We're baaaack

So, we made it home from vacation...what can be more depressing that coming home from the Happiest place on earth?  Coming home with a sick daughter and way too much laundry.  ;)  But, we are back and I will be posting pictures soon since I know you are all just DYING to see how much fun we had! 

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Check out this video from the Relief Society.  (My awesome dh helped make it)

Some good things about my birthday

These are in no particular order

1. Lots of great friends that called, emailed, stopped by or messaged me birthday wishes.  I am so lucky to have so many awesome friends.

2. Getting an awesome deal on new bedding for my bed!  I'll post pictures when we get back.

3. Snuggling with my cute baby boy all day (although I wish he didn't have to be sick to sit still long enough to snuggle)

4. Not having to make dinner, or even think about making dinner.

5. Awesome book club meeting with more great friends where we have so much fun talking we always stay too late even though we don't talk too much about the book.  ;) 

6. Only having to wake up once with Liam

7.  Hugs from my kids

8.  An awesome card from Jason that sings the Pretty in Pink song...

9.  A workout that has me sore today, but will hopefully have me looking good come summer. 

10. Sweet treats!  Especially chocolate. 

My Babies...

Aren't babies anymore.  Sniff, sniff.  The twins had their birthday yesterday and I can't believe how old they are!  (it makes me feel kinda old myself)  At risk of sounding like an old lady...it seems like just yesterday that they were babies and I was wondering if I would be able to survive having two babies at once.  The sleep deprivation was intense and I thought it would never end.  All in all they were good babies though and I'm realizing how nice it was once they were toddlers that they had each other to play with.  Now they are independent, intelligent, loving, happy big kids!  

This picture is from when they were 3 years old--they were so cute! 

It has been wonderful being their Mom and I am so proud of the awesome people they are becoming.  I love you Em and Jason!

This is a picture from the Summer when we were at the zoo and I LOVE it! 

Week of celebration

This week in our house is a big celebration week.  Not only do we have Valentines, but we have our anniversary, the twins' birthday, AND my birthday. 

I feel a little bad because the blue and gold banquet is on the twins' birthday and since I'm co-in charge I feel I need to be there.  Last year it was on my b-day.  So, Daddy is staying home with Em so she won't be home with a babysitter on her birthday.  I guess I shouldn't feel too bad since a week later we are taking them to Disneyland, but I just wish we could all be together!

I just want to tell everyone how much I love my awesome husband and how happy I am that I have him in my life.  He is amazing in so many ways and he makes me a better person too.  That's what we are supposed to do for each other.  :)  I can't believe we've been married for 12 years...that seems like such a long time, but it doesn't feel like it's been that long.  If you don't know my husband well take some time to get to know him...you won't be sorry.  (you may have to be persistent in trying to get to know him...he's kinda shy) 

Have a great day!

Who are you?

I was reading a blog where the author was talking about how whenever we make lists about ourselves we always put things that we like or roles that we fill but rarely put actual character traits that we have.  Actual adjectives that describe who we are inside.  I have been thinking about this ever since.  Who am I really...if you take away my hobbies, my role as wife and mother, daughter and sister what is left should be me right?  She challenged everyone to find 10 adjectives that describe who we are.  So, here's my attempt...

hopeful, gullible, intelligent, loyal, moody, nervous, compassionate, concerned, confident, considerate, impatient, indecisive

I don't think this list is all inclusive and there are many traits I wish I had that I'm trying to develop too.  I hope you'll all join with me in trying this out.  I'd like to see your lists so don't be shy!  If you need help thinking of things try going here where I got ideas from.  Post them in the comments or if you are making a blog post instead please leave a comment so I can check your post out. 

Books

If you know me you know I love to read.  The joke in our book club is that whatever book is chosen I've already read it.  Honestly we started the book club last summer in August and so far I think there's only been three books I haven't read that have been chosen and one of those I picked.  That's really okay with me because I'm getting better at reading different kinds of books and trying out new genres.   So, if you are looking for something to read then I'm going to share a few that I've read recently and really enjoyed. 

The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper is a memoir about the author's childhood in Liberia.  I guess you could say I'm in a memoir kick ever since I read the Glass Castle and loved it.  I don't know that I had read a memoir before then.  I think true stories can be so much more interesting than fiction as long as they are well written.  Back to the book...I thought it was great you do have to get through some family relationship stuff at the beginning, but after that it's much easier to get into. 

Before we were free by Julia Alvarez isn't really a memoir although the author experienced similar things in her life.  It's books like this that make me grateful for the freedoms we enjoy in the US. 

People of the Book  by Gerladine Brooks  I'm still in the process of reading this one.  It has a totally different feel to it.  It goes back and forth between past and present telling the story of a very old book.  That makes it sound kind of boring, but it really isn't.  Unless it goes really down hill it will be one I will recommend. 

So, there you have it.  That's what I've been reading lately.  What have you been reading?  What books to you consistently recommend? 

Movin' up a belt

A couple weeks ago Jason tested for a new belt in karate.  He is really starting to make some good progress.  Even I can see his improvement and the only training I have is the years I've spent watching him in class.  So, now for some pictures:  These first two are during the forms part of the test.  He knows quite a few forms now and he has to remember all the ones he's learned before as well as a new one ever time he tests for a new belt.  This picture is from the self defense part of the test. As he's testing there is a black belt that is assigned to watch him and give him feedback/decide if he's ready to move up a belt.  This is the first test where Master Royal West himself was Jason's evaluator.  I could tell Jason was a little extra nervous having Master West as his tester, but he did great.  I can't remember for sure, but I think he's a 7th degree black belt... He passed and this is Mr. Kelly, the head of Jason's studio giving him his new belt.  Only two more tests until he will be testing for his black belt.  I can't believe it!  Great job!

