the jumble capers

When Dad’s Away

2011-11-18T14:44:00.001-08:00

The girls play

The girls were finally playing on their own last night before dinner so I let them be. First it was my makeup, then they were in my clothes..and eventually wearing my old glasses. I let them eat dinner like this. They were thrilled.

Then, they switched pajamas and pulled out some maps. They were “figuring out their trip” to Japan, Africa, the Salt Lake Temple, and Corona. Siena told me to hurry and come in to their room, she was getting married in the Salt Lake temple because she is having a baby tomorrow. She’ll get it all figured out someday:)

I let them stay up planning their trips until 8:45, which is practically midnight to them. Part of me just wanted to clean undisturbed and part of me didn’t want them to be asleep because it can be quite lonely around here.

Siena is now obsessed with my glasses. I popped the lenses out and she has worn them all day- even to the dentist.

3 cheers for Randy coming home tonight. Maybe we can make it to 10 pm. No?

Birthday

2011-11-17T10:05:00.001-08:00

As of yesterday, I only have 1 more year in my 20’s! I better make it a good year. I think growing my last baby and then losing all the extra weight sounds like a good way to end my 20’s, right?

My lovely mother in law came to relieve me of my motherly duties and I spent the majority of the day to myself! It was a nice break in the middle of a no husband week. I went to the DMV. Turns out you can only renew your license by mail 2x in a row then you have to show up, get your picture taken, and read the eye chart. Then, I had a nice quiet lunch and spent a couple hours in a book store. Off to the Dr. we all went after that. It’s just easier to do flu shots with 2 adults. I felt relaxed and accomplished. That’s a good day!

They rode the train after their picnic at the park

PT- Again!

2011-11-11T11:24:00.001-08:00

I was not very wise of me to couple potty training with morning sickness. Actually, it was quite awful to have both dreaded parenthood milestones at once. However, it all worked out. I had already planned the time to PT Tegan and then I found out about the new baby. Tegan refused to wear diapers and/or pull-ups anymore, so I went with it. It wanted to do it in warm weather (so wearing little dresses would work), and much before another baby came along (no regression please). The first 2 weeks were as expected- lots of accidents and anxiety for me. Then we had an awesome week, followed by one in which I almost gave up. It has been pretty smooth sailing since then. We started at the beginning of September, and by October she rarely has accidents,takes naps with no problem and wakes up dry most mornings. She actually is amazing, she can go hours without needing to go, even long car rides..and this girls drinks a ton. This week she has started telling me when she needs to go instead of me constantly asking. Yeah Tegan, you are a big girl. She loves it, I love it. She thinks she’s 4. 2 down, 1 to go.

This time around:

I used M&Ms, this girl is highly motivated by rewards

I was very casual with the whole thing and never showed frustration

I treated her as competent as I wanted her to be

The biggest difference is personality. Tegan did not need hours of companionship in the bathroom (bless Siena for her love of being read to on the pot), and she is very happy to do it all alone, even the wiping and hand washing. She even kicks me out sometimes. I have to remember that she’s not even 2 and a half, though her independence makes me forget.

Baby News

2011-11-11T11:08:00.001-08:00

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to blog about our good news! I’m already about 18 weeks along. I only have 19 or so weeks left! My due date isn’t until April 20th, but I suspect I will have this baby before Easter. My goal is to at least make it to 37 weeks, which is the very end of March. We can find out the sex this week, but Randy just returned home from Houston and will be in Seattle next week. The following week is Thanksgiving and of course the DR. is on Vacation. So, Nov. 28th it is. Except, that I recently found out Randy will actually be in Mexico City and Guadalajara that week. Ahhh! I am normally a very patient person with this sort of stuff, but I just don’t want to wait any longer. Since this is our last baby, I sort of want to know more then ever what we will have. Also, I can relax once I see all the healthy anatomy. Knowing the gender helps me connect with the baby, not to mention the whole naming process. Randy will be notified by text or picture, or whatever clever way the girls and I decide to do it. My Dad is coming with me and will help with the girls. Siena continues to say boy and Tegan continues to say girl. They have a million names picked out already: most recent favorites are Sheshla for a boy and Jenolin for a girl (good thing it’s not up to them). At 15 weeks my sickness finally subsided, so the last few weeks I have been more excited and less overwhelmed.

Warning,TMI: I feel very blessed to not have to go through the fertility roller-coaster that SO many of my friends and family have had to. Although I’ve never personally been there, I have a lot of empathy for those that wish to be mothers and have to wait…and wait. My heart aches for them. I, actually have the opposite issue. Although I purposely went off BC, I was a little shocked to be pregnant 5 weeks later…and be nauseated immediately thereafter! We went from deciding to have a 3rd to finding out/being sick in a matter of 6 weeks. Although I think I’ve been a little in denial, it is a great blessing and I’m thrilled! So excited to have a Spring baby- mild weather, and the baby is more active and I’ll be more recovered once summer hits (and I have 3 kids all day every day). Plus, I have a little time to adjust to 3 before the daily routine of Kindergarten hits.

On a funny note: when I went to get the IUD removed, my Dr. said “I was just talking about your cervix earlier today”. What? Then she explained that a concerned first time mom wondered if it’s possible to be in active labor and not know it. Then she told the patient about me…walking around happy as can be, dilated to a 6:) So funny I am the weird one she tells patients about. Although this “weirdness” requires lots of checks ups at the end, I think of it as a major blessing! I still don’t know what the first 2 stages of labor are like.

Ooblek+Trunk or Treat+ Pumpkin Race+ Pumpkin Carving+ Halloween Night

2011-11-09T20:08:00.001-08:00

Ooblek- perfect October entertainment

Ward party/ Trunk or Treat- so lovely to only help and not be in charge, first time I’ve taken my kids trunk or treating…and Randy made it from the airport to the last 10 min of the party!

Pumpkin Race- what’s better then dressed up pumpkins on wheels, racing down a hill? The girls loved watching the “disqualified” pumpkins get smashed.

Pumpkin Carving- carved them the night before Halloween. We learned last year that it is jut too moist here to do it earlier.

Hallo Night- Met with 5 or 6 other families for a chili potluck and then headed of to the Westchester hotspot for trick or treating. Holy Cow, amazing trick or treating. Closed down streets, house after house of all out decorations and spooks, tons of people, and awesome adults in costume. Couldn’t have been better! Tegan held her own and pushed her way to each door. They were all so excited that they didn’t even get scared until they were 3/4 done.

Costumes- Made a rule this year of using what we already had (the nausea made me unenthusiastic and we already have so many costumes). I decided I need a good Mom costume. One I can pull out every year, it’s cute and maybe funny, and most of all it’s comfortable. Hmmmmm?

Halloween, Here We Come

2011-10-22T11:00:00.001-07:00

We get out all our special costumes/dress ups in early October and the kids have a month to play in costume. Tegan likes mini mouse, the bear, and Belle the best. Siena thought she wanted to be Cinderella and then found our bee costume (bought at at Goodwill last year for $15 cause I knew they would love it at some point). She wore it for 3 days straight before she would even put anything else on. This year we are not buying anything for our costumes, we will reuse what we have. We have been lucky to find some great kid costumes super cheap and to have a million princess and such hand me downs. Anyone need a kid costume?

Decorating was a blast this year cause the girls are totally in to it. We’ve been listening to some great spooky music and Randy takes them on night time “spooky walks” around the very dark complex. Tegan’s favorite things to talk about right now (besides potty talk) are Goblins, ghosts, and zombies.

Pumpkin patches: went to a local patch this year to get our pumpkins and then later went on a preschool field trip to a more festive patch in Torrance.

Upgrade

2011-10-22T10:35:00.001-07:00

We are lucky that Randy’s parents are only an hour and 15 minutes away and that they like home projects. Last December I needed change. We painted the entire front room Navajo White and covered up all the great grass my brother had painted in the girls room with off white. Let’s face it, I was feeling Closter phobic in our space and hoped light walls would help. The girls got bunk beds and we put toy storage baskets underneath. Randy ordered a huge bean bag for reading and whalaa it felt so much better. Randy and his Dad then worked hard on putting molding up in the front room and adding a mantel. The mantel is a dream come true, a place to actually decorate for the seasons. Again, with their help, in the last few months we have upgraded our patio. A drip system for the plants, a compost bin, and most recently we got this furniture set and a gliding bench. I rearranged things a little and it feels much better now. It actually all started when we discovered a rat living in our outdoor storage unit, inside Randy’s rollerblade. You know, one thing leads to the next and soon you want to redo everything.

I love having a nice large patio. I send the kids out there to eat snacks and messy treats, and when I need the noise level to drop. They mostly search the compost for worms and other great bugs and build them homes with our magnet tiles.

