find joy in the journey

one year older and cuter too

Today was Anna's 2nd birthday.  Holy cow, this girl is growing up too fast!  She's a two-year-old!

As you can see above, she had a great day.  This morning she woke up to streamers and balloons decorating the family room.  Anna probably spent a solid half-hour throwing the balloons up in the air and falling on her bum after losing her balance from staring straight up.  For lunch we had french toast and then she got to open her presents.  My baby has her very own cabbage patch doll -- woo-wee!  She loved everything, especially the Fisher Price piggy bank.  And so did Payton and Conner.  We had to keep reminding them today is Anna's birthday and these are her toys so . . . back off!  But, all bets are off for tomorrow. 

Let's see, there was cake and ice cream.  Anna used a bit of drool to help blow out the candles.  And that's about it -- just a generally good, fun day.  Here's a few of my favorite pics from the day.

details

blueberry pie bites

hydration

  color!

cloth diapers, washcloths, and burp rags take new life

the glowing mom

the running girl

wait . . . . stop . . . .no . . . . turn around . . . . I just want to take your picture!

ugh.  I give up.

rough day

it's been a bit of a rough day for our little Payton . . .

• Anna chomped down on his arm for a solid 5 seconds until I could run over and apply the jaws of life. 
• While pushing the shopping cart (Payton in the basket) I hit a bump with a little too much force, sending his face forward and some bloody gums to show for it.
• On his way down from the top bunk his arm got wedged between the wall and the bed, leaving him dangling.
• Big brother closed the bedroom door on his finger.

The poor kid.  But he's been a great sport today.  Especially considering the fact that I toted him around town for 6 hours today.  Here's a few happy points of the day:

• He got a balloon sword at the Picture People (anna got her pics taken).  Actually, two of them.
• Had a blast playing on the toys at the mall.
• Got to watch the Backyardigans: Best Clowns in Town . . . . again. 
• For me, hearing him sing "we will run around you, and fall into a pile" and laughing over and over again.

Tomorrow he and I have a date planned for online Halloween costume shopping.  And maybe a ice cream cone or popsicle. He deserves it!

UPDATE:  The costume has been chosen!

aarrgghhh!!

I was reminded by my son that today is Talk Like A Pirate Day.  I watched as his teacher dismissed each kid in his class with the usual handshake and a not so usual "aarrgghh!!"  Apparently they sang a pirate song in music today and yesterday the boys were awarded eye-patches from the "Clean Desk Fairy".  (I wonder if they have a fairy door?). 

I'm in the middle of trying to choose a new color to paint our family room (the green room).  I want something more neutral so I can play with some fun colors in my pillows, etc.  Right now I have swatches of 5 different "neutral" paint colors up on my walls.  But it's weird just how different they look and how each one will change the feel of the room.  Decisions, decisions.  I'm hoping to decide in the next day or two so I can pick up paint and get started.

And I just ordered some Amy Butler fabric to make my new colorful pillows. 

Bring on the orange!

