Saddles, T-squares, and Sippy Cups

When Chris and I were first married the Christmas holiday was spent with his family or mine, alternating each year. The first Christmas with my family (our second year of marriage) was also our last as my family had grown so large that we couldn't fit in one house and we couldn't count on the neighbor being out of town and willing to lend us his house each year:) So, on the years we don't go to Chris' family we have stayed home-I was 8 months pregnant the first time. This year was the second time at home and while we contemplated heading to VA, in the end we were glad to be home with the kids and I being less than healthy, the rain and snow, and the work around the house that we had planned.
Christmas morning was low key and comfortable. Noah woke up about 7ish and was content to watch a show and eat from his stocking (he had informed me days before that his stocking would be filled with candy and I learned my lesson about failed expectations at Halloween!) until Ian woke up. That meant that Mommy and Daddy got to sleep till close to 8 when Ian decided join the land of the living. We considered this a special Christmas treat since they both usually wake up between 6:30 and 7.

Ian was equally happy to munch from his stocking, almost the exclusion of all else. He was about where Noah was last year-not really much interested in the unwrapping of presents. Once something fun came out of the paper he wanted to play with it, but there didn't seem to be any joy in the discovery. Funny kids!

Although, I did manage to get a picture without food in it:)They were excited by each gift and thanks to the generosity of grandparents, Uncle Bret and Aunt Christina, and Aunt Clara they got a variety of fun things to check out and play with. Thanks everyone!
It was fun and happy and I couldn't have asked for more. Happily, there was more! Chris got me a wireless router so now (except for pictures) I can blog (and email, search jobs, etc.) from the comfort of my couch! Hence the last really long post that a sore bum might have encouraged me to shorten or abridge.

As most of the Christmas vacation has been full of home improvement work for Chris with occasional help from his sick and pregnant wife, that morning was the perfect opportunity to focus on family and togetherness. It was a very merry Christmas.

In Christmases past I have fallen into the rut of thinking momentarily of the birth of Jesus before mentally moving on to the more significant acts that he would preform later in life. I would read the story of his birth and then continue onward, without pause, to think about the Atonement.

This year, my thoughts have followed a different track. I have not had any great epiphany of new knowledge, just the understanding that perhaps I have been passing over an event that does have more significance than just a nice story on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane, Calvary and the garden tomb.

This year I saw part of the movie The Nativity Story. I liked it. But one line really got me thinking. One of the wise men, upon arriving at the stable to see the baby Jesus (however historically inaccurate:) said with total awe of expression and voice "God made flesh!"

Babies are all extraordinary miracles but was there really something that set this baby apart from all others? That would inspire such awe in full grown men (not their parent) that had traveled hundreds of miles and months of time to see him?

I connected a couple of dots in my mind as I pondered on this.

Dot 1:
In 1 Nephi 11, the Spirit asks Nephi "Knowest thou the condescension of God?"

The scripture continues:

"And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.
And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.
...And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.
And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!"

God made flesh, just as the wise man proclaimed.

Later in the chapter it returns to this subject:

"And the angel said unto me again: Look and behold the condescension of God!
And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of him..."

Nephi was shown in vision many of the events in Christ's life, continuing the illustration of the condescension of God, all of which demonstrate Jesus' complete humility.

Dot 2:
Early in December I was reading Mosiah 14. Abinadi is quoting from the 53rd chapter of Isaiah.
He describes the Atonement:

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people was he stricken.
And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no evil, neither was any deceit in his mouth."

But what of the verses that came before, that were not in reference the the Atonement itself? They too describe the humility with which Jesus lived his life.

"For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrow, and acquainted with grief; and we hid our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely, he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted."

His whole life was lived in such a humble manner that even before his experience in Gethsemane, he was acquainted with the sadness and sorrows that come with life. And yet he was a God.

Dot 3:
It seems that upon occasion I have met or heard of little babies that don't like to be little babies. You have that sense that it is exasperating for them to be in bodies that don't obey them or frustrating that they can't communicate as much as they would like. As they get older and things start to work they way they would like they seem to get happier and more content with life.

