Grandma Magic

Eli loves all of his grandparents, but has formed an especially close friendship with my mom. She has always worked hard to spoil him, but I think they really bonded when she was there to be his number one fan during the "trauma" of becoming a big brother. Eli has recently figured out that he can talk to her on the phone, and asks to call her several times a week. He brings me the phone and says "Grandma sing cow?" meaning he wants to call her so she can sing him Old McDonald... and sing to him she DOES. She will sing and tell him stories until her voice is hoarse... oh how he LOVES it and oh how I love it! Last week I called my mom during the evening of one of Brad's long days - it was one of THOSE days - you know the ones that just seem to drag on forever and you've lost your patience several hours before bedtime rolls around? Eli wouldn't even let me talk to her, because he wanted to, so I set it on speaker and let him hold it while I went about doing other things. A while later I could hear my mom saying "Eli, are you there? Eli?" so I went in to check on him and he had completely passed out on the couch listening to her tell stories! I put him to bed and he slept through the entire night - dirty teeth and all =). I am so grateful to my mom for her support across the miles, and her love and devotion to my kids. We miss you and wish you were closer!

Memorial Day

As I mentioned, Brad had to work on Memorial Day, but we managed to have a good time anyway. The weather was GREAT and the boys and I spent the morning outside filling the birdfeeder and watching birds eat from it. We've seen some beauties - Blue Jays, Eastern Blue Birds, Cardinals, Finches, Robins (in the yard but not at the feeder), and of course Sparrows and Chickadees. I got some cute shots of the boys in their "twinner" outfits - both of which are Eli's from last year =). We were invited to spend the day with a family in our ward, so I took the boys for some good food and playtime. We ended up staying ALL day because Eli did NOT want to leave. He wanted to "play with kids!" He also couldn't get enough of the bright pink doll house that was there - I'll have to find a non-pink version for the boys to pretend with. We were still there when Brad got off at 7pm, so he joined us for a late meal and an hour of socializing. It was a nice day.




The next day Brad got really sick at work but managed to tough it out (maybe he got some food that sat out too long?), but he stayed home yesterday to recover. Not that we are glad he got sick, but it was nice to have him home for a whole day! He even watched Owen so I could take Eli to his Dr. appointment alone, and then on a "special trip" to watch the diggers at the construction site in "downtown" (about a mile from our house). He had a BLAST watching that digger tear up the sidewalk and really enjoyed having mommy all to HIMSELF, which I don't think he has since Owen was born (aside from naptimes).

Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

I mentioned that Brad is going to be working crazy hours the next few weeks. Well, we were both sad that he wouldn't have a day off this weekend, but luckily Friday was one of his "short" days in the rotation schedule and he got home around 5pm. So, we grabbed a picnic dinner from Subway (gotta love $5 footlongs!) and headed down to the Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Lenox. This little piece of paradise is only ten minutes from our house. I should mention that these little side trips lately have been FREE because our library has passes to them that you can check out for a day.

We had a LOVELY evening stroll around a pond and through the woods. We saw birds, squirrels, mice, and beaver. Eli's favorite part was doing his "peripheral test" with a stick. He was so enthralled with the stick that I couldn't get him to look at the camera (that's nothing new) or even much of the wildlife around him. We finally had to start throwing pinecones into the forest and pretending the "thump" was a mouse scurrying by in order to get Eli moving down the trail. He's been obsessed with mice eversince - and saw two real ones the next day when our landlords were doing yardwork - so now I have to tell him a bedtime story about the mouse every night. Owen absolutely loves the outdoors, and he at least took full advantage of the scenery. Anyway, What should have been a 30 minute walk took 90, but having a laid back evening together was the point. Thankfully we had our bug spray though because the pests come out in full force at dusk around here. Even still, Eli and Owen both ended up with a fly bite, but at least the mosquitos were kept at bay! It doesn't even get dark here until after 8:30pm, so we stayed late. Once loading the kids in the car they were both sacked out within 5 minutes, so I took Brad on a little drive to show him some of the beautiful things I had discovered lately within just a few minutes' drive of our home - including a waterfall down the street from our church!

Waterfall Near Church

The Mount

Most people are enjoying a 3 day weekend right now.... for us Brad gets to work 3 LONG days in a row (until after 7pm) to finish the first week of 3 WEEKS with NO days off. That's 14 straight days of wards, then he takes off early Saturday the 30th to Arizona to get our house back in shape so we can rent it out again. So I'll be all alone for 5 days, then he gets back around midnight on a Weds only to start work bright and early the next morning for two more days. THEN we'll have a weekend - which includes a yardsale, and Brad's parents coming for a visit - yay! Just typing this is making me tired =). I'm taking the kids to the hospital today to have lunch and icecream with Daddy!

