Funny Kids and Stories

October is always a blur. It goes so fast and there are so many events. Halloween has become bigger than Christmas. My kids had 6 dress-up events this Halloween. It was crazy and a lot of fun. I didn't get great pictures of them all in their costumes at the same time; we seemed to take more video of the kids. But here are a couple:

Projects:
We have had a variety of projects going on at our house. Our biggest outdoor project was building flower beds in our backyard. Captain F actually did it from start to finish in a fairly organized way. We didn't have to make too many trips back to the hardware store. Captain F has improved significantly since we first bought our house. There were quite a few home improvement projects that didn't quite turn out. But back to the garden, our bedroom window looks out on this sad patch of concrete backyard. The garden boxes are a welcome improvement. We planted the box with lots and lots of bulbs. It should be gorgeous in the spring.

One of my favorite videos of the kids helping Captain F with this project was deleted off my phone by Little V. Oh well. But here is another video of Little V helping paint the wood which leads us to another project--potty training Little V.

So the update on potty training is that we started last week and she is doing great. Of course there are some accidents, but she is really doing well. After watching the video you can see that she didn't want to do it. I had bought all sorts of cute presents to bribe/reward her. One day I showed them to her, this was before the video above was taken, and she liked all the presents. She wanted them right then. I told her no, that these were presents for when she went potty. She was upset, but as I put the presents away she regained her composure and said, "I no want dose presents." The big break came when I noticed she was going in her diaper and I hurried and put her on the potty. She was able to go in there and then I gave her a present. She thought that was OK. She still didn't want underwear, but from that point on she was willing to go potty once a day or so. Then she finally said she wanted to wear underwear. That's when we really started last week. All and all it has been pretty painless. I was probably the biggest hurdle. Sometimes it is hard to find the time and commit. I am sure most people don't want to read about potty training, sorry, but these are the victories of my life.

Moving on, for Captain F's birthday I gave him barefoot running shoes. He is easing his way into barefoot running. Even still, his calves have both cramped up in the process. The Prince loves to run with dad. They run around the block, which is about a third of a mile. Captain F was pretty surprised that the Prince kept a good pace and even sprinted at the end. Little V, never one to be left behind, found a way to get in on the act.





















The kids getting a tickle from my Dad.
















Finally, my favorite story lately is of Frosty. Two weekends ago three different kids in the neighborhood all cut their hair. I had to talk to my kids about never doing that and if they want a haircut we will take them to get one. The Prince had been wanting a haircut for a while because he said, "My hair's all crazy." So one Tuesday I scheduled a haircut for the Prince and Captain F with Pat, a woman, the Barber. This is the Prince's favorite place to get a haircut because Pat gives him lots of mints afterwards and they have cool cars to play with. Plus, he loves going were dad goes for a haircut. Anyway, the Prince was talking about the haircut all day. Little V thought she was going. When Captain F came home from work, Little V would not be left behind. Captain F said I better come along, too, so I could watch the kids while he got his haircut. So, it turned into a family outing. The Prince got his haircut first, then V sat in the chair and got her hair pulled back. It was perfect because she felt like she had had a turn. Finally, Captain F got his haircut. When Pat finished she asked if we would like her to trim the baby's hair so it was out of her eyes. I didn't really care, but I thought it was nice of her to offer so I agreed. We put Frosty in the chair, then Pat wrapped the cloth around her and next thing I know Pat says, "She'll look much better with these ends gone." Clip Clip. Pat gave her a full haircut. Frosty had her first haircut just shy of 6 months. Little V had her first haircut at 2 1/2. Frosty's hair is still poofy, so it sort of looks like a mom haircut. Here are some before and after photos.

(Sorry these pictures aren't in order, for some reason I can't move them around.)