Did Jesus have that experience? We know he learned and grew 'from grace to grace' but surely it was at an accelerated rate compared to us. By age 12 he was teaching in the temple. Is that part of the condescension of God? That he would be frustrated by the limitations of the flesh? That he would endure them for years so that he could more fully comprehend how to succor us in our afflictions? Were they necessary preparation for the Atonement itself?

Jesus needed a body of flesh so that he could die. Perhaps his birth was significant not just because it provided that body, not just because it was a nice story of prophecy fulfilled on the way to the Atonement. Perhaps his birth was significant as a part of the Atonement, the condescension of God, preparing him, leading him to those events that have such eternal significance for mankind.

Perhaps I shouldn't pass over the birth of the Savior on my way to pondering the Atonement.

Maybe they are not as separate as I had thought.

You know the scene in the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy and the others are all talking to the floating wizard head and Toto outs the real wizard from his hiding place and he says "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"

That is what Chris would probably tell you about himself. But for me he is the real wizard. The man behind the curtain. The magic behind my laundry baskets. And dishwasher and dinners and bathrooms and early morning kiddie care, and lately, holiday goodies and gift wrapping. You get the picture.

You might have caught on to the fact that pregnancy does not bring about my finest moments. Such has been the case this go round as well, really, but it might not seem to be true to the casual observer. This is all Chris.

Chris has been there every day to pick up the extra slack. And some days I bet he thought he would be tied in knots for the rest of his life by how much extra slack there was! He has been working to hit deadline after deadline at work and yet still makes it home with enough energy to spare to wrestle with the boys, make dinner, read library books, sing songs, brush teeth and put the boys to bed. And then go back to work for a few more hours.

Repeat daily.

I have not been completely out of commission. We had an agreement after all-I would buck up and he would be nice. And I am happy to report: it is working! But I guess that is my point. It is all thanks to Chris. His niceness (and tolerance and forgiveness) inspires me to keep pushing even when I really don't think I can (or want) do more. Chris lets me sleep in a little everyday to get past the early morning morning sickness, gets up with the boys, has had early morning poop clean up duty when we experimented with overnight underwear wearing and he has even gone out to get food for my cravings! If he is doing so much for me I can hardly do less (although it really does come out to be less). And it has made the last 4 1/2 months so much more pleasant than they could have been.

We are almost half way through. And while I am not looking forward to the less than happy/comfortable symptoms that the future holds I feel much more confident in our ability to handle what comes and do so in a way that is going to make our family better and stronger.

I have been procrastinating the writing of this post thinking, foolishly, that perhaps the perfect, eloquent words would come to me and would appear in a flawless essay of respect, devotion, gratitude, and love. Since that hasn't happened yet, and never will, you will have to content yourselves as I will. Telling yourself, after reading this post, "It's the thought that counts."

And here is the most important thought:

I love you, Chris, and am so grateful that you are mine.

I have one. Again.

Sigh.

I have magic laundry baskets.

I do laundry (on a good day:) and get the dirty clothes basket completely empty.

Then I fold laundry (also on a good day:) and the clean clothes basket is all empty.

At this point I assume that we are good for at least a few days, right?

But I have magic baskets. The next time a walk by the dirty clothes baskets, without fail, it is full again. How do those clothes magically appear? And it's not just the dirty clothes basket but the clean one too. It is full of laundry that needs to be folded.

It is magic.

Here are the rules... we'll see how well I follow them:
1) Must thank the person who gave the award and list their blog and link it.
2) Share "10 Honest Things" about yourself.
3) Present this award to 7 others whose blogs you find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged you.
4) Tell those 7 people they've been awarded HONEST SCRAP and inform them of these guidelines in receiving the award.

I was nominated twice, by Robin Cooper and Tara Black (links on the sidebar). Both times I had the urge to look over my shoulder to see if they were mentioning some other Leah. I can't be sure but to cover my bases I figured I would give it a go.

1. I eat all the crust on my sandwiches first. I suppose it is a result of my preference to 'save the best for last'.

2. I prefer to do chores that provide instant gratification. (How's that for a grown up way to think?) Like loading the dishwasher, as opposed to unloading it. You unload it and close it and nothing appears to have changed. Where as if I load it my kitchen is usually cleaner and I feel as if I have accomplished something.