Last Saturday Brad was off and we went to check out a local attraction - The Mount, or the Edith Wharton Estate and Gardens in Lenox. Edith lived at the turn of the century, and came from a wealthy family. She became a best-selling American author in her time, and her works of fiction and short stories are still respected today (The House of Mirth). She was also an avid gardener, and interior designer - her book The Decoration of Houses put interior design "on the map" as a profession. The house and gardens she had constructed in Lenox are truly beautiful. Her home is much more simplistic and classically beautiful than other homes of the guilded age era. I think I would have liked getting to know her! She was also good friends with Henry James, another well known author of the time (Turn of the Screw), who visited The Mount often. Edith only lived in the home for a decade or so, until her mismatched marriage ended and she moved to Paris, where she stayed until her death. Since then, it's been a home to other families, as well as a school for girls. Now it is a museum. I am SO jealous of the gardens most of all, and the scenic views of Laurel Lake in the background.

Little Moose

Owen had his six month check yesterday, and according to our favorite doctor in the whole world (besides Brad), he is a "MOOSE." Actually, he weighs less than I was expecting, LOL. At 22+ pounds and 29" long, he is the length of a 10 month old and weight of a 12 month old. Really? That's ALL? Cuz he's in 18 month clothes and stretching them out.... Anyway, we love our little "chunka," and we especially love to squeeze and cuddle and kiss him!

Dear Owen,

I CAN NOT believe that you are SIX MONTHS old already! Your babyhood is flying by so quickly, that I feel this desperate need to take pictures of you every day and hug and kiss you every second because you are growing up too fast. You have brought so much joy to our family that we can't even remember what it was like to not have you here. Sometimes the greatest blessings in life can't be anticipated or planned.

Recently you have started saying "dadadada!"which gets Daddy hopping to do your bidding, even though you don't yet know what you are saying. You also blow raspberries from your lips that get us all laughing. You finally started rolling over last week, and can shriek with excitement louder than anyone. You LOVE being outside and will be content for hours to sit in your little play center out there watching birds, cars, and your big brother. I just have to be on guard that he doesn't throw rocks at you, because you both think this is funny for some crazy reason.

This week you also started (melt my heart) REACHING for me! There can not be a better moment for a mom. I love it when you go into "baby attack" mode or stare me down when you want to nurse. You are sleeping pretty well at night - except for the fact that Eli comes in and wakes us ALL up every night with his shenanigans. Your favorite place to snooze is still tucked right up next to me or Daddy, so you wake up several times in the early evening until one of us finally gives in and comes to bed with you.

As for food...Oh the FOOD! You ARE. A. FAN! Hooray! You ACTUALLY like food, and are in fact, obsessed already! I'm usually strict about certain "baby rules" but you have been sneaking food since well before the six month mark. You will throw a baby tantrum if any of us have something you want and we don't get it to you fast enough. Your FAVORITE is avocado, and you have also enjoyed banana, brown rice, oatmeal, bread crust, animal crackers, and pure maple syrup. Dad and I LOVE watching you eat, and get a kick out of your efforts to spoon feed yourself already.

You still have a grab reflex that is quick as lightning. You will snatch anything and everything from us, which has led to several papercuts. It usually elicits some heavy duty opposition from Eli when you snatch his toys though. We've had to break up some fights between you two already. I have no doubt that you will be able to stand up for yourself in no time at all. Usually the two of you get along great though, and when you both get to giggling hysterically at each other, I can't help but join in the laughter. You much prefer remote controls, phones, silverware, and big boy toys to any baby toy. Your favorite is a giant Tonka truck that is bigger than you are!

The last patch of your dark newborn hair has been replaced with a full silky blondedness. Your huge blue eyes are noted by everyone who sees you, and your chunky goodness is irresistable! I have to lift up your chins to wash your neck, as well as search through rolls to find your armpits and thighs at bathtime. We love every inch of you and your sparkling personality! Thanks for joining our family, and try not to grow up too fast!

Love,
Mom

PS - I can't believe I got this typed today ... you got 3 shots yesterday and woke up with a cold this morning so you have been extra cranky and haven't let me out of your sight to even get a drink or snack ... you are "helping" me type this ... we stayed in our jammies today and watched Free Willey with Eli =).

Labels

So I finally added "labels" to my sidebar... waaaaaaaay down there at the bottom. Now you can search for old posts by topic (since I KNOW you are dying to). Now I don't know what to label this post! A new one? Perhaps "blog maintenance?" Huh. When you see them all lined up and numbered like that, it doesn't look like I blog *that* much =).

8 Things

I have never followed through with a tag before, so thought I'd try this one. Thanks Michelle =).

8 Thing I'm Looking Forward to:

1. Having a house with a YARD again, and not sharing a wall with anyone.
2. Having internship year and hospital wards behind us!
3. Being out of DEBT someday.
4. My in-laws' visit in June.
5. Making friends and exploring Missouri this Summer.
6. Ice cream, farmer's markets, long days, and all the thrills of Summer.
7. Every little milestone of my boys' childhood.
8. Having this move over with.

