santa claus is coming to town

I am very proud of these stockings that I just finished last night! Coordinating, personalized, and complete with improvised stocking hangers. And Wade took a great photo of them over our first REAL fireplace!

Happy Holiday's from the Van Horn's

Cristi has been nagging me to take a family photo for months; if we had taken one it would go on this page. We never got around to it and my excuse is that we have had a busy year. To the best of my recollections we started this year with Cristi on bed rest, until the twins were born in February. Then after huge changes associated with having two kids at once, I wrote a few hundred page dissertation, toured the country looking for a new position, defended my dissertation and graduated. Then we moved across country and are finally starting to get settled in. Now the year is gone. It has been an exciting and incredibly busy year. We feel very fortunate that things have gone as well as they have. We are also grateful for the positive influences of family and friends in our lives.

Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a wonderful year to come!

The Van Horn's (Wade, Cristi, Pete, Jack, & Ben)

it's awfully quiet in there

daddy's special day

Here's a message to you from all of us back home! Hope you're having a good day at work eating your favorite lunch.

FHE Lesson Swap

My step-sister Nancy started this awesome blog called FHE Lesson Swap. Although it's still pretty new, it's looking to be fun way to share and find meaningful FHE lessons for your family, especially if you have young kids. One recent post titled, "Countdown to Christmas," suggests making a paper chain to countdown to Christmas and lists a scripture, song, and activity to write on each chain for each day of December. What an easy way to start some fun and meaningful holiday family traditions. I don't know what you're doing tonight, but I'm making a construction paper Christmas Chain!

"hiking" december 1

Can you believe it was mid-50's here in Tennessee today? It was so nice out we went for a hike/walk and people were out playing in their yards and mowing their lawns, in December! Very strange. Needless to say, coming from Utah (where it did snow today), it just doesn't FEEL like December. No complaining though, we took advantage of the weather and went for a hike at Radnor Lake where Peter was the navigator (pictured here consulting his map). Radnor "Lake" is actually a very small reservoir, that Pete and Wade easily walked completely around. I kept the babies in the stroller and stuck to the paved road which is also a nice walk. I've realized that the idea of "hiking" in Tennessee is not what we're used to in Utah. It's usually short trails that all criss-cross each other and cross roads as well. Some trails are actually paved and there is very little elevation gain on any trails we've seen. They're great for a 3-year-old (or a wimpy mom!) and It's been fun exploring!

beautiful fall in tennessee

I went to stake conference today and played with the twins in the nursery for two hours. Because Wade believes in the philosophy that stake conference is an official church holiday, Wade took Pete on a hike and photographed some of the beautiful wildlife in Percy Warner Park here in Tennessee. These are some of the amazing photos that he captured. Some of the highlights include photos from a marathon in process (the bike shot is a race official), an owl that let him get surprisingly close, and the fall colors at their peak.

power peas

Worth blogging about (thanks to my honey for sending me this article):
(Read the entire article)

As part of interviews with hundreds of 3-to-5-year-olds, we found a group of preschoolers who devoured broccoli because they were pretending to be dinosaurs eating a "dinosaur tree." With a different group of children, we let them choose what they wanted from a buffet lunch, but changed the name of the foods each day. When regular peas were renamed "power peas," the number of children who ate them doubled. When we renamed a tomato-based vegetable juice "Rainforest Smoothie," we ran out of it.

Rather than begging or nagging your children to eat their vegetables, come up with some words that make them seem cool or special. Choose phrases or expressions from their favorite bedtime story or TV program. If they're a bit older, telling a story about the recipe might make it seem more enticing.

9 months

I've only known these little guys for 9 months, but they sure have been fun to get to know! Here's a little of what they can do at 9 months and some of what we've learned about them so far.

Happy Jack...

weighs 20 lbs. and is 28 inches long

likes to eat, but gets distracted and wants to play and smile rather than take a bite

eats cereal, fruit, veggies and some table food including pasta, cheese, and yogurt.

LOVES cheerios

can feed himself finger foods and drink from a sippy cup

is the "social one"

is ready to smile at pretty much anyone

is a thumb sucker (although he doesn’t do it as much as he used to)

can crawl and pull himself up to standing on the couch, chair, crib, mom, etc.

his favorite activity is exploring the house; so far his favorite is Peter’s room or whichever room I’m in

also likes the buttons and cords on the electronics

is happiest when around people (mommy, daddy or anyone who'll give him attention)

loves to put things in his mouth

loves to “talk,” his favorite words are “da,da,” “ma,ma,” “ba,ba” and squeals

makes lots of fun noises with his lips and hands

laughs hysterically when daddy tickles under his chin, on his tummy or thighs

sleeps 10-11 hours at night and takes 2-3 naps a day

is so close to getting his first tooth (I can see it coming through the gums)

likes to play with whatever Peter or Ben has

is one happy baby!

