Tribute to Mom O.

It's easy to go on and on about my immediate family, but I have neglected someone very important. My mother-in-law deserves at least her own post! Jared, S and I also recently visited the Ondricek's and had a wonderful, relaxing time. This is the guy enjoying the snuggles and giggles of his sweet grandma O.

Here are just a few of her gifts off my never-ending list that this incredible woman has contributed to my life:

• encouragement to read out of the best books
• books that arrive in my mail all the time
• unwavering optimism
• laughs during the good and the bad
• example of a POWERHOUSE of a house keeper
• a lioness leader of the Gospel
• faith and belief in my abilities as mother and wife
• tears shed when she met her first grandson - a moment I will never forget
• welcoming me into a new family
• conservative, timeless values
• willingness to be unconventional and experimental
• teaching my husband to work hard
• never giving up on those who struggle
• the gift of quilting and sewing
• acting on every thought to lift and serve
• the gift of travel and adventure, no matter the inconvenience
• teaching her kids to prepare their own meals
• instilling a love of music in her children
• the need to improve and challenge oneself more
• educating her children in the importance of education
• patience in the face of insults and childishness
• the ability to conquer over all her foes and setbacks

Mom O: Here's to the trillion million more moments, memories, lessons, and laughs together. I look forward to eternity with you and your family!

Completely Green Salad

Wow. When it rains, it pours. (Much like this morning's weather in DC.) Today is the day to post everything I have ever wanted to blog about. What can I say? S's taking a nap. And it isn't over yet.

Normally I enjoy a more colorful salad, but today's lunch is an exclusively green salad: spring mix, romaine, green pepper, green onion, and avocado. I guess the dressing isn't all green: flax oil with white balsamic raspberry vinegar. Mmmm, mmmm. What did you have for lunch today? Something I should try?

Introducing..... (drum roll)

...Homemade baby food. This time: pureed organic carrots and filtered water. So delicious.

He seems to like them more than the avocado. But not as much as the banana he tried a couple days ago. I was going to give him just a lick of my own banana, and then it sort of became his.

"Getting to know you...

...getting to know all about you." Movie trivia? Anyone? That is from The King and I, which is a movie, yes, but was a play long before a movie. In fact, I was in the play at Tilden Middle School and played Tup Tim in eighth grade. I got the part because (according to the director) I was the only student who could hit those high notes. What high notes, you say? Look up the song "My Lord and Master" and you will see. It still amazes me that I ever performed that song. I couldn't do it for you now because my voice has changed. :)

Anyway... Getting to know my neighbors is the real subject of this post. Last week, Jared and I hosted an open house to get to know our neighbors since we are new to our community. We invited the 17 units closest to us, the apartment managers, the 5 Mormon families in the larger community, and the missionaries. The two full-time teaching missionaries of my church happen to also conveniently live in this complex. We prepared the following arrangement of snacks to lure them all here:

You're looking at crackers with brie & fig spread; hummus & pita chips; sliced peppers, carrots, green beans & ranch dip; and grapes, Clementines, & strawberries. The delicious brownies were brought by the Larson's. Thanks so much!!

Jared also made his mom's yummy peanut butter and chocolate bars, and they went real fast.

The event was a great success because all the church-going, Latter-day Saints came and we had a blast. So much fun eating, chatting, laughing and "getting to know you." But not a single soul from the other units came to even say hi. I even personally invited them and met some at their doors. Some said they would come, others told why they couldn't, and that also made it a success. I got to meet people at their own homes. I invited so many thinking I would be lucky if three people came, and we were EXTREMELY happy to have 19 friends from church come.

The next day the neighbors right next door stopped by and brought a balloon for the guy, and a plate of chocolate cake for us, apologizing they couldn't make it. We are so lucky to have the friendly neighbors and that our open house was a success!

Family Time

I have the most wonderful family:

a sweet sister and snuggly nephew...

...an inquisitive brother-in-law...

...and just about the cutest mom in the world. Can't you just SEE the fun in her face!?! She is especially wonderful when she puts on her grandma hat. Grandpa was there too, but didn't pose for the camera.

Not to mention the cutest baby boy. Yesterday yet another person said he is so cute he should be a model. Any suggestions on how to profit from his handsome face without selling our souls to the media? The only person missing to make this family visit perfect was the world's greatest dad and husband. We missed you Jared!!

Cousins

S and I recently visited my family in NYC. This is him getting to know his cousin Camilo. We are SO happy to have family close enough to visit regularly. The voices you hear are the two moms and the grandma.

Giggles

Like Malea wrote, parents will do anything to make their babies laugh. I hope this makes you laugh too.

S's first food

Saturday the guy got a taste of his first "solid" food: avocado. He has had a bit every day since. It started with the Daddy cranking the avocado (which I learned is technically a fruit) through the KidCo Food Mill, from his aunt Linda. Thank you Linda!

He REALLY didn't like it at first. He made disgusted faces, gagged on the texture (even when it was watered down), and shuttered as he tried to eat it. Poor guy.

By the end he liked it a little more and it has only gotten easier and more enjoyable every day since. In fact, today he impatiently moaned between spoonfuls, anticipating the next bite. :) Here's to a healthy, happy baby!! Thanks Deborah for the pictures!!

Repentance and Lent

First, I regret and ask forgiveness from my 9 followers for not writing more often. Moving to a new apartment and setting up a home out of chaos has dominated my time lately. That and catching almost the entirety of Psych's season 4.

