Too long....

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:00:52 -0600

Wow! It’s been too long since I’ve posted. We have been busy from about June on, and things are not about to slow down. We had a great summer and are looking forward to Fall. Here’s what we’ve been up to these past few months. We opted for a “stay-cation” this Summer and spent some time in Utah Valley doing things with Sydney we thought she’d like instead of being strapped into a shopping cart. :) We did LOTS of swimming which I unfortunately didn’t capture on camera, had fun with friends and family, camped a few times, which once again, I didn’t take pictures of, painted and redecorated Sydney’s room, and got our adoption profile up with LDS Family Services. Here are some things we did that I actually documented with the camera... :)

“Tis the Season...”

Tue, 12 May 2009 14:33:11 -0600

Jeff and I have recently discovered the phrases that we use a lot these days: “Holy smokes”, and “oh my gosh”, “amazing”, “bummer”, and ‘oh no” top the list. These are followed by “hold you”, “hold your hand”, “that’s great!”, “I like it”, and “close your eyes”. We’ve had to eliminate words like “crap” and “dang-it”, “stupid” and “that sucks”. We don’t have to yell at the top of our lungs to tell Rio to “go potty”, because Sydney’s got us covered. Yup, you guessed it. We officially have a toddler in our household.

Lately I’ve snuck up on her “changing diapers”. This consists of emptying her wipe box and putting multiple diapers on her stuffed animals. She also likes to “dress up”. This activity includes putting her head through the arm of one of my t-shirts and/or topping her look off with a pair of mittens (or socks if she can’t find her mittens) and either a denim sun hat or her white winter hat. And of course she must accessorize with a gold necklace and pink bracelet. Elmo has taken a bath in our toilet, and so has Zurg. Zurg almost had the unfortunate fate of being flushed down the toilet, but was caught just in the nick of time. I’ve found finger puppets jammed down the toes of her shoes, have rescued her from certain fate after drinking water from a mud puddle on all fours, and have had to install a crib tent to ensure that she doesn’t wander outside trying to find me when I’m vacuuming the car while she’s supposed to be napping (I almost had to take myself to the ER because it took a while for my heart to beat normally after that little antic). I have learned to deal with tantrums brought on by my refusal to put “chocolate chips in my (her) mouth”, and have gotten a little quicker on my feet in the parking lot.

Despite all the craziness that is called toodler-hood, I have found that I am really enjoying this season of my life. When she folds her chubby little arms and says “Heavenly Father. Puzzles. Jesus Christ, Amen”, I can’t help but smile, and then giggle. Or when she throws all the pillows off our bed, gets inside the covers, and decides it’s time to go “night, night”, even though she just woke up. Or when I point to a picture of Jesus and she says “Jesus. Hold you”. It is apparently a requirement to splash in every puddle, smell every flower, and pick up every rock we find on our walks or when playing outside...just the pure joy of discovering something amazing in the everyday. And of course the ultimate, when she says “I wutch you Mommy” (I love you) and gives me a kiss. These are just a few of the things that makes all the craziness worth it!

Sisters, Sisters...

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 11:22:24 -0700

Sisters, sisters
there were never such devoted sisters
never had to have a chaperone, no sir
I’m here to keep my eye on her

caring, sharing
every little thing that we are wearing...

all kinds of weather
we stick together
the same in the rain or sun
[five] different faces
but in tight places
we think and we act as one...

sisters
sisters

(From the song “Sisters”, by Rosemary Clooney)

I’ve been lucky to spend some time with my sisters this month....I LOVE you guys and have had fun creating some memories with you!!

Jeff and Shawn hanging out.

Aunt Nat and Sydney watching Kung Fu Panda after Sydney got her hair cut.

Aunt BB and Sydney having fun!!

My cousin, Brittany, playing the accordian for us.

My cousin, Allison, playing the harp.

Aunt Noelle’s visit!!

Aunt Noelle came to spend a few day with us in Moab while my mom and dad went skiing in Colorado for a few days. We LOVED spending time with her!!

