Week 4 (January 22-29)

I'm beginning to think the only posts I'll do on the family blog this year will be my picture a day one.  Which probably isn't the worse thing, short and to the point and lots of pictures.  Most people's favorite blog posts to read.

Jan 22

I found this among some CD's that I rarely listened to.  Gordon and I guessed it was made around 1999 or 2000.  It took me back to my first couple of years of college, a couple of country songs, a few from movies of the time, and a couple of ones that I skipped through then (and now).  Almost all of the tracks were still playable, I was quite surprised.

Jan 23

We went to the library.  All three kids.  I don't usually do that, but I had a book I needed to pick up so I risked it.  It was okay.  Kate found a book called "I love shoes", it was so fitting!

Jan 24

This picture doesn't do the ice justice.  We had a freezing rain storm on Thursday.  I've never seen freezing rain, it was pretty crazy.  I heard a news clip saying they haven't had a storm that bad (with freezing rain) since 1983, so it has been a while I guess.  I was dumb enough to take me and the kids to a friends house in the morning.  I made it up and down her stairs 3 times and on the fourth time down, while carrying Milo in his car seat, I slipped and fell.  On my butt, and down all 4 of her steps.  Today was the first day that my tailbone started to feel like it might not be broken (again).  Dumb ice.

Jan 25

I can't remember what else we did this day.  Milo actually fell asleep in his bouncer (just for a minute or two).  When I walked over to take a picture he woke up.

Jan 26

Justin had been gone for the week (pretty much for the last 3 weeks) came home and then had a drill weekend.  He got home with just enough time to change and for us to have dinner with his family at Lugano's.  I meant to take a picture of the restaurant, or our family, or our dinner, all of which was wonderful, but I forgot.  Right after we got home I ran to Target to get something for Milo.  By. Myself.  It was wonderful.  I could have walked around the store for hours if I wasn't so tired and my butt hurt (see picture explanation from previous day).  I bought formula, ibuprofen and a candy bar.  Did I mention I was by myself?

Jan 27

My Sunday morning started off by cleaning the tub after Miss Kate was in it.  I used all the cleaning supplies available to me, including bleach, and bleached all of the bath toys.  I'll let you figure out the rest of the story.

Jan 28

Bugs Bunny band aid after a visit with our new doctor.  I didn't hate the experience.  I missed (and still miss) our old doctor and hope to be able to go back to her, but our new doctor seemed nice and thorough.  The office was a lot smaller (he's the only doctor) which probably has it's benefits.  Milo doesn't do well with getting vaccines, (it's on the second time), and seems to take a good 24 hours to feel okay.  I don't know if it's just the injection site hurting or maybe feeling a little crummy from the medicine.  Last night he didn't sleep longer than 90 minute stretches (which made for one tired baby and momma all day today).

Jan 29

Today I had grand plans to finish the laundry I swore to myself I'd finish yesterday, clean the bathrooms and go the the gym.  I could barely stay awake when I was picking Hyrum up from preschool. But, I did manage to mostly clean up the kitchen and vacuum the living room before my visiting teacher came over.  And when Justin needed to run an errand I made him take Kate with him (who DIDN'T manage to stay awake on the way home from preschool and decided that a 10 minute car nap was all she wanted) and let Hyrum play with his playdoh before dinner.  So, not a complete failure.

Week 3

January 16
Hyrum asked for toast.  Usually he has peanut butter or peanut butter and jam or just butter.  He saw the mustard sitting out from lunch.  So, he asked for peanut butter and mustard.  I made him eat that little square of it before I put mustard on the entire toast.  He said, "Mom, I don't like it... I LOVE it".  He ate the whole thing.

Jan 17
Milo giggled for the first time on the 16th.  I caught a not so good video of that night, and a better one this day.  I'll put the video on his blog, but here's a screen shot.  Baby giggles are the best.

Jan 18
Oops.  Forgot. I was tempted to use another picture from another day, or even ask for one my dad took while he and my mom were dropping off the kids.  But I didn't.  Might not be the last time I miss a day.

Jan 19
For Christmas I bought the kids a 10 punch pass for Jungle Jims.  It's sort of a Chuck-e-Cheese type place, with rides for little kids and arcade type games.  They do birthday parties and such.  It's literally right up the road from us and I thought it would be something we could do during the long winter months. I learned 2 things.  Don't go on a Saturday afternoon.  That's when EVERYONE else goes as well.  Also, I wondered if I'd be able to go with the kids by myself, I think the answer is no.  It's okay, I'll go with my mom or someone else a few more times.  Oh... and bring a lot of hand sanitizer 

Jan 20
Not a very good picture.  We had a regular Sunday night dinner and the kids were wrestling with Justin.  Justin was actually trying to exercise a bit (having a few competitions with Jessica) so he could justify eating a bit of dessert.

Nevermind, someone must have deleted that picture.  So... this is one that Kate took of herself during Stake Conference.  Thank goodness for kid-friendly rooms.  We made it through 1 hour and 55 minutes.  (Yes, we left a few minutes early to beat the rush out to the cars).

Jan 21

Milo turned 4 months old yesterday.  He's getting so big!  We go to the (new) doctor's next week for his well-child visit.

Week 2

The 2nd week of January was cold.  So, so cold.  The high today was around 11 degrees, but according to weather.com it felt more like -4.  I'm really glad that I'm not in college anymore -in Logan.  I can't imagine the poor souls having to walk to 7 am classes this week.

Jan 9
I brought up the bouncy chair from the basement.  Dusted it off and Milo tried it.  3 out of 3, my kids love the bouncy chair!

