On the Road Again....

Yep, we're headed out again. This time we are headed to my parents house. It's a short drive, only about 5-6 hours. The kids should do just fine especially with a short drive. Adam is going to fly back on Monday, Labor Day, and I am going to stay the whole following week with the kids. (May not get to blogging while I'm over there, just a note.) Adam will then fly back the following Sunday, I'll pick him up at the airport and we will head out for the drive back to Arizona.

I'm really looking forward to this time at "home". I haven't been home since Christmas of last year, I think I'm overdue! There's something about being "home" that helps to bring a different perspective back to my life and fully appreciate all that I have been blessed with. It also helps me appreciate how much help Adam is with the kids. I know he does a TON with them and helps me out in many ways. However, there's nothing like having to do it on my own to make me really appreciate all the help. THANKS, LOVE!

I'm really looking forward to seeing my brother and his family. His wife, Kristen, had a baby back in February and I am going to meet him for the very first time. I know, I know, not a very good aunt. But, I think I've got a pretty good excuse....I had my own baby during this time. Doesn't that count for something. I'll get to hang out with Kristen and do lots of fun things or just sit around and do absolutely nothing with her, which will still be fun. Can't wait!

Anywho. Adam is going to be working from home in the morning, thank heavens, so we won't have to wait for him to get home. We're leaving early afternoon, which is why it is now well past 11:00 p.m. Thursday night that I am doing this. I finally got the kids packed, myself packed, and now it's just the "little things" that will need to be thrown in the car at the last minute. Not to mention how many countless last minute things there are to do in the morning. I've got to go walking in the morning (hopefully, at 5:45. Sorry, Becky if I didn't make it), take Baxter to the kennel, run an errand for my sister, go to the post office, go to Circuit City to pick up a new DVD for Owen for the car, Cari needs a bath which will have to get done in the morning, get gas, and then load the car (not necessarily in the above-listed order, obviously). This is after the trip I made to Target tonight. Whew! I'm pooped.

So much to do, so little time to do it in. Why is going on vacation so much freakin' work? I need a vacation from my vacation.

To all of you who have a "real job", enjoy this holiday free from your labors, as I'm sure it's well deserved. If you're working this holiday, thank you for your service and enjoy the holiday pay that comes with working the holiday.

Soft & Furry on My Toes

I put Cari in the saucer for the first time this week. She really likes it, a lot, so does Lincoln. Whenever Cari is in the saucer, she usually has a soft and furry friend on her toes. She smiles and giggles when Lincoln is on her toes. I think they are just now starting to discover one another and actually like what they discover.

Owen the Explorer

Why is it that when you need to be somewhere by a certain time, that's when the kids decide to go and "explore" what's in the cupboards? While I was feeding Cari, in order to get out the door this morning for "girls' day", Owen decided to see just how many trash bags were in the somewhat used roll (answer: about 40 out of 50!) he found under the kitchen sink. So, he strung them out in the kitchen, across the family room, through the baby gate (which was obviously inadvertently left open probably by me when I had to feed and change Cari at 3:30 this morning) and into the living room. Owen was so proud of himself as the bags just kept coming and coming and coming. He had the whole roll undone in a matter of minutes. At least he did help me drag them back into a big pile. Ever busy, ever busy, ever busy little boy!

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What a Dumb%@#

A couple of weeks ago I thought I would be slick and take Owen with me while I went to the grocery store. I went during the day so I didn't have to go out later that night. Owen was great at the store and minded his P's and Q's, for the most part. I got the cart full, got up to the cash register, loaded everything onto the counter and we were lookin' good. The cashier asked me for my Fry's card. I opened my purse and as soon as I did I realized I left my wallet, not just my credit card, but my entire wallet, at HOME! I felt like such a dumb%&#. I told the cashier what I had done and she replied, "no problem, it happens all the time. I'll suspend the order and you can go home and get the card." I asked if she could punch in the numbers manually. Nope, can't do that. Great! I called Adam and, true to the greatness of my husband, he loaded Caroline into her car seat, and came to bail me out. He brought my wallet to me. Saved the day.


I went to WalMart today to grab a few things I neglected at the grocery store this last weekend. This time, I had both of the kids with me and no one was at home. Got the cart loaded, rolled up to the Express Lane and started to unloaded my groceries. I got everything unloaded and went to get my wallet. Yep, I forgot my wallet AGAIN! What a dumb%&#! I asked the cashier if she would enter the numbers manually. This time the cashier said "why not, let's give it a whirl." The cashier was impressed that I had my credit card memorized. I told her hey at least I could remember something. Thank heavens it worked. I really didn't want to load the kids into the car, go home, get my wallet, drive back to the store, unload the kids, go pay, and reload the kids back into the car all for a few items. You would think that I would remember to double check these kinds of things BEFORE I leave the house.


