AMERICAN Politics

I love all the people in the world regardless of what country they are from. Whoop dee do and great for them. But when I turn on my talk radio to listen to news about debates and congress and laws and policies; I do NOT want to hear someone from a foreign country discussing them. They may have a great political science degree from Oxford or Cambridge, but they can stay in their country and talk about their own nations politics. I can't explain why it makes me want to scream. It just seems un-American. I want to hear about the economy from someone who pays their taxes here and is effected by the downturn as every other citizen of this once great nation.

Also it bothers me when, again, people with foreign accents are playing roles in movies that are high up in the government. I don't think they should have top security clearance. I know it's fictional, but it bothers me as much as a BYU bumper sticker. I want to run them off the road.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Intense Picture Filled Re-cap

I am remiss in my blogging. There's a lot to make up for.
Dylan started pre-school. Two times/week. He loves it, loves his teacher, and playing with new friends. The helmet hair is because we biked.

"Do you want me to walk you to the door?" "No. Bye, Mom."

Maisy likes to play with Dylan's toys while he's at pre-school.

We dog sat my grandma's dog, Cassie. It made Wes and I seriously tempted to get another dog. Lilah was so entertained. Dylan loved that Cassie slept on his bed. He would come down every morning and tell me that he and Cassie had the same dream.
If I haven't mentioned it before; Maisy loves dogs. Every dog is Lilah, it's one of the first words she said. She spends a fair amount of her day hugging, kissing and laying on Lilah. Heaven bless that patient puppy.
Dylan is a hard core Utes fan. Not that I'm complaining about his team of choice, but everywhere we drive/run/bike it's; "Mom, did you see that Ute sign." "They had a Ute flag on their car. Did you see it? We need Ute flags on our car." Just today we were going to the zoo and they had changed the signs on the flag poles, concerning Dylan that it was no longer "Ute season." So I had a chance to bid on some Ute tickets and won them at a good price. Fulfilling my son's dream of going to a Ute game.
True he was kind of done after half time, but we finally won and had a great time. This kid has passion despite his father's apathy. GO UTES!!!
We move on to Halloween. I'm a Michael Jackson fan and since the years that I get to choose everyone's costumes are limited. This was my choice. It was tons of fun. Dylan got super into it and learned some moves and part of "his" song. I don't think the video is working though. Maisy even said "ow" if asked. While the kids are cute, Wes got the strongest reaction. He was flat out creepy.

Every now and then my kids play awesome like best friends. I snapped these on Monday while I was making dinner. First Dylan read Maisy a book.
Then he packed a bag and took Maisy on an "airplane" to San Diego his favorite place in the whole world

Finally they have landed and are going to Sea World. I love it when he's willing to take his sister with him on trips through his imagination.

It only lasts so long. Eventually my baby that I'm considering re-naming Repeat, ends up "helping" me with the dishes.
To sum up: my kids are fantastic and I want to kiss their cute cheeks a thousand times a day and tell them how much I love them.

High Five

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=17265121

My First Glue Gun

That's right, I just barely bought a hot glue gun. I decided at the ripe old age of 30 that I'm finally old enough. Honestly, I may be able to sew, but otherwise anything crafty is beyond me. The inspiration to finally buy one: Maisy had some broken bows. Regardless of the fact that I now own a glue gun, I will still not be making Maisy's bows. Tying a bow is beyond my skill level. Her dress bows always look very sad. My big project however, was a bow holder. I know most people would use tulle, but I happened to have nylon chiffon from making pettiskirts. The girl isn't even 18 months and has a drawer stuffed full of hair bows. Why so many? We're still trying to grow out the mullet, and piggies hide that fact handily.This is Maisy having taken her bows out and putting about 3 headbands around her neck.

Alta Canyon Triathlon

So much fun. I think on the last triathlon I did I also came in 8th in my age division. Who cares. I didn't want to die during any part of this one. Even though I had a horrible cough and hadn't swam laps in a couple months, I really loved it. It felt like a really good accomplishment. I need to tip my hat to my dad who won the 55-59 men's age division. Wes came in 6th in his division. Regardless, I finished five minutes faster than him. I look at him and think he has every physical advantage over me and I still prevailed. It's a good feeling. We're super competitive at our house so I'm trying not to gloat every 10 seconds, but I'm still psyched about it. And the kids really liked our "thanks for particiapting" medals.

Who Am I

I like to think of myself as a logical person, whose actions are not overridden by emotions. I believe this to be in jeopardy when it comes to being a mother. Sometimes I look back on a day and feel bad for my kids because they could just never be sure which way the wind was blowing. Most of the time I try to sit back and let them figure things out on their own, let natural consequences happen. Other times I know I'm the helicopter mom I despise. Sometimes I'm so crazy strict they probably feel like they can't breathe without getting in trouble. Mostly I feel bad for them when my even keel starts to rock.

