The close of 2008

I've never really been a big fan of New Years and I really don't get all that sentimental about the close of a year either. I am, however, grateful for the little things that have happened this year. Like the fact Andy still has a job. And we still have a house. And we still only have 2 kids. We didn't have any major catastrophes happen to us or our immediate family. We enjoyed time with our families and friends. As I look back on the year I can't think of one thing big or major that happened. And I think I like it that way.

It sounds like 2009 will bring in at least 1 baby to the Loveridge family (courtesy of Richele!) and if Kami makes my wish come true then we'll have 2 babies. 2009 will put Samantha in Kindergarten and Alex in Preschool and me in HEAVEN!!! 2009 will have Andy graduating from MBA school!! Yippee!! 2009 will have us paying off a lot of student loans! We are still holding out hope that 2009 will bring us closer to the possibility of moving to London.....but if not, that's okay. Instead maybe we'll be closer to buying a bigger house.

2008 got me in touch with a lot of old friends courtesy of this blog and Facebook. Proof that the internet CAN be used for good!! Thanks to everyone who reads and comments on my blog and keeps in touch with me and my family. See you in 2009!

I'm off to have a candlelight dinner with my husband in the comfort of our own home and then a prompt pre-midnight bedtime! Just the way I like it!!

Sledding videos

We took the kids sledding today up Hobblecreek Canyon with my sisters. We also ran into a whole bunch of other friends and people we knew along with the Hall family so it was a ton of fun. We didn't take any still pictures but we got some videos that are very fun to watch (at least for their momma!) Alex LOVED every minute and after only going down one time with me declared that he wanted to go down alone! He was very brave. Samantha was a little hesitant but after Daddy worked with her for a while she went down a few times. Still though, she preferred the tiny hill that she had to herself. So here they are!!! You will get very familiar with my kids noses!

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas. We had a great day. Alex woke up at 6.30 so we brought him into bed with us to wait until Samantha woke up. The poor kid wanted to go downstairs so badly and Samantha didn't wake up until 7.20, so he had a while to wait. Once everyone was up we went downstairs and enjoyed opening presents and eating cinnamon rolls. The kids seemed very happy with what Santa brought and the candy in their stockings. I think they would have been just as happy with only those presents since we had to coax them into opening the rest of the presents!! They were ready just to eat and play with what toys they had been given already! Cute little bugs!

We went to my parents house at 10.00 to have our traditional Christmas breakfast and it was outstanding! My mom put together quite the feast. After our bellies were full we let the kids rip into their presents and play. The four oldest kids got digital cameras so they proceeded to take blurry picture after blurry picture! Nicole felt a little left out I think but I got her a fake princess camera so that seemed to help a little. Have I mentioned lately how in love I am with that little Nicole?? Anyways, I am! After the kids finished their presents the adults dug in and opened their gifts. We sat around munching on leftover food and played with the kids and their toys until it was time to go home and put the kids to rest. We were hoping for a nap from Alex since he sorely needed it, but all we got was a little rest. Oh well, better than nothing probably!

After the kids little rest we went to Andy's parent's house and enjoyed presents and prime rib dinner there. Andy's family hooked us up with money and gift cards and matching sweaters for our Disneyland trip in 3 weeks!! I can't believe we go in 3 weeks! But now we have plenty of money to have fun with in California, so thank you to the Highams!!! We got the kids home around 5.00 and had them in bed shortly thereafter. They needed the sleep!! All in all it was a great day and we are so grateful that we were able to spend it with both families!
Dear sweet Grandpa went downstairs and played dress up with my kids!! What a champ!

Samantha and the 100m dash

Here is Samantha playing the Olympics game on the Wii.

Possibly the weirdest question EVER!

Tonight Alex asked me....."Mom, do gophers eat bananas??".

Today the kids FINALLY took a nap so we took them to The Mayan restaurant (which they love) and they had a Santa there. Alex was a little scared which is why I am in the picture but he was more than happy to take the candy cane afterward! Samantha wasn't shy at all! After dinner we drove to Thanksgiving Point to look at the Christmas lights. I think the kids like sitting in Andy's lap and steering the car more than they liked looking at the lights. Oh well, whatever keeps them happy (and quiet) is good by me!

Growing

In the car on the way home from preschool today Samantha announced that when she grows up she wants to be a babysitter. She then asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up. I told her that I'm already grown up and that I am a mommy. She responded, "Well, I want you to be a dentist.". A little late for that kiddo!

Too angry to post a title.

I wonder how many calories you burn by yelling?!? I could really burn A LOT of calories being the mother to these 2 kids. I've probably burned at least 1000 calories today just in yelling and disciplining. Hopefully that will help make up for the 10 or so sugar cookies I've eaten today. I'm an emotional eater when it comes to my kids. I eat when I'm stressed over them. No other stresser can get me pounding the mint M&M's like bad kids. Boy am I glad they're going to bed in less than 3 hours!!!!
I've added a couple of pictures to remind me of how cute they are and the fun that we have.

No.......for now.

Well, we finally got our answer about moving to London. They have given us a no for right now. We aren't too surprised given the state of the economy and most businesses. They just don't feel like they are ready to put a lot of time and money into going international at the moment. They said they will revisit the idea again in 2009 and we will just take it from there. We have known for a while that the chances were slim that they would give us the go-ahead right now, but I was still disappointed when Andy called to tell me. I don't think I'm really ready to go anytime soon though, so it's okay. I am really looking forward to another summer here swimming and going boating and going on vacations with my family. Also, my sister is pregnant and due the end of May and if we were gone for that I would have to cry!!! We do think that we will eventually end up going to London for a few years, but it looks like the time isn't now. Oh well!!! I'm sure you will all enjoy having our company in Utah for a little longer! I think my parents are going to do a happy dance tonight and celebrate.

Do NOT mess with us!

We were brave this year. Not only did we put our Christmas tree INSIDE this year instead of our normal outside-on-the-porch tree, but I wrapped presents early and stuck them under the tree. My fear was the kids would trash the tree and the presents. They do hang around the tree a little more than I would like and everyday I have to rearrange ornaments, but I can handle that. Alex has also rearranged presents, but again, I am okay with that. Today, however, Alex went too far!! I was upstairs showering after my morning workout when I heard paper crumpling. I came downstairs to find Alex has ripped open 4 presents. One present was his. A Transformer Megatron toy that we knew he had wanted. Well, like the title of this post states, you don't mess with us!! When Andy got home from work we had him unwrap the rest of the toy, then we drove him to Walmart where we made him put it in the Toys for Tots bin!!! He will not be getting a Megatron toy this year. I felt a little bad about it, but holy crap, we told him at least 100 times since the tree has been up, "Don't touch the tree or presents!!!!!! They will go away!!!!". Well, he learned the hard way this year. He was tough and didn't cry and was actually pretty proud to "help the poor kids", so I think it was a good lesson for him.