New Stuff

The above is a picture of our new antique cupboard. Captain F and I have had credit at an antique store for years. Finally on Labor Day we got my mom to tend the kids and went down to the store. We found a couple good options, but decided on this beautiful pine cupboard that fits perfectly in our kitchen. We have been wanting something for that spot since we moved in to the house. It is so nice to have the extra storage. As you can see, I haven't finished decorating it, but we are totally thrilled by how it is coming along. We also got that cool wagon at the same time.

V is now in Dance class. It is the cutest thing ever! She does tap and ballet. I don't think she is particularly good at it, yet, but it is adorable. She is awful about letting me take pictures of her in her outfit. This was the best picture I got.

Here are some pictures of Frosty and the gang.

summer updates

Part I--General Pictures and Baby Blessing

Here are some more pictures of the kids from this summer. We have been busy, busy. Frosty is a total trooper. We cart her around everywhere. We have been to Weber a few times, but not as much as usual because of conflicting travel schedules. We haven't gone anywhere, but we have had lots of visitors. Initially, my family was going to drive from SLC to Glacier National Park and then on to Calgary and Banff in the beginning of July. I told Captain F we could totally do it with our 4 year-old, 2 year-old, and newborn. He was very skeptical. It sounded like torture to him. He said, "This just sounds like Weber with a 14 hour drive. I get all the cowboy I want at Weber and it is just 1 hour away." That comment was enough to derail my entire family. They decided to go another direction, New York City. Needless to say, I didn't think we would have fun taking our 4 year-old, 2 year-old, and newborn there. In the end, we decided a trip just wasn't in the cards this summer. Good thing people came to us.

Ootsie took this picture of the kids on the last day of her first trip to Utah of the summer.














We were able to take some friends up to Weber in June for an overnight adventure. We decided to go the day of and we actually pulled it together.









































































We blessed little Frosty on July 3rd. I know it was not a Sunday. The Canadians arrived in Utah on July 2nd, and my entire family left for NYC at 6 a.m. on July 4th. Saturday was the only day we could do it. We had the blessing and brunch at my parents' house. It was so nice not to have to get my house ready on top of everything else. The blessing was nice, if not real reverent, and the food afterwords was great. Lots of people went swimming, too. It was a fun celebration for little Frosty.





















































































V had her first swimming lessons this summer. The first day she was very brave for the first 25 minutes and then started to cry. The second day I got in with her when it was clear she was going to cry again. After that, she was a star student. She loved to volunteer to go first for everything. The Prince turned out to be a little too advanced for his class, but when I signed him up at the beginning of the summer that would have been the right level. He is basically water safe at this point. We still watch him, but he is able to swim without a life jacket or any aid. He just swam the length of the pool at my parents' house a couple of days ago. Like I said, I would never leave him unattended, but he is doing great.

Part II - Family Reunion

Ootsie and Outsie stayed with us for a couple of days in early July. They came out for the blessing and to go to Ootsie's family reunion in Zion's National Park. They did lots of yard work before leaving our house to stay with Cicada, who had them do lots more yard work at her house. Then it was on to the reunion, which is a four day affair. Captain F decided to take both the Prince and V from Friday to Sunday. Frosty and I stayed home. The sleeping arrangements were too hard for a newborn baby. The kids had a great time. They got to sleep in a tent, go to a water park, do lots of swimming, and learn to belly dance. I had a quiet weekend at home. Everyone was happy, especially Ootsie who was glad Captain F would brave taking the kids alone to join in the fun at the reunion. I think even Captain F was happy, even though he got all the work.

Part III--Richie's Visit

Richie decided to come out to Utah this summer afterall. He was here for a little less than a week, but we packed it with lots of activities and some down time, too. One of the funnest things we did was hike to Cecret Lake in Alta with the kids and Aunt Brat. The kids were great and walked almost all the way by themselves. Richie volunteered to carry Frosty, but he said he wouldn't take her if she had poop. To which Aunt Brat, who had volunteered to take her as well, said, "That goes for me, too." Richie was also very careful while watching the kids by the edge of the lake. You can see he has a good hold on V. We followed up the hike with a trip to Lagoon that night with all the family, except Senor who was on vacation with his girlfriend.





























































We also did lots of swimming and ate lots of good food. Richie is a great cook and always makes delicious meals for everyone. We should have taken pictures. Oops.



















