Normally I drive carpool in the morning. Drop off and done. Once and a while we switch and I pick up. Yesterday was one of those days. Because Tyson's school has a lot of kids that don't live near the school (with no bus service to said kids) there are a LOT of cars lined up around the school near the end of the day. To get a relatively decent (within sight of the school) parking spot, I usually get there about 15 minutes early. And wait, with the car off. And sing along to rockin' tunes with Charlie. And hope Sam doesn't get crabby.
Yesterday, I made the mistake of accidentally leaving my lights on while waiting. Tyson is usually the last kid on school grounds (not kidding). So by the time I tried to start my car, and heard my battery die a slow, wheezy death, no one else was around. I went into the school and no one in the office could, or was willing, to jump my car.
I knew I could probably call one of the auto shops around and they would send someone out to jump my car, but they would probably charge me. Then I had a brilliant idea. The school is just down the street from the city police station. There are always cops near the school (usually pulling people over). I called the station and asked if someone could come jump my car. I was kind of amazed when the secretary said she would send someone right over. Sure enough, as I was walking back to my car, a police man drove up and started my car right up.
Your (if you live in C-ville) tax dollars hard at work. Jump-starting my car because I was an idiot. Thanks!
Update on potty-training:
Charlie is doing great!! After the first day (a few accidents), he hasn't had a single accident. Even when friends came to play (i.e., distract) he still went on the toilet. I have put a pull-up on for night-time, but we'll work on that after daytime is under control. I thought that the hardest part would be to get him to go #2 on the toilet, so I had to use his FAVORITE treat as incentive. I told him he could have a bag of fruit snacks after he drops a deuce. Unfortunately, he has gone #2 twice both of the past mornings. So, two bags of fruit snacks for breakfast I guess. Oh well, I guess I should enjoy it. Hopefully it will last. Hopefully I have purchased my last box of diapers for that boy!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Potty-training
And so the adventure begins...
Things didn't start out so well. 5 minutes into wearing underwear, Charlie had a #2 accident, but since then he's done great.
This is pretty much my first time potty training. Tyson, when younger than Charlie, told me one day that he wanted to wear underwear. Rarely had an accident, did great at night, all by himself. I didn't teach him a thing.
I am hoping for such ease again, but not counting on it.
Things didn't start out so well. 5 minutes into wearing underwear, Charlie had a #2 accident, but since then he's done great.This is pretty much my first time potty training. Tyson, when younger than Charlie, told me one day that he wanted to wear underwear. Rarely had an accident, did great at night, all by himself. I didn't teach him a thing.
I am hoping for such ease again, but not counting on it.
Monday, December 14, 2009
CHRISTmas
As I have mentioned before, I really don't like what Christmas has become to our nation. The commercialization of the season, beginning the day after Halloween, depresses me. It further pushes me to be SAD (seasonal affective disorder, self-diagnosed, also known as cabin fever).
There are a few things that keep the holidays bright for me, mostly those few traditions that our small family has started, and a few traditions that our extended family keep.
This post is dedicated to some of those traditions.
The Christmas season officially began at our house a few days ago.
Every year, we put up the Christmas tree, string random lights through it, and let the kids go to town with the few decorations we have. While decorating, we (Ryan) starts a fire in our fireplace. We put on our santa hats and sing Christmas songs.
I don't buy decorations. Most of our decorations are homemade, or have been gifts from or to special people. They all hold a special place in my heart.
We inherited(borrowed?) a large artificial tree. The tree is much too large for the wimpy stand we bought last year, so now our tree leans precariously towards the wall. As long as there is room for the presents underneath, no one complains.
My mother always buys candy advent calendars for the kids, and every year, I forget to let the kids eat a piece every day so they end up eating a ton of chocolate the day before Christmas!
I get our gift shopping done early, before Thanksgiving this year. Ryan usually has a mysterious errand to run every Christmas Eve.
The boys like to drive past all of the houses with power-draining light displays.
We have a before Christmas celebration with Ryan's dad's family. Every year Grandpa Fox gives all of the marrieds' a massive diabetes-inducing box of See's Chocolates, usually polished off before New Years.