Incubus

2011-10-16T19:21:00.001-07:00

Exactly 12 years ago Randy and I were at a small CD release party (maybe 150 people) for Incubus. Although Randy had been a fan for a few years prior, I was recently introduced. We got there early and were at the stage, so close we could touch the set list. It was one amazing, intimate show. Last week as a combined birthday present for us (Randy is August mine in November) his parents gave us tickets to see them at the Hollywood Bowl. It was a completely different experience but equally amazing. Crazy how many fans they have now. We appreciate the grandparents babysitting until midnight. We roamed Hollywood Blvd and caught the shuttle behind the Chinese Theatre.

The earliest album, Science, inspired Randy to buy and learn to play the djembe and the didgeridoo.

As we were walking along I told Randy he should take some pics to remember the night, he stopped, looked down and took a picture of the first thing he saw. Good ol Sandra Bullock’s star…which is right next to Keanu Reeves:)

Classes

2011-10-16T19:02:00.001-07:00

Ballet has been Siena’s favorite. She has taken gymnastics, swimming, karate, and now ballet. She is very controlled and precise in her movements and loves dressing in a tutu and dancing on her toes. She is ending her 7 week class but I think we will do this again in January. I love to see her do girly things and Tegan loves dancing on her toes in the back of the room - and climbing on me.

Tegan was supposed to be in a Ball class while Siena is in school but it was cancelled due to low enrollment. So, she will be starting a mini Picasso class soon. It will consist of painting, play dough, and all things messy, which is Teg’s favorite.

I love the YMCA. The prices are unbeatable, and kids have a chance to light heartedly explore their interests. I also love working out knowing they are having a blast with all the toys and kids in Child Watch.

After class in the hallway. It’s awkward to take any pics during class since there are 9 other little girls.

Big Bear

2011-10-12T09:48:00.001-07:00

Went to Big Bear with our neighbors/friends at the end of September. The weather was so nice and warm we had the cabin doors open most of the time. Hardly any squirrels and birds came around which is very unusual. The kids played in the rocks making “cowections” as Tegan calls them and had dance parties at night. The petting zoo and breakfast casserole were a hit.

Pre K

2011-10-12T08:49:00.001-07:00

New Preschool Year: Siena started another year of preschool in mid September. She loves her teacher, a veteran of 14 yrs, and loves that she eats lunch at school. She is there from 9:30 to 2:30 2x a week. I’m trying to bump up the time in preparation for kindergarten which is 6 hrs a day here. She has picked out all her clothes since she was 3, so I can’t say she wore the cutest outfit for the first day:) but at least she’s now open to the idea of pants and shorts..not only skirts and dresses every day. Tegan misses Siena when she’s gone, asking where she is and if we can go get her several times a day, but she also enjoys one on one time with me. She actually gets to talk to me and we get to play together without big sister always in her biz, and she gets full reign of all toys!

The biggest reason she has been in preschool since right before she turned 3 is to come out of her shell, learn to talk to teachers, make friends, and stand up for herself. She has made incredible progress but still loves her role as class observer (I get a full report on what kids were miss behaving, etc. every time I pick her up). She is starting to realize she doesn’t like the “picky” girls that tend to befriend her (they are bossy but she uses picky and I’m going with it). This is good! However, I still worry about her fading into the back in a huge class of kindergarteners. When I picked her up the other day her teacher said, “She is so well behaved, I feel bad sometimes because so many of the kids demand all the attention”. Oh yes, I know this and it confirms my fears, however, she recognizes this 3 weeks into school so hopefully she will be mindful of it. When I taught preschool I was particularly mindful of kids like Siena. It’s so easy to focus on mis behavior or very enthusiastic kids and miss out on the quiet well behaved ones. Of course at home she NEVER stops talking and engaging with me.

I love 4, I hear 5 is the best age, but 4 has been good for us. She finally has a strong desire to play with other kids and is very amenable at home. The sass and whining have dwindle a lot! She also loves drawing and writing so much that she can actually occupy herself for 30 minutes at a time now-YEAH! I wondered if I would ever get a break without turning on the TV or computer. For the last 6 months or so Tegan and Siena have been great play mates, occupying each other while I get things done and it has been glorious. I have felt like life is pretty manageable- of course it helps that Randy has not been traveling very much.

New lunchbox: I don’t usually talk up products, but the Planetbox is amazing and worth every penny. We have been using bento boxes I bought at the Japanese market for a while, but they have nothing on the planet box. It’ so easy to clean. The compartments are perfect. I showed Siena the video on the website so she would understand what each compartment is for. She loves helping me pack it and literally eats every bite. I know she’s already a really great eater, but the last year and a half of preschool she would come home with part of her snack usually saying she couldn't open it (and the last thing she would do is ask for help)or didn’t have time to eat it… not now. No baggies, no squishy food or food mixing, easy to open, and she is giddy about getting a treat. It’s perfect. I love it.

On a side note, mostly to myself. I finally bought the BOB books. I always thought they looked really lame, but Siena loves them. We are working our way through the series and I’m thrilled she is reading on her own, not just memorizing. Sometimes I cover the picture so she doesn’t rely on it. She is a perfectionist though and does not like to mess up- which is difficult when you are learning to read cause you mess up a lot! Ahhhhh!

Pledge of Allegiance

2011-10-09T16:35:00.001-07:00

Siena’s back in school and she’s got this one down pretty well.

Recent Adventures

2011-09-19T20:54:00.001-07:00

We are lucky to live where there are innumerable things to do, most of which are free. Of course when you live in a small space, it forces you out often.

Visiting Great Grandma Gould. Our girls are so lucky to have 2 great grandmas around! We drove down on a Sunday after church and stayed until bed time. The girls loved it.

We spent Labor day in Manhattan Beach with Randy’s cousin and fiancé. The live a couple blocks from the beach so we played on the sand and went to the festival. We also had them over for dinner the next Sunday. So fun to add to the family

Last Saturday we were feeling antsy so we went to an event at the Santa Monica Airport. The event got too big and was canceled for safety reasons. They still let us in to watch some planes take off and land. It was really cool to be a such a small airport with small planes and only a few people around. We then headed off to Third Street Promenade where the girls loved the street performers! Siena kept insisting we give them money.

Fun around the house: The girls are constantly making silly outfits or running around in their birthday suits. They spend many hours finding and making homes for slugs, snails and worms. We got new patio furniture and played in the box for days- I even spooked them out in the box with a tarantella story told by flashlight (we had a baby tarantella at our campsite and we has just caught a CA jumping spider in their bedroom the day before). And, the storage ottoman is still a favorite hiding place.

CA Hot Springs

2011-09-12T08:46:00.001-07:00

We camped with the Box’s again this year. They came all the way from Vegas to meet us at CA Hot Springs in Kern County. Having friends to play with and being outdoors all day for 5 days was heaven for our girls and for us, we barely had to entertain them. The weather was amazing. 97 during the day made us creative in staying cool- like playing for hours in a freezing cold stream, running through sprinklers, and swimming in the Hot Springs pool (on the only cloudy day- cause you know it’s naturally heated). At night it was barely cold enough for a quick fire but kept us sleeping well in our tents (the showers are heated by the hot springs as well so showering in the evening was barely bearable). The girls made rock collections and caught frogs and did all the great projects Deb brought (T shirt making, painting, necklace and bracelet making). We pretty much had the place to ourselves. The hike through the Sequoias was beautiful! Good times.

Education

2011-09-07T09:45:00.001-07:00

For the last 2 years I have been lucky enough to fill my mind and heart at BYU’s Education Week. This year I managed to convince my parents to go with me. My Dad focused on the Middle East, Culture Wars, and Retirement. My mom focused on the Savior, Music, and Grand Parenting. I found myself in a lot of parenting classes and reducing anxiety classes. Here are a few of the things I learned that will change the way I go forward:

From Michael Wilcox class “Women Who Love the Savior: Redefining Femininity” Mary, the mother of the Savior is known for her purity. Virgin Mary. The grand event if her life is often seen as her birthing the Savior, Mother Mary. The real miracle was not that she delivered him, but How she raised him.

Merilee Boyack, author of The Parenting Breakthrough. Last day, last class was “Parental Potpourri”. She is a very logical attorney with the heart of a sensitive mother and I loved her mish mash class of all the things she couldn't fit in the other classes. Major insight for me was that we should teach our children the gospel in their learning style. Not every child feels the spirit as a still small voice. As soon as she explained it changed everything for me. Why didn’t I think if this before? Her examples included giving her tactile child every opportunity for service, that is how he felt the spirit most. She talked about an auditory child that loved books and stories and how she told him the stories of the scriptures and their family stories of faith every night before bed. Brilliant. I can only hope that I can be as in tune with my children as she is.

One of my favorite quotes about motherhood comes from Michael Wilcox in his book What the Scriptures Teach us about Raising a Child: "It was my mother that Enlarged God in My Eyes-brought him up close so he filled the field of my vision. I saw him first through the lens of her faith, her soul, and it filled me with wonder and awe."

