1 day old!

So---- we had a BABY!!!!  His name is Ezra David and he is absolutely the sweetest baby on the whole planet.  He was born on August 3rd, and shares a birthday with his uncle!  My labor was induced, which ironically I'd rather do it all natural again.  But no worries, all went well.  The doctor was able to get his head turned the right way.  What is it with my boys trying to come face up?!?!?  As you may know, babies are supposed to be born with facing their mom's back.  This enables the back of their head to crown first, as it is supposed to be.  Occipital-posterior/op/sunny-side-up babies try to come out facing their mom's tummy, with their forehead crowning first.  Not so smooth.  I did it with my first after a very long labor and a poor pointy head on baby.  This guy, since the dr. got his head turned, did not labor quite so long nor end up so pointy.

Anyways here are some newborn and current pics!

Baby's first smile!

A Day to Remember

Whew!  It has been a long time since we've posted.  Long enough to have a baby.  Which, in fact, we DID.  Little Ezra David is now almost 8 weeks old!  The time has literally flown by.  I've been stewing about a "welcome baby" post, but figured I would break the thick ice (from not posting) with these little anecdotes.

The day could be primarily summarized in one sentence, It Was A Monday.  Not the worst of Mondays, but one of those where you're still waking up from the weekend all day long and its hard to get anything done.  I managed to get dinner cooked before we left for soccer practice.  I gave myself a nice pat on the back for that. {couldn't handle another pizza night after soccer practice}  Anyways we rushed out the door to soccer and when we finally get home, all THREE kids were screaming and crying.  The baby because I woke him up to change his diaper, Mira because her toe hurt (I think) and I'm not sure why Calvin was crying.  So Sean and I chimed in with our fake crying, interspersed with chuckles.  It was LOUD!  Man, oh man.

Then after dinner (roast beef, cabbage and potatoes thank you very much- we were channeling our inner Irishness), I gave the kids goodnight kisses as Sean was telling them a story and Calvin whispers loudly, "Mom, your breath is stinky!"  Sean and I just busted up laughing.  That was the onions and cabbage talking, son.  

  

 Other things I want to remember about today:  I read my scriptures.  Calvin practiced using the phone to call me.  I read to the kids a lot.  They played Star Wars a lot and read books alone.  We cleaned the house together before they got to watch a cartoon.  We stayed home all day.  Ezra slept in the sling a lot.  The kids gave a million kisses and love to Ezra every chance they got.  They love this baby.  Ezra was big enough to prop up on the couch and stay sitting for the first time.

Happy 5th Birthday Calvin!

My big boy turned FIVE this year!!!  It was his golden birthday.  Since we knew we were having a baby right around his birthday, we decided to do a birthday party a few weeks early.  We went all out this year- giant Costco cake (that we munched on for days) and a play place/pizza party.  It actually was really nice because he had an awesome party and it didn't take a lot of work for an almost 9 month pregnant mom.  

Here are some current Cal-isms:

1. He loves to role play.  He is often a superhero or Star wars character---- ready to fight the bad guys in all cases.  I like to ask him to protect me on the way to the mailbox and he will jump into full character.  The other day he was being Superman and lasering all the bad guys (passing cars) with his eyes.  He is my hero.
2. Calvin loves to know how the world works.  He is very curious and likes to understand things thoroughly.  We have a lot of honest discussions about death, why people do bad things, why the sun doesn't burn us, why the teenage mutant ninja turtles are teenagers, what's the strongest thing in the world (diamond), what can cut metal and MANY more.  I love how his mind never stops.
3. Calvin is an early bird.  He is almost always the first one awake,  ready to start the day!
4. He is a great big brother.  He and Mira play together a lot and he often shows a lot of kindness and patience with her.  Tonight she wanted someone to come to the bathroom with her and Sean and I were both busy, Calvin piped up, "Mira you haven't asked me!" and then as he walked her to the bathroom we overheard him saying, "yeah the bathroom can be kind of scary sometimes..."  So Sweet.  Plus he absolutely adores little Ezra.  He gives him kisses all day long and plays games with Ezra that he can super ninja kick Calvin.  He is very sweet and playful at the same time.
5. Calvin has always been a hard worker.  We have pictures of him helping daddy with yardwork since he could walk.  Mowing the lawn side by side with his toy mower, hoeing the weeds, washing the car.  When it is time to really work, Calvin is always the best at getting the job done.
6. Calvin makes friends easily and is very social.  He often is fearless to new situations and people.  His preschool teacher commented that we should have him in commercials- he has a cute husky voice and bright blue eyes that get very big when he is excited.  One of my favorite things about him is when he is telling us something and gets super animated with his hands and whole body and voice.  Its like he is almost ready to jump out of his skin.  I can't help but smile and get excited with him- its contagious.
7. Calvin is really happy at church.  We struggled with this earlier over the last year.  He had a phase where he would be very disruptive in Primary and struggle to obey.  We worked with him a lot, including a church chart where he earned a light saber over the course of 5 or so weeks.  It helped him turn a corner and now he participates and has a much better attitude.
8. Favorite foods: bacon & shrimp, cheese and- potatoes/pasta/rice/bread, pears, apples, bananas, smarties and chocolate ice cream
9. Favorite colors:  previously blue and yellow, now red and black
10. Can write his name, count to 10 in sign language, knows how to call my cell from our home phone, starting to make his own sandwiches, opened a pull tab can, learning how to start the microwave, knows how to start the washing machine and dryer

We love our Cal-Cal!

