Summer Vacation

Lately I am so excited that it is summer. Summer is by far my favorite season. I love it. I love the heat, I love the sun, I love the plants and flowers, I love barbecuing, I love it all.

This summer we consider ourselves very lucky... we get to go on a vacation! YAY! At the beginning of August we are going to Brad's family reunion and then after we are going to Disneyland for Dev's birthday! I can't wait to see my little boy get to experience "the happiest place on Earth." We will see if he feels that way. I am also excited to see how Reesie will react. She will be just one month shy of one year old.

We are making sure to stay in a hotel across the street from the park so that I can take Reesie back to nap if needed. Does any one have any other suggestions or musts for us?

WHAT?!

Veronica Mars has been canceled?! What is this world coming to?!
It is a sad, sad day.

5 Years

5 years. This is all we have with our kids. The rest of their lives, past their 5th birthday we have to share them with the world. 5 short years. Devin is turning 4 in August. What have I done with the last 4 years, and will it be enough to send him out into the world? Will he be prepared to make righteous choices? Was it enough to ground him in the gospel? Was it enough to help him choose righteous friends? Was it enough to give him the confidence he needs to make it? Does he know how much his mom and dad love him and how badly we want him to succeed? I only have one more year to instill all these things into my baby, and then he will be in kindergarten and the world will get to spend more time with him than me. I so wish that I could go back. Back to when he was a baby. I want to appreciate it all over again. I want to do so many things differently. I want to be a better teacher, a better mother. I want to have been more patient. I want to have enjoyed the trying times more fully. I want a second chance. Now that I am so close to losing my alone time with my baby I am scared. 5 years is not nearly enough time. I am not ready to share him yet. I am not ready for him to leave his little bubble. I realize I have one more year with my baby all to myself. I am bound and determined to do a better job in this one year than I did in the last 4, but will it be enough?

5 years. What are you doing with your 5 short years?

Dating Again

I am dating again. Hand holding, kiss on the cheek, take me to dinner (or lunch) and a movie kind of dating. But, it's not as traditional as it sounds--my date wasn't with Brad. It was with someone else. Brad and I are happily married still and aren't into that open relationship kind of stuff--but we are dating another person. For awhile now Brad and Dev have been going out together and doing some great stuff. I decided now that Reesie is older and can handle being away from me for longer periods of time, I want to go out and do fun stuff with Dev too. I want to spend some quality time with just him, where I don't have to tell him no, I can't do something for/with him because I have to do ________ for/with Reese first. So today we went on a date. He was so excited to go with just mommy. He kept asking if Reese was coming and when I said no, he smiled so big. That may sound like it is a rude thing, to not want her to come, but I don't see it that way at all. Dev has been sharing his little world now for 8.5 months. Not once has he ever complained, or said something mean, bad, or resentful about his sister. He just loves her. He is the best big brother. He makes sure she is always take care of. I know he gets frustrated that he isn't always first anymore, but he has never said anything bad or acted negatively because of it. I was happy to see him happy that we would have alone time together. I have been wanting to do something with just him for a long time. I get concerned about him and his feelings and want him to feel valued and loved. So anyway, our date: We went to Shrek 3. He was so cute. He sat right by me and told me I was his date, but that I didn't have a date because "Brad stayed at home." Yes, he called Brad by his first name. It was really funny. He even held my hand. We had a really great time and I loved being able to connect with my 3 year old with no distractions again. I think we are going to make this a weekly thing. We both need it. It feels good to be dating.

SPIDEY UPDATE FOR MIMI

Mom, here is a picture from after Kathy left today. I hope you are having fun without me! We miss you!

Home Decor

I need tips. OK, understatement. I need someone to boss me around and tell me what to and buy and where EXACTLY to put it. We have lived in our home for a year now, and I still haven't decorated. Not one room--wait, I take that back. I have decorated the kids bathroom, and let me tell you, it is very cute, but now I am stumped. Sure I have some random things put up throughout the house, but the vast majority of my house is bare.

I have decided I want my kitchen to have a rooster theme--why roosters? I have no clue. I just like them in the kitchen for some reason, and I like the coloring to most of the decorative ones I have seen. But I don't know what to get or where to start or how to pull it all together.

I have two living rooms. Both have VERY LARGE, empty walls. What do you do with a wall that is never ending? Seriously, I think I could hang a picture up, but then there is so much wall left over still that I think the picture would just look silly. Someone suggested starting with valances and curtains and then going from there. Valance I can do. Curtains are a no. I just want my blinds, I think. Unless someone can tell me why that is a no no in decorating...is it a no no? I don't want curtains because I hate dark houses. And I don't want my kids playing with them. Mostly though because I hate dark houses, and Brad loves living in a cave, so I know most of the time I would be fighting with him to keep the curtains open. This has been the struggle of our marriage, well that and bath towels, but we won't get into that one. Anyway, I digress. Back to valances and decoration. I suppose I could start there, but then I would have to tie it all into a little piece of fabric. Wouldn't it be easier to decorate then find fabric to match that? Is everyone understanding my dilemma? It all boils down to: I HAVE NO CLUE HOW TO DO THIS!!! That and I don't want to spend a fortune. If I had a fortune I would have Nate Berkus come do my whole house. I love Nate. Is he gay? Just a side question out of curiosity.

