Finding JOY in the Journey

Not much going on...

We don't have that much going on. I keep checking other people's blogs and reading them and enjoying them, but I don't update mine unless I have pictures... We have been taking it easy lately. Our biggest item of interest is that maintenance came to "auger" our sink Monday, and they broke a pipe so Kelsi's room has been filling with stinky water all week. We finally figured out what was going on Friday night (of course) so they came by to fix it today. They found the leak and it is mostly fixed now. In the meantime, Kelsi has been sleeping in Jessica's room and we are trying to decided whether to make it permanent now or just wait until later. We want to put them in the same room eventually, but it is just so convenient to separate them...

Kelsi is blossoming. She is almost 2 years now. I was worried because she had been really sick for a month, then had an ear infection, so a first round of antibiotics, then a second and now she is just finishing up her third round. This is all during key language development months. She wasn't talking a whole lot so I went in to get her ears checked by an audiologist (in between the 2nd and 3rd rounds) and she still had fluid in her ears and it was affecting her hearing. No wonder she hasn't been talking a lot. Since we have gotten her the 2nd and 3rd rounds, she is so much more interactive and responsive and she is talking a lot more. My nephew had fluid in his ears and they didn't figure it out until I think he was 3. It was really affecting his speaking. Now he is 6 and speaks very well- you would never know. It is nice to be proactive. I will take her in again this week to follow up. We also have an appointment with a speech pathologist for a speaking evaluation to see how we can encourage language development. Jes was early talking, so I can't compare, but she was talking in full sentences by now. Kelsi is not that far behind, I just want to be proactive. (and the grunting and screeching were getting old) She has improved so much already.

Jessica is really fun. We definitely have days when we are closer and days when we clash. Does anyone else feel this way? I have discovered (well, DJ told me) that what she needs most to feel close is cuddle time- like when she watches cartoons. That really helps. She is very imaginative and will play for hours by herself. She definitely goes through phases- weeks when she will play by herself all day every day, and then weeks when she needs constant attention. She is such a sweet girl and growing up into a real girl- not just a toddler. It is funny to hear the things she says and comes up with. She LOVES playing with friends and we are doing our best to teach her to be inclusive. She is very excited for "Grandma Nettie's pool" and includes it in every prayer. If we forget in our prayer, she whispers "Don't forget Grandma Nettie's pool!" We are hoping to teach her how to swim this summer. She also loves preschool, gymnastics, playing outside and "inviting friends to come over and play," especially when I am outside with Kelsi and they sneak in. Funny girl.

K- Kelsi needs attention.

You just have to love a baby's laugh...

I was putting Kelsi to bed the other night and she was so slap happy. I always want to remember her sweet giggle.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Today is our 6th anniversary, and it has been such a wonderful 6 years. I wish I had digital wedding pictures to post, but they would take to much time to find and dig out. :) The past 6 years have been wonderful. We have both graduated from college, moved 6 times, 4 of which were cross-country back and forth to Connecticut, we have 2 kids, worked a real job, gone back to grad school... And had a great time. DJ is truly wonderful and I am so grateful for him. That fateful kiss almost 7 years ago started an eternity of bliss. :) (HE kissed ME, in case there was any question- he even admits to it now after 6 years.)

Last night the Swensons watched the girls and we went to Pei Wei and then shopped for a double jogging stroller and found a great deal on running shoes for DJ. Does anyone know of a good brand of jogging stroller? We were going to go to PF Changs, but as I was at the grocery store the day before, they had asparagus at a killer price, as well as spinach and strawberries, and I knew I had London Broil in the freezer, which we grilled in addition to fresh pineapple, and the asparagus... Why go out for an expensive dinner, when you have all the fixings for an amazing dinner at home-plus Pei Wei was really good. We also made roasted sweet and red potatoes, which we LOVE, we dipped fresh bread in olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and had triple chocolate ice cream with fresh strawberries and snickers bar... but what to do the kids?

We decided to have a candlelight pajama party picnic (bajammies as Jes called them). (Thanks for the idea Kelley) It was a lot of fun. Here are some pictures : )

(You can't see the table very well because of a placemat, but my mom painted it for Jes for Christmas with the "Three Little Pigs- it is fantastic) (Kelley wanted a picture- so here it is)

(This picture is what you get for setting it on the counter with a timer)

Thanks Hon, for a WONDERUL 6 years!!! I love you.

