A Labor of Love

I've been MIA for a while, not really on purpose, but there's been plenty going on,  I'll have to play catch up later, but, this is what I did this "fall"/Christmas break.  It was intended to be a nice project to keep me busy without a husband (aka while Targhee was finishing up his last semester of college with 18 credit hours, working two jobs, and doing an internship!) Turns out, I had plenty to keep me busy...  so it got done the week before Christmas. 

Before:  

It was time for this amazing wall paper to go.  Leilani was super sad to say goodbye to her pink walls and blue flowers.

This section took me three hours to remove the wall paper. This project took some learning.

AH ha!  Figured it out.

Once I got going it came off fairly easy.

The one and only time I let Leilani color on the walls:)

Awwh a clean wall!  It stayed this way for several months... 

After Targhee's graduation I could solicit his help.  I honestly wouldn't have been able to do it without him.  Good thing we're a good team. (p.s. see all those spackle marks?  Times that by about 40 and you'd have how many holes I covered and sanded.)

The cursed PINK walls!!!

I did NOT choose pink.  I chose a very pretty tan color.  It looked tan in the bucket, it looked tan on my paint brush and it even looked tan on my fingers, but on the wall...it was pink. I gawked at it the entire time we were painting.  Why on earth would I remove pink wall paper just to paint the walls pink again???

When Leilani saw it the next morning she exclaimed happily, "It's pink!!  Just like it was when I was little!"

*Sigh*  

Much to my relief, the bottom color neutralized the pink one and I was very happy with how the colors turned out.

I decided to be even more ambitious and add stripes to the top layer.  It is the same color, but flat and gloss striped.

This is how Leilani helped me (even though she REALLY wanted to do more.)

This is how TJ helped me (even though he really REALLY wanted to do more:)

Sadly this is probably the best picture I could get of the stripes.  I don't know if it's the lighting in the room or what, but they are barely noticeable.  Which is quite disheartening considering the amount of work it takes to paint the dang things.  Next time I choose to do stripes I will for sure use different colors so you can see the work put into it.  I like to idea of the flat and gloss though, it gives the wall dimension. 

Adding the final touches.

"Oh ok, that's how you do it Dad."

"Now let me show you how it's really done."

The Finished Product!

I am very pleased with how it turned out.  Now to get up enough courage to put a nail in the wall.  They're just so pretty:)

I Got To Go Out!

Time out of my home and away from my children is few and far between so I always try to document when it happens.
I got to go out with some friends/fellow young women leaders Friday night to a play one of our young women was in.
Suessical the Musical.
I'd never heard of it but it was pretty darn cute and way fun to just go be entertained.
I loved just sitting and not being needed every five seconds for a drink, or to fix a broken toy, or to take to the potty, or just to be whined at.  Thanks Kym and Jessica for not whining at me;)

We needed an extra seat so Camille volunteered to be our stow away in the luxurious "back seat" :)

Then Saturday morning I got up bright and early and headed to Springville to a bridal shower for Erin, a sister I served with from my mission.  I haven't been able to attend a lot of things where fellow missionaries have gathered since I don't live around Provo like the rest of the DC mission :)  So I was super excited that I could go to this one.  I got to spend the morning with these amazing women and can I just say how much I LOVE being around them!  They are people who truly make you feel better about yourself just by being in their company.  I was blessed to be able to serve with so many amazing sisters and have missed that uplifting feeling they offer.  You can just tell they are women of faith, strength, and sincerity.  So thank you Heather, Erin, and Mindy for just being you! 

Love them!

On my drive home I had time to think to myself and was just so grateful for the little tender mercies of that weekend. I actually had positive uplifting thoughts of my own!

That may sound a little ridiculous to some of you, but positive thoughts aren't often voluntarily floating through my mind. I am regularly fighting off those demons of "I'm not good enough" and "What do I have to offer?"

so hearing myself say "I'm ok."  "I am doing ok and I can continue doing ok." was very empowering.  I came home refreshed and ready to conquer to role of stay-at-home-mother.

