March for Babies Goal

I would like everyone to just take a moment and glance to the right side of the screen. See my March of Dimes ticker? Notice that the purple bar at the bottom is full? Notice the total says $125? That's right...I met my fund raising goal for the March For Babies! I was able to contact some local businesses and received the exact amount I had set my goal for. I was so excited when the final checks came in the mail and their total was perfect. So, I thought I'd let you all know to take a look at that, since I was pretty happy about it and didn't think anyone would notice if I didn't make a point to tell you. :) Sorry to boast a little but, as they say, if you don't toot your own horn, nobody's going to toot it for you! :)

There's no place like Phoenix, there's no place like Phoenix, there's no place like Phoenix...

This is what my morning looks like:

(Can you see the snowflakes? They're there, and even while I'm posting this, there's much more.)

Once again, I feel the overwhelming urge to just throw everything into 30 gallon trash bags and haul it off to Phoenix. I know the summer will be hot and I will be ten months pregnant right in the middle of it, but we'll have air conditioning. The only thing I think will get me down is that I've spent 6 months mostly locked inside the house, not knowing when the weather's going to prevent an outing, and now we're going to Arizona where it'll get so hot we can't go out after 7:00am and or before midnight. But, at least it will be sunny and not gloomy out, and the "indoor" season will only last the summer, not six plus months like here.

It looks like we are heading out the end of this month, so keep your fingers crossed that we find the right place. We are looking at a few different homes and one apartment complex, but I think all in all we would prefer a home. I'll keep you updated.

Pay It Forward

Lucky you! The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
- What I create will be just for you.
- It’ll be done this year. {might be a little while}
- You will have no clue what it’s going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or maybe even some creation I haven’t even invented yet. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. I may even sew something for you. Who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!
- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

(Just kidding, not that strange or cruel, I hope! I'm not that great of a seamstress anyway!)

The catch? The catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. If you don't have a blog, then leave a comment to be entered and promise to do a nice thing for 5 people you know, and include a note encouraging them to "Pay It Forward".

Robert's New Blog

I started a new blog for Robert to showcase his culinary experience and his creative concoctions. Kind of like an online resume. Feel free to check it out. A link to it is in my "My Favorite Blogs" list on the right under "Chef Rob", so check back for new food pictures. I was going to add a link in this post, but lately when I've added links, they don't always work. So you'll have to go to the blog list on the right.

Was that an airplane, or a giant mosquito?

The other day I was feeding Craig who was becoming increasingly distracted by his surroundings and ignoring his food. Robert suggested I do the "airplane thing." I told him that I've tried, but I'm not very good at airplane noises. However, I decided to attempt it again. Besides, Craig doesn't know what a real airplane sounds like anyway, right? So I did this (this is a reenactment):



To which Robert promptly replied, "Hey, whoa, you're not kidding. Stop, just stop." And, "If you can't do it in a lower tone, do something else. I can't handle that."

My contention is, it works and it gets Craig to open his mouth. What's the problem?

If you're looking for something clever, you've come to the wrong place.

The right place would be here at CJane She is usually witty and charming, so that was no surprise, but today she seemed to be in very fine form. Don't get too excited--the content is about council meetings and chickens, but her way with words and the little puns inserted so nonchalantly made me feel like I discovered a secret message encoded in her prose whenever I happened upon one. I am too tired to think of anything worth posting, so I will direct you there.

Never mind the fact that she labels her pictures of chickens as "hens" and all but one of them (I think--one is hard to get a good look at) features a rooster. We can't all be perfect, right?

If you're looking for something clever, you've come to the wrong place.

Some Big New Things on the Horizon

From this:

To this:

Well, after a year and a half of struggles, The Springs (the events and reception center that Robert works at) is closing. As of now. YIKES! It's not because of the economy or anything, this would have happened regardless. The man who owns the place is based out of Phoenix/Mesa and has something he would like Robert to possibly do down there, but it would be a year or so before the job is ready. (He's building an assisted living center and will need an Executive Chef to run their four kitchens. It's going to be a huge place.) That is all well and good, but what do we do in the meantime? Robert has been planning on going back to school ever since he saw this coming, about six months ago. He was going to start at UMT in the fall, but we think that we will take this opportunity to move down there since Robert has some connections to that state, I have wanted to move to a larger area for some time now, and there's a temple in Mesa! So, we think we're going. However, Robert needs a job first. It's hard looking for a job from a distance. We figure he can also go to school down there, if he still feels so inclined. We don't want to put all of our eggs in one basket with the assisted living center thing. We need a fall-out plan. But we just feel it's a good move for us in many ways.