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

1. Dressed myself and two other human beings, packed lunch, and got us all out the door by 10.
2. Took the kids to Target and the petting farm/park.
3. Cooked dinner, cleaned kitchen, washed cloth diapers.
4. Sent Mother's Day cards.
5. Went through Brad's closet and packed his winter stuff.
6. Took care of some things for the AZ rental house.
7. Nursed, changed diapers, cuddled, rocked, kissed "ows", sang, danced, played, laughed.
8. Watched Lost!

* So I know I kinda cheated and stuffed more than 8 things in this list! =)

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:
1. Rid the world of child predators.
2. End the genocide in Africa and war and violence in general!
3. Get some awesome renters in our AZ house.
4. Loose all this baby weight without having to think about it.
5. Become a photographer.
6. Go visit my family RIGHT NOW.
7. Hire maid service and a Chef.
8. Never lose my patience and remember to cherish EVERY moment of this quickly passing stage of Motherhood.

8 Shows I Watch:
1. Super Why - everyday!
2. Lost
3. The Office
4. Smallville
5. Color Splash on HGTV
6. Oprah - yep I admit it =)
7. Dancing with the Stars
8. The Bachelor - sick, I know!

8 People I Tag:
I've lost track of who's already done this - so if you're reading this then you're tagged!

New England Aquarium and Whale Watching

Last Saturday we drove in to Boston to go whale watching. As you know, Eli has a "thing" for sharks and whales, so we thought this would be a memorable trip for him. We got lucky and saw 5 Humpback whales, a Fin whale, and a handful of Minke whales....or so I'm told. Unfortunately I got so sea sick that most of what I remember from the 3 hour trip was trying desperately not to puke in front of everyone. Brad got it on video though, so I'll have to re-watch it. Eli sure enjoyed the "hump-k wayos" and watching the whale tails go "spash!" and the whales go "pffffft!" out their blow holes. Owen did NOT like the cold wind blowing on him, so he hid down inside Daddy's jacket for most of it.


After the boat ride, we toured the New England Aquarium which was a hit for both boys. The first thing we saw was a small sea turtle in a recovery tank, and Owen let out a SHRIEK of excitement. He LOVED all the aquariums of fish, jellies, and the penguin exhibit. He kept shrieking and flailing his limbs with happiness. I think he was ready to jump right in with the penguins. Eli of course was fascinated by the sharks in the big tank. He didn't seem scared by those giant teeth at all! Maybe he'll grow up to be a marine biologist or something =). All in all, a very neat place to visit - and thankfully both kids are still in the "free" age group for both activities.
In the evening, we spent some time down the street at Quincy Market, where the historic Fanneuil Hall is located. There are lots of unique little shops, outdoor bands, and restaurants. The famous Cheers bar is located there. Brad and I got some "Chowdah" from McCormick and Schmick's seafood restaurant - Eli was sound asleep through the entire meal. It was a LONG 3 hour drive home that night as Owen does not appreciate being asked to sleep in his carseat. We finally made it in around midnight - and since we had church the next day we are all still recovering from the lost sleep. Boston is such a neat city though - our first trip there we thought "this is huge and crazy!" Now after having visited NYC it didn't seem nearly as crazy, and we'd love a chance to go back - I especially enjoy the local accent!

Brad's 30th

I already mentioned that we went to NYC for Brad's 30th. We also had a little get together for him at the house when we got back. Our friends the Woodwards were in town packing up their house for the big move out West (we sure miss them!), so they came over along with the Joyners from our ward. We had some yummy Chocolate 'n' Cherries cake. We're so glad our friends could celebrate with us!

Eli had fun helping to blow out the candles, and he was convinced they were edible. Brad found him in the kitchen after we all had cake trying to eat the #0 candle - he took a big old bite out of it! We finally got around to opening gifts the next day (Eli also volunteered himself to help with that) and Brad was very pleased to get some new shoes for work from his folks, Encycolpedia of Nutritional Healing from my folks, an Ipod armband from the boys, and some Keen sandals from me.

Brad is definitely the most HANDSOME 30 year old I've ever come across... Love you honey!

Chocolate 'n' Cherries Cake

1 - chocolate fudge (or dark chocolate) cake mix
1 - can chocolate fudge (or dark chocolate) frosting
1 - can cherry pie filling
1- dark chocolate Hershey's bar

*Prepare cake according to directions for two 9 inch rounds.
Layer with frosting in the middle, then frost all around.
Top and garnish with cherry filling.
Use veggie peeler to make chocolate curls from the Hershey's bar
and sprinkle on top.
Yummy, easy, and voila!

Pomp and Circumstance

My BEAUTIFUL and FABULOUS and SMART and TALENTED and AMAZING sister just graduated from BYU!!! And I'm a TOTAL jerk and totally forgot to congratulate her on the day of - I swear sometimes being out here makes me feel like I'm in another universe. Anyway, I would have LOVED to watch her graduate in person, but nonetheless, I am SO PROUD of her! She has worked really hard and overcome a lot of obstacles to get here. She is going to be the BEST teacher in the ENTIRE world - so someone hire her already!!! I LOVE YOU AUB and hope you forgive me for my tardy CONGRATS!!!!!

PS - aren't she and Dale the most ADORABLE couple???