Pretending

I am really enjoying seeing these two "pretend." More often than not, Jansen is either a dog, cat, chef, "sir", or train. He has been walking around lately stating, "I am a man." When he says that he is envisioning an important person going about important business. He will often follow that up with, "There's a lot of work to do." Here's the chef, undoubtedly cooking up something delectable.

She loves Jansen's bed. If I have misplaced her for a moment this is usually where I can find her.

I just wish I knew what is going on in her little mind as she fills her shopping cart with random items, including wet wipes.

The other day Natalie walked out of my room like this and said to me, "Hat." It struck me SO funny. She is a silly one.

We ended the "winter" season of our rec basketball league and made it to the final four but lost in the tournament. The team we played was made up of all ex-college players though so we don't feel too bad about it. We start the "spring" league on Wednesday! Check out that trophy.

Is it really THAT hard to put them on right?!

Happiness Despite Hairballs

It was rainy this morning, but I had our bedroom window open which faces all the houses across the street. Natalie and Jansen were both whining and crying and I could see my neighbors (who don't have any kids yet) in their garage across the street and I wondered if they could hear the kids and also wondered if they were thinking how sorry they felt for me all cooped up inside with whiny children.

Gratefully, the thing is, I don't feel sorry for myself. I love being a mom and I love my life. Today I pulled the most disgusting hair ball out of the shower drain, I cleaned the toilet, removed a gross shower curtain and replaced it, dragged the kids to 2 stores, cleaned up crayon drawings off the kitchen floor and kitchen table, wiped up milk off the coffee table, changed 2 dirty diapers, etc. DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND ME or think I am a Pollyanna. I did not really enjoy any of it, but deep down I am still so happy. Maybe a better word is fulfilled. Fulfilled by my husband, my kids, my friends and family, and my faith.

When Was the Last Time....

You were in such awe of your ability to turn on a light?

You held a cockroach?

Berfday

It was a great one. Nate and I went out to dinner the night before...

We rolled up to our destination and were greeted with this:

Guess they closed down! (Upon further examination I found out they merged locations) Not that we would have eaten there if they HAD been open. Way too shady. We ended up going to the Spaghetti Warehouse which is where this picture was taken:

I have absolutely amazing friends. SOMEHOW they (in cahoots with Nate) surprised me with a little scrumptious brunch and some good chit chat.

Aahhh yes, a birthday cake. To be completely honest, I think there's only like 2 or 3 pieces left!

Nate watched the kids for most of the day which is the most wonderful thing in the world. If you ever read this dear children, I love you beyond my ability to express it. But you wear me out. So sometimes I need a break. :)

Very Excited!

Guess what I got!

He:

Gave me this:

For my birthday (early) last night! Our other camera has not been working real well (as I mentioned) and this one is much smaller and more portable. I love it!

Around Here

My camera has been a little cranky lately so I haven't had much to post about. Here are a few things that are going on around here:

-Natalie is getting a couple more teeth. I think they are called the canines??? Not too fun.

-I signed Jansen up to play soccer with some other 3 and 4 year old friends

-The weather has been fabulous and we've been going to the park almost every day.

-Nate is doing his Internal Medicine rotation. It's not too bad, but he gets home at like 6:30 and that really throws dinner off.

-I have been playing basketball 2-3 times a week and it's so fun. We won the stake basketball tournament and also won the city league we are playing in! We have a tournament for that next week.

-We are trying to plan a little vacation for the end of April. Possibly South Carolina or Tennessee???

-I'm really trying to learn how to use coupons. It can be overwhelming and time consuming but also very rewarding and of course saves money!

-We found out there is an Air Force Family Medicine Residency Program in Las Vegas, so it's a new option for us in a year and a half.

-I will be 27 on Saturday. Yikes.

-Elder Neil L. Anderson (Senior President of the Preidency of the Seventy) spoke to our stake last Sunday. Wonderful!