Outdoor Theatre

2011-09-02T09:20:00.001-07:00

Every summer we love to see the FREE Culver City Outdoor Theatre Production. This year was Big Bad Wolf Tales. The kids loved it because they are very into The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Little Red Riding hood and the Three Little Pigs. It was the best one yet, Randy and I were cracking up the whole time at the adult jokes and innuendos. Little Women was next, but I don’t think we would’ve lasted.

Outdoor Movie

2011-09-02T09:08:00.001-07:00

A summer outdoor movie should be on everyone’s check list. This year did not disappoint. The Grove has weekly outdoor movies right in the middle of all the shopping and dining, it’s quite the experience. This year was Toy Story 3 and Randy and Tegan had never seen it. Yes, it’s very crowded, and you have to pre order food from a restaurant to get on the grass, but it’s an experience worth the inconvenience. Summer air, wearing jammies outside...can't beat it.

A sort of funny photo. The black and white is like an old school drive in, right?

Beach Dad

2011-09-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

I had a baby shower to go to one Saturday morning so Randy took the girls to the Long Beach Sea Festival. They did not return until 4 pm, so I know it was a blast. Perfect sized waves and inspiration from watching the sand castle makers lead the girls to play independently in the water and sand for hours! I went shopping after the shower and returned home to an empty house. Amazing. What a good Dad.

Natural History Museum

2011-08-31T08:56:00.000-07:00

In early August Randy took a day off and joined us on a trip to the natural History Museum. They recently renovated their 14 thousand sq ft dinosaur exhibit and it was pretty cool. Randy and I refer to this museum as the “dinosaur museum” because that’s what we called it when we took field trips there as kids. We ran into Aunt Pam on the lawn outside the exhibit and had a nice chat before heading over to the Science Center. What a fun day.

Although Tegan was antsy in the museum a few days later she saw some dinosaur fossils on tv and said “I see at museum”

We were too busy taking it all in to take good pics.

Amazing Summer

2011-07-29T09:59:00.001-07:00

We have had a pretty ideal summer…and we still have 6 weeks left! I haven’t been that great at bringing my camera along on all our adventures. In the last few weeks we’ve been busy:

Visiting parks and swimming whenever we want

Knott’s 2x (once was to see the Snoopy on Ice show which did not disappoint)

Soak City 2x

Beach bonfires with neighbors and beach house with cousins

Kid space Museum with neighbors

Science Center with friends and by ourselves

to Virginia Slash park 2x with neighbors

Siena has had friends over to play and friends over to swim

Sleepovers with cousins and time with Grandmas and Grandpas

5 week Jui Jitsu class for Siena

Afternoon reading for me

Another tooth lost and one coming in for Siena

eating lots of popsicles and such on the patio (wearing whatever they want)

Still up: Camping trip, Noah’s Ark exhibit, Natural History museum, Movie at the Grove, theatre in the park, Temple Visitor Center….. Oh, I love summer!

4th Festivities

2011-07-13T07:35:00.001-07:00

Had a great time celebrating independence day. Lucky to live in a place that I can equally love and criticize, and have remaining hope that it may always improve.

Spent the morning at the local parade and then headed to a pool party/bbq. The 45 minute firework show Randy’s co worker put on in front of his house was impressive, the girls loved it!. Love that in some places it’s still legal to have a private firework show, sparklers and all.

Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better. ~Albert Camus

Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it. ~George Bernard Shaw

How often we fail to realize our good fortune in living in a country where happiness is more than a lack of tragedy. ~Paul Sweeney

Tooting the horn

2011-07-06T21:37:00.001-07:00

After spending way too much money in the last few months repairing the Daewoo, it died. It shouldn’t have at only 60K miles…but that how it goes, right? Too bad we just forked out a ton of money last year for my car (which I love). So, after a week of taking Randy to and from work (I can’t complain, it’s only 2 miles) or going without a car, we bought one. We did our homework and spent 10 hrs one day at dealerships, and got a great deal. We bought a trusted Honda Accord, so let’s hope we don’t have to go through that grueling process again for a long time. It’s a very nice car, one that we will happily go on dates in.

Randy is not the tooting his own horn type, so I will tell you how awesome he is.

Was promoted again at work. Over the West half of the US and all of Mexico. Don’t know what that means for travel but it should remain about the same. Promotions seems to come his way so often that it’s becoming normal to me, however, I never want to take for granted all the opportunities he has been given. He works very hard and very smart and fortunately is greatly rewarded for it.

From January to April he spent a lot of time practicing at home and at work with his band. Some of their set list: Say It Aint So (Weezer), Kids (MGMT), Time is Running Out (Muse), Today (Smashing Pumpkins), Starlight (Muse), Everlong (Foo Fighters). He played these songs at home nearly every night. I loved singing along- let’s jut say we pretty much fell in love all over again.

From January to April, he also spent a lot of time in class and studying for the Customs Brokerage Exam (on top of his regular 50 hr work week). We received the letter about a month ago that he passed. This is a big deal. This 4 hr test is comparable to the Bar for lawyers and had an 18% pass rate this time around.

Randy is also an awesome dad. Some of my favorite times are when he’s home in the evening roughhousing with the girls while I cook dinner. Nothing like hearing your girls giggle and shout as they beat up on dad.

For Father’s day he got a French toast breakfast followed by cards from the girls and a basket of his favorite things (Swedish fish, sour patch kids, and root beer). We surely appreciate him.

The girls picked pictures to print and glue on the red card, Siena made the card on the right with the comb in the pocket, and Tegan made the play dough present on the Left that said “I’m sticking with you Dad”.

End of things

2011-07-06T17:10:00.001-07:00

I am so behind on posting our latest happenings, but I couldn’t skip these.

This has been a good year in preschool. Somehow Siena ended up in a very calm class of 15 girls and 3 boys. So calm in fact that I have to get really animated to see some enthusiasm when I threw all the class parties. The teacher and class suited her well. I, however, will not be volunteering for room parent next year. It was fun, but I just took on too much with a toddler in tow.

A few weeks ago Siena completed her first set of real swim lessons. I say real because the first class she took was with Randy in the water as a baby, the second was in the pool across the street with a friend and an instructor last summer (but it was such a cold summer last year they were purple and shaking after each lesson, not to mention I had a 1 yr old that I had to keep from diving in the water…not such a good intro). This was 2x a week for 6 weeks at our gym, YMCA. I loved her instructor and she did well enough to graduate to the next level. She started out very apprehensive but quickly improved. I took this video of her to show her what she can do. Somehow she doesn't believe she can swim across the pool. It’s not about ability for her, just confidence.

Musicmakers. After 2 years of teaching every week, I decided to end it. The girls and I will miss it, but I feel like I need to focus my time on other activities for a while. I may do it again in a year or so. It was fun and challenging, and I learned a lot. I had pics taken of our last class and will post them when I get them.

I am sad and a little relieved to see these things end. Hooray for no schedule!

Mrs. Fran had me throw a last minute party on the last day of school. We had ice cream sundaes, played with balloons (with marbles in them), bubbles, and the parachute.

Good friend Olivia. Yes, Siena is a head taller. Olivia’s holding a flower Siena made for her. Siena is learning what it means to be a friend and have a friend and I encourage her to made cards and crafts for her friends (instead of keeping them). Whenever we have an empty toilet paper or paper towel roll it means craft time for Siena while Tegan naps. We google images and copy them. Siena loves it!

Mrs. Fran and another cutie Lizzie. FYI: in true Siena form she refused to wear the picture perfect outfit I picked and chose her favorite ripped, ruffled pink skirt instead.

She’s really 2

2011-06-30T08:09:00.001-07:00

On June 19th (Father’s Day), she finally turned 2. She has looked and acted 2 for about 6 months now. My mom and sister made the cake and grandma bought the pink and black little number she’s been obsessed with. We started her day off with lots of balloons and french toast breakfast and let her open her baby accessories from Grandma. After dinner we opened the rest of her presents and had cake. Happy B-day my little love.

T stuff:

still 97% for height and weight

loves baby dolls and real babies

plays very independently but gets into everything, especially electronics (often puts her sippy in the printer and wears headphones while finding lady Gaga on the Zune)

loves getting herself dressed

called her self Teegee before Tegan

when mad she unfortunately calls people poo poo head (thinks potty talk is hilarious)

has great facial expressions

gives the best hugs

knows colors, basic shapes, counts to 15 in English and 5 in Spanish

loves music but only sings 50% of the time, more interested in actions and dancing

when in the car more then 5 minutes asks to “go back home”

likes to call places “Teegee’s house”, but if mad will say to go away to Teegee house

loves finding “Merican fags” aka American flags along the way and also randomly shouts “statue” and freezes

adores her big sister and keeps saying “Siena gone” when Siena’s at preschool

scares the begeebies out of mom because she has no fear- thinks she can swim and climbs way too high

loves to roughhouse

This girl makes me laugh everyday- I love her dearly…breath holding spells and all!

