New Year Resolutions, Mid-January

It may be the middle of January, but I wanted to formally declare my New Year Resolutions so that I would remember this year. year, I wanted to go simple. If I can maintain this daily, I won't need reminding. But just in case I lapse, I can remind myself and start again. This year, I have the same resolutions as a mother and for myself personally.

1. Read every day- individually and with my kids

2. Do something creative every day- I want to make sure that I don't avoid creative activities with my boys just because they can take a little more time, effort or make a bigger mess. And I am happier when I get to do something creative, too. Being creative in any form is something truly personal for me, and that can be invaluable in my current lifestyle as a full time mother!

3. Play outside every day- a little fresh air every day makes everyone happier, healthier and is just plain fun!

So that's it. Three things to do every day. I think that from the perspective of my mothering, if I can fit in these three things for my boys every day, whatever else happens or doesn't happen won't be as big of a deal. And that's good, because a lot of things don't happen when I think they should. For me personally, I am hoping that if I can stick with these three things it will bring me a little more peace and balance. Now it is time to test my resolve. Happy New Year!

Here's to you, Big Man!

This cake looks A-OK!

Christmas, Start to Finish

We began our Christmas with a violently sharp Christmas tree that we got here in Ohio. Stratton got to the point that he wouldn't put ornaments that had fallen off back on because it was "too pokey" and it drew blood from me on more than one occasion. But, we wanted one that would discourage Dashell from getting in to too much trouble, and it certainly made him keep his distance. Next year, we aren't going to get such a prickly tree- it takes all the fun out of decorating! The month of December was a busy one for us with Brigg preparing for Boards and all the other events that go with holiday celebration. In fact, one day we got so caught up in everything else that was going on that we forgot about our tickets to the Country Lights in Kirtland and missed it entirely! I didn't even realize it until the next day and I was MAD at myself. But, in reality, it probably wouldn't have been too fun that day because we were all running a little thin, so maybe it was all for the best after all. And will teach me to make my life simpler in December next year! After Brigg took his boards, we flew to Alaska for 2 weeks and it was heaven.

This is a picture of Brigg and me with my brother and two of my nephews, Chandy and Graham on a quick little overnight snowmachine trip we took in to the White Mountains. Can you guess who is who? If it helps, Brigg told me I was sporting an 80s vibe. We had the best time while we were there. I hadn't been home to Alaska in the winter for almost 10 years, and I LOVED it. It felt more like home than when I have visited during the spring and summer, probably because winter is how I remember life there! We went snowmachining, to the hot springs, dog mushing, cross country skiing, and did as much as we possibly could. There just wasn't time for everything! We atill had a pretty good list of things we would like to do when we left. Usually, I am always ready to come home after vacation, but not this time. It felt way too short! There was just too much to do and too much good company!

The boys did great while we were there. This is Stratton all suited up to go dog mushing at -30 F. Who says that cold weather isn't kid-friendly? They both loved their grandparents and all the attention. And I loved having someone else to help provide all the attention. My family also has alot of Christmas season birthdays, so we were able to celebrate Dashell's 1st birthday and his cousins Graham and Nelsons birthdays too. And we were thinking of my other brother on his birthday and the day his new daughter was born while we were there,too!

This is a picture of Stratton and me and my brother and his kids dog mushing. Just take my word for it, we are there under all the layers! We have had such a hard time coming back to real life in Cleveland, although the snow has helped. I think that I just have a little snow in my blood. I love it. It makes everything so much more beautiful and more fun. Stratton has gotten over his aversion to cold and is playing outside all the time since we have been back, and Dashell is trying to convince us that he didn't turn 1, he turned 3 just like his brother. I cannot believe how quickly this past year has gone, and I am so grateful to have a charming one year old boy on this end instead of being enormous and waiting for a baby like last year. Dashell has brought so much joy to our home and makes us a better family. We love him and his funny little personality. He is talking up a storm. My mom says that his vocabulary is Mom, Dad, uh-oh, bye bye and a whole string of swearing. When he gets mad, he can really tell you off. But most days he is happy and charming and so fun you forget that he could ever have a temper. I am so glad that my mom and dad got to see him at this fun age before he can start causing real, deliberate trouble. So, now we are back to Cleveland, and for the boys and me, this will be the long haul. We won't leave again until we really leave. I cannot believe that 4 years have gone by so fast. I don't think that I would recognize Brigg and I moving here without any kids, all our belongings in 1 small trailer anymore. I wish everything would still fit in 1 small trailer, but I don't think that we will be so lucky this time around! We had a beautiful Christmas and are sad for it to be over, but now we are looking ahead to the uphill climb ahead of us. Happy New Year!

