Is It Naptime Yet

I’ve only been to California a handful of times. Most were for band or choir trips to Disneyland or Knottsberry Farm. My last trip was to San Diego with Jon when I was pregnant with Lilah. So it was 7 years ago. We didn’t have a lot of money, but we decided to do a weekend trip where we enjoyed a session at the San Diego Temple and shopping at some famous outdoor shops. We mostly window shopped but we did buy a few things, a shirt, necklace and a sea shell. It was our last vacation before we would be tied down with a child, and our last hurrah as a couple. With the San Diego trip we visited Mission beach. It was my first time to a beach, and since it was March, I dipped my toes in the cold ocean for the first time when I was 19, and only because Jon made me. I really don’t like natural bodies of water, I’m just not a fan, and I really just wanted to see the ocean.

Now my weekend.

This past weekend Anna and I decided to take a trip to the LA Fashion District so we could buy fabric for the play. It’s debatable whether we really saved money going, after you factor in gas and hotel, but the selection of fabric there is much larger than Vegas, so we were able to get some fabrics there that we could not have found here, and since they’re for the ball gowns, it was totally worth it.

We got into LA around 11 pm on Friday night after taking just one detour. I really do not like driving California’s freeways. They’re so different from Las Vegas and foreign, luckily Anna’s iPhone navigated us and put us back on track. Anna’s father had gotten us a nice hotel room at The Westin, down in LA’s business district. It was really nice, and we got to ride in one of the two elevators used in the filming of True Lies. We had a mostly quiet night and then woke up at 8 am to get up and ready for the day. We ate breakfast, figured out how much fabric we would need for the the cast and then hit the Textile area of the Fashion District.

It was crazy. Some stores were very organized while others had as much fabric has they could hold with just a narrow walk way to get around. There were just rolls and rolls of fabric everywhere. We found most of what we needed at one store, then other things at a few other stores.

After two trips to the car we ate some wonderful Greek food, looked around and bought some sun glasses then made our last rounds in the textile area to buy zippers and other things we almost forgot before we packed up and headed to the beach. It was a very busy day. We had been there from 12:30 till 5:30, walking around the whole time except for the hour we took our lunch.

Since we were so close to the beach, and I had only been there once, Anna decided we had to go to the beach. Then when I told her how reluctant I was to put my feet in the water for the one and only time at 19, she decided we then had to put our feet in the water. (She was wearing shoes and at first did not want to worry about taking off her shoes.)

I wasn’t sure I wanted to go to the beach, but once I saw the coast, I was so excited to be there. It waned off I little as we tried to get in and park in this little $1 an hour parking lot that was kinda annoying. Anna and I just walked the beach, took pictures, and I called Jon and the girls to tell them I was there. Anna also took a picture of me talking to Lilah and e-mailed it to Jon so he could show the girls where mommy was.

As we walked across the sand we let the waves catch our feet. It was a little chilly in the air but the water was surprisingly not cold. I didn’t mind putting my feet in the ocean water and I look forward to taking the girls to the beach for their first time in a few weeks, and us all swimming in the ocean for the first time together. When we headed to the pier I found some sea shells and rocks that I thought the girls would enjoy and they now look forward to finding their own sea shells, I think almost as much as they look forward to going to Disneyland.

We got back on the road at 7:30 pm and headed to Vegas. Our California visit was completed with a stop at In-N-Out and the spotting of a high speed chase taking place on the Southbound Highway, as we traveled North. It was complete with a helicopter and three or four police cars following with their lights and sirens blasting.

I dropped Anna, and all the fabric, at her house around midnight, she’ll get to move it into her new house later this month, and I got home around 12:30 am, kissed my girls, and climbed into bed with Jon.

Me at The Westin in our 17th floor room overlooking downtown LA.
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Anna and me inside one of the elevators at The Westin.
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The sign telling us that this elevator was used in the filming of “True Lies”. (It’s not the one we took the picture in, but we did ride it up to our room the night before.)

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Anna and me at the beach with our Fashion District sun glasses.

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I caught Anna walking the beach. I liked how her shoes were draped over her shoulder.

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Look Hunny, I put my feet in the water!

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Anna had a better idea to prove I put my feet in the water for Jon.

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I love you Jon. (This might look a little messy. Half way through I thought, “Why is it so hard to write my name?” Then I realized I was writing it left handed.)

Over a year ago I had gastritis.

It was terrible and one of the worst things I’ve had to go through.

Ever since that’s happened I’ve been paranoid. If I get a stomach ache I take some Tums and pray that I don’t get sick again. I haven’t had it again, but I’m still very sensitive to any stomach pain.

I also worry about being too stressed. When I signed up to do costumes for the Wizard of Oz, since I got the gastritis after a a week of sewing, I worried that I would get sick and be in utter pain once more if I did too much. Everything turned out fine, but the nagging worry is still in the back of my mind.

