Before we moved out to Virginia dad told me he had a conference in DC every February. So we had our first visitors scheduled before we even had a place to live. When I tearfully hugged my mom goodbye in the Golden Corral parking lot before I boarded a flight to leave the only state I had called home she said "It's only 3 months. I will see you soon!" And although it didn't feel soon enough, the day finally came. We scored a tender mercy and had beautiful weather the entire time they were at our house. (Until we drove them back to DC, then it snowed the entire way)
The whole time they were here I was reminded how much happier life is when it is full with people you love. The time went by way too quickly but I did manage to take a million pictures. Someday I will learn how to stretch moments into days with this camera of mine.
We walked along the James River Saturday. The river was really high and muddy and the beautiful greenery that lined the paths last time Chris and I walked them was dead and gone. The sun was shining however, and we all enjoyed soaking up some Vitamin D.
We were lucky to have Jenny come too, although I tried to convince her to spread out the visits and come a month later. If I could convince all my family to just take a week life would be great!
Kaden Taycee and Grandma stopped on every bench for just a minute to feel the sun on their face.
We stopped at one of the iron mills where they built the cannons for the war. This awesome lady was an actor pretending to be a factory worker making bullet charges. She had a whole back story and even spoke with an irish accent. The kids thought she was fabulous and she taught them how to pack a charge.
Sunday after church we made Kebobs.
They were amazingly good, as always. It was our first grill of the year.
The kids favorite new game is headbandz, Sunday night we played a few rounds.
Monday Chris had to go to work and Dad had to go to DC for his conference. Mom and Jenny stayed and we spent the day playing a few games and mom tried to help me figure out how this new climate affects my bread dough. I am not sure I have it mastered but we did have 3 yummy loafs of warm bread and a pan of cinnamon rolls. Tuesday Chris and I drove mom and Jenny back to DC to meet up with dad. They were kind enough to offer to watch the kids while Chris and I attended an endowment session at the DC temple. Because of the snow traffic was a nightmare and we arrived an hour later than planned. We felt bad leaving everyone in the car for another 2 hours while we did a session but they insisted it would be ok. It has been a few months since we have been able to go to the temple between the distance and lack of babysitters. It was amazing to sit and soak in the sweet spirit that can only be attained within the temple walls. I was reminded of the importance temple attendance holds to keep my cup spiritually full.
After the temple we went downtown and met up with Mckell and her cute kids. We decided to go the the Natural History Museum.
Kaden and Taycee thought the animals were awesome. Booster thought the whole thing was rather dull and wanted to run and play hide and seek the entire time. Next time we will leave her home. :)
We stayed til the museum closed and I was forced to say goodbye. Some day I hope visitors can come and when they leave I won't ugly cry. Today wasn't that day.
When dad hugged me he said "we're not that far away." Uh yeah dad you are, pretty much as far away as you could be and still remain in the same country. *sigh* Facetime is a wonderful thing. I am grateful for new opportunities and chances to grow. But I will forever be most grateful for the people who built my "home".
I am a lover of L-O-V-E. I am a sucker for a good love story and "love songs" is a channel on my pandora. So it seems fitting that I was born on the day that celebrates love; who better to celebrate it with than my very own little loves.
Chris is amazing. I think I have mentioned that a time or two. But true to his amazing self he always makes Valentines day/ my birthday a momentous occasion. Sometimes I feel guilty because he does so much to make sure I love the day that I am sure he hates it.
Last year I was pregnant and deathly sick on my birthday, despite Chris's best efforts and planning nothing went according to plan. I am not sure if he felt pressure to make up for it this year, but boy did he.
I started the day with breakfast in bed. Waffles strawberries cream bacon eggs orange juice and a strawberry smoothie. It was all delicious. I also was greeted by four happy faces and eager hands filled with flowers cards and chocolate.
Then I got to exercise and shower... all by myself. Seriously, that might have been the best part of the day. Nobody stopped me to ask for a smoothie or help with "poo poo" no one was hanging on my leg or opening the shower door twenty times just to ask if I was done yet. It was a great morning.