My question to all of you, however, is if you happen to have connections out there or you know the area at all (hint hint Angie and Mark :)) do you know of any place that may be hiring a chef, or would be a good place to apply? He'll take anything, of course, but right now he's most interested in catering, hospitals, or other assisted living centers, mostly because the hours are better than restaraunts. The catch is, though, he can't just be going for cook jobs. He needs something that's either Exceutive Chef or Sous Chef. If any of you can help, great. I would appreciate it.

Other than that, I can't express how excited I am--they have a zoo! And museums! And Red Lobster! And so many other things that do not exist in Montana nor within a 300 mile radius.

Who knows...maybe Stephenie Meyer will be my neighbor? :)

This is the last one, I promise

My little baby has officially decided that he mostly prefers walking over crawling (without holding on). He's mastered the skill of stopping and catching his balance if he begins to waver and can go indefinitely without holding on! We were at the store last night where he had all kinds of room to roam and never even sat down! He just walked, stopped, looked, and went on his walkin' way. He's even beginning to maneuver around objects, step over them, and he'll run/hop his last few steps before he crashes into your legs.

What's next?

(Oh yeah, talking.)

One last Easter picture

I wanted to document these eggs, because I thought they were pretty cool. I used puff paints (from a kit made for dying eggs) to decorate them. I was pretty pleased with them. Right after this photo was taken, I made deviled eggs. :)


P.S. Here's a plug: YAY! FOR GARAGE SALE SEASON!

Easter

Craig had a pretty good first Easter, I think. We did forget to hide the eggs I dyed and have him look for them with us on Sunday, but he won't remember anyway. On Saturday the ward had an Easter Egg hunt and breakfast at The Springs actually, so it was nice and close. He did also get an Easter basket, of course.

The chocolate bunny came from my parents...I just included it in his basket because it looked nice. The plastic eggs are filled with chex, his favorite snack.

Church was nice and then in the afternoon we went to some friends' house for dinner. It was a good Easter. Here's a picture of the Easter Lilly I bought at Wal-Mart. This was the first bloom, but now there's two with two more to go! I love lillies.

The things kids say

I saw this online somewhere and thought it was hilarious. I just wanted to share it. I can't wait for Craig to start talking just so I can relay all the funny things he says (yeah, I know, everyone says that, then they get irritated when the kid never shuts up).

While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased.
The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: “Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he goooes.” (I want this line used at my funeral!)

This one may be long, but it's sort of a journal entry today

I went out with the sister missionaries last night. It was a lot of fun, and a bit surreal. There was another sister in the ward who signed up too, so we actually did a split. I went with Sis. Nock and the other sister from the ward went with Sis. Reyes. It turns out that Sis. Nock is from North Carolina! Kinston, to be precise. She knows a lot of the same people as I do since I served in two wards that are in the Kinston stake, Morehead and Greenville. She's also a Temple Square sister! I feel really grateful for the chance to get to know her, since this will be her only area.


We went to visit a part member family that Robert and I actually know pretty well. It was surreal sitting there next to a sister missionary--so many memories. I almost reached over to readjust my nametag. We chatted for a while and she gave a spiritual thought, then she did something that I never would have guessed, since I have seen so few missionaries do it since I've been home, but it was something my comps and I did a lot, and it catapulted me back through time. She pulled out her little mini hymn book and asked me if I would sing a hymn with her. Then she chose Lead Kindly Light, one of the ones I used to always choose. I was there. I was sooooo there. And I was sooooo ready to keep going. As we drove home she was so excited that she felt like maybe she made a connection with the couple and maybe she could help. I wanted so badly to be able to go back to our apartment, plan for the next day, and talk about ways we could help the people in the area, plan missionary firesides, and choose streets to tract. But, alas, I have a different life now and different obligations. Missions were never meant to last forever and if they did, they may lose their magic.


I came home to Robert taking an online exam and Craig asleep in his crib. I remembered some other trivial things that I am grateful to not have to deal with as a missionary (rules, boundaries, etc.). And I have a new found excitement for the work I can do and the changes I can make as a member of this ward, here. And the best part is, I received a little bit of inspiration on how to proceed with a non-member friend of mine who seems to be searching, but doesn't know what for. I'm excited to see what happens with her, to have the sisters over for dinner, and to go out with them again. I'm glad to be where I am and to have the opportunities I have here and now. I need to be better about making the most of it.