3. I was "Dear Janed" by a missionary when I was a sophomore in college. I actually consider this a blessing despite the upset at the moment.

4. I was my husband's first kiss-and I waited a long time for it!!

5. I have lived in 9 states in my life and in the next year will add another. Not the equal of any well traveled military brat but enough that I didn't have anyone to write a recommendation when I applied to BYU who had known me for 10 years or more.

6. I think often of friends, acquaintances and people who have made an impression in my life but am awful about keeping up with them in general and expressing serious sentiment to them in particular.

7. I am happy to be a mother. It is the most challenging thing I have or will ever undertake. I find it intimidating and I worry about doing it well. The irony is that I tend to avoid like the plague things that make me feel that way. But I have embraced motherhood and frequently think that there is not another job that I would rather be doing.

8. I get very carsick very easily and consequently drive everywhere, all the time. Luckily for me, Chris doesn't mind being a passenger.

9. I have never been my own biggest fan but have had enough experiences in life to know and understand that however unfathomable I find it, I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and guides my life. Amazing!

10. I once had a friend nickname me 'Penelope'. I don't the the hows or whys but it is still the most unusual nickname I have ever had.

Pictures might have made this post more interesting but it might have made the post nonexistent as well. I tag the 7 people who read my blog. Can't wait to learn more about you!

An early departure on Tuesday put us in VA by early afternoon.

The boys declined to take naps so by late afternoon/early evening they were fit to be tied-especially Ian. Oh, my! Let's just say that the continuous crying and screaming for 2 hours did not make a good impression on his relatives who haven't seen him in ages. I was having flashbacks to his infancy!

On the other hand it made them super ready for bed and they went down a little early without a fuss. This meant that we got to go on our double date with Clara and Dave earlier than planned.
What a fun evening! We went to Mac & Bob's for dinner, a Salem institution and already established tradition for Chris and I. They have the most humongous, yummy calzones! Then it was on to play games. I was introduced to Ticket to Ride. Dave beat me by a hair...well by almost a hundred points. However, since he was the expert and I the novice I didn't feel to bad:)

Wednesday was fun too because I got to hang out with my bestest friend from high school, Mary. We kept in touch for years after I moved from KY but eventually we did lose touch. Super genius that she is (really she is!), she found me through the Church a few years ago. I didn't even know that you could do that! Anyway, since then we have gotten to see each other just a few times but the internet does make it easier to stay in touch and up on each other's doings.

Still, nothing really beats the face to face. Thanks to Mary, Josh and her girls, who were willing to stop off on their trip to see family, we got to visit for a couple of hours. The only sad part was not getting a picture of us together. (Ok, you know I really miss not getting a picture to capture the occasion-I don't really miss being in it!)

Wednesday was also the start of our turkey preparations. Chris and I volunteered to do the turkey and mashed potatoes and stuffing this year. Chris really ended up doing the turkey himself and it was amazing! We got compliments along the lines of "This is the best turkey and gravy I have ever had!"

I have just two words: Alton Brown.

From the Food Network. Chris and I just happened to catch his special how to make the best turkey show. We were riveted and decided to try it his way. Oooooooh, buddy. Let me tell you! It was worth any extra effort (although really it wasn't much!). I think it came down to the brining and the cooking method (short time at really high temp, a couple hours at lower temp and then some residual cooking out of the oven as it rests.)

Thanksgiving morning was a little hectic with both of us trying to get things ready for dinner but the boys did pretty well and like I said, the food was amazing!! And again, I didn't get a picture of the spread or the people. Pregnancy brain strikes again!

Pies and more family came later and it that was great too! Of course I have no picture of this either! What I did manage to get pictures of, thankfully, was Grandma getting her birthday present. Someone (Stephanie?) or someones came up with the brilliant idea of Celebrating the the 75 Days of Grandma leading up to her, you guessed it, 75th birthday in February.

It was so fun to see her face! We told her it was for her birthday. Her response: "You don't think I'm going to make to February?"
Now she gets to open a envelope everyday until her birthday.

It was somewhere in here when Clara finally broke the ice that Ian had so guarded all the time since leaving home. He broke down and sang and played with her.

