October 2009

Early Birthday Present

Chris' mom mailed us a box with gifts for Ezra's birthday and Christmas. I was to hide one of the gifts until Christmas and give Ezra the other one on his birthday for Grandma. Well the one I had decided to save for Christmas was this box of train carts and animals. I had unpacked the box and was putting things away after Chris had already gone to sleep so I set this box outside our bedroom door and then forgot about it until the next morning while preparing Ezra's breakfast I heard his cute little voice exclaim with glee "Ooooohhhh! Ooooohh! Choo Choo!" and before I could even see what all the excitement was about he had the box open and was excitedly pulling pieces out. Since he was so happy to play with this new toy we decided of course it was ok to let him have it as an early birthday present and we called Lanette to tell her Ezra really enjoyed his birthday present and we would just hide the other gift for Christmas. It was pretty cute how quickly Ezra had found and opened this gift all on his own. (He really hasn't gotten into a lot of things in the past so I was really surprised). It was clearly a hit! I realized I needed to be better at hiding things in the future as he now clearly recognizes toys!

10.4.09

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Baby kisses!



10.6.09

So cute. These pictures make me laugh because Ezra went through a little kissing phase. He must have started to notice when Chris and I kissed because all of the sudden he wanted to put his hands on our face and pull us close for kisses on the lips, which we normally don't do with Ezra. I have always given Ezra lots of kisses on his cheeks and such, but we never really kissed on the lips, so I thought it was really funny and quite surprising when all of the sudden he wanted to kiss us on the lips. Giggles. Cute little boy. He was so cute about it, just wanting to be like us I bet, but poor little guy, we couldn't keep from busting up laughing when he'd catch us off guard with these kisses, so we probably shot down his confidence to kiss us because the phase quickly passed, which is probably ok in the long run. I'm good with kisses on the cheeks.

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Ezra's 2nd Birthday!!!






We had an enjoyable morning together as Ezra played with his "bwoons" and his new tricycle. His favorite aspect of the trike was of course the bell. His legs were a little too short to peddle on his own, but he loved sitting and riding while we pushed him around the house as he dinged the bell. So cute. We'll have fun with it as he grows into it.

Ezra loves smoothies and playing at the park so I jogged him down to the smoothie place by our house and then we stopped at the park.
He has still been quite the picky eater so I was relieved to start the day with him actually being happy to eat something. Here's my big 2 year old, having
(finally!) figured out how to use a straw and eating a bagel . . . . . baby food seems so long ago.



Chris was able to come home from work early enough that we could eat dinner as a family which was a nice treat. Then of course we had cake and ice cream for our birthday boy, but really he just wanted to blow out his candle . . .


again,

and again!
So fun to see our little boy enjoying these simple pleasures of life. Having a child really does make life more sweet and joyful.

He's not so much a fan of cake but he sure does like ice-cream. ( Hmm, I wonder where he gets that from?) He is so fun!

Ezra, we love you so much and you are our joy!
And there's nothing 'terrible' about you being 2 at all!
You are so much fun and we feel blessed and grateful to have you!

10.7.09


At Ezra's 2 Year Check-Up
Healthy!
Weight - 31 pounds
Height - 36 inches

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Ezra was almost done with binks completely until we spent all September traveling while his dad was in Alaska. He needed a little extra comfort those weeks and now we will start the process over of having less and less binky time. It was so great when he was a tiny baby but now this comfort is not so great (especially when I get to hear other people's opinions on the matter). We were shopping at Bed, Bath and Beyond and wow there were a lot of things in reach of little hands so I gave him my necklace to play with. No more screeching. Giving him his bink helped him stop screeching once upon a time, but lately he has learned to just bite his bink and keep screeching. This was when I got the boost I needed to be more firm and really phase out the bink because I decided no one needed a bink that much if they were just going to bite it and keep screeching. ;)


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Ezra's friend Benny Black came over to play one morning. Benny's mom is my visiting teacher and friend in our ward and we trade off dropping our boys to play at each other's houses. It is a great help to us moms and I am so happy for Ezra to have a little guy his age to play with. They were playing well and even making each other laugh and then they sort of pooped out and ended up resting in the ball pit. It was so cute to see them resting next to each other.