100 things

1. The last time I dyed my hair was 1996.
2. The last time I got a perm was 1997.
3. I love the fajita burrito at Chipotle.
4. I have never operated a lawn mower or barbecue grill.  That's what dads, brothers, and husbands are for, right? 
5. I had braces on from age 10 to 14.  That's right, 4 years.
6. I wore glasses everyday from age 6 to 13.  Tried glasses again at 16 (very short-lived) and at 23 (I think I wore them a total of 5 times -- my Rx was never quite right)
7. Haven't had much more luck with contacts.  For a while I only had to wear them in one eye.
8. I am currently wearing nothing.  On road trips we play, "See How Close We Have To Get To The Freeway Sign Before Shannon Can Read It."  It's always a party.
9. I'm considering Lasik one day.
10. My ideal plan is to be done having babies, nursing, etc. before I turn 30.  Then I can get in shape for reals, find a new haircut, new make-up, the whole thing.  I tell Scott (picture eyes rolling here) that I want to be "30 and fabulous".
11. I always wear socks around the house.  That way I don't have to be reminded of the crumbs and stickies on the kitchen floor.
12. I have mild scoliosis.  And my upper body leans slightly to the left and one shoulder is higher than the other (I'm sure it's only noticeable to me).
13. Because of this I'm always thinking about my posture & making mental notes to not hunch over so much.
14. I have horrible teeth (you don't want to know how many fillings, root canals, and crowns I have).  But they are straight!
15. I started scrapbooking when I was 12, using decorative scissors, markers, computer paper, and Yes! glue.
16. Between 2003 and 2005 I was published 12 times in scrapbooking magazines.
17. In the last 4 months I have made 7 layouts, 2 school themed albums, and a baby book (not for me)
18. I subscribe to Creating Keepsakes and Simple Scrapbooks.
19. I graduated from high school when I was 16
20. I graduated from college when I was 20.
21. I majored in Nutritional Science.  No, I'm not a health nut.
22. In high school I thought I wanted to be a doctor.
23. I was one class away from earning a Chemistry minor in college.  But Chem 105, 106, 107, 351, 352, 353, and 481 were plenty for me.
24. And I had to take Chem 351 (Organic Chemistry) twice.
25. I ditched my film camera and went "all digital" in July 2004 and have never looked back.
26. I am the oldest in my family -- four younger brothers (Sam, Kent, Denver, & Mason).
27. Scott is also the oldest in his family and has 3 brothers -- no sisters.
28. Today is my 28th birthday!
29. For a long time I assumed that we would also have a family full of boys.
30. My dad owns a nut company (they process walnuts).  We always referred to it as the "nut house" with no pun intended.  Always caught me off-guard when people would chuckle about it.
31. I have never had a broken bone or stitches.
32. I have never been able to stay in the recommended pregnancy weight gain range of 25-35 pounds.  I always go over -- although I was very close to 35 with Anna.
33. I was very quiet in elementary, middle, and high school.  In fact, I was this close to being voted "Most Bashful" in my senior yearbook.  Thankfully my blue eyes propelled me into the "Best Eyes" category.
34. Not sure why I was so quiet.  Mostly, (and much of this is true today), I felt I didn't have anything compelling to say (I don't usually talk just for the sake of talking), I didn't want to "bother" people, and I don't like competing for attention or talk time in a group.
35. I grew up in a town of 4,000 people, surrounded by agriculture & dairies, a graduating class of 62 people, and 45 minutes away from any kind of shopping or entertainment.
36. I was Little Miss Gustine in 1983 (at age 3 1/2) and got to ride on a float in our town's 4th of July parade.
37. I played the flute from 4th grade to 11th grade.  In my small town if you were in band that meant you were in concert band, pep band (football and basketball), and marching band too.
38. I took speed writing in highschool.
39. I had my first kiss when I was 17 outside of Stover Hall (the dorms at BYU) after a Preference dance (girls ask guys).
40. In 4th through 6th grade I competed in a county speech contest.  I placed 1st and 2nd in two of those years.
41. I hate roller coasters.  I've been on the real ones twice.  Never again.
42. I've been to Disneyland 7 times.  Now that's my kind of amusement park.
43. I've been rafting once.  And as nervous as I was leading up to it, I ended up enjoying it enough that I would actually go again.
44. As a kid I would dress up with my neighbor friends and make music videos.
45. In college I would dress up with my roommates and make music videos.
46. In college my roommates and I frequently visited the mall, grabbed crazy clothes from the racks, put everything on, and took group photos inside the dressing room.