Okay...so this picture doesn’t even begin to do justice to Noelle’s stunning beauty. And her hair...her hair is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Having fun at Dead Horse Point.

Syndey was NOT into taking pictures that day.

SAND DUNES

DINOSAUR PRINT

I’m lucky to have such great sisters!!

UnPlugged

Sun, 8 Feb 2009 16:47:48 -0700

I usually avoid admitting my deep dark secret for fear of looking fanatical, because I promise that’s not the reason. I know that any explanation I make though, won’t help the fact that one may think that Jeff and I are just a tad bit strange. I thought we were strange at first, and our builder thought we were even stranger when he told me that the wires hanging in the utility room that we put on our punch list of things to fix were actually for the satellite hook-ups so we could receive TV signals. Yup, that’s right. We don’t watch TV around our house. But before you jump to conclusions, you at least deserve an explanation. The real reasons we didn’t have the frontier guy install a satellite is because 1- Cable was not an option. It was either satellite or nothing at all in our development, and 2- we didn’t want to pay for it...at least not right away. And 3-, we really didn’t want to have to sift through hundreds of junk channels to find something good to watch, so we figured we’d try to see if we could survive without it for a month or two until we felt like we could part with the $80 dollar installation fee. Nearly 6 months later, we are still TV free, and I must admit...”loving every minute of it.” :)

Here are a few things I have learned since being “unplugged”:
You can watch ANYTHING you want to on the internet, albeit a day later than everyone else, but you have limited commercials which makes it nice.
You can watch BYUTV live 24 hours a day.
I have discovered just how biased the media really is ( but is that really a surprise to anyone?)
I’m no longer competing for Jeff’s attention.
Sydney and I play a lot more.
Our home is more peaceful.
Jeff and I have had more meaningful conversations.
We’ve read some really great books.
We go to bed earlier.
I don’t feel as depressed, or worried about the future.
I feel more content with the things I have.
We have $30 bucks a month extra because we’re not paying for TV! (That’s at least one or two new shirts from Shade!)

In fact, Jeff and I were talking about this very thing tonight and it really got me thinking. Thinking about our motives behind just turning the TV off and lots of other things too. Like, for example, I think there is a huge disparity with Mormon culture because we so badly want to “fit in” and seem “normal”, yet at the same time, want to uphold our values and morals. We don’t want to appear too sheltered, because that would be bad. People might think that we’re strange. But that is exactly what sets us apart, and the scriptures teach that the Lord’s chosen people will always be “peculiar”. How can we keep that peculiarity, but still fit in? It’s not possible, and so I have to find peace with my unpopularity, and strangeness. Tell me, what is so weird about NOT smoking, NOT drinking, saying NO to dope, living a chaste life, and being happy (and unplugging the TV)? What is so cool about having sex with perfect strangers, feeding addictions, and trying to out-do the Jones’? The last time I checked, those kinds of behaviors take away not only our happiness, but our agency. And isn’t agency the very thing we want to keep? Society today seems to be sex-crazed, selfish, and biased. And the media does a GREAT job of highlighting these attributes in a very appealing way. Jeff and I have been able to control what kinds of entertainment is viewed in our home better, by unplugging the TV. But I don’t want to come across as self-righteous because the internet is just as bad, if not worse. The world-wide-web just hasn’t been as distracting for us and doesn’t seem to suck us in as much as TV. I realize this particular media purge is not for everyone, so I have to ask...

How to you handle being in the world, but not of the world? Are you okay with being different even though you long to be “normal”?

Random Resolutions

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:36:59 -0700

Dear 2009,
2008 was a great year. I’m sad to see it go. It was filled with first steps, first words, first teeth, and a new home! I’m looking forward to what you’ll bring me during these next 365 days. I’m sure you’ve got a few surprises up your sleeve, but I won’t ask what they are, because I know you won’t tell me. At least, not yet. I’ve got a few ideas of ways that we can make you better than last year though. Would you like to hear them? Tell me what you think...

