A Costa Rican Christmas

As Many of you know, my brother and his wife moved to Costa Rica about a year and a half ago. Last year, with the help of many generous people, we were able to provide a Christmas to a large number of families in Costa Rica. My amazing sister-in-law, single handedly puts in the work and effort that ten ordinary people would in order to make a difference in the world. Through her example, I have decided I want to do all that I can to make a difference too. This is why I am posting this link on my blog. Caralee (my sister-in-law) has started her own blog that explains how to help better the lives of many Costa Ricans. She describes specifically what is needed and where the donations go. She and my brother personally deliver the products to the families so there is no question as to whether or not your donations actually make a difference or not. THEY WILL!!!! PLEASE, PLEASE take a look. It is truly incredible what five dollars can do to change someone's life. "Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love" (Hamilton Wright Mabi). Let's do all that we can to encircle the world in this conspiracy of love... Please pass the word on to any who might be interested. I know there are a multitude of fund raisers, especially around this time of year, asking for money. But, what an opportunity this is, to know exactly how your money has helped someone live a little better. We are obviously not going through some big company, to make this happen...It is just us. Friends asking friends for a little help.

Here is the link http://www.acostaricanchristmas.blogspot.com/

Here are a few pictures that illustrate the living conditions of many of the Costa Rican's who live by my brother.

Missing Family

For whatever reason, today has been a day of missing my family. My parents and brother are all far away. For no particular reason I feel sad today that they are gone. It's funny how things like that will hit you at random times. I wish I could go to lunch and go shopping with my mom. I wish I could see my brother, his wife and kids and hang out with them. I wish my family were a little bit closer than several thousand miles away. I'm throwing myself a little pity party today.

TODAY

So today I had a million errands to run. I wake up feed Gracie, gulp down a disgusting instant breakfast for myself because Redd is crying on the floor and I need to hurry...Change his diaper, then feed him so he will be nice and full for our outing. Then I let Gracie get herself dressed because I'm already too worn out to fight her on what to wear. I then get the diaper bag ready and everything out in the car, when Redd poops again. I change his diaper for the second time in 10 minutes, thankfully it wasn't a blow out. At least I didn't have to change his clothes too. I get him packed up, and both of the kids in the car. Whew...it only took about two hours to get out the door this time, and this is only because I decided to forgo a shower today, even though I desperately need one.

First stop, America First and the Grocery store. Of course, as soon as I get there, despite my best efforts to do everything possible to keep Redd a happy boy, he starts crying. I'm rocking him with my foot, while getting Gracie a sucker and signing checks for the teller and answering her questions all at the same time. Thank goodness for the gift of multi-tasking. Redd keeps crying all through the grocery store. I know he is not hungry. I know he is dry, so the only option left is he is tired. So I look like an evil mom walking through the store letting my two and a half month old cry it out. He finally falls asleep as we walk out of the store.

Next, off to the dry cleaners for Jon, and the medical mart for my mom. Of course the dry cleaners goes great because I don't have to haul everyone out of the car. I love pulling up to a window! We then go to the Medicine Shop, or whatever the heck it's called, to pick something up for my mom for her mission. Things go pretty well except I have to get the kids out of the car...again. Getting the kids out of the car takes longer than the errand itself. After only being asleep for five minutes Redd wakes up to the jostling of his car seat, and my arm hurts already from pulling his car seat in and out of the car three different times now.

Then off to Zion's bank. I have to get out of the car here because I had business there that couldn't be taken care of through the drive through. I pull the kids out of the car AGAIN. I get in there and Redd is REALLY freaking out now. Rocking him with my foot isn't helping in the slightest. He is refusing to take a Binky, and I am literally having to yell over his crying so the teller can hear me. Gracie is tugging at my arm telling me something but I'm not paying attention because I am trying to block out the crying and focus on answering the teller's questions. Finally she yells over all the noise, "I HAVE TO GO POOPY AND POTTY!" Every employee in the bank hears this statement. (Poopy and potty are two different things to Gracie.) I drag the kids to the restroom, Redd's screaming is only getting louder. I continue to let him scream because I need to help Gracie do her business. We wash hands, come out of the bathroom and the whole line in Zion's is staring at me like I'm some awful mother ignoring her screaming child....And of course, in the line is some one I know. The person says..."someone isn't happy." Thanks for pointing out the obvious I feel like saying. Instead, I say a quick hello, laugh at the comment as if it is funny, and run back out to the car. I lift two children into the car for the umpteenth time today and grab Redd out of his car seat and nurse him in the back of my sweltering car. After a sweaty fifteen minutes, and a full tummy later, Redd is back in his car seat and a happy boy once again. we are off.