Moving out of my two living rooms, and onto the rest of the house: bedrooms. Not too concerned there. Dev is getting his mural, so that basically takes care of his room. I have a ton of stuff to put up in Reesie's room but I am lazy and haven't done it yet. And my room is bare bones, but I don't care. I want to wait and get a bedroom set and go from there. Plus no one sees my room but Brad and I, and I know for a fact that Brad couldn't care less about decor in there. He is concerned with the yard. And a new laptop. Go figure.

So does anyone know Nate? Or at least have some ideas for me? Maybe I will post pictures of my ginormous walls in the living rooms and of the kitchen...then someone could give a clueless gal a hand.

PS: Did I spell valance right?

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM

This is to my mom. She is the best mom and example ever. Mom, thank you for showing me what a good mom is. Thank you for teaching me what a good mom is. Thank you for being my friend and letting me and my kids be the most annoying neighbors ever. Thank you for continuing to be a great mom and for teaching me still. Thank you for teaching my children. Thank you for being faithful in the church and for instilling that righteous tradition into my heart, allowing me to teach my children the same tradition. I don't think you know what a role model you are to me. I think so many times a day of "what would my mom do?" Being a mom is a scary thing for me. I don't know how to do it, but I remember how you did it, and I want to be just like you. You are one in a million, and I know that Heavenly Father has great blessings awaiting you in heaven because of how you raised His children, how you raised YOUR children. Mom, thank you for loving me. Both of me! (Psycho Mckay and normal Mckay!)

Dev's Mural Has Been Started!

I updated the picture I posted this morning. Kathy came back early today and worked really hard to get this done. It is turning out so good! It is so neat to see this mural come to life! I will keep posting progress pictures.

You see, this is the beginning of Devin's huge, two wall Spiderman mural. What you are looking at is the beginning of a building that is going to be part of a skyline. Devin is so excited to be able to have Spiderman in his room on his wall to "look at all night" he thinks he will stay up all night to see what Spiderman does. He is a cutie. Last weekend Brad and Dev went to Spiderman 3 and Dev dressed up as Spiderman. No joke, he wore the full suit to the movie. Unfortunately we couldn't find the mask, but it was so cute all the same. I believe Brad is going to post pictures of that on his blog, so check it out!

Herpes of the EYEBROW--Anyone???

This is a true story.

So I have a favorite little place to go and get my eyebrows waxed. They do a fantastic job, better than anyone I have ever been to before. They can get me in and out quickly. But, over the last few times I have been I have noticed questionable things.

1) They make you go into their waxing room. I know this is a normal thing, except this room is, well, a little disturbing. My friend Anna and I refer to this room as one of the torture chambers on the television show 24. It is small, cramped, filthy dirty, and is kept away from the other customers.

And now for the big rant and purpose of this post:

2) The last time I was there I was in a big hurry. I asked if they could squeeze me in. The nice Asian man said yes and started shouting in Korean to his co-worker who begins to motion to me to come back into the torture chamber. We get to the torture chamber but it is occupied. My first thought is that they want me to share the bed with the current victim getting waxed. At last minute, my lady decides she would rather wax me while I am in a pedicure chair. Weird angle, but okay. I sit my tush in the pedicure chair and my lady tells me she will be right back. She goes into the torture chamber and comes back with the wax pot....I about DIED! It was the most horrendous site I have ever seen. It was covered in dirty, black wax all on the outside. She had to carry it with torn out magazine pages. I then glimpse at the pot more fully--there are two Popsicle sticks in it, I could tell they have been used and used and used and used and used, okay you get the picture--used on NUMEROUS occasions on NUMEROUS people. They were covered in wax and nasty in color. I am thinking, 'surely they aren't going to use that on me!' Then she tells me to close my eyes. I feel like I am in a horror movie. My throat closes, I can't speak, I can't move, I just want to get out of there and say 'I don't think I want your services anymore', but I can get it out...then I feel the warm wax sliding across my eyebrow. I am still frozen wanting to cry. I am so disgusted. The rest is a blur. I think I blocked it out because it was so traumatic. I remember paying, then going to my car, then thinking--I am going to get HERPES! OF THE BROW!!!! Here is how I figure...these people use the same sticks on everyone, double dipping every time. If someone has herpes on their lips (otherwise known as cold sores) it is contagious! I am going to get it on my eyebrows and gain the nickname "Sloth" or something! EWWWWWW!!! Needless to say I have not been back since. I have been tempted, because amazon brows are no fun, but I don't think having herpes would be a blast either. I am in desperate need of a sanitary wax job--anyone have any ideas?