Christmas Eve is spent with my family, which will be much smaller this year =(. A yummy ham dinner. We read from Luke 2. We play a game getting even more candy.
Late Christmas Eve we spend at home together, usually watching some form of Christmas show. (Not "It's a Wonderful Life"!!) Usually Ryan and I procrastinate wrapping gifts and stay up until the wee hours wrapping. This year, I've already started, I need my sleep!
Christmas morning at the Fox household begins when the boys wake up (not too early thank goodness). We then, in Fox family tradition, have a Christmas parade (complete with banging pots and pans) around the whole entire house, until we reach the Christmas tree. When all the magic/chaos begins.
The day continues with more of Ryan's family, more noisy parades and way too many gifts. The night of Christmas is spent with Ryan's extremely large extended family. Another yummy dinner. Super-talented musical performances, and usually a few goofy talents shared as well. My favorite of that get-together; the hard tack bread and the family calendar.
Last year was extra special because we shared the news of Samantha, although almost everyone already knew.
And last but definitely not least, a few random traditions/favorites of Christmas' past, present, and hopefully future:
The Christmas program/music in church
White Christmas (the movie, I could live without our snow)
Spiced cider
Cherry turnovers on Christmas morning
Staying up most of Christmas eve with Lexi and Ben playing board games
Lights on Temple Square
Egg Nog shakes
New pajamas on Christmas Eve
Explaining the Nativity Scene
Flannel sheets
Santa's stocking staples: oranges, candy canes, and mini cereal boxes
and most of all: reflecting on the year past, thanking our Savior for all of our blessings, and being surrounded by loved family and friends!
There are a few things that keep the holidays bright for me, mostly those few traditions that our small family has started, and a few traditions that our extended family keep.
This post is dedicated to some of those traditions.
The Christmas season officially began at our house a few days ago.
Every year, we put up the Christmas tree, string random lights through it, and let the kids go to town with the few decorations we have. While decorating, we (Ryan) starts a fire in our fireplace. We put on our santa hats and sing Christmas songs.
I don't buy decorations. Most of our decorations are homemade, or have been gifts from or to special people. They all hold a special place in my heart.
We inherited(borrowed?) a large artificial tree. The tree is much too large for the wimpy stand we bought last year, so now our tree leans precariously towards the wall. As long as there is room for the presents underneath, no one complains.
My mother always buys candy advent calendars for the kids, and every year, I forget to let the kids eat a piece every day so they end up eating a ton of chocolate the day before Christmas!I get our gift shopping done early, before Thanksgiving this year. Ryan usually has a mysterious errand to run every Christmas Eve.
The boys like to drive past all of the houses with power-draining light displays.
We have a before Christmas celebration with Ryan's dad's family. Every year Grandpa Fox gives all of the marrieds' a massive diabetes-inducing box of See's Chocolates, usually polished off before New Years.
Christmas Eve is spent with my family, which will be much smaller this year =(. A yummy ham dinner. We read from Luke 2. We play a game getting even more candy.
Late Christmas Eve we spend at home together, usually watching some form of Christmas show. (Not "It's a Wonderful Life"!!) Usually Ryan and I procrastinate wrapping gifts and stay up until the wee hours wrapping. This year, I've already started, I need my sleep!
Christmas morning at the Fox household begins when the boys wake up (not too early thank goodness). We then, in Fox family tradition, have a Christmas parade (complete with banging pots and pans) around the whole entire house, until we reach the Christmas tree. When all the magic/chaos begins.
The day continues with more of Ryan's family, more noisy parades and way too many gifts. The night of Christmas is spent with Ryan's extremely large extended family. Another yummy dinner. Super-talented musical performances, and usually a few goofy talents shared as well. My favorite of that get-together; the hard tack bread and the family calendar.
Last year was extra special because we shared the news of Samantha, although almost everyone already knew.