June Gloom

2011-06-15T10:24:00.001-07:00

After 4 years of living this close to the beach, I am still not use to all the June Gloom. It sprinkles nearly every morning in June. But this hasn’t stopped us from spending time at the beach. On Saturday, we rode our bikes to the beach and had an amazing time. There was barely anyone on the bike path or on the sand. Awesome.

Santa Monica Pier

2011-06-15T10:18:00.001-07:00

Amy, the kids, and my parents came up to see us so we took a trip to the Santa Monica Pier. The pier is fun, but the Olympic child size playground is always a hit. Wish I took more photos- I was too busy watching the kids in bliss:) We’ll go back soon for some better photos of this fun place.

Legoland

2011-06-15T09:38:00.001-07:00

Had an awesome time at Legoland with cousins. 10 to 6 is still not enough time to see everything. Loved the discount tickets my mom scored! We were surprised how much the kids loved the little lego cities.

Randy and the girls

Welcome to NYC kids

Wet kids and the end of the day are still too cute. All the Fox cousins minus baby Alex.

Great Grandma

2011-06-13T19:28:00.001-07:00

After all the family parties we were able to spend the night and half of Sunday at Great Grandma Howard’s. It is such a peaceful place. No TV’s, radios, no street noise; only birds, crickets, and lizards rustling in the bushes. It feels like a perpetual Sunday afternoon to me and I love it. The girls had fun exploring the orchard and picking a few too many flowers. Randy, Grandma and I stayed up until 11 playing board games:)

More Parties

2011-06-12T09:48:00.001-07:00

Last weekend was a family weekend. We started by going to Garrett’s 5th Birthday, and then heading over to my brother’s house for a bbq. My oldest brother’s family from Utah are visiting. Good times.

Getting ready to race the hot wheels down the slide:)

Aunt Wendy cuddles Katelyn and Tegan

Karley getting warm. I used to love doing this as a kid.

The boys teasing Dutchess

Vacation

2011-06-11T16:12:00.001-07:00

Our vacation to Escondido was awesome. It was everything (and more) I wanted out of a resort style family vaca, and only a 2 hr drive from home.

Multiple swimming pools of varying sizes and depths: check

Waterslides: check

Playgrounds and splash zones attached to the pools: check

Gigantic rec rooms with ping pong, pool tables, foosball, board games, big screens, and kids play rooms: check

Amusement Park nearby: check

Hourly activities and competitions: check

A full kitchen, our own washer and dryer, Jacuzzi bath tub, separate spaces for the kids and us, ground floor patio that opens to lots of grass: check

A live theatre, farmer’s market, fishing, and golf and on the grounds: seriously?

Playing with the Zune while dad checks in

Our neighbors were leaving the day we got there so they gave us a box of popsicles. Nothing like 9 am popsicles.

free balloon animals in the kids rec room

The Wild Animal Park

We spent most of our time swimming, going down the waterslides, sitting in the spa, and playing at the splash parks.

gathering snails and such every time we walked back to our room

a BBQ in a great setting and in good company

The lay of the land.

It’s Gone

2011-06-11T09:21:00.001-07:00

On June 2nd, right before swim lessons, Siena pulled her tooth out. I realized what she was doing when she walked away holding something in a paper towel. When I got to her, she had dropped the tooth. We searched, shook out rugs, swept, and searched under furniture with a flashlight. No tooth in sight. She began to panic until I said we could always trick the tooth fairy, and we did. Turns out rice in an envelope still gets you $3.

The next day was her first time buying something with her own money and she was adamant about handing those dollars to the clerk on her own. It was a little preview of her future (she will get an allowance at age 5, see the parenting breakthrough).

She is getting older and I’m not sure how I feel about that.

Teeth and other recent events

2011-05-25T14:42:00.001-07:00

Tegan chipped both her front teeth in the bathtub last month. I was so sad that her perfect little baby teeth will never be the same. But just a month later I can hardly remember her with non jagged teeth.

Siena came to me this morning and complained about her tooth hurting (which usually means absolutely nothing). I dutifully inspected her mouth and was SHOCKED to see a wiggly tooth! Seriously! She’s been 4 for 3 months now and she’s already loosing teeth. I really thought I had at least a year and a half before even talking about loosing teeth. So, instead of going to the gym, I #1. called my mom #2. called Randy #3. checked online to make sure it’s normal- it is, especially for a child that got teeth at 4 months. Then, Siena and I spent a hour looking at pics of kids with missing teeth, visiting dental website with videos for kids, and talking about the tooth fairy. I AM NOT READY FOR THIS. It’s funny how some milestones really hit you, and boy has this one. This kid is just early, early, early if you know what I mean.

Some recent events, random pics

T found some playdough in her room and slept with it. Her serious face

chipped teeth

Open house, she was so proud.

T and I spend time together while Siena is at preschool

So cute after completing a magnet rocket, love this toy

Another Greg and Steve concert with preschool. Karley and Tegan came too. A whole auditorium of 3 and 4 yr olds is awesome.

Oh, and back in March Tegan gave Siena a shiner:) 4 days into healing.

And here’s one of our favorite youtube kid songs.

Events

2011-05-25T13:49:00.001-07:00

Never published this..ooops

April was busy. On top of Easter, the class party, and the service project, I also helped plan a shower for one of the sisters I visit teach. It actually was a surprise double shower for the host (she kindly let us use her house and was due the same week as the other). It was fun and of course they were grateful for the clothes and loads of diapers.

My mom, sister and I also went to my hometown to a wedding reception for a girl we used to babysit. It was surreal to be back in the same town, same church building, and to see my old house. Karley and Siena posed in front of our old building, next to the bars we used to twirl on while waiting for our mom to stop talking. The girls where the first to be on the dance floor, and we had to drag them away at 9:00. Too cute.

Retired

2011-05-15T21:35:00.001-07:00

They say you appreciate your parents when you become one

When I was young I rarely saw my Dad. He woke up before me and commuted by car or by train to down town LA. He worked many hours as VP of Finance for a major bank and returned home after I was asleep, or least after dinner. Saturdays he took care of the yard, the cars, and the bills. Sundays were spent at church or serving others- he always fulfilled his assignments. Duty driven.

When I was in third grade he was laid off- bank merged with another. For the first time my dad took me to school and was there to help with homework, etc. It was nice, but I knew he wanted to be working, providing. We survived because he had always saved.

As I got older and his new commute slightly shorter, he spent more hours with me working on math. He’s really good at math. Still the same routine: lots of work during the week, take care of the house, cars, and bills on Saturday (and a few hundred baseball, basketball, and football games of my brother’s to attend), Sunday full worship and service -and a little ironing.

Eventually his work and my mom’s new career would move us to OC. I hated to move with only 2 years left of High school. This move meant no more commute for either of them and that I would meet the man I would marry (of course we didn’t know at the time).

As I now contemplate the choices parents make, the sacrifices dads make in order to give their kids a good education, a great community, and a good example of Christ Like Service, I having nothing but respect and appreciation for mine. I used to think maybe he didn’t care so much or really want to spend time with us. Only now do I get, and really appreciate the kind of life he was working so hard for, the life I had.

He retired last month. The last few years he worked tirelessly, even traveling to India. He gave a lot to his career/employers, but he really gave his children the most. What an example of hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and sticking it out.

Here’s to you Dad, may you enjoy your golden years. I hope you find the JOY IN NOT WORKING.

Dad wrangling a young Siena at a wedding reception

He has already been able to attend field trips and dentist appointments with his grandkids:)

Coming to Life

2011-05-13T14:19:00.001-07:00

About a month ago we raised more butterflies. I think this will be an annual tradition for us. It is really cool to see my girls oooh and ahhh at the transition from caterpillar to butterfly.

We thought we would share the fun of releasing them with friends. So, I brought them to music makers and released them on our playground.

The last 2 released.

Mother’s Day

2011-05-11T14:04:00.001-07:00

I was lucky enough to receive a hand painted jewelry box and plate from my girlies, special notes with their hand prints, and some flowers (for the table and the patio). Yes, it was the best kind of cliche. I loved seeing how excited they were to give me their surprises.

I also love that I am still influenced greatly by my mother and mother in law. I have always loved nature, and felt the most at peace with the sun on my face. My mother in law has taught me some practical lessons on growing a garden, respecting natural resources, composting, and loving flowers; which influences my mothering. And as for my mom, she taught me to love books and learning, creative ways to nurture young minds, and a sincere love of the savior; which of course influences my mothering.

Although guilt and feeling like you should always be doing better as a parent come with the job, I am trying to focus on what I am doing right.

So Cal Style

2011-05-09T20:28:00.001-07:00

Some pics of our pool party Easter egg hunt at my parents’ house. I couldn’t help but throw in some cute pics of my nephews!

