Wass' happenin'

Lets see, my last post was May 12 and I am sure things have happened since then that I have been meaning to post, but at the moment I can't think just what.

However, school got out on May 29--Talmage is happy and sad (and so is the rest of the family).

We went to Salt Lake before that to attend a Temple Sealing of Marks best friend Jason Davis and his wife Erin and their two girls--this was great fun and we need to do it more often, for more days and to be better organized. We did manage to stop by the old neighborhood and see the Bytheways (I can't believe how big Natalie is, but since she is the same age as Talmage then it would just make sense that she would be growing up), not to mention the 3 more bambinos that have been added to the mix. Talmage and Bethany LOVED it and want to go back (Bethany kept saying she wanted to go back to the"playhouse").

One of Talmage's friends moved to Vernal lately but came to Monroe for his little sisters birthday party (lots of friends and family still here) so we went to that--it was so much fun and so good to see everyone again.

Yesterday we went to my sister's house (Jody), as her daughter Katie had put in papers for a Mission and she is going to Arcadia, CA (the same place her brother Andy went, except for the language), Spanish speaking.

Today, my mom tripped and tumbled down the front steps--a bit of trauma for the kids who were there and saw it (mine were in the house), and she doesn't look to good. I took some pictures at the urging of my father, but as a courtesy to my mother I won't post them; however, I did tell her she would look at place in a haunted house. She said its too bad its not Halloween 'cause she could answer the door "Trick or Treat" -- scare the kids to death. Bethany didn't like what she saw when my mom got home and was very worried about her for a while and the "gross" blood--she also wanted to wash the blood off of my dads shoes..."that bad blood shouldn't be there"

I guess thats it for now. Maybe someday I will actually post something on time--probably not!

Bethany's teeth

Bethany had quite a few cavaties--Talmage did too, but he was so good and sat so still that the Dentist just did his in his office, but Bethany had to go to the hospital to be put out and have hers fixed.

So, today was the day. She told me last night she didn't want to go see the Doctor today and she didn't want to go see the Dentist. When we go to Richfield she wasn't happy that we had passed the Doctor's office--that's where she wanted to go.

She didn't want to do a lot of the stuff they kept asking her to do--she didn't want to sit on the bed, she didn't want to change her clothes--she would just say "No, I don't want to" very calmly and that was it.

We were able to get her to change her clothes, then gave her the verced and then took her to the bathroom and on the way back she started getting silly (the meds), then we got her on the bed and got her to lay down so that she didn't fall--we turned the tv on for her and let her watch that as she got sillier and the nurse said that she might start seeing things on the walls. She did get silly and had a hard time talking, but she definitely wanted "Handy Manny" back on after the nurse turned off the tv. She was also looking at the light and doing funny things and got upset any time her dads hands got in the way. After is was over, before she woke up; the anesthesiologist stopped in to tell us she was really cute and singing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" before she went under the gas (she always tells me that is her favorite song).

She was a little sad and miserable for the first little while after waking up, but she never did throw up. The minute Talmage got home--everything was all better. She sure loves her brother and he made everything better for her. She was also up and going 100 miles an hour, except she would stop everyonce in a while to cuddle. She also resisted going to sleep until she couldn't handle it any longer--I think she was a little nervous.

The Great Outdoors

On Saturday May 9 we went out and about in the hills. We usually go up in Monroe Canyon but decided to do something a little different this time so we just headed south out towards Live Oak, but just kept going a little beyond it and then pulled off. The kids wanted to do another Easter Egg Hunt so I had bought some goodies to hide and let them look for. I should have brought what was left of their eggs and let them roll then and throw them as they are no longer any good for anything.

We had parked near a small wash and so Mark started up it and then went on up over the hill while the kids and I stayed and played in the wash. We had discovered a caterpillar on this pine tree, then when the kids were showing Mark we started finding them all over the tree--it was pretty neat!

While Mark was hiking, the kids were making a slide down into the wash and loving it.