Lesson #1 - Mommy and Daddy mean business.
Lesson #2 - It feels good to help other people.

Let's hope he remembers these lessons for a long, long, long time!

Samantha the matchmaker

The other day Andy was home with the kids feeding them dinner. They were talking about who they were going to marry (why do they feel like they need to grow up so fast??). Alex kept saying he wanted to marry mama (flattering, isn't it?). Andy was explaining that he is married to me and Alex can't marry me. So Samantha said, "Daddy, are there any good girls in town that are nice for Alex?". Who would have thought she would start so early in trying to hook Alex up?? These kids crack me up!

Brain block

I feel like I've had a major brain block these days making it impossible to write a coherent blog post. So, I'll just write about what I did last night.

I went over to my sister Kami's house to finish a project and she was kind enough to invite me to go to dinner and see Christmas lights with her family. My parents showed up at Kami's house and we all piled into Chad's mammoth truck and drove over to Spanish Fork for yummy Mexican dinner. I got to sit by Cameron and bug him all night by smothering him with aunt kisses which he was trying to avoid.....but deep down I know he loved them!! After dinner we drove to the Spanish Fork lights and I think we all enjoyed listening to the kids making comments on the pretty lights. Half of what Spencer said was jibberish but he said it with such enthusiasm and excitement that we couldn't help but listen and laugh. My nephews are too cute!! On the way home Cameron was very chatty with me asking me all sorts of questions about which Star Wars bad guy is my favorite and if I like carnivores or herbivores better (as they relate to dinosaurs, of course). But my favorite question was, "So, Kristi, how was your anniversary?". So very random and hilarious!!

Thanks to Kami and her family for including me last night! I had a great time!!!

Decorating our Christmas tree!

This year I wanted to reuse our decorations for last year (cuz I'm cheap) but I wanted to do something a little different. I got our red and white decorations last year at IKEA and this year I found some orange and red decorations. I only had to buy half the amount of orange and red and then I reused the red ones from last year. I know orange and red aren't traditional Christmas colors, but look how great it turned out!!!!
And of course, a picture of my 3 weird-o's!
Friday Samantha went to see Santa with her preschool class. We were going to take Alex but he had just woken up super cranky from a nap so he didn't want to go. I had to stay home with him while Andy took Samantha and apparently Andy couldn't remember how to use our camera! ;-) So the picture is a little washed out. Oh well, you get the idea.

Things kids say that make you want to keep them!!

The other day when I picked up Samantha from preschool she was just finishing a cookie that the class had baked together. As I was strapping her in the car I asked what kind of cookie she ate. She told me it was a chocolate cookie with mint chips. I told her that sounded yummy and it was mommy's favorite kind of cookie. She responded, "Oh, I should have saved you some of my cookie. Sorry!". She really is a terribly sweet little girl!

I was making some lemon cookies a couple of days ago when Alex peeked into the oven and said, "Mom, you're an awesome cooker!!". Then I started to talk to myself wondering why one tray was cooking so much faster than the other. Alex could tell I was getting a little annoyed so he stood up for me by kicking the oven and saying, "Shape up cookies!!!". What a brave little boy to stand up to cookies for his mommy!!

Shocking Behavior!!

Andy will be shocked when he gets home from Canada tonight!! He ordered me a Christmas present from Victoria's Secret (don't go getting horrible flabby images in your mind....I think he bought flannel PJs) and the package arrived today. Here is the shocker though.......I didn't open the package!!!! I know!! It's so unlike me! I usually open everything early because I can't stand to wait for presents! Today I just picked it up off the front porch and stuck it in the pantry with the rest of the presents! I guess come Christmas I'll at least have one surprise......even if it is just the pattern of my pajamas!

Alex

This morning I was getting Alex dressed and he was talking weird and being silly so I said to him, "Alex, you're weird!". To which he replied, "Yeah, but I'm an awesome dude!". Good point little man!

Disturbing

I am disturbed. I was just on www.drugstore.com and came across something called......wait for it......Chicken Poop!!!! It is described as "Free Range Chicken Poop Lip Balm". I kid you not!! It's just a goof and there is no poop in the product, but seriously, that is a really bad name for a product!

Going out of Business

Does anyone else feel bad when they see a business going under? I always do. Especially one that has only been in business for a few months. You know that someone thought they had a good idea, spent a lot of time and money into starting the business and then held on and hoped for the best! With every new little restaurant that opens I always want to go and give them a try and try to bring in some business. Unfortunately, I usually don't make it before they close. I don't know that I would ever have the guts to start a business. I would be so afraid of failure. I guess I just don't have the entrepreneurial kind of personality. But I admire those who do have that kind of personality and who do try. Even if they fail.

WEAK!

I don't know who saw the DD&D episode but they barely even showed us! Well, actually, they only showed me! They showed a whole bunch of ugly people but not my adorable kids! I take offense to that! All of the shots done outside were obviously done on a different day or just earlier than when we were there. Guy wasn't there for those shots either but I guess they liked them better since they got the most air time. Oh well! I got shown a few times but I really wanted to see the kids on the TV. I am banning DD&D in my house now! Okay, not really.

TONIGHT!!!

Our episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives is on tonight!!! It is airing at 8 pm and 11 pm. We're not sure if they'll show us talking but I'm sure we'll at least be seen eating our food. Cross your fingers that we don't look like idiots!!!! Woo hoo!

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a fun, albeit, hectic Thanksgiving this year. Thanksgiving morning was relaxed and we just chilled at home until around 1.30 when we headed to my parents house. We ate a very delicious meal there and had fun talking with family and friends. After dinner we even pulled out some crafts and the girls sat around painting while poor Grammy and Grampy were left chasing after grandkids! I don't know why they want any more because the 5 we have keeps all of us running!!! But they are cute!!
After dinner at my parent's house we headed to Andy's parent's house to have dessert. Andy's brother, Dave and his family were in town so it was good to catch up with them. We are lucky to see them once or twice a year so we always have a good time talking when we get together. Dessert was delicious and the kids played nicely with their older cousins until it was bedtime.

