3 months of LiFe!

Are you ready for this??!! 

You've heard of speed dating? Well, this is speed blogging. A mass, catch all post about our lives over the past few months. When this post is done, I will feel a massive burden lifted off my shoulders! 

The weekend after I had Olive, Travis took the boys camping at McGaffee with some families in our ward. The boys had a lot of dirty, rowdy fun! They were filthy getting this bath, but the pictures don't really show it.

I'm documenting this, just for the fact that I think Collin will have this scar for the rest of his life. So in case I forget what happened.... there is a pipe that sticks out of our house in the backyard, about 4 feet off the ground. It goes to the furnace in the living room. And yes, absurdly, it sticks straight out of the house. I knew it was just a matter of time. Although I had repeatedly warned them, Collin ran straight into it and got a pretty good gash. The butterfly bandage didn't last too long... no band aids do on these kids. 

 Oh, did you not know?! It's FooTBaLL Season!! If he had had his phone on him, I'm sure a third game would have been playing on that too. He's a closest sports fan, my husband. It wasn't in the original marriage agreement, but I'm letting it slide. 

 I attempted the Gallup Farmer's Market. Saddest little "market" I've ever seen. But Weston found this airplane and we got some flowers, so it's all good. It was fun to just have Weston with me on this outing. My in-laws were in town so I could leave the other two. 

 Daddy time is coveted. Let me explain....

 So last month, Travis got a new calling. He spent nearly 3 hours in the stake president's office. I kept hoping that he wouldn't be a high counselor. Please, Heavenly Father, just don't make him a high counselor. Ohhh, but he did me one better. He is now the stake executive secretary. AKA, the stake president's personal assistant. Or as the stake president put it, for all intents and purposes, another counselor in the stake presidency. He is present for all the high council meetings, stake presidency meetings, PPI's, trainings, interviews, disciplinary councils, and basically anything else the stake president is at.

His first week "on the job" he was gone Sunday afternoon and night and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night. All night. Like, come home from work and run upstairs to change into his suit, then fly out the door until 9:30 or 10pm. It's awesome. I'm working real hard on my attitude. Promise. 

Honestly, the only thing that gave me hope, was thinking about my mother. She has done this for 30 years now. And it's not over. My dad is the bishop right now and that poor lady is still doing it on her own. Plus, my dad was out of town constantly for his work. I remember her crying a lot. And she will only say that she "survived", but I think she did better than that. And right now, her example is the rod I am holding on to. 

My other consolation? Well, the morning after his calling, it dawned on me. Life could be so much worse. My husband is a worthy, hard working, loving husband. I know he would choose to be home every night if he could. He admitted that while he sat in the president's office, he could only think of me. And tearfully told me that he prayed that if he couldn't be at home with me, that Heavenly Father would send me help. So if my biggest trial right now is the time my husband spends serving the Lord, I can bear that cross. At least, that's what I'll keep telling myself.

Well, let's be honest, I've got other trials... like this little beast here. Did you know that Gallup has a tarantula season?! I guess they migrate in the fall. I didn't realize this when I found this fella on my porch. The boys found him first. I would have left him, but there was no way I wanted him to find a girly tarantula and make little, hairy babies in my house, so he HAD to go. I tried hitting him with my flip flop. It was like hitting an animal! He was thick and just shuddered for a moment. So then I instructed the boys to get rocks from our yard and we started "tossing" them at him. Once he was injured enough to not run away, I crushed him with a rock. It was morbid and I don't care to think about it much. Since then I saw 3 others, but thankfully none in my house. And once I realized they were just traveling, I left the others alone.

Collin and Lilly are besties right now. This has unintended side effects. Like, for weeks, he kept telling me he wanted a tank top. Summer was near over and I couldn't figure out why he kept asking. Finally, I realized he was in fact asking me for a spaghetti strap shirt, like Lilly had. He just didn't know that that's what they were called. When we finally were on the same page, he clarified further, "And I want it tight, Mom. And maybe some of those tight pants too." (Skinny jeans.) Uhhhh, let me talk to your dad about that one, son. He never did get that "tank top", but he sure is loving watching My Little Ponies.

For quite a while, we made it out on an afternoon walk at least 3-4 times a week. We put Olive in the stroller and followed the same path, making it to the water fountain in someone's yard, then turning around and going home. We made the usual stops, and spent lots of time finding sticks and poking mud. If I was lucky, they might be wearing a rabbit mask. One time, the thought occurred to me... it's like I'm out, walking my dogs. From then on, I would giggle occasionally to myself as I pictured my little boys, stretching their legs and getting their afternoon sun, as I "walked my dogs". 

About 20 min. away, up in the "mountains" is a place called McGaffee. We spent several afternoons and evenings up there, cooking and eating, while the kids played together. Good times with good friends.

Once, I even made a Texas Sheet cake for one of our outings that was an obvious hit. :)

While we're speaking of food... why not make a random pie just because you love pie?

Not quite as pretty, is every loaf of bread I've tried making in this blasted machine!

Sometimes I just want a little elf to make dinner every night, then sometimes I get so excited about making a new recipe/food! I tried my hand at a margherita pizza and really liked it! I might even like the colors more though.

We had these cuties over for dinner one night and I'll always remember Lilly, bursting into the dining room, seeing my casserole and her eyes lighting up as she exclaimed, "This looks DELICIOUS!!!" My jaw must have slackened. She then proceeded to eat 3 helpings. Lilly, you can come over anytime!