Stratton's Dog

I was going to do a post about decorating our Christmas tree, but none of the pictures I took while we were decorating turned out blurry. Probably too much chaos! Everyone was blurred from moving all over the place. So instead, I thought that I would write a short ode to a stuffed animal who has been a part of our lives for over 3 years. Stratton has been inseperable from this little stuffed dog since he was only 8 or 9 weeks old. He always sleeps with it and used to take it everywhere with him. And yes,it really is as gross as it looks. Runs through the laundry hardly seem to make a difference anymore.

For almost three years, we have only known Stratton's faithful companion as "Dog". Short, simple and to the point. It seemed to be all the name he needed. But Stratton is getting older and now feels the need to give Dog a new name. Now, instead of Dog, he is always looking for "Booger Dog" or sometime just "Booger". I hope Dog doesn't feel that his dignity and signifigance in Stratton's life are diminished by his new title. If anything, he should be honored. I think that for a 3 year old boy to call something "Booger" is a true sign of love. And thank goodness that the only things they get to name are stuffed animals!

The Fine Art of the 3 Year Old Insult

This summer Stratton picked up a few things from his cousins. One of these tricks was to turn around statements on us. Like if we say, "You're being silly", he says, "No, YOU'RE being silly." He thinks he's pretty slick, but I don't think he's perfected the fine art of the insult quite yet. The other weekend we were driving somewhere past a smelly factory and Brigg asked what the smell was and I commented that it smelled industrial. From the back seat, Stratton piped up. " No, YOU'RE industrial." I'm not sure what he means by that. He has continued to say it all week. Maybe when he says "Mom, you're industrial" he's trying to tell me that I'm industrial strength. Sometimes I feel like I have to be to keep up with these boys.

Neibaurs, Y'All

We have had a wonderful week, and I am sad to seeing it coming to a close and the beginning of the next stretch of busy weeks! Last Friday, Brigg took off from his clinic duties, and we left on what will probably be our last road trip from Cleveland. I had decided that I wanted to see one more place out here, since chances are it will be a long time before we are back East again. We drove to Columbus and spent the night so that we would both have a chance to go to the temple. The next day, we went to the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus where they were having a special Dale Chihuly exhibit where he had come and incorporated his glasswork into the botanical displays. It was amazing. I loved the colors. They also had a glass-blowing demonstration going on that was fascinating. If I wasn't 100% certain that I would seriously burn myself, I would be very tempted to take a class and give it a try. It is certainly unlike anything else I've ever seen.

