through our television screen and got on to the websites to realize you can watch pretty much any show that you want on the internet. So we can watch the programs that we want to with minimal commercials and no mindless flipping. We saw that Lost was being offered in high definition too and decided to give it a try. I will admit that I was a little bit skeptical, but we are totally hooked! Now we have only watch I think 6 episodes of season 1, so no one give it away what happens. We are baffled to say the least and cannot figure out how this show can still be going on. But, boy, I can't wait for Justin to get home in the afternoons so that we can turn on an episode. I know, a little lame, but I am easily amused.

Justin's New Ride

With gas prices the way they are and driving a suburban like he does, Justin decided it was time to make a change. After some research, he found a Honda Ruckus scooter that gets 100miles to the gallon and can easily hold a man of his stature without looking too goofy. So now Justin is scooting around town on his "hog wannabe" instead of his gas guzzling "Black Mamba." Right now the weather is perfect for it, but winter will be here before we know it. He has sworn though that he will continue to ride it to work and back regardless of the weather. At least he doesn't have to worry about helmet hair!

Elliot's First Day of Preschool

Another big milestone today...preschool. Elliot started her first day and she was very excited. Once we got to Hosanna, though her smiles changed for a little bit. It was a little bit scary for her, but once we got in and found BABIES and dress up stuff to play with, she was smiling again.

Grey and I came home to enjoy a few minutes at home without Elliot. I worked on the blog still trying to figure everything out. Before we knew it though it was time to pick up Elliot. She was excited to see us, but very excited about her day at preschool. She played mostly with the babies and painted and stamped and had an all around great time. She can't wait to go again. I think a frequent question is going to be, "Do I get to go to preschool today?"

Justin's Garden

Justin and I decided to have the majority of our backyard turned into a garden. With food prices on the rise along with everything else, we thought it would be a good thing to produce some of our own food as well as give Justin something to work on that he enjoys. It has been a learning process, but he has enjoyed seeing the fruits of his labor. Elliot (and her cousins Ryan and Kolby) as you see in the picture enjoy going and help Justin, especially digging up the potatoes. Our meals are including an awful lot of potatoes these days and the corn will be coming very soon too. We will have plenty of squash and hopefully a pumpkin or two later this fall. Now that Justin has done this once, we are hoping that next summer will be even more plentiful!