Writer's Debut

Feb. 29, 2008

Jared made what we're calling a "writer's debut" last night when he presented at a poetry reading. He was really nervous (and I quote: "There are undergrads who write poetry better than I do."), but he was fantastic and got some great compliments on his piece. And I love it because it's about our sweet baby girl :).

I'm bummed that the picture didn't turn out better. It was dark, and I didn't have time to mess with lighting or composure as I was trying to wrestle Ryan who had had enough. As I snapped this picture he knocked some breakables off a shelf! Ugh! It was stressful. Not really a place to take kids. Luckily the breakables were fine. And now my poor picture has a story to go with it. I'm trying to get over this "throw it away, it's not a perfect picture" block I have and remember scrapping is really about the moments and memories.

Miracle

This story starts on Sunday.
I'm not a fan of diaper bags, so I usually just carry a diaper, wipes, snack, and toy or two in my large purse. Last Sunday as I was packing my purse with enough entertainment to last through church I had this quick remembrance of a conversation I was part of about two years ago during a Primary Presidency meeting. Amy M. said something about how she always takes her wallet out of her purse when she goes to church. (If I remember correctly she knew someone who had their purse stolen at church.) Amy's voice and this comment popped in my head as I was throwing fruit snacks and Cherrios into my purse, but I didn't think much about it.

Fast forward an hour and we are in Sacrament meeting. I had to take Emery to the mother's lounge and when I came back I could see that Ryan had been in my purse. Diapers, wipes, toy trains, and empty snack bags littered the floor and bench. When the meeting ended Jared scooped everything back up and put it in my purse for me, then we took Ryan to nursery.

Monday was President's Day and Jared had the day off from school. We took it easy at home just catching up on some housework, homework, etc. I had planned to do a bunch of errands on Tuesday afternoon but about the time I was ready to go Ryan fell asleep on his bedroom floor (he'd refused to take a nap at his regular time) and I decided not to wake him.

So, it's now Wednesday morning and I needed to go do my errands and I'd promised Ryan I'd take him to the library to check out a new Thomas movie. Emery was in the carseat, coats were on and we were walking out the door when I had this feeling to check my purse for my wallet. I dumped the whole bag out (great, I needed to clean my purse anyway) and the wallet was not in there.

I started panicking, coats came off and I searched but could not find it anywhere. So I said a prayer and immediately a picture came to my head. I saw the chapel bench we'd sat on three days before and I remembered that Ryan had dumped my purse and that I hadn't seen it since. I started freaking out because we are the first of THREE wards in that building, so if my wallet had been left, where would it be and who would have picked it up? The first thing I did was run to check my bank account to make sure no strange transactions had been made (none had). Then I called Jared and bawled to him about it. He's so good about staying calm and helping me feel better. We decided to wait until that evening (the church would be open because it was mutual night) and then he would go check to see if the wallet was there or if someone had turned it into the bishop. Amazingly I felt peaceful all day about this solution.

After dinner Jared went up to the church and was back within 10 minutes. When he walked in the door so soon I started worrying again (oh, no. It wasn't there.) because he was back so quickly. But he had the wallet in his hand! And it had been exactly where I had "seen" in my head after I said that prayer. Amazingly after three wards were in the chapel that day it was still under the bench, and had not been touched. Immediately I said another prayer, this time of THANKS!

I learned a few things from this experience. #1 If a thought comes to my head that *could* be a prompting, I need to act on it!!! (Remember the comment Amy made about never taking her wallet to church.) #2 God does answer prayers! I have no doubt it was the Holy Ghost that put that thought in my head of where to look for the wallet. #3 Jared totally trusted me when I told him I thought the wallet had been left in the chapel. I'm not sure I'm that trusting or have that much faith in other people's words.

Past, Present, Future

I was "tagged" by Holly. This is a fun one. Good for me to reflect.

20 years ago... 1988
I was 5 (and in kindergarten). We lived in Bountiful, Utah. I was a big sister--my mom had just had Chelsea. I loved to read, do art projects, and play with my friends.

10 years ago...1998
I was a sophmore. We lived in Oak Harbor, Washington. I was taking driver's ed, "going out" with a few different boys, working at McDonalds, and driving my parent's cool station wagon (but carpooling to seminary was so fun!)

5 years ago: 2003
I was a senior at BYU-I studying Elementary Education. Jared and I had been married for 2 years. We'd been trying to have a baby for a while. "Unexplained infertility." Had my first (extremely heartbreaking) miscarriage. Threw myself into school to numb the pain.

3 years ago: 2005
Jared and I had graduated and we lived in Las Vegas. Had our first "real" jobs. I was teaching first grade and Jared was working as a technical editor. We'd bought our first home, a cute little 2-bed, 2-bath condo. We were busy and happy. We started some fertility treatments and were THRILLED to be expecting our baby boy, Ryan. Ryan was born in September of 2005 and I quit teaching to stay at home with him. Jared started a master's program in marriage and family therapy at UNLV.

1 year ago... 2007
Crazy year. We left Las Vegas in 2006 because Idaho was cheaper and had more stable work. But after buying a house in Idaho the work wasn't as stable as had been promised and Jared was facing another layoff, so we decided it was time to "act" rather than be "acted upon" (President/Elder David A. Bednar talked about this a lot when we were at BYU-I). We sold our house, quit the job before the layoff, and found out we were expecting another miracle baby! Jared applied to graduate school in English (something he had always wanted to do but it wasn't "practical") and sold pest control for the summer. We moved to Logan, Utah in the fall and Emery was born in October. It was an amazing year. Lots of changes. Lots of triumphs.