We were planning on eating lunch with Jon at work so next stop Cafe Rio. Redd starts screaming again for who in the heck knows why, so I decide to call the order in. Seeing as I am in the parking lot calling, I have some time to kill. I need to pick up a gift card at Texas Road house. I drive over there, debate whether or not I should just leave the kids in the car with the AC running for this one, but then decide I better be a good mother and just bring them in. child and car seat in hand again I walk up to the front door, give it a tug; locked! Ughh I should have left the kids in the car! Why the absence of vehicles in the parking lot didn't clue me in, who knows? Kids back in the car, strapped in, arms and back really starting to ache now, we are on our way back to pick up lunch. I am dreading lifting that gosh forsaken car seat one more time and luckily find a parking spot right up front. I leave the kids in the car while I run in. I'm staring at my car the whole time I'm picking up the food, to make sure some weirdo doesn't kidnap my children. I wait and wait and wait while the person who should be ringing me up is on a lengthy phone conversation with a friend. HELLO I have two little kids waiting for me in the car! FINALLY they ring me up, I get asked if I am married to Elise Ivins. Um...I am a female and definitely not married to another female, thanks for asking though. I run back out to the car, kids are safe, when I realize I only got one stamp instead of two for my meals. Annoying!

Finally we are on our way to Eaglewood Golf Course to meet Jon. I pull into the parking lot and Gracie has just fallen asleep. Do I really want to wake her up for lunch or do I let her sleep? "Wake her up," Jon says. Car seat and child in hand again I waltz my way into the pro shop. "I wanted a burrito instead of a salad" says Jon. I think a few curse words at this comment, but just say, "oh sorry sweetie." I get a dirty look for taking a plastic spoon from the Cafe, but I get to see my hubby and we eat lunch together in the beating sun out back. Enjoyable nonetheless.

I need to take care of some things at my parents house next, so I run there. Now hear I am blogging instead of running the million more errands I need to run today because I am exhausted. My back is killing me and I wonder if my arms will ever recover from today. Why is it that tasks that were once simple require more energy than I ever imagined to get done? It takes twenty minutes to do a five minute thing. It takes patients and long suffering. It takes a realization that I am not going to get everything done that I want to in a day. But this is what motherhood is all about, and as much as I have complained in the above writings, I love it and wouldn't trade it for anything else in the whole world. It makes my day worth it to have Gracie randomly say, "I love you mom", or have Redd look up at me with that big, gummy smile. My heart melts. My kids are what make my day exhausting, but my kids are what make my life worth it!

A little bit of summer fun

Since Jon works two jobs during the summer, which is turns out to be about 65 hours a week, I rarely see him. So, instead of sitting at home by myself, I decided to take off with the kids to Bear Lake with my sister-in-law Tanya. These are just a few pictures to document the trip.



Claire (my niece) had the magic touch this trip. Redd happened to get sick while we were there and was pretty fussy the whole time. For some reason Claire could always calm him down. She loved the fact that she was the only one who could. We called this the taco hold.

What are the chances that I actually get gracie to look at me while she is jumping? Lucky shot!

SUN VALLEY

We then went on our annual trip to Sun Valley. Jon's family ownes a cabin up there and the whole Ivins clan spends a week there every summer. This was an effort to change Redd's diaper and keep the sun off of him at the same time.

My cute boys

Gracie had no idea how cold that water was. This was the one and only time she jumped in. Because of the abnormally cool spring they have had, Red Fish Lake was only 55 degrees. The air outside was only about 63 degrees; a little chilly. We water skiied only once. Even with wet suits the water was hypothermic.

Wating for the super lame fireworks. You would think ritsy Sun Valley would have put on a good show. We were sorely mistaken. They lasted about three minutes. Gracie at least was too little to understand that they sucked. She had a good time.

Graice isn't really squeezing Redd's head off. She wanted him to have a sleepover in her bed this night.