I've got a Girlie-Girl

So apparently I am on a blogging kick. Enjoy while it lasts. :)

Kelsi has been sick for the last 5 weeks with a bad cold, at least one bad ear infection (the other ear had too much wax) and a sinus infection. I took her back in for a second round of antibiotics when she didn't get completely better and now I have my little girl back!!! Her personality is blossoming. I was worried because she wasn't talking a ton during a key language development month, but the poor girl could not hear! She has been saying new words right and left for the past few days. What a fun age!

It's Spring!!!

Spring is Sprung, the grass is riz... YEAH!!!!!! We have a beautiful tree in full bloom just outside our front window. What beautiful weather!!!

A little blurry, but funny girl.

I did it!

My triathlon was yesterday and I had a lot of fun. It felt REALLY good- I didn't go so fast that I was dead yesterday, but I completed the whole thing and had a great time. It was really nice to make the goal so long ago (in January) and complete it!!!

Here is the start. I am just behind the lady with the neon yellow jacket with the white stripe going down my black pant leg.

Here is the tail end of the run just before the bike. Our lovely camera battery died so we didn't get many pictures, but hopefully my parents got some good ones, too.

We think that is me in the swim in the center on my final lap. :)

My family and friends were SOOOOOO supportive. DJ was amazing and encouraged me to get out of bed and train, and many days he either got the kids up in the morning or put them to bed- some days towards the end both. Thanks Hon. My friends I was training with (Emily and Emily) bought me some energy gels the day before, called me and had a big poster on my door when I got home- so nice! My mom came to watch 3 weeks out of knee surgery, Brittany called me the morning of, on her way to take a final at 6:45 (yes- I was already up), Kelley called me from Kansas just before the race, and at the race were DJ, the girls, my parents, DJ's parents came and Britt came after her final and caught the swim. Everyone was sooooooo supportive. THANK YOU!!!

My sisters, DJ and I are thinking about doing one is August now. :) I am going to keep training, but work on increasing speed now that I know I can do it. What fun. I highly recommend sprint triathlons. Mine included a 5K run (3.1 miles), a 10 mile bike, and a 1/4 mile swim. I had to train for it, but it was very do-able. Triathlons are great because they are well rounded, full body, and you don't get overuse injuries as easily. Plus they are lifetime skills. I have always wanted to run a 5K and last week was my first one ever. (and I ran the whole time without stopping to walk- a HUGE achievement for me) :) DJ and I love bike riding with the girls. Last summer we often put the girls to bed by getting them in their PJ's and going for a ride around 8:00 pm (which came in great handy camping). Before, I couldn't keep up with DJ, even with him pulling the trailor. Now I can totally keep up and we can go for miles. The only swimming lessons I have taken were the summer before I turned 9. The first time I went swimming this January, I swam 6 laps and was THRILLED. Now I can swim a mile (64 laps) or more. What a great safety skill to have. Plus swimming is great exercise. Have I talked you into it yet? :)

What we have been up to...

A while ago I showed Jessica a video on my friend Michelle's blog and of course she wanted to do it, too. A few minutes later Daddy walked in the door and she requested "flips."

For those of you who know Jessica, Gymnastics is a perfect fit. I put her in a dance class last semester but pulled her out this semester to save up and search for a gymnastics class. I finally chose Baillie's in Draper since I will be down there often helping my mom for the next little bit helping her since she had knee surgery. I found this cute little leotard at Kid to Kid. I love that place.

Jessica has been busy. She also made it to the dentist a month or two ago and had 2 little cavities filled. The dentist was awesome and I highly recommend him. His name is Dr. Smyth and is located around 7050 S and Highland Drive. I had gone somewhere else where they were going to "put her under" and I just had a weird feeling about the place- mainly it was EMPTY. My friend recommended this Dr. and he was great. We had our free consultation the next day, and he was able to squeeze us in to do the actual fillings. He told me we could put her under, but at Primary Children's (as opposed to the other place was in-house), or we could do a mild anesthetic or do it with nothing. He recommended that if it was his child, he would try it with nothing and if it bothered her, they could try something else. She just watch Dora the entire time, mesmerized by the headphones, and I am sure the laughing gas helped. :) She did AWESOME and only flinched once at the very end. We were able to walk out and go straight to lunch- no numbing, no anesthesia- it was awesome. I was WAY impressed with the staff and how they worked with her. They showed her the "barbie pillows (cotton cylinders), the tiny washcloths, let her feel the drill vibrate on her finger, and even let her play with the blue light that hardens the filling. It was awesome!