Sweet Ben...

weighs 19lbs. 4oz. and is 28 inches long

is serious about eating, just wants to get down to business- Give me the food!

eats cereal, fruit, veggies and some table food including pasta, cheese, and yogurt.

LOVES cheerios

can feed himself finger foods and drink from a sippy cup

is the "serious one"- he even has a distinct "serious" look that he gives

is very happy and willing to smile at people, but sometimes just wants to be serious

can crawl and pull himself up to standing on the couch, chair, crib, mom, etc.

often crawls over to me and into my arms for a cuddle (I love it).

his favorite activity is exploring the house; so far his favorite is Peter’s room or whichever room I’m in

also likes the buttons and cords on the electronics

is happiest when he’s standing

loves to put things in his mouth

loves to talk, and says “da, da”, “ma, ma”, “ba, ba” and squeals

makes all the fun noises and giggles

laughs hysterically when daddy tickles him under his chin, on his tummy or thighs

sleeps 10-11 hours at night and takes 2-3 naps a day

just got his first tooth a couple days ago

likes to play with whatever Peter or Jack is playing with

is one sweet baby!

harpeth river state park

Nice and cozy at Harpeth River State Park. It was kind of a bust. Next time we'll take the backpacks and explore a little more.

Here's one of the big guy in the tub. We got all three in the tub together, but didn't get any good shots. It's pretty challenging to bathe three kids at once!

this week for dinner and the grocery game

In an attempt to start saving money and eating better, I am going to try planning my dinners a week in advance (kudos to everyone who already does this). A good resource so far is a website called this week for dinner. She posts her weekly menu and the recipes for each on the blog. They look like pretty good recipes and not too difficult to make. I made the Lentil soup on Wednesday and it was delicious! It is a bit hearty and very fragrant, so not such a great meal if you or your family are recovering from the stomach flu. We have a very large bowl in our fridge still if anyone is interested! I also plan to make the orange chicken with my own fried rice recipe sometime this weekend if Wade's feeling up to eating it. Another one of my favorite websites for cooking is Allrecipes.com. This is a great resource to just type in a dish and then look through the recipes for one that looks good.

I have also signed up to play the Grocery Game. Basically, it gives you a list of all the sale and coupon items at your local stores and helps you save lots of $$ on your groceries. I haven't even started yet, but am hoping to strike it rich one coupon at a time. I'll let ya know how it turns out, but knowing myself, I have a feeling that I will do okay for a while and then quickly lose interest.

after the storm

Jack was sick on Sunday afternoon. Yesterday it was Ben last night Pete and Wade were up all night. It was not fun having 4 boys sick at the same time, but I think the worst is over! Wade is still not back to normal. Below are some pictures of the boys (Jack, Pete, Ben) from today, feeling much better.










We also watched a thunder/lightning storm yesterday here in Nashville. I first noticed the high winds (while Ben was throwing up), then the crazy blowing rain. Later, Pete stood at the window and watched the sky light up. I don't know if he was more fascinated or more scared. There was also some talk about a tornado warning (while Pete was throwing up) that, to my great relief, never came to fruition. I've decided that we need to have our 72 hour kits made and located near the front door just in case. After all this news of homes burning down (in San Diego) and crazy weather, I feel the urge to get prepared.

the nights festivities

We started on Tuesday night with our ward trunk-or-treat. Wednesday morning was our preschool Halloween party and the night concluded with trick-or-treating in a nearby Bellevue neighborhood. Pete got plenty of loot (that he doesn't even know he will be sharing with his parents) and seemed to enjoy it all (almost as much as we did). The babies endured it well. (Check out more photos to the right)

Happy Halloween

Addicted to Blog

Yes, I am a blog addict! I admit that I spend a good deal of time every day checking and reading blogs (all links to the right). Especially since moving to Tennessee, I rely on the blogs of friends and more particularly family to stay connected. I think my step-sister Nancy and friend Kristen were the first people I knew who had their own blogs and so I decided to start my own in April 2006. I am now happy to report that much of my family has since joined the blogging world from all over the country. I am so glad that we can keep in touch and see updated photos of the adorable kids! Here are the sites of my family members and their growing families: My mom, Leslie and husband Carl. My step-sister Nancy. My sister Corrine. My brother Brad. Cousins Jessa, Crystal, Allen, Jamie.