The big countdown begins...Mission to Norway

The countdown has begun...My parents leave to go in to the MTC in 16 days, July 12th. They come home for their farewell July 18th and then fly to Norway for a year and a half on July 23rd. Today is the first day I truly feel sad. As much as we are going to love living in their house, driving their cars, etc. (I know we are the ultimate moochers) I am going to feel a little lost without my mom and dad here. After July 23rd Jon and I are on are own as far as my family goes. Tom and Caralee are in Costa Rica and my parents will be in Norway. What is with my family and wanting to live in far off lands? Sheesh! It's a good thing Jon's family is so big and everyone living within the Salt Lake valley.

I would like to think that I am not the bratty, ornery teenager that I once was, and because of that, my relationship with my parents has blossomed over the past several years. I see my mom just about everyday, and I just got back today from a mini vacation to St. George with my dad. As I reflect on all of the recent memories I have with them, it makes me sad to see them go. I'm going to miss them.

I have never doubted or questioned my parents beliefs. As different as they are from each other, the gospel is the one aspect of their lives where they always stand united. They have never wavered and have been great examples to me throughout my life. Their willingness to go on this mission, and the sacrifices they are willing to make, only exemplifies their dedication further. My Dad, leaving work at a time when he has never been more needed; not taking home any income while paying for the most expensive mission in the world. My mom's willingness to live in a foreign country and to try and learn a foreign language. Both of them leaving their family behind for a year and a half. These are just a few of the sacrifices they will be making. However, they know where they are needed at this moment in time and are courageous enough to act on their inspiration. For that I am grateful. Mom and dad, I love you and will miss you. Thanks for your examples.

I'm sorry to be so sappy, but I had to write down my feelings.

Crazy June Weather

Today is June 12... Jon came home from working outside at our house and he was wearing his WINTER SKI COAT!!! He is still wearing it (inside) watching Tinkerbell with Gracie because he hasn't warmed up yet. June 12th--winter coat! Something is wrong here. I am moving to St. George! I am done with the cold. Although, I must say, I do enjoy the rain and it does make for some beautiful scenery. I wish it were a little warmer than 45 degrees outside though. That part of it is a little depressing.

Just a few pictures of "Big Redd"

He always smiles so much more for Jon. This was his very first that we caught on camera. Not the best lighting, but a dang cute smile.

More Pillows Please!

As I was taking a little break after running around at the park all day, I went to see what Gracie was doing and found this. She apparently wanted to make sure she had enough pillows for a comfortable bed. :)

Gracie is growing up....much too fast.

The progression of Gracie. (Look at the drool line on her clothes in this photo.)

I have been feeling that Gracie has been slightly left out the past couple of weeks. She has been acting out in order to get a response out of me in an effort to take my attention away from the baby. I feel that I have become the evil step-mother when it comes to her. My patience is limited, and I seem to snap at her more than I should. I have been feeling awful about this and so have made an effort to be more patient and to be a better mother to her.

On Saturday we went to visit "daddy" at work (Eaglewood Golf Course) and then went to the park to play. Because I was trying ultra hard to give her my undivided attention, I noticed a few small but important changes in her. While we were hanging out at Eaglewood she informed me that she needed to go potty. I took her into the bathroom, ready to go in the stall with her and help her. She stopped me and said she wanted to go in by herself and that she did not need any help. So I stood out and waited for her. She went, wiped, flushed, and washed her hands without me telling her and without any help! I know this seems small to someone who is not a mother but for me this was a monumental moment. She even knows how to lock and unlock the stall doors all by herself!

The next stop was the park. I noticed I had made the dumb move of putting crocs on Gracie to wear at the park. This is dumb because all of the stupid bark chips go in through the holes of her shoes and Gracie gets so frustrated that she can hardly focus on playing! Not that I blame her, it is really annoying to have stuff stuck in your shoes. I was hoping she wouldn't remember that this is something that has really bothered her in the past.

I forgot all about this little issue for a while because she never whined or said anything about it. Then I noticed as she played, every so often she would stop, empty out her shoe, put it back on her foot and return to playing as if nothing had happend. Another momentous moment for us! For all of you mothers out there you understand exactly why this is so huge! In the past she would cry every two minutes about her shoes. It would be a huge ordeal that I would have to help her with. We would both get so frustrated that we would end up just going home. This time however, she never once mentioned it. She simply took care of it herself.