Kelsi LOVES to go outside and is always finding her coat and trying to put it on and have us zip it up- even when it is plenty warm outside. She is particularly attached to a certain rain coat and won't let us take it off of her.

Kelsi got stitches a while back- here they are the day before she got them out. They did a great job sewing her up and she healed very nicely.

Here are the girls watching General Conference... They looked so cute working on their conference packet. We got a few good pictures, but of course it didn't last long. :) They did really well, though. Conference was AMAZING!!!

Jes LOVES to go swimming. Here she is sporting some of our goggles- or "joggles" as she calls them.

Just a fun, WARM spring day. So, the weather says it is supposed to snow this week?

We have been having fun and staying really busy. Sorry I haven't updated in FOREVER!

busy busy busy

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Happy Easter- I hope everyone had a great weekend. We did!

I have been REALLY busy lately... Okay most of it is brought on by myself. A big time-consumer is that I am training for my first thing ever- a triathlon (sprint distance) that is THIS SATURDAY!!!! (I'm just a little nervous) It is the Telos Timp Tri on April 18th in Orem. It involves a 5K run, 10 mile bike ride and just under 1/4 mile swim-one after the other. Wish me luck! It feels so good to be getting in shape and I love the balance of a triathlon instead of a marathon (like my sisters did- crazy), especially because the running is my least favorite part- but I am improving. Last Saturday I ran my very first 5K (I know- pathetic) but I achieved my goal of running the ENTIRE time, even when I so wanted to walk after the HUGE hill(s).

I have also been visiting my mom who just had successful knee surgery and is in recovery. She is doing really well, but I know it is so hard for her. LOTS of Physical Therapy. GO MOM!!!

The other thing I have been up to is teaching my neighbors to sew! Teaching really is my love- I majored well (Home Ec Ed.) It all started with a skirt Jessica's friend Noelle was wearing... everyday. I borrowed it and made a pattern from it and realized how easy and fast it would be to make... Noelle's mom, Tami, sews, but has never sewn garments so I decided to teach her. Then I talked to this person, and another person... and pretty quickly it grew. In my family we have a saying that pretty much describes all of the women. "If it is worth doing, it is worth doing to death." So, 10 skirts later (3 matching for my girls, 2 for cousin Pyper and 1 for cousin Rachel) I am calling it quits for a while... but the ball is still rolling. So far the court total not including mine are 3 + 3 + 1 + 1 1/2 +... My sister Kelley is also on a sewing binge right now, so it has been fun to trade stories. So... I am a true teacher and made a handout that explains how to make the skirt, how much fabric to by, measurements, instructions- complete with diagrams. Silly me- but it has been fun (and easier to type it out once and have it forever). If you want a copy of the pattern, just let me know and I can email it to you.

Another reason I have not shared photos recently is that I lost our new camera. Brittany came to visit with her 3 kids to go skiing for the weekend, and when they left, I couldn't find the camera, and still couldn't find it... I figured it would just show up as we cleaned up. Finally, 2 weeks later before Easter Weekend I was cleaning (again) and packing and I prayed that I could find it. I thought to look in Jessica's backpack for Kelsi's sandal that was also missing, and there was the camera (a little worse for the wear) mixed in with all her treasured toys she has been carting around for the last several weeks. It is found!!! Yeah!!! It is so nice that Heavenly Father answers all kinds of prayers, even about cameras.

Best Friends

Last night, the girls really wanted to sleep in the same room... on the same bed. ("with their blankets") Jes's bed is one that my parents made for me when I was little, and then my older sister used it growing up. It is a four post bed with a high headboard and foot board, and sides that come up about 2 inches- so it is very hard to fall off. We read the girls books and sang them songs and left the girls laying next to each other in the bed. I thought for sure that I would need to go move Kelsi into the portacrib we had set up in Jessica's room- but she slept there all night. When I went to check on the girls before we went to bed, Jes was cuddled up to Kelsi with her head on her chest. In addition, last night was one of the first nights in a long time that Jes did not get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and crawl into bed with us.

Jes moved before I could get a picture, but here is what I did get.

25 Random Things about me

I filled out a questionnaire about my husband on facebook, (I included it below) and decided I should probably finally fill something out about me as well. It was fun, but kind of hard. Here it is.

