Goin' On A Goose Hunt

You know Spring is in the air when the geese come home! Yesterday we heard the geese as they flew overhead to their summer home. Lucky for us we live a golf ball's drive away from the wetlands at the Great Salt Lake. (I'm sure someone could throw a baseball and hit the wetlands. I can't. For that matter I don't even think I could drive a golf ball that far, seeing as I can't drive a golf ball very far at all. But Brian could. Maybe even Jaxon. But not me. But I can see them so they have to be close right?)

With binoculars in hand and shoes on our feet we ventured out to see the sights on our street.

On the Move

This week Ryker has decided that he would rather be where he's not. For the longest time he would roll when he wanted to roll...which wasn't very often. He would scoot in a circle, but not forward or back. He would reach for a toy, but as soon as he realized he couldn't reach it from where he was he would loose interest.

All that has changed. He is getting around better everyday. It is a battle during every diaper change. The boy who would once hold so still now rolls over as soon as I get the diaper off and takes off! He is becoming a very busy little boy!

First Cut is the Hardest

You may have noticed in a recent post that Ryker's hair was getting long, really long. Brian had been hinting that he needed a cut (I didn't disagree) but the real clincher was when a lady in our ward laughed when a little boy called Ryker a boy. She said "Did Ty just call your baby girl a boy?!?!" She was pretty embarrassed when I told her that he was in fact a boy.

So we paid a little visit to our friend and neighbor who Jaxon affectionately refers to as "Haircut Heidi". To say Ryker didn't enjoy his first haircut would be the understatement of the century. The cape was put around his neck and the screaming began.

It looks like he's wearing shoulder pads in this picture. That would be his hands under the cape protesting the cape.

The crying was so loud that Heidi's husband and neighbor (who were in the garage working on a snowmobile engine) came in to see what the drama was all about. Yeah, it was that loud!

I love this one! He is looking at Heidi with just a sad/mad expression:

"Why are you doing this to me?!?!"

He's lost that baby look and looks like such a little boy now.

A handsome (and now happy) little boy.

Looking On The Bright Side

Brian knows me...he knows me really well. For Christmas he surprised me with season tickets for Broadway Across America. There are few things I enjoy more than a musical. Singing and dancing is my kind of heaven. Literally.

The first show was Kurt Bestor's Christmas. (It's not a Broadway show, but the ticket office made a mistake with our tickets so we missed the first show. They compensated us with these tickets.) I didn't know what to expect. I didn't think I even knew who Kurt Bestor was at the time. It was one of the funnest concerts I have ever attended. Kurt is entertaining and oh, so talented! It is something that I would definitely love to see again and I would recommend it to anyone.

This last Wednesday Brian and I went to see the second show on our list...Ain't Misbehavin'. It raved of an all-star cast starring Ruben Studdard (remember the American Idol winner?...yeah, most people don't). It's a Broadway show so it should have singing, dancing, and a great story, right? Singing... yes. Dancing...the unfortunate kind. Story...none. During intermission I heard a few people talking about it. "So what do you think?" said one. "Well, it's not what I expected." said another. That seemed to be the consensus. I asked Brian if he wanted to stay. He was there for me so he was in it for the long hall.

When intermission ended we went back in for the second half of the show. It had to get better, right? Immediately we noticed many empty seats around us. Apparently there were quite a few not willing to give the show a 2nd chance. During the second song of the second half one of the cast members lit a cigarette. I knew it had to be a prop. After all, smoking is illegal in public buildings in Utah. Oh, no. It was real. It was absolutely amazing how much smoke (and smell)came from one cigarette. We stayed through the next song and then quickly made our exit. We weren't alone. We walked out with another group of disappointed show-goers. Their conversation put the whole night in perspective: "Baskin Robbins...here we come!" "We had more excitement parking our car!"

Looking on the bright side....I had a fun time going on a date with Brian (thanks Becky for watching the boys) and we are that much closer to (drum roll please....)(Photo taken from Wicked's official site and altered in photoshop...shhh! don't tell)

Eek! I am so excited!!

Flashback Friday: Crossroads

Clearfield Seminary Council 1997
Back Row: Bro. Harward, Rod Earl, Todd White, Brooke Graham, Wayne Davis, Bro. Andersen
Front Row: Me, Natalie Moss, Abby Davenport, AnnaMay Packham, Kandice Knight, Kathryn Law, Sandi Russon, Kristi Hawks

I came to a crossroads in my life at age 13.

Where I was and where I knew I wanted to be were two totally different places. The friends I had grown up with had taken a path that didn't include church or the values that I had always been taught. They were nice kids, we had fun together, and I knew I was accepted by them. For awhile I really thought that I could still be their friend. I could hold on to my values and be a good example for them. What I found instead was that I was gradually making rationalizations for my own wrong choices in order to continue to fit in.

Hanging out with these friends had been okay with my parents when we were in elementary school, but when junior high came it was a big deal. It seemed like it was becoming a regular battle with my dad. For the longest time I defended these friends. Told my dad that he was wrong. They were good kids, I would say. But I knew my dad was right. It was a feeling way deep down that told me "Listen to your father". I figured I was left with two choices. Stay with the friends that were leading me down an ugly path or have no friends.

