Collection

{My New Moon Water Cup is looking so sad compared to my shiny new Eclipse cup}

Babysitter- $10

Movie Ticket- $7
New Water Cup- $5.25
Ditching my regular morning chores and going to the 10am showing of Eclipse with friends...worth every penny! I highly recommend it!

{Worth.Every.Penny}

{Edit: I had originally titled this post "New Addition" but didn't want to disappoint anyone who might have thought the title meant I was pregnant. Sadly, I'm not.}

A Man's World

I'm stating the obvious when I say I love my husband. For lots of reasons. But today I'm going to focus on his "jack of all trade"ness. I just made that up.

Numerous times my blow dryer has stopped working...Chris fixed it.

One time I thought my dustbuster needed to be thrown away..guess who fixed it.

Have a leak? Chris can fix that too.

A flat tire or oil change? Christopher.

Computer problems? Christopher

Can't figure out how to connect that thingamajig to your tv? Christopher too.

He taught himself how to play the piano and the guitar...

I even call him to help walk me through something on the computer-- he always knows exactly what button to push without even being in the same room as me.

Engineer to a tee folks.

On top of knowing how to fix just about anything- he also knows when he can't do it himself. Because lets face it. Some things aren't DIY and those times it's worth paying someone to fix it for you.

Like the time we moved our big fridge and Christopher laid it down in his truck (which is a big no-no we later found out) and our fridge stopped cooling and making ice. He didn't know a thing about fridges so he called somebody. Within a few hours our fridge was back to normal and my water cup was filled to the brim!

He's good like that.

So when we knew it was time to change our timing belt and it would have cost like $700 to bring it to a mechanics, guess who got online and figured it out? He bought all the parts, enlisted some help from our friend and neighbor Shane, and spent the majority of his weekend doing it himself. And I had all the confidence in the world that he could do it!

Man! I love that boy....

The one where Addysen stuck a popcorn kernel up her nose...

yeah..you read that right. My 2 year old, at some point during the day, found a popcorn kernel and decided the best place to keep it was up her nose. I don't know how long it was there, where she found it, and where she was when she did it.

This happened last Monday night. May 14th. I had just gotten the girls out of the bathtub, Chris was heading out the door to go running, and I was looking forward to an early bedtime so I could sit and watch the Bachelorette in peace. Some of you may roll your eyes because because trying to have a set schedule was bound to backfire on me....And then of course, some of you may be rolling your eyes about the Bachelorette part.....I won't ask.

I let Elodie stay in the bath a few minutes longer while I got Addysen out and put her on the floor to get dressed. As I was drying her off she kept sniffing...and sniffing....and sniffing....she never said anything was in her nose but I could tell it was bugging her. And when I got a closer look-I saw a popcorn kernel...

REALLY? Surely I was seeing things....my girls just don't do these things!

I tried to get her to blow it out....it seemed to be wedged just where she couldn't blow hard enough...

I tried to wrestle her down to get it out with some tweezers..yeah, that didn't work.

And after about 20 minutes of wrestling, I packed the girls in the car to try and find Christopher. Because surely, what I can't do, he can.

The whole time Addysen kept saying "I got a popper in my nose! I go see a doctor!"

I'm never clear on Chris' running routes. Sometimes he runs 10 miles, sometimes only 6. I had no idea where he was.

So we came home and waited for Chris.

Because it wasn't bothering her, I went ahead and layed Addysen down with the idea that I would wake her up when Chris got home.

I did just that when Chris walked in the door and we then started the whole process of trying to get it out all over again!

Nothing worked. We got ahold of our pediatrician and he said it was best for us to take her to urgent care. UGH!

Because we didn't know how long the wait would be, I opted to stay behind with Elodie instead of getting someone to come to our house while we both went.

About an hour later I got a call from Chris. He said while sitting in the waiting room he asked Addysen to blow one last time and when she did, the kernel popped right out!