10.22.09

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"To express yourself in art forms and design is a talent you have been given . . . . ."

I'm honestly not sure what my talents are, but I can say that decorating my home fulfills some need I have for change and an undeniable desire to design and decorate and enhance spaces. My mind is always full of ideas and possibilities. Maybe it is my need for an artistic outlet, to design and create, I don't know. When I can't sleep I make lists of my ideas. The problem is that I really don't know what I'm doing most of the time so I don't feel I can call it a talent, and my lack of confidence doesn't help my husband feel very confident in my crazy ideas ("You want to paint the ceiling blue and the walls orange to create a dusk like glow"?!) and there is always the budget to snap my head back into reality that most ideas I have will simply stay on paper, but I can't help my mind from entering this realm. It is just something my mind enjoys. I can study floor plans for hours and look at colors and textures and it is all some sort of puzzle my mind is always trying to figure out. Fun. So maybe this is where I start and practice, in my own home, and maybe some day I'll know what I'm doing.

My latest project was our master bedroom. Our insurance company gave (ha ha, "gave", more like of all the money we pay for insurance some came back to us to actually use) us some money to replace some things from the big storm back in June, but we thought some things they totaled didn't really need to be replaced, so Chris said I could use the money to decorate our master bedroom instead. (Blessing in disguise?) Chris had a business trip to Mexico for a week so I planned to have flooring put in our bedroom while he was gone so he could come home to the finished result. (He doesn't love house projects. Chris + house projects = marital stress. :) So I ordered and picked up the flooring and materials and then moved everything out of our room one night when Ezra was in bed. Everything but our heavy cast iron bed frame. Oh how it pains my independent ego to have to call on a man to help me but it wasn't so bad since I asked my girl friend to bring her family over for dinner so her husband could help me move my bed frame. He also took it apart for me. (I need a what wrench?) It was definitely not a one person job as someone had to be holding the frame up while it was unbolted or else it would have just crashed down, so I'm glad I didn't try to do it by myself. ;)

I was connected to some flooring installers by a friend in our ward and they had the job done in one day. Too bad it was raining though so they cut the planks in my master bathroom!! Saw dust, everywhere. Everywhere, floor to ceiling, on everything. I had pulled some things from my room into the bathroom, and my closet doors were open, and the bedroom door opens to the family room . . . . . ugh. I didn't know they were cutting the planks in there! Yes it was loud, but I thought they were doing it on the front porch, so you can imagine my mixture of emotions as I was so happy to see the job done and then I saw the incredible coating of dust on everything. I should have checked and been watching (I trust people too much to do the job right, or I just assume they are going to do it the way I think they should.) but I had Ezra with me, and he of course did not like the loud noise so we were upstairs with a door closed, so he could endure the day as best as possible. Ugh. Lesson learned. So yes, wood planks were cut in my bathroom with an electric saw which covered my bedroom things, along with everything else that is normally in a bathroom, and my closet, and dust sprayed all over my family room couches, tables, shelves, etc.! Oh my!!! I used a long handled brush to try to brush off the incredible coating of dust all over the walls and ceiling, vents, fan, etc., and I brushed and brushed and dust just kept coming off in clouds. Then I vacuumed my walls (and every surface of everything that was in my closet, bathroom, and family room, including books, towels, pillows, boxes, Ezra's toy baskets, decorative trinkets, etc.) and did a ton of laundry, washed my throw rugs, towels, pillows, blankets, got a new tooth brush, etc. I was up all night trying to tackle the saw dust that had coated everything in the vicinity because I didn't want Ezra in it, and I needed the room livable and put back together the next day when Chris got home! (This is why I do these things when Chris is out of town. He would have not been happy and I would not have appreciated his feelings on the matter in addition to my own.) Lesson learned; make sure they aren't cutting the planks in your house!! (Really? I didn't think I had to really check that. What were they thinking?! How could that possibly be acceptable to any home owner?) I mean, if I had known they were going to do that I would have put up plastic coverings over my closet doors and family room door and put things in a different room!
Lesson learned.
Even if I feel rude by looking over their shoulder, better to check then to be left with an unnecessary mess.
Ok, I vented, moving on.