47. My first car was a 1989 Nissan 240SX.  My parents gave it to me for Christmas my first year at college (1996).
48. I used to know how to solve the Rubik's cube.
49. I am not an athletic person, and don't really enjoy playing sports.
50. And it's not because I haven't tried.  Ages 8-9 I was on a swim team, my sophomore year I joined the tennis team, and in college I played intramural soccer once.
51. The reason is, I'm not competitive (so I just don't care about winning or putting forth the effort), and I'm not coordinated enough to make it work.
52. Somehow I manage to survive on very little sleep.  Go to bed 11:15-11:30pm, wake up at 5:45am, M-F.
53. Scott proposed to me three times.
54. I said yes three times.
55. I was officially engaged (with the ring on my finger & dad's approval) 13 days before my 19th birthday.
56. We spent our weekend honeymoon (married on friday, back in classes on tuesday) in Monterey and San Francisco.
57. We have been married for 8 years, 8 months, and 2 days.
58. I used to think that people with long hair were unoriginal and just following the crowd.
59. Now I have long hair and love it!
60. I want new floors in my house.
61. I'm awful at starting a project and then starting a new one (because I'm just so excited with the idea) and end up with a pile of unfinished projects.
62. I'm a little OCD with my kids' clothes -- there cannot be two different sizes of clothes (i.e. 3T and 4T) in their drawer at the same time.  Everything has to be the same.  Doesn't matter if those 3T shorts still fit, they must move out with the rest of the 3T clothes to make room for the 4T wardrobe.
63. I love the ocean, beach, coast . . . whatever you want to call it.
64. I wear nylons to church every Sunday.  Except maybe when I'm on vacation some place warm.
65. I almost always have a hair elastic around my right wrist.
66. I love ice cream and milkshakes.
67. I've had a total of 4 pedicures in my life.
68. I went to Creating Keepsakes University (CKU) in Provo in 2005 all by myself and quite pregnant.
69. I don't care for spicy food.
70. I have been a Relief Society teacher 4 separate times.
71. This spring/summer I organized an online reunion blog for my BYU freshman year ward.  It's been 10 years since our freshman year (1996-97).
72. 80 people have joined the reunion (about half the ward) and are spread out from Alaska to New Hampshire and everywhere in between.  It's been pretty fun catching up.
73. I've been to tapings of Wheel of Fortune and the Leeza Gibbons talk show.
74. I hate trying to find a baby-sitter.
75. But I love having them over. =)
76. I've had one speeding ticket.
77. I usually like to shop alone.
78. I don't like being interrupted when I'm talking.
79. The first concert I ever went to was U2 in Salt Lake City, May 1997.
80. I'm bad about not remembering (or taking the time) to wash my face each night.
81. I have a birthmark behind my left ear.  (or is it the right ear?)
82. At the movie theater I like to munch on raisinets or licorice.
83. Right now I'm reading The Kite Runner.
84. I just picked up The Golden Compass to read next.
85. I've read 5 whole books this year!
86. I love clean, vibrant colors.
87. I also love clean, simple lines in decorating (Pottery Barn) and fabrics with bold or graphic patterns (like Amy Butler).
88. I want to learn how to make a purse or bag (Amy Butler has some cute patterns I'm eye-ing)
89. I'm a very prompt person.
90. But I have this recurring dream that I'm back in college and realize half-way through the semester that I haven't been attending some of my classes and I don't know when or where they are.  So I end up in panic mode trying to find them.  I've already had this dream twice this month.
91. As a kid I had recuring nightmares about sharks.
92. I am awesome at Minesweeper.  Beginner - 11 seconds.  Intermediate - 113.  Expert - 218.
93. I've been to CA, OR, WA, NV, UT, ID, AZ, TX, OH, MI, PA, NY, CT, MA, HI, Canada and Mexico.
94. I have a darling little girl with the sweetest dimples and spunky personality.
95. I have a squirrelly little boy who whispered in my ear today, "when it's raining I think it's monkey fur falling down."  What???!!  I have no idea what is going through his head, but he always makes me laugh.
96. I have a bigger boy who sang happy birthday to me as I picked him up from school (for all to hear), and who told me at dinner with a hug, "I want to make you happy."
97. I have a husband who ran around town on a wild goose chase for dry ice -- all to keep my Coldstone ice cream cake cold for the trip home. 
98. I am happy, healthy, and loved.
99. I have opportunities to serve, learn, and grow.
100. I have been so blessed in my my life, more than I can believe.

