Busy Summer Series: Twilight Concert Bon Iver

The concert turned out to be a bust - definitely not a place for kids - but at least we came away with some good pre-concert footage.

Busy Summer Series: Family and a Funeral

Les's sweet Grandma died in June so we took a trip up to Idaho for the funeral. She was 93 so the week was bittersweet -sad to see her go but happy for the good life she lived and it was so fun to spend time with all of Les's family.

This is her with Milo.

Les's aunt, uncle, and sister Addie

Gus sitting with one of Les's heroes, his brother Frank

Gus's cousins

Has this happened to you?

The Bad News

The Good News

3Gs

(I promise to be even more careful this time. I reccommend double heavy duty caseage)

Awkward Family Photos

I have been dying laughing at this website today.  Especially this story.

Twins

 (please forgive Gus's dirty feet - he loves playing in the dirt)

Surprise

Les's company sent us these amazing flowers after we had Milo.  The arrangement was enormous!  It was so fun to show off our flowers when we were showing off our baby.  Thanks eRe!

Mommy Grandma Anya

A few things my Mom taught me along the way:

Always stop to buy lemonade from children at the side of the road

Wear your seat belt

Broccoli is delicious, eat often (Spinach is yummy too)

Don't be afraid to be creative and unique

Children's Christmas dreams can and should come true

Layering

Turn off the TV

Relax and enjoy life

Children's books should be read with gusto, using different voices where applicable

Pursue what makes you happy

Keep your heart healthy

When necessary, play dumb

Dance silly around the kitchen

Set up blind dates. maybe not.

When children 'talk back' spray them with water

Long fingernails give such good back tickles

Humor can dispell a lot of difficult situations

Make friends with your kid's friends

Laugh loudly

Be conscientious of other's and their feelings, say sorry if you need to

Make friendly conversation with strangers in line at the supermarket

Sacrifice

Keep a good perspective on life

Introducing Baby Milo!

Here is a slideshow Les put together of Milo's first week with us. His middle name is "Jan" pronounced "Yawn". He is named after my Grandfather who was Dutch.

Congratulations Matt!

I need to brag.  My amazing awesome cousin Matt (who is married to my equally amazing cousin Paige) was just appointed as the new president of Utah Valley University.  Read about him here.

Baby Day

Why is it that when you are pregnant - and huge - people think they can say whatever they want to you? I don't often approach obese people and comment to them how enormous they are. Or touch their bulges.

Here are a few great comments I have gotten the last few weeks. (mostly all from one amazing conversation)

- The classic "are you having twins?"

- And on multiple occasions "you are HUGE" with their eyes bulging out.

- And finally, a Cuban Woman in her 70's who attends our ward asked when I was due. I tried to be funny by telling her I wasn't pregnant - I just eat a lot of ice cream. She followed up with "really? so do you think the baby will be large?"

- Same Cuban, same conversation a few minutes later noted that she would like to be able to take a picture of me naked. "You know, like this" she motioned with her arms that I would be able to cover up some areas. And then she tried to back up a little by saying "well, i used to be a nurse. And I'm very into art. " Apparently my figure needs to be preserved in photos for science and the arts.

But...don't worry about me, my feelings weren't hurt whatsoever. There's something about being old and Cuban (or old in general - but especially old with accent) everything she says sounds so funny.

P.S. My Dr scheduled an induction for me the morning of March 27th! It feels so good to know when this bub is coming.

Free Day at the Zoo

More mom stuff

I found a couple coupons in the newspaper for the Discovery Gateway so Gus and I have gone twice in the last week. This place is amazing. We both love it. There were tons of other pregnant women there that I made friendly conversation with. All those I talked to were having boys so I tried to snake some good name ideas. No luck yet. We are still undecided. Only five more weeks to go!

Holes

This is a straw sticking out of a hole in my Scentsy candle. Gus has a strange obsession with putting things in holes he finds around the house. He has a keen ability to find something just the right size to fit a specific hole.

Here we have another straw as well as my keys stuck into Gus's bed

And here's a toothbrush that fits perfectly into the hole in the sink. Does anyone know of a future job for Gus where this skill might come in handy?