The next day I was able to paint the quarter-round while Ezra miraculously played in the room with his cars without getting in the wet paint. He only touched the wet paint once and it was on accident. He's such a good little boy; he knows to listen when I am serious about something if I explain it to him up front he'll normally listen pretty well. And while my boy might not be very clingy and cuddly, he sure likes to always be right where I am, and I like that. I like having him by my side, even if we are both doing our own thing, it's like this unspoken understanding that we like to be by each other.

I do have to give the floor installers more credit; they were kind enough to help me put the bed back together. I really appreciated this so that I could have everything back in place by the time Chris returned. I know they didn't have to do that. They were nice guys.


I love our orange walls. Mmmmm . . . glowing warmth.

I have never been a fan of iron beds but my husband liked this bed frame and I don't think furniture is worth arguing about so I just went along with it when we purchased it 2 years ago. Now with the different textures and colors behind and under it though, I find it more fitting. This is why I think it is fun to both be involved in the process of picking things out for and decorating our home because even though Chris might pick something at first that I don't like, and vice versa, we grow into it and mold our two tastes and it eventually creates a combined style that we are both very happy with. It has been rewarding for us to have a home that we have created together. It brings out a completely different result than if just one of us were to single handedly make all the decisions, and I end up liking it better in the long run because it challenges me to learn and adapt and try harder to incorporate our different opinions on design.

A lot of people tell me what a nice wife I am for "letting" my husband put his animals all up in our home, but that causes me some amusement I guess because I look at it differently. Our home is just that, our home, not his, not mine, but ours together and I want it to reflect both of us. It is not all his way or all mine, but very much both of us coming together, and now parts of our home are more for our son, so it continues to evolve as we grow as a family. So the hunter in him wants animals all over the walls and the dancer in me wants hard wood flooring everywhere, and somehow we come together and strive to create a home that we both walk into and feel that "Ah, Nice, I'm home." It has been fun to mix our different tastes and influence each other as we create our home as a couple.

When Chris got home he did help me by hanging up curtain rods in our bedroom. Yay for curtains!! Oh the simple things you take for granted in your parents home like nice window coverings until you price them on your own for the first time and realize you don't really need curtains after all. :) We have slept in that room with East-facing windows for the last three years and have said over and over how we really needed to get curtains, but with having a new baby just a few months after we moved in it's not like the curtains would have helped us sleep in any since Ezra is up before the sun most days. But even though we have a 2 yr. old who wakes up at (or before) the crack of dawn, we still appreciate having the option of more privacy and less glare from the morning sun. I really think that waiting for things, even if it means years, makes you appreciate things so much more. We save money until we can form a budget and then tackle a project and it has been very rewarding. We definitely appreciate things more by doing it this way, saving first, then purchasing and working within a budget. Yes, our two front rooms are still completely unfurnished and undecorated but our home is a work in progress. It is our first home so we moved in with almost no furniture. It isn't a lack of care, it is simply accepting that we can't wisely afford to furnish and decorate our whole house all at once, and that is ok. I was once tempted to feel embarressed by our empty rooms that greeted every visitor to our home, but now I don't even notice them, as I feel security in knowing that we are trying to be wise and live within a budget and not go into debt for unecessary things. I take comfort and peace in knowing that we are trying to follow Heavenly Father's guidance through the prophets to stay out of debt and to live within our means. So while I blog about decorative projects it is important for me to share that I know things aren't important. It is a hobby, a project to beautify our home for our family's enjoyment, but one we don't put as our first priority. It is just easy to write about because it isn't too personal or emotional. Plenty of days are full of prayers, tears, pain, frustration, happiness, growth, forgiveness, joy, and tender moments that make up real life and real purpose. But those are often too personal to openly share. So if only for my children's sake when they read my blog some day, they must know that their mother knew that decorating was never her most important task, but simply a hobby she enjoyed. My family will always be my number one priority and there is always so much I can improve upon as an individual, wife, and mother. There are always people to serve and to be involved with. I am so grateful for life, for the time I am given on this earth to learn and grow and to learn about love. After all, the greatest commandments are to love . . . . . .