the girls at home

Well I guess I should also mention what has been up with Anna and I this past week, because it has also been full of new beginnings.  Each week we get to enjoy 7.5 hours in a girls only zone.  We've used our time to go on walks and she even sits quietly on my bed while I take a shower afterwards.  I can clean a bathroom or do some laundry without having to break up any arguments.  It's really very nice.  So far she's been pretty low-maintenance.

The biggest change this September is having Conner gone for 6.5 hours every day.  Let me tell you, it is weird.  That's really the only way I can describe it.  But also nice.  On Tuesday we went to Costco and Old Navy in the middle of the morning.  It's been over a year since I've been able to do that.  Another bonus has been discovering how quiet and low-key Payton is without his big brother around.  Our days have just been so . . . . pleasant.  The 12 hours of chaos, screaming, and running that I grew accustomed to during the summer has been limited to just 5. 

The only down-side to this new schedule is that I fear Anna's nap is on the endangered list.  Conner's pick-up time falls in the middle of her nap time.  I tried putting her down earlier one day, but that did not work (she ended up with no nap at all).  She does get a good 1.25 hours in, which is decent.  And on Saturday she made up for it by napping for 3 hours.  So I guess I just have to accept a little give and take.

Speaking of that girl . . . here she is in her red sailor dress for church today.

And what a nut, as I'm scrolling through these pictures on my computer she is just laughing and laughing at herself.

One more note about Anna . . . I pulled out her BYU shirt to wear today and she just freaks out!  Screaming (the ear-piercing high-pitched one), going nuts and saying, "U, U, U!"  Then she's patting her cheeks and saying "cheek, cheek" -- remember the BYU tattoos she wore on her cheeks at the football game?  It looks like we have a true blue Cougar fan on our hands.

a preschooler

Not as much to say about Payton's week because, well, he doesn't say much. He's four. And he's not all that forthcoming with information when he gets home from school. We're working on that. But here's what I do know.

- He had melted brownies for snack one day.

- At first he only played with the girls.

- Now he likes to play with Maddie, Joelle, Ben, and Rowan (all friends from church)

- The new trains are cool.

- One day in the car he said, "Um, I think my teacher is better than Teacher Debbie" (his pre-school teacher last year).

- At center time they do nothing.

- They sing "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam".

- He likes to cook pizza in the kitchen.

And my favorite outfit this week -- khaki beach pants and the lobster shirt!!  I got him some high-top converse shoes and I just think they are the coolest thing ever.

a first grader

Conner is going to a new charter school this year which is a new, unknown adventure in and of itself. But things have gone very smoothly so far and the uniforms make it easy to get dressed in the morning. On the 2nd day of school he came home to tell me all about this "green card" system that his teacher uses.  If you do something bad your card gets turned to yellow. If you're naughty again then it turns to blue. And then red -- if you get a red card then you have to go see the principal or they call your parents. He followed up this explanation with "I have some good news and some bad news." Oh great.  "The bad news is, two boys got a yellow card. And the good news is, my card is still green!!!  I sat still in my desk, I looked straight at the teacher, I raised my hand to talk, I . . . ."  Phew, that was a relief.

He says that his favorite part of school is lunchtime. And he is soooo happy that he can buy milk at school - he loves milk.  But it sounds like they don't have much time for lunch, as he comes home with part of it in his bag. Conner is not the type of kid to leave food uneaten.

In the beginning he had a hard time finding someone to play with during recess.  He said that he would go up to kids and ask to join their game, but everyone said no.  Part of me thinks, well, this is part of being a kid that you just have to get through.  But part of me felt so bad for him, spending recess after recess all alone.  That was the story of my life in elem. school, but I guess I just assumed that my kids wouldn't have a problem with this.  Luckily on day three he found 4 boys to play with and the timeless game of "chase the girls" ensued on the playground for the remainder of the week.

Today I took the opportunity to go sit in his classroom (a little fly on the wall) and observe how the class runs and how Conner is behaving (we had a few challenges in Kindergarten last year).  And I was impressed to see him behaving perfectly.  Well, besides the mini-Crackers battle that he was having in the cubby of his desk.  But it was out of sight, non-disruptive, and he quickly took a time-out when the teacher wanted the attention of the class. 