And I'd like to give a gentle nudge to the rest of my family that have not yet joined us in cyber-space. It's super easy and FREE! Yes, I'm talking to you!

Photos from Tennessee!

Okay, here are a lot more photos. The links to the right have a bunch of our adventures over the last couple of months since we moved here. I hope you enjoy them and just for fun here's one of Jack and Ben, can you guess who is who?

china meadows august 2007

To your right, you will find some pictures from our last family trip to China Meadows in the Uintah Mountains under the link titled "china meadows august 2007." Enjoy!!

Playing Tag

Nancy tagged me, so here goes:

Jobs I've had:
1. Resident Assistant of University Student Apartments (If that counts as a real job)
2. 4th Grade teacher
3. Student Secretary (several different times during college at Ricks and BYU)
4. Baskin Robbins- talk about the perfect job for an ice cream lover!
5. Mom- I just had to throw that one in- I mean I have NEVER had a harder job in my life!

Places I've lived:
1. Salt Lake City, UT
2. Provo, UT
3. Rexburg, ID
4. Fallon, NV (Where I grew up and went to High School)
5. Gabbs, NV (Don't ask!)
6. San Diego, CA (Where I was born)

Food I love:
1. Thai Food (Haven't found a place in Nashville yet, I really miss Sawadee in Salt Lake!)
2. Ice Cream (Dreyer's Double Fudge Brownie, Raspberry Chocolate Chunk)
3. Chocolate candy (twix, snickers, heath, kit kat, almond joy, mmm)
4. Crispy Creme Donuts (especially with frosting and sprinkles on top)
5. Pasta Alfredo (chicken, shrimp)

Websites I visit:
Friends & Family Blogs, these are some of my favorites lately (regular posters!):
1. Christiansen Clan (This is my friend Ashely and her family- we taught 4th grade together!)
2. Faith, Love, Family (This is my step-sister and very best friend and her adorable family)
3. Impressions of My Life (My cousin, her husband and adorable kids)
4. Kristen's Blog (One of my best friends growing up in Fallon, NV and her beautiful family)
5. Nelson's in Nashville (Some new friends in Nashville- we're also doing preschool with her son Brody!)

Places I'd Rather Be:
1. At home (I am a homebody)
2. Somewhere with family- Salt Lake, Nevada, California
3. In a cabin in the mountains!

Movies I love:
1. Pride & Prejudice (A&E version)
2. Mansfield Park (pretty much any Jane Austen book turned film)
3. The Holiday

Shows I Watch (I really watch channels- not too addicted to any one show):
1. HGTV- Divine Design, Whose Wedding is it anyway?, etc.
2. TLC design and baby shows when I catch 'em.

People I tag:
Heather N.
Kristen H.
Ashley C.
Crystal L.
Corrine (that's two for you- ya better get going!)

Just call me C-Van

I saw this on another blog and got some giggles...

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
Buffy Caravan

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
Raspberry Chocolate Chunk Shortbread Cream

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name),
C-Van

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal),
Green Monkey

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born),
Marie Fallon

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first),
Vancr

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),
The Blue Smoothie

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers),
Leonard Glenn

9. ex*tic dancer Name: (fav scent + fav candy)
Vanilla Twix

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ),
Denise Alan

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter),
Ashley Austin

12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower),
Autumn Daisy

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)
Strawberry baby tee

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree),
Egg Aspen

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”),
The Card Rain Tour

my great skills

I've learned how to carry two babies, one in each arm, holding them facing out, my arm across their chests and between their legs so I can hold the keys, then down 36 steps (3 flights) to my van (hurrying Pete to "follow me, quick"). I open the van sliding door (yes, while still balancing the babies) and place one baby into the car seat with that arm, without banging his head on anything, and he sits there unbuckled, without wiggling of course, so that I can walk around to the other side and put the second baby in (with two hands this time) and buckle him up. Then I head back around and buckle the first baby in! Pete gets into his seat in the back by himself and I climb into the back of the car via the back hatch door and buckle him in.

Then we're off for some fun shopping! I like Kroger (which is Smith's for you Utahns) because they have little shopping carts for Pete to push (which is great since I have a double stroller to push, so I can't get a full size cart) and I can get as much stuff as I can fit into his little kid-sized cart! Sam's club is the only place in America that has carts with double kid seats in the front (Pete gets to sit in the basket). Thank you Sam's Club, and the inventor of kid-sized shopping carts!