Friday morning we headed back to Andy's parent's house for a yummy breakfast and then we spent the whole morning there chatting. Again, the kids played surprisingly well and let the grown-ups enjoy talking with each other. Finally, Alex came up to me to say he was ready to go home so we headed back for nap time.
Friday night we again met with Andy's family for dinner at Spark. I can't say that it was as delicious as I remember it being but I still have this cold that makes everything taste bland, so it was my fault. The kids behaved quite well but didn't eat much and everyone else seemed to enjoy their meal. Most of the family was leaving Saturday so this was our last chance to get together. We had an enjoyable time but now we get back to reality and Andy traveling this week to Toronto! It's okay though.....I'm planning to have him bring back some good codeine medicine for me!
I hope everyone else had a great Thanksgiving break!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
This year I am thankful for many things. I am thankful that I have a wonderful family. A husband who loves and takes care of me and 2 great kids who are my life. I am thankful to have a home to live in, cars to drive, food to eat and clothes to wear. I am thankful Andy has a job that provides those things for us and for Andy for working hard to ensure that he keeps that job! ;-)
I am thankful to live in America. It really is the greatest country even though many around the world don't believe that and try to destroy it. I am thankful I know about (and believe in) the gospel of Jesus Christ and am thankful for the peace it brings to my life. I am thankful for my health and the health of my family and friends.
I am a very blessed person and for that I feel like I need to give thanks. So, thank you to my Heavenly Father who has given me these blessings as well as many others. I am grateful!

Big girl

This really doesn't happen too often in our family. Our kids have never been good car sleepers but today while Andy took Samantha out for errands she snuggled up with her lamb and took a little snooze. Andy took this picture with his phone and sent it to me and as I looked at it I realized how BIG she looks!!! She's huge in her car seat and looks so grown-up! She even has her little leg crossed over the other one. Too cute if you ask me!

For real???

Seriously??? I'm STILL sick?? You've got to be kidding me??!!! I was down all day Saturday and Sunday. Thought I was making a comeback yesterday only to be SLAMMED with an earache Monday night. And then today the sinuses are clogged to the max and I sound like a frickin' cartoon!! Call me if you don't believe me! You'll laugh, I promise. Every word has a "b" tacked on the end. I hope to get better by Thursday or I'll be spending Turkey Day alone in bed! Although......I could think of worse things....

Just a few things

I think before anyone gets married they should have to be sick and have their partner take care of them. It's a really good indicator of how much they love you and care for you. I was sick all weekend and Andy was a dear as I laid on the couch all weekend and moaned and sneezed and napped. He took care of the kids, the house and me. He even braved the germs every now and again to come and kiss my sick forehead! I'm sure he was praying for me to get better and the weekend to be over, but he was sweet the whole time. I done did good in choosing a husband!!

We thought for a while there my dad might have cancer, but he doesn't!!!! Woo hoo!!!

I just want to know FOR SURE if we're moving to London or not. We thought we'd know by now, but with the yucky state the economy is in (I'm sure that's how they describe the economy on CNN - yucky!), I think JP Morgan is having a hard time figuring out their budget for next year. Not that I blame them! We are hoping moving us to London is in their budget, but I'm not quite sure it is anymore. Oh well, we are happy here! Time will tell!

I am SO close to having all of my Christmas shopping done! I'll probably take my sisters to the mall and have them choose something for me to buy them and I WILL BE DONE!!! What a good feeling!

My parakeet is loud. But cute. And he makes my eyes itch.

Spark the Spectacular!! (wow, that was cheesy)

Andy and I and our friends went to a new restaurant last night, Spark. Actually, Andy has been there before for lunch but the dinner menu was new to all of us. Our friend's husband is the sous chef there and made us a tasting menu. Andy took pictures of everything and I am sure he will write a big long post on our experience but I just wanted to add that it was the best food I've ever had!!!! And a lot of fun!! Check out their Facebook page here. And PLEASE, go eat there so we can talk about it together!! Check back later to see Andy's full post, including pictures, on the incredible food.

Bird : Take 2

Since my last little parakeet lasted only 2 weeks (RIP Pip!) we decided to get another bird. The breeder that I got Pip from had another parakeet available and gave him to me because she felt so badly about Pip. Samantha was wanting another bird and so was I. Saturday we drove back up to Ogden and picked up this little guy.

His name? Oh, you want to know his name?? I'm afraid I don't want to say. We wanted the kids to be involved in the naming process so all 4 of us got to pick a name and then we pulled the chosen name out of hat. Here were the choices:

1. PJ (For Pip Junior. This was my choice)
2. Strawberry Shortcake (I'm sure you can guess who's choice this was)
3. Spiderman (Another easy guess)
4.

Number 4 was Andy's choice. He was going to choose Spiderman just to stack the odds but decided to go a different direction. I'll give you a hint:

That's right, Chewbacca. And guess which name magically got pulled out of the hat??? Yup, Chewbacca (aka, Chewy). Sooooooo, this sweet little parakeet got stuck with the name Chewy which, I don't think, fits him at all!! I can't even call him that. He goes by Dude, and Baby to me. Or sometimes, You Little Terd.
He is a funny little bird! He LOVES to sit on heads....especially mine since I think it resembles a fancy little nest for him.
He loves to fly even though his wings are clipped and he flies like he just had a pint. He runs into everything and although I was planning to have his wings grow out I am now reconsidering since he likes to fly into very dangerous, high places.

He loves to have his head rubbed. He won't eat his bird seed out of the container hanging on the cage, but has to eat it off the floor. So I found him this cute little gerbil treat bowl that is now sitting on the floor filled with his seed. He seems happy with it. I'll just have to make sure it stays poop-free. Today was the first day he was very vocal and chipped his little head off this morning. It was very cute and I loved the sound of it in my house. The fact is, this bird has more personality than some adult humans I have met!!!! I really didn't think this house needed any more personality, but I guess he is still less maintenence than a kid.....or a puppy.....or a kitty. So I'll take that.

The night to myself!!

It's not even 6 pm yet and I got both of my kids in bed already!!! Does that make me a cruel mother, or just the MOST AWESOME, LUCKIEST LADY EVER??????

New Pictures

Some of you may have noticed the new pictures on the side of my blog. My talented sister Richele took these new pictures for us for our Christmas cards. So here's your sneak preview to that! Also, I wanted a couples picture taken of Andy and I since we haven't had a good couples picture taken since our wedding! I think it turned out great! Thanks for the nice pictures Shell!

Taking the kids to jail.....where they belong!!! ;-)

Samantha's preschool group went to the Utah County Jail for a field trip on Friday. Her preschool teacher's father is the County Sheriff so she knew everyone there and got the tour organized. It was a VERY fun trip! It was my turn to take Samantha and our neighbor and since I couldn't get a babysitter for Alex he tagged along.
The first thing we saw was the laundry area and the kids even got to try on some (clean) clothes.