And while Dave wasn't able to win over Ian this trip, he was not without his successes.
The cutest of which was Lizzy. Naturally, I didn't get a picture of any of that either.
Friday was met with goodbyes as Clara and Dave, Jacob, Aimee and boys all left for home.

Noah decided to liven up the day with some diarrhea. This gave us some real pause. I just didn't think that a 3 year old, diarrhea and a 10+ hour car trip would mix well. So in the end we opted to stay a couple more days and hope it was all cleared up by Monday-like the holiday traffic would hopefully be.

This meant that we got to see the Christmas tree put up and decorated. (Nope, no picture of the finished product.) But how about this one?

It all worked out and we made it home Monday evening after about 11 hours. It was a long day but distance makes the heart grow fonder and it was heavenly to be home in our place! And, thanks to Ian and Cristina stopping in on their way home, our house didn't even smell too much like the cat! Oh, simple pleasures:)

For Thanksgiving vacation we had a two part journey. Sadly, as I was uploading pictures I realized that I didn't get pictures of several things/people. Like Mimi. We were at her house and I didn't get any pictures of her this trip! The MIA pictures are not a reflection of a lack of love or enjoyment, simply my pregnant, and thus forgetful, mind!!

We stopped in KY to spend a couple of days with my brother Ian and his family and my parents. They were all spending the whole week at Mimi's house and when you live far away you got to take every opportunity! On the way there we stopped at place with a play place. We thought it would be nice if they could have a little fun before going the last hour. Instead we got quite the bump. Notice the nice red bruise spot on his right cheek?We got in Saturday night. Ian and Cristina actually made an impromptu stop at our house as a break in their trip that night. I think it was a timely break for them and it's hard to pass up free accommodations but I was very embarrassed by the state of my house! Never will I leave my house less than spotless when I go on a trip again! (Famous last words if I ever heard them....)

Sunday was a pleasant day and we played at the playground at Masterston Station in the morning. After Ian and company arrived we went for a walk close to downtown in Lexington.
We saw this building, the library of my mother's youth, and her pretend princess castle. Can you believe that for just $60,000 you could have had a place like this too?

We passed many old, beautiful renovated/restored historical homes. Grand old dames now, I can only imagine how impressive they were back in the day.
You might have to click on it to see, but here you have some unique individuals playing what appears to be some version of quidditch complete with brooms and towels for capes! I think I am getting old.
Ian was a little off his game pretty much the whole trip and took hearty offense if anyone so much as looked at him, let alone talked to him. I felt a little better when I took these. A little cliche, perhaps, but so sweet and meaningful to me that I don't care.

And what stop at Mimi's would not be complete without at ride (or a hundred) up the stairs in the chair? He did learn to do it all by himself this time!
Monday our plans for Red River Gorge/Natural Bridge were rained out. But we finished off the day with a double date (with Ian and Cristina) plus chaperon (Mimi:) at Bajio. Yum!!

We hit the road Tuesday morning and made the rest of the trip on to VA. But that is Part 2.

The love side of the whole "poggett" situation explains why I am not crazy. Because, really, who would go through all that other stuff if it wasn't for a totally worth it reason?

Like this:

And this:
And these:


"When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses? When the surf of the centuries has made the great pyramids so much sand, the everlasting family will still be standing, because it is a celestial institution, formed outside telestial time. The women of God know this."
~Elder Neal A. Maxwell~

And another reason why doing something so hard might be worth the effort (Thanks, Alisa, for saving me the typing:):

"Throughout the ages, many have obtained guidance helpful to resolve challenges in their lives by following the example of respected individuals who resolved similar problems. Today, world conditions change so rapidly that such a course of action is often not available to us.

Personally, I rejoice in that reality because it creates a condition where we, of necessity, are more dependent upon the Spirit to guide us through the vicissitudes of life. Therefore, we are led to seek personal inspiration in life’s important decisions.

I am convinced that there is no simple formula or technique that would immediately allow you to master the ability to be guided by the voice of the Spirit. Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ.

Were you to receive inspired guidance just for the asking, you would become weak and ever more dependent on Them. They know that essential personal growth will come as you struggle to learn how to be led by the Spirit.