South Central 4.30.11

2011-04-30T18:24:00.000-07:00

For weeks I have had the opportunity to work on this year’s Mormon helping Hands project in my area. The girls and I have spent several hours in Watts preparing for this project (a place I never anticipated taking my children). Yet again, it was a major success and major labor of love. Here are some stats:

About $1,000 was donated by the volunteers themselves. Over 400 volunteers showed up and knocked out most of the work in 4 hours. A few skilled hands stayed a few hours longer. The Parks & Recreation reps told me around hour 3 that we were running low on work and supplies. A 40 yard container was filled with green waste from the Boys & Girls Club including 3 trees that were cut down on the afternoon of the 30th (and another large tree was chopped a week before). Estimated 60 yards of mulch was used . 50 yards of green refuse was recycled. Over 100 gallons of paint were used. They estimate about $15-20,000 worth of labor was done that day. I am very proud of the area I supervised (the baseball fields- mostly painted by children, mine included).

We were pleased to get a visit from Elder Clayton. He spent some time talking to Siena as she very happily painted. In fact, Siena and Randy painted a bench, 2 picnic tables, a light pole, and part of a retaining wall (Tegan sort of helped too, but is recovering from a 3 day fever). I was tired and sore when all was said and done, but very pleased at what we accomplished.

More professional Pics Here

Yellow shirts were handed out, orange for supervisors and missionaries, blue “seed sucker/be the change” for kids.

Eggcellent

2011-04-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

My last party as room parent was the Easter party. We made adorable hats, had bunny relays, and of course an egg hunt. I love Siena’s class, they are the most mild group of 3 and 4 yr olds I have ever seen (it’s mostly girls).

After preschool, eating her egg shaped rice crispy we made for her class.

Bubbles and other fun Easter things came in the mail from G’ma & G’pa Gould. Love these squeezy bottles.

Their first year dying eggs. They loved it!

Tegan is a little obsessed with “baby Alex”, her 1 yr old cousin. So, she finds pacifiers, stores them in her mouth, then finds him and shoves them in. We had a true So cal Easter where we swam at my parents house, then collected eggs around the pool (but I forgot to take my camera to the pool).

Easter Sunday

2011-04-26T14:52:00.001-07:00

The girls were delighted with the loot the Easter bunny left for them. Randy was asked to speak about the resurrection and I sang in a quartet, doing a medley of very powerful hymns. My parents were able to attend and the girls were thrilled. My mom had to distract Tegan with “lippies” (lipstick) when I went up to the stand:)

After church (which is of course 3 hours long and right in the middle of lunch and nap time), we snapped a few photos. At least all 4 of us are there and looking at the camera.

We are very grateful for the atonement of Christ, but most importantly, for his resurrection. He conquered death that we might live again!

Los Cargo Punks

2011-04-25T20:08:00.001-07:00

This is me in my work band. I’m the geeky keyboard player in the back. Our first gig was the earth day work BBQ. It took us about 5 minutes after every song to get ready for the next one. So I guess we’re not exactly hitting the big time anytime soon, but it’s been fun. It’s also given me an excuse to hear Staci sing when I practice at home.

Palm Springs

2011-04-18T09:55:00.001-07:00

My sister and I took our kids to Palm Springs for Spring Break. In case you were wondering, Palm Springs is no longer where it’s at. My parents bought a timeshare condo there years ago, so I spent many vacations there. It used to bustle with people and activity, but is now full of oldies and boys who like boys. That’s Ok, our kids just wanted to swim, play ping pong, sing to their hearts content on the balcony, collect rocks and snails, and eat (mostly treats). I now get why my dad used to get on us about stomping and jumping around in the condo. Five kids can really make some noise. It was one of my first experiences taking my kids to a place I went as a child. Kinda cool. My sister and I talked until 3 am one morning and could’ve kept going. I’m very lucky to have such an easy going sister. I hear of sisters that fight, and I can’t even imagine that with my sister. Loved watching our girls play and sing. They also never tire of each other. They were really entertained by a microphone and a few plastic chairs (we eventually made them go to the back balcony because our neighbors may not have thought they were so cute). Good times.

Snail Races and Wetlands

2011-04-17T20:52:00.001-07:00

Who says snips and snails and puppy dog tails are just for the boys? Snails have been entertaining Siena and Tegan for hours on end lately. They’ve put them through races, cradled them like babies, packed them into little buckets and boxes, and just can’t seem to get the concept of keeping them outside. We’ve been cracking up because Tegan calls them “nay nulls”. Oh and did you notice Siena’s black eye in the photo too?

Dad and the girls made a trip to the Ballona Wetlands and went on a little hike. Again they spent most of their time digging around in the dirt looking for new bugs. We did see some cool birds like a red winged crow.

But they do clean up pretty good. Pictured here in dresses I got for them while in Texas. More of the sugar and spice and everything nice side.

Outings while Dad was out

2011-04-01T20:55:00.001-07:00

A trip to Knotts with cousins. These two were so giddy at the thought of dressing like twins, and most people think they are. S wanted to call her cousin at 7 am to see if she would wear her purple skirt. Gotta love 4 yr olds.

T’s favorite ride. She loves heights just like her mama.

Grandpa takes the girlies on the ride Another favorite. T cried when we took her off.

What Tegan does in a gift shop.

Thanks for sharing your B-day cake uncle Paul.

Daddy brought this home from Texas. Not the girl, the dress:)

4 yr old Dr. Appointment

2011-04-01T20:37:00.001-07:00

I did not prepare myself nor Siena for the 4 yr old check up. The height, weight, and blood pressure check was OK, but the nervousness began as she took her first hearing test. Then, came the eye exam. Her chest was pounding (yes, I had my hand on her chest). Then, she lost it when they asked her to pee in a cup…too much! The Dr. was great about asking her questions about health and hygiene and being sensitive about checking out her body, but her heart was racing and her cheeks were red as she talked to him. My Siena has grown leaps and bounds in the shyness/adapting to new situations area, but this was too much for her. As soon as she found out she needed a booster shot, she cried. She tried her hardest to hold it in but when I told her it was perfectly fine to cry, she let it all out (all while Tegan discovered the light switch and the diapers in the cabinet). Some days it’s hard to be a mom. So, we went to get our favorite treat. Crazy pic (taken with her Lego Camera) but it reminds me of how happy she was to get that treat.

Baby WahWah

2011-03-30T22:05:00.001-07:00

Tegan loves making or asking for “Baby WahWahs” to be made out of play-doh or silly putty. She often continues to ask while escalating her voice extremely quickly as we make little round balls. Usually this happens in some quiet situation like church, or dinner out where we think it’s a great idea to break out the silly putty. Once in her hand she cradles them and plays like she feels sad that they’re crying. Sometimes she wants two little nail marks on the ball representing tears. We’re not sure where she picked this little phrase up but it’s certainly stuck with her.

Gone Workin

2011-03-23T20:16:00.001-07:00

He’s gone again…about 9 days this time. He sure works hard for our little family.

We had Family Home Evening on Monday via Skype. The girls loved it, but it was really hard to get them to bed after that. They sure miss their roughhousing, chasing, and screaming when he is not here.

Photo of him working in Big Bear, shoveling our way out.

Weekend Spent

2011-03-23T20:09:00.001-07:00

Friday the girls and I went to South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes. They loved it. The open spaces were as thrilling as the tiny spaces (and house). We will definitely return and spend more time.

Grandma and Grandpa Gould took them until Sunday morning so we could spend a child free weekend. We went to eat and saw the Adjustment Bureau. Saturday we went to Ikea, to an Opera, and rearranged shelves and such. It’s always nice to hold hands, not worry about time or paying a sitter, sleep in, and have complete conversations!

The Opera was Noah’s Flood- it was really nice.

#8

2011-03-17T21:56:00.001-07:00

3.15.03 we were married. Can’t believe it’s been that long. In the most important ways we are just the same. Lucky us!

New Zealand, 2004

Some Adventures

2011-03-17T21:49:00.001-07:00

Enjoying our patio. Visited Torrance Farmer’s Market and park while Randy was at a shooting range- the tree house is adorable. Went to the Hermosa Beach St. Patty’s day festivities. Had neighbors over for St. patty’s dinner (meatloaf, cabbage soup, corn bread, and pistachio pudding). Really enjoying a few new found parks. Lots of colds around here, and sleep issues (especially with the time change).

Fountain of Joy

2011-03-05T18:01:00.001-08:00

A lion fountain in Culver City today. It felt like early summer.

Snowventure

2011-03-01T17:50:00.001-08:00

This really was quite an adventure. We had to shovel our way in on Thursday night, and out on Sunday afternoon. “Snowy” was made on Friday by Randy and Siena, and was covered in snow by Saturday morning. We loved relaxing, reading, doing puzzles, playing in the snow, eating icicles, drinking hot chocolate, and roasting marshmallows. The cabin is one amazing getaway. Unfortunately, the drive home was stressful and slow (snowy roads). It took us 4 hrs to get home, but we made it safe and sound!