All along the way the officer was telling us lots of fun and interesting information about the jail. Well, fun and interesting for the adults. The kids were just kind of skipping around and playing. Alex was a little hesitant as was our neighbor EJ, but Samantha was running around like she owned the place!! That is one thing about that little girl.....she can make herself at home anywhere! When she goes to Andy's work she walks around like she is the CEO! Funny girl. Anyways, after the laundry we went into the kitchen where they offered the kids some "jailhouse cookies" that were cooked by the inmates the day before. In this picture you can see some of the inmates in the background.

When we were done with the kitchen we went to the control center where they control all the doors and the security systems. They showed us on the security monitor what the inside of the housing units looked like. They were A LOT nicer than I expected and quite modern. It was a very interesting look at how they live. They are given TV and access to games and the officer explained that they give them these things so that they have something to take away for bad behavior. Sounds a lot like raising kids if you ask me!!!

We then went to the 911 dispatch center and talked to a very nice lady about important things for kids to know when calling 911. I doubt many kids were paying much attention since they were consuming their second lollipop for the day!!

Our last stop was outside to play with a Sheriff's truck. Each kid got to push the siren button and honk the horn. Of course, this was a huge hit!! You can tell the officer is a grandpa because he was so patient and sweet with every kid.

Afterward we got to try on some handcuffs. I really hope this is everyones last time wearing them!!!

My little carnivores!

Today we met Andy at work so we could run over to Costco and get flu shots. The kids already got theirs so it was Andy's and my turn. After the shots we did our Costco shopping and decided to go to dinner. We chose Tucanos and I was amazed at the quantity of meat my kids can consume when they want. Samantha was asking for everything and tried it all. I was so proud. Alex was a little less enthusiastic but ate a ton of my pork and beef brisket. The meat was all very good but the beans and rice and cheese bread were CRAP compared to what you eat in Brazil. I think the trip to Brazil ruined me for eating that stuff in the states. It's just not the same!

And another random thought......when did it become okay to get excited about gas falling under $2.00 a gallon? That is just sad, but so typical of these days. I remember when I was a kid my dad RUNNING out to get gas before it went all the way up to a dollar!!! Heaven forbid!! I miss the good ol' days.

Alex's ABCs

Alex is doing so well with his ABCs. Of course he can sing the song because we sing it to him every night before bed, but he is also getting so good at recognizing the letters in words. I got out some flash cards the other day and was quizzing him on the letters and he only missed 6 or 7! Pretty good for a 3 year old I think. He is definitely doing better than Samantha did at this age but that is probably because we work on them a lot more for her with school. They love to eat their cereal with the cereal boxes in front of them and point out all of the letters they can recognize. I love to see them learn and apply their learning. Smarty pants kids!!

Ruth's Diner and Triple D!

Do you remember how this past spring we were invited to Ruth's Diner to sit and eat while they filmed a Food Network episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives?? WELL, we have been waiting patiently for that episode to air and it looks like it will be coming on December 1st! It has taken so long that we thought maybe they decided not to air the show but we just got an email from Ruth's saying that the episode will be coming on. It's very exciting! We were ALL over that episode and can't wait to see the cute kids on there. I got a little sassy too and we'll see if that made it in or if they cut the sass out. I will remind everyone again as the day gets closer and I'll post the time as well.

Lizard?

Tonight for family home evening we pulled out the picture of Brigham Young to teach the kids. Samantha saw his picture and said, "He looks like a wizard!!!". Which I thought was funny enough, but Andy heard, "He looks like a lizard!!!". Either way, we both got a good chuckle out of our funny girl.

1 Year and Counting!

A year ago today I had my back surgery. It's hard to believe it has been a year......it really doesn't feel like that much time has passed. This surgery was the first time that I had ever been in the hospital and my whole experience was quite pleasant. I had complete confidence in my surgeon and his team and all of the hospital staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I was lucky enough to have my own room and it even had a nice view out the window of the Salt Lake valley. I was only supposed to be in the hospital for one night but the surgeon decided since I had 2 small kids at home I better stay an extra night and get all the rest I could. My mom was very sweet and stayed with the kids a lot so that Andy could be with me. He even stayed with me the first night and slept on a broken recliner. Neither of us got much sleep that first night! I never experienced much pain after the surgery but I was terribly uncomfortable. It took 2 male nurses to flip me on my side and prop me up so I could be off of my back for a while. They were pretty strong too....it didn't make me feel very good about myself!! The physical therapist came by only hours after I was out of surgery to get me out of bed and trying to walk. It was very difficult to change everything about the way I moved. I had to roll out of bed a certain way, I couldn't twist my back and I certainly couldn't bend. I was given a back brace (more like a corset) that was very helpful and made standing much more comfortable. I was also given something to help me put socks on since I couldn't bend (never used) and a gripper, reacher, picker-upper stick that I used ALL the time......and still do some days when I'm sore.

After 2 nights in the hospital I came home and Andy was able to stay home from work for a week and a half and take care of me and the kids. He did a wonderful job of juggling everything and took such amazing care of me. Honestly, those 2 weeks rocked!!! I loved being in bed, watching TV, reading magazines and taking naps. I got to see and kiss the kids a few times a day without having to take care of them. I got every little whim of mine taken care of by Andy and the sleep was grand!! The only drawback to sleeping all day was that I wasn't sleeping too well at night but I was happy to have my Ipod to keep my company.

This year has been rough. According to the literature given to me by the doctor I was supposed to "take 3 months off of work". HA! Yeah, that doesn't really work with a 2 and 3 year-old. I was lucky to get my 2 weeks and so recovery has been slower than I would have liked. Normal I think, but slow when you have 2 kids and a house to take care of. Andy has been great and has always helped with whatever I needed and has understood all the days when I have needed to lay on the couch for a while. Thank goodness! The worst part has been the chronic pain related depression. That wasn't something I had expected to happen but it hit, and it hit hard! I've never dealt with depression before. Or chronic pain. I had seen pharmaceutical commercials about the relationship but never thought it was true. I never understood how you could be depressed! I thought you could just snap out of it! I thought you could just decide to be happy! It really is not that simple. The worse my pain was, the worse the depression was. The worse the depression was, the worse the pain was. It was a vicious cycle! I finally got to my breaking point after Andy had been on a few business trips in a row and I was fed up with the kids, the house, Andy, depression, pain, all of it! I went to the doctor and he prescribed Zoloft for me which has been HEAVEN SENT!! Not only has my mood and outlook on life gotten better, my pain has been so much more manageable. I have been on the medicine since July and I plan on staying on it for at least another 6 or 7 months. Maybe longer if I need it! I know depression can be one of those taboo topics but it can happen to anyone for any reason and there is nothing to be ashamed of. I believe it is a real chemical imbalance in your body and if you need to take a little pill everyday to enjoy life and your children, it is worth it! I have far more patience with my kids and that is all the excuse I need! I just wish that the doctor would have warned me of the possibility of getting depression following the surgery. I think maybe it could have saved me a few months of hating life. Oh well, it's taken care of now!