It didn't stop there. Once I was all ready Chris handed my my phone with GPS coordinates and a sealed envelope I was to follow the GPS and not open the envelope til I arrived. When I arrived at A salon, I opened the envelope to find a certificate for a 3 hour spa treatment. It was heaven.
I came home to a home-made bunt cake and take out. And ended the night with a dance party on the kitchen floor with my very favorite people.
I think I cried when we got in bed because I had to wait 365 more days til my birthday came again. :)
Chris was so worried about this cake, his track record for baking hasn't been great lately. (though normally he does quite well in the kitchen) He was quite relieved when the cake tasted as good as it looked.
Seriously I think we need more days where people take time just to write nice notes to each other. :)
1. Kaden never stops making us laugh. A few of his latest -- I was heading upstairs to exercise but before I left the kitchen I went over and gave Chris a kiss. Taycee made her usual "eeew" sound and Kaden said very matter-of-factly, "it's okay Taycee, Mom's just giving dad a pep-talk."
Kayden often has random bruises. One day a bruise appeared under his eye, when I asked him where it came from he went to look in the mirror. He came back with a very defeated look on his face and said "ah mom, I just got knocked out!"
2. Taycee has her funny moments as well. On the way home from the store we were talking about missionary work. I was telling her not everyone knows Heavenly Father or believes in him. She said "mom, that is so sad. He is such a good Heavenly Father. He doesn't spank us or anything." (We don't spank for punishment so I'm not sure where that came from). We were discussing chores during FHE and I was reminding the kids that there were four chores that had to be done by 8:00am in order to get credit. I asked Kaden and Taycee if they remembered what they were. Taycee enthusiastically raised her hand and said "make my bed and rub your feet!" Chris was rolling and asked if I had implemented a new chore regiment. (For the record the chores were brush teeth, make bed, say prayers and get dressed/put pajamas away)
3. Brielle is cutting her first tooth at nearly 8 months. She is miserable and it hurts me to watch her hurt.
4. Addison started this things about 6 months ago. Whenever she eats something she really likes she very loudly "nom nom nom's" the entire time. Sometimes when she knows she is going to really like it she starts the sound while the food is on the way to her mouth. She has even mastered making the sound while drinking. It is rather hilarious, but it makes feeding her snacks during church to keep her quite pointless. Put a piece of cereal near that girls mouth and it is a full ten seconds of very satisfied nom noming (I am sure that isn't a word) There really is only one way to truly appreciate it and that is to witness it. I never seem to have a camera handy during mealtimes so I gave her a handful of cereal this afternoon just document the awesomness.
5. I went grocery shopping today and when I slid my card and it asked for my zip code I didn't push the 8 before realizing I am now in a 2 zip code area. Baby steps.
6.We have had a lot of "oh we're not in Utah anymore" moments. But none were bigger than the moment Kaden poured himself his own cup of beer at the neighbors house. He thought it was lemonade. I thought that it must be beer because it was in a large metal canister in ice with a hose attached but when his little friend from school poured herself a cup and he told me it was lemonade I figured he knew something I didn't. It wasn't until the mom standing next to me said "uh, you know that is beer right?" that I went leaping on to the deck and removed the cup from his hand. After a few "what can't I drink that" and "what is beer" questions the situation was under control. And I am sure I only looked slightly oblivious... #imissthebubble
7. Kaden brought home is first report card here and he has "Exceeds expectations" in every subject. Every subject but art that is where he got a "Satisfactory" he said to me afterwards "yeah mom, art just isn't my thing" Chris was never prouder. :D
8.The snow has just kept coming and school just keeps being canceled. But it does make for some extra play time in the snow. The kids even got to build their first Virginia snowman.
9. My mom and dad and sister are coming for their first visit this Friday. I almost cry every time I think about it. I didn't realize how homesick I was til I opened a birthday card from mom and dad and had a hard time reading it through the tears. #iamgoingtokidnapthem
10. Chris has now had his work published 3 times and is closing in on his fourth. I wish I could read them and explain them to you, but I can't. I married a smart smart man.
11. Addison had surgery a few weeks ago they put tubes back in her ears (the first set fell out after 7 months) and removed her adenoid. I was hoping for some improvement in her speech and learning but was discouraged to find that it seemed the same. However today she walked up to her purple octagon on the floor that goes to her shape sorter and said "PUPLE!" I think I squealed I was so happy.
