Lost in Translation

Apparently the low-rise pant is for little girls too.  Alex's bum crack is ALWAYS showing - and, naturally, we're always teasing her about it.  The other day I was trying to get Alex into her carseat, but she kept arching her back.  Then she yelled at me, 

"Mom, my bum is cracking out!"

Happenings

That sounds like the title of a scary movie...the kind only my sister Tiffany watches.

I guess things have been a little scary around here...

We've been sick.  For weeks.  

First Noah got pink eye.

Well, actually, first he split his head open and had to get staples...but that's not really the same thing.  (It's much more expensive.)

As soon as Noah recovered from pink eye he came down with a terrible cold - which developed into a hacking cough (which persists to this day) and a fever of 102 that went on for 6 days.

Double ear infection.

Meanwhile, Alex comes down with pink eye.

(Let me just tell you, they have GOT to come up with another cure - i.e. something other than eye drops 4 TIMES A DAY.)

Around this time I get a sore throat - but it's mild so I think I'm gonna get lucky and pull through with no major suffering.

A few days later Paul gets a sore throat.  Not so mild either.  He spent a couple days in bed or on the couch.  (Thank goodness for research elective month!)

Then, over the weekend, my "mild" sore throat gets bad - and I mean real bad.

Yeah, I don't deal well with pain - but seriously, BAD.

By tuesday night I'd developed a sinus infection.

Which meant yet another trip to the doc for a needed rx.

I've spent the last 3 days in bed.

Those three days also happened to be Paul's only vacation days until January.

Bummer.

On the brightside, I did get to stay in bed while I was sick.

Every mother knows that's unheard of.

Paul took great care of the kids.

As you can see.

I did rouse myself out of bed for the trip to the pumpkin patch.  I just couldn't handle the thought of missing it.  Come on, it only happens once a year!  And the kids have been dying to go all month.

I can't remember the last time I saw Noah so excited about something.

Ok, maybe I can.

It doesn't take much at this age - isn't it great?

Alex, Adelyn, Noah, and Maren.

and...they're all looking at the camera

AND...(miracle of miracles) THEY POSED FOR THE PICTURE WHEN I ASKED.  

No, seriously.

I said, "Hey kids get together and I'll take your picture"

Instead of 4 kids bolting in different directions (as I fully expected) 4 kids ran to the haystacks, sat down nicely together, looked at me and smiled.

AT THE SAME TIME.

I'm sure this will never ever happen again.

Adelyn and Noah, checking out every pumpkin in the patch

Alex racing through the corn maze.

(And the pumpkin patch did me in for the rest of the day...or make that 3 days)

Another big event at our house was Noah's bike upgrade.

No more trike.

Nope, our kid gets the free bike Paul found in someone's front yard.

All the bike needed was some training wheels.

All Noah needed was a helmet.

And some practice.

Look how nervous he is!

Paul took him for a spin and Noah was much improved by the time they got back.

A few days later and Paul could hardly keep up with him!

Today Paul was back to work.

Today I was out of bed.

Today all 4 of us are still feeling sick, but at a more manageable level.

And there's nothing to cheer a family up like carving pumpkins together!

Love that look on Alex's face.  

What a daddy's girl - I'm the one who helped her carve that freakin thing!

Noah's (Paul's) is on the right and Alex's (mine) is on the left.

Turned out pretty good, huh?

And now, please mentally insert my face into this picture.

I'm a little mad I'm not in it.

Because this is the first pumpkin I've ever carved.

I think.

Paul made me do it.

Happy Halloween!

Check out my sidebar

And get educated about Prop 8.

To be honest I was hesitant about getting behind Prop 8.  I mean what difference does it make?  

Turns out, it makes a big difference, one that affects all of us.  

Most importantly (to me) it will infringe on our religious freedom and the rights of parents to decide what is best for their kids.  

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  The prophets and leaders of my church issued a statement on the matter, which you can read by clicking here.

It's a little long - but if you haven't already read it, you should.  

I'm glad I did.

"We thank thee oh God for a prophet

to guide us in these latter-days"

Spiritual Thoughts

By Noah Gunn

"Mom, who controls the tv?  Jesus?"

"Mom why do we have to read scriptures every night?  Because the prophet told us to?  Well, I didn't hear him say that."

Outtakes

Fishing and Crying

Alex's pouty face

Noah falling out of the tree

Alex's HUGE mouth

(and Noah throwing a fit)

I don't even know what to say about this one

More tears from Noah

Poking mommy with a stck

Nostril shot

Cinderella Kiss

Choke Hold

So if we don't look happy in the pictures - we aren't

But this is in no way an accurate representation of our daily family life or how we feel about each other

(at least not most of the time...)

