We are all moved into our new home. Its actually really great! Its so big. I'm not bragging, its just the truth. Way bigger than we can fill. Its nice to have so much room. I'm afraid we'll be spoiled living here the next few months.
We got an early Christmas present, a camera! Thanks to Dave shopping the early sales on black friday we got a great little camera. I'm used to not having a camera so after uploading the pictures from the week I realized I've gotten out of the habit of taking them. I thought you might enjoy a few that I did get.
Christmas came a little early for Sol too. G&GW gave him a rocking horse. Sol LOVES his new 'see see'. I wanted them to see him get it so they gave it to him while they were here for Thanksgiving. 
Christmas tree hunting at a local lot. Right after this he tripped and smacked his head on the pavement. So sad. Our hunt ended quickly after that. I should be packing. "Packing?" you say. Yes packing. We are moving...again...I don't really want to go into the details...
Yes, it was unexpected.
No, were not mad. Life throws you a curve ball every now and then. Its an adventure.
We're basically trading houses with my cousin in Saratoga Springs which is about 20 min from where we live now. Its a nice area, good neighborhood. And it will keep us until we hopefully buy a house in the next few months. I'm freaking out just a little. I'm so sad to leave our little home near the "see see's" ('horses' if you don't speak Sol). We already love our little ward and community. But this will be an adventure, right? (insert nervous laugh here).
I better go pack...
I wanted to make this post 2 days ago, on Veterans Day. But I'm a mom. Things just don't get done.
When I was in high school I was part of the Plainsmen Singers. It was kind of like Glee with out the pop numbers. And my teacher wasn't a Mr. Schuster, she was more of a Sue Sylvester. (if you watch Glee you'll understand) We did a lot of different types of performances from Native American to Jazz to Broadway to classical. It was a lot of work but well worth it. My all time favorite performance was one we did with several groups in the community, for the community. It was a Veterans Day celebration USO show with a variety of numbers highlighting songs and dances that were popular during the second world war. We did some really fun stuff including a swing number where I got thrown and flipped all over. The audience was really fun, probably because it was made up of more than our parents and peers. There were many Veterans in the audience that lived, and at one time loved, the stuff we were performing.
For one of the last numbers of the night we sang "Salute to the Armed Forces." We sang the song for each branch of the military: Army, Marine Corp, Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force. As we sang each song veterans who served in that military branch came up to the front and stood by their flag. Many of the veterans proudly wore their pressed uniforms and shiny black shoes. Some men were very old and had to have help walking up to the front but they'd hobble up there, with tears in their eyes, proudly representing our country's finest.
That one song changed me. I don't know if I've ever felt truly patriotic before that moment but to see these brave men and women, some so old and crumpled that they could hardly walk, proudly wear their uniforms and salute the flag of the United States of America, with tears in their eyes, made me realize what it meant to pledge alligence to America. I know I don't appricate the freedoms I've always known. I know I don't understand the immense sacrifice that has been made on my behalf so that I could live in this incredibly unique and blessed country. But I know it is significant.
I thank you, all who've served our country, for the freedoms and opportunities I've always known.
Sol and I had many errands to run this morning and while we were out and about it started snowing cats and dogs outside (if it can rain cats and dogs, can't it snow them too? they'd just be frozen....i digress). I opened Sol's car door to get him out and tote him inside. As I did the big white snow flakes rushed in the car and were falling all around us.
"Aaahhhhhh... Bubbles!" said Sol.
We watched, felt, ate, talked about and played in the 'bubbles' all day. Welcome snow!
Two kid friendly attractions that get my enthusiastic thumbs up:
Pirate Island Pizza: In the old movie theater by the university mall. Its way way cooler than we thought it would be. And the food was much better than we expected. ChuckyCheese doesn't hold a candle to this place.
Cornbellys: At thanksgiving point. We just spent 3 hours having lots of fun. They have so much to do besides a corn maze. Bring jackets. I forgot them and poor Sol was shivering by the end.
I wish I had pictures to share but our awesome little camera we've had over 4 years didn't survive a mountain bike crash. Hope to have a replacement soon.
Happy Fall!!!
Check out Sol's new skill. Jumping! He's getting to be so big and turning into a little boy.
1. Being a mom is much harder than I thought it would be.
2. Sol is much more incredible than I could have dreamed.
3. Having some space to stretch out (like a slightly bigger house) can take a huge burden off your shoulders.
4. Having someone to stretch out with (Dave) can take a huge burden off your shoulders.
5. edited.