Guess I need to get out more!

When There's Sunshine

I realized I haven't been taking as good of record of regular daily activities as I used to and honestly those are my favorite things to go back and read.

So, the other day the sun came out.

A monumental time of year.

TJ had his first experience walking outside.  He was so darn cute I could hardly contain my giggles. 

He won't keep shoes on for longer than 3 minutes so we'll see what will happen this summer, but he loved being free outside.

I totally get it.

After being cooped up all winter I can't wait to go outside either.

Leilani had her nose against the window watching the snow melt and said, "I want to walk on the grass!"

It's all very exciting.                          

He also thinks he's big enough to climb stairs but has no fear about falling down the stairs.  I guess I hold enough fear for the both of us.

Leilani even shed the coat and shoes and tried to soak up as much Vitamin D as possible.

Bring on the SUN!!!

Y.U.M.

So my mom's been cooking up a storm over in South Africa.  The Elders now know that if you haven't become best friends with Sister Bishop yet, you need to, and quick!

She sent me this recipe for peanut butter cookies and let me tell ya, these are not your grandma's cookies.

WOW!

Best Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup Marg

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

1 cup peanut butter

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Roll into balls, make crisscross with fork and bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Filling:

2/3 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup powdered sugar

2 tsp melted butter

1 tsp milk

Cream together and make sandwich with two cookies.  Melt 1 cup choc chips with 4 tsp veg oil for 1 minute in the microwave.  Dip cookies about 1/3 way in the the chocolate then drizzle a little on the rest of the cookie- To die for!

Peanut Butter Cookies are Targhee's favorite cookie but I am always looking for a little somethin extra so this was a match made in heaven in our house.

I believe Targhee's exact words were, "You're not going to give these away are you?" When I laughed he said, "Does this look like a laughing matter to you?"

Word to the wise, if you care at all about your health, which apparently we clearly don't, you will give them away:)

Days to be Remembered

They say a picture's worth a thousand words.  How about a thousand things in a picture.

Starting from left to right.

Dishes left from last night's dinner I've been avoiding.

Sippy cups sippy cups and more sippy cups.

A can of green beans from the cannery that NO ONE eats.

A half cut up pineapple.

Lunch remains from Leilani.

The video camera to catch TJ doing "Big Boy" for the first time.

My half eaten lunch that I tried to shove in my face in between feeding TJ.

TJ's lunch remains.

Over due library books.

My 32oz water jug from the hospital that I am STILL using 9 months later.

Last years "Christmas Present" to my Mom and Dad before we found out where they were serving their mission.

A flyer to a marriage and family fireside Friday night.

Leilani's art from nursery on Sunday. 

A blanket that acted as Santa's sled while Leilani Clarice (Rudolf's girlfriend) pulled me through the night sky.

A drum brought up from down stairs so that Leilani could keep the beat to the Christmas music playing in the background.

Toys toys and more toys.

Our "cat" Princess Gato wearing a cape.

A kitchen bag clip and a hair clip acting as alligators.  Careful, they might chomp your fingers.

And a bucket of blocks on the high chair to keep TJ busy while I trimmed his toenails.

And this is just ONE section of the house:)

These are things I am most likely to forget but will probably miss the most when they're gone.

Cousin Week

Last week Leilani's cousin Kooper came to play with us.

Leilani loved having a built in friend and it got me excited for the day when Leilani and TJ will be able to play together.  

I hope they are good friends instead of the siblings who despise each other.

I've already seen the sibling rivalry in action, though.

As soon as TJ tries to grab for anything of Leilani's, she screams "NO TJ!!  STOP IT!!"

I just laugh

Anyway

We tried to keep busy and luckily it was hot so I could pull out the pool one of the days.

This is what mostly happened:)

It wasn't really a fair match, but she didn't complain so he kept doing it- lol

I love his face.  No mercy and completely boy!

Kooper's cannon bomb!

Leilani's attempt at the cannon bomb:)

He humored Leilani most of the time and even played dress ups with her.