And last but definitely not least, a few random traditions/favorites of Christmas' past, present, and hopefully future:
The Christmas program/music in church
White Christmas (the movie, I could live without our snow)
Spiced cider
Cherry turnovers on Christmas morning
Staying up most of Christmas eve with Lexi and Ben playing board games
Lights on Temple Square
Egg Nog shakes
New pajamas on Christmas Eve
Explaining the Nativity Scene
Flannel sheets
Santa's stocking staples: oranges, candy canes, and mini cereal boxes
and most of all: reflecting on the year past, thanking our Savior for all of our blessings, and being surrounded by loved family and friends!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
her first half year
From this...
to this, six months later...
Her latest and greatest:
She loves playing with her toes
She tries to sit up (mainly balances on her chubby tummy)
Rolls around, a lot, which leads to
Getting stuck, often, in the slats of her crib
Squawking, loud
Loves the bouncer
Eats rice cereal/oatmeal/bananas
Tries to get anything I'm eating into her hands
and my favorite...
SLEEPS THROUGH THE NIGHT, every night!!
to this, six months later...
Her latest and greatest:She loves playing with her toes
She tries to sit up (mainly balances on her chubby tummy)
Rolls around, a lot, which leads to
Getting stuck, often, in the slats of her crib
Squawking, loud
Loves the bouncer
Eats rice cereal/oatmeal/bananas
Tries to get anything I'm eating into her hands
and my favorite...
SLEEPS THROUGH THE NIGHT, every night!!
goofy
Apparently I shouldn't have had this stored away the year before Sam was born.
Charlie's newest pleasure is climbing into the exersaucer and going bananas for a few minutes. After that, he screams that he is stuck and needs help getting out.
Charlie's newest pleasure is climbing into the exersaucer and going bananas for a few minutes. After that, he screams that he is stuck and needs help getting out.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Our celebration of marriage and family...and the jazz
Ryan and I celebrated our 6th anniversary on December 5th. My mom graciously offered to watch the kids all day/night Friday so we could actually spend some alone time together.
Before the day began, we exchanged gifts. My attentive husband gave me some jewelry and a new jewelry box. I guess he has noticed that I am trying to look a little nicer when I actually make the attempt. I gave him tickets to the Jazz game that night.
We started the day off on a heartbreaking note. We attended the funeral services of Ryan's cousin's husband. It was a tragic reminder that life is short and precious. Another reason to be so thankful for my family!
After the funeral, we ate a tasty lunch with family, and then headed to the Gateway for the real start of our celebration. We caught a movie that COMPLETELY dried my weepy eyes. Nothing like a little (lot) blood/gore/death to harden that heart right back up.
After the movie, we made our way across the street to attend the Jazz game. It was a fun night. We got a great deal on a few extra Christmas items for the kids, we were even there early enough to walk around the arena and enter a few drawings (back to that in a minute). We tolerated the horrible green throwback jerseys. We cheered the Jazz for their victory.
The next day, when we woke up on our actual anniversary, the boys had made us anniversary presents.
Then we celebrated our anniversary with those things that bring the most joy, excitement, and meaning into our marriage. Our kids. The rest of the day we stayed home, celebrating our family.
A few days later, yesterday to be exact, I got a call from a Jazz representative saying that I had won 4 lower bowl tickets to the Jazz game last night. I was so excited, I frantically searched for a babysitter. By the way, to all you teen-aged girls in the neighborhood, it is so not cool for ALL of you to either be sick or in a play rehearsal on the same night! I finally had the brilliant idea to enlist the help of a teen-aged relative who lives in the near vicinity.
So last night, with my husband (and a brother-in-law, and a friend) we enjoyed yet another Jazz game, in excellent seats. Courtesy of the Jazz. (face value on the tickets was $114 each, how awesome is that?)
I will say that as much as I enjoyed the game, my mind was distracted. My head was in the game, but my heart was with my family. This was the first time I have left Sam with a non-adult babysitter. I had my phone in my hand the whole time just in case. But my cousin did great. Tyson was amazing (he really could do it all himself, but he's not quite old enough for me to leave him with both kids yet).
I am so grateful for my wonderful husband and amazing kids. While my mind might be focused on a million different things, my heart is always focused on my family.
