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Friday, February 29, 2008

Nothing, really

I haven't posted in a while, and although I've promised pictures (for those who have asked why there aren't many) I'm computer-illiterate and can't figure out how to download them myself. One of these days I'll get my husband to do it- heck, maybe I'll just learn! Anyway, I had an awesome time with my mom, sisters, and sister-in-law last weekend and I recommend all you gals/moms out there do something similar AT LEAST once a year! My mom, Abbie, and I started a tradition a few years ago of going to St. George for the weekend during the Parade of Homes. The next year we invited all the other girls to go and now it's just what we do! I don't know about them, but I look forward to this each year beginning with the drive home! It's 3 days of almost non-stop home-seeing with just a few shopping and food breaks in between. They spare no expense with these homes (I really do have pics that one day I'll post) and it's amazing to me how extravagant some people can be. I can appreciate a nice home as much as the next guy (or gal), but come on- a closet the size of a master bedroom and a master suite the size of the average home?! I found it ironic that I came home and was watching Oprah the other day when they talked about "freegan's". These are people who literally dumpster-dive for all the necessities of life. It's not even financially necessary for most of them. Most freegan's do this as a political statement of how wasteful we are as a nation (they find some pretty good, decent, CLEAN things that they use!) and how minimally we could actually live and still be comfortable. They all seemed pretty content with this lifestyle. I think I fall somewhere in between these extremes, but being "wasteful" is something I'm trying harder not to be, and extravegant is something I can't AFFORD to be!

Anyway, back to our weekend. We laughed the entire time- beginning with Alys going to the ATM at the bank while we all went through the teller drive-through. She went back to the spot where we had been, but got in the wrong car (we had moved to a different spot). This was hilarious, watching her open the door and see a kid, slam it, then stare around the parking lot trying to find us while others in the drive-up were laughing. It got even better when we were shopping. April saw something behind her, figured it was Abbie, started talking to her, only to turn around and find she was talking to herself in the mirror. We had a blast as we always do when we're together (which is a lot!) and I'm hoping Steph did, too. This was the most time she's ever spent with her female in-laws and she was awesome! She fit right in as if she'd always been there. She had to leave us for a day to go to an interview at a lawfirm in Vegas. Come to find out that was definitely a drive worth taking (even though it rained HARD the whole time, she got lost, her phone died, and she was hours early because of the time change) because she got the job! The interview that should've taken a half an hour took 2 hours, they wanted a week to make their decision, but then called her in 3 days. She knocked their socks off- way to go, Steph!

Needless to say it was a lot of fun, but I must admit by the end I was really missing my husband and kids. I think time away ocassionally is healthy because you come home with a new appreciation of your family and just your life in general. Brylee wouldn't let me out of her sight, but the other kids were too consumed with the toys I brought them to notice me, which was OK- I was a kid once, too! Jonathan missed me, although I'm not sure how much of that was me personally, or just someone to help with these crazy kids! He did a great job with the kids, house, and everything else while I was gone- Thanks, Hon! You're a good sport!

Thursday, February 14, 2008

New tricks!

Aren't kids just amazing? I get so sappy when it comes to my littlest because of all her struggles, but this post isn't about that, we are going to discuss (or I'll discuss- you'll read) her wonderful accomplishments (or "milestones" as the doctor calls them). Actually I think I'll discuss some "Brylee funnies" instead. That's what makes this time so much fun for us! Here's a list of what she's doing now...
* She crawls faster than most people walk- I'm not kidding! She chases me around the kitchen while I sweep because she's fascinated with my pile of junk on the floor and wants to play in it.
I have to resort to confining her to her high chair so I can get some things done. Then I have to give her a snack to keep her occupied, which she drops and throws all over the floor that I'm sweeping, looks at me with her big, blue eyes, and says "aw ooooo" just as sweet and innocent as can be. As if dropping it was an accident!
* She stacks food on top of her head. This is absolutely hilarious! Athough most kids somehow end up with food in the hair, it's usually because they had it on their hands and touched their head. Brylee will pick up a handfull at a time (crackers, fruit snacks, spaghetti, mac and cheese, etc.) and stack it on top of her head. It eventually falls off and ends up on her clothes, in her ears and of course all over the floor and she'll once again say "aw ooooo". This means lots of mopping, bathing, and laundry, but it's so funny I don't even mind! I'll post some pics of this later.
* She wakes up at 7am on the dot every morning, lays in her crib (she doesn't even sit up or stand) and yells "UP!" over and over until someone gets her. Once she's out of her crib she points to where she wants to go (which in the morning is towards her door, but she does this all day long). We bring her in on our bed, where she sits and bounces herself on her behind so high she falls forward on her face, and then she laughs. Then she'll want to get down on the floor so she can crawl into Jace's room and grab at his face or hit him until he wakes up. She does this every morning without fail. Our Brylee is definitely a morning person!
* She loves to go outside. This is a problem because of the freezing cold weather, but we'll take her out ocassionally for a few minutes at a time. If you ask her if she wants to go outside, she gets all excited, starts wiggling around and breathing fast, then she waves goodbye at whoever is in the room and points towards the door. She loves the animals and has no fear of petting even our biggest horse.
* She likes to nod and shake her head really fast. I think she enjoys this because it makes her dizzy, then she laughs. Either she just thinks she's funny or she likes being disoriented- I'm not sure which.
* She is super stubborn and feisty! Her tantrums are so intense! She'll either dig at your face or her own when she doesn't get her way. If she's on the floor, she'll throw her head down- regardless of the table or hardwood floor in front of her, and scream (and not just because of the pain!). This isn't quite as fun as the other things, but it's some insight into her personality so I'm sharing it with you- plus it can be funny at times.
* When she's on a hard, flat surface she spins herself around in circles on her butt. If I'm in the kitchen, I'll sit her on the counter and she'll use her feet to spin her around and she giggles the entire time. She's quite proud of this trick! This is extra fun when the older kids are sitting at the bar because she knows she's entertaining them so she spins even faster and laughs harder.
* Last, but not least she gives kisses all the time. Sometimes you don't even have to ask, she'll just lean forward and plant one on ya!

Of course there's more, but this post is long enough. I am enjoying her so much! I have such a bad memory that I don't remember half the things Jace would do at this age. My mom says I was just as gushy and crazy about him as I am Brylee, but because I've forgotten and there was no such thing as "blogging" 4 years ago, I feel like I'm experiencing these things for the first time. Maybe a bad memory isn't such a bad thing! It keeps life exciting! I'll post some pictures as soon as I get my camera back because I realize that is the most important part of blogging. I just felt like bragging this morning.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

My girls...

I added another post with a picture of all my kids, but because I had started it a while ago, it actually shows up before my last post titled "Sad day" so check it out, too. Anyway, here we have Kaleigh, who is our little "poser". I remember when we took her to get her pictures taken for her baptism and there wasn't a bad shot in the bunch! She loves the camera and the camera loves her. She's also a "nurturer" and is absolutely wonderful with Brylee. However she could use some help in the department of Logan and Jace! They either gang up on her or leave her out because she's a girl, then she retaliates and makes their lives miserable!
And here's Brylee showing us her nose. At least her finger isn't in it this time! She has sores on her cheeks because of the stickers used in the hospital to keep her oxygen in place. They're gone now and she's good as new!