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I can't believe I didn't take any pictures, but our friends the Gosney's drove down from Arkansas to visit us! We will forever have a special place in our hearts for the Gosney's. It was Matt Gosney who introduced/set up Chris and me. Matt has been one of Chris' good friends for years, and I have welcomed him and his wife as my own friends as well and we both love them. We felt so special and lucky to have them come all that way to visit us! We had a great time with them, though it went by too quickly!

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Halloween Library Party

10.29.09

Ezra helped me choose what costume to get for him when he started roaring at me. As we read books and made the appropriate animal noises, he was especially enthusiastic for the lion and tiger noises, and would then continue roaring through out the day, so when we were at Old Navy and saw the lion costume I thought it would be perfect for him. My little lion.

Several women in our ward get together for library parties and home preschooling activities so I decided to join them at the library and I was surprised with how fun it was! We enjoyed seeing so many people we knew and it was fun to have Ezra old enough to start enjoying some of these fun activities.

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We had a fun Halloween celebration the day before Halloween when we had some friends over for dinner and then we all went to the ward Trunk or Treat together. Then we went back to our house for adult desserts and a fun movie.

Ward Trunk - or - Treat


Amy, Quincy and Matt Miller

My hunter and my little lion


and I'm the hunting guide.


10.30.09

On Halloween day, Ezra was pretty tired from all of the festivities the previous days and was soon in bed so we had to pass out candy to our neighbors without our little lion to greet them. It was a nice opportunity to meet some of our neighbors though. We have a lot of young families with young children in our neighborhood but I'm never too sure how to meet them. I just need to be more brave and go up and talk to them when I see them out playing in their front yards. That is scary to me though. Maybe when Ezra can talk more he will help me. :)


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September 2009

While Chris was hunting in Alaska, Ezra and I flew to Utah and California for our own adventures! We were able to visit both sides of our family and several friends. I feel fortunate to have such great in-laws that I feel completely comfortable flying out to visit them even without my husband. They have truly become my family and friends. Even though Ezra and I had already made a few trips out this year I think it is important to give Ezra as much opportunity as possible to develop relationships with his extended family members. Ok, it isn't just for him, of course I enjoy visiting and I need these people in my life too!

I spent one part of the day in Brigham City with Tora and her kids. We were able to have some great woman-to-woman talk while Ezra napped. (Her husband was also hunting in Alaska ;). She is always so kind and positive and is a great example to me of many things. I really appreciated having time to talk with her and I miss living just up the street from her and their cute family.

After Ezra's nap my friend Jena drove over to lead the way to her home in Corinne. Outside of my in-laws, she was the first friend I made as a newly wed in Utah and I am so glad we have remained in contact with one another! Her and her husband Chris lived in the apartment next to ours when we were first married. How fun it would be if we were next door neighbors again! We might go months without talking but when we do, we pick up right where we left off. She is one of the most thoughtful and giving persons I know. I was overwhelmed by her hospitality when we arrived to her home. Even though she does not yet have children of her own, she had thoughtfully prepared snacks and toys to have on hand for my little boy. She had borrowed a wagon and filled it with a blanket and snacks just for him and a new ball for him to play with so we could all have fun at the park. She had a cute new book for me too. Too sweet!