30 Minutes of Torture:

Otherwise known as the Annual Family Photo Shoot.

I had my mom snap some family pics (of which we are seriously lacking) while she was here.

And then we remembered WHY we are lacking in this area.

(as if we could ever forget)

Noah has a complete mental/physical/emotional breakdown.

Without fail.

It's as if it causes him actual physical pain.

And there's no reasoning/rationalizing/disciplining/bribing our way through it.

It's simply a lost cause.

I blame it all on Paul

Who is almost as bad

Just kidding

(sort of)

Enough whining.

Here's what we got

Here's the Best of the Best 

(for real)

This was just after church

Paul refused to have his picture taken twice OR in dressy clothes

(See what I mean?)

Alex was her typical goofball self.

Almost impossible to get her to hold still for 3 seconds.

And not make silly faces.

Finally got Noah to cooperate when we told him he could climb this tree.

Pretty much our only options for the family Christmas card.

The happy (happy that it's over!) couple

THE END

? Day of Preschool and Gymnastics

I didn't remember to take Noah's picture on the first day of preschool.

I didn't even do it the first month of preschool.

But better late than never (right?)

Noah attends Bethany Nursery School 3 days a week for 3 hours.

He wishes it was everyday.

He's learning new things, making new friends, and is Mr. Independent

Don't be fooled by this look on his face - this is not his preschool face, it's his "I think I might die if you try to take my picture" face

Poor Alex is too young for preschool, for primary, for most community ed classes, and almost anything her big brother gets to participate in.

So I was excited when I found a community ed class she was old enough for: a parent-child gymnastics class.

It's once a week for 45 minutes

We go when Noah is at preschool

And I get to follow her around, help her out and cheer her on

She loves it

And I love it more than I realized I would.  It's so fun to have something special that's just hers (and mine).

So after her 4 sessions of community ed were up, we enrolled her in a year long class.

Alex is now an official member of J.E.T.S. Gymnastics

She even got a special leotard

And her coach says she's good : )

Love you kiddos!

I'm so proud of you both

A long time coming

 Last month, just a few days after my sister left town, my mom came to visit.

And I'm finally blogging about it.

This was her first visit to Rochester (to Minnesota for that matter) and we were excited to show her around.

The kids and I took her to some of our favorite parks.

Noah showed Grandma all his best tricks - Alex just enjoyed running around like a maniac.

My mom and I stayed really busy painting and decorating the kids room too.

They love it.

(Noah was especially excited about his "N" pillow)

Halfway through my moms visit my dad came out to join us.

And Grandma claims that Grandpa stole the show.

Alex has always been "Grandpa's Girl" but it was surprising to me how inseparable Noah and Grandpa were.  It was really sweet. 

Paul didn't get to see much of my parents (need I explain?) but we did get to walk around the Mayo Clinic with Paul one afternoon.

Then we explored some more of Downtown Rochester

My parents also got to see Alex in action - she had gymnastics class while they were here.  She loved having an audience/cheering section.

(Is that the cutest thing you've ever seen or what???)

So my mom got Alex this "Snow Princess" dress and my dad got Noah...tiger arms???

That's right - tiger arms.  My dad convinced him that these were the coolest things ever.  Noah thinks they make him strong and brave.  He wore them the rest of the trip - and everywhere else for several days after - thanks Dad.  Now (thank goodness) he only uses them for special tasks (when he has to do something hard or scary).  

Next we drove up to the cities and stayed for a day-and a-half.

Our first stop was the Aquarium inside the Mall of America.

The kids loved it, of course

Especially the shark tunnel

But their favorite part by far was petting the sharks and stingrays (Alex too)

We even ran into "Sharky" later that day in the mall - Alex was excited.

We had plans to explore more of Minneapolis but there was so much to do at the Mall of America we ended up spending all our time there.

And yeah, it's pretty awesome.

The kids had fun at Legoland

And, of course, the amusement park.

Noah surprised the heck out of me and got really brave - he did the Log Ride (laughing the whole way down) and a rollercoaster (a super fast and scary one that made me and Grandpa sick).

Alex played it safe and stuck to her all-time-favorite...

The Merry-Go-Round

She was in heaven.

Before Grandma and Grandpa headed to the airport they gave the kids one more parting gift (of course).

Alex got a Fancy Nancy doll - because she loves to be fancy.

Noah got a shark book - because he's obsessed

And then it was time to say goodbye.

It's never been so hard - for me or for the kids.

Noah and I cried all the way back to Rochester, while Alex kept repeating, "I want Grandpa.  I miss Grandma."

Mom and Dad - Thanks for an amazing week.  We had so much fun.  We love and miss you tons and can't wait to see you again!