Overall I am glad that I did the surgery. I am no longer afraid of falling and causing more damage to my spine. Although I still think I'll avoid my sister's house in the winter!
And.....in case you didn't see this in my previous post, here is my titanium back.

Officially ready for the snow!

Today we officially got ready for the snow! I know it's going to be coming.....it's lurking somewhere in the sky ready to drop on my house and ruin my day. So today we went out early and cleaned up the whole backyard. We pulled plants, put away kids toys, cleaned up and stored the sand box and put away the outdoor furniture. It took us a couple of hours but the yard looks great and the best part was I now have clean windows!!! Our downstairs windows get wet everyday in the summer when we water our lawn so the water buildup is horrible! I pulled out my trusty Lime-A-Way and sprayed the tar out of the windows and now I can see the sun pouring through my windows!! It really is amazing how nasty they were and how it clouded my view of the outside world! Now everything looks so clear and sparkly! The clean windows just might be my favorite part of fall!!

The kids napped today so we were able to stay out a bit later tonight and enjoy being with our kids. We went to my sister Kami's house and my other sister Richele took our family picture. It's been about a year since our last one so I figured it was a good time to get one. I think they turned out good and I also had Richele take couple pictures of Andy and I....which hasn't been done since our wedding!!! Those I think turned out great as well. I'll post some when Richele gets them back to me. After pictures we took the kids to dinner and they were sweet and well-behaved. Amazing what a little nap can do! Well, it's 8.30pm and I'm exhausted, so I'm going to bed. I washed the sheets so they are clean and soft and smell nummy! They are calling to me!!

Maybe I'll start calling him Spot.

I'm going to start laying down newspaper for Alex to sleep on if he can't get his bowels under control!!! If I put him in a diaper at night he gets lazy and pees and poops in it.....even in the morning when he is awake!! In which case he's usually kneeling in bed at some funky angle and the diaper leaks everywhere. That's even in the super heavy duty Nighttime diapers! If I put him in underwear he still sometimes lets loose and pees all over. Either way I have washed his sheets pretty much everyday for the past few weeks. I'm tired of it. Maybe a catheter is a good idea!! When I was in the hospital for my back surgery that catheter saved my life!! Anybody know how to insert a catheter in a 3 year-old? Ew, that's gross. Maybe I will have to find some other solution.

Health or Money??

Does anyone else ever feel like you have to choose between good health and saving money?? I would love to be able to buy all organic and all natural products, but they are SO expensive. I would love to buy the healthiest food but sometimes feel it is too expensive to buy on a regular basis. Same with other products like all natural toothpaste and skin care. In a perfect world we'd all be using the most natural, most "green" products. But not many of us have the money to sustain that kind of lifestyle. I suppose I could rearrange our budget to accommodate for these kinds of expenditures. I just really wish that I could buy healthier things for my family at the same price as everything else. Are the products priced higher just because they can? Because they know people will spend that kind of money? It's kind of how I feel about cleaner cars. Natural gas, hybrid and electric cars are far better for the environment (thus, far better for us) but they are priced higher. I wish car companies would stop putting money into making "cooler" cars that all look the same and start working on making engines that run cleaner and cost less. Most of you know me and know that I am no environmentalist. I'm not a fanatic when it comes to this kind of a thing, but I do care about our earth and mostly I care about my families health. It sure would be nice if companies cared a little less about making huge profits and cared a little more about making good products accessible to everyone. I guess the world just doesn't work that way. Like my mom always told me, "If wishes were fishes we'd all have a fry.".
I'll climb off my soap box now.

I Voted!

I went a voted today. I waited a total of about 1 minute for an open booth and it only took me about 3 minutes to complete my voting. THAT is a successful voting experience in my opinion. Apparently 3 o'clock is the time to go vote. It's been such a long campaign and I am tired of it all but I have to admit that I am nervous to see who wins. I think both candidates have good qualities and both have bad qualities. I feel like I just voted for the lesser of the two evils! It's going to be an interesting morning seeing who wins......
I do feel blessed that we get the opportunity to vote.....even though I know my vote really didn't count for much. I think the voting system is wrong and needs some tweaking. But I digress. I am grateful to live in the country that I live in and be an American.

I believe I can fly!!!

I believe in a lot of things.

I believe my kids are the best kids in the world.
I believe my husband is the sweetest and best man ever.
I believe I belong to the only true church on the earth.
I believe I will be very excited when the elections are over.
I believe NO ONE should EVER wear a tube top.

But this weekend I became a believer in something else. I now believe in the POWER of..........


THE KSL.COM CLASSIFIEDS!!!

I sold our double stroller on ksl.com a couple of months ago and it sold FAST. Andy came across some old speakers and a few other things that we decided to sell on ksl.com. A couple of things weren't even listed 12 hours before I had numerous calls and emails and eventually $50 in my hot little hands!! I have a guy coming from Layton tonight to buy a speaker for $85 and look at some other speakers we have. I have a guy in Las Vegas that wants me to ship $75 worth of speakers to him. The phone is ringing off the hook for these things!!!!! The point is, if you need to sell something fast, go to ksl.com. AND, listing is FREE!!!
I sure wish KSL were paying me for this advertisement!

Halloween and Alex's new bed

I realized I never posted a picture of Alex in his new big boy bed!! The headboard is from his crib and I made the duvet cover. He LOVES orange so I knew I had to put some orange in it. Not my first choice but he seems to like it. I think it turned out good. It still reminds me of the Denver Broncos with the navy blue and orange! Glad it has the gray too! I still need to make some pillows to go on top but have put away my sewing stuff for a while.
Samantha decided she didn't want to be a witch after she wore her witch costume to the zoo. I asked her what she wanted to dress up as instead and she said, "It's a surprise, but I need to buy a fairy wand!". My first guess was that she wanted to be a cowgirl.....but it turns out she wanted to be a fairy. I was okay with that since the only thing we had to buy was a wand and she had everything else. This is her posing for me before she left for preschool. She looked so beautiful!! I hate to admit that I am insanely jealous of my daughters good looks!! Aren't you??
After Samantha got home from preschool we dressed up Alex and went to daddy's work to say hello and show off and go to lunch. Turns out my friend Ashly was in the area with her cute kids and they were able to come to lunch with us. It was a lot of fun. After dinner we went to the church for their Trunk or Treat. It was the first time we'd gone to a Trunk or Treat and it was great for the little kids. My sister-in-law and my niece came with us and we had a great time letting the kids get their candy. I'm a terrible mother and forgot my camera so I have no pictures of the event. Use your imagination!