12. Taycee is big in Dr. Seuss books these days. She read The foot book and Green Eggs and Ham all by herself last week.
13. Kaden and I went on a date a few weeks ago. We went to his schools night at Chick-Fil-A. He was so excited to be going on a date with just him and I. We got our food and sat at the table. On the way in he noticed the play area and had asked if he could play. I said "sure after we eat". He shoveled his food down and was done before I had taken 6 bites. He jumped off his chair and I said "Hey where are you going?" The conversation that followed went like this
K: I am done eating I am going to play on the toys
M: But we are on a date you can't just ditch me
K: (pause) Oh.... so what am I suppose to do
M: You are suppose to stay here and talk to me while I finish eating
K: Oh, well I didn't know that mom, I have never done this dating stuff
M: Yep that is what you do so sit back down
K: (thinking)) hmmm.. so I just sit here and talk to you while you eat?
M: Yep
K: Well that's BORING! Can this not be a date? Can this just be a regular dinner.
hahaha, I made him talk to me for a few more minutes before I relented and he went to play.
But I did learn a few things like Curtis is his friend at school but sometimes he forgets he is just a kid and he tries to be a bossy boss. But (in Kaden's words) if you just ignore him he remembers he is a kid and stops being a bossy boss.
14. Taycee is a Diva in her own right. She was shaking her stuff down the Wal-mart isle the other day and was being cheered on by a few black ladies. I believe the phrase "yeah, you shake it girl" was in there somewhere. She couldn't have been more pleased.
15. Kaden eats like a horse, a starving food deprived horse. For his lunch I usually pack a sandwich a granola bar, whatever fruit I have on hand (usually a banana or an apple) a bag of chips or pretzels a drink and a dessert of some sort ( cookie, twinkie, fruit snack) Since this is more than double what I eat for lunch I thought it was probably sufficient. One morning while I was packing his lunch I said "Kaden are the lunches I pack you okay?" to which he replied "yeah, but mom I just expect more."
16. We have been watching a lot of Olympics and I am in awe of those athletes. The dedication and skills they have are inspiring. I want them all to win. And I think that in some life I will be an ice dancer.
17. We finally gave in and went to see Frozen last weekend. Taycee was wide eyed and all smiles the entire time. She asked when she could watch it again 3 seconds after we were in the car. For now we just listen to the sound track over and over.
18. We have been in Virginia for 3 months, our house feels like a home. I can get to Wal-Mart Target, preschool, elementary school, church, the mall, Hobby Lobby, and Lowes without needing my GPS. However I did make a wrong turn on my way home from Wal-Mart one night and was lost for 20 minutes on back roads with no shoulder, no street lights and no public buildings. The trees here are too dense to see through and they make the roads very dark. My phone had a dead battery and I had a car riding my bumper and honking it's horn. When I finally made it home I broke down in sobs. So there's that.
I read this for the hundredth time a few days ago, and thought of you for the hundredth time.
Because you my girl just may be the fiercest of us all. You didn't start out that way. You came into this world gentle and quiet. You stayed my baby for much longer than any of your siblings. You would gently lay your tiny hands against my cheek and let them rest there for minutes. Many referred to you as their "angel baby" because you were just that a little tiny angel. Not to say you weren't a fighter. No, you have always been a fighter. Sometimes I hurt a little to think of all the health battles you have already fought. You started out on an uphill battle, but you always fought and you have always won. You were my silent martyr to it all, then you turned two, and every ounce of energy and fiest and personality that you had been storing for the last 2 years burst out of every inch of your body. And it hasn't stopped bursting.
You have one pace these days, and it is turbo. You didn't walk til you were 18 mo. and now you just run. You didn't roll or sit or crawl or do much moving til much later than most babies and now it would take shackles and a tranquilizer to keep you still. You run, jump, roll, dance and shake til mommy is past exhaustion and then you do it some more.
We call you The Boost or Booster which I suppose stemmed from your nick name "Addi Boo" when you were still a baby. But you left behind all baby and the name transformed right along with you. You have handled the change of states with ease, of course your world has always consisted of mommy, daddy, brother, sisters and toys. So really this place is not much different than before. And you already had your first surgery here, so there's that as well.