I have this really bad habit of cramming too many clothes in the washer. I figure that the more I can get in there, the faster I can get my laundry done. After all, the washer is super-capacity. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that 1) the laundry doesn’t get done any faster this way because I never seem to get to the bottom of the laundry baskets...ever. and 2) my white towels wouldn’t be pink if I hadn’t have missed that red sweatshirt. With that said, I’m willing to give smaller loads of laundry a try!!

Speaking of clothes...it baffles me that I’ve got a closet and dresser full of clothes, yet I can’t seem to find something I want to wear. I bought a lot of clothes in 2008, but most of them have been hanging there...waiting to be worn. I got some awesome deals, and I was able to shop in record time, but I think that’s been the problem. I walked out of the store with too many things I didn’t really like. So, instead, I will take my time when shopping and buy only the things I REALLY want, even if I have to save my money and wait for a while. No point in filling my closet, and house, up with junk that I end up giving away.

There’s been a lot of people who have made my life better this past year...but I failed to thank them. Actually, this isn’t a new problem. I hate to admit it, but I still have thank you notes to write from people who sent us wedding gifts over 8 years ago. True story. My Mom is really good at sending thank you notes and little words of encouragement, and why it didn’t rub off on me, I have yet to understand. However, I think it’s time that I change my ways, and I think 2009 sounds like a good year to do it!

So, here’s to 52 weeks of smaller loads of laundry, better and more thoughtful (and hopefully more stylish) purchases, and an attitude of gratitude!
Cheers!!!!

Love,
Nicole

Now it’s your turn!! What are you’re random, or even, not- so- random resolutions for this year?

Christmas

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0700

This year, Jeff and I were able to rediscover the magic of Christmas through a child’s eyes! Although Sydeny didn’t understand everything, she knew enough to make it fun for Jeff and I. :) Who knew Santa had such a fun job description?!?! We enjoyed being home, staying in our pajamas until noon, eating chocolate before breakfast, watching Sydney play with all her new toys, talking with family, having a delicious turkey dinner and watching “Dark Knight” after Sydney went to bed. It was a low-key, lazy, peaceful, Christmas day. We hope yours was too!!

Sydney didn’t like getting bundled up, but LOVED riding her bike for the first time! I didn’t want to get bundled up either, so alas, I missed the big moment. :(

We went up to Lehi, and spent the New Year with Jeff’s family. We had a good time visiting with everyone, shopping, and hanging out. Sydney loved playing with her cousins and being spoiled by her grandparents. Pappy and Sydney made a fast friendship over a nightly bowl of popcorn!!

We took all the kids to a place called “Jump On It”. It’s a big warehouse filled with trampolines and big blow-up slides and bouncy things. Sydney had a blast, but Jeff and I were a nervous wreck (are we uptight or what?).

Mean Girls...

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:59:34 -0700

Have you ever had a run-in with a mean-girl? I had heard about mean girls, but fortunately never had an experience with one until this past weekend...

Jeff and I went up North for a baby blessing and a youth Temple trip and brought along our Christmas shopping list. I found myself in a VERY crowded mall Saturday evening. I was on the lookout for the perfect pair of jeans since my favorite pair has holes in them. I decided to stop in Express and try on a few pairs. I had an armful of pants ready to try on and walked to the dressing room area. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been in a few Express’s and have found their dressing room set-up to be different than most. They’re not tucked away like Gap’s, or Macy’s rooms are, they’re right out there in the open. You have to be a very brave soul if you want to walk out your door and show your friend the outfit you’ve just tried on, because chances are, the whole store will be critiquing you as well. While I was waiting for an attendant to unlock a room for me, I noticed a group of three high school girls standing in front of an occupied room. I could tell by looking at them they were up to no good. Just by what they were wearing, I could tell they spent a lot of time at the mall with their Mommy or Daddy’s credit card, and found great pride in the status that such appearances warrant. One of the girls whipped out her cell-phone, punched a number on her speed dial, waited for the other person to pick up, and then proceeded to practically yell, so the whole store could hear, “You’ll never believe who I just ran into...only the biggest HO in the world”...this comment was followed by giggling as the trio walked away, continuing the conversation about how the ‘ho’ was this and that...