1. I have been to 26 countries.
2. I learned to crochet when I was 10- I actually took lessons.
3. I'm scared of having 3 kids (and hence-no I am not pregnant).
4. I lived in Saudi Arabia for 2 1/2 years and loved it.
5. I like to keep in touch with friends- I always have ever since I was young and moving around a lot (although I'm not the best at it- sorry)
6. I pronounce "sorry" with a long "o" (according to my husband)- I get it from my Mom.
7. I am a generalist- I like to get pretty good at a lot of things, but not super good at any one thing. It's weird- sometime I sabotage myself.
8. I am training for a Sprint Triathlon and loving it- It is my first time training for any sport. I especially love the biking and the swimming, but I am really nervous about the running. I need to get over it. :) But I did by new running shoes today that should help my ankles.
9. I didn't want to meet my husband at BYU- too "cliche-ish," so instead I met him in a Single's Ward at home- that is so much better. :)
10. I play the trumpet and I played in the BYU marching band and Pep Band for 2 years. (We got to go to a bowl game, and the NCAA's- which was super fun)
11. I love to cook. This love started before I was in Kindergarten.
12. I missed the kindergarten deadline by 1 month, so I stayed home with my mom for another year to "kiss and paint." I LOVED being old for my grade, and am worried about if I should put Jessica in school and have her be the youngest and littlest. (she had a late July birthday and she is tiny)
13. I used to love fun and crazy socks, but ever since I have been pregnant and had kids, I really have something against Polyester against my skin.
14. I am anti-Kraft. I never thought I liked BBQ sauce until I decided I didn't like Kraft BBQ sauce. I don't particularly like their dressings, either. I like Bull's Eye and KC Masterpiece or Ken's dressings
15. I am a Home Ec. Major. My freshmen year I was surrounded by people who were "Physics majors and knew forever that is what they wanted to do"- or all kinds of majors. I didn't want to "major" in anything- just get a lot of minors. (see #7) I finally decided to think about what I was good at and loved doing. After getting over the stigma of a Home Ec. major- I declared it and absolutely LOVED it.
15. I LOVE teaching- in any genre or age group.
17. I really need to go to bed instead of fill this out. :)
18. I don't facebook that much. Most people blog, or facebook, or scrapbook, or make home videos, or journal- I (see #7) do a little of everything- just none of them super well. :)
19. I suffered from a major guilt complex in junior high and early high school. I am mostly over it, but sometimes it still gets me.
20. I am innately a morning person, but you would never know it because my husband is a night person so I stay up too late to get up early. I do love early morning when I am rested and up, though. (Hence- I really need to go to bed).
21. I love to read cookbooks
22. I love to read period.
23. I am starting to get really interested in photography.
24. I have kept my teaching license current.
25. I absolutely love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Hubby

So Holly shared this and I wanted to try it. It was my first "note" in facebook. Maybe because it is not about me... :)

Here's a chance to see how well you really know your husband/wife. Cut, paste and fill in the answers, then forward . . . you know what to do. The real challenge is to send it to your Husband/Wife/Fiance to see how right you really are. Change "he/his" to "her/hers" throughout the questions.

1. He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the TV screen?
BYU Football, Jazz game, CNN or HGTV House Hunters (if I am watching, too)

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad?
Ranch or sometimes Thousand Island

3. What's one food he doesn't like?
He likes most things, but he is not a huge fan of tomatoes

4. You go out to eat and have a drink. What does he order?
Raspberry or Strawberry Lemonade

5. Where did he go to high school?
Alta High School, Sandy, UT

6. What size shoe does he wear?
I think 10.5-11

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be?
Music

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich?
DJ's super duper amazing sandwiches (with cheese cookies)

9. What would he eat every day if he could?
chocolate milk and cheese and ham tortillas (microwaved- but I am converting him to the toaster oven)

10. What is his favorite cereal?
Marshmallow Mateys

11. What would he never wear?
Biker shorts

12. What is his favorite sports team?
BYU football

13. Who did he vote for?
He wrote in Mitt Romney

14. Who is his best friend?
Me of course!

15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do?
Collect so much "junk" for all of my hobbies. He is actually very supportive, just not when it comes time to move everything across country.