6. This little turkey is the apple of my eye. He loves his 'Mama' and 'Dagee' (daddy) so much.
7. Our future may be uncertain, but who's isn't really.
8. Heavenly Father will watch over and take care of our little family. We have been blessed more than we could have asked in our life together and I know if we put our faith him Him the blessings won't stop.
Peace.
"He's a high falootin',
I'm learning a new skill to add to my homemaking quiver that I'm quite proud of. Mainly because this always seemed like something that was not really me, not something I would spend my time doing. See, this is my sister:
Well she could be. My sister, Melissa, has a natural ability to do anything homey related, cook, sew, grow, craft, etc. She's really much more talented than me. This is my sister:
(on the right)
She is teaching me the ways of provident living and surprisingly I'm loving it! She's taught me how to can! It feels so good to get so much food for so cheap and then preserve to last the year. We've made tomato soup, spaghetti sauce, stewed tomatoes, jam, and zucchini relish. She's shown me how to do some other cool thinks with garden foods. She did a bunch of peaches for me too just out of the kindness of her heart. This weekend we're making applesauce. Wish us luck!
Maybe someday I too can be a Martha... yeah, probably not. But I'm digging the canning!
You know when it's been so long since you've seen an old friend that it's kind of akward, cause you should have kept in touch but you just didn't?
Hi, old friend.
I'M BACK!!!
I'm SO excited because I'm finally online again. Wahoo!!! After a painfully long month we got our internet hooked up tonight. Its a boring and long story so I'll spare you.... the point is, I'm back!!!
I feel like I just discovered electricity or indoor pluming, it feels GREAT!
So now for the explanation of where we are:
We moved, but just to American Fork, Utah which is like 15 minutes from my old house. We LOVE the house (my cousin's, we're renting) and have way more room (hallelujah!). I don't yet have pictures of the outside and its dark right now so I can't go take one, but I'll take some tomorrow and post 'em.
For now here are a few pics from our August adventures:
Hike in the uintas
Sol practicing piano
We watch the Tour of Utah cycling race finish a top Nebo with Parker friends. Logie and Kristi above.
Daddy and Sol cheering on the riders.
Buh-bye (as Sol would say). For now...We just moved, thats the reason for the silence. We're still without internet so I'm using Dave's computer at work to check email, etc.
We LOVE our new home. Story and picture to follow...
I just wanted to say THANK YOU to every one who has commented, texted, called, and even sent cards about my last post. I'm doing really well and writing that post really helped me to feel peace about the whole thing. Your kind thoughts and well wishes have made it even better. Thank you.
I know very well that I'm not the only one to feel heart ache, I know you all have your own challenges, some that make mine look easy. So thank you again.
We're doing great! We love our new house and neighborhood. :) If I had my camera I'd insert a picture of us all smiling with big cheesy grins right here.
Just picture it...
see.
I started a blog for several reasons. It's a great way to keep in touch, I wanted to write a family journal, I'm a little bit narcissistic (meaning I think the world is interested in what I ate for lunch, that kind of thing), but mostly I wanted a creative outlet. I'm not terribly crafty. I like to draw, but I'm not that good at it, I don't have time to be good at music anymore, but i can sit down and share a little bit of myself by writing about whats going on in my head. I think that's what makes a good blog or any piece of writing for that matter is that it's real.
Real can mean the difference between entertainment and an experience. I love people who are real, my best friends in the world are not fake and I LOVE that about them. I love reading books and watching movies that are real. By real I mean true raw emotion. No show, no exagerating, just what is real.
The reason for this tangent on 'what is real' is because that has been missing from this blog for quite some time. I've lost the whole reason I started writing it. I didn't intend to, but it happened. And suddenly I found myself not wanting to write...anything... at all. I didn't know what to write about so when I did write it was superficial and that kind of trigger's my gag reflex. I thought "maybe I'm just done with the whole blogging thing." No, I really used to enjoy it. I started worrying about those who were reading it and as soon as that happened I didn't know what to write or how to make it interesting.
Wow this is long winded...still reading?
So what triggered this failure? I got pregnant. I got pregnant the middle of may, didn't find out for a few weeks but I definately felt the mental slow down. So when you're pregnant, and in the early stages, there is an unwritten rule that you tell no one. Why is that? Usually because there's a chance you'll miscarry and then have to shamefully tell everyone you foolishly lost the baby. You silly mommy.
