Crazy Night

The weirdest stuff happened to us tonight. Like "twilight zone" weird! Before we headed off as a family to watch Mark play some b-ball, he heard our dog, Putter, barking hysterically in one of the corners of our backyard. So he went to check out what the heck was going on. (Putter is a well-behaved dog, so this was way out of the norm for him). It just so happened that there was ANOTHER dog, a pit bull, in our backyard hiding behind one of our canary palm trees. We figured out it was the neighbor's dog, who jumped up on it's dog house and hopped up on the block wall, then launched into our yard...crazy! The neighbors weren't home, so Mark had to lure the dog with some treats to get him out and returned it to their backyard.

After that freaky ordeal, we went on to the stake center to experience another. Bryanna wasn't having it with me as I was talking with an old friend, so she, as usual, started investigating her surroundings, then bolted for the door. I get so frustrated with her when she does this (she tends to be more difficult in the evening if a nap didn't occur, and my patience runs thin at the end of the day) The little stinker was running down the hall at full speed and abruptly turned to go the opposite direction. This is when I wish the law of inertia didn't exist. (a refresher course in physics: things in motion will stay in motion, unless acted upon by an outside force). I could hear her crying down the hall before I got to her. She sprained her left ankle, and just our luck, we are supposed to leave town for the weekend, UGH! (Ya think this might teach her not to run off??) Luckily, there was a doctor there, and he said she would baby it for a couple of days, but should be fine after that.

Bryanna couldn't walk on it, even after we got home, so I asked Mark if he could find someone to help give a blessing. Thanks to Justin Baker for coming over so last minute!! He's our "go-to guy" whenever our family needs something!! I'm so grateful for such good friends we have in our ward and their wonderful example of service! I felt the spirit so strong as the blessing was said, which helped ease my frustration and concern for her. These are the times when I feel so blessed to know I can count on my husband to perform such sacred priesthood ordinances.

Making good choices

Today was great. My sister, Jen, and I played so well in our tennis match. I've learned that sizing up your opponents during warm-up isn't always the best way to approach a winning strategy b/c you usually wait to pull out your secret weapons until the match begins. The other team seemed tough and unbeatable, hitting their ground strokes with ease and grace during warm-up. I kept thinking that our work was cut out for us, and the match would be longer than I hoped for. It's always nice to win in two short sets! Surprisingly, we cruised through the first set, with a score of 6-2, which almost seemed too good to be true. I should have followed my instincts from warm-up because we let up in the second set. The score was the same, but not in our favor (darn!) We got our "mojo" back in the third, and this is where the battle began. The evaluation I came to during warm-up kept proving itself right. We were always up a break, but they came to break us back. The inevitable part was coming, a tiebreaker for the set AND match. The outcome didn't favor us, but we played our hearts out. Little did we know that the team lost only by ONE game...the tiebreaker teetered not only our doubles match, but the team loss too, bummer!! Oh well, my racket has seen better days. It couldn't have been a prettier day to be outside playing and getting in some good exercise, so needless to say, I was still satisfied, despite the score!

After all that running around, I was starving. As a team, we headed to lunch, and by then I could eat a horse. For me, when I get to the point of shaky starvation, it is so hard for me to make smart choices and eat healthy. But being so inspired by my good friend, Christene, and her quest for healthier living, I couldn't just throw away all the calories I burned chasing after the little yellow ball for two and a half hours!! So thanks Christene! Even under the pressure of my growling, no, roaring stomach, I managed to choose cottage cheese over french fries, and a tortilla wrap instead of the bread. This is just one of my weaknesses, making healthy choices when I can't think straight. But today, I did it, and I felt so much better about myself. I'm so glad I didn't wallow in disappointment of losing the match in some fatty french fries!!! I hope this is the start of a perpetual cycle for good choice making. Thanks Christene (and all the others who inspire me to strengthen my weaknesses; I will have to take time out to share about those who help me in different areas some other time!) Her example is giving me lots of courage to eat better!

My little helper

 
 
 
 

Finally, today both the kids are napping at the same time...this is very rare. In fact I couldn't get Banana to take a nap for the past 5 days. Not getting her nap in is taking a bit of a toll on her little body, she woke up with a stuffy nose. Let's hope it doesn't turn into anything nasty!