So far this year...2008
I've finally started blogging! I'm always working on a million projects: taking care of my kiddos, scrapbooking, digital designing, Piggies and Paws, cleaning/organizing, etc. Jared is very happy in school and we are excited about the career change. Truthfully, when we are done with school he probably won't make any more than he did as a tech editor, but he will love what he does, and as they say in that commercial, having a career he loves will be "priceless." Ryan is potty training, Emery is getting cuter and chubbier, and we are anxious for warmer weather!

Yesterday I...
Got to sleep in a little (Jared had the day off. Thanks, honey!), designed a really cute digital kit (no previews yet, I'm applying for some designing opportunites before I share many more details), worked on organizing the computer room and my desk

Today I...
Am trying to get caught up on e-mails, bills, housework. Need to go to the post office, dry cleaners, and to get some milk

Tomorrow...
I honestly haven't even thought about it. Days kind of run together lately.

This year I will...
Lose my last 8 pregnacy pounds, continue to eat healthier, Baby Day Expo for Piggies and Paws in March, scrapbook, finish heritage album for my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary, two family reunions,

I "tag" Shaela, Meichelle, Suzanne, Donna, and Emily!

Valentine's Day

We celebrated Valentine's Day this weekend. Jared arranged for a sitter for Ryan, then took Emery and me to Salt Lake to the Cheesecake Factory! It's one of our favorite restaurants since living in Las Vegas and brought back sweet memories. We loved the time we spent in Vegas and miss it (especially the weather right now!) I tried the chocolate coconut cream cheesecake this time. Yum. I think brownie sundae is still my favorite though. It was a very fun day.

#@!%!

Feb. 19, 2008

Conversation I overheard Ryan having with Emery yesterday:

Ryan: "Dang it! Mommy says that."

Guess I'd better be more careful about what I say :).

Naked Baby :)

I couldn't resist. She's just so cute and chubby :) 4 months old now. Wow, time goes by fast.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Heart-shaped pancakes with raspberry jelly :). Hey, it's Valentine's day!

A Hot Bowl of Soup

It's been dumping snow here. Whenever the weather is really stormy I'm often in the mood to make a pot of soup and I made a really good recipe the other night! My sister-in-law, Shaela shared the recipe with me from her Pampered Chef cookbook.

Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

• 2 cups chopped cooked chicken
• 2 med carrots, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1-2 lemons (I thought 1 was enough)
• 2 TBSP fresh parsley, snipped
• 1 garlic clove, pressed
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 3 (14 1/2 oz.) cans fat-free chicken broth
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 2/3 cup uncooked long-grain white rice*

Chop chicken, carrots, and onion. Zest 1 lemon equal to 1 tsp and finely snip zest. Juice lemons to equal 1/4 cup juice. Lightly spray pot with cooking spray. Add carrots, onion, and garlic and stir 2 minutes. Stir in chicken, lemon zest, lemon juice, soup, broth, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Stir in rice, reduce heat. Cover; simmer over low heat 15-20 minutes until rice is tender. Remove from heat; stir in parsley just before serving.

* I used brown rice and it cooked about 45 minutes until the rice was tender.

Thank you for...

Feb 11, 2008
This kid cracks me up.
Last night he was saying bedtime prayers: "Thank you mommy and daddy and Emmy, thank you go to church, thank you go to nursery, thank you go to Charlie's ice cream, thank you go tootoo. . . ." (His word for passsing gas.) We felt bad for laughing, but Jared and I couldn't hold it in!

Coloring

I am an artist.

So how can I be upset when Ryan does this to his door:

And then says, "I draw a circle!"

Nicknames

“Punkin” has been one of my nicknames for Ryan since he was a newborn but the other day I was talking to Emery and I called her “punkin.” Ryan stopped what he was doing and said, “No, I’m punkin.” I didn’t realize it would bother him to call Emery “his” nickname. So I asked him, "If you are my punkin what should we call Emmy?" He thought for a second, then said “um, precious.”

"I love my sister."

February 7, 2008

"I love my sister." Ryan has told me this several times lately. Like all parents we worried about how he'd react when Emery joined our family. He's not used to sharing attention (and I think we probably spoil him). There have been a few jealousy issues (especially when she was first born or when I'm nursing her), but overall he has adjusted very well and loves to hold her and sit by her and talk to her. She still doesn't play much, but I'm sure when she starts Ryan will love that too.

Emery has been an angel. She's so patient with Ryan's kisses and pats and squeezes. I'm so glad she has a big brother to grow up with and I hope they will be good friends.

Strange Spots

Most children get runny noses or fevers when they catch a virus. My child gets hives! I finally took him to the doctor yesterday because he's had these itchy bumps for a week and a half and they seemed to be getting worse. A couple of people suggested he had roseola, but his symptoms didn't quite fit. Roseola usually starts with a high fever and Ryan hasn't been sick at all. The doctor confirmed our original suspicion that Ryan has hives, caused by a virus not an allergy. (We have been trying to think of SOMETHING different we were washing with or feeding him that would cause such a reaction.) We've been slathering him in Cortizone cream and he's also been taking Benadryl to help with the itch but he's still been digging at it and has a few scabs from scratching. Dr. Huff said the spots will eventually just go away and that Ryan is not contagious although he'll probably be colorful for a while. Poor little guy.