Dear Smith Family,

I don't know any details of what's going on between the Smith family sibs. Nor do I want to. All I know is that I was getting some funky vibes at the 2 weddings last week and it doesn't sit well with me. I don't know why some people were at one wedding and not another. It should have been a happy time for all to share together. I truly hoped that when Granny died her legacy of offense and ostracism had died with her. I love the Smith family and am grateful to have married into it. Please bring back the love and laughter.

-Andrea

Ranch

We love the Ranch. And I like to fancy that I took some beautiful pictures with my little point and shoot camera. My kids played with their cousins all day long, VERY few scuffles amongst the young'uns, and fishing. Wes makes fun, but I wasn't raised fishing like he was. The fact that I go out there every evening with him should earn me some points. And I did catch a fish with Dylan's Spiderman fishing pole. We have such a great time with Wes' family playing games. We're grateful that we have the opportunity to go and give our kids the experience.

A Well Kept Woman

I'm about to brag on my husband, so Ladies, don't compare him to yours because you'll be sadly disappointed.

Wes is amazing at gifts (I suck, but he loves me anyway). He's always looking for the best of something I want/need. I got home from work on Friday and he said he'd found me this amazing bike at a yard sale if I wanted to go look at it. I've wanted a road bike for awhile since I've started triathlon training, and have complained ceaselessly about riding his old missionary mountain bike. The awesomeness of which Wes still defends. Road bikes are REALLY expensive so I haven't pursued getting one. Wes is always keeping an eye out for things like this and I only have looked on KSL once, saw the price tags, and let it go. End of the story; I have an amazing bike that is way beyond my skill level. I'm hoping to get some practice in at the ranch. After putting the cleats on my new clipless shoes last night, he held the bike for me while I practiced clipping in and out. (I'm going to crash for awhile.) He's an awesome husband who always wants the best for me. (unless I've proven myself irresponsible in an area, like losing my phone weekly.)

Add this to the list of my super sewing machine, terrific treadmill, and brilliant blender. It kind of makes him look like he secretly wants to have a fit wife with great domestic abilities. I don't care it's not even my birthday or Christmas. He's the best. Let's not forget I got the truck I wanted even if it wasn't necessarily the best deal, and he pays for an old horse that hangs out in the pasture getting fat. I want for nothing.

Maisy Dean

My baby turned one almost 3 weeks ago. It seems that upon turning one, she developed opinions on everything. She doesn't want to be carried. She wiggles and yells to be put down. She wants to hold your hand and walk, but not hold two hands, just one will do. She loves to sing, dance, and clap to almost any music she hears. She loves her comforts. I'm never going to get rid of her binki. She wants it all the time, not just when she sleeps. She wants to drag her blanket around with her everywhere, so it's always filthy dirty. She may be scrawny, but she still has the best squishiest cheeks to kiss. She still scrunches up her nose when she smiles, and she's added an eye blink to let you know that you're really special. Along with a social courtesy laugh if everyone else thinks something is funny. If you ask her if she's the cutest baby, she enthusiastically nods her head.She's a peek-a-boo master, and likes to play so much that Dylan is often yelling, "I don't want to play that with you, Maisy."
She's trying out new words and signs all the time. She loves her dog and gives her hugs and kisses all the time. She loves her Dada, but her Mum more. Her brother is her best friend or her worst enemy. She's started to yell and shove back. Someday she's going to give it to Dylan and I'm going to let her.My poor baby's mullet gets worse everyday. The piggy tails help disguise the business up front, party in the back. At some point it's got to even out, but I'm not really sure what to do until then. She's on the skinny side, and before you say look at her parents. Wes and I were huge and fat and our mothers' biggest babies. She's not a great eater, but she does love yogurt and wheat thins, sweet potato fries and ice cream. She's gaining weight so I guess we're not worried that she hasn't hit 17lbs by her first birthday. She'll just keep being our Little Bit.

Very Blessed

I had an amazing experience at horse therapy today. And I was just a bystander!

I knew there was a documentary crew coming today, but I figured it was for the same old thing. "You're a different type of therapy program. Tell us about what you do." Turns out it was more than just a documentary. They came in and gave Cindy an arena to use. Which is a huge blessing, since we've been in between and through a few arenas in the last few months. And 3 different sets of volunteers. It was so huge, and generous. It may be the opportunity she's been looking for to grow the program.

I've kind of taken off this winter session, feeling that I needed to spend some more time with my kids. And while I've truly enjoyed my time at home. I have missed how rewarding it is to work with people as caring and generous as Cindy. And to know that voluneering my time really impacts people. I think that even if I didn't see the results of the therapy I would want to do it for the humble blessings that doing this service brings to my life. I learn more than just new ways to challenge the core and fascilitate muscles.

