Sick, Sick, Sick

I am done, done, done with a sick house! It's horrible! We're been dealing with sinus infections, colds and croup for weeks now. Thankfully, I feel like we are all finally on the mend. Let me fill you in on the highlights.

Mason had his first trip to the ER. He ran a fever for a day or so that seem to run into a cold. I really didn't worry too much because we'd been through colds and they pass. He woke up late last Tuesday night gasping for air and wheezing. A quick call to my personal nurse, Kim and we were off to the after hours Kids ER of sorts. I called ahead and so they were ready and waiting for us. They got us right in. The first words out of the doctor's mouth was 'he's got it'. Not sure what she meant by that initially.., but she later clarified with 'he's got croup' and could tell right off from his breathing. They gave Mason some steroids and us some instructions and we were off..., all in under 20 minutes.

My very non-cuddly son by nature laid in my arms for days. Doctors say the best thing for kids with croup is steam from a shower and the cold, cold air. So.., every night.., and every morning we bundled the boy up and headed out side. He actually would breath so much better outside. We also spent afternoons sitting on the bathroom floor while the shower ran. The poor kid. With no signs of improvement, we were back into the Doctor's on Friday to get some more medicine. By Sunday, Mason was back tot full speed.., well close anyway.

Being in the house for days on end, Mason was able to explore new places.., namely closets, dressers and doors.

This is the bottom of our entertainment center.., aka, Mason's new hide-out.

Mason pulled out his entire closet a few times this past week. Notice the tears in this picture. He got himself stuck in one of the baskets he emptied. I tried to explain that it was a natural consequence of his action of trying to sit in the basket, but he didn't quite understand that one. perhaps a few more years.

Our Lil' Pumpkin

Seriously.., how cute is this kid? Yesterday was the first day of the Scarecrow Festival. We headed down after work for to how Daddy was surviving.

On a completely unrelated note..., I really do think Mason's hat helped the Sox's with their amazing come back in last night's game.

Mason, Daddy & Trains

Mason adores his Dad and I adore seeing my guys play together!
Mason loves his cars, trucks and trains...., but doesn't quite understand the track concept of it all. Dan would lay down the train track and with in seconds Mason was pulling it up and using the track as a music conducting wand or a drum stick. Give him a few more months and Mason will start catching on.

The Last Harvest

Our garden has been so much fun..., especially for Mason and me. I've loved beign able to run outside for a pepper or tomato to throw into a salad or omelet. This was our first summer with a garden and I already have plans for next summer to triple the size of it. This past Friday the temperatures dropped here in Utah to 30 degree-ish. With no fast plans of warmth returning, we decided Saturday morning to pull up the last of the harvest. It was so cold and I was so glad Dan was there to help me so it went faster. This is the results: herbs galore, green tomatoes by the dozens, some red tomatoes, peppers and gourds. I pulled the squash up a few weeks ago. I couldn't eat it any more of it! I now have my counter tops filled with green tomatoes. My mother in- law swears they will turn red and I believe her.., but it sure is taking a long time. I need my counter top space back! We didn't' end up with quite as many bottle-neck gourds as I had hoped for.., but I'm excited for the ones I have. I'm now on-line in search of how to dry these bad boys. Let me know if you have suggestions on how to do it.

It's all over now..., Mason has found the snack and cereal cupboard!

Each morning Mason gets up.., has a bottle (I know he's too old for this, but it's the only time we snuggle and I'm not ready to give it up!).., and then he plays with his toys for a bit while I try and wake up. This morning, I got up and started folding laundry.., taking advantage of Mason playing on his own. I walked out to the kitchen to put dish towels away and this is what I found!He even had cheerios stuck to his feet! Later this morning I found this..., And then this...,
Do you think it's time for these?

The Addition Begins!

We are SO excited! Despite the sub zero degree weather for this time of year, we were still able to pour concrete for our footings! Thanks Steph for the wonder blankets and the concrete. You ROCK! Dan's brother, Robert and his friend, Scott came over to help. 12 yards of concrete, a couple hours and a few thousand dollars later and the footings were good to go. Dan tells me once the concrete cures, this addition will fly. I really only care that it is done by the time the baby arrives.I'm taking pictures throughout the addition process to help remind me that I want to move the next time I feel the need to add on our to our house. Construction is a nightmare.