I was looking through my pictures recently and felt like you weren't present in many of them. And then I realized it is because 90% of pictures I take of you look like this,
And if I beg and plead for you to sit still and look at me I get something more like this...
So most all shots of you are action shots with a little bit of blur. And even those have to be taken in a room where I can shut the doors to keep you somewhat contained.
You have been with me for 32 months, and we have braved a lot in those 32 months you and I. From house quarantines to surgeries and physical therapy to skin biopsy. Sometimes I worry that this will always be life for you, going from one doctors office to the next always waiting for that next "medical shoe" to drop. I have a feeling that even if it is you will still be running 100mph in between each visit. :)
We have been really working on talking lately. I don't know if you prefer not to talk or if all the ear surgeries make all those sounds jumble in your brain. Maybe you just know that your big sister will say everything for you and then some. But words do not come. This is not to say that you are silent. You my daughter are anything but that. You have ways of making your opinions known, and they can fill every corner of the house. :) Which is probably why I keep pushing those words so much. I feel your lack of verbal communication frustrates you more than me at times. I just know you have stories to tell, we just need to help you find the words. Perhaps one day all those stored up words will come pouring out much like your personality did.
For now we will just run marathons from the moment your feet touch ground. We will sort shapes while I repeatedly say "purple" "blue" "yellow". We will look through your shelves of "baku" (books) though you never let me read past the 3rd page before you pull it out of may hands and flip through all the pages yourself. We will say "ni ni luh you" (night night, love you) and "bye, ee aay rr" ( bye see you later) 50 times each night because that is the amount of times you get out of bed and have to be put back. We will ride your pony and say "woo hoo das fun" (woo hoo that's fun). You will color on paper til the second I turn around then you will color on walls. You will dump the stuffed animals 5 times a day and I will pick them up 6. You will beg to go "sie" (outside) and maybe it will warm up enough that we actually can. You will torture the "puppy" (which is one of the only words you actually say correctly) but luckily she will still lick your fingers and make you giggle. You will find a way to get your hands on every toothbrush in the house and hide them in un-findable places. You will teach me more about patience, worry, exhaustion, pride and joy. Because you might be little Boost but you are fierce.
You are growing, against every wish I make you still grow and grow. Somehow I believed that if I wished it hard enough you might slow down. But you, my love, just keep growing and changing and learning and locking those perfectly chubby finger tighter around my heart.
But I still keep wishing. I keep hoping that if I hold you a little longer the time won't slip by. If I just sit and watch your beautifully long lashes flutter on your oh so kissable cheeks for a few seconds more maybe I will be able to kiss them forever.
If I hold my breath maybe those few seconds when you lock eyes with me and stare into my soul before you drift off into dreamland will linger into minutes, and hours and days.
If I squeeze you just a little tighter, and kiss you just a little more, if I wish just a little harder somehow maybe your perfect 7 month self will stay just that way. Maybe you always find wonder in the way a rattle makes noise, and the way your tiny little toes can wiggle. Maybe you will never have to see the sad and the weary that comes with life. Maybe your innocent eyes will always just see love and joy.
But then again beautiful girl, you would miss so much this way. You would miss the wonder that comes from catching a snowflake on your tongue and the accomplishment that comes from completing the thing that has made you so weary. You would miss all the joy that comes with the sad, and the beauty that can always be found when you look. So perhaps it is best that you grow, for you have a peace to bring to this world that so many need.
But for now I think I will still take just a little more time at the side of your crib as we talk about our days plans. I will kiss you a little more, and breath in your smell a little deeper, and maybe wish just a little it would stay forever.
Taycee and I have matching outfits. We didn't buy them at the same time, in fact it took me quite a while to realize we actually had matching outfits at all. But when I brought it to Taycee's attention she would not rest til we wore them on the same day. At first I was a bit hesitant to walk through the halls of preschool wearing the same outfit as my 5 year old daughter. But then I saw the pure joy and pride on her beaming face and all my reservations melted.
So the question (or really no question at all) is who wore it better?
True to the norm all things look better in child sizes.
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