I would like to thank everyone who has ever watched my kids so that I could go participate. Also, my family and friend who have come to support the fundraisers. Your support blesses more people than you can imagine.

A Dream Come True

On Saturday, Wes was packing up to go to a LAN party. To distract Dylan from his dad leaving, I asked him to go to the fabric store with me. He said, "I don't want to got to the fabric store, Mom. I want to go up in the mountains and go skiing." Inside I was doing a small dance of joy. If my son WANTS to go skiing, then heck yes I'm going to take him. I was worried that we've been dragging him up the slopes and he was faking having fun so we wouldn't feel bad. I immediately started calling for some place to stash Maisy for a few hours. While an afternoon of skiing the bunny slope isn't a dream day of skiing for me, I will gladly invest the time in my kids now so that someday when they ask to go skiing it will be an ideal day on the slopes.

On a side note, Dylan was an amazing skier. It was his first time going reins free. It was all him occasionally bombing it down the hill, but for the most part making some good turns. I'm really proud of him.

I Faced My Demons

When I was about 4 months pregnant with Maisy, I had a horrible dream that Sampson slashed me to bits and got me sent to the hospital. The next day at therapy, someone was running a lawn mower outside the arena and he got all freaked out. So I untied him before he hung himself and tried to lunge him to get his mind off of it. I'm already a little nervous because of my foreboding dream, then he keeps turning to face me instead of lunging and I'm thinking, "this is it, he's going to kill me." Anyway, got through it. Still alive.

When I was about 7 months pregnant, I had caught him to get his feet trimmed. While we were waiting for the ferrier, he started dancing and getting upset. Again. Took off a bit of my finger (my OBGYN was not too happy with me.) So I became afraid of my own dang horse.

Getting his feet trimmed again today, in the snow, kinda spooky. So he started his little fit. But this time I stood my ground. My heart was pounding and my hands were shaking like all the times before. But I didn't cave. I wanted to ask the ferrier to reschedule, but that would mean that Sampson won. Again. Not today. I'd let him throw his fit. Then I'd pull him back in. I'd talk to him, pet him, while another hoof was trimmed. He's throw another fit and we'd start all over again. By the end, he just stood with his head down, and took it like the old man he's supposed to be.

That horse will never get the best of me again. Dylan spilling hot chocolate couldn't even phase me. I have my A game on.

Delilah

We got a sweet new puppy today.
She's a 10 month old goldendoodle. In all reality, she looks (and sheds) like a straight up golden retriever. I think someone lied to her previous owners. We haven't heard her bark yet. She is so unreactive to everything. She fell asleep on the floor while my kids played with toys. She needs a lot of obedience training, but her disposition is perfect for our young, active family.
We'll call her Lilah, because it's kind of a mouthful for the kids. But I'm still chuckling to myself because my horse's name is Sampson.

The Man from Snowy River

Most of us have seen this movie. Wes and I watched it again the other day, because all I really remembered of it was this amazing ride straight down a mountain.That I could watch a everyday and not get tired of seeing it. But I'm sitting there through the movie, before he rides down the mountain, thinking; that can't be the MAN from Snowy River. Where is he? Does this kid grow up sometime?I even watched Return to Snowy River just to confirm that this kid doesn't grow up. He's a pretty amazing rider, but he's a 17 y/o farm boy. I'm voting to rename this movie: The Boy from Snowy River.

Raising Children Dogless

I do not know how so many people have kids and no dogs. It's been almost 2 weeks and I've never vacuumed my floors so much. And if you know me, I'm a floor Nazi. It's a bit of an obsession. I thought, "Now I won't have to mop as often, because there won't be paw prints from Mela going in and out. Also no drool spots (less common)." Instead there are crumbs. Crumbs that stick to your feet at every opportunity. That makes me more crazy than paw prints and dog hair ever did. I never would have thought that my floors would be cleaner with a dog.

Also, Dylan spilled/smashed a cracker on the carpet in the basement and I told him he needed to pick it up. He looked around and asked, "Where's our dog? Where's Mela?"

I reminded him, "Mela died. Remember? She went to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus."

"Well, when are Heavenly Father and Jesus going to bring her back to our house?"

Me trying not to laugh, "They're not bringing her back she died and is living with them forever."

"Let's go to the dog store and get a new dog. A black dog."

I love that kid. Even yesterday he asked if dad had brought home a black dog yet. I think there's going to be a new dog sooner instead of later.

Mela

We had to put Mela down today. It was a really difficult decision to make. She's been deteriorating for months now, but she finally stopped eating and drinking, and was barely getting up. She was my baby before I started having babies, my running/hiking buddy, the happy face on a rotten day. She was very much a part of our family and she will be greatly missed.