The most exhausting part, and probably the funniest, is coming home. I unbuckle Pete first, unless he's fallen asleep in which case, I'll come back for him later. Then I unbuckle one baby, and go around to unbuckle and pick up the other in my one arm sling hold as mentioned before. I go back around and pick up the other baby, who has hopefully not wiggled out and scoop him up in my other arm, then close the sliding door trying not to bonk any heads. I then hurry Pete up the 36 steps again and unlock the front door of our apartment between one babies legs and push open the door with my shoulder and set the babies on the floor. Then it's back down for the groceries. Sometimes I can get the groceries with the kids, if it's only a bag or two and then I imagine it's really a sight to see. Me with a diaper bag on my arm, some grocery sacks, juggling two babies and scurrying a toddler up 3 flights of stairs!

It really is quite humorous, I wish I had a picture of it all! My mostly young and childless neighbors probably get a kick out my little show. I try to avoid going to the store until I really, really need to or until Wade is home and I can make a solo run (thanks sugar)!

Where a mom can be a kid!

I actually enjoy planning and holding preschool. Not only do I get a break from time to time and Pete enjoys playing with other kids and doing some fun stuff, but I really enjoy creating fun stuff for the kids to do, singing kids songs, dancing around, reading children's book, using crayons and stickers, playing with my food and basically just acting like a kid. This is a photo from Peter's new preschool (this was at our house). It has been a lot of fun so far(the whole three days we've had it!). From left to right Thomas, Pete, Brody, & Clark are going to be great friends (whether they want to or not!).

Gramps

Here is one of the last photos that we took in Utah. On our way "out of town" we stopped to see Grandpa Robbins. Pete always heads straight for Gramps' treat stash and usually helps himself. We sure love ya Gramp!

Hard to say goodbye

I haven't posted for such a long time because I'm having a hard time figuring out what to write. We just moved across the country. We left an amazing neighborhood that we lived in for over 5 years, where our kids were all born and we made many friends. We left family who we love and who have supported us and cared for us. We left everything familiar and all the people we know (not to mention a passing up a great job opportunity in Utah). We drove for 3 days with 3 kids in two cars and arrived in a city with no place to live and no one to help us (except for my Dad who drove out with us and watched the boys while we hunted for apartments- thank you dad!).

Needless to say, it's been physically draining and emotionally difficult to adjust to all the changes. It is especially hard to say goodbye to the people who have always been there for us or who we met over the last few years.

There are many in the university village apartments that I will never forget and will be forever grateful to for their dinners, babysitting, kid-watching, friendship and service to us in endless ways! I love the preschool gang, the women who have served me and with me in church callings, the people who just lived by me and helped me the most! It seems so strange to think that I may never again see these amazing people who have done so much for me. I hope you know how grateful I am!

It is also hard to leave family that has been my greatest support over the last few years, especially since the arrival of the boys. They are the people that I know I will see again often, just not as much. I love all of my family and Wade's family and have enjoyed the time we spent together in Salt lake. I'm just going to say that Nancy has been my all time best friend and it has been very hard to say goodbye to her. We've done everything together and she has been an example of all the good things I want to be. Hope to see all of you soon!

We arrived here to a not-so-warm welcome (starting with an unpleasant hotel room, a moving company that won't park the truck without approval from the apartment office, an apartment office who won't give approval to park the truck, and a dishonest apartment company who won't refund precious $), although it has warmed up as we've met more people. We did find an apartment and moved all of our stuff up the three flights of stairs with the help of a lone ward member (so much for my hope that I wouldn't have to move much-seems this is the Vanderbilt ward and we're one of a zillion families needing help moving in) . We are very grateful to him for his help and I'm sure that he and his family will turn out to be good friends. Luckily, the babies were happy and Pete just hung out while we ran back and forth to move things.

We met the grumpy people in Nashville very quickly, but I have also met some of the friendlier ones like the Nelson's (he's the one who helped us move in), some nice people in the main office of our apartments (Kathy who let me use the office phone and gave Peter fruit snacks and took him to see the Coi while I tried to figure out the moving fiasco), Professor Chuck Sanders (who Wade is working for) and his wife who stopped by with a homemade apple pie. We've met several kind people in our new ward and apartment complex.