Second, my friend, Deborah Diane has inspired me to observe Lent this year. On Ash Wednesday I was in Manhattan visiting my parents and little sister, and saw dozens of Christians walking the streets of New York City with ash crosses on their foreheads and I loved it! They gave me hope that people DO observe and live their religions through tradition and worship. Today I join the ranks (albeit late) and "take up my cross" in preparation of Easter.

My sacrifice: dairy. Usually I don't eat a lot of dairy anyway. I don't drink milk or eat yogurt. Butter: I could take it or leave it. The biggest challenges for the next 40days will be ice cream (when it is in my own freezer) and cheese. Pizza is a treat in our house, but not for a while! Wish me good luck!

Fatty me in Chicago, deep dish style

Getting ready to crawl!

Every day S rolls over from his front to back. He's got it down! Lately he has also started rotating his body in circles when on his belly as well as lifting his bottom in the air. I think he's getting ready to learn how to crawl!

Hairdo's

The first child is always an experiment. This week we are experimenting with his hair. It has more body than I thought. Usually I brush his hair in a neat little part, envisioning him as a missionary with that hairdo. By the end of the day, it's all moved to the front:

This Sunday after his shower, I curled his front with my finger:

And then yesterday, I just brushed it up with a towel after his shower. I think I like this one the most.

What do you think?

Snow and feet

So this morning I have been working from home due to the abundance of snow from last night.  I went to the grocery store to get a couple things last night (namely the cookies and muffins in the picture below) and cleared at least 8 inches of snow off of the car before I could get going.  On the way to the store, which is only about a quarter mile away, there were many abandoned vehicles, cars stuck in the snow - in intersections - and on the street right outside of our complex there was a mature pine tree about 30-40 feet tall that had fallen directly on a parked car in the street.  But all of that is irrelevant, because I'm writing this to just say that while I was working here on the couch I noticed that S wasn't playing with his toys, but watching my feet instead - very intently. When I noticed this I started wiggling my toes back and forth and he just stared at them for about 20 minutes.  I got a picture that captures the whole scene.



PS - And happy birthday to Mary - she's 19 today!

Update: house hunting

drum roll, please....

We chose option #2! Kind of.

I know lots of people said go with option #1, but we picked another unit in the option 2 community. We feel it is a perfect match. Here's why.

The rent is in the middle of the two earlier choices, but in the location and safer community we liked. The community was a deal breaker in the end. The ratings we read online about option 1 were huge red flags. Also, my gut said, "don't move here." Talking to people living in the area, many praised option 2 community, and one warned against option 1.

Bonuses: the carpet, fridge, stove, and dishwasher are brand new. We saw them in their boxes! (except the carpet. :) That was already put in place.) The walls were just painted. The floor plan is the same open one we saw in the other unit, just not as fancy, so the rent is lower. We are not too fancy and the price is right.

I like this unit also because very near to our building there is a tunnel under the main road that goes directly in to the shopping center across the street. There is a walking path right outside our door that connects to the W & OD Trails. Plus this unit is on the top (yet only second) floor where no one walks on our heads all day. We get a balcony instead of a patio. All good things! We found a real winner, with very personable, accommodating staff.

No pictures but there will be soon. We move next month. Thanks for your input.

Brigham Young University-Idaho

In honor of my now alma mater: Brigham Young University - Idaho.

I lived in Rexburg for three beautiful years, during which I earned and received my BSW, dated and fell in love with Jared, carried and birthed S, served and grew in leadership positions, and contributed to and lived the legacy of BYU-Idaho. I'm a better person for having loved, learned, and lived in Idaho.

Jared and I have family roots in Idaho. His parents are from Idaho Falls, and some family still lives there. My grandfather is from Preston, and my father earned money (and toned muscles) while moving pipes in the farmlands of Idaho as a young man. While serving as a branch president in Japan, my dad noticed (and later told me) that the most hard working missionaries came from Canada and Idaho. Lucky for me, Jared is part Canadian and part Idahoan.

My degree is the least of treasures I gained while in Rexburg. I could have received a degree anywhere. At this smaller university, I was allowed to lead, teach, mentor and follow. Consequently, I left BYU-Idaho with a diploma AND a full, crisp resume!

However, the love and growth I found came from the phenomenal souls that flock there. I met the dearest, best friends God could have given me. Even those who I may not keep in touch with, modeled a simple way of life that tempered my busyness. Living in a slow-paced, humble town gave me appreciation for both the excitement of my over-scheduled lifestyle, and the health that comes from stress-free simplicity. Just this afternoon, my former Bishop called to see how our travels and relocation went. After listening and recounting the few changes there, he reassured me we would stay in touch.

Above: My visiting teacher, co-counselor, babysitter, neighbor, dear friend, and heroine: Stephanie. Just one of the dozens of friends, leaders and mentors that have changed my life.

Thank you to all the professors, friends, leaders and associates that made my BYU-Idaho/Rexburg experience so outstanding. I miss you and will always remember you.

A special interview about a special place

Tongue Alert!

The guy's tongue almost always sticks out. I don't know why. It does elicit lots of comments though, from strangers and friends alike:

"Tasting the air, little guy?"

"What's wrong with his tongue?"

"Does his tongue dry out?"

"It will be fixed when he learns to eat solids."

"It will be fixed when his teeth come in."

"My daughter didn't keep her tongue in until she was in kindergarten."

Yikes! We'll find out when his tongue is "fixed" in the future.

We took this picture the day he received his baby blessing and a name in our church. We posed this way in honor of the man of the day!