Jena was a hit with Ezra when she brought out one of his favorites; bubbles!

Ezra and Jena

We fit yet another visit in this day when I stopped at my sister-in-law, Dalene's house on our way home to Kaysville (where we were staying with Chris' parents). Ezra hadn't been himself and hadn't eaten anything all day and I started to worry when he wouldn't even drink milk, which normally you can't get away from him. Dalene thought he looked fine and it wasn't anything serious to worry about, which was true. He just had a little bug, but as a first time mom, I worry.

The next day explained his behavior though when he had the worst diapers I've ever seen. Two words: Brown water. Poor little guy had some sort of digestive bug and he lost 3 pounds in those few days! And I'm not exaggerating, I weighed him on his grandma's scale when we first got there because she asked me how big he was and I wanted to see if he was just growing taller or if he had actually gained weight. He weighed 29 pounds Wednesday morning. By Sunday he weighed 26 pounds. AH! I could see it in his face by the time his sickness ended. My poor little guy. Unfortunately we had to cancel our plans to go to the Zoo with my sister Sandi and her son Landon that day. I was so sad to miss out on spending a fun day with them! I felt horrible bringing sickness to someone else's house, but also felt very lucky to be where we were. Ezra's grandma was super attentive and sweet and would sit and watch "Mono" (Thomas the Train) with him, which, if you know Ezra is rare because he never wants to sit still for more than a minute, but he wanted his grandma to sit right by him and watch with him. It was so cute, he'd pat the couch next to him and call through his binky until Grandma came over to him. And yes, his grandma was tending to him all Friday because that day I was sick too. Yippee. I've never had to pull over a car to throw up before. Fun times. I was so lucky to be at my mother-in-law's house where she was happy to tend to Ezra while I was sick. I am finally getting to understand and trust that she really is happy to help and that it isn't a burden to her but a joy to have us, well at least Ezra I know for sure! :) And not only was she kind enough to tend to us sickies, but she humored me by watching a movie of my picking that night. When Lanette asked what we were watching as I put the DVD in, I giggled and told her I was educating her on what the "full-blown pop culture phenomenon" was at the time; Twilight. I decided that was just what the doctor ordered, lol! I still giggle that we watched that movie. :)

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9.5.09

By Saturday we were well enough to visit Chantal in Provo. I wasn't sure how the day would go, or how long we would feel well enough to be out, so we didn't brave the Park City/Heber Valley Parade of Homes like we had originally planned. I would love to attend the Parade of Homes in those areas some day, but not with my toddler, let alone when recovering from being sick. We had a fun day though seeing the cute Townhouse Chantal moved into and enjoying a walk in the Provo canyon along Bridal Veil Falls. Then Chantal helped me with Ezra and her opinion to get a couple of tankini's from the cute and modest bathing suit store, Hapari, in American Fork. (http://www.hapari.com/) Then she introduced me to one of my now favorite places to grab a bite to eat, Panera Bread Company. Oh how I have craved their tomato soup, baguettes, and hot chocolate since that day. (Lucky for me they just opened one close to where we live, yahoo!) It was great to spend time with my sister, but as always, I was sad to have to say good bye. Ya know, I'm really feeling like I could use a sister in my neck of the woods these days. Or maybe I just appreciate sisterhood more at this time in my life. Either way, my time in Utah and California was filled with mothers, sisters & sisters-in-laws and girl friends, and I realized I need and appreciate their love and friendship more than I had realized before and I miss all of them!!!

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A beautiful Sunday in Kaysville, and I finally caught some pictures of Lanette. ;)



Ezra just walked up to Lanette and buried his head into her. So sweet. This is Ezra's way of giving a hug. He just leans into you and lets you love on him, as if he knows that you need the hug more than he does and patiently lets you feel the joy of embracing him.