My grandma passed away during this time in my life. It was her passing that really got me thinking about where I was in my life and where I wanted to be. I didn't want to be with the friends I had, but I was so afraid of being alone. I had to do it. I needed to do it. It was better to be alone, right?

So I prayed. And I prayed. And I prayed some more. This was the first time in my life that I remember really praying for something. I cried and plead with my Heavenly Father to know what to do and then to have the strength to do it, but mostly I remember praying that I wouldn't be alone.

The first day was the hardest. I purposely walked to a different bus stop so I didn't have to see my former friends. I sat by myself on the bus. Before school started, when everyone hangs out with their friends, I wandered the halls alone and spent more time than needed in the restroom. Finally the bell rang to go to 1st period. That first bell never sounded so glorious! Class was a welcome retreat from the social sector. Small talk before and during class, but mostly I just had to sit and listen. Lunch was by far the worst part of the day. It's amazing how a person can still feel all alone when surrounded by hoards of other people. I ate my lunch in record time and retreated to my locker. Eventually the day ended. I had survived much to my surprise.

The next day my prayers were answered. During 4th period's Home Economics class (which happened to be right before lunch) I sat on the floor with Kristi cutting out our apron patterns. Kristi and I were class friends. We didn't know each other before this class and we didn't ever talk outside of class. I don't remember all the specifics of our conversation that day in class, but I'll never forget how I felt when she asked me if I wanted to eat lunch with her and her friends that day.

Nor would I forget the overwhelming feeling that the Lord knows me, really knows me. She didn't know I was praying for a friend and probably doesn't know to this day how that one invitation changed my life. But I know. And the Lord knows I know. And that has made all the difference.

A Little On The Wild Side

Pay It Forward

"The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a handmade gift from me during this year. When and What will be a surprise. There's a small catch though....Post this same thing on your blog and then come back and leave a comment telling me you're in. Remember, only the first 3 comments receive the gift."

A Few of My Favorite Things

Heather tagged me. She said it so well: "Post 5 of your favorite things. Idea, store, product, anything! (pictures not necessary, just thought I would) Like on Oprah's favorite things show, but you won't be receiving any of these until I win the lottary"...except the crackers. I could possibly get you the crackers Ü

1- My piano. I really love playing the piano. It's the first piece of furniture we ever purchased and still my favorite. Pre-Jaxon I played on an almost daily basis.... hour after hour. Jaxon changed that. He didn't enjoy the piano as much as I did. As a toddler he would grab my hands and pull them off the keys while I was playing. Ryker, bless his heart, enjoys the piano. He sits on the floor with toys for as much as 15 minutes at a time so I can play my heart out. I pull out old recital music every once in a while and remind myself that I've gotten rusty. It usually takes an event to pull the music out (like being asked to accompany someone or play in church) but when I start playing it's hard to stop.

2- Whales Crackers. I was so excited when my friend introduced me to my new favorite snack. If you love the delicious Goldfish crackers with all their cheddar goodness, then you will simply love Whales. They taste just as yummy and for a fraction of the cost...and you get more in a package. I love finding a product of equal value for a better deal. It makes me happy!

That leads me to my next favorite thing...3-Couponing! I know I can be a bit of a nerd sometimes, but I really do love getting a good deal. This is my coupon file box. I have folders for the SmartSource, Redplum, and Proctor & Gamble coupons that come in the Sunday newspaper. I also have files for any coupons that come in the mail or with the grocery receipts. I file them by baby, car, house/yard, eating out. The last file is for the grocery ad's. This little file box sits on my laundry room counter and saves our family lots of money. What's not to love?

4- Warm Vanilla Sugar anti-bacterial soap from Bath and Body Works. I love the smell. I love the feel. It's a good clean yummy feeling!

5-Do I really need to explain this one? I absolutely love my new camera! Finally I can get a picture of my boys before they turn their heads. Taking pictures doesn't result in tears and frustration for me or the boys. It has been so fun experimenting with it and I hope one day I can get it all figured out.

Photo Shoot

The lighting is bad and the backdrop is a plain white wall but the subjects are my absolute favorite!

(Any tips from the photographers out there on how to fix the lighting and backdrop issues?)

Breaking Routine

Ryker is a man of routine.
An hour and a half after he gets up every morning he is ready for his nap.
Place him in his bed on his back.
Put his binky in his mouth.
Roll him onto his tummy.
Put his blanket on his back.
(He then reaches back and pulls his blanket up and rubs the softness.)
Turn on the white noise machine.
Exit the room.

It's the same routine for his afternoon nap and going to bed at night.

He is so great when it comes to sleeping (except for getting up at least once a night still...we can't have it all now can we?) that it throws us for a loop when he won't go to sleep.

The other night Ryker was having a hard time falling asleep. We tried it all that night. We walked. We rocked. We talked. We pulled out the hair dryer. Nothing. He was so tired, but wired at the same time. You understand, don't you? It's as if they are past the point of exhaustion and just won't let themselves relax. So after trying everything we could think of we put him on the floor and let him play.

It wasn't more than 3 minutes later that he laid himself down. I threw his blanket on his back and Brian gave him his binky. Within seconds he was zonked out.

Sweet dreams little man. Sweet dreams.