Kids Are Fun(ny)

Lately my kids have been cracking me up, driving me crazy and making me sad for how quickly the youth is fading.
Sometimes they still seem so young and little and then they'll be with other kids and that's when I notice- they are not tiny anymore! Luke and Sadie are not toddlers, they are actual little kids. Little people! So at times I get a wee sad. But at the same time, I love that I can play Lego's with Luke, tell Jokes with Elliet and discuss serious matters, such as driving fast through the yellow light, with Sadie. Here are a few glimpses of late.
Elliet, still determined I call her Ellie, made our first official "Note to Parents". I read about this on other friends blogs where their kids are older... but ha- not anymore. Again, mine are actually OLDER. So, I guess now it begins. Pretty funny. "Okay and please do it. Thank you". Look at the size of that sheet of paper! It practically covers the freaking door. I think she's serious.
And this is a sweet peek of a calm, sleeping emotional tornado. This serene face is not commonly seen in nature but here is proof it exhists. Darn this boy and his sweet face. It gets me every time. I salivate just looking at this and want to smother that face with kisses and squeeze his little, square knees.
And finally, Sadie and all her girliness wanted hearts for the latest fingernail do. It was a challenge using that blunt, stubby brush to make hearts she would approve of. But we did it! And the customer was happy. And I know it's silly to take a photo of something like this, but I mostly did it because it's another sign of little girl growing up, those slightly pudgy little hands will be gone soon and I think it's so cute to see her little teeny tiny fingers with a spot of polish on the end. My last sight of little girl hands!

PS- Elliet, er, I mean ELLIE, asked me the other day... "Mom, is Bootie spanish for Bum?"
You tell me.

Happy to Me

I have fun fussing over others on their Birthday. I've mentioned before how my Dad would wake us on our Birthday blasting the Beatles 'Birthday' song with him dancing around, which eventually got us all dancing around. We grew up with some goofy but great traditions. I like to make crazy cakes for my kids. I like to decorate the kitchen with streamers and dorky lights the night before any of the kids special day so all the next day it feels like a party. But my Birthday? er, it feels weird. I don't know why but I am not much of a fan of the attention. So when my friend, rather firmly, encouraged a night out with some girlfriends last weekend, I agreed. She unfortunately has me more figured out than I thought. :-) And this will sound rediculous but I seriously sucked up my stupid issue to embrace the well wishes and it was nice. We had sushi, watched a chick-flick and then went out for dessert! Good times. Thanks, E for being a good friend and fussing over me. It felt good to have that effort made. As for my actual Bday, it was a nice day with many wishes and texts but guess what- it was a Monday. Blah-blee-bler. So good as Mondays can go. Until that night! We had family night and Scott doesn't realize this but he shared something wonderful with me. We had a little lesson on our bodies and how they are special and we need to take care of them. The kids had fun blurting out food you shouldn't eat (which they obviously had lots of answers because, ahem, Mom likes some of that stuff, too so I had to quickly move into the subject of HEALTHY food). After this, it was time to do some exercise. They turned all the lights off, every one, and Scott turned on the TV. Apparently the kids were on to his plan. He scrolled to a Tivo'd concert we've had stored for months of New Order performing live, turned it way up and played, "Love will tear us apart". It was SO fun because there was my family all dancing around in the blue glow of the TV, jumping and hopping and even the occasional "Woo" like the crowd. Ah man- I couldn't stop smiling. Reminded me so much of my family growing up and dancing to fun music (Mom? Do you have tears yet?). It was great and we all rocked out to our fake concert. But best of all was my surprise from Scott. We ended with me opening up my gift from him. This was the best token of love ever. For two years I have wanted something and he has dismissed it as silly-ness. Can you guess what it was? CAN YOU?! I opened a Guitar Hero guitar!!! It's like buying a puffy, hairy cat for your spouse who has wanted one for years but you wouldn't because you're allergic. Is that love or what? I found it quite touching, video game or not. So not only will we be having rock parties this year with tons of friends (And I read up on the Beatles game- it's confirmed!), they may end with some embarassing "thank you" make-out session with my hubby (maybe no friends). And maybe some Benadryl for his puffy Guitar Hero eyes and sneezy nose.
So thanks to my friends and family for a great Birthday!