-Richard G. Scott, General Conference Oct. 2009

...is just one translation for the announcement that Noah recently made to Chris on my behalf. Noah had to say it a few times and Chris remained in the dark, until finally in the middle of yet another attempt to make the announcement Chris shouts "Really!?!"

Yep, I really am pregnant. If my already expanding belly (they really weren't kidding about that happening quicker with successive pregnancies!) didn't give it away, the acne, greasy hair, swelling face, soon to be HUGE NOSE (and Chris offered to bring home calipers to maintain a growth log!), rashes, 24/7 morning sickness, exhaustion and recent excruciating headaches are surefire ways to keep it foremost in my brain even when I am forgetting my own name, half my grocery list, and the name of any given object that I might need at any given time.

Did I mention that pregnancy and I don't get along. I am sure you can figure out why I say that. Definitely a love/hate relationship, and the only thing to love is the baby at the end. As if the above weren't enough I am still...um...anticipating?...the carpal tunnel, itchy belly, sore back and other aches and pains associated with pregnancy that are yet to come.

When I contemplated getting pregnant I knew it would be a miserable time and I really tried to psych myself up for being sick all the time. I think I was mostly prepared for that. But as other side effects became apparent I realized there was a whole slew of things I was not psyched up for, but mostly, I wasn't psyched up for being ugly. Pregnancy is supposed to be a wonderful, empowering, glowing time in a woman's life. Not so for me. I think I missed that line in the pre-earth life.

Chris hates it when I am pregnant, mostly for all the same reasons I do, but plus some. My pregnancy with Ian was really rough for both of us emotionally, not just physically. It seems like it was a real leap of faith for both of us when we decided to try and get pregnant again. I promised to buck up and he promised to be nice. And so far, I think we are doing a pretty good job.

Noah asks me periodically, "Mommy, do you have a baby in your tummy?" And I assure him that yes, I do. He has been very patient with my recent deficiencies in the mommy department and is very sweet when he knows I don't feel well. Just today he came and covered me up as I lay on the couch with his lovey blanket. "I will borrow this to you" he told me as he smoothed the blanket and patted my shoulder. Then as he walked away he told me he was going to get me more blankets and brought his from his bed.

N: "Are you sick, mommy?"
M: "Yes, my head hurts really bad."
N: "I will give it a kiss."

In that past, pregnancy has a way of not bringing out the best in us. This time we are trying to do it differently. Wish us luck!!

This was the beginning of our Halloween soap opera. Noah informed us early on that he wanted to be a ghost for Halloween. I thought "Great! My piddling Martha Stewart skills might actually be able to handle that!!"

So I borrowed a sewing machine (piddling skills just can't justify ownership) (Thanks, Michelle!) and with some prodding and help from Chris I managed to create a ghost costume.

The drama started the next day when Noah saw the costume and was supremely disappointed. So disappointed, in fact, he didn't even want to try it on, refusing on many occasions to even see if it fit. He was greatly looking forward to his party at preschool and their chance to practice Trick-or-Treating. I finally coaxed him into it once prior to that day with the assurance that after we made sure it fit he could take it off.

I took him to preschool that day with his costume and told his teachers that he might not want to wear it. I felt bad that he would probably be the only kid who wasn't wearing a costume that day. But I felt worse that a lot of his excitement for Halloween seemed to have disappeared.

He did wear his costume at preschool and had a great party and Trick-or-Treating experience. Some of his enthusiasm returned.

So on Halloween he was actually excited to put on his costume and go get treats! He didn't wear the hood-it has the misfortune to resemble a KKK hood.
So, we survived that little drama just in time to find a little more when we went to put Ian in his costume. It was quite the wrestling match and turned into a crying fit the likes of which only Ian can produce!! He is smiling in the picture because of the camera. His poor cheeks and sweaty head were from the crying fit. We didn't dare try to make him wear the lion's head lest we enrage the poor kid anymore.
He cried all the way to the first house and candy was put in his bucket. Suddenly the world didn't seem so bad. In fact, a momentum gathering run down the slanted driveway necessitated a "Wheeeeeeeee" all the way down. As did every other driveway for the first half hour. Noah did all the talking and Ian kept being left behind because he would stop to see what he could eat right then.