Siblings

What is it about your brother/s and sisters that makes you revert back to being 5 years old? I went to listen to my brother talk in church today and could not stop myself from making faces at him from the back row. I made him stumble just a little while he was speaking, and while he was hiding a grin and continuing, I was about to bust up laughing. Then during the closing hymn, I messed up the words. Maybe more than once, and my sister kept laughing at me. So I elbowed her repeatedly and she laughed harder. I think my parents were embarrassed by their adult children. I got a look from my mom that said, "You're almost 30 years old and have 2 children who you wouldn't let act like this during church. You're the oldest, try to set a good example for your brother and sister. (mantra of my childhood)" I left quickly after sacrament to change my clothes because I thought for sure my brother was going to beat the snot out of me for messing up his talk. That's what you fear when your younger siblings get bigger than you. Lucky for me he thought it was funny and I escaped unscathed.Without spouses or children there, it made me kind of miss just the 3 of us.

Boots

Am I a minority or a majority? This is what I want to know. I love this look. But I have a hard time finding boots that I can zip up over my ginormous calves. Typically when I wear my pants over my boots, I just don't zip them up all the way and no one is the wiser. I feel like I can do alright in the skinny jeans, but my calves are strangled. If I were my mom I could fit 17 pairs of pants between my legs and my boots, because her legs are so dang scrawny. Alas, I'm not built like my mom. Do they make extra wide calf boots in a 6 1/2?

I'll Do It Myself

Dylan has been saying this a lot to quote the Little Red Hen. It's also my mode of operation. So I've spackled, and sanded, and wiped, and vacuumed the dust. Now can I please paint them so we can switch these rooms.

This room is one of the more hideous in our house, and a little messy right now. This is the room Dylan needs to move into. And will once I can get Wes to commit to a bed size. We have a full bed in there right now that I'm willing to just let DVS have instead of spending the money to buy him a twin. Wes argues that it's too big for a 3y/o. I'd still rather go for not buying a new bed.

This is Dylan's room right now. It's huge. Way bigger than a kid really needs. The reason why he's in that room. It had a set of hooks at a convenient toddler height when we moved in. Wes doesn't understand why this room needs to be painted. He thinks it looks just fine and I'm just never happy with anything.

Why I'm at a standstill. Wes needs to decide on a bed size so I can get a bed set, then pick paint to match it. I know what color I want to paint my new sewing room/office/workout room. Just waiting for it to become important enough to Wes.

In Between Hair

I miss my long hair...
It was really pretty. It helps me feel feminine.

I miss my short hair...
It's SOOO easy. And it doesn't matter how messy it is, because that works too.

Right now I just have this hair...(Dylan took the picture. He's been stealing my camera, and sometimes he takes a decent pic.)Bleh! Could there be a worse haircut?
Until it gets long, then I'll get bored, then I'll cut it all off and start over.

DVS is 3!!

Today is his magical birthday. He's 3 on the 3rd. Too bad he's probably too young to remember this. He's been more excited about his birthday since Halloween, than he was about Christmas. We had his birthday party on Saturday for convenience. So as far as he's concerned his birthday is all over. That's what he told me that evening after everyone had left. Months ago he decided that he wanted a truck birthday party. And that's what we had. We took down the Christmas decorations last Monday in an effort to separate his birthday and Christmas, and as soon as they were down he asked if we could decorate for his birthday. Anyway, since his birthday is over, yesterday on the way home he asked me what Grandpa was going to be for Halloween. He's apparently unaware of any holidays between January and October.We are in a ward who let him start Sunbeams yesterday since he only missed the deadline by 3 days. I'm very grateful for that, he was starting to struggle in nursery since there was a new teacher every week. I was told that while all the other new Sunbeams were shy, he sang all the songs and volunteered to help during sharing time. When he was asked if he brought his scriptures he replied that he didn't have any, but his mom would get him some. I'm proud of him for being out-going.He may have a cape/blanket on in this picture, but he has an imagination a mile wide. When it's snowing he pulls out an imaginary umbrella and truly believes it's keeping him dry. He puts on pretend costumes and zips them up before acting out whatever character/animal he is. He has a mouse named Petey that lives in the cereal cupboard with his grandma and grandpa. And a baby named Mushroom that sleeps in his shoe basket and likes to be wrapped up in his blanket. It's all so real to him and fun when he lets you play along.As I look back at pictures of him, I get sad for the loss of baby chubs. He's turning into a little boy whose vocabulary is greater than his ability to pronounce words. I wonder who he's going to be when he grows up, then quickly back track and decide I don't want to know anything beyond the funny little kid. I'd be fine if he was never potty-trained as long as he stopped growing up. I feel very blessed that Dylan came to be a part of our family. I never thought that having kids would be such a humbling and rewarding experience.