Hopefully I won't do this again! No promises though. My brain has completely escaped my head.....especially after having 2 kids. I use to laugh at my mom when she would do something like this and thought it was just because she was "old". I swore to myself I would NEVER do the same thing. Now, it's not so funny! Sorry, Mom for laughing at you all those times. I promise I won't do it anymore...or at least most of the time.

She Did It!

For a few weeks now Caroline has been so close to rolling from her back to her tummy. As she would roll to her right side, her right arm would get stuck underneath her and she couldn't quite figure out how to get it out from underneath her. Well, she just figured it out! She did it! Now, it's just a matter of time before she figures out how to roll from her tummy to her back. Then, when she puts it all together, look out, 2 on the move.

I Love This Game!

We went with some friends of ours to go bowling yesterday (yes, we have friends!). Owen had so much fun. I was absolutely amazed that he was able to pick up not only the 6 pound, but the 8 pound bowling ball all my himself. Granted, he almost dropped it on his toes, but nevertheless, he was able to pick up the balls. He wanted to chase the ball down the lane and Adam almost had to go down the lane to get Owen if he hadn't grabbed Owen at the last minute. It is definitely something we are going to do again in the near future.

I wasn't sure that Owen would be able to grasp the concept of bowling, but he did pretty well. Owen knocked down more pins in his first frame than Adam got in his first frame. In fact, if it wasn't for the one and only strike that I got, he would've gotten a higher score than me. Pathetic I know, but I never claimed to be a great, good, or even decent bowler, but I still love to go.

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Some more pictures of "the boys".... (Picture on left ... (boys L2R) Chandler, Owen, Cooper) (Picture on right (boys L2R) Chandler, Owen, Cooper, Caleb).

Sleeping Beauty

So, once again I couldn't get to Caroline in time and she fell asleep right where she was sitting. Only this time, it was in the Bumbo chair! The sad part about this....I was standing just a few feet away and didn't realize it until she was completely asleep. Yes, I picked her up (after I took the pictures of course) and she had a nice little snooze on Mom. I think she was just over tired from the doctor's appointment and getting her shots.

I swear, next time she starts fussing because she's tired, I won't let her fall asleep in the Bumbo or any other place. I'll get her before it's too late. I know I won't win the "Mom of the Year" award, but hey, I wasn't really expecting to anyway.

Long & Lean

I took Caroline to the doctor today for her 4 month check up. She is growing and doing so well. She weighed in at a whopping 14 1/2 lbs. and was 25 1/2 inches long. Her weight was in the 75th percentile and her length was in the 90th percentile. Her head is still a "pea head" and is measuring in the 50th-75th percentil. She's a long and lean baby. I'll give you 1 guess as to where those genes came from?! I've always said that I'd like my boys to be built like me and my girls to be built like Adam. I put my order in and, so far, the order is coming out just the way I wanted it to.

Caroline got her 4 shots and the rotavirus vaccine, which of course is an oral vaccine. She did really well at the doctor's office and then came home and crashed for about 4 hours! That was nice, really nice!

It's My Chair!

I must be neglecting Owen a little too much because he seems to think that everything for Caroline is actually for him. The bouncy seat is NO exception. He grew out of this seat long, long, long ago (at about 4 or 5 months) and hasn't looked back, until now. Owen sees Caroline sitting in the chair and now, of course, he wants to sit in the chair. So far, he hasn't attempted to sit in the chair with Caroline, heaven forbid. Hopefully he won't do that or he'd squish her! Oh shucks, I guess I have to go shopping and get Owen his OWN chair. Let's see, where should I go.... Target, IKEA, or Pottery Barn?

Trying to Help

Remember when I said that Owen loves to help and has his hands in one project or another. Well, last night was no exception. I had finished the laundry (the colors) and hadn't quite gotten them out of the dryer. I took Owen swimming last night and his swimming suit was in the laundry. So, while I was swimming away, Adam got Owen ready. Adam loaded the laundry into the basket and set the entire basket on the bed. After swimming and baths, Owen decided to help me fold the laundry, or at least try to help me. I guess I shouldn't complain, at least he is "helping".

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Oh Gag! But it's True!

What's true? I have the BESTEST husband in the whole world! Saturday I went to get my hair done. Because I drive quite a distance to get my hair done, and stop by my grandma's house on the way home, it usually takes me at least 4-6 hours from the time I leave, to the time I get home. I took Caroline with me on Saturday (for the last time), which left Adam and Owen at home.

Adam got up early and washed and vacuumed the Saab (he let me take his car to get my hair done). When I got to the salon, I found out my hairdresser was about 35-40 minutes BEHIND schedule! Not what I was wanting to hear or needed, but what do you do? I sent Adam a text message and told him. He told me I was fine and not to worry about it. My brother and his kids came over to swim and had a good time. Just before they left, Adam fed Onie lunch and put him down for a nap.

When I got home, Adam had cleaned the entire kitchen and the refrigerator (yes, the inside)! It was marvelous. He did such a great job. I really am one lucky woman....truth be told, Adam does MOST of the cleaning around the house anyway. However, the kitchen is usually my domain and I try to clean the fridge out periodically. I was so surprised and so grateful that I came home to a sparkling clean kitchen and fridge.