It was that day that I noticed how much she is growing up right befor my eyes. I went home and looked at these old pictures of her and cryed. I feel so terrible for not enjoying every minute with her. Having baby Redd has also made me realize how big she has gotten in such a short amount of time. I love both my kids so much!!!! I've been trying really hard to be a better mommy for both of them.

We Did It! Baby Redd is Here!

(our first family photo)

The labor couldn't have gone better! I went in on the april 20th to be induced. We arrived there in the morning, Jon rented a few movies, and we pretty much just hung out. The movies were a great idea on my husband's part to distract me from the pain. Once doctor Kasteller broke my water, the contractions really started coming on strong. Then came the blessed epidural. By the time the anesthesiologist finished giving me the epidural I was at a ten. I went from a 5 to a 10 in about 30 mins! Three pushes and one tiny stitch later baby Jonathan Redd Ivins was born! 7 lbs 12 oz. It really couldn't have gone better. Even the doctor said he would deliver ten more of my babies because it went so well.

Life has been so much fun since he has been here. I feel so blessed to be able to have two healthy, beautiful children. It's amazing to see how our family has grown and expanded. I love my little family so much! Bringing a new child into the world is a reminder of what is truly important in life. Hopefully I can be a good mom for these two little ones.

Jon I love you more and more every day. You are the best Dad in the whole world. I love that we have a family together and I hope it will continue to grow.

We both had a good cry.

He screamed and screamed and screamed from the moment he came out. He hasn't screamed since though. I think he got it all out of his system the first half an hour of his life.

My two boys. They have the same nose!

He might end up being a thumb sucker just like his big sister....

We wanted to make sure Gracie felt important too on this special day, so we gave her this gift and told her it was from baby Redd, in hopes that she would like her little brother. (it seemed to have worked.) She was so excited that he brought this for her.

We just love this cute little guy!

I know I might be a little bit bias, but I think I have the two cutest kids in the whole world.

I thought Gracie was going to be jealous of baby Redd, but surprisingly she hasn't shown the tiniest bit of jealousy. She has been excited about him ever since we brought him home.

Back From the Dead...

Well I just wanted to do a quick post since I haven't updated since August. The reason for leave of absence from the blog, most of you already know, Jon and I are expecting our second baby! We are super excited, however, I tend to barely make it through my pregnancies alive (ok so maybe that's a bit of an overstatement), so blogging hasn't exactly been on top of my to do list. I haven't felt like doing much other than laying in bed and staring at the ceiling for quite some time. I have been through some serious ups and downs, IV's and anxiety attacks to say the least. Now, I am happy to say, that I am finally among the living and truly enjoying the pregnancy. I feel better now than I ever did with Gracie, so although we don't know what we are having yet (a delay due to insurance changes) I can't imagine that it is not a boy. I shouldn't say that because I now have probably jinxed myself, so we'll see what happens. We should find out within the next week or so.

Our Christmas was fabulous, Jonny surprised me with a new wedding ring! My old one has had some problems and so I have been without a ring for close to four years now. Jon, surprised me with a beautiful new one! I was so excited! I feel like people aren't looking at me like I am some knocked up teenage girl anymore. I will post some Christmas pictures soon....

Like mother like daughter

So, as much as I hate to admit it, Gracie and I go on a diet coke run at least four times a week. (I try really hard not to make it every day). Whenever I go through the drive thru at good old corner 22, I get myself the regular diet coke with lime and Gracie a small sprite. Well today I was on my way home from running errands all morning long, thinking how wonderful a diet coke sounded. I was debating whether or not to succumb to the craving. I never said anything out loud to Gracie, I was just having this little debate in my own head when Gracie says..."I think I probably need a sprite." I bursted out laughing because I was thinking the exact same thing in my head. "I think I probably need a diet coke." I'm afraid I've already gotten my child addicted to my poor habit and decided to skip the diet coke today in hopes that it will help. The last thing that I want is my child addicted to soft drinks at the ripe old age of two.

24th of July fun....a little late

For the 24th our Friends Dan and Emily were in town, so we decided to take a little trip up to the Ivin's condo in Bear Lake. It was so much fun to see Dan and Emily for a little bit and eat raspberry shakes everyday. The downfall was that we didn't have a boat with us, but it was still a great time and beautiful scenery.