Things you don't want to hear when waking up....

I was trying to catch a quick nap on the couch while Alex was napping and Samantha was watching something on TV. I was just falling asleep when Samantha taps me and says, "Mom, I have gum in my hair.". NOT something you want to hear while you're trying to catch some Zzzzz's.

This story reminded me of another funny/awful sleepy story......

I went upstairs to nap when I wasn't feeling well one day. Andy was home and downstairs with the kids so I figured all was well. Little did I know that Andy fell asleep on the couch while the two little rascals had some fun a mere 4 feet from sleeping daddy. Samantha some how got a hold of the Vaseline and proceeded to smear it ALL OVER her brother's head. All over her stuffed animal too. Andy woke up and, being the good father he is, took some pictures before bringing them upstairs to wake me up. Nothing like waking up to a HUGE mess. Alex was greasy for days and my carpet still attracts dirt on the "Vaseline spot" as it is now known. This was a couple of years ago but I still cringe when I see Vaseline.

Oh crap! Maybe he'll end up being a salesman!!

The other day I took the kids to Great Clips to get their hair cut. Usually I cut their hair and I think I do a pretty good job but we were right next to Great Clips and I was feeling frisky! I was just planning to cut Alex's but it looked like so much fun to Samantha that she requested her hair be cut as well. It was funny to see the difference in the two kids in the way they interacted with the lady cutting their hair. Samantha just shyly answered her questions and didn't offer any other information. Alex, on the other hand, was asking HER questions and very much interacting with her. He offered information like, "I'm 3!", and "I like orange!", and when she noticed his Diego shoes he asked her, "Do you like Diego?". I thought it was adorable that he was trying to have a conversation with her and wasn't just answering her questions. They both sat very still and were very cute during their haircut. I guess I know where to go next time I'm feeling too lazy to do it myself!

All your fault Andy!

I'm quite certain that my husband wants me to gain some weight. Why else would he buy the best Halloween candy way too early and leave it within my reach?? He knows I can't leave candy alone! He knows I'd eat the whole bag if no one was around to notice! This is why I'm convinced he wants me to get tubby. So fine, your wish is my command baby!!! I'm going to lock myself in the pantry and snarf down Twix, Kit-Kats and Milky Ways.
Sigh.....we shoulda bought Smarties to give out!

My Vignette

www.shabbyapple.com is having a contest to win a dress, shoes, bag and accessories! How could I NOT enter!!!! Thanks to my friend Jenny for finding this.

AROUND THE WORLD IN AN OUTFIT!!!!

Every morning I wake up and check my Blackberry to see my appointments for the day. My energy breakfast shake is ready for me when I get out of the shower. My make-up artist and hair stylist are in the bathroom ready to make me beautiful for my busy day. I have many important clients to see today before I jet off to Milan in First Class for my upcoming fashion show. I have to choose an outfit that will cross international boundries. An outfit that will look good in any setting and say to everyone, "I am in charge." The outfit I choose for this important day is......


This little black dress is anything but ordinary. The lace can easily go from daytime meetings to nights on the red carpet at my fashion show. The shoes are incredible and prove that I belong in this fast paced life. My hair is curly with one side pulled up and secured with this lovely flower. Finally, I put my Blackberry, lip gloss and credit cards into my perfectly matched clutch. It's going to be a hectic day but at least I know I will look lovely!
.............................................................
"Mommy, mommy!!!!!"
I roll over in bed and see the clock read 7:00 am. I grab my teal polka-dot pajamas, pull my hair in a pony-tail and get my kids out of bed. We go downstairs in the dark. I make them chocolate milk to drink while they watch TV and fight over toys. I start a load of laundry. In a little while we will have breakfast. Then bath time. Then more fighting. Then it will be lunch time and nap time. I pray for them to sleep but as I hear them making noise upstairs I know that I will be lucky if I get them to rest for 30 minutes. Then it's time for the park....snack....play-time.....dinner....bath....bed.
It's almost bed time before I even realize that I am still in my teal polka-dot pajamas. And my hair is still in a pony-tail. I haven't even put on a pair of shoes today. Or touched my purse. There is no need for those things taking care of 2 kids and a house full-time.

It's no big secret which life is really mine. And I'm okay with that. I adore my life as it is. However, if I could add a little something (the ensemble) from my story life to my real life it just might be perfect! Just a little outfit to escape from my ordinary life. An outfit my husband can take me out to dinner in and we can pretend there are First Class tickets to Milan in his pocket.

Fall fun

Here are the kids in daddy's old shirts painting their pumpkins. They looked like little ghosts!


On Saturday we went with my family to the Boo at the Zoo and I have never seen so many people in my life!! It was packed! Samantha was a witch and Alex was Batman! Samantha didn't wear her hat much though so I enjoyed being part witch for the day. Probably not much of a difference from my day-to-day self to be honest! Samantha woke up with a bit of a cold and runny nose so she was a little off for the day. They were troopers though and enjoyed seeing the animals and collecting candy! It was a beautiful day....though a little too hot for all the walking around we did.

Book Confusion

I just recently read The Lucky One (said with a sing-song voice) by Nicholas Sparks. Which is about love and romance and lots of squishy stuff like that.

And now I am reading Lords of the Bow (said with a BOOMING voice) by Conn Iggulden which is a book about Genghis Kahn.

I cannot think of two books that contrast each other more. I think Genghis Kahn would be seriously offended that I even included a book about him in the same post as a book about finding true love thousands of miles away!! In any case though I enjoyed the girlie book and am enjoying the manly book as well. I swing both ways!

Still has a lot to learn!

Even at this young age Alex is learning how to deflect women's questions regarding their appearance. He still has a long way to go, but not bad for a 3 year old. Here's how it went down......

Me: "Alex, do you think mommy is pretty?"

Alex: With that confused and sly little grin "No."

Me: Pouty face and sad lip hanging out

Alex: "Um, what's that noise?"

Yeah, there was no noise in the house. It was silent. Good try little buddy! But the correct response would have been an immediate "YES, you are SO pretty mama!". Andy, get to work on teaching this little boy!

Actually enjoying the scriptures

I've never really enjoyed reading the scriptures too much. I do it, but haven't gotten much enjoyment out of it until now. We decided that we wanted to start reading the scriptures with the kids every night before bed. Not the kid version, the REAL version! Daring, I know! We are starting with 1 chapter each night from the Book of Mormon. The rule is that the kids have to sit on their bottoms with their arms folded and surprisingly, they do a great job! After the chapter has been read we explain to them about the chapter using kid friendly terms and try and pull a lesson out of it for them. This is the reason I have been enjoying the scriptures so much........I have to dissect the meaning of the chapter and it has really helped me appreciate and understand the scriptures more. I think sometimes as adults we over analyze everything and if we would just try to think more like kids do we would enjoy not only the scriptures more, but life in general.
That's just my two cents!

