Portland, Oregon

Paul has been invited to interview at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon. The interview is scheduled for early December and we're really excited!

Where have I gone?

If you haven't heard from me for awhile and have been wondering where I am I'll tell you...I've been in Forks, Washington with Bella and Edward. Ok, now that you all think I'm crazy I might as well spill my guts...I think I AM going a little crazy! I'm jittery and anxious as I sit here and post because I'm not reading...I told you before that I read Twilight in 2 days. Well, it only got worse from there. I read the second book, New Moon, which is 563 pages, in 24 hours. I'm now on the third book, Eclipse, and I don't think I'll be returning to reality until I'm done. Then I'll have to wait until next fall for the fourth, and final book in the series. That makes me want to PANIC. What will I do? Maybe start paying attention to my kids, husband, and house : ) All I can say is READ THESE BOOKS! I can pretty much gaurantee that by the end of book one you will be IN LOVE with a 17-year old vampire named Edward Cullen. I know I am : ) And if you don't like it...well don't tell me because I might take it a little too personally. Just kidding (sort of)! Ok, I really can't take anymore of this blogging stuff right now. Alex is sleeping and I'm missing out on precious time with Edward...catch you later (probably not until I'm done with Eclipse.

My new obsession

Yes, you could say I am obsessed. I really wasn't that interested in reading this book, but after hearing so much about it, I was curious. So I broke down and read the first book of the Twilight series...in 2 days. I immediately requested the sequel from the library only to find I was #101 on the hold list. Not okay. I was going to actually BUY it today at Target but, of course, it was sold out. So then I called a girl in my new ward, that I barely know, because I vaguely remembered overhearing a conversation that she owned all three books in the series. My memory proved correct, and as soon as I hung up the phone we were on our way to her house to pick it up. I'm going to have to exercises a little more self-control though. Last night Paul was demanding that I put my book down and pay attention to him!

Confused parroting

We were in Target today and I couldn't find what I was looking for. Noah, once again picking up on my frustration said, "Jeepers-craps!" This would be a combination of "Jeepers-creepers" which Paul always says, and "Crap" which, apparently mommy says a little too much...oops : )I stared at him for a moment and then turned my back and silently laughed hysterically. I think he noticed though because I heard a little giggle come from him. I turned to him and told him nonchalantly that those weren't very polite words and we shouldn't say them. But a few minutes later, when I asked him to help me look for something, I heard him mutter under his breath again "Jeepers-craps"

Unsolved Mystery

I went jogging with the kids this morning, our usual route around the lake. After playing at the lake for a few minutes (long enough for Noah to fall and scrape his OTHER knee) I loaded the kids back into the stroller for our jog home. Alex had her pretty pink crocs on when we left...but when we arrived home they were gone. Both of them (although I don't know what I would do with just one). I was not happy. I was also too tired to jog back to the lake and back home again, so I threw the kids into the van and we drove our route, scouring the sidewalks for a pair of little pink crocs. No luck! How could that happen? It only takes us 12 minutes to jog home from the lake, how could they have disappeared so fast? I kept telling Alex she was a naughty girl, but for some reason, no matter how stern I am when I say it, she thinks that's funny. When we got inside this was my conversation with my kids:

Alex: Show! Show!
Mom: Ok, mommy will turn on a show for my little naughty girl
Noah: And for her really nice, good, big brother!

So, no more pretty pink crocs for Alex...oh well, at least now I don't have to worry about her leg being amputated by an escalator : )

Leaning Tower of Chocolate?

Ok, that was a totally cheesy title for this post...I know Paul's gonna give me a hard time for that.

I learned today (the hard way) that I'm not very good at stacking cakes. Oh well, this chocolate cake may not look appetizing but it tastes great! I'd share the recipe with you but you probably already have it (see back of Hershey's Baking Cocoa box) : )

Alex did not get to enjoy the fruits of her labors, she was fast asleep by the time this piece of art was finished. Noah however, enjoyed a nice big slice before bed. I said, "Isn't it delicious?" He paused for a minute then replied, "No...it's just good." Well, I didn't know I had a chocolate connosieur on my hands. I think it's delicious anyways, and so does Paul!