Which leads me to this week.

Tuesday night I started having a stomach ache, so I took some Tums and fell asleep on the couch around 11:30 pm. I woke up around 12:30 am and was awake with stomach problems till 3:30 am. It wasn’t fun. I know it was food poisoning of some sort. I’m the only one who was sick and it lasted for less than 24 hours, even though I was still getting better and regaining my strength for the last 12, and we had eaten some fast food Monday night. But in my mind, even though I know what caused it, I now wonder and have the worry about what will get me sick. Every food could be the next culprit to giving me unbearable stomach pain, and keeping me up at night. Now a weekend of pain isn’t that bad, but this weekend I’m going to LA with Anna, so it would really stink to be sick.

I don’t like to think of myself as a worrier, but I don’t want my weekend to be ruined. I really want to enjoy my time with my friend, alone, shopping, and eating out. (We’re shopping for fabric for the play, so it’s not all fun and games.) It’s the thought of eating I don’t like. What if I get sick and my poor pregnant friend has to carry bolts and bolts of tulle and satin to my car, while I stay huddled in the fetal position in the passenger seat, or in a public bathroom? Ick. It could happen, the chances are slim, but I was just sick.

I think I’ll pack some extra tums just in case.

My sister Andrea made some blankets for the girls for Christmas, she had our family. We got them in March. 🙂 For the full story you can read her blog post.

Here are the girls with their blankets. They sleep with them every night.

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Here is Jon in his suit. It was after he came home so he had to put the tie back on, he didn’t wear it all day just for the interview, and so it’s a little crooked, and the shoes are his regular ones, since he didn’t want to wear his nice ones all day either or put them on for the picture.

I don’t think this picture does justice. He’s so much hotter in person when he’s wearing the suit. I wish he needed to wear suits all the time I think he looks so nice in them.

A month ago her husband told her about a new position he wanted to apply for. It seemed wonderful as they discussed the different reasons why he wanted this position and the benefits to it both professionally and personally.

It seemed perfect, so he submitted his application just before the final deadline.

After submitting the application it was decided he needed a new suit. He hadn’t bought a suit in over 12 years, and the last one was for his mission.

It was time for a new suit.

They saw it as an investment. An investment for the new position he was applying for. An investment for his future. An investment for their family’s future.

The whole family went. A family of four must have been a sight in this men’s suit store, but it’s what they had to do. They picked out a nice suit, shirt, 2 ties, shoes and a belt. They wanted him to look his best.

It was a large investment, but he looked so good and it fit him just right.

The phone interview came first. But instead of being a phone interview it was an in-person interview since he worked with the institution already.

What do you wear to a phone interview?

They decided the suit would be a little much, so he just wore his regular business casual attire, and they hoped a final interview was on the horizon.

Within two days he had been asked back for a final interview.

She was really happy because it meant that he was still in the running for the job and because he’d get to wear his suit.

The final interview came and went. He wore his suit and looked like a million bucks, but was a little less sure of this interview.

They waited to hear about the position, but over a week went by and no news.

She knew he hadn’t gotten it. They must have offered it to the other interviewee. She tried to contain her sadness since she was so hopeful for the new possibilities this job could provide for her family.

Her hopes faded for the future she had envisioned and seemed so close at hand, but still so distant.

Then she saw his instant message pop onto her screen.

Him: So do you want me to call you or should we talk over IM?
Her: whichever you want.

She just wanted to know, yes or no, yes or no, and her heart raced in anticipation of the answer that she knew he had received and was waiting to share.

Him: It’s easier over IM. 🙂
Her: I figured, with calling other people hear too.

Please, just tell me if you got the job or not.

Him: I could use the cell outside.
Her: Just get on with it man!
Him: You sure?
Her: sigh

His teasing was a good sign, even if she wanted to jump through the computer screen and just shake the answer she new was coming out of him.

Him: Blank left a message and made me an offer. We’re meeting later to talk details. Now I wish I had shaved this morning.
Her: lol Yay!
Him: 🙂
Her: sigh

This time it was a sigh of relief, not annoyance.

Him: What do you think: should I accept?
Her: Yes Yes Yes
Him: 🙂 I guess I’ll accept then.
Her: Lets celebrate by going to Disneyland.
Him : 🙂

So that’s it. Jon will begin a new position on April 19th. I’m so happy for him and I look forward to our future with anticipation.

Good things are happening.

In January Las Vegas had some weird weather. We had a week where it rained nearly everyday and I’m talking rain, not just sprinkles, and it was heavy rain throughout the whole valley.

My sister Carolyn went hiking at Red Rock right after and during this weird weather with some friends. I think it snowed on them while there and they had to walk in the stream since the rocks were too icy and they’d slip. I’m happy I skipped that week.