Some people warned me about the exhaustion factor that comes along with first grade -- now that they are going to school all day.  But . . . I don't think Conner has experienced this.  He comes hopping into the car with just as much energy as when I dropped him off in the morning (and it usually involves singing).  As soon as he gets home the energy/noise/chaos factor shoots waaay up and I start wondering how I ever survived the summer.

happy birthday bella

first day

the first day of school was on Monday

Look for a first week wrap-up on Friday.

who has a rope?

Last night we returned from a week-long family trip in Utah.  But it's a lucky thing that we got Conner to come home with us.  He told us that he did not want to leave Utah.  In fact, he said that after this year we need to move there.  His reasons for living in Utah:  all the BYU football games and the awesome church day (touring temple square -- apparently he thinks that's what everybody does for church there).  But we held it up to a vote (Conner's new favorite game) and he lost.

I've got about a bazillion pictures to share, but instead I'll leave you with a single photo highlight for each day.

Friday, Aug. 31st -- Fly to Utah.  We arrived at 3:30 and checked into our hotel in downtown SLC.  We could even see Angel Moroni from our window.  Dinner and shopping at The Gateway.

   

Saturday, September 1st -- Walked around BYU campus with the kids.  New t-shirts at the BYU Bookstore (and we even ran into a YW from our ward -- a new freshman this year).  Face paint.  Scott's parents joined us for the BYU football game against Arizona . . . we won.  And we all melted in the sun (95 degrees that day). 

Sunday, September 2nd -- "Awesome church day."  Saw inside the conference center, all the visitor's center stuff, the SLC temple.  We embarked on a little quest for our trip -- to get our family picture in front of 7 temples. We hit SLC, Bountiful, and Jordan River temples today.

Monday, September 3rd -- Cabela's.  The famous dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point which the kids loved.  Dinner at Scott's favorite, the Rodizio Grill.  All meat, baby.  We were very thankful for the salad/pasta bar that served pineapple & cantaloupe for Payton and Anna, and hard-boiled eggs for Conner.

Tuesday, September 4th -- Laundry day.  We used our zoo membership from home to get into the Hogle Zoo for free.  Another hot, hot day.

Wednesday, September 5th -- Excursion day.  Ogden for a pic in front of the temple.  Brigham City for lunch at Maddox -- a favorite of Scott's; he highly recommends the steak burger and the banana cream pie.  Then Logan, to see Kent and meet his fiance Becca.  We met them at the temple so they could take our picture, of course.  Then a little hello to her parents.  And bowling.  Back in SLC we had dinner at The Pantry in the Lion House.

Thursday, September 6th -- Checked out of our SLC hotel.  Got pictures with the Mount Timpanogas and Provo temples.  Lunch at the Brick Oven with Randy.  Scott and Conner hid away in Randy's apartment (which was nicely equipped with a Wii) while Payton, Anna, and I went to visit my college roommate & friend Bernie and her daughter Julie.  Back to Provo we checked into our new hotel.  Dropped Scott off at BYU for a recruiting event.  Braved Hogi Yogi alone with the kids for dinner.  Picked Scott up at 9pm.  Then Bernie whisked me away for the 9:50pm showing of Becoming Jane -- a fun girl's night out.

Friday, September 7th -- Scott had another breakfast thing to go to at BYU.  Then one more trip to the bookstore with our kids who are total animals, I swear.  After lunch I finally got to visit a scrapbook store and shop to my heart's content.  Then to the airport where we made gate C3 our home for several hours.  The kids were great on the flight (Anna slept the whole way) and we pulled into our driveway at 10pm.

{no pictures today, but there are more photos from the entire trip here if you care to look}

our favorite quotes from the trip:

"Who has a rope?"  -Conner, randomly while driving to dinner

"What?!!  They have a toilet on the airplane?"  -Payton, while studying the safety instruction pamphlet in the seat back pocket.  Then he folded it up and proceeded to demonstrate the emergency landing positions.