All in all, a good day,

"Happy, Happy Birthday Baby" May 03, 2009

Oh what a terrible mommy I am.

I saw on another friends blog (Katie) where she told all about the day her "baby" was born and I thought what a good idea, I will do that for Bethany. Well, the day came and went and I never even got on the computer--maybe next year for her 5th birthday (fingers crossed).

We actually celebrated her birthday on the 2nd since the 3rd was a Sunday. We had planned to go up the Canyon for a hike and a picnic but it looked ugly outside; so we went to Home Depot to do their Kid Projects, but there were so many people there that we took it with us and went to the park to play before it got too bad. We then cam home and the kids put their projects together and then painted them. We then went to Bullies to eat. A few days early I had asked her what her favorite food was and she said "um, French Fries!" What else? "Hangaber". Needless to say she was very disapointed when we went to Bullies--she thought I had meant we were going 'bowling'. We had gone to a couple of birthday parties for Talmage's friends at the bowling alley and now she has been asking about that for days.

We also opened her presents and did her cake before Bullies--Mark and Talmage were outside getting things done and she was on the computer so I was just fiddling around frosting the cake, wrapping the presents and putting them on Talmage's desk--then I was trying to watch the Kentucky Derby while waiting for the boys to come back and she looked up and saw the presents "ah--my birthday is on!" We then had to find the boys and we got stuck trying to stay out of the rain before we could get back (on a selfish side note, I did still get to see the Derby run).

All in all she had a good birthday and it lasted for days as on Sunday she got to stand up in front of the Primary as they sang to her and gave her a candy bar; Grandma and Grandpa gave her a card with money in it n Sunday; on Monday or Tuesday Katie (her cousin) gave her a bag of barbies (that she loves); and then yesterday she got a bear and extra from Jody. She has also had me set up candles a few more days this week just so she can blow them out and then yesterday she also had me sing to her and tell her to make a wish.

Up the Creek

There used to be a restaurant up Monroe Canyon called "Up the Creek" and that is where we went today--not to the restaurant but up the canyon.

It was a little overcast and gloomy to begin with, but all in all not bad. We hiked for a bit, then let the kids play in a spot in the creek. Talmage trying to decide if he wanted to build a bridge or make a dam; Bethany alternating between helping Talmage and just throwing rocks in the water. We then continued on further up the trail. After we had gotten up there a ways we happened upon an ugly mess--the trail had been made wider and it was just yucky, sticky mud and I was so afraid that they were making it wider for 4-wheelers. Now 4-wheelers are fine and all and have their place, but I don't think they need to be everywhere (they are very noisey, etc) and its nice to be able to walk and not have to worry about looking out for them (its bad enough looking out for the dog poop every where!!! Mark says I'm obsessed about dog poop--I'm just obsessed about not stepping in it as it seems to be EVERYWHERE these days!!). Ok, back to hiking. It appears that all the mess and the tearing up of some of the trail was to get some equipment up and do some work on the water equipment, so thats ok. Today our hike took us farther than we have ever gone and now our next hike is to fix a way to cross the creek and go even farther.

Today we walked 2 1/2 miles total (me carrying a 3 year old for at least a 1/2 a mile of that--more I'd bet). Bethany loves to hike, but then she starts getting whiney and wants to go home (NOW) and wants to be carried, so I carry her a bit, then we have a break and let them have a snack and play around, then she walks for a bit before demaning that I carry her again. Lots of butterlies today and also got to see a squirrel digging in the ground under a small bush and eating something--kids loved it. I'm worn out--but thats what I get for being fat and old :)

"Hoppy Easter"

(No, its not a typo)...Well, we have just about eastered out (the commercialization side of it anyway); although the kids don't think so.

We did an Easter Egg Hunt in Joseph, one in Monroe, one at Walmart and one at home. Mark thinks we should cut it down to just 2 next year--Joseph (they did fun craft things too like bingo, egg races, coloring eggs) and the home one. I still want to keep Walmart because they also did face painting, coloring pages, cake walks and handed out cupcakes as the kids left. Of course their is the family one that they do with the family picnic if we go next year which all depends on the weather.