9.6.09

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Salt Lake to San Jose

Miracles do happen. :)

9.8.09

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My mother teaches piano lessons and two of her students are my cousins, Katie and Kelly, and Ezra had a great time playing with them! These two cute girls adored Ezra and he just soaked up all the attention they gave him.

My sister Lisa and her son Kolby drove over from Santa Cruz to visit us.

9.9.09

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My mom drove Ezra and me out to visit my sister Amber and her son Zao the next day. It was fun to get to visit her and see where she lived.

We went to lunch at a place right on the beach and then had fun watching the boys play and chase seagulls. Ezra loved chasing the birds!

Zao and Amber

My mom and Amber

Zao and Ezra

Me and Amber

9.10.09

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The next day my mom let me borrow her vehicle so that Ezra and I could drive "over the hill" to visit Lisa and Kolby (Damian was in school). I love this area and I am always happy to spend time with Lisa in this beautiful area that she lives in. We drove to a trail and took our boys and Lisa's dogs for a walk.

During the beginning of our walk we were treated to a stop by a train. Since Ezra loves Thomas the Train and his "choo-choo's" I thought he would enjoy seeing the real deal up close.
Lisa, Kolby, Ezra, and Lisa's dogs Sancho and Peanut

As you can see in this picture, our trail ended up being the railroad track which was an incredibly bumpy ride and good exercise for the arms. This picture doesn't show what it was really like most of the time though. The track wasn't flat between the ties, so it wasn't exactly a trail even when on the track. And on the side of the track there mostly wasn't enough width to fit the jogger on the side of the trail before sliding down the side of the steep hills. It got very exciting when we realized we were on a working track and heard the train coming and had to sprint up the trail to where we could find enough room off the side of the track for our joggers to fit to allow the train to safely pass us. The path was so narrow along the track that there literally wasn't room for the joggers to go along the side at most parts and your only option was to be on the track, since we were in the mountains after all and the land either went up or down on either side. We got a little lost (while I tried to not stress about the next train coming by) and I finished with two popped tires, but it was an adventure nonetheless and it was a good reminder that I can learn a thing or two from my sisters to be more laid back. Ha! Really though, I am always grateful for the time I get to spend with my sister Lisa and her cute sons. There's nothing like talking with sisters and the fun we have together. They have always helped me to "live a little" more. :)

After our adventure through the woods, we went to lunch in Felton. I love Felton! Everything just seems quaint and fresh as it is engulfed by the large trees and beauty of that area. We can always enjoy yummy food and conversation together. Lisa and I are both hopeless romantics. We can share our hopes and dreams and "boys are silly" stories with one another. Sometimes a girl just needs her sister to talk to. Why do they all need to be so far away? There are beautiful things about all of my sisters. I hope to be able to draw from all of them.

After I got Ezra down for the night I went out to meet up with two of my girl friends from my high school and college days! I have a lot of fun memories with these two girls. They were fun and sweet and it was so great to catch up with them!
April and Janine

I was reminded during this trip that I should work harder to maintain my relationships with my family and friends who are all far away. I think in my weakness I have let relationships slip by because that was easier than feeling the pull of heart strings. There is something very comforting and strengthening to be with people who have loved you through the years, who know your past and have seen you at your best and worst and even goofiest and yet who have loved you through it all. It was a very safe and comforting feeling to spend time reconnecting with sisters and girlfriends and my mom; women who have loved me unconditionally throughout my life and who know me.

9.11.09

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My mom's banana bread helped Ezra gain back the weight he had lost the week before. You'd never know by looking at his round little face that he had been so sick a week earlier.


