Saturday, December 11, 2010

winter carnival

Jer's dad works for SRP, and every year they have this fun winter carnival for all its employees and their families. This year we finally caught Santa arriving by helicopter. Every year I get on that dang ferris wheel my heights anxiety is more severe. This year was no exception, it freaks me out! The kettle corn is the best ever ever ever there, and we were so close to skipping it when we saw the line, but Grandma stood in it for 30+ minutes while the kids played in the snow.











Wednesday, December 8, 2010

bad chel.

this morning I went for a run and as I was on my last lap, I noticed the missed call from my sister. Being out of breath & knowing I was about to hop in the shower, I ignored her call, choosing to call her at a better time. When I got out of the shower, I saw that she had called a few more times....I answered, "sheesh, can't a girl take a shower?!"

her response...."well a 30 minute shower? I was just checking on you to make sure you were safe. I had a dream that you died last night, and it was the saddest thing ever watching jeremy & the boys without you. Brayden was still carrying around all your *mimi's..."

Ok, I felt pretty bad. Thanks sis for checking on me :) LOVE YOU big time.

*mimi's are my special 'undergarments' that Brayden has been attached to since he was a nursing baby.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

hey, tough guy.

Oh my goodness. This cracked me up. While Jer & I were out front putting lights and garland up, the boys were playing in the front yard, and it was super hot that day. Kosty always rips off his shirt when he gets hot. So off went the shirt, then he went inside and got a drink with a straw and a pillow, and sat down on the bench. He must of felt like he was looking pretty cool, because then he went to the car for his sunglasses and told me to come take a picture. Brayden was quick to follow his lead. Two macho little men. Well one macho little man, and one who is way too sweet to ever act macho. Kosty kills me!

turkey day.


I've always loved Thanksgiving, but the older I get, the more I LOVE the simple holidays like 4th of July & Thanksgiving. No pressure, no presents to buy, just show up and eat delicious food with your family! Maybe I wouldn't like it so much if I was the one hosting ;) I'm grateful for 3 wonderful hosts. Kosty was talking about trying his first turkey leg for days leading up to it. Our first stop was my Mom's house for Thanksgiving Eve. He got his leg and he did eat it. This kid is the most squeamish eater and I couldn't believe that he wasn't grossed out.
Libby decided to try it too, but she wasn't impressed.


Kosty makes it a personal goal of his to ruin every family picture.



the next day on Thanksgiving, we had Turkey lunch at the Figgins. Kosty indulged in yet another leg.


And finally, stop #3 was at my Dad & Maria's for yet another round of Turkey dinner, although we sat this one out since we were still stuffed from lunch. Then Kosty took Uncle Zach on in an intense wrestling/fighting match, where everyone witnessed firsthand the BIG aggression that comes out of such a teeny boy. And he is not intimdated by size. He is such a scrapper.

dad's birthday at sea life





We went to Sea Life Aquarium/dinner for my Dad's birthday this year. It was not exactly what I expected, but we all had buy one get one coupons, otherwise it might have felt like sort of a rip off. But the company was fun as always, and it was nice to do something as a family!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

I meet my fate tomorrow. The bishopric called and said they have a calling for me. And that Jeremy should come for support.(??) I have been fully enjoying being calling-less, so I am unexcited. I am really hoping for Visiting Teaching Supervisor. Its true I'm at the "easy" stage in life, in regards to my kids & their ages. I even have 3 hours alone every day. But I feel lazier. Only with certain things. I am exercising more and still cooking (almost) every night. But lazy in the sense of church stuff and kid stuff and cleaning. I find myself cutting corners and simplifying everything as if the slightest thing will overwhelm me. I love having open weeknights, not stressing about preparing a lesson, and relaxing in RS and Sunday School with my no responsibility. Also, its fast Sunday. I know its bad, but I dread fast Sunday. I am such a breakfast person and not drinking water just kills me. Heaven knows we should be fasting every chance we get & having a good attitude about it. But I wish I could just get pregnant so I don't have to fast anymore. Brayden is also going to attempt his first fast tomorrow, I wonder if he can take it? he is the hungriest boy. I feel sorry for him already.

and now I'm off to drink 8 glasses of water so it will take the edge off my thirstiness tomorrow :(

*told you I'm going to be more blunt in my posts.