Towards the end, Ian started to say "tweet" and that won some hearts. Noah had a great time and was very pleased despite the 'blueberry lights' (black lights) that scared him.

We came home to enjoy our treats. We ignored bedtime because we figured what better way to get them to sleep a little later with the time change!
Now, there are a lot of philosophies about candy eating and indulgence. I, for one, think it is a happy holiday and I don't really like to fight the constant fight and whine for more candy if I were to limit their consumption. I feel supported in my decision to let my kids eat as much of their candy as they like, whenever they want it after reading a dentist's opinion that it is better to let your kids eat all the sugar in one sitting and then brush their teeth, than to have multiple and drawn out opportunities for kids to have sugar eating at their teeth.

Whatever way you choose to eat your candy, we hope you thoroughly enjoyed it! We sure did!!

Chris forwarded me an email invitation to a pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins for free. We went and while I didn't put a lot of thought into it beforehand I was blown away but how many "extra" they had. And now I wonder how many will be left to go to waste...

This picture was not even half of the field of pumpkins! And they were all beautiful and round.
And sadly, this was the only picture of a person I got before the camera died and I found out that all our spares were dead too.

The real highlight of the trip, though, was the combine. The corn at the back of the first picture was combined over and it was amazing. The combine came within inches of where we parked the car and while Chris and I watched nervously the boys were both enthralled. Any pumpkin activity was suspended until the combine was too far away to be seen anymore. I don't know who invented them, but I think combines are one of the coolest machines. It goes over a field of corn, cutting the stalk, stripping and separating the corn kernels from the cob and everything else. While very windy, it was a successful trip and were happy to get our pumpkins for free!

A visiting professor from China has been on Chris' ride list (the only person on the list). She has been very kind in gifting us with some items from her homeland. We decided as part of our thank you to include some fall paintings that the boys did.
Grandmas and Grandpas, this view is for you!

So, I don't have a good excuse. Not like Alisa, who was having a great week with her stationed-out-of the-country husband. Or Elise, who is uber pregnant with her third and just got back from a trip to UT (so glad she didn't have the baby on the plane!). Nope, no good excuses. I just haven't had the sit and blog bug. Maybe because we are the most boring people on the planet!

Date nights and date night babysitting continue to be wonderful. We are up for sitting this coming Friday and I think we will get the little baby this time too, so our numbers will be up to 6. Fall is here and winter is coming which means we can't rely on outside play. We will have to break out our in house ideas. Wait...do we have any?

Due to the ending of a lease, the Spanish branch in our area is now meeting in our building. As there are currently already 3 wards meeting in the building this created a need for some scheduling creativity. In the end we got moved to the 11:00 time. I was VERY unhappy about this. We had been waiting two years for the "good" church time and I had been enjoying it thoroughly. You know, the time that doesn't interfere with a meal or nap or as always seems to be the case for us-both!

So, now we have not so good Sundays. Blahh!!

One thing that the boys have been enjoying is that Chris usually gets up with them and plays legos with them. He makes them all sorts of fun things, usually of the flying or rolling variety, although a house or two has been made too. (While momentarily scary, I promise he is wearing underwear!!)

(But, yes, apparently his fly is undone. Don't know why-it's not like he uses it yet!)

And at the final garage sale of the season (for me) I finally managed to score that elusive item that I have been hunting for all summer. Noah's long, long, long, awaited birthday present. We finally found a little bike!! We were just getting to the end of the season and hoping for a sale but got an even better deal on this little prize.

We had it for about a week before we could coax Noah onto it. Given the choice he kept choosing the neighbor's trampoline. But eventually Chris got him on it and it was a hit. Pedaling is still a work in progress but you can push between is shoulders to keep him going and he can steer like a star! Happy Belated Birthday, Noah!

General Conference was great and we were so excited to be able to watch it on cable this time. Comcast broadcast it in our region for the first time ever. YAY!!

And last week Chris went to a conference in NC, not too far from his brother and his family. So while he was away we had a Daddy Appreciation Week. As seems to be the tradition, one or more of the three of us was sick the whole time he was gone. I am sure it is so that I get the full "appreciate your husband" message.