Thats dark, I know, but thats why I didn't saying anything. Pregnancy takes over your life, it affects EVERYTHING. So what else do you write about when you're trying to avoid the one subject that is rocking your world at the time? Nothing. And the result is superficial blog.
So I got pregnant and I was sick and really really tired. But worse than that I was completely overwhelmed. This little angel was not exactly planned and inside I was FREAKING OUT because I didn't know how I would take care of Sol and baby. I wasn't excited. I hate typing that but I wasn't. For 6 weeks I didn't feel human, I didn't feel like Sol's mom, and I didn't feel like Dave's wife, and I definitely didn't feel like me. But I put on a good face and we were getting through it.
And then I started to spot. The spotting turned to bleeding. All it takes is a threat to that sweet angel spirit inside of you to realize that you would do anything to keep that child. Even if he's only an inch big. But what can you do. Oh humility, how could I have been so begrudging. I wanted this baby. I wanted him for Sol. But he didn't stay. It wasn't his time and I felt him go.
This is what is real. I was pregnant for 10 weeks. I got the privileged of having one of God's sweet children with me for 10 short weeks. I miss him, he was mine and I loved him as deeply as I love Sol. Maybe not as much, I've known Sol much longer, but I definitely loved him as deeply. Will he come back to us? I hope so.
That is where I've been the past few months, that is the reason this blog has been annoyingly superficial and in the end I'm telling you all anyway. Why did I hide it? It seems silly now. Something as thrilling as a pregnancy should be shared because if it happens to be cut short you can't just paste on the happy face as if nothing happened because something did. Something amazing that you shouldn't hide. At least that's how I feel.
From here forward I make a promise to myself to be real. Because I love real and I want to be real. And sometimes hard things really happen, and that should be okay. Right? Right.
We just got back from a family reunion tour that took us to Oregon and Idaho. We put some miles on the family wagon. We had a great time seeing lots of family.
Fathers Day was going to be special this year complete with homemade cards, meatloaf dinner, and peanut butter bars (yes, Dave peanut butter bars). But instead I woke in the middle of the night to throw up and didn't stop till the next afternoon. So this year Fathers Day was not about our favorite pop. Instead he took care of Sol by himself all day and played nurse to me. I was so very sick- I'll spare you the details.
I was really bummed I didn't get to spoil Dave. I don't do it enough. Last night a had a little break down and was telling him how sorry I was and he said this, in so many words:
"Don't be! I really needed that day. It made me remember how much fun Sol is right now and how great it is to be his dad. I think it happened for a reason" (right hun? It was something like that)
Its so gratifying to see your husband and your children bond. Sunday they were so bonded. In the evening I came downstairs to say hi and Sol came over and told me Hi, in his little way and then toddled back over to Dave who was laying on the couch and Sol laid his head on his Dad. That is goodness so sweet you can taste it.
Thanks, love, for all you do. You are a wonderful and patient Dad and an even more wonderful and patient husband.
Hey team, the last time I posted was May... June has been a whirlwind. We've had fun and we're tired. A couple non-travel-log type updates.
Haircut:
Before 
After
At first I didn't like the short hair but I think its cause it made him look older. I definitely prefer it now to the Beatles do.
Snakes:
They still live in my porch and terrorize us a little but I LOVE the lack of spiders around my house. We normally find a few beasts like this each year
(insert big scary picture of spider here, I couldn't find it)
but not this year. Thank you snakes! Please just stay hidden.
Ella:
We love a loopy sweet, anxiety ridden Ella girl. She loves us too. She especially loves our Sol. I found her laying next to him in the living room yesterday like this:
She just laid there while Sol draped toys all over her. What a good playmate.
Next post will be travel-log-esq...enjoy!
When I was in elementary school all the children were taught to sing "We Are Wyoming," a song about Wyoming and why it's such a great state. It goes something like this...
"We are Wyoming, proud and freeeeee, we are what America is meant to be..."
Okay its a pretty cheesy song. But we all sang it and loved it. Any way, during our last trip to Wyoming over Memorial weekend, I kept thinking of all the reasons we love Wyoming. Here are just a few:
1. Beautiful - May is an incredible time to visit because the scenery is green and beautiful. The weather is nice, not summer yet but perfect cool spring weather. And they get great storms, usually in the afternoon. Some of you may remember my fascination with storms.
