25 Random Things About Me

For those on Facebook, you've seen this. For those not on Facebook, I just thought I'd share. Oh, and I think you should join facebook! Yes, it can be addicting, but doesn't have to be, and it is so fun to catch up with friends.

1. I LOVE running my toes (and fingers) through sand....so much so, that a friend once brought me back some sand from her vacation as a gift.
2. Prior to child #3 I couldn't go to bed without cleaning up the play room, now I cannot clean the play room without going to bed first.
3. I was terrified to move to the snow, but now I actually love it - as long as I have my down jacket, warm boots, and can park in the garage.
4. I cannot stand air blowing directly at me - I hate fans.
5. I will never own a mini-van. I think driving my parents 1980's Toyota van in high school is the reason for this.....
6. I attended three different schools and still finished college in 4 1/2 years.
7. The first car I ever bought was a standard transmission, and I had NEVER driven a stick shift before. The salesman taught me how to drive it in the Berkeley hills. He must have been really desperate!
8. I love, love, love ice cream!
9. I get horribly sick when pregnant, and lose weight for the first 4 months.
10. I don't watch very much TV, but cannot miss LOST and Grey's
11. Our three children were all born in different cities, and we did not live in any of them.
12. I do not want pets, I already have too many things to do, and messes to clean up.
13. I love clean windows, shoveled sidewalks (in the snow, of course), organized closets, empty laundry baskets, and crossing things off my to do list. (I have actually added things to my "to do" list that I had already accomplished, just so I could cross off more items.)
14. My mom paid me on a few occasions to clean and organize her pantry.
15. I paid for college waiting tables.
16. I was born in Berkeley and graduated from UC Berkeley
17. My first job after graduating from UC Berkeley paid less than the job I had waiting tables while attending UC Berkeley. (but who wants to wait tables for ever?)
18. Scary movies really freak me out, and I still remember not sleeping for weeks after I (age 10??) watched the Shining at the Jeffers' house while my parents were on a cruise.
19. I do not like to shop at places like Ross and Marshall's because I get a headache looking through the thousands of unorganized items. I know, I am missing a lot of good deals.
20. I LOVE chocolate & peanut butter, but it needs to be in the correct proportions.
21. I love to scrapbook, and I even teach classes. (I've been known to dress my kids up so that their pictures will match the scrapbook paper - okay, this was for a class I was teaching on matching colors in your photo to your layout...but still, OCD)
22. I do not like carpet in bathrooms and eating areas, and for the life of me, cannot understand why anyone would ever do such a thing. (Hence, our new hardwood in the dining room!)
23. I never graduated from junior high. Yep, that's right! Just dropped out, went to work, and then enrolled in high school the following year. Still not sure how we got away with that one.
24. I love staying at home with my children, and wouldn't trade it for anything - I feel lucky that I am able to do so! I love them so much, even when they make me crazy sometimes.
25. I love my husband, and think he is the best husband & dad in the whole world!

Finally!!

Allison will be 10 months old in a couple days, and she is finally sleeping through the night.  (I know, ridiculous....and, yes, I have been jealous while so many of you are posting how well your babies are sleeping at 2 and 3 months!)  I was nervous to even say it out loud for fear it would stop, but it has been almost a week, and she is doing great!  I know we will still have a few bad nights here and there, but at least we are well on our way.  Hallelujah!!! 

Two Jammies

For some reason, Cayden insists on wearing two pairs of pj's.  I promise we have our heat on.  I think it started last week when he couldn't decide which of his two favorite pj's to wear - so he put on both and has done it every night since.  Tonight, Keir caught him on video.

The end of the video was cut short, but Cayden says. "I'm cozy!" as he poses for the camera.

Wintersköl

We attended the annual Wintersköl celebration in Aspen last week with the Enloe family, and even though I am not really sure what Wintersköl is, it was a lot of fun.  I asked several people, read the newspaper, googled it, and all I can find is that it is a celebration of winter. (Sounds like Aspen needed another excuse to have a big party!)  Anyway, there was an ice/snow sculpting competition, and fireworks. The kids all had a blast playing in the snow.

Fireworks over Aspen.

Cayden sliding/falling down the hill with the big kids.

Allie and Jorie had the best seats.

Second place sculpture.

First place sculpture.

The things kids do to get out of bed

Cayden  is not usually as tired as Conner when it comes time to go to bed, which results in Cayden getting up ten times to use the bathroom, get a drink, etc.  Well, last night he really upped his game.  I guess he thought that if he had to go to the doctor, he would be able to stay up really late??  Cayden came strolling out of his room, with his finger up his nose saying, "it's stuck!"  At first we thought he was just goofing off referring to his finger being stuck in his nose.  We sent him back to bed.  He came out again and said, "I cannot get it out."  So, we looked in his nose, deep in his nose, and sure enough there was something stuck up his nose.  Unfortunately, it was too far to just grab.  I got the tweezers out and went to work.  I ended up pulling out four pieces of kleenex he had shoved up so far you could hardly see them.  Then we took away all tissue and toilet paper, and sent him back to bed.  Silly boy!

Happy Birthday Conner!