3 Happy Years!

I seriously can't believe it's been 3 years today! The time has flown by and here we sit 3 years in with a 15 month old son and a little girl on the way. I told Dan this morning that I never expected marriage to be this easy or to be so happy with the same person day in and day out. It has been a wonderful 3 years. Dan is truly my perfect mate. I love him so much for his patience, kind heart and of course for his humor. He can always make me laugh. Dan is an incredible provider, father and husband. I couldn't ask for more.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Who needs California Pizza Kitchen??? This pizza was so yummy and SO easy. I'm always looking for quick, tasty recipes and have to share when I find some thing that works. I used crescents rolls (mainly because that was all we had in the fridge and I didn't' want to go to the store) for the crust, chicken diced with a bit of BBQ sauce mixed through it, cilantro, sweet Mayan onions (I found these at Costco and love them), mozzarella cheese, BBQ sauce and salt and pepper to taste. I used the left over chicken from a rotisserie chicken we had earlier in the week . Put the sauce on first and then layer it however your little heart desires. I baked them for 10 minutes and broiled them for a minute or two. Mason LOVED them.

LET THE NESTING BEGIN!!!!

I finally came up with a plan for our little girl's room. This is the fabric for her bedding. Stay tune for more details!

Life Changes and That's OK

Back in my single years, I felt like I could do it all with out even breaking a sweat. I worked full time, went to school full time, had six projects going, etc, and felt like I could do more. I would re-do furniture, make holiday crafts for the whole family, cook for my single's gang every Sunday, throw parties for all occasions, bake cookies for the neighbors, babysit my friends kids fulfil my church callings to the fullest and the list goes on. Oh.., and my house was also spotless. I was wonder women. There wasn't anything I wasn't willing to tackle because I seriously felt like I could do it all. I rocked and I felt like that.

When I got married I began to feel the 'I can do it all' mentality start to disappear. It was still there.., but I was slowing loosing it. Part of it was simply because I didn't have a desire to do some of my previous activities.., but some of it was also because taking on the role of wife took it's toll. I still tried to do most things but then would get frustrated for allowing dishes to be left in the sink or a bed to be left unmade. This was some thing I did to myself. My cute husband constantly reassured me that a 'good wife' doesn't do it all and that I was way too hard on myself.

Once Mason came in to my life.., everything and anything I felt like I did well or some what held together was out the window. Finding the balance in motherhood did not come easy for me and in fact it's something I'm still working on. I was not the mother I had pictured in my head. The one with the clean house and baked pies and who smiled all the time.

I felt.., and still feel for the most part.., that there's very little I hold together or am able to keep up on. I make valiant efforts.., but most days there's half my 'to do' list still unchecked. For me.., I've had to redefine my idea of motherhood and wife hood for that matter and that's been an on going crusade for me. I sweep our floors 3 times a week and wash them once a week and they are always filthy! I've realized though, that I'd rather sit on my filthy floors and play with my son then keep them spotless. I'd also rather lay on the couch with my husband after a long work day and talk then keep my floors spotless. I can't do more than I am already doing in that area.., if the floors are filthy..., it's not because I haven't tried to keep them clean and I'm not willing to give up more of my family time to assure they are always spotless. It's been hard for me to let go of my old reality. The reality where everything is always clean and everything is always in it's place..., but it's slowly happening..,and thankfully so for my sanity's sake.

My new reality is simply this, most things are clean, but if they're not.., we'll eventually get to it..., and everything does have a place, but they don't always end up in that place and that's okay. Though at times a struggle, I'm learning to embrace this new reality. Occasionally, I do slip back into the old reality of 'I can do it all' mentality. I put such high expectations on myself and the fact of the matter is.., no ones expects half as much as i do. Why are we always the hardest on ourselves? What I've realized is, there's no mom that can do it all and those who look like they are, are just faking it very well. Life is about family. If I blow off a work thing to spend time with my husband or take a walk with Mason while I'm suppose to be vacuuming, it's okay.

I've also learned that you need to embrace the days where you do 'do it all' and celebrate those. Saturday for me was hands down, an I-rock-as-a-mom-and-wife kind of day. Dan was out of town hunting with the boys. Mason and I started off early with making and canning salsa, applesauce (it's so YUMMY!) and a few more jars of tomatoes. We did this all by ourselves. During Mason's nap, I cleaned the house from top to bottom, the dishes were done, the laundry was not only done, but also folded and actually put away, fresh veggies were picked from the garden, the rest of the Halloween decorations were put out.., and all this was done before 3pm when we left for Mason's hair cutting appointment. I went shopping with my niece for our little baby girl and then back to the house to make dinner for the boy, bathe him and place him down for the night. I sat in our front room looking around, feeling tired, and thinking, I ROCK! This is NOT a thought that crossing my mind most days like it did when I was single. It was a good feeling.

I know days like these are few and far between and that's okay..., because I would trade my old reality and the 'I could do it all' days..., any time for my dirty floor, sexy husband and amazing son. It is nice to know that I still have it...., at least for a day anyway.

It's a GIRL!

We are thrilled to announce that we will be having a little girl join our family in a few short (5) months!