We opted out of the "big" family picnic and just chose to do just the immediate family this year. The weather was iffy and icky and kind of muddy. They said it wasn't muddy or too muddy where they went, but Mark likes to hike and once you get off the beaten path (or road) then its not as nice, and with the occasional wind and the dark clouds circling along with the 90% chance of rain forecast we just did some bunny stuff at home and then went to Richfield and did some window shopping and a little lunch and 20 minutes at the park before the weather turned.

We've decided we kind of like the splitting of easter on the weekend because it lets you do some of the fun stuff on Saturday and then concentrate on Sunday for what this weekend really is about (although we did keep reminding the kids of the true meaning even on Saturday when they would tend to start sounding a little gimmee). Good program in church today with two great talks on Jesus and his gift(s) to us and us "coming unto Christ" as well as some beautiful music. I tell you, its not just the kids who need a reminder, its good for us all and I do believe I am at the top of that list.

Crunch and Blow

Today Bethany called to me and said she couldn't get the candy out. I walked over to her and she was holding a box of "nerds" and I took the box to help her; the box was wide open so I thought maybe they were all stuck together--nope, loose as could be.
She had stuck a blue nerd up her nose!!! I took her into the bathroom and had her blow her nose--other than a little blue residue all was well.
It reminded me of the "Everybody Loves Raymond" epsiode where they were trying to find someone to "will" the kids to should they both die--they were talking about what do you do if the child puts a cocoa puff up his nose? Crunch and blow.

The floods, they are a coming......

Bethany is starting to sprout up a little (a little too much!!!!!)

I put on some of Bethany's older pants and its so cute (and sad)--the hems are above her ankles.

So, its time to go thru her clothes once more and pack up the smaller clothes, bring out the boxes of bigger clothes and see what else we need to buy.

Silly kids--I wish they would quite growing. Not only is Bethany growing up too much ("Whatever!" is what she would say), but Talmage is getting to be such a big boy (or bigger boy, I should say)--needs new Church clothes, not to mention I think I'd better start picking up clothes for next years school a little at a time as he is outgrowing his clothes faster than Bethany.

The End of the Fairytale

Well, Talmage has been asking a lot of questions lately (actually started sometime be Christmas)...and now hes been asking me all sorts of questions about the Tooth Fairy and parents lieing to their kids and parents giving money for their teeth.
I kept trying to get around it without lieing to him, and I wanted to talk to Mark; but Talmage kept asking me if parents give the kids money "Some parents do." did I? "I bought your first tooth remember?". He just wouldn't give up and then finally told me that he had talked to his dad but he couldn't tell me (Mark said he never told him that he couldn't tell me, but that he did tell Talmage the truth because he didn't want to lie to him). Finally Talmage told me that Mark had told him we did give him the money, so I said yes that was true. Then I told him, "of course you know that now you know there is no Tooth Fairy there won't be any more money."
I'm afraid that come Christmas he won't believe in Santa Clause anymore. Of course I still believe!!!
I have advised him not to tell other kids that there is no Tooth Fairy--that is for them to discover themselves.

Twilight

Its been "Twilight" or the vampire movie all week at our house.

We rented the movie on Saturday and everyone watched it and even though I thought it was a little sappy at times (like the book) everyone actually liked it. Even mark likes it (although he does think the running up hill part looks cheesy). Talmage's favorite vampire is Edward and Bethany's favorites is the good one who doesn't want to be a monster (Edward). And now, while I am slaving away at work (ha, ha), they are in watching it again.Talmage wants to buy it and said he will save money to help us buy it--I still want to wait for the Amazon special prices.

Spring it is approaching.....

Now that I've started, maybe I should add a little bit more to this blog.

Things are slow but good--there hasn't been a lot of work at Marriott for a while but the hours are now starting to pick up.