Smart Walls

Thought these book shelves were pretty cool. Mostly because of the way they look against a dark wall like this. A few rotated differently with sassy spined volumes would look pretty great.
Found on Velocity.

Young Expression

The state of my car after the Duck Creek weekend. It took me a few days to find time to get it washed, but the day Elliet decided to add her own touch, I found the time. :-)
It says:
"Ellie really loves horses and kitties"

Deep in Duck

Last weekend we decided to head up to Duck Creek. Scott's family has a cabin up there and we don't take advantage of it much, but with all the snow UT saw in the past weeks we thought it would be fun. You know, couple of days in the mountains, relaxing, cooking yummy things, watching movies, etc.....Well, we arrived in the dark to discover that the driveway was not plowed since the last storm. This was not good because there was about 4+ feet on the ground. So getting the kids from the car to the cabin over 100 feet away in soft snow was not super duper fun. The best was when I took a step, sunk deep and my shin made firm contact with a submerged branch. But we made it! Once inside the fortress we got the kids in blankets, a movie on and I got the fire going. **Brief subject detour--- I forgot how much I love making fires. Not in a pyro way, but in a game way! One match, not much kindling, nice soft blows to hear that wood crack...loved it. Nerdy, whatevs. Soot on your face is so now. Okay... back to the weekend** Even though our arrival had some bumps, I was still enjoying myself. It was cool up there in the dark and getting things all settled. Scott and I unloaded the car and while he worked on excavating the snowmobiles from the garage, my job was to move the car to a vacant, plowed driveway. I stood there by the car for a minute in the dark staring up at the many stars in the void silence... so incredible! And with that positive spirit, I put the car in reverse and got it nicely stuck in a snow bank. Lovely. So those stars kept me company as I dug out the car for the next 30 minutes. :-) Finally rescued the car and got it parked. The next day our friends joined us and we went sledding on the street in front. Turns out that the hill which assisted in coasting my car to a bank was also fabulously snow packed for super sledding fun. The weather was wonderfully warm and bright so we stayed out there for a while.
The rest of the day we hung out inside, played games with kids, had long conversations and relaxed. Sunday morning we did a little more with the snowmobiles and even towed the kids around on a sled through the neighborhood. A short but fun weekend was had by all.
Next time we're bringing the snowshoes for sure.
(And obviously you can tell in the pic that my trail running shoes do not a snow boot make. Do you think I wore out Sadie with my mad sled skillz?)

Spensy Meds

Saw these restored vintage apothecary jars here and my heart began to race...
"How fab are THESE for Halloween!", says the voice in my head.
I anxiously click the link to have my hopes squashed at the $495 price tag. For a measely 10 bottles! There should still be old drugs in them for that price. Ah well. Still great. Mom, Juls, other Halloween-obsessed fans...if we start now I bet we could accumulate a 'nice grouping' (as Gene Wilder would say) and make some fakies. Experiment... begin!
(They have some rad misc. items worth checking out as well, esp. the vintage phones. Perfect for that flat in France.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARTY!

Today is my brother's Birthday. Marty is my Irish twin! He was my partner in crime growing up and today receives his honorary photo-shopped Party Hat! Do you remember:
-Playing Mario Brothers for hours as kids?
-Sneaking out to go to the Carnival? (And making us come home early...wuss)
-Sleeping on the trampoline, TPing time and time again? The Bishop's house was still legendary! Do you remember how fun that felt to do it in our bare feet on the warm sidewalks in the moonlight... and we ran into that neighbor who was a cop and he actually helped us?! SO great.
-Waking up at the crack of dawn for the bus in the freezing cold? Driving Grandpa's Cheyenne Super, sneaking Dad's NuSkin shakes for breakfast on the way? Those were coooooold on cold mornings....
-Driving to the Larsen's for Spring Break in the CRX. Um... going over 100pmh at times. (Sorry, Dad.)
-Sunbathing at Powell. Cliff jumping, jet skiing and water ballooning...
-Listening to the Beatles every road trip making it part of our blood now...
-Giggling over yogurt store innuendo's so hard until we couldn't breathe?
Good times.
He is, dare I say, the most 'responsible' of us Patch kids. Wise beyond his years and always likes to have fun. Marty, I love you! I hope you had a great Birthday and got to watch nine movies.

Oh Yes. They are coming.