Mom's night out and sewing

Last Saturday some of us Moms got together and had a night out.  We decided to forego the usual movie and try something different so we went to Comedy Sportz.  First we went to Los Hermanos for dinner and it was good as usual.  Rosalie and I were the only ones not limiting carbs so we got to hog all the chips and salsa.  :)  After dinner we walked next door to Comedy Sportz.  If you don't know anything about it it's an improvisational comedy show.  It was pretty funny.  At least I laughed a lot.  I think the awesome ladies I was with did too.  I think I was the loudest though.  Before the show started I made some very nice girl sitting near us take a picture.  Because really, what's a blog without pictures.  So, L to R is Rosalie, me, Tami, Bonnie, and Felicia.  We usually have a bigger group, but it was a busy night so no one else could come.  Hopefully next time!  It was fun girls! 

Now, on to sewing.  I mentioned in an earlier post that I was going to attempt to learn to sew.  Last night was the first night that our ward held their beginning sewing class.  Our brave teacher is Ann V.  and she's a fabulous seamstress.  I was excited to go and give it a try again.  Can I just say that I still really don't like it much.  The pinning makes me crazy because I can never keep anything flat and my seams are never the right size and they are usually crooked.  I know it was my first time, but I was the slowest and the only one that had any problems.  My machine wasn't sewing right (this is the machine that I just barely bought Em for Christmas!), my material was too small and I had issues keeping it straight.  Anyway...to say it nicely Ann was a saint to put up with me and all my issues.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not going to give up, but so far I'm not really enjoying it either.  One of the other ladies that was learning for the first time there told Ann at the end how relaxing it was and all I could think was that I haven't felt this stressed out over a craft project in awhile!  ;)  So, I think before this is over Ann may decide to kick me out, but until then at least I actually made a pillow case last night (and it only took 3 1/2 hours)!  I didn't take a picture, but I'm sure whatever pillowcase you imagine I made will be just as awesome as the one that actually got made.  Hopefully next month will be better...

We've arrived...

at the age where Liam wants to do/see/read the same things over and over and over and over.  He loves the wiggles and as SOON as we go downstairs he'll bring me the picture from the vhs case (that he ripped off) and grunt at me until I put it on for him.  I think I've had all I can take of Hoop-Dee-Doo.  He didn't used to like tv at all and would never sit still long enough to watch anything unless he was really tired and this is the ONLY thing that he'll sit and watch for more than two minutes.  I'm sure I've watched it a million times already.  The best part is that he has a cd of wiggles too that he insists on listening to all the time so even when they aren't on the tv I still have to listen to them.  They are technically different songs, but they all sound the same after awhile.  I've tried to get him interested in other ones too, but he wants that. 

His favorite books are "The Foot Book" and "Fidgety Fish".  We've read those a million times too.  He has tons of books, but if you try to read any other ones he'll just bring over the foot book or fidgety fish and grunt until you read it to him. 

The other thing about this age is that he obviously has strong opinions about what he wants and how he wants it but so far he doesn't have the verbal skills to tell me what his opinions are.  Thus, most of my day is spent playing a hilarious yet frustrating  game of charades with a 17 month old while trying to figure out what it is that he is asking so nicely for.  (When he wants something he'll sign please and point over and over until you figure out what it is he's asking for).  At least he's saying please right??  The only problem comes when Mom can't figure out what he wants or figures it out and then tells him no.  That's when the crying and throwing yourself on the ground part comes.  I keep thinking he's too young for that, but obviously not.  Thank goodness he's the cutest boy around or I wouldn't be able to take it all!  ;)   I love this picture.  He was eating cheese and I was teasing him telling him to say cheese for a picture and this is the face I got. 

A few more Liam things...we went with our transracial adoption playgroup to the Bean museum last week.  I knew he was still probably too little to appreciate it, but we went anyway.  I think he was more interested in the many benches and stairs he could climb on than the actual animals, but here are a couple pictures.  Finally, we were at Jason's parents house last Sunday and they brought up this tool bench toy they've had for awhile.  It was really cute and way cooler than any that I've seen recently.  Anyway...Liam found this drill that spins when you push the button and since he couldn't figure out how to actually use it to make the bolts go into their little plastic board he decided to try it out on himself.  He sat on the floor doing this for awhile.  Can you see all the slobber that's soaking the front of his shirt?  It made me wonder if that spinning somehow felt good on his teeth.  I love you little guy! 

Craziness

For some reason my life has seemed extra crazy this week.  So much going on and so many things happening that I haven't had time to post about any of it!  So, I hope that things will settle down soon...but by the looks of our schedule it won't be until next week.  Tomorrow we have dentist appts and errands, and I am going to attempt to learn to sew at the ward class they are holding.  Friday is our Transracial adoption playgroup (that I still have to pick a place for), then lunch with dh, then science fair for the kids, then Saturday is the normal craziness plus we are having a MNO for the transracial adoption group.  Sunday I'm in charge of family dinner at Jason's parents' house so that'll be fun...whew!  So, if you don't see a post from me until next week you'll know why.  I like to have things to do, but I don't like being TOO busy.  ;)  Hope you are all having a fabulously relaxing week!