Bryanna is great! Yesterday, after I laid Maddox down for his morning nap, I came back down stairs. Bryanna pointed out the crumbs he spilled from his high chair and said, "Mamma, he make a mess of your floor!" I replied, "Yeah, you're right. Can you help me clean it?" Before I knew it, she walked over to the closet where the vacuum hose hangs, opened the door and was ready to do the job! She just needs a little help hooking it into the wall, but from there she turns it on and cleans my floor. There is nothing like training my future house cleaners early!

So Grateful

I went to a baby shower that my cousin, Stacey Hawley, hosted and found that she is a blogger too. Reading through her different Posts, this one caught my eye, and ripped a piece of my heart. I haven't heard of Sheye Rosemeyer until now, and the tragedy they experienced in the last year. She is a gifted writer, and relates so well her feelings that you will need a tissue. Her main talent is photography and her blog is up for best blog photography of the year, and you can vote for it on her blog.

I so needed to read this tonight, (thank you Stacey). I was feeling a little weepy today, who knows why, but I'm blaming it on hormones. You know when you go to the movies and cry over a heart felt romance story, well this fits the shoe, except it is reality for this family. It felt good to cry the sorry tears and get them out of my system. It always makes me feel better, and then, I just naturally start to count my blessings.

I am so grateful for my little family. My sweet little Bryanna, and my snuggly, little Maddox. I am so grateful I have more days to come with them. It makes me never want to complain about being overtired, and dream about solitude, escaping to a spa to get a massage. When in reality, the place I really want to be most is with my children and husband, and if they were to leave this earth, I would regret ever thinking about becoming a professional escape artist. It motivates me to be consciously grateful for everyday I have with my spunky little spirits, though they challenge me constantly. And not to mention my best friend and all the days I have ahead with him. My life is absolutely a dream, and I thank the Lord for all he has given me.

I would recommend first reading Ava's memorial, which explains what happened. Sheye writes incredible passages with pictures that tell even more. Please visit and read her blog: http://www.sheyerosemeyer.blogspot.com/

Love that Bryanna girl

I have to sit down and write because it is the best atmosphere to do so. My fireplace is on while the rain is pouring outside and my sweet little puppy is snuggled up next to me. Today while I was shopping at Costco I had a wonderful experience, as opposed to yesterday's! I first went to grab some lunch...love the chicken bakes they have there. I had the kids in the cart and parked it to the side of the line while I got our lunch. After I ordered I went over to fill up the drink at the soda fountain, in the which Bryanna lost sight of me. I could hear her saying very loudly, "Mooooommmmy, Moooooommmmmmy!" She was repeating herself until she saw me. It was funny to me because yesterday I felt that she would rather discover the world without my assistance, run wild trying to figure it out all by herself. And I'm sure Satan is wanting me to think that it is true (of course it's not!!). Acknowledging I was gone in a very busy place and actually calling out for me today was like a light bulb went off in her brain! Glory, Glory Hallelujah! Love that sweet little girl. We all have to validate ourselves in ways of progression, even if she is singing my name in her sweet little voice and people are looking at her thinking her mom ran off, it was good enough for me!

My two kids!

So every day seems to get better for me, as a mother, until once in a while, a day like today! When you are grocery shopping and BOTH your kids are crying and everyone is staring at you. Yes, it was stressful. They are usually very reliable shopping buddies. Then earlier, at aerobics this morning, Maddox was SUPER fussy, and Bryanna misbehaving horribly. I almost put them up for sale after that.

When we decided to have another baby, I was really hoping for a different personality than Bryanna's. Don't get me wrong, I totally love her, she is wonderful, spunky, too smart (for her own good) and witty, I needed a change of pace. I just would have never guessed in a million years what kind of little spirits I would have been blessed with. Maddox can't stand to have me out of sight when on the other hand, Bryanna could care less!! How did I end up with two extreme personalities? I keep thinking it will get better and easier as Bryanna is turning 3 in two months, being more obedient, listening and following directions, training her to be a wonderful helper. But then my life would be way too easy, Heavenly Father is trying to teach me something with all the challenges of motherhood(and I just haven't caught on yet, I would think, but NO!) And so, I'm grateful for the lessons, (but wouldn't mind doing without the drama while trying to shop, which is probably asking too much!)

Below I finally got our pictures from our cruise off our camera, so they are included in a slide show! We had so much fun, the food was great, the sunny and sandy white beaches, all the shows were so entertaining, and the highlight was the comedian, he was the best comedian I've ever seen. His name was Carlos Oscar if any of you are interested. At the end of his stand up he mentioned that his mentor is Bill Crosby and they are trying to keep comedy clean and funny.