A Story in Photos

Alternate Titles: "I Hope You Dance" and "I Think I'm Turning Japanese"

The kids got Japanese clothes for Christmas from their cousins who moved there last summer.

Anyone who knows our kids, knows they rarely miss an opportunity to dance their little hearts out. We immediately started blasting "I think I'm turning Japanese" for them to rock out to.

I love this shot because it is such a true dancer form.

The dance embrace.

Finally, some after-dance cuddling and playing.

I love how Mira is wearing her fabric birthday crown upside-down.

(Mysteriously Calvin's birthday crown went missing- good thing I made 2 for Mira's)

And we're done.

But didn't that story brighten your day a little?

Apple Slices of Love

Look! what my husband made me after I came home from a long night at school and told him I was hungry for apple & peanut butter--

and sweetly begged him to make it for me.

It made me fall in love with him all over again.

Winter Holidays 2010

Thanksgiving:

So much snow in Boise!


A shot down my parents' (and childhood home) street

A zooming cousin- plastic box and skateboard style. Shoom!

Christmas:

A new little lamb for our ward nativity.

A father and daughter (with daughter holding the Nativity baby)

A mother and son (showing his doggy reindeer vest)

The Nativity Layout in all its costume cuteness.

Wedding Gifts Remembered

This post is a tribute first of all to all the fabulous and thoughtful gifts we received from many family and friends at our wedding 8 years ago. We were showered with so much love.

We had no idea then, what things would stick with us and become more treasured over the years. (Actually this post is meant to be a continuation of our 8th anniversary post----but I'm just getting to it now!)

What has really stuck out to me these past 8 years, are the gifts that I didn't quite understand or appreciate at the time.

1. Beautiful crystal vase from good friends and leaders from church. The couple took us under our wing and claim they helped set us up :) I wasn't a bride who thought about crystal at our wedding- I was more concerned if we had dishes and sheets. But over the years- I have treasured one of our few precious objects. Thank you Phil and Diane.
2. This laundry sorter came from friend's of Sean's parents- we use it EVERY DAY- it is basic but it has been awesome! I never would have thought to buy one at the time. Thank you! Another random surprise of a gift we never knew we'd value so much.
3. This last one is my favorite. We got a set of 2 scrapers/spreaders along with I think some bowls. We use these spreaders ALL. THE. TIME. Pb & j sandwiches, loosen bread out the pan, stir sauces-- you name it.

It has almost as many uses as a Pampered chef stoneware scraper. You know what I'm talking about. Those little brown plastic squares?

What I love about this is that it is so cheap and simple- but still looks brand new over all the years and as I stated before is so uberly useful!

Yay for random wedding gifts! Do share yours please.

Playing catch-up...not in order

This is Calvin's first day of preschool with his good friend Cooper. They were both so happy and excited to start school. Too bad it isn't that sunny anymore.

I made a flourless chocolate kitty cake for Mira- including beet powder to dye the yogurt frosting pink!

Then I made a regular chocolate sheet cake for Calvin- with my best remake of a sword outline. He liked it.

A few months ago we said goodbye to our trusty truck that had been with us since Cal was 3 weeks old. And I don't think I've mentioned that we're happy mini-van owners now! Oh ye-ah.

On Calvin's birthday, my awesome grain mill arrived. But the true present was the packing peanuts that came with it. He had so much fun playing in them- but holy cow it was a HUGE mess. I still keep finding the occasional peanut- months later :)

Sean spent many a Saturday morning this spring and early summer fishing with our neighbor and friend. This catch was on their first successful day- we ate many yummy trout that night.

I just like this picture a lot. We have happy kids.

Unfortunately, just like her brother, Mira had her own little forehead gash incident back in August. Luckily hers was less serious and I was more seasoned with this type of ordeal. It happened innocently at a playground, she cried but was also very brave and the doctor's office glued and taped it shut--- way less traumatic than stitches. Phew.

On Mira's birthday- after she got the concept of singing and blowing out candles, she used my leftover avocado to put toothpick candles in as her make shift birthday cake. Then practiced having us sing to her and blowing out the candles several times. :)

This is my favorite picture ever- daddy blowing the nail polish dry on little girl's toes.

I had to include a pic of myself because I am around too- and I love being a busy Primary president/Pre-Dental Hygiene student/Crossfitter/Full-time mom/Wife/Daughter/Sister/ Friend.

I couldn't do all that I do without my family.

My favorite is when Mira sends me off with "Have fun at school!" and then greets me with "How was school Mommy?" She is showing many signs of thoughtfulness and sharp observation.

Love my family.

Missing old friends

This post is a good old shout-out to our good friends Jen and Molly and crew. Everything Mira is wearing was handed down from Molly- it made me smile to see the cuteness repeated. We miss our friends and everything about them- they have left a hole in Oregon that cannot be replaced. Jen- gatherings without you are just not the same! Sniff.

I want to remember this

One morning as I was taking a shower, I left the kids to play nearby. There hadn't been any incidents during my shower, but as I got out and it was completely quiet I became worried.

I peeked in the next room and saw Mira sitting on the floor and reading a Berenstein Bear's book, completely content.

My next step was to find Calvin. It still was quiet. Then I found him in his room, holding Mira's stuffed raccoon, and rocking in the rocking chair. He told me that he was being the raccoon's daddy and helping it go to sleep. Then he wrapped it up in a blanket, told it a quick story and tucked it into bed.

Later he told us we had to be quiet because the raccoon was sleeping. My heart was filled with pride and love. It was a tender moment that I always want to remember.