I was in such a rush that I didn’t pay much attention to them. I tried my pants on, came out and was looking at another table across from the dressing rooms, when the three girls headed back to the same occupied room. An Express worker pulled the girl with the cell phone aside and told her she was no longer welcome to continue shopping in the store. She was causing problems and wasn’t being nice to the patrons. It finally donned on me, that the “ho” was in that locked room, and the girls were taunting her. Maybe the girl in the dressing room really was a ho, maybe she wasn’t, but it unnerved me to think that these young girls had enough guts to do something so blatantly rude and mean-spirited...I guess that’s why they’re called mean girls. Talk about ruining my Christmas cheer. :(

Fun With Nat and Shawn

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 15:37:37 -0700

My sister Natalie and her husband Shawn came to our house for Thanksgiving. We were so excited to have them here and spend some time with them! We had some delicious food, talked, watched a movie or two, cut down a Christmas tree, and Jeff was sweet and caught them up on their dental work. That part, I’m sure, Nat and Shawn wish they could forget. I’m sure our shrimp dinner would have tasted much better had they not been numb. :) They were sweet with Sydney, and although I’m sure they wanted to scream when we turned Winnie The Pooh on for the 10,000th time, they were troopers. Plus, they helped me out in Primary on Sunday by subbing in the CTR-8 class at the last minute. We love you Aunt Nat and Uncle Shawn!!

Sydney and Uncle Shawn

In front of our BIG and BEAUTIFUL Christmas tree before we cut it down!!

Nat and Sydney watching Donald Duck cartoons together!! :)

Did you know...

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:40:38 -0700

That November is National Adoption month? I guess this post is perhaps a little over-due, but being close to the Thanksgiving holiday I can’t help but be thankful for the miracle of adoption. It has changed our lives and blessed us in many ways. We are hoping that it can change our lives once again. Jeff and I are in the process of filling out the mountains of paperwork for LDS Family Services and are praying that a young girl out there somewhere will also see the benefits of adoption. However, the more help we get, the better our chances are of getting a little brother or sister for Sydney. We are not shy about this and don’t want you to be either. So, to all our family and friends that read this blog...keep your eyes and ears open. If you happen to come across a situation where the subject of adoption is brought up, please think of us! We have a profile and letter ready to be sent out at a moments notice and would love to have a prospective birthmother/birthfather consider us in raising their child. It doesn’t matter if it works out or not...we just want to take advantage of every opportunity we can, because you never know...:)

While I was blogging...

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:11:15 -0700

Happy Birthday!!

Sat, 8 Nov 2008 11:23:46 -0700

Happy Birthday to my newly -turned 14 year-old sister, Noelle! Isn’t she absolutely GORGEOUS?!?!? We love you!

N-ight Owl, Noble
O-bedient
E-nchanting
L-adylike
L-ikable
E-thereal, Ennobling

Overheard...

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 08:41:06 -0700

Girl: Did you know that Tanner and his family got a house in Columbia?

Mom: Why?

Girl: Because when President Bush got re-elected they hated him so much they wanted to move out of the country.

Me: I am NOT, NOT, NOT, going to be an Obama-hater. I’m an adult and would like to stay that way.

I’m Grateful...

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 18:51:15 -0700

Yabba Dabba Doo!

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 13:57:39 -0700

This post is dedicated to my sister Brooke. She seems to think that Jeff and I would fit right into the world of the Flintstones mainly because of our geographic location, so we thought we’d humor her and dress up as Fred, Wilma, and Pebbles. A friend of mine made the Wilma costume using her amazing sewing and crafting skills and I made the Fred and Pebbles costumes A La Hot Glue Gun. One of these days I’ll have enough patience to learn how to use a sewing machine. This year I actually got it together and did what I said we were going to do despite grumbles from the Peanut Gallery, aka. Jeff. He was a good sport and kept his costume on during the annual Trunk-or-Treat. I would have loved to have gotten some pictures next to some red rock formations so as to appear a little more authentic, but that just wasn’t to be. We had fun this year and hope you did too!