Thursday, December 2, 2010


Blogging is such a good thing. I have been able to turn my families' pictures and memories into hard bound books every year since i started. I think its a great way to keep in touch with people you normally probably wouldn't, and also a way to enjoy memories of people close to you with just a click. At first I told myself that I would feel comfortable sharing highs and lows with whoever is on my private reader list. But lately I have found myself hesitating at many of my thoughts and posts. I don't like it.

I recently heard someone's husband say that he doesn't like when his wife looks at blogs, because all it does is make her envy. Who is doing what, who just bought a house, graduated, got a new job, new car, took a nice trip, had a baby, has a perfect family. I had to (half) agree. I will admit I have felt envy after reading people's blogs. Who hasn't. Or felt that annoying feeling of inadequacy : I could be better physically, spiritually, more crafty, make better meals, make better memories, plan better vacations, be better with my writing, be more creative in my blogging, have better FHE's, teach my children more, have more patience, have a cleaner house, have a bigger family, have more friends, sign my kids up for more sports, host more get togethers, etc. Then there is the blogging pressure: have a better blogging layout, have more updates, have bigger pictures, better pictures, oh wait I need a new nicer camera, etc etc etc etc.

ahhh.

But mostly lately, I have been feeling like the daily little things just aren't being recorded.

Like today Kosty wore his warm jammies without throwing a fit that they "bodder" him, how when I got up this morning, he called for me, "Momma" and patted his hand down next to him because he wanted to snuggle with me in my bed, how I finally got my floors mopped after hmm, 3 months... how right after Brayden & I passed through an intersection on the way to school, there was a huge car accident, and i was front and center watching as multiple people were being worked on, including a small little girl (screaming & crying) was being consoled by a fireman. How when I got home, I found kosty still in his jammies doing his homework at the kitchen table. How Brayden helped me make dinner as part of his scout sign off--he chopped the chicken, snapped ends off of green beans, measured, poured, and stirred, and after we all devoured it (it was Chicken Helper, by the way. HA. it was SOO good & easy), he even loaded the dishwasher. How he had a half day today and we went to Subway which is our half day tradition, just me and him (kosty was at school) and he ate a whole footlong turkey sub. How he got to play at his best friend Alex's and how he thanked me a million times for letting him go. How the Relief Society popped in unexpectedly this evening when I had my zit cream on. How kind they were, and how (surprisingly) happy it made me to have them visit. How all three of them commented on seeing me run in the mornings and how embarrassed I was because lately I've been wearing these weird striped mittens I found in the garage, mismatched socks, and a weird headband to cover my ears. How I got kicked out of my usual yoga spot because kosty didn't want the tv off, and how I did it cramped up in my bathroom instead but it felt sooo great. How I ate my first (of MANY) Reese's BIG CUP, almost an entire bag of dark chocolate covered pomegranates, and a bowl of peanut butter cup ice cream after dinner. How Kosty insisted on making banana splits but was disgusted by the bananas covered in ice cream. How he cracked up at the Lebron James Nike commercial (when he eats the pink donut). How Brayden pulled the blanket over his eyes because he was scared of me & declared my bedtime song "creepy". How we read the longest Santa book ever at bedtime and in his workshop the boys noticed there were no electronics or video games, only wooden toys. How I went through old clothes for a certain family in need and wondered if I should just donate them all because I'm not sure if any more babies are coming our way afterall...

There are about a million 'posts' that enter my mind but never get to become one; because I don't want to seem like I am boasting. Nor complaining. And I hate that.

I tell myself I will write out those things that are more personal to me, but I never do. My hand gets tired. how lazy. Typing is more my thing.

Do I want my kids to know my fears and worries? Do I want them to read those someday? do I want them to read about our trials as a family someday? I do. I want them to know what trials we faced and how we overcame them or what we learned. I want them to know that life was good, but not easy. And I mostly want them to know about the day to day small stuff.

Maybe I'll find a solution in all of this someday other than setting it completely private. But when I think about that option, it feels so free. To write whatever I want, that would feel really good.

But I do love the interaction and the thoughtful comments from those that do comment. I'm just struggling to find a 'win win' as my dad would say...