Could I have used smaller images? Sure I could have. But I care not, which is why I swiped the biggest ones directly off of the Girl Scout Cookies website. I have no shame in this. They are that good. You can type in your zip code and find out where to find them when distribution begins.
These are my faves. Perhaps if I hang a bathing suit on a hanger from my cupboard hardware, it will help me resist.
But as the Borgs have poetically professed, "Resistance is FUTILE!"

Lately

Alas, I haven't been in much of a posting mood. My time of late has been occupied with unexciting things like finally changing air filters, taking down the last Christmas tree (the upside down monster), other random home mish mash, etc. We have had a few interesting things that I need to journal though, so lucky you!
Item one: our dryer caught on fire. Yep. Have no fear though, nothing too dramatic. I smelled smoke and saw something burning but it was actually in the dryer, not the drum part where the clothes were, but behind that! So bascially, I could do nothing but aim a squirt bottle stream through the back vent like an idiot. Luckily it went out on it's own even though the thing smoked for twenty minutes and made my house smell nasty for a a few days. But Scott and I took it apart, cleaned it and now it's right as rain. And yeah, as I type that I thought the same thing you probably just did- how it would be heeLARious if in two weeks I am posting about my house burning down. Please no.
Item two: I cut the girls hair. So, Jeannine- I think you need to bring your tools next time you come and correct my efforts. Still, Sadie looks so cute with short hair. She has wanted it short for a while. It's like the reduced hair weight has given her more skipping and tippy-toe powers. And Elliet got bangs ("I got BANGS! Myhairissonow"). Now she has ceased eating her hair and they look rather cool. We were driving home from school this week and while looking out the window she told me she wanted all the kids to go home and say to their Moms, "Mom? There is a girl in my class named Ellie and she got bangs.". Totally made me laugh. I'll get some pics eventually.
Item three: Luke pulled a button out of his nose. Now, this is what makes this so funny. I was giving them a bath. Luke gets out, I'm drying him off and he blows his nose a little and... ew- I see a little B surfacing (Not hamburger, but sounds like) so I grab a tissue and tell him to wait. He says to me, "No Mom- I can git it, it's my button." And I'm returning with the tissue saying, "A Button? It's not a button, Luke...." as I shove the tissue in his face and tell him to blow. He obeys and I feel "it" enter the tissue. I'm a little grossed out but to prove that I am right, I open the tissue and say, "See Luke? Look- we got it! Look at the yucky..." and guess what, it actually was a button! Then he smugly smiles at me. And promptly received a kind lecture on never doing that again.
PS- Something I must document is his way to express a small measurement. He says "Leetle tiny" and holds up his fingers like he's about to pinch you. "Elliet, when we raced I still beat you by a leetle tiny". "Mom, I finished my oatmeal... but not really, there is still a leetle tiny".

This week we have had marvy weather. I am talking high 60's, low 70's even! It has been giving me some much needed sun therapy. We've gone to the park nearly every day, I can drive with the windows down, music up and hair all shennanigan. I really start to feel the craving for summer and sunshine in January. All the catalog gods are teasing with swimwear sales (btw- anyone else disappointed in the VS swim issue? Nothing cool in there) and linen. It's a good thing we live where we do. March is not far away and I'm getting trés ready to shed some sweaters. Does that mean it's time to stop eating cookies? %$#*.

All Things New

So I know I said something about change happening on the 1st. Um... Happy new blog layout! I know, not that exciting but change can foster progression and I'm all for that. I like the feeling of a new year and the motivation that it brings. Don't you find that a cool feeling in itself? The desire to improve? I think it's awesome to see people desiring to be better and trying new things. One example: The gym is crowded, people are walking around the park by my house, etc. I know it's difficult to get out there and start to act on something new and unfamiliar, but I feel like giving them a pat on the back like a proud Mom. That is awesome that they are taking action. Can't we all relate to that? Maybe it's because we know that, to someone on the outside it may look like a simple walk in the park, but inside you know that it took a lot to get you out there. And that is the magical growth. You do it for you, not for anyone else. That confidence from acting on an honest desire is priceless. I know, so touching... sniff*sniff*
Maybe I'll get that encouraging pat when I attempt a garden this year or try to be a better mother, wife and friend. Maybe I'll get one from Stacy & Clinton when I try to use more of my wardrobe. Shyeah.
There were some tough lessons in 2008, so what do I do about it? Regret or grow?
On we go into 2009... I'm ready to ask foolish questions, make mistakes in order to learn and try to be another year better.