Jan 10
It's been cold and it hadn't snowed in a while, which meant we have had a nasty inversion in the valley for a while.  Like, can't see the mountains and you can 'taste' the air, it's gross.  Today it cleared out (to make way for a storm) and on the way to school Hyrum said, "Look, mom, I can see the mountains".  I guess he had missed the view too.

Jan 11
The storm that cleared out the gunk left a LOT of snow.  It snowed almost non stop for two days.  In fact, we had a visitor for a night because of it.

Jan 12
Jodi was going to take Hyrum and Kate with her to my mom's for Friday night/Saturday day.  She was going to work during the day and my mom (and dad) was going to watch the kids.  The weather was pretty bad and the roads were even worse, so she ended up staying the night at our house.  The kids (and I) enjoyed the company.

Jan 13
The next night, Sunday, Jodi had us over for dinner.  Hryum and Kate LOVE her exercise machine.

Jan 14
Icicles out of my bathroom window.  It's been so cold that we can't really even go outside to play in the snow.  They are starting to feel like bars on the windows.  I don't often get 'cabin fever' but no husband, a 3 month old, and a couple of crazy and cooped up kids are driving me to drink.  If I drank.  Speaking of, I haven't even had a diet coke for months, if I ever leave the house again that will be first on my list.

Jan 15
I guess Hyrum wanted a few of his cars to feel the freeze as well.  I found this in our freezer today.  (This used to happen quite often, but hasn't for a while).

Week One (+ a day)

So... week one of Project 365, or at least taking a picture every day was a success.  (Good thing for iPhones, but I've used my new camera a lot more as well).

Jan 1
Kate hanging out with Dad.

Jan 2
We went on a drive over to a cemetery near the University of Utah to see the deer that hang out around there.  One of them was about ready to jump in the van with us.

Jan 3

Back to school for Hyrum after the Christmas break.  Yay for Hyrum and for us.  

Jan 4

Justin and I went to see Les Miserables.  I love Les Mis.  Love, love, love it.  I don't know why, maybe because I grew up listening to it, or saw it at a fairly young age on the stage.  I've read the abridged and unabridged book, and the story as well as the music just moves me.  It was interesting seeing it this time.  Although I've continued to listen to the music, I haven't seen it (on stage) since I became a mother.  I found myself identifying more with Jean Valjean, as a parent, near the end of the movie.  It's just a beautiful story, I don't think I'll ever tire of it.  

Jan 5 

Jodi's birthday gift.  There was a bit of a personal story behind this picture.  Before Christmas I caught the end of a Young Women's lesson and they had this picture displayed.  They were talking about Mary, the mother of Jesus.  It occurred to me, and I shared with the young women, that Mary would have been an immensely faithful and virtuous woman.  My guess is she would have been tried and tested beyond what we obviously have record of, and stayed faithful and true to her self and the commandments.  While I was sitting there looking at this beautiful picture I felt like that's what I was supposed to give my sister for her birthday.  I can't say I've received that sort of inspiration towards a gift, but I did, and followed it.  It was either this... or a gift card to The Gap.  

Jan 6
Jodi's birthday with the Hardcastles on Sunday.  I made Tres Leches cupcakes.

Jan 7
My new doctor's office.  I didn't hate her.  In fact, she was very nice and understanding.  I still hope it will only be for this year though.  (Don't you like my new Toms?  I don't often complain about winter weather, but I was never meant to wear socks and shoes all day every day.  Which is why I had no socks on and the temperature hasn't been above freezing for over a week).

Jan 8
After we dropped Hyrum off at school Kate insisted an wearing her helmet and glasses.  Okay, whatever!

Only 547 more days to go!

Happy New Years

I've really struggled posting on the blogs lately, which is why Christmas was actually posted in January, and this is so late as well. 

Luckily, pictures (from my phone and new camera) stand as a great reminder of what I've missed and need to catch up on. 

I've always done a recap of the year, and will probably still get to it. However, I thought I'd at least attempt to start the new year on the right foot with a couple of goals. 

2013 will be an interesting year for our family, to say the least. Mostly because Justin will be away for most of it. I'm sure there will be many highs and lows during the year, which is no different from any other year. 

I'll start with the kids... (I guess these are still my goals, but they pertain to the kids). 

Hyrum: practice writing and reading. Reading can be done every day... I'll be a bit more realistic and put the writing practice at 5 days a week. 
Less time with the iPad and more time just playing. 
Learn the primary songs for the program in the fall. 

Kate: oh boy, I'm scared to even write this one down... But potty training will probably be our big obstacle this year. Even better? I get to do it alone this time. 
Reading and writing. Hyrum had zero interest in writing and even coloring at her age, but she loves it. Might as well start that with her too. 
Less screaming, more talking. You can always dream, right?

Milo: sleep. That's it buddy, your only goal is sleeping through the night and getting on a set schedule for naps. 
I'm sure he'll insist on solid food, learning how to roll over, crawl, and walk... But that'll happen despite my best efforts to keep him immobile. 

And for me???

As if I need to mention this one... but lose weight.  I really just want to be at a place where I won't hate our family pictures we'll be taking in February.  Then I'll take a look at a realistic goal after that.  

I'm going to do Project 365 this year.  Well, I'm going to take at least one picture a day.  I decided on this one because Justin will be gone, and I need to make sure we're providing pictures and videos during that time.  I'm hoping to keep track of what picture happened on what day on my phone, but I'm hoping to start using my actual camera more and post them on the blog every week (or two).  

I think I'll come up with another couple of goals... but for now, I'm caught up on blogs, and I just got Milo to sleep, so that's where I'm headed!