Catching Up

I feel so out of it! Somehow, I really let the holidays take over this year. Obviously, I haven't been very good about keeping updated events documented. Iplan on posting a few big events in the next week retroactive back to October 2009. I hope you can bear with me. I will keep them short.

On Maritin Luther's King Day, we took the kids skiing for the first time. I have always loved skiing but have not gone since Ella's birth :(. Now that Ella's 5 and Aidan's 4, I thought, "Let's just do it." It went much smoother than I thought. Aidan is kind of a perfectionist like his mom so I was prepared for him to cry and pout every time he fell down. Surprise! He was amazing. I couldn't believe the little guy took to it so naturally. Once Matt started letting him go on his own, he didn't want to be held. The hardest part was "loading" the rope tow. The worker there was so fun and patient. It was a perfect day!

Ella skied more like princess and was more cautious but did terrific.

Check out the parellel skiing. We will definitely be returning soon - after my back heals - another story for another time.

How many times can I say, "I love you."

I can't believe it's been a month since I last blogged. Matt and I rented Julie and Julia the other night and I really liked it. For those of you who haven't seen it, it's about Julie blogging about her Julia Child's recipes and just her experiences with these on a daily basis. I can see how therapeutic this can be.

For some reason, I feel like I have to have something really exciting happen to me in order to write it down. Really, everyone's daily lives is just interesting to learn about. So here is one of my regular, normal day experiences:

Yesterday, I swear, Aidan must have told me he loved me a dozen times, literally. I remember he would catch me off guard all day because it was just random. One time I was just washing the morning dishes and Aidan was playing with his cars in the family room when all of a sudden, "Mommy, I LOVE you!" That was it. Again, I was in the shower and he ran to the bathroom and said, "Mommy, (pause) I love you." (just stating it matter of fact(ly). I couldn't believe how much he surprised me and how titillated I was.

When I got home from teaching a class last night, he was the first thing I saw and greeted me with, "Mommy. I LOVE you!" Again. After the kids were in bed, Matt told me that he was reading to the kids in the family room or doing something with them, I don't remember what exactly when the garage door opened (you can hear it) and Aidan got up and ran to the door. Matt said that he (Matt) said, "Aidan, we're not done yet." Aidan replied, "But I HAVE to tell Mommy I love her!."

Christmas Photos - Pick your favorite

I wasn't about to pay for a photographer this year (I didn't last year either) for Christmas photos. I have a tripod. I have a timer. Why not do it myself? And I did.

Please let me know which is you like best. I actually took a lot more but narrowed it down to these three. I have already made my choice but I was curious to get yours.

A.


B.


C.


Ella and Aidan were so cute in these next two, I just had to capture the moment.







Aidan was pretty beat and acting whiny and silly by this time so I decided to have some fun with Ella. I thought they came out pretty nice.

Yay! After one year . . . Habit broken!

The past year at our house has been a bit stressful, to say the least, for most of us due to Aidan's hard habit of constantly having his nails/fingers in his mouth. We have had a number of infections to deal with, literally blood, sweat and tears, trips to the doctor's office, antiobiotics, etc.


After trying just about everything (gloves, nail polish, "Bite Free," other nail biting remedies, Tabasco sauce - truly, other ointments and sprays including pet deterrents, bandaids, and even giving up for a while there, my visiting "teachee" recommended this product - Mavala Stop.


After 3 days, Aidan is no longer biting his nails or fingers. His nails are finally starting to show above his cuticles. Yay.

Toys, Toys, Toys!

Does anybody else have this problem or a good cure? We recently finished our basement and now have toys in 3 1/2 rooms including the basement and a bedroom in the basement.

I like to think I am organized and have toys in plastic bins, etc but they are leaking out into other rooms and I'm so exhausted from picking them up all the time.

I know some people only allow their children to play in a certain room but I enjoy witnessing what they play so let's say it's somewhat controlled toy chaos?

If anybody has a good system or ideas on what to do besides give them away, let me know.

I also take some and store them - kind of like recycling.

I welcome any comments and/or suggestions.

A Little Funny

Aidan was a little restless tonight for family home evening and I was wondering how we could possibly get him to get anything from Ella's lesson. Well during a discussion on Jesus' resurrection, Aidan (who was sitting on my lap) whispered, "Mommy, I wish Heavenly Father and Jesus could do Halloween with us. I asked, "Why?" Aidan answered, "Because I really like them." I guess he got - something?

(Aside) I have to share this Mrs. Potato Head representation of me because this stage of drawing persons is too short -lived and too darling not to.


Me and Aidan

Weekend Gettaway

It was Matt's birthday on Monday and we have been planning to go "away" together. As the weekend got closer, we started coming up with all kinds of excuses not to go: cost, leaving the kids, projects around the house, cleaning the house, etc. I called Matt at work Friday and said, "Honey, we just need to do this." It was me initially who had all the excues so he was, of course, all for it. It was rejuvenating for each of us individually and as a couple; no meals to prepare, no household chores or resposibilities, and as much as I love my children, no "kid" noises. It was so worth it. We walked hand in had through the shops and art galleries on Main St. in Park City, where we stayed. We sat and talked over dinner without interruptions! And, I broke my 13 week sugar-free regimen by indulging in a Rocky Mountain Chocolate caramel apple. Okay, Matt and I shared it but it was pretty delicious.

Just a beautiful shot right aroundt sunset on Main St.

Me and the "birdman." He trains birds and yes, he trained the hawks for Lady Hawk, those of you who are old enough to remember this movie.

Most of my blogs don't have photos of me because I am usually the one behind the camera and besides, I hate pictures of myself but Matt took control of the camera this weekend. so here I am. I remember my mom never wanting her picture taken as well.

My all timie favorite gallery at Park City is Scanlan Windows to the World. It was here several years ago that I cemented my dream to visit Italy. I fell in love with this place called Civita de Bagnoregio and promised myself I would go there someday. I am planning on being there in 2013!!

Here's a photo of it:

The city is over 2500 years old and only has now 15 residents. I think it's enchanting, classic and obviously historic.

Our last day in Park City was what is called Park Silly. A bunch of vendors, artists, etc, line up the sidewalks with interesting works of art and other interesting "artifacts." I loved watching this pupeteer. He was so good and you really don't see these much anymore. I wished my children could have been there to see this fading art.

We also just enjoyed taking out these cruiser bikes our inn had for the guests

If it's been a while that you and your spouse have been alone together, get away! t is so important and again, so worth it.