I was reading this.

Tegan was really into the binoculars.

Good thing we have Randy to lead us:)

A Reason To Travel

2011-02-24T13:11:00.001-08:00

In the summer of 2004 Randy and I spent a month in New Zealand. We loved NZ, and I especially loved Christchurch. So, when I saw the news of the earthquake, I was very sad. Actually, I felt both sad to see such a beautiful place in shambles and glad that I had been there and that the shambles meant something to me.

Our pics in Christchurch (the church was just steps form our hostel)

What this church looks like now.

20 Months

2011-02-19T11:58:00.001-08:00

Can’t believe in 4 short months I will have a 2 yr old. Tegan is full of life, messes, and mischief. She’s had full on tantrums since she was 1, so I don’t think much will change.

I have discovered trash in the toilet several times since she has started throwing her own trash away.

She flooded the bathroom a few days ago

She still wears 2 or 3 outfits a day, and sometimes needs 2 baths

She loves to be teased, chased, tickled, to play hide in seek, and to roughhouse

She now says phrases instead of just words, and has started to sing lyrics. Baby mine is still her favorite.

Still loves signs, banana and apple being her favorite. We love the way she says apples.

Loves to copy her sister- favorite things to play with are scissors, stamps, and markers.. aaahh! She also wears panties over her diaper.

Loves blueberries

Photo by Siena from her new Lego Camera

February- Valentine

2011-02-17T18:59:00.001-08:00

February is busy, busy this year. We have attended 3 birthday parties and have one more to go this month (not including Siena’s). We’ve spent tons of time at the park enjoying the gorgeous weather, and of course we celebrated Valentine’s day. I again did the class party, where Siena received the beloved bag full of goodies. We also celebrated at play group (on V day), and later that night we put the girls to bed early and enjoyed Panera in peace, by candlelight. The girls were just playing around in their room- they were still excited over their beds (put bunk beds together on Sunday). I’m also redoing their room and recovery from a nasty sinus infection!

Siena and all 17 hand written Valentine’s…in one sitting (she would not stop)

Tegs enjoying the park. A big girl with a baby face:)

Sage’s party (a school friend). T just joins in. Love the reusable tableware at a park party. Turns out Sage’s dad is a football coach. They will be moving soon:(

Noah’s Party at Pretend City

Siena and Noah had a special play date where I let them eat ice-cream while watching a movie in the beanbag…and then they played and played…it was for her B-day since Noah is not a cousin and couldn’t spend the night.

Siena with her wreath (made them at the school party)

some V-day loot

Happy 4th Birthday Siena

2011-02-06T21:41:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday SienaBug. You’re just about the cutest thing we ever did see. Here’s some photos and videos for you to remember your cousins sleepover party.

The start of the treasure hunt- there were six clues in all.

After roaming through the complex we ended it with some prizes.

And then back to start our junk food binge with some pizza. Nobody’s a fan of pepperoni so I got extra.

The cake- nice job Staci! Double layer yellow cake with pudding in the middle yum.

Always a lending hand close by for candle blowing and present opening!

Presents time, thanks cousins!

Then we got down and played some dance games.

This has got to be my fav. The kids had a blast jumping from the couch onto the beanbag. Since there were no injuries I guess it’s safe to say I was pretty impressed with the flips…

Don’t let this picture deceive you…they were not tired. 20 min of a movie was enough, they just wanted to play, play, play. Staci went to bed at 8:00 (sinus infection), and I told the kids a slow, long story until they all drifted off at 10:00.

We also did a piñata and had donuts for breakfast. Oh, the festivities!

2011 Goals

2011-01-31T21:58:00.000-08:00

Food is the theme this year. Last year I planned for this year to be “Go Green”, but after reading a ton and mulling it over for the last 6 months of 2010, I came to some conclusions about myself: convenience and frugality are also priorities for me right now. I was thinking cloth diapers, joining a CSA (after finding out that local is more important then organic), all natural cleaning supplies…

Here’s the plan: Focus on Food

Make regular healthy meals from basic pantry items and buy local produce often. Simplify my life while keeping my family and the earth healthy.

How we’re going to do it:

1. Monthly meal plans (meaning 8 recipes I can perfect and have the same night of the week, and my kids will eat)

2. Recipe and food storage research and practice

3. Avoid only serving filling or convenient meals and snacks

4. Save money through planning not inferior ingredients

Jan- Feb: Stock pantry (converted linen closet) with canned and bulk items from Costco and the LDS dry pack cannery, experiment and create meal plans using mostly food storage items. Buy containers for bulk items.

Mar: Kids snack attack. Determine optimal number of snack options at any one time (2 choices / 3 choices / Rotation?). Identify ways of ordering in bulk to cut costs.

April: Determine best farmers market to frequent, augment food storage meals with ingredients from farmers market. Also determine best places for bulk items.

May: Evaluate additional / different kitchen tools needed to make food prep easier.

* We are also planning to eat meat only 1x week and if we go out.

I also am making reading a priority again by going back to book club and trying to read scriptures regularly.

Wish me luck.

Be Prepared Wrap Up

2011-01-30T21:18:00.000-08:00

2010 Goals (theme was be prepared)

1.In addition to working out, get to at least 1 class a week
2.Make more time for Randy and I (I have a plan)
3.Go on real vacations (instead of just trips to grandma and grandpas)
4.Continue working with financial planner and get all insurance, wills, investments in order
5.Save for a new, more functional car
6.Family Photos

1.Went to 4 total, but I went to the gym 2-4x a week consistently.

2.Needs improvement, but we hired more babysitters then any other year.

3.Went camping in Bryce as a family, spent our anniversary in SD, and I went on a vacation to Education week just for me.

4.Wills done, trust done (and all that goes with it), savings/emergency fund complete, college funds started, another roth started, 401K maxed, life insurance bought (did you know you should have 10x your annual salary)…I guess we are real adults now. We had many long conversations about what would happen to our girls if one or both of us died (or got sick...) and I feel confident we have done our best for them.

5.Love our Mazi, and still no car payment, yeah!

6.Spent way too long researching photographers, attempted 2x but not in love with results.

We also worked on our emergency food supplies… I would say it was a pretty successful year.

In January

2011-01-29T16:48:00.001-08:00

January has been great. Great weather, nearly every cupboard, closet, and file has been cleaned out, and Randy has been home. I also rejoined book club!

A family bike ride to the beach…from our house. This was the highlight of January!

Lots of playing together (the interaction the past few months have been great) being too cute Loving Pico a lot. They ask to run in the hallway with him several times a day

Visiting the zimmer museum

Projects as usual, when Tegan sleeps (pig, bird nest, and octopus). These survived a few weeks. We also made tiny baby chicks out of puff balls- the girls favorite by far)

Meeting up with old friends at the park (the Box’s moved to NV). Our old playgroup reunited. Siena and Alex played for 4 straight hours. Awesome!

We also spent a good amount of time with cousins “helping” grandma recover (knee surgery), playing, and charming my aunt and uncle that stopped by from Colorado:)

I also got a day to myself (to run errands and pick out new glasses) while grandma played with the girls. It was really nice!

The Color Sisters

2011-01-22T18:02:00.000-08:00

Siena on TV

2011-01-15T23:02:00.001-08:00

Siena and her friend Curtis will be on TV in just a few days….and probably for just a minute. Our good friend/neighbor wrote in to the Nate Berkus show about finding a good couch for a house with little kids. They sent a camera and Randy filmed her and the kids. Adrienne knew they wanted a jumping on the couch shot, and thought Siena would make it more fun.

So, Wednesday the 19th on the Nate Berkus show, Siena will have her TV debut. We will record it as proud parents should.

On a Sunday

2011-01-03T08:01:00.001-08:00

At 7 am Siena comes in our room, dressed and ready for the day, asking if it’s time for church yet. I tell her is is not, but that she can get all ready if she wants. She changes because “that dress wasn’t fancy enough”, eats breakfast, brushes her teeth, an even lets me curl her hair (normally most of this is a major battle). Then, for the next 3 hrs (our ward is from 11-2), she continues to ask if it’s time yet.

It was her first day of Primary, Sunbeams to be exact. In our church you go to nursery when you turn 18 months (they play, have snack, sing church songs, and have a little lesson), and Primary in January after your 3rd Birthday (1 hr of songs, talks, scriptures, sharing time all together, and 1 hr of a lesson in your class). Most kids in her class are just 3 or 3.5, but of course she is just a few weeks away from 4. So, she has spent a lot of time in nursery and could not be happier to be in primary. She wanted to read several stories from the Book of Mormon that afternoon. Love it!