16. What is his heritage?
Scandinavian (Sven's son)

17. It's his Birthday, what kind of cake do you bake?
Peach Cobbler

18. Did he play sports in high school?
Wrestled and Track

19. What could he spend hours doing?
Listening to music, reading Cougar blue, playing the guitar

20. What is one unique talent he has?
He is AMAZING at playing with kids and making up games to engage them (or me) in.

What's in a word- by a 3 year old

"swimming soups"
"obstervations"
"joggles" (goggles)
"that's digusticing"
"sitches" (Kelsi got stitches- another post)

So I've banished myself from blogging...

...At least while the girls are awake.

This hasn't been our best week...- Thankfully this week was not normal.

I don't check blogs that often, or for long periods of time, but over the past week or two, when I have happened to glance at a blog--- bad things have happened. It has just been a weird week. I think with this new playmate Jessica has found (Kelsi), she is re-testing all of the rules, such as no coloring in library books (if Kelsi does it, that means I can, too), cutting things with scissors besides paper at the table (such as her adorable striped tights). Then, after being banned from scissors for a week after the last one, the next day she found a pair of scissors somehow and cut a lock of Kelsi's hair (not her own thankfully- Kelsi doesn't have that much to lose) and various other things. (Not all of this was while blogging- just anytime I take 2 minutes to do something for me- like enjoy my lunch.) Grrrrr.

We have also started going outside again and she is re-testing all of the outdoor rules as well, such as not running down the hill (our court has a huge hill on one side that is the bane of all the mothers), pushing (only once thankfully)- just testing. She knows what the consequences are, (time-out on the stairs) she is just making sure I am watching and she still knows what to expect. With pushing though, she was really sweet and stood up for her sister. The little girl she pushed (sorry btw), a few minutes later pushed Kelsi (it is amazing how the pecking order works) and Jes ran over and said "no pushing!" (didn't push her again- yea) and then comforted Kelsi who was crying. It was really sweet and the little girl is super sweet, too.

Then Friday night we were getting all ready to have a fun family night of homemade pizza and a movie when Kelsi came to me crying with a can stuck on her hand. I had opened a can of beans for lunch and left the lid barely attached so I could drain it and thrown it away. (Never do that btw- I have learned my lesson) Kelsi found the can, stuck her hand in and had the "raccoon" syndrome where she couldn't get it out. I was VERY carefully trying to maneuver her hand so I could get it out when she panicked and YANKED it out- slicing her finger thoroughly. We looked at it, got a bandaid on it and it stopped bleeding. We were debating whether we should take her to the InstaCare (while Jes was getting all excited and set to watch the movie) when we took her bandaid off. It started bleeding profusely and was a mangled mess. We decided DJ would handle the stitches better, and I needed positive one on one time with Jes so he took Kelsi. The nurses were great and she handled it so well. I think she was still in shock at the InstaCare because after they cleaned it, she was squeezing it and laughing when the blood came out. Gross, huh. She only cried/screamed- what is the word inbetween- when they gave her a shot to numb the stitching. It is hard to tell whether she got 4 or 5 stitches from the looks of it. She is such a trooper. Whenever we change her bandaid, she sits so still, holds her hand out and watches. She is such a sweet girl.

And as an update- this week so far is going better.

A picture

So apparently I did get a picture of the make-up incident. (see below a few posts) "How do I look mom?"

Decor and Girls

This is for my sister. We just redecorated and I wanted to show Kelley. Sabrina took these AWESOME pictures (not that I straightened them before the picture) and she printed them as part of the photo session we won. We got the square frame at IKEA (thanks Marne) and the other frames at JoAnn's. JoAnns also cut the square mat to size. (We printed it as a 16x20" and then cut it down to 16 x 16"). DJ helped me pick out the fabric and I made the pillows. The wall we faux finished a year ago, and then this year (on the same day incidentally) we painted the side walls solid greed. Something about Martin Luther King Day for remodeling.

This is why I am procrastinating putting my girls in the same room. I have a feeling Jes would spend every night in the crib. As of now, they just love to PLAY in there.

Annette (my Mother-in-law) gave the girls these dresses for Christmas, and then the matching coats for Valentine's day. Matching coats had not occurred to me, but I LOVE them!!! Jes was so excited that she and Kelsi looked the same- same black tights, poofy slips, dresses, and coats to boot!

Here is just a super sweet picture of Jes. (Note- as I was typing this, I kept feeling like I should check on Kelsi. I finally did and I found her in her room with the door closed and a bag of marshmallows from the preschool box. Silly girl)