This Brand of Joy

My sister-in-law Alicen posted this article in her blog and I read it through twice in a row because it made me feel so validated. I thought all the mothers that I associate would enjoy reading it as well. On the eve of having a second baby boy I feel it's especially pertinent to post.

I like the paragraph about resisting constant temptation to seek short-term relief at everyone's long-term expense.

Gus's Christmas present highlights

Gus's new kitchen

Gus loved this wooden birthday cake so much he wanted to keep
sharing it with Dad while he was taking a nap.

The superman suit. I was grateful that he didn't wear it to church on Sunday.

And of course the playdough was a big hit. We really could have gotten away with only buying $2 worth of playdough and he would have been happy (Gus - not Les).

Gus stuck that glob on my head at the last minute so I could be Harry Potter.

Gus-isms

We are really discovering how very funny and creative Gus is lately. I just have to blog a few of his funnies so I don't forget.

-A couple days after Christmas he came downstairs with a cardigan on his head and said -"I'm Jesus"

-He loved the play dough he got in his stocking. He was playing with it one evening and came in to me and said - "Show me" which translates as "I'll show you". He took me into our front room where he had given our statue of Joseph Smith a bright green hat made from play dough.

- Gus loves giving blessings. I'm not sure where he got this idea - he has seen Les give blessings only twice or three times. He'll often lay his hands on our Joseph Smith statue, on daddy or mommy, and sometimes on stuffed animals and say a prayer.

- So much for being a spiritual boy. He took a Mike-n-Ike candy between his middle and ring finger and smoked it like an expert. Again, not sure where he gets this stuff. Probably from nursery - haha.

- One busy errand filled day a few weeks ago, while I was pumping some gas, Gus was deep in thought. "Look mom," he said, folding his ear in half, "Taco".

- Gus loves to wear head bands, gloves (socks on his hands), goggles, hats, a bucket on his head, and all kinds of other accessories. He'll typically go through 5 pairs of socks per day.

- Gus is obsessed with facial hair -he thinks it's hilarious- mustaches especially. He'll often put on a headband and move it down under his nose and wear it as his mustache.

Christmas Danger

I have a big task in December to try to come up with both Christmas and Birthday gift ideas for myself to help my poor husband.   I just can't bear the thought of him wandering around store after store looking aimlessly for the perfect gift.  Apparently I'm hard to shop for.  

Before I started brainstorming ideas I was satisfied with everything I have.  I was so very content. I really don't NEED anything.  In fact, every year the idea of collecting more STUFF makes me feel yucky.  

But, once I really get thinking and looking I can definitely find really cute things that catch my eye.  Danger.  Now I think I need this and this and this and maybe even a few others as well, and I have the burden of thinking about these things all throughout the day and how great it would be to have them.  I am so weak.  

Here Comes Christmas

Les's amazing cousin Jen posted this on her blog a few weeks ago.  I loved it.  I am in the process of planning our Ward Christmas dinner as well as the usual family Christmas planning and I keep going back to this message.  Whether you donate money or food or love or time, let's make this year one that is meaningful and one that we will remember. 

P.S. I want to know... what are you going to do this year to make Christmas more meaningful?    I need some ideas.

The Gas Station

A couple days ago I was filling up my gas tank at the local Smith's.   I, along with most of the people there, probably don't understand why the cost of gasoline is going down so drastically (anyone want to fill me in?)  But regardless, I dare say most of us there were in a good mood to be filling our tanks for 1.91/gallon.  (Smith's cost today is $1.85 - I can hardly wait to fill up again)

There were about 3 cars using the pumps, 5 pumps still available, when a suburban pulled up across from me and began waiting for a very old & slow gentleman to finish.  He was having trouble trying to get his Smith's discount to process.  The woman waited.  I looked at her and grinned a kind of - 'what are you doing' grin.  She rolled her eyes in response - like I might be understanding of her frustration.  Did I mention there were 5 pumps available?  She waited another few minutes and then made an audible huff and turned her car towards another pump.   Aren't people weird? 

Iron Man

Les and I finally watched Iron Man last night after so many people recommended it highly. I honestly wasn't sure if I'd like it or not....turns out I LOVED it. Les said at one point in the movie I was standing on my chair and yelling. I'll probably go ahead and make this picture my computer wallpaper.