Old School Love

Found this book of repro vintage valentines at Target the other day. You know, on one of those trips where you go to get only two things (Blokus was one of them- everyone should have that game) and you end up leaving with... ahem... fifteen or some such amount. Anyway, thought these would be cool to use in some sort of seasonal decor thing so I figured for $4.99 I could buy now and figure later. Any ideas? They even have flocking on them and pieces to assemble, like petals to put on a flower for 'Loves me, Loves me not'. Clever.

Cold Play

I promise this is the last of long posts for a while. Finally caught up.
We were going to stay home during the week of New Years but decided last minute to head up to UT. A few reasons: See family, kids could play in the snow, I could get my hair done (way overdue as my good friend does it and we haven't been in town for months) AND we could go snowmobiling in Brianhead on the way back... celebrate New Years, kick it, etc...
So most of Monday was prep to head up and late Tuesday afternoon we arrived. I feel kind of bad because I think we were all tired from holiday hooplah, but my family was so great to make efforts to get together to have fun. Jess suggested we go ice skating so almost all of us went. It was fun to be at a small outdoor rink. The kids have never been so they were excited. I also need to thank my dear siblings for taking turns help hold up my kids.... Scott and I were a little outnumbered! Before skating we went to lunch and I happened to bump into an old high school friend that I recently reconnected with on FB. Imagine that! So cool to see her and her family. Among the skating and cocoa, we fit in an Ikea trip, watched movies (Lars & the Real Girl (great film- I had no idea it was so good)), played games, ate sushi, went to Comedy and shopped. We even got to attend the regular family lunch so I could see my Grandmother. It was especially neat to have all of us together with her- My Dad & Mom, all my siblings + our kids.
We had a wonderfully quiet New Years Eve. Have fun Ryan Seacrest freezing your fanny off in NYC. No thanks. :) We also went and visited Scott's sister and family. That is always fun to have the cousins play together while we catch up. And guess what? Trevor let me play RockBand with he and his friend. I played the drums. I was horrible. I am hooked. I want it. And PS- Maybe this is old news but Jen tells me they are coming out with a Beatles version!?!? Um.... I will SO be owning that. I foresee a Beatle-a-thon at Powell this summer. Can't buy me love? Yes you can. It's called RockBand.
We were going to head to Brianhead on Friday but decided we were too lazy so we stayed and I'm glad we did. There was a fresh new fall of snow that night so we had great snow for sledding on Saturday. My parent's good friends across the street have a big hill down their back yard that they offered to us, so we walked across the way. They all live in a semi-culdesac so the snow plow left a big pile of snow right in front of their house from a storm a week before. It has been an annoyance but was fun for the kids. They climbed up and down that all week and slid down the face of if. Here is Sadie: Queen of the mountain.
You can see that there were only a couple of new inches, but enough to have some great sledding.
And Scott especially had a good time in his favorite mini-sled. Like how he's carving a big green streak behind?
All this winter play does make me a little envious that I can't do some snow sports where I live. I miss skiing/snowboarding and that absence of sound when it snows in the trees. I want to snow shoe and play.... but man, it's cold! I've become a desert rat and I sure don't miss driving in it. So guess what!? I'll visit it.... which is what we will now do with Brianhead around the corner. More snow play coming soon.