The parts that were not so fun on the cruise was getting "sea legs" after getting off the ship, missing my babies (even if they do scream at the same time while shopping at the store:-) and of course receiving the news that Mark's brother had passed away. It was unexpected and tragic. We are doing better, but a death in the family hits really hard. Time will definitely help heal our hearts, but more than anything, the Savior's atoning blood can do the most comforting. Mark is very strong and he has handled it very well. He is my hero.

Hope you like the pictures, it was nice for Mark and I to focus on each other, we thoroughly enjoyed the vacation and are trying to space out the next one so my mom will watch the kids again!

Check out my Slide Show!

Check out my Slide Show!

Getting better, not older!

I was at tennis clinic today and was thinking of the circle of life. Most of the tennis ladies on my team range from their 40's to 60's, except for me (28 years) and my sister (31 years). During our different skill practicing, I was talking with a lady who is just coming back after a knee injury and is 65 years old. She is very beautiful, and is the nicest, sweetest thing, isn't a member of the church, (but acts like she is) and has a heart of GOLD! I was sympathizing with her and her injury, and she commented to me, "Don't get old, it's not fun!" Of course she was meaning all the creeks and pains and physical ailments that naturally come with age. I actually wanted to reply something back to her like, "Well, I actually wouldn't mind getting older if it means I'm getting better." I wish so much to be the person Heavenly Father wants me to be. There is much to learn still. I see older women who seem to have become so refined in certain areas of their life, and I hope to be there one day.
My children are helping find those parts that need work in my life...if I only had the patience of Job! I hate losing patience, the outcome isn't always a pretty one! Isn't that what grandchildren are for, to prove we overcame our faults when we were mothers? If only it could be sooner than later, right? Well, the prayer I will be praying til I get it right is to not lose patience!

Family Hike

So on Saturday, we loaded up the car and took off out of town...ya right! Actually, we drove up the street and hiked the Mountain's Edge hill. It was very pleasant, mostly due to the wonderful weather over the weekend, which made it totally fun. Tons of people were out and about. The best part of hiking the trail was watching Bryanna hike most of the way up, she was a trooper! When she would get tired, she'd turn to Mark and say, "I want a hug!" I loved watching her have fun. It was challenging enough (not to mention carrying a 24 lb. baby up the hill didn't make it any easier) but short enough that kids can do it too. Next time I will definitely do the longer route now knowing what to expect. I always like to find something to do outside that gets my heat rate up so I'm not subject to my running path around my house (although that isn't so bad if I don't have to push both the kids every time in the double jogger! I like a good workout, but I'm not a masochist!!!)
If only the weather was pleasant year round...what would it be like? Would we be outside all of the time doing something fun, or would we get used to it and take the good weather for granted? I can only imagine the list of activities I would have lined up for every Saturday! If only...If only!!!

Valentine's Surprise!!!

So last night was amazing!!! Mark is so sneaky. He planned a wonderful dinner at The Bootlegger, an Italian Bistro just off of LV BLVD, just south of the outlet mall there. And then, the romancer that he is got the best seats in the house to the show LOVE, a Cirque De Solei rendition of the Beatles music...talk about AWESOME! It was so good, everyone should go see it if you get the chance, it was amazing entertainment, one of the best Cirque performances I've seen! It was totally theatrical, special effects, upbeat...everything you want in a show. Needless to say it was on the top of my Valentine Day's yet!

Tennis is fun...when you win!!!

As my mom would say, "Is the sky blue? Is the grass green?" In other words, "Guess who won their tennis match today?" Yes, I played with my sister Jen, and we pulled out the win! We lost the first set 4-6, but came back strong in the second 6-0!!I don't think I've bageled my opponents before! And we took the third set 6-2....a glorious day! Although I'm pretty sore, its worth it!

Bryanna and her "tea cups"

So Bryanna loves playing with her tea cups. I have to put them way up high so she doesn't break them if I'm not in the room while she's playing. We are sitting on my bed and she sees her pink and green striped box that holds her tea set and says, "Mama, my tea cups are awake now, time to play with them!" And I said, not realizing they were too high for her to reach, "Ok, go play with them!" Bryanna gave me the funniest look as she was thinking of a way to climb up my tall dresser to retrieve her beloved tea set! She replied to me, "No, I can't reach them, they are too high!!!" She is not an easy one to trick!