He had made her a car out of k'nex and after he had left, she picked it up and hugged it saying "Kooper made me my favorite car in the whole world!"

Thanks for the fun Kooper!

Friends

A wise friend of mine who will remain nameless... (ok Heather, it's you;) shared with me her experience with being social while being a stay at home Mom.  

Having friends is something that is an actual need of mine.  You know, there's water, shelter, food...and friends.    That's never really been difficult for me because I've always been working or at school or involved in other sorts of activities, but when you're a stay at home mom that can be a pretty tricky thing since, well, you're home.

I really do enjoy being social but at the same time am not usually the one to do the initiating.  

Well, Heather, my friend, helped me understand that if I wanted to make and keep friends I needed to be the one to call and invite people or else we would all just be sitting in our homes feeling bad for ourselves because no one ever invited us to do anything:)

So

I have been making a more conscious effort to be the initiator. 

Especially since Leilani loves having friends over and often asks if she has any friends to play with that day. 

(But please do not be offended if she does not act as happy about it when you actually come over.

She's two...nough said:)

We have really enjoyed our friend visits and hope our social network will continue to grow.

Stay tuned - hopefully you're our next visitor:)

Mawiage! Mawiage is what bwings us togeva today...

One of my roommates/best friends from college got married last week and I was fortunate enough to be able to spend the day with the wedding party.  Thank you to my wonderful husband and mother who stayed home to watch Leilani and my amazing mission companion who watched TJ while I was in the temple.

The beautiful bride, Lyric, and I.

So happy that weddings are one of the things that bring people together:)

My other roommates Ashley and Stevie.

Seriously some of my favorite memories of my life are with these women.

They had a waffle buffet!  How genius is that!!

I could have eaten them all night.  Oh wait...I did!

(p.s. Ashley and I are notorious for fantastically horrible face shots:) 

Best room roommate and life friend, Stevie:)

Lyric and McCade's chocolate chocolate cake

The real fantastic four:)

I was so nervous all week about this event because it was the first time I would travel somewhere with TJ, but he was the most amazing angel anyone could have asked for.  He slept when he needed to sleep and ate when he needed to eat and was happy the rest of the time.  What a sweetheart!  Thank you TJ for allowing me to have a good day with my friends:)

On My Due Date

I don't often read horoscopes.

Ok, let me rephrase that,

I never read horoscopes.

But for some reason at breakfast today I was perusing the newspaper and saw them so I read it.

I first read Targhee's:

"You can make it look easy today, whatever it is- but rest assured it will be something that you have been looking forward to doing."

It made me laugh, so I read mine:

"Forward motion is likely to cure what ails you today- and you'll realize that you've been preventing your own progress as of late."

LOL

Well, let's see.

Last night at 11pm, I asked Targhee to go for a walk.

Being the sweet man that he is, he acquiesced my request:)

We walked about 1.5 miles.

Probably more than I have walked in the last two months combined.

But still...no baby.

So I went outside today and raked leaves with my Mom for about an hour.

What's it gonna do, put me in labor?

Ha ha!

So, thus far, forward motion has done nothing but bring disappointment and sore muscles.

And to think, it's been me preventing my own progress all along!

Oh, bless your hearts horoscope writers.

Skinny Jeans

These are my feelings on the matter

'Nough said.

I'm just looking forward for this particular fashion trend to move on:)

A Pregnant Woman's Best Friend

My life has been changed!

If any of you are anything like me, you get acid reflux the second you begin to "show."

Oh the joys.

I have guzzled Maalox and munched on Tums to no avail.

Each night is the same story.

Seriously, when the Sam's Club sized bottle of Tums is coming to an end, that can't be a good sign.

Also, if you're anything like me... you just kinda suffer through it, without searching for a better option.

I don't know if it's pride or stupidity.

My Mom always says, "You don't win any awards for suffering."

And yet, I still prolong the doctor's visit or the change of routine for as long as possible.

But, 

I finally made the switch!