9.12.09

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Ezra and I got to spend a day visiting Ashley and Jalen! I am always grateful for Ashley's friendship and feel so lucky that we have kept in touch over the years! Our little boys played pretty well together, mostly because Jalen was so good to share all of his toys with Ezra. And Ezra took a great nap there so Ashley and I got to enjoy hours talking; so great! When our boys got up from their naps we walked over to a mall and got lunch at a cafe and had fun looking at adorable baby clothes together. (She was due soon to have her baby girl!) I never want to leave her house because I know it will be too long until the next time we get to visit and we keep holding out for the day that we will be neighbors again like in our childhood days when we rode our bikes or roller skated to each other's houses. I think we dove into conversation so quickly and were so preoccupied keeping our 2 year olds happy that I completely spaced getting out my camera. How did I not take a picture of Jalen and Ezra playing, and Ashley in her cute pregnant state? Hopefully next time I'll remember.

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I had fun being able to talk to my brothers at night when they would eventually get home from all of their extra curiculars. Ben went with me to get Sweet Retreat one night and Joseph went with me to shop for tubes for my jogger tires. I love hanging out with my little brothers. They say such funny things and the goofiest side of me comes out around them. They are great boys. And they are sweet uncles to Ezra. It was so cute; each morning when Ezra woke up he'd run around the house, looking in rooms while calling out "Bin? Bin? Jos? Jos?" He liked playing with his uncles and I appreciated all of their help watching him and playing with him so I could take a shower or got ready in peace.

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My mom and I did something we've never done together before; we went to San Francisco for a day! It was a beautiful day and we had fun looking in the knock-off shops (sunglasses, purses, etc.) and snacking on crab & shrimp cocktail and clam chowder on the wharf. We watched the man who hides behind branches scare a few people. Then Ezra reached his un-napped limit with his stroller and we provided some street entertainment of our own. :)

Alcatraz

My mom with Ezra.
We were by the Cable Car turnaround when we took this picture, which is close to Ghiradelli Square and of course we had to go there!

I had never been to a Ghiradelli store/ice-cream parlor before and since I'm such a fan (adict) of their chocolate, my mom agreed that we needed to stop in so I could experience their "world famous hot fudge sundae". I got a sundae and a hot chocolate, and though the first few bites were chocolate bliss, both were so rich that I couldn't finish either dessert. Wow, that was chocolate though. Ezra liked the chocolate ice-cream so we at least ate most of the ice-cream. (I always feel bad wasting food, even desserts.)

When we passed this street on our way out and I said I'd never driven down it, my mom turned around so I could experience one of San Francisco's tourist attractions, a drive down Lombard street.


9.15.09

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9.16.09

One morning Ezra and I were able to go to my grandmother's house for a visit. We enjoyed visiting in her pretty back yard while Ezra chased "Cassie Kitty" and ran around the yard. She told me the story of how she met my grandpa and about their first date. So cute. She sent us home with cute little books like The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny for Ezra. I remember liking those stories as a child when Grandma would read to me. I also remember her reading The Velvatine Rabbit and Angelina Ballerina to me. How fast time flies that now she is introducing my own child to some of the same stories.

That afternoon my aunt Mary Lynne brought her girls Katie and Kelly back for their weekly piano lesson and we visited while enjoying In N Out burgers with Ben. Funny thing is that as we indulged in the rare hamburger meal, she told me about a great book she had just read, The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan and we talked about trying to practice healthy habbits, lol. This conversation did lead me to buy and I recently read his quick read Food Rules - An eater's manual. I liked it; quick, simple sense on healthy habbits. No diet, just common sense.
Eat food. Not too much. Mostly Plants.

Ezra and I were also able to drive down to Morgan Hill for a quick visit to my friend Janine and her husband John. It was so fun to see my friend's house! John and her have made it the most adorable home! I would love to have her near by to help me make some decisions for our home. I still think it is weird/neat that my friends from school (and I) are in the phase of life where we are buying our first homes! Her husband was so sweet with Ezra. I could tell Ezra really missed his daddy and I'm sure he appreciated having this big guy toss a ball to him and play with him outside. I can't wait to see them with their own lucky kids some day; they will be great parents!