Poor Pip

Saturday morning when we left for Park City Pip was just dandy, as usual. When we got home Sunday around 1:00 she didn't look so good. She was all puffed up and quiet all day and got worse and worse throughout the day. I kept her in our bedroom last night to keep an eye on her and around midnight she passed away. Poor little birdie! I saw her eating before bed and thought that was a good sign and I kept hearing her walk around her cage so I figured she might be feeling a bit better. I was wrong. I made Andy check for sure if she was dead and then take the cage to the garage so I didn't have to look at it. Then I laid in bed and cried for 2 hours and when I finally fell back to sleep I had all sorts of odd dreams and Andy said I tossed and turned all night. It was not too fun explaining to the kids why they couldn't see Pip and what happened. Thankfully we've talked about death before and how your spirit leaves your body so that helped the kids understand a little. Samantha cried a lot (I think mostly because I was crying and she really wanted to see Pip) but pretty soon after decided it was time to get another pet!! Kids sure do know how to rebound! I wish I did a better job of that. When Andy gets home from work today we're going to have a little funeral and bury her in our yard. I know we didn't have her for too long, but I sure did love her.

6 years a Higham!

Today is Andy's and my 6 year wedding anniversary! We had a fun weekend away while my dear sweet mom watched the kids for us. The kids had a great time with Grammy and Grampy playing and doing crafts and having a sleepover while Andy and I went to Salt Lake and Park City and Midway.
Saturday morning we dropped the kids off at my parents house and then drove up to Salt Lake. We went to the Farmer's Market first since it was the last weekend it was going on for the year. We only bought a couple headbands for Samantha but we always enjoy walking around and seeing all the people and smelling the yummy food. We've taken the kids there a couple of times and it was so nice not to have to worry about the little ones getting trampled with the mass of people. The weather was pure heaven all weekend which just made everything better! After the market we walked over to The Gateway and did a little browsing and weather enjoying. Our tummies got a little grumbly so we headed downtown for some lunch. Once again, the weather was so great so we walked the 5 or so blocks to this fabulous German deli near the Capitol Theater. I ordered the Weinerschnitzel and Spaetzle and Andy had the Goulash and Spaetzle. It was amazing and filled our bellies just right! They also had a bunch of German candy and especially these Vanilla Milk Wafers that I am addicted to. I was able to find them in New York once and when I saw them yesterday about had a heart attack. My kids were lucky enough to try one.....but I'm sure that's all they'll get!! I'm sure my friend Ashly will remember these wafers and our love for them! After lunch we walked back to the car and drove to find this patisserie that Andy had heard about with this amazing pastry. This place is only 1 of 6 in the US that makes this particular pastry from France. It's called the Kouing Aman and is from the Brittany region of France. It's a little bit of heaven. It's hard to describe but it's flaky like a croissant but has a bunch of sugar in it that carmalizes and makes it chewy and sweet and delicious! I highly recommend it.
After our sweet treats we drove up to Park City and hit the outlets for some shopping. It's sad, but we pretty much bought the kids stuff and only I got 1 pair of boots. Even when you're away from your kids they are never far from your mind, right? We checked into our hotel after shopping and then went to dinner at a place that wasn't even good enough to mention. At least we had a yummy lunch to make up for it.
In the morning we drove to Midway to The Blue Boar Inn for brunch. It's an adorable B&B that we ate dinner at the night we got engaged. We've always wanted to stay there overnight but have never done it. Now that we've had brunch there though.....we're for sure going back! Tasty! After brunch our fun was over and we headed down to Springville to pick up the kids. They were not particularly excited to see us but napped for us when we got home and we had a fun afternoon in the backyard playing football with them. Good times.

Do you know how you can REALLY tell I'm a Higham now????? Most of my post was about food. And I described it in way more detail than you needed. If Andy had written this post, it would be about a page longer with even more description about the food. If the Highams know how to do anything, it's eat and shop!!! Oh, and travel. Which is why I'm proud to be a Higham!!!
I love you Andy! Happy Anniversary and thanks for the fun weekend!!!

Thanks All!

Thank you to everyone who left a comment of encouragement for me going back to school! I really appreciate it and to tell you the truth, it helps ease the pain of going back to school! Thanks again friends! Andy appreciates it too. Love you!

Back to School Blues

I'm going back to school! I never finished my Bachelor's degree because I got stuck deciding what road I wanted to take and then I decided to go on a mission and work full time until I left. Then I got married, moved to New York and had 2 kids!! Life happens fast!!! A few weeks ago I saw an obituary of a man we knew in New Jersey. He died of cancer after 7 months and left behind a wife and 5 kids. This sort of freaked me out. What if Andy died? I could work as a Pharmacy Technician but that really doesn't pay great. I could work in Accounting, but without a degree I think it would be difficult for me to find a good paying job. Of course, my solution was to just get a couple million dollar life insurance policy on Andy!! The kids and I would do well with that! AND, I bet it would be cheaper than me finishing my degree. Andy, however, is into education and wasn't too hip on my idea. Bummer! SOOOOOO, I signed up for an independent study course through BYU that will eventually transfer to UVU. My plan is to take as many independent study classes through BYU as I can (they are cheaper) and then when the kids are both in school full time (assuming we are living in Utah) I will go back to day school at UVU and finish with a Business Management degree. That's the plan but it remains to be seen what exactly will happen!!
I received my first class packet in the mail yesterday and it was enormous and very daunting. I guess Andy and I will be studying together at night!! And at the end, we's gunna be the most edumacated couple who's ever been! Word!!

Silly Samantha

When Samantha is well rested she is fun and hilarious! She napped yesterday (hallelujah) and because of that nap she was fiercely funny. Here are a few of the things she said yesterday (I was actually smart enough to write them down if you can believe it!).

- I can't remember the exact situation but we praised Samantha for something and her response was "That's cuz I'm fabulous!".

- Samantha was asking her daddy how he was going to make the mattress fit upstairs and Andy said "I've got mad skillz". So Samantha asked "Where'd you get those?"

- I had told Samantha I was going to take her to the store with me because she napped and when it came time to leave she asked if I was going with her. Me, being the ever sassy mother responded "No, you're going to drive yourself to the store.". With tears welling up in her eyes she said "I can't, I'm too young to drive!".