I got Collin signed up for gymnastics, but looks like he'll only get 2 months in, because the owners are moving next week. Sad day! This activity actually wore him out. Worth every penny! Haha!

Rasputin worked there too. It's cool.

Josie Thompson came to visit us several weeks ago while Travis was out of town. We decided to make a day trip up to Farmington and had so much fun! I love talking with this girl. 

We went to Costa Vida. Taking a picture with a salad must mean love.

Just happened to run into Jessie here, then Sharon at Target.

We spent several hours at the Hathenbruck's house, visiting. I love this family. Their older daughter used to babysit for us and I carpooled with Liz since her other daughter and Collin went to preschool together. Liz has been a great example and friend to me. We miss being neighbors!

Collin sported the side part for several weeks. I loved it. As did he, until he suddenly missed his "spikes". 

And, sneeze! 

Weston was playing the stubborn card with not wanting to climb out of his crib on his own. I even put down the side slats so he could do it easier. He was climbing out in Farmington, then decided he wanted to be carried out. I can't wait til we can buy real beds for the boys!

I also bit the bullet and potty trained Weston. He was more than ready, but I was not! He loves to flush and every time, he waves at the descending waste and cheerfully says, "Bye bye poop and potty!" One time he followed it up with, "See you next time!"

The boys have spent countless hours on the driveway, riding Skitters down the sidewalk or pulling out random paraphernalia to play with. How many sports could Collin play here?

I even attempted folding laundry once while trusting Collin to push Olive around. Sketchy move on my part, but all ended well.

Does your kid ever bring you ONE square of toilet paper to blow their boogery nose?! Every.time. 

Same story for wiping. We're working on it!

Came home from a babysitter putting the boys to bed to find that Collin had bunked up with his brother. Kind of amazed that they ever fell asleep.

After I got back from visiting Rachel in Florida, Weston had a hard time letting me leave his sight. I even got a knee sucked on. We were just on the couch together when I felt something funny and looked over to see Weston absentmindedly cozying up to me while watching TV. 

One a particularly hard day, I just had to get out. I needed to get away. But there was no where to go. So I ate my lunch in the car. It wasn't 5 min. before Collin burst through the garage door, wild eyed and tears streaming down his cheeks. (Don't feel too sorry for him. This is a usual occurrence.) He seriously can't go 3 min. without needing to know where I am. 

We have spent innumerable hours at the park. We really only go to one that is pretty close to our house, Mossaman. The ward has playgroup there every Thursday morning and then I'll meet Megan there at least 2 other times during the week, it seems. Megan warned me when we moved here, that she doesn't like to go to the park alone. I thought that seemed really cautious. 

I get it now.

I went once by myself and was approached by a homeless lady asking for directions. When I told her I couldn't help her, she leaned in closer and whispered urgently, "Well then could you call the cops on HIM. (Nodding backward with her head at a drunk/high man that had previously gone unnoticed by me) He's F*@# pissing me off!" Just then, the aforementioned man staggered forward, mumbling incoherently. I literally didn't know if I should call the cops or gather my kids and run for the car. They were between me and my car, after all. Everything ended up fine, but I have a feeling this will be just one of many stories in the time to come. 

Most recently, at this park, I pulled up to playgroup only to find two teenagers, kicking back with some hookah. Collin was entranced. I was more than ticked off. And this is supposed to be the "safest" park around! Never mind the constant stray animals and urinating Indians that frequent the area.   

Alrighty, switching gears again....

Have you ever noticed that on the show, Everybody Loves Raymond, they try to portray a "lived in" house  just by throwing a bunch of stuffed animals around?? Seriously. It's supposed to be about a frazzled housewife with a bunch of little kids and their "messy" house, but they can't seem to come up with any other way to make the house messy, than by piling up the stuffed bears. It's so weird. Let me show you what a real "lived in" house looks like. 

I swear I pick it up, just to turn around and have it look like this again. This could go for the laundry and dishes as well. I catch myself constantly looking at the boys' overflowing hamper and thinking, "I swear, I just washed that."

Maybe this is why I find every possible reason to not go up those blasted stairs if I don't have to. Case in point: the tissue/scotch tape bandaid. 

I almost need to just have double of everything so I can put one upstairs and one downstairs. It's like having divorced parents and two homes to stay at. 

So there was this one time that we decided to take the boys to the zoo. Yup. There is a zoo nearby in Window Rock, AZ. About a 30 min. drive. Now mind you, I wasn't expecting much. Actually, my expectations were basement level. Then we drove up to this....

My jaw slackened. My lowest of expectations had not even been met. Is this real life??

It was a cold, windy day, but we braved on. 

It was really small and very desolate looking, but oddly enough, it wasn't the worst experience. There were a good amount of animals for the boys to see and they seemed to have a great time, running from one cage to the next. I think if it hadn't been so cold, we would have had a good time!

"What does the fox say?!"

(If you show my boys a fox they will chime in saying this, then follow up with "Brack brack brack, b brack!" Dancing weirdly and convulsing as they chirp. Thank you, YouTube.

Tea party for 3?

We didn't dress up this time, but oh they had fun. I introduced myself as Betsy, in a high, falsetto voice, then Collin chose "Spike" to be his fake name. When we asked Weston what name he wanted, he paused then said, "Weston". I tried to explain that he could pick any new name he wanted. He paused even longer, looked apprehensively at me and said, "Collin". So Betsy, Spike and Collin had a fabulous time with raised pinkies and chocolate milk. Oh, and leftover pancakes. What's a proper tea party without pancakes? :)