Before the day began, we exchanged gifts. My attentive husband gave me some jewelry and a new jewelry box. I guess he has noticed that I am trying to look a little nicer when I actually make the attempt. I gave him tickets to the Jazz game that night.
We started the day off on a heartbreaking note. We attended the funeral services of Ryan's cousin's husband. It was a tragic reminder that life is short and precious. Another reason to be so thankful for my family!
After the funeral, we ate a tasty lunch with family, and then headed to the Gateway for the real start of our celebration. We caught a movie that COMPLETELY dried my weepy eyes. Nothing like a little (lot) blood/gore/death to harden that heart right back up.
After the movie, we made our way across the street to attend the Jazz game. It was a fun night. We got a great deal on a few extra Christmas items for the kids, we were even there early enough to walk around the arena and enter a few drawings (back to that in a minute). We tolerated the horrible green throwback jerseys. We cheered the Jazz for their victory.
The next day, when we woke up on our actual anniversary, the boys had made us anniversary presents.
Then we celebrated our anniversary with those things that bring the most joy, excitement, and meaning into our marriage. Our kids. The rest of the day we stayed home, celebrating our family.A few days later, yesterday to be exact, I got a call from a Jazz representative saying that I had won 4 lower bowl tickets to the Jazz game last night. I was so excited, I frantically searched for a babysitter. By the way, to all you teen-aged girls in the neighborhood, it is so not cool for ALL of you to either be sick or in a play rehearsal on the same night! I finally had the brilliant idea to enlist the help of a teen-aged relative who lives in the near vicinity.
So last night, with my husband (and a brother-in-law, and a friend) we enjoyed yet another Jazz game, in excellent seats. Courtesy of the Jazz. (face value on the tickets was $114 each, how awesome is that?)
I will say that as much as I enjoyed the game, my mind was distracted. My head was in the game, but my heart was with my family. This was the first time I have left Sam with a non-adult babysitter. I had my phone in my hand the whole time just in case. But my cousin did great. Tyson was amazing (he really could do it all himself, but he's not quite old enough for me to leave him with both kids yet).
I am so grateful for my wonderful husband and amazing kids. While my mind might be focused on a million different things, my heart is always focused on my family.
Monday, November 30, 2009
bedtime humor
Five months ago I never would have believed it, but Samantha is the now only member of the family that doesn't have problems sleeping (along with Ty usually).
She started sleeping better a month or so ago, after I started giving her a bottle before bed. She was still waking once or twice to eat up until two weeks ago. She had a cough, and when she would eat at night, she would just cough until she spit up what I had just fed her. She usually went back to bed pretty well so I knew that she wasn't starving at night. After a few nights of this, I decided to see what would happen if I didn't feed her. She coughed and woke up, I calmed her back down, and she went back to sleep. After that one night, she has slept through the night since.
I was kind of shocked. Excited, but shocked. Now my little angel usually sleeps from about 8pm until 7am. Way to go girl!! I'd like to think that this is her way of making up for all of the night-time problems we had for the first few months of her life.
Not so lucky with Char-bot. We struggle to get him to stay in bed, we struggle to make him stay in his bed through the night. Lately his cough and/or 'monsters' have been waking him up. One night he came to our room and told me that he was scared of the monkey playing in his room. The only time Charlie is allowed to get out of bed is when he is poopy.
Tonight I laid him down, he was pretty tired so I didn't think he would get up too much. After twenty minutes or so, I heard him come upstairs. About to get mad, I met him in the kitchen. He told me he was poopy so I didn't get mad and picked him up to change his diaper. I checked, and the diaper was clean. He giggled and said...
"I just kiddin" and walked back down to his room and got back in bed.
I swear, this kid came programmed to sweet talk his way out of trouble.
She started sleeping better a month or so ago, after I started giving her a bottle before bed. She was still waking once or twice to eat up until two weeks ago. She had a cough, and when she would eat at night, she would just cough until she spit up what I had just fed her. She usually went back to bed pretty well so I knew that she wasn't starving at night. After a few nights of this, I decided to see what would happen if I didn't feed her. She coughed and woke up, I calmed her back down, and she went back to sleep. After that one night, she has slept through the night since.