A Peek

My friend Monica gets all the credit for this adorable picture...well, I guess I did contribute the child...I'll post more of the pictures she took soon.

Messy Messy

Natalie has found a fun-for-her, indescribably messy, and pretty ineffective way to eat her soup. It's simple really. Dump it on the plate, smash face into plate, suck it up from the plate. Who needs a spoon?

Some Darling Faces

I DARE you

I totally dare you to find ANYTHING cooler than this gummy bear with a ponytail. Go. Go try. I'm thinking this bear is Ebay and Ellen show worthy. BLAST! Nate just told me he ate it!!!

Blame It On the Rain

I am feeling extremely unproductive this afternoon while the kids are napping and playing. I should be getting lots done but I keep rotating from one useless task to another. And then I looked out the window and realized...it's not my fault! It's cloudy and gloomy out there and the house feels dark and THAT is why I am not getting anything done. Phewwwww! For a minute there I thought I was being lazy.

I have to say that I don't like the weather in Columbus, OH. Two things that I was unaware of before I moved here: it is often very windy and the sun doesn't come out much. Maybe it's just because we're still trying to emerge from the winter doldrums, but I am thinking I need to move somewhere with a little more sunshine. And THEN I will be able to do the dishes, work on my Primary lesson, fold laundry, etc. But only then.

Is This Healthy?

I'm talking about having tortilla chips and refried beans/cheese/sour cream almost every day for lunch. It just always sounds so good. I popped a few cherry tomatoes in my mouth before eating it AGAIN today just so I could feel better about myself. I remember when I was pregnant with Natalie it was one of the few things that usually sounded good. And c'mon people, no, I'm not pregnant.

I Thought It Said...

Note: This picture only has mild relevance to this post...but it's my blog and I can post cute pictures of my husband whenever I want!

I LOVE those moments when you are singing along to a song with a friend and suddenly one of you stops and says, "Wait, what do they say there?" or "What did you just say?" And you are then informed that for the last 8 years you have been singing the wrong lyrics to a favorite song. And finally the song makes some sense! Here are some of my favorite "misheard" songs from some of my favorite people:

Phoebe on Friends: "Hold me close, young Tony Danza"

Actual words: "Hold me closer tiny dancer" (Elton John, Tiny Dancer)

Friend Ali: "Living on ice without any women"

Actual words: "Living a life without any meaning" (Chicago, What Kind of Man Would I Be)

Friend Kristi: "She's 2 inches 4"

Actual Words: "She's 2 and he's 4" (Dixie Chicks, You Were Mine)

Husband Nate: "Searching for my lost sugar of salt"

Actual Words: "Searching for my lost shaker of salt" (Jimmy Buffet, Margarittaville)

Me: "I hope my dinner will be ready"

Actual Words: "I hope by then I will be ready" (I Hope They Call Me on a Mission)

Husband Nate: "Saturday nights are watching you"

Actual Words: "Private eyes are watching you" (Hall & Oates, Private Eyes)

Friend Meggin: "One good love the race is on"

Actual Words: "One good love erases all" (Rascal Flatts, One Good Love)

Me: "The M and the D go hand in hand" (M meaning marriage and D meaning divorce in my little mind)

Actual Words: "The word and the deed go hand in hand" (Paula Abdul, Straight Up)

I wish I could remember more. Anyone want to fess up and share yours?

Dieter F. Uchtdorf - CREATE

I love the Mormon Messages on You Tube. I especially love this one (posted below). Thanks Angie for introducing me to it! We are all moved by different things and for as long as I can remember I have been very deeply affected by the voices and messages of our prophet and the apostles. When I hear their voices something deep inside me is stirred...stirred is not a strong enough word though...I am totally and completely moved. I get this feeling deep in my heart, in a place that I can't really describe. I don't have the words to write how it makes me feel. It makes me want to cry, smile, and jump for joy all at the same time. I am grateful, far beyond my ability to express it here, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf - CREATE