Oh yeah, and before this herpes close call incident, I had another experience there. Not funny at the time, but now I can crack a smile. It involved a language barrier and me asking to get a wax job, them translating to me wanting a FULL FACE WAX... maybe that nice story can be a part two to this post. Gosh, why did I continue to go there? Must be because I feel I have a special bond with my people. Why aren't they as bonded to me?

High Chair Fun

So yesterday I dug out the high chair and cleaned it all off for Reesie to use. She LOVES it! She hasn't figured out that you are supposed to EAT in the high chair, she just likes to sit in it. She still doesn't want to eat solids aside from sucking on Ritz crackers. As far as baby food goes, she wants nothing to do with it. She is a mommy lover and just wants to nurse. I am fine with this, but her doctor is really wanting her on solids. He thinks it will help her "thin out." I love the chunk!

And then the pictures of Dev are of him enjoying his cheeseburger and his Kool-aid bottle. He has discovered in the past 2 months he might like to eat. And eat he does. This kid eats like a horse. Every morning he has 3 different breakfasts, then he has at least 2 lunches, and a big dinner. Not to mention snacks. I am feeling like a short order cook around here and it drives me crazy, but at least my little guy is finally interested in food. Hopefully Reese won't take this long because I find nursing a baby past 18 months to be a little gross. Heck, I hope to be done around 12 months! Anyway, there's the latest!

Cry It Out

I HATE, HATE, HATE the Cry It Out Method. Really I do. I think it is a little mean, especially in new babies who are needing to learn their needs will be taken care of, they are not alone, and they are loved dearly. I cringe when I hear people are doing the CIOM on their brand new little ones. I just feel so badly for the babies, to be crying and have no one come rescue them. Well, this week I have been at my wits end with Reesie not sleeping at night. She has always been a great sleeper. Until about a week ago. The same time I noticed a little tooth trying to come through. Now, she wakes up at least 5x a night, wants to comfort nurse, and has to be picked up and held. Then when I put her back down for bed again, she screams the most hideous scream and lets it rip through the house. I am exhausted. I decided last night I could not do it any longer. I know she is not hungry, I know she is not too hot not too cold, I know she CAN sleep through the night, I have given her tylenol for her tooth. So I tried it. CIO, I mean. I hated it, but you know what? I got more sleep. It worked. Somewhat. We will see what tonight holds. Those who know me well know I am deaf in my left ear. Not fully, but enough so that I can't hear a lot of things. Last night when I went into her room, I kissed her, gave her her binky, told her I loved her, gave her a toy, tucked her back in, basically did everything I could do for her without actually picking her up. Then I walked out. At the sound of her door closing she became more angry and louder than my sweet little stink has ever been. She was really mad. I am sure she felt very betrayed. I got back into bed so uncertain I was doing the right thing, but knowing that I needed sleep or Psycho Mckay would make her entrance very soon. So as I said, I got back into bed, rolled onto my right ear, muffling her screams enough so that I could still slightly hear them, yet be able to fall asleep despite them, and told myself: If my baby is still crying in 10 minutes, to heck with CIO. 5 minutes went by, she was going strong. 7 minutes, still screaming. 9 minutes, I am thinking 'this will never let up. My poor baby will hate me!' 9 and a half minutes, SILENCE. I was shocked! She gave up, she went back to sleep! And she slept for the next 3 hours (hasn't slept that much straight at night in a week). When she woke up at 5:30am, I felt good. I felt rested, I got her out of bed, fed her, and she slept until 7:00am. As hard as it was, in this situation it was the greatest thing I possibly could have done for myself. And guess what? She woke up still loving me. I got the same smile, the same big hug, and the same nice, slobbery, suck face kiss.

To all you READERS

I just wanted to take the time to post the COOLEST SITE HERE. Brad told me about it sometime last year, and I have been enjoying it ever since. It is called BookMooch. You list any books you have read and own and are trying to get rid of. You get points for listing the book. Someone else wants that book, sees you have it, and mooches it from you. You get more points from that person who mooched the book. In return, you get to do the same thing. These books are free. The only cost involved is shipping. You pay for shipping when you send a book to someone else. So when you mooch a book, you pay nothing. Not for the book, not for shipping. I LOVE it! I can generally ship a book for $1.50 through media mail. I have mooched quite a few and sent quite a few. It is a great little deal and a good way to get rid of books you don't think you want to keep or will read again. Check it out, and let me know if you love it as much as I do. I HEART BookMooch! (I am a nerd, I know!).

Sleepy Baby

I know that no one can possibly enjoy these pictures as much as I do, let's face it, there is nothing really exciting going on. She is just laying there sleeping, unaware of anything around her, but I just look at these pictures and my heart melts. She is so sweet and innocent. I love this baby girl so much. Oh, and have I mentioned yet I especially like dressing her in all the adorable girl clothes? She's like my little cabbage patch doll!