Our Wisemen are so funny

Where did the last half of December go? I wanted to get so many more posts on here, but it just didn't happen. Alas, but here was something fun that we did for the first time this year. We had a special time with the wisemen from our nativity set. They decided to surprise us with a silly things every morning. It was similar to Elf on the Shelf, but we didn't have to ask Santa for an elf. The boys really got excited by the silly things they would do. One morning they were sliding down the stairs on toilet paper. Another morning they were eating cold cereal together, and yet another morning they were doing homeschool. We really loved this new tradition and we plan on having them back again next year.

Dealing with the sickies

The past week has been difficult for me and the boys. It started out with coughs, fevers, and runny noses and it got worse from there. We ended up in the Dr. office with an ear infection diagnosis. Poor Luke. The last time he got an ear infection was 2 years ago so I knew what was coming. The poor kid was miserable for a good 5 days. Thankfully, modern medicine is now kicking in and helping him to feel much better.

Letting Go

Last year Peter and Brandon brought home this Christmas ornament from Disneyland. Although it's just a simple ornament, it represents something so much larger to me. When Peter was born Brandon told me that he would be taking Peter to Disneyland when he was 5 years old - just the two of them. I thought he was crazy. Mostly because I am a penny pinching scrooge and I didn't want him using his hard earned money on such a frivioulous trip.

But, here's the thing, I was wrong; so wrong. As Peter's 5th birthday approached, Brandon started making plans and booking hotels/flights. Peter was thrilled and so excited to go. I watched him eagerly countdown the days for their departure. The day Luke and I dropped them off at the airport is a day forever frozen in time for me. Watching Peter hold Brandon's hand as they walked to the boarding area is a frozen picture in my mind that time can never erase. 

Within just a few hours of their departure I realized how important this trip was for the two of them to do together. It provided them extended bonding time with each other and shared experiences they can treasure together without mommy tainting their memories (not in a bad way).  I'm glad Peter had a chance to be alone with Brandon. I'm also glad that Brandon had a chance to be alone with Peter. I'm especially thankful that Brandon was able to see Peter in his most vulnerable moments up to this point in his life.  Needless to say, Luke and I are both starting the countdown for his trip to Disneyland with Papa (13 months and counting).

Yoga, I Love Thee.

Our local library started hosting free yoga classes in February. At the time I was desperate for something to help me improve my health. I immediately started attending and I've only missed 3 or 4 times since. I used to think that yoga was one of those "weird" things that the naturalists do in the middle of a forest without many clothes on. Since then, I've learned that yoga isn't that at all.

To me, yoga is an intense workout that requires slow movements, deep stretching, and intense concentration. Oddly enough, it has become my own personal way to relax and unwind from the stresses of being a wife and a mother. Each week I feel my body become stronger and able to do things I never thought I would be able to do.

This year my goal was to master an arm headstand. I am so close to getting it down without support. This goal has been a work in progress for 6 months. It has taught me that even baby steps are progress. I've also learned not to be intimidated with what other people are doing.

This means my yoga practice is for me, and only me. If I am not able to do a specific pose the teaching is calling out, then I modify it to the needs of my body. On the other hand, if I am able to do a more difficult pose then the teacher is doing I will also modify.

One of the surprises I've discovered is that I am more flexible then I ever imagined I could be. Here are just a few of my favorite poses.

Bound Extended Side Angle Pose

Mermaid (or King Pigeon) Pose

Wheel Pose

Triangle Pose

Sadly, we aren't able to do all my favorites every week, so I just go to class and hope that the teacher will throw in a few that I really like. In addition to the weekday class at the library I have also been taking a class on Saturday mornings. It's made a huge difference in my flexibility to practice yoga twice a week. In my ideal reality, I would be able to attend a class three times a week. But, I'm too cheap to drive further away then a few blocks to attend a class.

I've already decided my goal for next year is to be able to do this by December 2015. Wish me luck anytime you see me and ask me how it's going 'cause it will probably take that long to master this difficult pose.

My own little painting project

This is my own little painting project that I did all by myself when I was a little girl. I remember going over to my Aunt Heidi's apartment and painting this little fellow with my Mom and sisters. This little guy represents all that was happy in childhood. All it took was a patient Mom, giving Aunt, a couple of bottle of craft paint, and a night to remember. I hope my boys will have many similar memories of childhood.

One little singing mouse

My Mom was the Primary chorister in her LDS ward when she was pregnant with me. When she was 9 months along, the ward was having their annual Primary program. I'm not sure why they were doing it in February and not October. Nevertheless, my Mom started having contractions on the day of the program and I was born the next day (Feb 25th) in the wee hours of the morning.