Things seem to be working out and getting better every day. I'm sure by the time Wade is finished here, we'll be sad to leave the new people we meet who become old friends.

1 month ago

Here are some cute pics of the boys at about 5 months old.

1 year ago

It was exactly one year ago today that we found out that we were having twins! Right now they are both sleeping soundly in the crib, but I can still feel those feelings that I had when my doctor said,"There are definitely two babies in there." I also want to brag about how I hiked Mount Timpanogos while pregnant with twins (which I DO NOT recommend doing, and I didn't know I was expecting twins at the time).

10 years ago

This year was my 10 year high school reunion, and although we weren't able to make it to the festivities in Fallon, NV at Churchill County High School, I found some fun things at our class website, including these photos. The top photo is our 8th grade pop-warner cheerleading squad (yep, that's me on the top left sitting on Audrey's back, with the big fluffy bangs and scrawny arms). The bottom photo was taken during my senior year. This is actually Mrs. Barnes' entire 6th period English class, we got along really well and had a blast in that class and decided to take a photo together (I'm in the middle wearing the grass hat).

I had a lot of fun times in high school, mostly because of the people that I spent time with, many of whom I still keep in touch with. They had a great impact on my life and in many ways helped me become who I am today. So, thank you, not only for the memories, but for helping me become a better person.

Who's kid is that?

Here is a photo of some kid we saw at the children's museum. I hear he's going through the "terrible three's" right now, so please have some sympathy on his poor mother (who also has 5 month old twins by the way). Yeah, I'd go crazy too!

We've made it 5 months!

Here are the boys at 5 months old (has it been 5 months already, I'm still in a daze!). Jack on the left and Ben on the right. They are now eating cereal and have tried some fruit and juice. They laugh and talk and roll all over the place. They are excellent sleepers at night (10-11 hours straight) and take pretty good naps too! They are both very easy babies and just getting to be so much fun as they grow and learn new tricks.

Crazy Family

Here is a good one of Grandma Beach and her great-grandson's (my boys: Ben on the left, and Jack on the right).
This is a photo from a gathering at Dave & Corrie's after Joel & Shannon's wedding. Congratulations and best wishes go out to the newlyweds. And, of course, MOST of the people in this photo are not really crazy- we're just a bunch of well-behaved, normal people (or at least that's what we want you to think)!

Our little soccer star!

This post should really be called "My husband the big soccer superstar!" Some of you may know that in Wade's glory days, he was a soccer phenom, playing in high school, on community club teams, Olympic development teams, in college on the BYU soccer team, and winning numerous state, regional, and as he just so humbly reminded me, national awards (Yes, you should be so impressed!! :0). Needless to say, we have high hopes for our boys to be somewhat talented at sports and soccer in particular.

However, since we put Pete in a recreational soccer league for 3-4 year-olds, he has preferred to sit on the sidelines or lay down on the field for most of the games! But, he seems to be having fun overall, and that's the important part. His favorite part of soccer is the treat at the end of the game. Who doesn't love candy bars and drink boxes!

Presenting...

...Wade D. Van Horn, Ph.D. !!!!!

He presented and defended his dissertation today and he did great! Life will be little less crazy for a bit.

4 months old!

Here are the boys at 4 months old, Jack on the left and Ben on the right. They both sleep through the night (hooray for sleep!). They both smile and "talk" making sounds like "ng" and "ah." They both giggle occasionally but it's still pretty few and far between. They reach for toys with a lot of effort and concentration and wiggle and arch their backs trying to move around on the ground. They are just growing and changing everyday and it's so much fun to watch them get cuter and cuter!

Ben and Jack are absolutely delightful and we are so lucky to have them in our family.

Soon to be Dr. Van Horn...

After 5 years here at the U working on his research in the Flynn lab, Wade will defend his dissertation next Tuesday, June 12 at 10:30am thus fulfilling the requirements for a Ph.D. in Chemistry. His degree will likely be posted by the University of Utah in August, but for all intensive purposes, he will be done on June 12!

Good luck Wade and I am so proud of your incredible accomplishment and hard work!

Nine Mile Canyon

We took a trip to Nine Mile Canyon in Eastern Utah last weekend as a family. We packed up all the boys and drove a couple hours there. It was our first family outdoor/hiking adventure since the twins arrived. We saw lots of petroglyphs and drove slowly up the canyon hoping to see interesting things. We got out a hiked a bit and just basically had a fun time. Here are some of the awesome photos that Wade took and you can see more fun pictures from the trip to the right. Enjoy.