Randy was asked to join sharing time by dressing up as Noah and telling his story. I have now been called to be a primary teacher (8 and 9 yr olds). So…were were both in primary on her first day:)

BTW- Tegan has been in nursery 3 times now with no issues…not even one tear! She loves to play, is independent, and is used to me dropping her off at the gym. It is nice to have this experience, Siena took a good 3 months to get used to nursery.

It’s so refreshing to see Siena’s eager spark, and I am learning that she responds very well to OTHER people teaching her. We see the same spark every Monday we have Family Home Evening.

New Years Day

2011-01-02T08:18:00.000-08:00

Spent it at the aquarium. We love that place. It was cold and drizzly so we stayed inside. The girls are so familiar with the aquarium that they no longer run from exhibit to exhibit. They stop and stare and discover new things…and then I have to move them along.

After, we went to a “food place” as S calls it. The kids were silly, silly, silly, and someone complained at our noise (seriously, in a place where you order at the counter and find a table yourself?) Whatever, we thought they were funny.

It has been lovely having Randy around so much.

2011

2011-01-01T21:55:00.001-08:00

This is going to be a good year- I can feel it in my bones.

Last 2010 Pics to share. Photos taken after a professional shoot-always like ours better.

Eve-Day

2010-12-31T21:16:00.000-08:00

We went on our adventure to Griffith Park today which was an idea for our family gift from the Weavers. A nice brisk, bright day- it was a perfect outing after all this rain!

We were shocked to find out T was too scared to ride a pony, so, Siena went 2x. Once slow, once fast.

The choo choo

Cold Sun

Playground- Siena’s first time on a balance beam

photo shoot with dad after climbing trees

Christmas 2010

2010-12-30T21:12:00.000-08:00

We finally made it to Candy Cane Lane the night the rain let up, it was our last advent for December.

Santa brought Calico Critters for Christmas! This was the only thing Siena asked Santa for.

We did Christmas a few days early and then made our way up to Utah to surprise my brother Brent for his 40th B-day (Christmas).

Loved our time in Utah- the company, the weather, Temple Square and eating at The Mayan (Siena loved the cliff divers). So fun watch the kids dance together and fun to get to do lots of chatting. We were even able to see Blake, Derek, and Amy perform in church (violin, piano, and Cello). The hotel dynamics were hilarious.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T21:53:00.000-08:00

18 Months

2010-12-21T20:59:00.001-08:00

The into everything stage. She’s a handful, but she makes us laugh!

Loves babies, music (Clap Your Hands), scribbling and drawing circles, gives the best hugs. She drinks all day. She is quite a tease and has all the facial expressions to go along with it. Is a screamer. Wants to do everything “Nenna” does. Loves this book. Is now in nursery. We love this firecracker!

Says: some fun new words include camel, Santa, a form of her name, some of her cousins, and juice (pronounced oooce).

Recent Antics: Getting mascara off the table, opening it, bending the wand, and covering her hands in 30 seconds (with mom and dad in the room). Drawing on just about every surface. Stuffing as many treats in her mouth as she can get. Charming the tables behind us at a restaurant by shushing them (with finger at her mouth) and then shaking her finger no-no. Putting dress ups on Pico, and staying the in the bath 30 min after the water drains to “color”.

Decembrists Part II

2010-12-21T15:50:00.001-08:00

Get ready for picture overload…December has been busy:

Christmas at the Casa- Randy’s parents took 4 Grandkids the 1st weekend in Dec. They played, decorated cookies, made ornaments, and decorated their tree. Then, the parents met up to enjoy all the beautiful festivities at the Casa. Carolers, tree lighting, Santa, hot chocolate, choirs, a band, crafts, doll and train displays…it was really beautiful.

Preschool: Fire station walking fieldtrip, Breakfast Fundraiser, and Holiday Class Party all in the same week. Being Room Mom is beginning to feel like a part time job. I supplied Santa for the fundraiser breakfast (which raised $9,000), and was with the superintendent when she set off an alarm that sent the police to our party:) She was trying to open a room for Santa to change in.

A few days later I put on the class holiday party (as I do with all Holidays). I repeated some music/movement I planned for Music Makers early that week, and then had crafts. Entertaining 11 3 yr olds for an hr takes some planning. It’s always fun though.

“let it snow” with white scarves.

Upside down sugar cones decorated like Christmas trees (skittles and marshmallows were added). Siena and friend Olivia.

Church Party: My 4th and final Christmas Party. There are no longer activities committees worldwide…so I do not have a calling anymore! I changed it up to a brunch instead of a typical ham dinner dinner (sis not want to buy, store, and cook 80 lbs of ham). I think the food was much better, and I could decorate the night before:) Decorating, getting food and supplies for 120, and pulling a program together is no small feat. I was very pleased with everything and glad to be done!

I used the same Santa as the preschool breakfast. A retired teacher and actor…he was AWESOME!!!

Family Parties: 3 in a day and a half. We all met at Randy’s Grandma’s for our annual party, then spent the night with his parents. The next day we had Gould Christmas with all the grandkids. It was very wet still, so the kids got creative with dog piles, marshmallow guns in the garage, and finally some fun in the outside fog. 2 new foster nephews joined us and fit right in. Late that night, we drove to my parents house and had an impromptu Christmas get together. Good times!!!

I’m exhausted!

The Decemberists 2010

2010-12-16T22:01:00.001-08:00

Not the band but some of our happenings through December.

Lots of boxes to play with. More fun with a friend.

Love our Mazda 5…the 6 ft. tree fit inside, no tying required.

Now I get why we had a “kids” tree and the real tree when I was young.

G’ma and G’pa Fox gave us season passes to Knott’s! Watching the cowboy show with Aunt Wendy and Karley. All 3 couldn’t contain themselves during the Snoopy on Ice show. Hilarious!

This is the first time Siena has been brave enough to get on a stage without us.

A mantel…more on that later. New jammies too.

Randy’s work party was themed “50’s Hollywood”. It was beautiful. The sitter took the pic before our night out.

Santa pulled up in front of our patio with the police, so we rushed out to meet him. Siena said, “I can’t believe Santa has made so many trips here from the North Pole”. #3 out of 4 times we will see him.

Special Days

2010-12-16T21:50:00.001-08:00

My Birthday and Thanksgiving!

I was a spoiled 28 yr old…one month ago. Randy watched the kids while I did some much needed shopping (mostly stuff for the kids and a little for me). Then, our neighbors watched the kids while we went out in Manhattan Beach. Randy got me 5 sessions with a personal trainer! I got myself a Brazilian Blowout a few days later. Lovely.

Thanksgiving was fun. Brunch with the Fox’s and Dinner with the Gould’s. Lots of laughs and fun, but we didn’t bring a camera. Randy’s uncle took great photos, but we don’t have any…so these are stolen from Michelyn:)

Fun with cousins and lots of legos

Tegan was eatn up all the attention. That sunset is Devine:)

The beautiful table.

Aquarium

2010-12-16T21:38:00.001-08:00

The day before my B-day Randy took the day off and we headed to the aquarium. Could not be happier that we chose to get passes. This day we had the place to ourselves an it was awesome!

Is that Justin Bieber?

2010-11-14T18:15:00.001-08:00

Oh, it’s just Tegan.

He really is so cute I want to put him in my pocket

Art & Writing

2010-11-12T15:23:00.001-08:00

The other day I picked Siena up from preschool and her teacher said, “Siena’s really good at art”. I think the open ended art at home is helping her be creative. Drawing, painting, and writing consume most of her day. Like most other families with 3 yr olds, paper can be found on just about every surface of our house. I do love the I love you mom messages! Of course Tegan gets in on the action, but she prefers her body to be her canvas.

A few recent creations:

“snow owl”

I cut off the bottom of the I and the e n a in Siena…but you can tell it says I Love You Grandma Gould (sorry mom, I threw yours away). She normally writes all over the page, but yesterday when I suggested she use the lines of the paper to do a grocery list, she did it! She says, “how do you spell…” all the time. Love it.

Re-type her list in comments and win jumble capers accolades!

Loved October

2010-11-03T21:40:00.001-07:00

Lots of dress up, 2 birthday parties, a preschool Halloween celebration (planned by room mom a.k.a Me), a church party (also planned by moi), sleep over with cousins, lots of pumpkins and candy, and some craziness with Randy’s work made for a very busy October. We sure had some fun!

A typical walk

2010-10-24T09:46:00.001-07:00

This is usually how walks go with T right now. A few steps forward a few steps back. I love how the whole world excites her. She really loves the pinecones we see when taking walks around our complex.

One of her words is also featured here: thank you. Other favorite words include no, baby, go go go, bubble, down, and off.

Camping Made Easy

2010-10-20T16:05:00.001-07:00

Our neighbors invited us camping in Malibu last weekend. T was already a little sick, so I decided we would join all the festivities but leave around 8:00. It was perfect. Drizzly weather meant a fire all day. We went for a great walk to the nature center, made dinner (a whole chicken and veggies was delicious) and dessert in the dutch oven, and left after smores. No tent and bedding to pack was awesome.