(I am including the following picture because it is the only one taken of me recently that looks like I could be remotely attractive. I'll let you figure out why.)




























































Richie is definitely a favorite uncle. Lucky for Richie he also got to spend time without the kids. He and Aunt Brat went on another hike and a movie without us. I think it was a successful trip.

Pictures of Frosty

I promised to post some more pictures of the kids and particularly of baby Frosty, thus named because she was born with dark hair and lighter tips. How can she have frosted tips in the womb?

We have been so busy since Frosty was born. We may have just had a baby, but we have two other kids that still need to be entertained. Thankfully, Ootsie came here the day after Frosty and I came home from the hospital. She stayed for two weeks and it was wonderful. It is very easy to have a third child when someone else is doing the dishes, cooking, and entertaining your other kids. Ootsie blogged and posted pictures of some of her adventures with the kids. http://www.msmcjiggity.blogspot.com/

Plus, she even spent one morning working in the yard with Captain F. After a couple of hours working with his mom, Captain F came in and said, "It is just so nice to have two people working. I feel like I am actually gaining ground, not just maintaining." Even when I am not pregnant or recovering we rarely are able to both work together. One of us is usually watching the kids. The yard looks so much better. Now we just need to plant some flowers, and then I will post pictures. We had to wait until after our new roof and soffits and facia were installed, otherwise our garden would have been destroyed. As it was, our perennials didn't fare too well.

One of my favorite parts of the new roof was that they came the day of the Prince's birthday party. It was a little crazy but we survived. I will blog about the birthday later. It did turn out great despite the chaos.

Here are a couple more recent pictures of Frosty. We have the matching outfit for Little V. So cute! Poor Frosty is suffering from baby acne. I hate this stage. Good thing she is still beautiful.

We went to Lagoon yesterday and had a great time. It is a little more tricky with the baby, especially since the kids' favorite rides require that they be accompanied by a parent or older kid. We had to go in shifts. Here are the kids eating their ice cream cones.

OK. At least I have posted some more pictures, even if the stories are lacking. Sadly, it has taken me three weeks just to get this far.

She's Here!

Our new little girl arrived May 22nd at 12:28 a.m. She is 6 lbs. 12 oz. and 20 inches long. Captain F and I didn't get to the hospital until just after midnight. We had to pull up to the emergency room entrance because there was no way I could walk myself to labor and delivery. Sadly, there was no time for an epidural. I had to do it the old fashioned way. My cousin's wife just had her baby natural. On her blog, she said how she was surprised that a few screams escaped her. I remember thinking, "You screamed? Couldn't you control it?" I mean, this girl is tough. She has run several marathons, including the Boston marathon, and been in the navy. And now I have to admit that I, too, was surprised when a few screams escaped me. I know it startled Captain F. I really couldn't believe it myself. When it happened I thought, "Was that me?" The doctor and nurses thought I did great, though. The doctor was very nice and would tell me when to push and that I was doing such a great job pushing. He said one good push would be enough. Well, it took a couple more pushes than that, but obviously she came fast. The funny part is that the doctor kept telling me to push harder and keep going and I remember thinking, "Push harder? I am pushing as hard as I can. There's another level?" I told this to Captain F later and he said, "It goes to 11." We laughed and laughed. The delivery did go well and the baby is fantastic. She's got lots and lots of hair. Little V loves to rub her hand on the baby's hair and exclaim, "Id tickles." The Prince just adores the baby. He always wants to hold her and give her kisses.

Here are some photos of me, Captain F, The Prince, and V when we were all about the same age as the baby. I always love to compare how the kids look and who they look like. My mom says the baby looks a lot like I did. It's nice to have one of my kids look like they belong to me.