All Kinds of Kisses

As I was putting Morgan to bed tonight, he wanted to give me all kinds of hugs and kisses. It started with 'big hugs' and 'little hugs' and it turned into 'big kisses' 'eskimo kisses' and 'butterfly kisses'. (sidenote: eskimo kisses are when you rub noses, butterfly kisses are when you quickly bat your lashes against someone's cheek) My mom used to give me butterfly and eskimo kisses before I'd go to bed, and doing the same with Morgan brought back some sweet memories!

Also...I got my dishwasher unloaded and reloaded without taking a nap...at least it's a step in the right direction!

Wanted

I am looking for my former self.

The me that
...was patient and calm with her kids
...had enough energy to load and unload the dishwasher without needing a nap
...could create a long list of reasons why she's happy and blog about it
...used a lot fewer cell phone minutes
...didn't have a dirthole for a backyard!

Don't get me wrong...the garage and the yard and the garden and the patio will be worth it, but construction, rain and ultimately mud doesn't agree with me! So, if you come across my former self, or any clues that may help me find her, let me know (my family will thank you)!

Woo Hoo!!!

... for David Cook!!! (I will say that David Archulatta was AMAZING last night, though, and I have been a BIG David Cook fan from the beginning - well, middle!)

I can officially end my American Idol strike. I used to be a huge fan - voting for the entire hour + (and during the show, since the lines open for the EST broadcast) - and then came season 5. Yuck! Not yuck for the season, Katherine McPhee, Chris Daughtry and others were quite amazing and I have their music on my zune, but the fact that Taylor Hicks won was appalling and horrible. I am not prejudiced against gray hair or older guys, I am prejudiced against crazy weirdness, awful dancing, and sub-par singing. The day he won was the day I started my American Idol strike. I didn't watch a single night of season 6, I haven't voted once, and I have even kept my David Cook Fan status in the closet after his amazingness sucked me in while flipping through channels mid-season.

But tonight, the universe is right again - there were 2 viable contestants to choose from and the best superstar won. Yay! I love it when things make sense! Also, I must mention that not only is he a rockstar with the most amazing voice ever, David Cook is so sincere and real! I love that he was fighting tears - so cute! So, season 8 - watch out - 'cause this girl is back! The voting, the commentary, and the agreeing with Simon ('cause he is almost always right). Plus, they are coming to SLC - maybe I'll drag my kids along and audition! HA HA!

Happy...

...because the central air we had installed a few weeks ago is officially blowing cold air throughout my house. (This is a pretty big deal since this required moving a power meter, getting numerous inspections, and scheduling with the power company...and I almost died of the heat yesterday - ok, I'm exaggerating, but the heat makes me very grouchy)

...because my tilted, siding-lacking, dark and doorless ginormousity of a garage is coming down -tomorrow!

...because Seth and I are not tearing the garage down

...because we can still take a sledgehammer to it if we want (and we want) ...until we get tired and then we can quit

...because the plans for our new garage came in yesterday

...because a new garage means a 2nd freezer so that I can start eating ice cream again

...because I have 100 lbs. of rice to get me through the shortage (which is WAY more than we will really need, aren't you glad you have us as friends?)

...because I now have wood blinds installed in my kitchen, bedroom and living room

...because I made the cutest recipe box you have ever seen today (don't you think?)

...because we had pizza for dinner - no cooking and no cleanup

...because The Office season finale was hillarious (and a much needed break from the day of vomit)- we watched it again Sunday - I think we may watch it again tonight

...because I could continue this list - but I won't!

I've never been so grateful...

...for a little red bowl as I was yesterday.

Yesterday Morgan had some kind of flu or food poisoning and was very sick. With the help of a little red bowl, he learned something really great...how to throw up in a bowl. Congrats on the achievement buddy - I've been looking forward to this day for a long time!

P.S. I love getting cuddles and loves when my kids are sick. It is one of those sweet rewards of motherhood that you don't really understand until you are a mom of a sick kid.

Mom Appreciation

This year mother's day really hit me. I love to celebrate my own mother, grandmothers and mother-in-laws as well as all the mothers who inspire me!

I am blessed with a fantastic mom who not only raised me and set an amazing example for me, but generously shares her stylish wardrobe (at least the stuff that isn't too small for me - that's what you get for having a tiny little cute mom), buys clothes for my kids, meets us for lunch, calls me just to chat, listens to my ramblings, and is just generally my best friend! Thanks for all you do Mom! I love you!