The kids loved throwing rocks into the lake. They could have stayed there all day just throwing rock after rock in the water. Every time a boat passed us the kids thought they were pirates. They kept yelling out to the people "Hi pirates!"


While we were out on the beach throwing rocks into the water, Solomon (our nephew) all of a sudden had to go to the bathroom really badly. The poor kid had diarrhea and couldn't hold it very well. Michael (Solomon's dad) grabbed Sol and made a mad dash for a restroom....location unknown. As Michael and Solomon were making their way, they happened to come across several of these bikes along the boardwalk ha! So they grabbed one and biked the rest of the way until they found a restroom. This little bike saved Solli; he made it! When Michael and Solli showed up again riding this bike we all died of laughter. It was like this bike appeared out of nowhere just for them! I mean really, who finds a bike with a sign like this on it in a time when transportation is so desperately needed? Of course we returned the bike where we found it so whoever is in dire need of it next will have it available to them as well.

Our last night in Bear Lake we all stayed up late playing a very serious game of Yahtzee. We were all excited that we all got our kids to bed so could play, all except.....

GRACIE! Now you may be thinking that this picture looks like a sweet, innocent child...O00h no! She was one naughty girl that night. About a week or so before we left for the trip, Gracie woke up in the middle of the night screaming bloody murder. I have never seen a child so shaken in my life! She was as white as a ghost and curled up in the corner of her crib shaking uncontrollably. So I picked her up and kept asking her what was wrong. She told me there was a lady bug in her bed that was crawling on her tummy. (translation: spider in her bed.) She was definitely not going back to sleep in her own bed so I brought her into bed with me and Jon. Even laying in bed with us was not enough to calm her. She kept searching our sheets for more "lady bugs." Long story short, we had an extremely long night, that is until sweet little Gracie asked me if we could say a prayer because it would make her feel better. When we were done she said that mommy, daddy and Jesus would keep her safe and FINALLY fell asleep. It's amazing that a little two year old had faith in her mommy's prayer and faith that Jesus would keep her safe.

For the next several weeks she absolutely refused to sleep in her bed and it was heart breaking to make her try. I don't know what she could possibly be so scared of, but whatever it was completely traumatized her. We were in Bear Lake in the middle of this episode so putting Gracie to bed took some work. However, the first few nights either me or Jon would lay down with her until she fell asleep. No biggie. The last night however, she would have none of it. She refused to go to sleep and every time we got up to leave she would coming running down the stairs after us screaming that there were crabs in her bed. We succumbed and let her stay down stairs with us, although Jon sentenced her to a chair in the corner of the room. The poor girl couldn't leave the chair. She just had to watch us play games from afar. She ended up staying up with us and this picture was taken of her at about one in the morning. Being way too cute to really get into trouble. Thankfully she has finally gotten over this phase, although she still has to sleep with the hall way light on.

Adding a little sunshine in my life

At the end of June our renters moved, rather abruptly out of our house. We've been searching for new renters ever since, and thankfully have just gotten a new family in there. During our month of vacancy Jon, Gracie, and I spent many long days over at our house cleaning things up such as: the yard, our broken sprinkler system, the nine million holes in our walls from all the pictures our last renters hung, and our two broken toilets. Anyway while we were working our hineys (I don't know how to spell that) off, we spontaneously decided to paint our doors yellow with a little extra paint we had lying around. It's a little bright, but I think it turned out pretty cute. I needed to add a little sunshine in my life even though I don't actually live there right now. It still makes me happy to drive by my cute little house with it's new yellow doors.

Painful Goodbyes

Tom and Caralee (my brother and sister-in-law) left for Costa Rica, for an entire year on Sunday. As Tom is my only living sibling, I've been pretty bummed that he and his family decided to ditch me. I am pretty much an only child, yet again. Poor Gracie, who looks up to Brooklyn like she is the next American Idol, wont know what to do with herself. Brooklyn is her very best friend. We'll have to go BFF hunting for me and for Gracie :) The good news is we have a free place to stay in Costa Rica and airfare can be fairly inexpensive into San Jose! We will definately be planning a trip ASAP!