Ta Da!!!

Hallelujah!

I have been able to sleep* for the last two nights!

(*about as good of sleep as you can when you are sharing a body with another person)

Thank you, Pepcid, Thank you!

2 Year Stats

Height: 36 inches, 95%

Weight: 30.1 lbs, 90%

Head Circumference: 48 cm, 75%

They tried to check her hearing...Yeah right!  Like she was going to let them keep anything in her ears.  What two year old would?  Then she started talking and the nurse finally said, "Well, if she's talking like that there probably isn't anything to be worried about" :)  Yup, that's my girl!

It has come to my attention in the past few months that I am not very happy with my pediatrician.

Leilani screams every time the nurse comes in even to measure her head.  It's ridiculous!  But when other doctors or nurses have come in, she's fine. 

Plus, Leilani has a little bathroom trouble.  She has been on Miralax for a year now and I don't feel like the doctor has really addressed the situation or given us anything to make this better.

I have my Labor and Delivery registration sheet all filled out and ready to turn in except one FLASHING blank spot is keeping me from mailing it.

Child's Pediatrician_____________.

I know I want to switch to a new one but, nothing seems more overwhelming to me than picking a new doctor. How on earth am I supposed to know who is a good one or not by looking at a name and every so often a picture?  

Word of mouth is the only thing I know of that works, but then again every one has different opinions.  Then there's the issue with EVERYONE loves this doctor so good luck getting in, or ya, it's just a 30 minute drive every time you go to the clinic, that's fine...No!

One of my biggest fears is calling people.  

Weird, I know!

When I was growing up my friends knew never to have me call the pizza man.  It scared the heck out of me.

One of my friends even forced me to go to the drive thru to try to help me overcome my fears:)

(And then I got called to a Visitor's Center mission where calling people was part of my every day routine...lol)

Anyway, so calling the doctor's office and asking them if they accept my insurance and are taking new patients is one of my least favorite things to do.

I know! I know! Suck it up Monica!

Any suggestions?

Not to mention I have to find a dentist too- lol

An achievement to be proud of

I am going to take a minute to brag for my husband (because he would never do it for himself).

Since we have been married Targhee has worked full time and gone to school full time.

A feat I never did or desired to attempt.

He has even done this during summer semesters.

The last year and a half he has done it while also being a full time Dad.

Not only has he been successful in all three of those obligations throughout the years, he did it this last semester and received a 4.0!!!

A feat he says he has NEVER done.

Way to go Babe!

As if that isn't enough to be proud of he also completed his Associates Degree.

So as of right now we are on equal ground as far as schooling degrees go...(at least until December:)

I am so proud of him and his diligence to complete his education.

One thing that I have always admired about my husband is his ability to prioritize and having this much on his plate has been no exception.  Family always comes first.  Neither me or Leilani have felt neglected because of his school or work.  I am grateful for his ability to know what the important things are in life.

So here's to a fabulous husband, father, and student!

And here's to enjoying our last two weeks of summer before it all begins again:)

Four and a half hours to Chop It Off!

My neighbor and I were discussing possible hair options one day and decided it would be fun if we went to the hair salon together.  She made an appointment at the Layton hair school at 9:30.  Targhee, the best husband ever, said he would watch Leilani and her little boy too so we could go undisturbed.  We planned a normal 2-2 1/2 hours for our outing and said we'd be back soon.

We sat down in the salon chairs and two very quiet, and maybe a little nervous girls start to do our hair.  Because it was a school the girls could not do anything without the instructor's consent so the instructor came and talked with both of us about what we wanted and I said I was ready to chop it off.  Of course they give you a good lecture before you actually do something drastic but I was ready. It wasn't long enough to give away to Locks of Love or something so she asked if she could use it for instruction.  It took her about 30 minutes to tie elastics around pieces of my hair and chop it off.  The very fist chop, my heart started beating a little faster and my breath was a little shorter as I was thinking about how long I have worked to finally have "long" hair.  But, it was time. 