Message received, loud and clear!

We went to the airport to pick him up on Saturday and the boys had fun riding the elevators and of course, seeing dad. Since he has been home it has been all-dad-all-the-time (at least while he is home). Whining and pushing to sit on his lap, have his attention, play with, show things too, etc. We are probably more glad to have him back than he is to be back:)

my blog faithfully, everyday. But there have been no new posts. Maybe soon. I will check back tomorrow.

I admit I don't remember when the fascination started but it has been ongoing for awhile now. Noah points them out to me every time we pass one while driving. I am not completely certain what the draw is but there is a real pull as evidenced by his thrice weekly requests to go in the parking garage.

There is one right across the street from Noah's preschool and he sees it as we leave the parking lot. And always asks if we can go in. Sadly for Noah, that parking garage is for residents only. Across the street from that parking garage, however, there is another parking garage for the public library. It is gated but after apparently giving up with the coded gate idea they now employ a gate attendant.

Our first day in he was busy and didn't try to talk to me as I went in. I know he was thinking the he would come find my car and that I wouldn't be parking far from the entrance-who does if they don't have too, right? Imagine his surprise when a couple of minutes later we came back out. I rolled down my window and told him we were just passing through after preschool. He chuckled and waved.

It is becoming a habit. The other day he got up to give me a stub and I rolled down my window and said we were just passing through and he chuckled and said "oh, I recognize you now."

It seems to be the perfect ending to the happy preschool day. Noah loves preschool and asks daily if "go pweschool and drop me off?" I appreciate the notebook they send home telling what they did that day because otherwise I would not have a clue. When I pick him up, our conversations go something like this:

M: Did you have a goo time?
N: Yep.
M: What did you do today?
N: I don't know.
M: Did you all let your butterflies go today?
N: No.
M: Did you see the butterflies?
N: No.
M: What did you have for snack today?
N: I don't know.
M: Did you eat snack?
N: No.

You get the idea. Thank goodness for the notebook. I have some idea what happens each day and he loves to show it off and tell about what they did that day (just not in the car on the way home). Usually, after naps for me and after daddy gets home from work he gets an accounting too. If you give him the chance he will start at the beginning of the book and tell you everything they have done so far. We are also supposed to write and draw (my artistic talents are being severely strained, let me tell you!) about the things that we do at home so that they can ask the kids about what they did when they weren't in preschool.

Being on a strict schedule is an adjustment for me. That sounds kinda weird since I am a creature of habit and my kids are on a pretty set napping and bedtime schedule, but other than church (and I have Chris to help make that happen), I haven't had a "you have to be here at this time" kind of deal for a long time. But, it is totally worth it. Noah loves it now, will love it more when winter comes, and it makes errands a little easier with just one little one who still fits in the shopping carts.

Labor Day Weekend started well with a great date Friday night. Noah is always thrilled when we get to go to date night babysitting. And luckily for the Tates and Everetts, Ian has quit crying about it for the most part.

But the best part of the weekend might have been waking up on Monday and realizing that Chris didn't have to go to work and wasn't going to go to work. We participated in an EQ service project and had a great day. We did some house washing, rock and week clearing, tree trimming and Chris' favorite part, dog poop removal. The boys had fun with the rags and water and were put on window duty. After the service project we went to the BBQ and enjoyed a great afternoon in an amazing backyard with teeter-totters, swings, zipline, trampolines, horseback rides, tree climbing and good friends and food. We had such a good time we forgot to take any pictures!

He is a little shy getting started because of the camera. But I love his enjoyment in 'reading' the book.
And maybe now you can imagine how he sounds when he tells me "That's a good plant, mommee." to approve of our schedule for the day!

It's all about letting go. I have found it to be particularly hard. As the days drew closer, we bought new shoes, visited the preschool and had a home visit from the director. Noah was really looking forward to going and asking diligently each day if we could go to 'pweschool, mommee.'

Monday, after we got his new shoes, he was trying them on over and over and talking about how he was all ready to go. I was cooking dinner and getting closer to losing it. So not me! Chris even asked if I needed a hug. I realize it is only preschool, and I have every confidence in the teachers but I have been having a hard time with letting him go. I have this horrible recurring thought about how I haven't taught him enough and he's not ready for the big bad world! I see him growing up and it scares me...a lot.