We went the following Saturday. It had rained in the valley on Wednesday and snowed at Red Rock and with the cold temperatures the snow was still on the ground.

Our homeschooling group had gone to Mount Charleston on Friday, and even though it had been a weak since the major snow, it was still like it had just happened that morning with how high and powdery the snow was on the Mountain.

Two days with snow was lots of fun for the girls. Unlike the day before, the snow balls they made stayed in balls and they were able to throw a few. But their gloves had gotten all dirty the day before, and my washer was still waiting to be repaired, so they had to throw snow balls with their bare hands.

It didn’t last very long.

We enjoyed a short hike to the waterfall that is usually dry. The girls got into some mischief and Lilah drove me crazy by jumping down rocks and running.

At the Waterfall.
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Eden
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Lilah- Notice the snow in her hand.
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At the end we let the girls take a few pictures and here are some results.

Lilah’s view with the camera:

What are you doing?
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Self-portrait
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Jon and me with the snowy mountain behind us.
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Eden’s view with the camera:

Um..if I could see myself from this view all the time I might actually be motivated to lose weight.
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Let’s try to take a picture of mom and dad. She almost got all our heads.
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So we knelt down for her.
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Lilah’s pretty silly in this one. I’m posting it because if you look closely we have the same facial expression, only it’s not very flattering so I’m not making it any bigger.

Here are just a few pictures of the girls.

First day of Primary 2010.

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Eden in her new dance class outfit.

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Eden being sassy.

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Snow Day with the homeschooling co-op at Mount Charleston. The snow was 3-4 feet high, and then even higher where the snow plow had piled it up.

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Hannah on the cabin’s porch. (See how high that snow was! I would sink nearly to my knees as I walked around.)

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Lilah and all the girl scout cookies. (Boy am I glad to have them out of my house.)

So this post is mostly about Lilah.

She’s growing too fast.

And I’m getting old, well I’m not really that old, but she’s getting older and I feel old as she grows. Almost everyday I ask the girls to stop growing, but they don’t, and their reply is usually that they can’t stop growing.

Sigh….I guess I’ll just have to keep letting them grow and get bigger and become more independent.

Speaking of independence there are certain things I do for my children, even though they’re big enough to do it on their own, but I’m trying to let go and enjoy a little freedom, even if it does mean the girls might take longer doing it themselves. I also find, that if I wait long enough they catch on a lot more quickly, so it saves some frustration by waiting on both our parts.

Case one:

I still bath the girls and wash their hair and bodies for them…well I used to. I’m kinda strange when it comes to bath time. When I was a young I took baths all by myself by the age of 6. I also just washed myself and cleaned my hair by laying in the bath water and running my hands through it.

Now I think that is so gross.

I should mention baths in general are yucky to me now as an adult. I don’t ever dream of soaking in a nice long bubble bath reading a book or relaxing by candle light. It’s just too yucky for me. So I do have the girls wash their own bodies with the wash cloths, but I usually wash their hair and to rinse them clean by turning on the faucet and rinsing them that way. It works for us, but it takes time and I’ve never taught them how to do it themselves, because usually they take the cup and just dump the water behind them. They’ve also hated showers.

Until now.

Now they love showers, and do crazy shower dances. I still have to greatly help Eden, but I’m mostly just instructing Lilah now, just to make sure she gets all the soap rinsed.

I decided to teach Lilah how to shower so it could free up some of my own time. I don’t have time to bath her every other day, and with the summer coming she’s going to need to be bathed or showered every other to every day.

She’s loving it and I’m loving my free time.

I waited a long time to teach her to shower because it was just so much trouble to shower her before. She was scared of the shower, and still is, but she’s also old enough that her fear is quickly vanishing. Now they both want to take a shower everyday, even though they’ve only taken 3, but I’m happy to let go and let them get clean. I think our water bills are going to be a little higher from now on though.

Case two:

I have never bought Lilah shoes with shoe laces, not since she was a small toddler anyways. I’ve always bought shoes with velcro. Mostly it’s because the ones we liked had velcro, but also because I did not want to teach her to tie her shoes, or have to tie them for her if she wasn’t able to learn.

Yesterday I bought Lilah shoes with laces, and today I taught her how to tie them.

I think waiting was best for us and she’s just at that perfect age and fine motor skills to learn how to tie shoes quickly. I actually did not want to teach her because I feared that I might lose my patience, but how could I not teach her when she was wanting to learn and was trying it out this morning?

I taught her the round the rabbit hole method, or is it around the tree? Anyways, she got it and now is able to tie her shoes, though she still needs help getting them on and tightening the laces.

One thing at a time.

And will you please tell her to stop growing.