Today though, Mother's day took on a new meaning. I was so grateful all day long for the beautiful family that I have been blessed with! I kept getting teary just thinking about how they give my life meaning and happiness and I don't know what I would do without them! Seth, thanks for taking on this parenting thing with me; Morgan and Chloe, thanks for making me the happiest mom ever; and thanks for the wonderful surprise Mother's Day gift and the sausage breakfast - LOVE YOU GUYS!

Some Random Thoughts...

...just because I want to remember....

Last night as we were eating dinner, Morgan said, "I want my sunshine back." after which he said a quick prayer to ask Heavenly Father if he could please help the sunshine come back. After dinner he ran around the house saying, "Come back Mr. Sunshine, so I can ride my new bike!" (We found a brand new super cool batman bike with training wheels on Craigslist for $20 - how can you resist that?)

It still surprises me when Chloe comes walking in the room. She is loving her mobility - unless she is tired in which case she must be put to bed ASAP to avoid meltdowns by the second.

I love locking my kids' doors from the outside. I know that potty training will soon bring this to an end, so I have to bask in the quiet kidless moments while I can. This isn't to say that I just randomly lock my kids in their rooms, but I do make them stay in their rooms when they wake up from their nap early and I still haven't finished what I am working on!

I am SO in love with my cute hubby. Not only is he adorably handsome, smart and hard working, he is so handy around the house! This week alone, he has patched holes in our ceiling from the a/c installation, installed a thermostat, assembled the batman bike (not an easy task)fixed our doorbell, done some rewiring, and tonight he will be moving our electrical box (with help from our wonderful electrician friend - thanks Ben!!!), all in the midst of providing for his family and playing with his kids! LOVE YOU sweetie!

Morgan loves "Green Eggs and Ham". He has always loved the book, but we recently bought the movie and he thinks it is hilarious. Since he had already watched it once this morning, I told him no more TV but that he could read the book...which he did...out loud...great entertainment for my spring cleaning!

I am a little scrapbooking machine lately. Sure, I am more than 2 years behind, but I have been popping out pages like crazy...and loving every second of it! Morgan loves it too. He thinks it is pretty cool to look at pictures of "baby Morgan".

This morning, while I was talking to my mom on the phone, Morgan came in the house crying because he fell off his bike, and Chloe started crying too. Nothing was wrong with her, she just thinks that if Morgan is sad she should be too! Such a compassionate bunch!

My flowerbeds are filled with mint! I am ecstatic! I love drinking water with a couple drops of lime juice and a handful of fresh mint leaves! It makes me want to have a BBQ!

My flowerbeds are not filled with tulips and daffodils...anymore. Morgan (with Seth's help) has been picking them for me (along with LOTS of dandelions).

So to sum it up: my bud vase is filled with flowers from Morgan, my flowerbeds are filled with mint, Chloe is a walkaholic, I am finally using my ribbon collection, my house is filled with sawdust, a studly husband and the sound of green eggs and ham, and I am happily taking it all in!

Walking, Spoons, Clunking and Fun

Sunday Chloe started venturing to walk on her own, yesterday she took off and today she is walking like a pro (a wobbly, one-year-old pro)!



You'll notice that she is holding a spoon in the video - this is her new obsession! She has always liked to hold something while walking, but this obsession is not exclusive to walking. Chloe carries a spoon with her just about everywhere she goes. The other day, I had to pry the spoon (which she had carried around the house all morning and brought to the car and on all of our errands) out of her hand to go into a restaurant for lunch. As soon as we sat down, she had another spoon in her hand. It is like her security blanket - weird!

Morgan inherited some cowboy boots from my cousins and, even though they are still too big, he loves to clunk around in them.



Finally, I just have to add that I love being the mother to the most wonderful kids in the world. We have had so much fun this week doing big things, but the moments that make me smile the most are the little ones: listening to Morgan thank Heavenly Father for letting him play with his cousins at the "museum with the balls" (Discovery Gateway) in three different prayers today, hearing Chloe say "cheese" when I am taking her picture (here's her cheese face),
having real conversations with Morgan about the things he likes and thinks and just having fun together. Here I am being tackled by giggling children...and loving every second of it!