Talmage is loving school still and does so well in it--can't beleive its almost over. May 29th and then he'll be home for the summer.

Bethany still wakes up asking about him every morning and is always telling us we need to go get Talmage from school.

I love those two kids together (when they are not fighting or teasing each other). For the most part they are so good together and we take them out on their bikes and to the park as much as possible and they are always playing tag, hide-and-go-seek or trains on the slides; and they are pretty good to work on the computer together (Bethany practically sits on his lap to watch the shows and Talmage helps her with the games).

I sure hate to see them grow up--I wish they could both be 2 1/2 or 3 forever.

Talmage has now lost 4 teeth and is still trying to decide if its the Tooth Fairy or the parents who bring the money (he asked me if parents ever lie).

Pennies From Heaven

This evening while I was working, Bethany was rolling around on the floor in my "work" room and she found a penny. "I found a penny! I'm going to buy something!" I started to tell her "Oh honey, you can't buy anything with a penny these days." "I'm going to buy Tinkerbelle!" I thought it was so cute and so funny that I told her to go tell her dad. She was so excited and went running in to tell him she was going to buy Tinkerbelle with the penny she found.

New Boots

Bethany really needed some new snow boots--she had some multi-colored ones that a friend had given us for Talmage, but when ever we got home her socks would be wet. We have also been talking about going into the hills for a snow hike but can't do that with these boots.
Yesterday I ran into a pair that are very nice, black on the bottom and pink canvas on top so I thought we would try them. Well, whenever we get in the house from anywhere she wants her shoes and socks OFF!. The boots--we can't get off; in fact I was wondering if we were going to be able to get them off for her to go to bed.
They passed the first test--she loves them and is till stomping around in them today--now as long as they keep her feet dry and aren't slippery (traction looks good on them), then we are in luck.

12 O'Clock and all is well...but are all awake?

Well, we rang in the New Years in out typical style--asleep (sort of).

I had some hats and blowers but only let the kids blow on them for about 5 minutes around 10 pm then I put them away. I had thought earlier about buying the paper strips and confetti for them to throw around but am glad I didn't as I decided I didn't really want to clean up that on top of everything else.

I think Mark was to sleep first, and I can't remember who next out of the kids (probably Talmage although he did want to stay awake).

I was debating whether I should turn on the tv and watch the ball drop--I didn't. Mark got up to get a drink about 10 minutes before midnight and went back to bed and then the cannon started going off about 4 minutes early. I told Mark it was early (they have a portable cannon thing --so technical :) --)that they drive around town setting it off for New Years and July 24th. The early one was really loud and near us, the others not so.

God Bless Us Everyone

Christmas was very nice and good and small this year. We keep talking about simplifying our life and getting back to what you need not what you want (although a few wants now and again are ok and nice). I do have a hard time with it when it comes to actually getting the Christmas gifts together and I have to be very careful not to go over board.
I also got the annual picture of the kids in nice clothes in front of the Christmas tree; however, I don't think I have one picture where both kids are smiling nicely and looking normal--one or the other is making a face or something.
This year the kids didn't most of the decorating of the tree (I did the lights and Mark tweaked an ornament here or there).
All in all it was wonderful and we loved it and the kids wanted the lights on all the time. Bethany loved when we would drive around at night and see all the houses lit up with lights; she would get so excited.
Just before New Years Talmage was asking me when I was going to get it put up (I guess I'm too slow for him). Bethany didn't want the tree to come down at all--although it had been down for about 12-14 hours before she noticed it was gone.

All I want for Christmas are my Two Front Teeth

Just in time for Christmas and Talmage is missing his top two front teeth (he is also missing one bottom one as well).
I sang that song (or just the first part of it) to him a couple of times and he thought I was crazy and Mark told him I'm the only one that knows it (something like that). And it didn't help that not one other person made any such comment to him.
Hes just growing up too fast--losing all his teeth; whats next?