Thanks, Love! I appreciate all you do for me. I love you!

All Better!

Okay, at least I am anyway. My sister, Mindy, told me that she had taken Airborne the last time she felt like she was getting a cold, and she was rid of it within 2 days. She told me try to it. I thought it would work, but not as well as she said it would; or, that her cold wasn't as bad as mine. So, on the last trip to Target (I told you I go there almost daily), I picked some up to try, the lemon-lime flavor to boot. I started taking it Friday night before I went to bed. Adam laughed at me and told me "it's all in (my) head." Be it as it may, I was still determined to try it, what did I have to lose?

Holy crap! That stuff really does work! It doesn't taste terrible, but it doesn't taste great either, in my ever so humble opinion. Saturday morning I woke up and felt so much better. My throat wasn't sore or itchy, my nose wasn't as stuffy, etc., etc., etc. I continued to take it Saturday and Sunday morning. Saturday afternoon Adam said he wasn't feeling well. I told him to take some Airborne. He glared at me and again said "it's all in (my) head." Needless to say, Sunday morning Adam wasn't feeling worse, but wasn't feeling any better either. He finally took some Airborne Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon. By Sunday night, he was feeling better. ("It's all in (my) head" though, right?!)

I just wish my little ones were old enough to take it for themselves. Owen is still congested and so is Caroline. The Benadryl and Motrin Cold can't work fast enough!

Moral of the story: TAKE AIRBORNE NEXT TIME YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GETTING A COLD!

Crackin' the Whip

So, those of you who have more than one kid (or just one for that matter) will totally understand just how heavy a diaper bag can get. I finally drew the proverbial line in the sand last Sunday when walking into church, I had the diaper bag totally loaded down with all that entails, Cari (in her carseat), entertainment for Owen during Sacrament Meeting, and the scriptures. Adam was carrying Owen into the building, so his hands were obviously full. I felt like a freakin' pack mule on some safari I didn't necessarily sign up for.

I told Adam I was going to try and find a small backpack for Owen to put all of HIS stuff in that is needed for church. I am willing to carry the diapers and drink cup, but as far as his books, crayons, etch-a-sketch, puzzles, or whatever he wanted for entertainment, OWEN was going to carry those in his new backpack.

Well, in one of the many (almost daily) trips to Target, I finally remembered to look for a small backpack for Owen. I figured with school starting it would be a great time to look for one. I didn't find one in the school supply area, instead I looked in the luggage section. There it was with a spotlight shining on it and a choir singing "Halelujah! Halelujah! Halelujah! Halelujah! Halelujah!" So, I promptly threw it into the cart and headed for the checkout (after getting the rest of the items on the list of course).

I brought the backpack home; Adam was skeptical as to whether Owen would put it on and carry it. I'll be honest, I had some reservations too. But, you be the judge. Does it look like he hates his new backpack.....?

All in the Family

Approximately one month ago our family was in various stages of sickness. Adam had his sinus infection, I was just getting one, Owen was getting over croup, and Caroline was not very happy with her cold. Well, it seems that, once again, we have all ended up with ANOTHER summer cold. I don't know how we got it, but we did. Maybe it came from Owen being in nursery at Church. Maybe I picked it up from someone. Who knows? All that I do know is we are dishing out the meds and taking them ourselves. I am going to invest in some more Lysol and bleach, disinfect all of Owen's toys, wipe down the toys Caroline plays with, and buy more lotion because my hands will be so dry from washing them even more often. If this is the summer, what in the world is winter going to hold for us? Sheeeesh!!!

Dethroning Mom

When I was pregnant with Caroline, I asked Adam for one thing, a glider. I didn't have one with Owen, and am glad that I didn't know what I was missing. Now, that I have my glider, I won't have it any other way. Needless to say, the glider is MY chair. If I am going to sit anywhere in our family room, it's going to be in the glider. Imagine my surprise when I realized that Owen had figured out how to climb into the glider, turn around and sit down. Now, he thinks it's HIS chair. If I am not sitting in the glider, that little stinker will climb up into the chair and sit. He won't get out unless I ask him very, very nicely, or spin him around and let him have a little fun. Is there a new emperor in the house? Have I been dethroned, already?

Eye Spy Caroline

I took Caroline to the Pediatric Opthamologist today so the doctor could take a look at her eyes. Dr. Salevitz said that he didn't necessarily agree with the blepharitis diagnosis, but said that it was probably a good idea that I had been giving her the eye drops. He said that Caroline's tear ducts are glogged and that they should open on their own in the next few months. If they don't open, then he will have to open them for her. That will involve general anesthetic and a 2-5 minute procedure per side. It is common for newborns/infants to have glogged tear ducts, but they have a "very, very, very good chance" to open on their own. So, I take her back in 3 months to have Dr. Salevitz look at her eyes to see if the ducts have opened. Here's to hoping they do............