I was kind of shocked. Excited, but shocked. Now my little angel usually sleeps from about 8pm until 7am. Way to go girl!! I'd like to think that this is her way of making up for all of the night-time problems we had for the first few months of her life.
Not so lucky with Char-bot. We struggle to get him to stay in bed, we struggle to make him stay in his bed through the night. Lately his cough and/or 'monsters' have been waking him up. One night he came to our room and told me that he was scared of the monkey playing in his room. The only time Charlie is allowed to get out of bed is when he is poopy.
Tonight I laid him down, he was pretty tired so I didn't think he would get up too much. After twenty minutes or so, I heard him come upstairs. About to get mad, I met him in the kitchen. He told me he was poopy so I didn't get mad and picked him up to change his diaper. I checked, and the diaper was clean. He giggled and said...
"I just kiddin" and walked back down to his room and got back in bed.
I swear, this kid came programmed to sweet talk his way out of trouble.
keeping the faith
"May we resolve from this day forward to fill our hearts with love...May we live so that when that final summons is heard, we may have no serious regrets, no unfinished business, but will be able to say with the Apostle Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”President Thomas S. Monson
Filling my heart with love...
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
thanks
Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. Mostly for the reason that it seems to have escaped the commercialism that has overpowered most other holidays. No pressure to spend $$, buy gifts, have loads of candy around, or decorate (at least in my home).
It is a wonderful time to remind us of all the things we have to be thankful for. So, in honor of the holiday, here is a list of just some of the things I am grateful for (in no particular order)...
***Ryan***Tyson***Charlie***Samantha***the Gospel ***my mom***all the rest of my family***books ***hoodies ***naps***good friends***old friends***exersaucer ***bedtime ***hot spiced cider***Relief Society ***washer/dryer***treadmills ***cookbooks***babies who figure out how to sleep through the night by themselves ***carpool ***backyardigans***lip gloss***poison control*** furnaces***flannel sheets***storage bins***clearance sales***sunlight ***the Gospel***my family***
Just a few. There are so many others.
Happy Thanksgiving.
It is a wonderful time to remind us of all the things we have to be thankful for. So, in honor of the holiday, here is a list of just some of the things I am grateful for (in no particular order)...
***Ryan***Tyson***Charlie***Samantha***the Gospel ***my mom***all the rest of my family***books ***hoodies ***naps***good friends***old friends***exersaucer ***bedtime ***hot spiced cider***Relief Society ***washer/dryer***treadmills ***cookbooks***babies who figure out how to sleep through the night by themselves ***carpool ***backyardigans***lip gloss***poison control*** furnaces***flannel sheets***storage bins***clearance sales***sunlight ***the Gospel***my family***
Just a few. There are so many others.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Friday, November 20, 2009
dear hormones
I understand that you have been under a lot of stress lately.
Two babies in two years was hard work.
But why all the hate?
Why must you make me ride this roller-coaster of emotions every day?
Do I have to sob hysterically at the stupidest things every single day?
I couldn't even teach my last Relief Society lesson without crying the WHOLE entire time (although I admit it was a tough one for me to teach regardless).
How about a happy medium? And I really mean HAPPY!
No more babies. You're all mine. Start showing me the LOVE again. Please. My hoodie sleeves, tissue boxes, sweet children, and patient husband will all thank you.
Yours Truly,
emotional mommy
Two babies in two years was hard work.
But why all the hate?
Why must you make me ride this roller-coaster of emotions every day?
Do I have to sob hysterically at the stupidest things every single day?
I couldn't even teach my last Relief Society lesson without crying the WHOLE entire time (although I admit it was a tough one for me to teach regardless).
How about a happy medium? And I really mean HAPPY!No more babies. You're all mine. Start showing me the LOVE again. Please. My hoodie sleeves, tissue boxes, sweet children, and patient husband will all thank you.
Yours Truly,
emotional mommy
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