What a relief! Life went back to normal and thanks to tivo I didn't miss a single second of The Bachelorette! And hopefully now Addysen knows not to put stuff up her nose!!

Embrace The Camera

Thursday again....Embrace the Camera time It's not too late to join in!

{Snuggling with Addysen after she woke up from her nap}

POTD Challenge 6/13-6/19/2010

Playing Go-Fish with dad...


To-Do List for the week. On top of my regular weekly chores, I try and accomplish a few "extra" things during the week. Most times I can't check everything off my list but I got 3 of my 5 things checked off.


We put hooks in our laundry room for all our swim stuff. We go to the pool 3 times a week so it was necessary!

Elodie putting together a 300 piece High School Musical Puzzle. I helped her for a bit but she did most of it by herself. It was a great quiet time activity while Addysen was napping.


I got to take newborn pictures for my cousin. Holy cuteness, and check out that hair! You can see more on my photography blog. Which needs some serious attention. I just need to hire someone to revamp my photo blog!


The girls making Father's Day tie cards at the library.


Lunch at Barro's-or what's left of it! We are regulars there..Never disappoints! Sorry to those who don't live in Az. You'll just have to come for a visit!

Father's Day 2010

Embrace the Camera

I linked up with some other bloggers to "Embrace the Camera". Every Thursday I will post a picture of me. You can read all the details HERE if you want to play along!

{DISCLAIMER: This picture was NOT taken while driving...we were still in the bank parking lot. Just in case anyone thought I was actually taking pictures and driving at the same time!}
*Running errands with mom. We had just left the bank and both girls were so happy the teller surprised them with dumdums.*

The one where I cried over my camera..

This morning started like any other morning...

I motivated myself just enough to get to my 6:30am workout.
The girls were up and ready for breakfast when I got home at 7:30am.
Chris headed out the door at 7:45am.
I loaded the dishwasher.
I made the beds.
I cleaned our bathroom.
I was on the phone with my cousin,who just had a baby, at 8:30am finalizing our plans for a baby photoshoot at 3pm.
I came into our office (where I keep all my camera equipment) to charge my camera batteries...

And this is where my world came crashing down...

I couldn't find my camera.
My camera bag was right where I left it.
My lenses were right there.
But my camera was gone.

Immediately I started to panic.
When was the last time I had used it? Sunday.
Did I take it outside? No.
Did I put it in the car? HECK NO! My camera doesn't go anywhere without my camera bag and my camera bag was safe and sound.
Did the girls pick it up? PLEASE NO!

And when I had answered all of those questions, I really started to panic. I always put my camera in the exact same spot.

The only logical answer was someone had snuck into my house and STOLE IT! RIGHT?! The only problem with that theory was my purse was sitting on our computer desk and why would someone sneek into my house only to take my camera?

I called Chris hyperventilating and crying. And if you don't believe me, ask him!

"I know this is going to sound like a silly question but my camera isn't on the computer desk...do you know where it might be?" I asked.

"Uh...no, I haven't touched your camera."

"PLEASE tell me you are joking and you hid it from me!!" I screamed.

"Sorry,haven't seen it. Have you checked the whole house?"

"WHY WOULD IT BE ANYWHERE ELSE!?!? I ALWAYS PUT IT IN THE SAME PLACE!"

At this point, Christopher stops asking questions and just sits on the phone while I cry! And cry.

And when I finally pull myself together long enough to retrack my steps I tell Christopher I will call him back.

Taking his advice I start to scan the whole house. The whole time thinking how rediculous it is to check the bathroom closet when I always put it where it belongs! At this point I am completely convinced someone has taken it! My life is over.

I did a quick sweep through Elodie's room and that's when I saw it. Right where I had left it yesterday.

Of course! Yesterday...I used my camera yesterday...

Elodie was putting together this 300 piece High School Musical puzzle and I took a bazillion pictures of her. When she asked me to sit with her and help I put my camera on top of her dresser. Because I helped Elodie with her puzzle for about 30 minutes, when I finally got up, I completely forgot about my camera!