Unfortunately, T and I were stung by hornets!

3 chilled out girls thanks to Yo Gabba Gabba and an IPhone

Date with Nature

2010-10-17T14:10:00.001-07:00

Last weekend we were able to attend “A Date With Nature”, a special event where we were up close with some wild creatures. We were also able to meet Joseph, our foster Nephew (if that’s even a real term). The girls loved the owls, spiders, snakes, turtles, bales of hay, treats, the climbing wall, and music. It was fun to see them playing with Joseph like they’ve known him forever- giggling, chasing, playing legos, dressing up.

High School Reunion

2010-10-17T10:43:00.001-07:00

After much debating, I went to my 10 yr reunion (a month ago). Parts of me loved it, parts of me didn’t.

There were some clichés and some surprises (like finding out befriending someone helped to change his life for the better). OK, I guess that was both.

I am glad I went because I would have wondered what it would've been like.

High school photo from the school Randy and I actually graduated from, not the reunion (moved my Junior year).

Recent

2010-10-15T22:52:00.001-07:00

We’ve been really busy lately but I haven’t been taking many pics. No pics of swimming, the science center, or our visit to Giggles and Hugs tonight (an awesome Friday night activity).

Here are some random photos I do have that may not be so recent.

Jack and the Beanstock- theatre in the park. Siena loved Jack:)

A trip to The Grove

Cuteness

Monkeying around while Dad is gone

Christmas photos on the beach A photo shoot with my brother

October is here

2010-10-04T09:44:00.001-07:00

15 months +

2010-09-30T09:34:00.000-07:00

T turned 15 months on Sept. 19th but I think she needs an update…for my records.

When she gets a cold it goes right to her chest and recently had to have “aggressive treatment” (steroids, breathing treatments, and antibiotics for an ear infection).

She also has 8 teeth coming in! Yikes. Her mouth us Full of teeth!

She’s 97th for height, 9oth for weight. I was surprised that her head is also 90th (that why I have a hard time getting clothes off of her).

Her newest words are baby, bubble, apple, off, down and is using No more often. She still loves to say Hi (was her fav for a while) and greets people everywhere we go. Me, me, me has turned to “mine”. Yet she is still a screamer.

She loves saying “around and around” and turning in circles until she is dizzy.

She is a tease, loves teasing Siena and WANTS TO DO EVERYTHING SHE DOES (like drawing pictures and showing me the results). She rarely stops moving and is sweaty about half the day. She also wipes her hands on her head when she is done eating:)

She keeps us laughing!

A Traveling Man

2010-09-28T20:44:00.000-07:00

It really is not easy to have a husband that travels. Days on end with no break. We miss that time in the evening when he walks in and all is right in our world. We miss having dinner with him…

But I am getting better. I am learning to always keep the routines the same, make crockpot meals so the evening runs smoother, and mentally take a moment when I feel I’m going to lose it.

This week we will see him for 2 hrs. It was 2 hrs of bliss..until he left again.

These girls really love their dad, and I really like being around my husband.

Hair

2010-09-22T17:22:00.001-07:00

Oh, little girl hair. I have been battling this issue for so long. Battling Siena to wash it, brush it, and “do it”. We’ve had some serious fights over it- where she ended up in time out for screaming at me.

Her hair was in her face at 1 yr old, so at 14 months, she had her official first hair cut.

I really loved this look on her.

At about 2 yrs old I decided to grow out her bangs, so, clips it was. Once Tegan arrived the getting dressed and doing hair battles really took off. So, I often braided it at night and left it wavy…and began using conditioner and detangler.

Just after her birthday in Feb, the hair just became unruly. Why didn't I just cut in into the cute bob I had grown the bangs out for?

Because my dear husband SAID I COULD NOT CUT IT, HE LIKED IT LONG!So, I suggested we take some family photos and then cut it.Unfortunately our chosen location closed just as our photographer (my brother) arrived to get the said family photos. I couldn’t stand it any longer and just cut off about 5 in. at home one day (I swear it was even, she’s moving in the picture).

Then, I finally scheduled the real cut. With Ruby—she does my hair. Just a bob, not very A line. If it “grows” on her and her dad, then we’ll make it shorter in the back.

Just the two of us went to a 3D movie after and she was adorable with her new hair and outfit she picked.

Randy is not in love, but I am. I would like it more A line, but I love that I barely have to do anything—which means no more battles!

When you do the hair you get to pick the style!

Back to Preschool

2010-09-20T21:21:00.001-07:00

S has a new teacher and new classroom. On the first day of school her teacher said, “she was the best one at rug time”, which was absolutely no surprise to me. This girl thrives in a structured environment, and rug time is the only structured time in preschool. Yeah for preschool.

S wanted to pose by the roses…T was there too.

Temecula

2010-09-18T20:34:00.000-07:00

The day after returning from camping we went to house sit/dog sit for my brother in Temecula. I loved living the dream for a while (staying in a resort like model home). We swam, went in the Jacuzzi after the kids were asleep, played a little drums and guitar, and enjoyed neighborhood walks with their dog. The girls even fell asleep on an afternoon drive and I pulled into the garage and let them sleep for another 15 min. while I read…AMAZING! I think I did 3 loads of laundry, cause you know, there is a laundry room in the house:)

The girls were even able to play with their cousins and visit Grandma Howard.

All the kids love this room

This bedroom entry is so beautiful

I also love this shelf with all the fireman paraphernalia

What gets me is that my brother and I have the same mortgage. His 3,000 sqft. house and my 1,000 sqft. condo cost about the same.

Bryce Canyon

2010-09-16T14:06:00.001-07:00

We went on a family vacation to Bryce Canyon. Ruby’s Inn Campground was perfect for us- right outside the park, a shuttle took us to all our destinations, we had a great spot in the trees, and there were nice hot showers and even a swimming pool. Tent camping is always an adventure with little kids. We survived 4 nights and 6 days of the great outdoors. Unfortunately Siena had a fever most of the time, but Tegan loved it. The tent is the best part for kids…until it comes to sleeping. Randy had to sleep in the sleeping bag with the girls to keep them warm, and the last night I slept in the car with Siena (her fever was making her wake up and shout all kids of crazy stuff through the night).

The Mc Donoughs (we met in SF just after we were married and met up again while we briefly lived in Denver) were able to play with us for a day. They now have 4 kids, so we got quite a few comments as we trekked 6 kids 5 and under along the Navajo Trail. Since Siena was so weak, I carried her on my back while Randy carried Tegan…what a workout!

The Box’s (just left LA for Vegas) stayed 2 nights with us. We cooked great food and had fun hearing all about their recent happenings.

I love the campfire the best. The dessert, the stars, and chatting until the fire dies. With such tired kids, we were able to spend most evening with just adults.

28

2010-08-31T22:25:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday was Randy’s B-day, and my Dad’s. We managed to go out for breakfast, drop the kids off with my parents at the Long Beach Aquarium, get CPR certified, and go to the Sunset Strip Music Festival.

Festival highlights:

Getting some free glasses for Randy by giving a 98.7 shout out

Seeing Slash perform (remember the hat and all that hair)

Seeing Fergie perform with Slash

Seeing the Smashing Pumpkins Live

and then watching Fergie watch Billy Corgan (in the tech area 5 ft from us)

Sunday we had a family party for all the August/ September birthdays at my brother’s house. A partying weekend!

Education Week

2010-08-26T10:07:00.001-07:00

The highlight of my summer was education week at BYU. It was so uplifting and so nice to fill my mind and my “cup”. I hardly took any breaks in the day because I couldn’t get enough of the classes. At night I was able to hang out with my brother’s family, played laser tag at a work party, went to party with some live music for Brandon’s therapy, and experienced Cafe Rio. I enjoyed seeing the mountains, the sound of crickets, and a summer rain storm. Lovely. Here’s what the kids did while I was “on vacation” as S put it.

Locked Out

2010-08-26T09:38:00.001-07:00

I was supposed to have a whole weekend to get all kinds of projects done while Randy took the girls to the cabin. I did get a lot done on Saturday, but on Sunday I locked myself out (I was carpooling to church and set my keys down when I ran back inside to answer the phone). So, Sunday I had my parents pick me up in the late afternoon and Randy met me there later that night. Oh, well. Here are some more pics of their adventures.

The Cable Park

2010-08-22T10:19:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I took a little getaway with the girls and met my parents up at the cabin. That afforded me the chance to try some wakeboarding on Big Bear Lake. I went to a place called The Cable Park which was pretty awesome. You’re propelled by this huge pulley system which makes it nice because the water is so glassy and there’s no boat wake. I would try it again. Thanks Grandpa for accompanying Siena Bug and taking some sweet photos!