Little Bakers

Noah and Alex "helping" mommy make a cake. Noah kept up a steady stream of instuctions, and Alex was singing the whole time (completely oblivious to her big brothers instructions). We were having a blast until the floor became so cluttered that Alex kept tripping over glass bowls and slipping on cookie sheets. What would I do without my little helpers : )

Another interview invite...

Paul got an invitation to interview at Wake Forest University, in North Carolina. We'll continue to keep you all updated : )

Immunizations for Alex

Yesterday was Alex's 18-month well-child visit. Alex HATES going to the doctor. She's clingy and whiney the whole time and doesn't cooperate with the nurses or doctor. I admit that, with both of my kids, I cried the first time they got shots as newborns. But we've been through it enough times by now that I've toughened up considerably. So I wasn't prepared for my tears...But this time Alex remembered and knew what was coming. As soon as the doctor left and the nurse walked in Alex started clinging to me and sobbing hysterically, "Owie! Owie! Owie!" It was heartbreaking!

Another bug story...

We were all getting ready for church last sunday and I walked into the dining room and barely stifled my scream...however, I learned from our experience with the ant what the kids would do if they saw me freak out about a bug : ) But this was no ordinary bug climbing up my wall...in fact I had no idea what it was, just that it was big and FREAKY! I quickly and quietly rushed Paul into the room (in his towel) to show him. "Oh, that's just a centipede. Get a shoe and kill it" he calmly stated. Yeah right! That thing was like 3 feet long! Ok, more like three inches, but seriously...I was not about to go near it. Paul kept insisting there was nothing to be afraid of because it wouldn't hurt me. Why don't men get that fear of bugs is not a rational fear? I know it's not going to hurt me but that doesn't make it any less terrifying...I mean, can you imagine that thing crawling on you?!? So, I was standing guard in the dining room, waiting for Paul to come and kill it when I realized if I didn't hurry and blowdry my hair I would make us late for church. It wasn't moving much though so Paul and I decided it was safe to leave it where it was for a few minutes until Paul could get dressed and come take care of it. A few minutes later I hear Paul say, "Hey, where did it go?" Are you kidding me!!! We searched, but never did find it. So now, anytime I see something out of the corner of my eye, feel something brush against my skin, or sit down on the toilet (anyone seen Arachnaphobia?) I freak out. I just know it's going to reappear...and Paul better be home when it does! This is what it looked like (seriously).

Smarty Pants

We went jogging yesterday and I let the kids get out and play at the lake for awhile (yes, I needed a breather). Of course they wanted to play in the dirt. When I loaded Alex back into the stroller her clothes were filthy and her hands were black . But when we got home her whole face was black! I took one look at her and said, "Oh my gosh!" Alex looked back at me and said, "Gosh dangit! What a mess!" Here she is, using her dirty hands to eat candy - I'm such a good mom : ) Anything to get her to sit still for a picture!

Expressions of frustration...

Yesterday was a very busy day - visiting teaching, errands, birthday party. We came home exhausted and ready to take a break. We got to the back porch and the screen door was jammed shut - it really wouldn't budge. We tried the front door but it's always locked and we don't have a key for it. Then we tried the neighbor but he wasn't home, so we went back to the porch and tried the back door again. I was struggling with it and the kids could tell I was frustrated. This is what they had to say:

Noah: "Ooohhhh, this is re-dick-alis!" (interpretation - ridiculous)

Alex: "Gosh dangit, gosh dangit, gosh dangit!"

Apparently that's the worst thing they've ever heard me say - thank goodness : )

And yes, I did get the screen door "un-stuck." Why doesn't Noah ever call me a superhero?

Congratulations Paul!

So, Paul may have posted a list of all the schools we applied to for residency, but he neglected to tell you that he has already received his first invitation to interview...at the Mayo Clinic!