About a year ago, I was 9 months pregnant and did something drastic.  I wanted to dye my hair brown so I wouldn't have to keep up with the blond anymore.  It's too expensive and too time consuming.  My hormones kicked in and my hair soaked up all the color and turned almost BLACK.  Kinda scary since my eyebrows are so light- lol.  My mom practically disowned me.  Anyway, the color never really worked for me so it was time to accept my roots and return to blond.  The shy, quiet girl with shaky hands began highlighting my hair.  My neighbor just decided to get hers cut so two hours later (please note this was a cut that should have taken 30 minutes or less to do)  her hair was finished and I wasn't even half way done with putting the color in my hair.  Oh dear!  We drove together so she said she would just run some errands and I could text her when I was finished.

Around ONE o'clock PM, I am finally getting my hair washed and having a mild freak out moment because Targhee is supposed to be at work and my poor neighbor was sitting outside waiting for me and we were both ready to get home to our kids, but they hadn't even started on my cut yet. Not quite sure what to do, I called my Mom and by some miracle she was just 2 minutes down the road from my house.  She could watch Leilani so Targhee could go to work, but wait...she had her hair appointment at 1:30!  Oh man!  So I sent my neighbor home to pick up our kids and then she would have to drive all the way back to get me.  So what did my mom do?  She called my dad and said, "Get over to Monica's right now!  Not in a couple minutes, NOW!"  My obedient Dad, not knowing anything that's going on, rushed over to find two babies sound asleep.  Shortly after he arrived my neighbor knocked on the door and woke up her little guy.  Probably a little perturbed by now, she picked him up and drove all the way back to get me.  Poor thing!  (Thank you so much, Heidi!!) 

SOO after 4 and 1/2 hours of sitting in an uncomfortable salon chair.  This is the final product!

Ta da!

The sweet girl did nothing wrong...it just took her 5 years to get it done.

Always opportunities for funny stories right.

Just to remind you of the before

A bathtub and a tooth

What do a bathtub and a tooth have in common? 
They both cause grumpiness.

Leilani is getting her fourth tooth so she has been a little under the weather lately and she doesn't like to do it quietly.  I can't really blame her.  I'm a complainer too.  She must have got it from her mom.  I've been letting her suck on ice cubes and Tylenol doesn't seem to be doing much.  Does anyone have any suggestions that worked for their kiddos?

This was at the grocery store today.  She was a beast the whole time.  People were choosing different aisles to go down just so they wouldn't have to listen to her scream.  She has a problem sitting in the cart the correct way anyway.  Even with the belt on she will still wiggle her way out and stand up.  A lady even had the audacity to say, "Oh are you not happy? (to Leilani)  She's trying to climb out of the cart. (to me)"  I gave her a half hearted smile and said, "Yup! She sure is."  Anyway, I finally gave in to the bad Mom side and let her get in the back of the cart.  People were looking at my strangely but whatever. 

 This is her tonight.  (p.s. she never cuddles!)  My life saver at the moment is her favorite movie (she claps and does a dance every time I turn it on)

Yup, Baby Einstein Day on the Farm

So, what does a bathtub have to do with grumpiness, you ask?  Usually it doesn't.  Usually it's a place of serenity and quiet peace after a long day.  In fact, soaking in a long hot bath sounds heavenly right now, but yesterday right before church our drain clogged.  Fantastic...  Targhee worked on it the best he could but to no avail.  Luckily we are renters so all we have to do is call our maintenance guy and over he comes, but after lots of banging and clanging he called me into the bathroom with bad news.  He's going to have to cut in from the ceiling of our downstairs neighbors and reach the pipe from there.  He said, "It shouldn't take more than a day", but I know better than to believe the estimated fix it time from a fix it man.  I've been around my mom's remodeling enough to know that these things always take longer than suspected.  So we'll see how we do without a bathtub for a while... if you pass us in the next few days, just ignore the smell.

This picture cracks me up.  "Hey Dad!  Whatcha doin?  Can I help?"