I was thinking about it again today as we drove there-I refuse to send my 3 year old on the bus!-and thought about how even when he was a baby I understood that no one else, not even Chris (although he comes pretty darn close!), would know this little baby as well as me. I think it is still true. I can interpret moods and needs, and anything else, pretty darn accurately and pretty darn quick. And really, I don't want that to change. So why am I sending him off to people who don't know him that well? How will they take care of him better than me? I sorta know the answers to those questions, but it is not really making it any easier for me.

Well, Noah started preschool yesterday. I think that he really likes it. This is only the second day, and only for half the normal time it will be, but he has been grumpy both days as soon as we get to the car. I think that he is tired and all the fun wears him out!
He is at the Purdue Speech and Language Preschool and has a masters student, AJ, who is assigned to him and one other student. They have notebooks that they send home everyday with something that they did that day so as parents we can ask about it. We are also supposed to write pictographic-ally about things we do at home so they can ask the kids about that. He has a cubby for his backpack and jacket and an assigned snack day.

Soon I will be full fledged soccer mom...or with the way my boys seem to grow, basketball mom!

After a week recovering, (that time change was brutal!), we started getting ready for the next reunion. The Williamson Family Reunion, to be held in Ohio.

By far the best of the preparations were collecting up some family in the days prior to leaving. Clara flew in a few days early and we tried to do a few fun things. Lafayette does not have much but we try:) While waiting to pick up Chris from a meeting we let the boys play at the mall. The play place is a little pitiful but we will take what we can get and the boys did enjoy the new additions, gracias a Clarian Arnett.

While waiting some more for the 'I'm done' phone call the boys played on the merry-go-round. Being the cheap mom that I am I wasn't going to put money in it. Luckily, for the boys, a kind man gave Noah a dollar to run the thing and they actually got a real ride. Thank you nice man!
To finish off our waiting Clara and I got our eyebrows threaded. I don't think that she was converted although the finished product was great!

Chris' parents also came by for a few days and we enjoyed the benefits of 'hokie' medicine completely. Grandma Mar's allergies were so much better that she was able to come into our cat-allergen-filled-home and spend several hours at a time. What a blessing!! Sadly, we never got out the camera. Too busy talking, I guess!

On Friday we packed up and drove to Columbus, OH, about four hours away. We made good time but pretty much missed the boys naps. This turned out ok, because they were able to go to bed and fall asleep without any hassle from the strange set up. The suite turned out to be perfectly set up for us and with a few sheets thumb-tacked to the walls and ceilings we were able to partition off each of the kids and us.

We swam in the pool that afternoon,
did dinner at Cracker Barrel, right next to our hotel,
And then Chris was off to the temple for Clara's first time! YAY Clara!!

Oh, and there were lots of opportunities for some rides each day we were there. Simple pleasures:)

Saturday was the big day. The boys woke early and while we were doing breakfast continental style we had a little incident with Noah's eye and Ian's finger. Completely accidental but the damage stayed with us all day. So, while Ian played and enjoyed the gathering, poor Noah would come crying to me for some love and a cuddle every 15 minutes or so when his eye would hurt.

And while I didn't get to do a lot of visiting-consistent crying can put a real damper on that-Ian homed in on a special friend for the day.

Hi, Uncle Paul. Can I sit by you? I am cute and completely unassuming.
You didn't want that chip, now did you? I thought not. Let me take it off your hands, er...plate.
You're right Ian, how could I resist such overwhelming cuteness. You can sit by me anytime!
Wait! You wouldn't be thinking that you are leaving me, would you?
Thanks for throwing me the ball, Uncle Paul, and saving me from the lighter fluid too!



We have always been very grateful that our kids have had opportunities to meet their great-grandparents. So grateful that we have to take a picture, even if the kids are not into it. They will thank us later.

Grandma and Grandpa Williamson and Jim and Mari's kids, spouses and their kids. So sad that Dad was not feeling up to coming that day. We missed you!!

We counted it a successful trip and really enjoyed seeing everyone. We only wish there could have been more visiting. See you next time!