I cannot believe Conner is 5 years old!  Although his first year (or two) was very difficult and seemed to go by very slowly, due to hundreds of doctor appointments, surgeries, feeding tubes, a helmet, etc., I really cannot believe it has been five years.  There were many days I had just accepted the fact that Conner may never eat, and would be tube fed the rest of his life. Despite his struggles, we could see his bright happy personality he still has today.  He is such a happy boy, and does not think anything about him is different from the other kids.  He thinks he is lucky to have "super ears" to the point Cayden is a bit jealous, and told someone last week that his super ears were just inside his head.  Conner regularly tells Keir and I that he loves us, and thanks us for the small things like making dinner, taking him to school, and doing the laundry, so he can wear his favorite clothes.  It sometimes brings tears when Conner comes up to me after dinner and says, "thanks for dinner mom, it was yummy!"  Not only because he is such a sweet, thoughtful boy, but because at one point, he would not eat anything, and would cry at the sight of a bottle or food.  Conner now eats more than Cayden, and sometimes gives Keir a run for his money.  This year, Conner requested to have a Curious George birthday party, which is exactly what he wanted/had last year.  When I asked if he wanted to do something different, he simply told me that he liked George, and wanted another George cake.  He invited his entire preschool class (including his teacher, who he adores), and a couple good neighbors. We had a great time.  At the end of the night he said several times, "that was a really fun party, thanks mom & dad!"

Allie helping dad put up some balloons.

The Curious George cake.

The bounce house set up in Allie's room. (because our yard is covered in snow, and it is maybe 20 degrees outside.)

Keir covering Conner's mouth so he does not blow the candles out before we are done singing - he was so excited, and could hardly wait!

Waiting for cake.

He had lots of help opening presents.

Lexi hiding in the gift bag.

One of his favorite presents, a Spiderman bag.

We love you Conner!  Happy Birthday!

Sledding

Prior to our sledding trip today, I had not taken the kids this year because I thought it would be a five person job.  I just remember last year - snow in the boots, crying, lost gloves, crying, tipping over, crying, messy diapers, couldn't climb back up the hill, crying, too cold, crying, etc. Well, as I write this I am still in shock, that we were out there for almost two hours, and not once did anyone cry - not even Allison.  They had the best time!  Cayden did not need any help whatsoever!!  He amazed me!  He climbed the hill, pulling the sled, jumped on, and went for it all by himself - over and over again!  Conner had a great time as well, and always wanted to dive off the sled halfway down the hill so he could roll down the rest of the way.  I was especially nervous since this year the boys are potty trained, but Conner took it upon himself to find a tree, zip down his snowsuit and take care of business.  Fun times!!

Conner taking a rest.

Cayden pushing the tube up the hill.

They slid so far this time, they landed in the park!

If you don't believe how hard Cayden played/worked, just take a look at this sweaty noggin!  Yuck!

Fixin' Stuff

The boys love workin' and fixin' stuff, and one of the best deals I ever got was on this tool bench they love.  (FREE at a yard sale!) Today, Cayden decided to fix the inside of the tool bench, and got stuck.

The cost benefit analysis of a three hour nap

I was feeling pretty lucky this afternoon when I realized Allison had slept for three hours, and I was able to put up our drapes, and visit with a friend.  (Well, I really must give all the credit to Brenda, who hung ALL of them, while I walked around with a screwdriver pretending to help, and occasionally told her when they needed some adjusting. THANKS BRENDA!!)  Then, Allison woke up, and I wondered if the three hour nap was worth it.  She (and her bed) was covered head to toe to hands in the mess from an explosive diaper.  Oh, how I love when my children are on Amoxicillin.  

Here are the new drapes.  After some thought, I think the benefits outweigh the costs - if you can handle the yuck factor.

Is June too late to take down your Christmas tree??

. . . okay, so it is not June yet, but our tree was so dead, and beyond dry that it could have been June.  We actually cut it into pieces to try and contain the mess, and avoid tracking needles all over the house.  In order to remove the ornaments, we had to break some branches that sagged, dried, and petrified around the them.  Now, some of you may see my argument for not putting up a tree when you are going to be gone for over two weeks.  (see earlier post)

Luckily, we convinced Cayden that using the shop-vac is a special treat, and he did a great job cleaning up the mess.

We're Back!

Yes, we are home from two weeks in California!  I have now unpacked our bags, finished 10 loads of laundry, visited the pediatrician (for ALL 3 kids), and have only begun to unpack the loot the kids came home with.  I am seriously debating whether Conner is too old to wrap some of the stuff up for his birthday in two weeks.  I know, this is totally wrong, but seriously, I don't think our house can handle any more toys!  

I promise, there are several posts to come with pictures from our Christmas in California. If only I could find my camera.  I am sure it is packed with the boxes (and boxes, and boxes...) of stuff I have yet to touch.  Until then, here is one from dinner out for dad's birthday. 

My Favorite Girls

New Years day was very special this year because I was able to spend the day with some of my most favorite girlfriends/roommates!! I love you girls and wish we saw each other more!!  It was so fun to see everyone! 

Allie Grace

Allison is growing up way too fast, and I need to write the many milestones during the month of December before I forget . . .

• perfected her crawling skills
  
• overcame her gag reflex eating method
  
• quickly moved to more exciting foods (cheerios, dehydrated apples)
  
• loves her sippy cup
  
• top two teeth came in - this one hit me hard, since the top teeth make her look so much older, so suddenly (her bottom two came in Nov)
  
• pulling up to stand on everything
• said her first word, Mama, and actually knows who she is talking about
  
• crawled up stairs
  
• fell down stairs (I cried!)
• moved into a new car seat (even though she is a petite 16 pounds at nine months and could have stayed in the infant carrier, she hated the carrier, so we made the switch hoping our long drive to CA would be more pleasant)
• spent first night away from Mom & Dad
• got her ears pierced (Keir's idea, I swear!)
• waves hello

Now, if she would only sleep through the night!?!?!?!?  

We absolutely love her!  Here is her first picture with bling.  She prefers her binky sideways and upside down and turns it if we put it in the "correct" way.