Late that afternoon, we finished our drive to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. I have been wanting to visit ever since I read an article about the cave last year, and we thought it would be a good fit for our boys who are not always the most conscientious cultural participants. History just doesn't hold the same appeal for them. The next morning, Brigg left on a six and half hour tour through the cave off any of the lighted or developed paths with a small group and guide. The cave is over 367 miles long, so he clearly didn't see all of it, but he had a great time climbing through the dirt and tiny passages with his helmet and headlamp. I took both boys on a shorter tour of the area of the cave with the most formations, including the Frozen Niagara. It was beautiful, but Stratton was in a state of borderline panic for most of it, and when they turned off all the lights to illustrate how dark a cave really is, I thought he might make a break for it. Of course, once we walked out, he kept talking about what a big kid he was and how he was going to go back in with Daddy. I had to a make a run to the grocery store with the boys to restock our on the road snacks and food for Dashell, as well as get Stratton a little $1.00 flashlight that would give him the courage to go back to the cave. I think that little trip to the store was almost as much fun as the other things we did on our trip. Kentucky was my first time in any remotely Southern state. I have always been one to take regional stereotypes skeptically, but rural Kentucky holds true. I have never seen so much camo, or so many mullets and cut off t-shirts. Even at dinner, in a relatively nice restaurant, there was no shortage of all three redneck hallmarks. I should have know when we crossed the border and the first Kentucky water tower said "Florence, Y'all" on the side. Classy. I did love the drawl, and the people were very friendly. Just a different style than most places I've been. Brigg finally came out of the cave, dusty and tired and we had a fun evening together. The next day, we all went on a tour of some of the more historical areas of the cave. I thought it was fascinating, and the boys really did well. I don't think we'll ever see anywhere else quite like Mammoth Caves.

That afternoon, we drove up to Cincinnati, and the next day we went to the Newport Aquarium there. We were so pleasantly surprised by Cincinnati. The more we have been through Columbus, the more we have felt like it is almost exactly like Cleveland. But we really liked Cincinnati. It was beautiful with all the bridges crossing the river and the steep hills through town. I thought that it seemed like a great city.

We really enjoyed the aquarium. Stratton was so excited to touch a shark and walk through the tubes that the sharks could swim over and around him, and he loved the jellyfish exhibit where he could make the jellyfish change colors by turning a dial that controlled the light on the tank. We were not ready to come home to reality and responsibility, but that's what being a grown up is about, right? We had a lovely Thanksgiving with my sister and her family, and today we went up and took a nice long, chilly walk around the Holden Arboretum. I think that now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, winter has decided it is time to get started on Cleveland. Brigg's comment when the first real gust of wind hit us this morning was, " Now I remember why I don't like winter here." That wind is freezing! But it can hardly be the beginning of the Christmas season without a bite to the air!

Tonight we had the missionaries for dinner, and Stratton was in fine silly form. When the missionaries asked him who the scriptures were about, he told them "People." A true enough statement, but I don't think it was the answer they were looking for. He is also looking forward to getting a Christmas tree. I had mentioned that I thought we would just do a small one this year, and he keeps saying, " I need a big, big BIG Christmas tree because I am sooo big now." Not the best rationale I've ever heard, but I'm hoping that 4 or 5 feet seems big to him. I'm not quite sure he has the best grasp on 'big' and 'little' anyways. He always tells me that he and Daddy are big, but Dashell and Mommy are small. As much as I would love for that adjective to apply to me, I don't think I am small in comparison to Stratton by any stretch of the imagination. Oh, and Dash is officially eleven months old and has 3 teeth- one on the bottom and two on the top. It is quite the lopsided smile. He learns how to get into more and more trouble every day and loves to tease his brother. Today I finally gained hope that he will give in and go down stairs backwards. He made it down three steps the 'right' way. Up until now, he has attempted to rely on the brute strength of his arms to go down headfirst. He wasn't very motivated to turn around, because he was strong enough to make it down most larger steps using his chubby little arms. But he may have finally given in to convention. Let's hope. We are getting tired of the obstacle course in our house to get from downstairs to upstairs. Hope you all had wonderful Thanksgivings and are looking forward to this Christmas season as much as we are.

Just a peek....

In September, we had Sarah take our family pictures and they turned out so beautifully! I could put all of them on my walls, but that would look a little vain. Sarah is so talented and even though our boys were a bit of a wrestle, you couldn't even tell in the shots. Sarah's pictures of us are way that I like to pretend we could be...silent, smiling and still, even though we are loud, screaming and running in 5 different directions most of the time! I guess that's what you get with a house full of boys and brothers who always want to be together, even if it means fighting over every toy. I didn't think that would start so early, but I was wrong! Maybe I'll just sit and look at my lovely family pictures for a few more minutes before I go back in to battle...