Pickin' Pumpkins

Because the only one that can be trusted in our family is Chad, I have no pictures for this post. I'm sure Chad will get them to me when he can, but for now, you'll just have to hear about our evening and not see it for yourself! Sad, I know!

Last night we went to a pumpkin patch for dinner and some good ol' fashioned pumpkin pickin'. The pumpkins belong to my brother-in-law Greg's dad. Every year they have a weenie roast dinner before they head out to pick some pumpkins and they were kind enough to invite us this year. It was quite cold but the kids were bundled pretty well and seemed to be fine. We ate our dinner then headed to the patch. We found some perfect pumpkins and the kids enjoyed finding small ones to carry. We got a ton to decorate and cook and we were so appreciative that they were free!!! The kids had a great time and I think the adults did as well. Thanks to all the Cook's for inviting us!

Big Day!!

Today has been a big day so far!!! Alex and I went to RC Willey and bought him a big boy mattress set for his new big boy bed!! Then we picked up Samantha from preschool and when we got home I discovered that I sold a duvet!!! My favorite one (Plum and Sun) sold. It was also the first one I made and it is so cute. I hope the lady who bought it enjoys it! I have 2 other duvets in mind that I am going to make twin size for kids beds but I was hoping to make a sell before I made them. Now I have! Yippee!!

Seriously????

Really?? Seriously??? It's snowing!!! Just the other day it was warm and beautiful and we noticed a tree flowering and budding like it was Spring! And now.....SNOW! Utah weather is weird. Much like it's people! ;-) Ha ha

New Routine

Samantha has this new routine in the mornings that she is quite fond of. As soon as I open her bedroom door she scrambles out of bed and RUNS into my bedroom and LEAPS on my bed. She proceeds to crawl to my side of the bed and snuggle down in the covers. I then turn on the TV and she watches Sid the Scientist and Super Why. I close the door so she's all by herself (ie. no Alex) and the little munchkin is in heaven!! It's brutal to try and get her out to come downstairs for breakfast. On Tuesdays and Thursdays when she doesn't have school I let her stay in there longer but the other days when she has school it is not easy to get her to come out! Sometimes I think these kids with siblings just need a little time alone. It sure is nice on me as well to only have Alex downstairs to deal with first thing in the morning. It sure is a cute little routine and seeing her all snuggly in my bed makes me want to join her!!

The San Francisco Treat

The weather the past couple of days has been glorious! 70's, sunny, crisp and beautiful. I told Andy that I wished we had a lot more days just like this. He was quick to remind me that about 70% of the time that is the weather in San Francisco. If you can't tell, he's gunning for us to end up living in the Bay Area. He better get working on a higher paying job cuz, damn, it's expensive to live there!!!

Free Advice (unless you feel like paying me!)

If you weigh yourself....which, honestly, I don't recommend.....but if you must, weigh yourself first thing in the morning. NOT late at night after eating a huge dinner.

In case you're interested Ladies!

Here is a link to win a new handbag. Thank you to Corinne for pointing this out to me. There are a few cute bags there to win! Good luck!

www.handbagplanet.com

I'm in love.......

If anyone would like to purchase these for me I wear a 7.5 and would like the red. These would make a fabulous Christmas present for your favorite Kristi!!! Which would be me. I've included the link for ease of shopping. You're welcome.

http://www.shopbop.com/hint-strap-wedge-kors-michael/vp/v=1/845524441822347.htm?folderID=2534374302023800&extid=affprg-2465214-KORSS2007110192

I just have 4 words for you....

CINNAMON BUTTER POUND COFFEECAKE!!!

Costco. Check it out. Be like me. Eat the whole thing by yourself. You will NOT be disappointed!

Pippen (aka, Pip)

Well, yesterday we drove up to West Point, Utah and picked up little Pippen!! She is a fantastic little birdie so far and everyone is enjoying her. Especially me and Samantha. Samantha has already turned into a little bird lady, carrying Pip around on her finger, petting her, kissing her and just chatting with her. Alex is a bit more hesitant and frightened around her. He has pet her and just recently kissed her back, so we're making progress.
My nephew Cameron joined us on our trip to get her because he wants a birdie himself. But his mom is just WAY too mean to let that happen ;-). I thought the kids would enjoy seeing all the birds the breeder had but as soon as I walked in the house I knew I didn't want any kids to step foot in there! Let's just say it wasn't the best environment for my kids and my nephew!! Pip is adjusting very well though and seems very happy. I can tell Samantha is very happy because she just said to me, "Mama, having a bird is so much fun!". Andy has been sweet with her but says he is mostly happy that I am happy. He's a good hubby!
Here are some pictures of the new Higham!

A new addition to the Higham family!

Tomorrow afternoon we are driving up to Ogden to pick up a new little parakeet to add to our family!! Well, to add to me anyways. No one else besides my nephew is very excited for her. As Andy said she is "just another mouth to feed". Good attitude, I know!! ;-) It's not like he's even going to have to do a thing to help with her. Much like when we had our kids.....just kidding babe. I REALLY do not want any more babies but I do feel like I want another little thing to love. So, little Pip is going to be just the thing!!

I'll take pictures when we get her home and settled.

Twins???

Alex had his 3 year doctors appointment yesterday and the kid is HUGE! He weighs 34.4 pounds just barely trailing his sister (she weighs 34.8 pounds!). That weight is in the 75th percentile. He is 40 inches tall which is exactly how tall Samantha was just 2 months ago at her 4 year check-up! Explains why people always think they are twins! That height is in the 90th percentile! We just might have a tall boy on our hands which makes me so happy!! The doctor said he is perfect and the nurse was amazed at how far ahead he is for a 3 year old. For example, they asked if he can ride a tricycle. I told them he already rides a bike with training wheels (apparently they usually don't expect that until age 5). She asked if he could say a 3-4 word sentence at which time he spit out a 9-10 word sentence. Question answered!! She asked if he could count to 3 and I think the highest I've heard him count is 18. Also, he is toilet trained. They were very pleased with his health and progress and he was pleased to get a treat at the end of the appointment! I was lucky enough to be in there the day before they started doing flu shots so I also got flu shots for both kids taken care of! Neither one cried at the shots and were very pleased with the cute band-aids given by the nurse.
I TOTALLY deserve this kind of good behavior considering how AWFUL they were at the doctor's when they were little! They used to start screaming the minute we got in the elevator and wouldn't stop till we got in the car. The doctor always said it was good that they were fearful of strangers and were smart to remember at such a young age (probably before 3 months) what happens at the doctor's. It made me feel a little bit better but the ringing in my ears still continues to this day!
Let me just say though, I am extremely grateful for healthy children!!!!! It is not lost on me how huge of a blessing that is.