I was blog flipping just now and killing a little bit of time before I go back to sewing and someone wrote about their child’s Primary Program, and I remembered what  a slacker mom I’ve been in the blogging arena since I’ve been so busy with other stuff.

Our Primary Program was the 25th. My parents were able to be there along with my sister Carolyn. Jon’s mom showed up a little late with Dara and Jason, and in the rush to get in and sit down Jason was lost. So we sat through the sacrament and while the kids filed up the stairs Jon went to go find Jason, but then Jason came in the opposite door Jon went out and Mom went to go find Jon. Lilah was the very first child to speak and opened with: Family Life is most like to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of Jesus Christ. (It should have been Happiness in family life…. but I forgot to go over it with her one last time when I heard her practice it incorrectly the day before and no leader corrected her.)

So Jon heard Lilah give her part, he had made his way around the building and was at the other door, while Grandma missed part of it.

Eden’s part came later and was: I lived with Heavenly Father before I came to Earth. She was so cute and started to turn and get down before she finished so we heard, I lived with Heavenly Father before I came t….. I thought she did great, but that may be because I sympathize with her nervousness in front of others.
Both girls were so cute and I had fun watching them. Lilah was very animated when she sang at times, and I was just happy to see Eden singing because she doesn’t like to at home sometimes.

Just another note. After the practise on Saturday while the kids were eating their pizza one of the teachers told me how well behaved my girls were and how sweet they were, another teacher joked that they needed 24 more kids like them and then to get on it, as in have 22 more kids. I love my girls and I’m happy they’re so well behaved. I feel blessed to have two sweet children who listen and show respect to others, but I’m not sure I could guarantee even one more like them, let alone 22. 😉

1. Motivation to do something new.
2. Jon and his computer skills.
3. Jon’s support and ideas.
4. Two daughters who want to help and are excited for me.
5. I’m happy to venture into the unknown, at least unknown for me.

My morning consisted of trying to stay awake during General Conference. I mostly stayed awake, but at times I was mostly sleeping. The girls had fun calling my name whenever they saw my eyes closed, then I’d get grumpy at them and tell them to settle down. I think I’m turning into my father.

In between conference we cleaned out the candy in our cabinet. Really condensed it since they were able to fit all the candy into these two coconuts containers that we had from Eden’s birthday party. At least it’s condensed and in a smaller area and not a big gallon ice cream bucket and several bags and other containers. I think once we start getting Halloween candy all the other candy will be thrown out. Maybe that’s how I should do it routinely since some of the candy they put in those coconuts was from Valentine’s day. Ewe.

I also did the dishes before the next session of conference started and to keep me awake for the second meeting I was crocheting a dish rag. I just learned how to crochet on Wednesday, so I thought I better practice before I forgot what I was doing, though I could ask Jon for help since he knows how to crochet. I took out what I started twice and I think I’m doing much more uniform stitches now on my third try. Crocheting did keep me awake for the second session of conference today, but my converter box kept losing it’s signal and I only got parts of the talks and songs. Each time it went off Lilah and Eden would say very loudly “Signal, hey signal!” because they were convinced that’s why the signal returned. It was kinda fun, but also kinda annoying. Well see how tomorrow goes.

After conference I went to work outside. The girls have been playing nearly every day with our neighbors or just outside by themselves, and they’ve asked on more than one occasion if they could go in our backyard. Our back yard isn’t too much of a mess, but it’s getting the neighbor girls there through the side yard that the dilemma lied. Our bushes hadn’t been trimmed  and they blocked the pathway along with all the pine needles and trash that liked to be blown around back there. So I took time to clean our driveway, trim back the bushes and clean the side yard. It was hard work, and I know my legs are going to be sore from all the squatting I did, but at least it’s passable and now I just need to sweep the back yard and make it slightly more presentable so they and their friends can be back there and I won’t have to worry about what they’re getting into. The neighbor girls have  talent for getting into things back there or making things dangerous. Like the time they took the giant, hard, dead, stock to our giant sunflower and were using it as a sword, or something equally scary to this momma since it was giant, and hard, and slightly pointy at the end.

Today I’ve also been dreaming of visiting some of our National Parks. PBS did a 6 day, 2 hours each day, special this week and it really makes me want to visit all these awesome parks. I never went to any growing up, but I really want to take my children and experience the beautiful scenery with them. My first goal is for us to visit the Tetons, Yellowstone and then onto Glacier National park. I think it would be so fun, we just have to budget and hope we can correspond our trip to my friends Anna’s yearly trip out to Glacier so we can stay with her and her husband at his parents cabin out there.  (And on the way to Yellowstone we’d probably travel through Utah so we could visit a certain niece.)

We need to go to many other parks out here in the West since so many are so close to us.

There are just so many beautiful places to visit and so little time.

What did you do or dream about today?