In 2 seconds my life was back to normal. And I cried again! The second time in about 30 minutes..over my camera!

When I pulled it together (again)I called Christopher to apologize about how silly I reacted. I could feel him rolling his eyes at me. It's not unusual for me to overreact about something.

Happy Ending. Crisis Avoided. My day can go back to normal!

Oh!

Playing goldfish with dad...

Chris: "Elodie, do you have a 5?"
Elodie: "Goldfish!"

At this point Elodie draws a card and instantly lays down a set of 5's

Chris: "Hey! I just asked you if you had a 5 and you said goldfish"
Elodie: No, I Just DREW a 5!"
Chris: "But you must've had a 5 in your hand to get the pair!"
Elodie: "OH!!"
Chris: "You have to ACTUALLY look at your hand to know if you have the card I ask for!"
Elodie: "OH!"

Right of Passage

Bubbles are a huge right of passage as a child. To carry around your own bottle of bubbles and blow until your hearts content is part of every childhood. Afterall, what 2 year do you know that doesn't want to do everything "all.by.myself!"

If any of this sounds familiar, may I offer a few suggestions..

1.we only buy Dollar Store bubbles (3 bottles for a $1). Because when they spill, and you know they will, it won't matter that much!

2. we only allow bubble blowing at their dirtiest state. *Right before Saturday night baths, for example, is a great time!*

3. And most importantly, have your camera ready. Because along with doing it "ALL BY MYSELF!" you will catch some sweet moments....

*Sigh*

In her other life...

She is a princess with "seamstresses" who clean her room!

We have been cracking the whip this summer. Elodie must keep her room clean and her bed made everyday. If she does this everyday (without reminders) she gets a dollar at the end of the week.

This week Elodie came to me and said she didn't want to clean her room so she was okay with not getting her dollar. When I explained to her that she really didn't have a choice in keeping her room clean, and that the dollar was more of a reward for her attitude when cleaning her room, she came back with this.



Translation:
Dear Melodie,
I love my family but my seamstresses
have to clean my room and I'm
okay with that because they are not
part of my family!
HA!

I've come to the conclusion...

that the virtue Patience is never meant to be mastered. I don't think you ever get to a point in your life where one can say they are an expert in patience. Maybe I'm not being optimistic, but I don't think that's the point.

Christopher and I have been reading the conference talks from the April Ensign and recently finished President Dieter F. Uchtdorf talk "Continue in Patience" . If you haven't read it, do. And then read it again! And again!

It's been on my mind a lot these last few days. (Really the last year has been about patience but counting days just gets depressing.)

Maybe because we are teaching Elodie about spending her money wisely. Poor girl wants everything under the sun but doesn't want to spend her own money. It's heartbreaking because as much as I would love to just buy her whatever she wants, it's not the way the world works. She is struggling to understand the difference between buying something as soon as she gets a dollar and saving it until she gets 10 dollars and can buy something really big. And when you only get $1 a week, it's a tough lesson to learn! I keep reminding her that if she learns to save her money when she is younger, it will be much easier when she is older. But then again, I struggle with the same concept!

One part of President Uchtdorf's message has stayed with me...

Every one of us is called to wait in our own way. We wait for answers to prayers. We wait for things which at the time may appear so right and so good to us that we can’t possibly imagine why Heavenly Father would delay the answer.

We have had many opportunities pass us by this past year. Opportunities that, in the moment, felt perfect for our family. And just as we got our hopes up, they were gone. It's hard to understand Heavenly Father's plan but another part of President Uchtdorf's message is reassuring...

patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!

That really hit me. I never want to regret the way I deal with a trial. I never want to look back and wish I had reacted to it differently. I never want it to get in the way of my relationship with Chris and my Heavenly Father. I never want a trial to get the best of me and change me as a person! I think that's the true test of a trial.

In reality I know that clearing one hump doesn't exclude me from another but accepting that counts for something! Right?