A Day of Firsts

Yesterday was a day of many firsts for Craig: first time down a slide, first ride on a swing, and first haircut! The weather was absolutely beautiful yesterday (and today) for the first time in a long time. It was sunny, around 50 degrees, and perfect. After conference, we went to the park and Craig seemed to really enjoy himself. We also decided it was time to cut his hair, so I hope you can tell by the picture. Robert did it and he looks so cute!

Farewell, Grass Head Man

This is my final picture of Grass Head Man. I figured once he started growing mold on the side of his face, it was time to say goodbye. The last time I gave him a trim (the last time I posted about him) I decided to just let it grown and see what happened. He got quite punkish, until one day , upon careful examination, I realized that the left side of his head wasn't as long as the right. (Can you tell the difference in the picture?) As I pondered on the properties of photosynthesis and the amount of sun that the left side was exposed to as opposed the right, while deep in thought, the cat walked by. And then I realized--cat's eat grass. And Grass Head Man's left side would have only been accessible to a naughty, percosious kitty, if she jumped up onto the kitchen counter and daintily balanced herself on the sink, a feat she would have been berated for had she done it with a human around. But now Grass Head Man has gone the way of all dirt-and-grass-seed-stuffed-knee-high-nylons. Those pesky humans, they ruin all her fun.

I had to post this

I know I've posted way too much in the last 12 hours, but this is hilarious.

Just follow this link. Please. Oh, please.

HELP!!!

Again, we are having trouble with a part of Craig's sleeping habits. This new ordeal began when I weaned him from his nightly feeding. He used to wake up every morning at about 5:00am for a feeding, then go right back to sleep until 7:00 or later. When I weaned him, Robert went in for a few nights at 5:00ish and just rocked him then laid him back down. He went back to sleep until 7:00, just the same. It only took a few nights and he was pretty much sleeping right through the 5:00am wake up, but that only happened once or twice. Ever since we've had trouble getting him to stop waking up between 5:00 and 6:00. We've tried leaving him alone, and to which he reacts by laying down and trying to go to sleep, but continues to wimper and whine every 10 mintuted or so, either until it's time to get up for the day or until he falls asleep, which is usually about an hour later. He then only sleeps for another 30 or 45 minutes until he's ready to get up. The worst part of this is that he gets ready for a nap earlier than he should in the morning from his loss of sleep, and then I have to struggle to keep him up between naps so he can last until bed time, at 7:00, which may be too early, but sometimes it's hard to keep him up that late because of his early morning.

I've thought that maybe he's an early riser and I just need to start getting up with him at 6:00, or put him to bed later, but he's been waking up every morning earlier and earlier, and he's really cranky when he wakes up. That is unusual for Craig--the way I've always been able to tell when he's ready to get up from a nap, and especially in the morning, is he's happy and playing and babbling to himself, not fussy and crying. So, I know he's not ready to get up, rocking him and laying him back down (or simply patting his back with him the crib) makes him quiet while we're doing it, but he cries the minute we leave the room. Leaving him alone doesn't seem to be working, since we've done it for several nights in a row and he never seems to make any progress--he stays awake for just as long each night. So again I say, HELP!

March for Babies

You've probably noticed my button on the top right of the blog, but I am doing the March of Dimes March for Babies walk this year. The town just south of us is hosting it (so it's nice and close) and I know some people who are putting together a team, so I joined. The walk is on May 9th and I'm really excited. I haven't done anything like this before, so I'm interested to see what comes of it. Anyway, wish me luck!

Boy? Girl? Read on to find out!

IT'S A BOY!!!
(You're looking at a bum shot)


AND A GIRL!!!!!!!!!
(Waving hi--Surprise!)


AND A BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Side view---Double surprise!!)





And if you're reading this on Thursday, remember, it's still Wednesday to me, therefore...........April Fools!


We DID find out, and we are pretty sure, but not definite, that it's a boy. Those pictures are real, and they're all the same baby. (Look at the first one and let me know what you think--apparently that's the "appendage" we're counting on making him a boy.)

My big, walkin' boy

Craig's been getting more and more adventurous with his walking, so we took a few videos on Sunday, and here's one. He didn't do his best, longest walking in this one, but I love how happy he is with himself for doing it. :) It's short, don't worry.

P.S. We're getting the ultrasound today! Hopefully the baby will cooperate and we'll be able to tell if it's a boy or girl.