Christmas Day

It finally came! And this year the kids beat us downstairs....ooops. One tradition that I grew up with was the baracade blocking us from getting to our presents before the Parents. My Dad always had something up to halt our attempt, whether it was ghetto like a piece of paper attached to packing tape across the doorway or some elaborate ribbon gate... the message always clearly said, "Do Not Pass!". I forgot to do that this year so Scott and I groggily hurried down after the kids while they discovered their bikes and toys. Still so fun to see them excited. We had to hurry and open everything in order to join the rest of our family by 9am. The kids received some great things from Papa & Nana in Utah, Jeannine, Mom & Dad and Santa. My parents hooked us up with a lot of food storage this year and a wheat grinder (which I have already put to use- yum!). Elliet especially liked her stocking sunglasses. She forgot to keep her pajamas on and got dressed in that holiday colored getup before coming down so she had to get her pj's back on before we left. Funny girl.
Once we arrived at the Leaver's, we did what I mentioned on the C-Eve post. We all went to the top of the stairs, Bobba got the video camera ready, and each family descended the stairs in their holiday pj's. As we all sat their crowded in the hallways waiting our turn, I tried to persuade Scott to strip down and wrap a bath towel around him but he wouldn't. That would have been a great memory, no? I think so, too. Party pooper.
Down the stairs we went, into the family room, divied up the prezzies and began to open. So fun to see what everyone shared with one another and why. Scott's family is always so generous-- I mean, look at that loot! It's fun to feel a little like a kid and be surprised at what they give. Afterwards we did what any family would do from such a chore. We ate. Nothing like a great brunch to round off a nice long day of laziness and playing. The rest of the day we were complete bums. Sitting around visiting and catching up with everyone, watching movies, playing guitar hero and doing puzzles. Oh wait- nightmarish puzzles aren't your idea of a good time? Me either- and yet, what is that magnetic pull a puzzle posesses which lures you in? This puzzle was some kind of 'Clue' puzzle. Get this: you are supposed to assemble the darn thing without any idea of what the scene is. THEN you're supposed to solve the mystery by discerning clues within. Bah! It was a miracle we finished the thing. And yes, I'm exhaggerating the pain because we were laughing and complaining together throughout so all in all, it was fun. After memorializing the torture with photos, we broke it down, put all the pieces back in the box, wrapped it in a metal chain and tossed it in the sea.
It was a wonderful day spent with family and relaxing. We didn't get home until late that evening and just walked over our tornado of morning mess right to bed. The rest of the weekend we did more activities with family and took down the decorations. Well, all but the lights outside and our weird upside down tree thing. Some years I am a little sad because the house always feels so bare when you remove everything, but not this year. It felt so cluttery to have things spread everywhere.... I couldn't wait to put it all away so I have been relishing in the bare-ness.
Anyway, it was a great Christmas 2008. I am grateful for my family, Scott's family and especially my own little family. My husband is an angel through and through and I love him dearly. And hey- I mean, look at the guy... he's down right delicio-so. We have so much to be grateful for and wish you all the best in your New Year. Merry Merry!

Happy New Sounds

You know that slider that controls your computer volume? Slide it up and shimmy in your socks to this one. 2008 marked one of my favorite years for music. I hope this one is the same! Here's to hoping....Enjoy!

Christmas Eve

This year we spent Christmas with Scott's family. His parents and sister + husband already live here, so the remaining two siblings & their families joined us. It's always fun to have everyone here.
I don't know about you, but we were still trying to finish things even during that afternoon. I still didn't have much time to do all the handmade things I wanted to, but was able to give Scott what I started (It's in AcadeMe if you are interested). By 4pm we were ready for Christmas Eve dinner at their home. Always yummy and fun to visit while the kids all ran around with cousins.
We did a few traditions that get better every year. After dinner we all gather in the living room and read the Nativity story in Luke. As we do so, the kids take turns placing different characters from the nativity on the table. This year Mimi had a kid-proof version which proved to be much better. They quietly played with it as we read and then we pulled out a few other Christmas stories. Trevor, the oldest cousin played some carols on the piano as we sang and then.... time for opening pajamas! Scott's family has always had a tradition to do this- open pj's on C Eve and then on Christmas morning, they (now we) all come down the stairs wearing our pj's before heading toward the tree. This year Scott and I opted out on having pj's of our own since we accumulated so many from the past years. Turns out we were the only adults to do so and naturally, it was noticed. The jokes ensued because Scott 'confessed' that he doesn't wear anything to bed. At all. Next thing we know, Elliet is ripping off her clothes and shouted, "Who wants to see me naked?" as she started to get on her pj's. The timing was so perfect and had us all laughing so hard. Good times....
After getting the kids in their pj's, we had dessert and then headed home to get ready for Santa. This is getting better every year with the kids getting older to understand. We put out the reindeer food on the driveway, put out cookies and milk and tucked them into bed. Once Scott and I got things set up we watched a little "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and turned in. Fun fun. I seriously considered making some noise on the roof. But think I need to wait a year or so so they aren't scarred from fear. Does anyone else do that? If so, tell me how it goes over! Sounds fun to me....

Good Riddance 2008

"Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every New Year find you a better man." - Benjamin Franklin