Big boys go in the potty!

Peter is now officially potty-trained! It only took about 1.5 weeks of intensive work on my part including washing sheets, underwear, and clothing everyday, cleaning up "accidents" several times each day, wiping up "misses" around the toilet, wrangling my son to take his clothes off when we're in the house and the wrangling him to put them back on when we leave the house, and fighting the urge to say "Why don't you just go in the toilet" after each accident!

However inconvenient and messy this sounds, it is worth it! I spent the previous 6 months trying to reason with and convince my son that he "wanted to go in the potty." I won't do that again!

What I will do next time...

I will try potty training the boys as early as possible (18 mos.)
I will let them run around naked while in the house.
I will remind them to go, and let them decline using the potty if they don't want to (even if it means they have an accident in their pants!).
I will use very little "rewards" but instead praise them when they are successful and not mention it when they have accidents.
I will let them stay in wet clothes (for a while) after an accident with no dialogue about "being disappointed," or "big boys go in the potty."

No games, no guilt, no fighting, just teaching: when you pee in your pants you get wet and it's uncomfortable. When you pee in the toilet you stay dry and cozy!

One down, two to go!

Double the warm fuzzies!

When I walked out of the doctor's office after first finding out that I was having twins, I was in a state of shock, panic, and confusion. I soon felt feelings of disappointment and something I can only describe as "freaked out." As I talked to people, their responses to the news were usually something like shock and maybe some freaking out in my behalf. A few people were really positive, but mostly they were really kind of sorry for me I think (as I was for myself).

The few people that I talked with that actually have twins were a different story. They didn't seem shocked, just excited. They didn't seem sorry for me at all. In fact, one woman whose twins are now young adults said that she wishes twins on everyone. She actually used those words "We wish twins on everyone!" I couldn't believe she was saying that. I thought it was a very mean thing to say at the time and I was a little annoyed that she wished twins on ME!

The last few months have been insane at times and I still felt a little sorry for myself, but I am sleeping at night and waking up to not one adorable smiling baby face, but two at the same time! I do love it and although I don't wish twins on everyone, I am starting to come around to that crazy lady's way of thinking!

I love my two baby boys Jack and Ben! (Ben is the first photo and Jack is on the bottom)

Just like daddy!

Thanks to some great advice from my cousin, Peter came running in to me this morning saying, "Mommy, I have to pee!" He peed in the toilet standing up just like daddy does!

I breathed a sigh of relief and pray that he does it again, and again, and again!

Nashville, Tennessee

Seems like a pretty nice place to live, eh?

My Boys

Maybe it's because we created them, but it seems that mom's always think their own kids are the most beautiful things possible! I've never seen more handsome boys as I'm sure everyone would agree (unless you have your own, of course)!

Are you happy?

When Peter can see that something isn't right or that I'm a little upset, he often asks, "Are you happy, mommy?" He almost always asks me "Are you sad?" when I'm changing his poopy diaper. I tell him that I'm sad that he pooped in his diaper and not in the toilet. One of these times he wanted to know how to make me happy. I told him it would make me happy if he pooped in the toilet. Even though he still uses his diaper more than the toilet, he seems truly concerned with my happiness. His toilet using abilities don't determine my happiness. Being blessed with a husband and three sons helps add to my happiness, but mostly, I've decided that happiness is grown in one's own garden, and like Abraham Lincoln said, "People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." I hope that my children will learn that although people and things can affect me, no one and nothing can make me happy or take away my happiness but me.

So, yes, I am!

7 years ago today...

Cheesasaurus Rex

So, in my last post, I made a comment about how I take care of the kids, including Wade. Which is true, I do take care of Wade sometimes and he is like a big kid in the sense that he loves to play (on his bike, with his cameras, out in the mountains, etc.). But he is also an amazing husband and father. Last night, he said "I think I take care of you as much as you take care of me." He's right. In fact, he takes care of me more than I take care of him lately and he's better at it than I am. I won't go into all that he does, but I am grateful for him and ALL that he does for me and our family. You should all be so lucky to find someone like him, a big kid at heart who takes care of you!

This is a photo from July 2001 at Rainbow Falls in California (before kids, oh we look so young and innocent- no idea what we're in for). Note the "Cheesasaurus Rex" t-shirt Wade is sporting! I love it. BTW he saved up enough mac'n cheese upc's to send in for this t-shirt when he was in high school. I'm pretty sure the shirt still makes an appearance every once in a while.