That night I was able to go out again after getting Ezra in bed. (That was fun, being able to leave my child safe and sound, asleep with my family, to go out to catch up with old friends.) My friend Amy, with whom I've been friends with since Jr. High, just happened to be in town for her cousin's wedding and I was so glad we were able to get together during our coinciding trips to San Jose! I had e-mailed Amy's sister Julie and our friend Jenny to see if we would be able to get together when I was in town, and it worked out perfectly that Amy was coming to town too so we could all get together and the timing just worked out that we could also celebrate Amy's birthday!

Jenny, Town sisters: Amy, Julie, Katie, and Me.
We laughed that it felt like high school days (when we would be out for choir or dance competitions and their parents would make us line up and take pictures at every event) when we lined up outside of P.F. Chang's to take a picture together.

I lived just a few streets away from the Towns growing up so we rode our bikes home from Jr. High together at times and car-pooled to choir events. We were in various Jr. High choir groups together and 8th grade cheer. Then in high school we signed our lives away to join the high school Dance Team together. That team bonded us for life because it really took almost all of our time, and we shared blood, sweat and tears on that team. We met Jenny on Dance team and all participated in our high school musicals together. We had some fun times in our college days and now we try to keep in touch as life takes us different places. Crazy how fast life goes; now we get together for each other's weddings and I'm a mother of a 2 yr. old. :)

Here's a picture of us at my wedding, plus Ashley:
Julie, Amy, Me, Jenny, and Ashley.


Amy is such a gift giver. I don't share this talent so not only do I feel guilty when every birthday I get a present in the mail from my sweet friend, but now she sends my son birthday and Christmas presents! She is his aunt Amy. She's too sweet. The morning after her birthday dinner she came over with her fiance Kevin so she could see Ezra and give him his first "Little People" set as an early birthday present.


I had such great visits in Utah and California. My mom and I enjoyed long walks and talks in Quicksilver and it was hard to leave this time, knowing I would miss all the time I got to spend with my family and friends. I was excited to get home to pick up my husband the next day though! It had been a long trip!

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Chris got home from Alaska very late on September 19th. He did not come home victorious though. :( I was really worried about him coming home without a sheep, worried that I would have to cheer him up when already I can't say I was thrilled about him spending three weeks on such a hunt. But since Chris had not been able to even take a shot at a sheep, (he never saw a sheep that was big enough by regulation rules to shoot) and he covered so much ground and worked so hard, the owner of the hunting property took pity on him and said he'd let him come out next year to try again. You could call it bad luck, but I call it divine intervention. :) Sometimes the Lord works in mysterious ways. All I can say is that Chris had a lot of time to ponder and think and receive inspiration. He came home a better husband and a better father. For that I will always be grateful. If hunting trips always have such beneficial effects, I will be more supportive in the future. :) Three weeks of backpacking over rocky ledges for 10 hour days, sleeping (shivering) on glaciers, eating freeze-dried food, and all the while out of cell-phone reception from loved ones can bring humility to anyone -and those are Chris' words, not mine. :)






Ezra and I were very happy to have Chris home safe!

The first morning Chris was home, Ezra was so happy to see him and would not let Chris put him down. So Ezra sat in Chris' lap and shared his yogurt with him at breakfast. He really liked this. Daddy's yogurt is more sweet and Daddy gets to eat it out of the tub (because no one else normally eats it!) with a big spoon. Oh the simple pleasures of life that can make a toddler so happy.

Bonding over yogurt
I can see the love and emotion that Chris was feeling for Ezra as he held his son. They are so cute together. And I can see Ezra's subtle expression of triumph as he looks me confidently, straight in the eye, as if testing the waters as he enjoys this first bite, to see if I will really allow such freedom. I would normally not let him eat out of his chair, let alone sugary, food colored yogurt straight out of the tub, or with such a big spoon, and without a bib, lol. My son constantly reminds me to let go and enjoy the simple pleasures of life! How simple this breakfast was and yet so sweet, as we savoured being home together as a family.



9.20.09

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