My Mom always would say I was born on a song because of that experience. When I was a young girl I also loved, loved, loved to sing and I would spend countless house watching my Aunt Jennifer practice singing country songs (she was famous in my eyes since one of her songs made it on the radio).

One Christmas my Mom spent many nights painting ceramics with her younger sister Heidi (sister #7 out of 12). That Christmas we were each given an ornament she had painted during those crafty nights. I have loved and treasured mine ever since. I know that music and singing will always be a large part of my life. It soothes my souls and reminds me of the love Heavenly Father has for me.

Oh Canada, I love Thee

When Peter was 9 months old my super good friend sent me a wedding invitation which thrilled me to my fingertips. Only problem was, she was getting married in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Brandon and I talked about it and decided it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip. So, we drove to Canada to attend her wedding.

I have may fond memories of the trip. I was naive up to this point in my life and I quickly learned how large the west really is. We spent hours upon hours driving through farmland. Then once we hit Montana we drove through Rocky Mountains on roads that were so twisty and turney. I was sure I wasn't going to make it out alive. I will never forget Brandon's thrill as he drove those roads going 80 mph while I was clenching the door handle for all I was worth. Once we got to Regina I fell immediately in love with the water and blooming sunflowers. I was sure they were blooming just for Rob and Becky. I also have to admit that I fell in love with their dollar stores too (and what luck, the US dollar was stronger then so they were - less then a dollar store).

This ornament always remind me of Canada the beautiful. It also reminds me of a beautiful wedding of Rob and Becky and the incredible love they share.  My dream is to one day visit them on the Eastern side of Canada where they now live.

Days like yesterday

This is the book I am using to teach Peter to read. Yesterday morning as we sat down together I put the book in his lap and we proceed to read the page. Between all the sight words he already knows and sounding out the rest he read this page primarily by himself.

It was a delightful moment for this mommy. In my minds eye I could see him in the future being a pretty good independent reading and in that small moment I was satisfied with my efforts during these past few months. When I started to seriously research homeschooling this kid, the most frightening part was teaching him to read. Perhaps it will all be okay and I will have stressed out for nothing. Since he did such a great job I allowed him to color then hen. He enjoyed doing it, but he was a bit miffed that the hat was red and not the hen. Haha.

Beyond Gross

This clever devil lived in our house for about a month before we were able to catch him. I'm still freaking out about having him around. I hope this is the one and only time I have to deal with such a gross creature.

A Wonderful Thanksgiving

We ended the month with two special family thanksgiving meals. On November 26th my family made our annual trip to the Orem Chuck-A-Rama where we filled ourselves full of delicious food. We love going there because the picky people can always find something they like to eat....and there are no dishes to wash. This year I made the mistake of letting Peter have a cup full of blue slushie first. Then, he promptly drank the entire thing and wouldn't eat anything else the rest of the night. Note to self for next year - do not let Peter drink anything other then water.

We then made our annual pilgrimage to the local Mall to walk all that food off. In reality we took the kids over to the play area and the adults talked while the kids played. All the inner mall stores closed early (like 7pm) so there weren't a lot of people around.

The highlight of the night was watching my Dad (who is over 60) run at lighting speed to scare Luke as he was going down the slide in the tree house. It was so funny! I love that my Dad has stayed active and that he can play with the grandkids just as easily as any 20 year old.

On Thanksgiving Day we zipped up to the Thomas side for a late afternoon meal. Mom T's rolls are to die for and all the other food was equally delicious. For some odd reason I wasn't in the mood for turkey, so I didn't eat any. Weird.  Brandon came prepared with a game and I think it's safe to say that we have a new favorite family game - Mafia. I think we played 7 rounds. Poor Peter had his little heart broken on the first round when Gpa and Aunt Allison killed him off right away. He was so thrilled to be playing a game with the adults that he sat and sobbed thru the rest of the rounds. I have a feeling that's just one of the many family memories he will carry with him to adulthood.

Here on the home front, we did a couple of craft scattered throughout the month. We made these cute turkeys out of construction paper, toilet paper rolls, and eyes. Peter used black buttons on his and told everyone that his turkey was blind. I guess that's not a bad affliction to have if you are going to be devoured on Thanksgiving.

These cute turkeys came to us a few weeks later. We gathered the pine cones from the park at the city center and transformed them using construction paper. I typically use colored tissue paper, but I couldn't seem to find my stash of it this year. I think the boys must have got into it and in frustration I threw it all out. Next year I'll need to buy more because it works so much better with tissue paper.

Finally, on Thanksgiving morning, I got out all the things I needed to make these cute paper bag puppets. The boys were off playing and didn't want to be disturbed, so I created them by myself. Perhaps next year I'll make a set of Native Americans to go with them. I personally love how they turned out - not entirely perfect, but perfect enough for me.