Congratulations Paul! I'm so proud of you and I love you!

Too embarassing to post? Nah...

Noah singing along to his favorite show, Caillou, in his undies of course. And I think he must have gotten those dance moves from Paul...or Uncle Tanner : )

Crazy Alex

Not a good picture, I know. But what you are seeing is the beginnings of Alex's "crazy face" caught on camera for the very first time! This is truly miraculous! I never thought it would happen. For those of you who have never witnessed it in person, I'm sorry, I can't even begin to describe or explain it to you. It's just something she does when she's really wound up and excited. It's like she's suddenly lost all control. It's hilarious...and frightening. You never know what's she's going to do next when she makes her "crazy face."

Scary Alex

Alex loves to "scare" people - another little trick she learned from big brother. She runs up to you and yells "RRRAAAAAAA!" Terrifying, I know. After eating oreos though, it's a litte scarier than usual - I was afraid I was going to end up splattered with chocolate goo

Pretty Alex...Pantless Alex

I took these pictures the other day because I just thought Alex looked especially cute - pretty pigtails, pretty shirt, and...wait no pants? That's right, Alex who always wants to be like big brother, has started taking off her pants as well. People are going to start to wonder what we're teaching our children in the Gunn household. I can assure you that Paul and I do not remove our pants when we walk through the door (although Paul would probably prefer that we did).

P.S. Alex thinks she needs to have her face pressed up against the camera lens to get her picture taken - the only way I could get anything other than a close up of her mouth and nose was to catch her running at high speed around the dining room table...I'll take what I can get : )

Noah got baptized!

Ok, not really...I hope it's not sacreligious to joke around about this.

After oreo cookies Noah and Alex were taking a bath together. I got Alex out first and stepped out of the bathroom for a couple minutes to get her diaper on. I know, I know, you're never supposed to do that...and I did get freaked out for a minute because when I poked my head around the corner to check on Noah I couldn't see him. I raced over to the tub and found him like this...laying on his back, submerging his head (but not his face) underneath the water. He smiled up at me and said, "Mom, did you know I got baptized?" Hilarious! At least he's not afraid of it anymore. I took him to his first baptism about 6 months ago and after Noah watched the kid get dunked he looked at me and whimpered, "Mommy, I don't want to get baptized!"

Oreo Piggies

How do you eat your oreos? Noah likes to untwist them and eat one side at a time, while Alex prefers to shove as many whole cookies into her mouth at one time as she can get her hands on. Needless to say, it was bathtime after this

Noah's first painting!

For preschool all the kids bring a backpack with certain items - scissors, glue stick, sitting mat, paint shirt. Noah has been most excited about the paint shirt. When I picked him up from his first day of preschool he told me all about it on the way home. Then he said, "But mom, we didn't paint!" His one dissapointment. Luckily his second day of preschool did entail a paint project. The mom who taught that day told me Noah was more excited than any of the other kids and wanted to go first (they were taking shifts). But then he realized that the teacher needed to trace his body onto the poster first - he flat out refused. So they traced another little boy for Noah and Noah still got to paint a picture of himself. He was so proud we went right home and hung it in his bedroom. When I asked him why he didn't want to get traced he said, "I thought it was pretty scary." I said, "That's not scary." Noah started giggling and admitted, "I was too shy!"

P.S. Notice that Noah is holding one leg of his shorts up. Remember that scraped knee he got on Labor Day, while I was running the 5K? Yep, that's it. It's been an ordeal for the past 2 weeks! He wants a band-aid on...now he wants it off but he screams and cries because it hurts to take it-off...he's re-opened the wound several times and caused it to bleed again which totally freaks him out...and, most importantly, he cannot STAND for any piece of clothing to touch band-aid or scab (he reminds me every time I help him dress/undress). So, yes, he's been walking around with his shorts held up for 2 weeks. There's hardly any scab left but he's obviously not going to stop until it's completely healed. What a weirdo - he always looks hilarious walking around in public with his shorts pulled up almost to his underwear, his white thigh exposed : )