Thought For The Day February 4, 2010

Evan:  Mommy?  I like M&M’s because they’re chocolate.  And when I eat chocolate it makes my body feel good and warm inside.

Yes Evan, it does.

(This was on the way home from school, where we had “No problems!  No time-outs!  Can I have a special treat, please?” – and so, 5 M&M’s as a reward.  To which he responded, “But mommy?  Can I have just one more, please?  Oh please?”)

I should also mention, I woke up this morning to him crawling in bed saying he loved me and I was beautiful.  Why is a 3 year old 50% sweet & awesome, and 50% horrific?  We’re hoping the scale starts to slide more to the “sweet & awesome” side…

Happy 8 Months February 2, 2010

Our precious Hazel is 8 months old today, and I just fall more in love with her every day.   I’m really cherishing every moment with her – even the waking at night, and the times she’s crabby and needing a little extra cuddling.   I know now how this time flies by in a blink, and the longer I can savor her being a baby, the better!   She’s lunging from a sitting position onto her belly but not crawling yet, and I’m very happy about that.   It’s so much easier when you can put them down and they stay in the general vicinity!   She’s really fascinated with eating, and enjoyed a dinner of cheese and blueberry pancakes tonight.  We’re pretty sure she signed “dog” the other day, which would be right about the time Evan used the same sign as a baby.   She is so girly, all dainty and detailed, cuddly, undemanding and sweet.  

Teeth Check January 27, 2010

Two scary dentist appointments out of the way – mine was all clear (scary when you haven’t been in 3 yrs.), and Evan had his very 1st visit!   We weren’t too worried despite the multiple warnings from friends, and he did amazing.   I actually had a friend tell me to bring liquor, they had such an awful experience.   He’s really a stellar patient anytime we’ve taken him in for anything, including when he was super-sick with a double ear infection & pink eye.   We talked about it a lot beforehand, and he was pretty excited to check out all of their cool tools.   He just laid right down and opened his mouth for his cleaning & flouride treatment!  After they were done he chatted the Dr’s ear off about practically everything that happens in The Land Before Time, and charmed all of the hygenists in the vicinity.  Oh, and asked me if we could get one of those suction things and a water-squirter for home.  I think it took longer for him to pick out his 25 cent toy than it did for his check-up!

So proud of our little patient!

Chilly Cheeks #2 January 24, 2010

Second duathlon – DONE!  It was another awesome morning with friends.  Unfortunately, we were 2 mamas short due to injuries, but we still had a great time.  This was the 2nd in the Chilly Cheeks series, same racing distances as the first (10 mile bike, 4 mile run), but the format was run-bike-run-bike-dash to the finish line.  SO fun!  A few things were really great this time:  1. The weather was lovely  2. I beat my previous time by 12 minutes, despite having to go thru transition 4x rather than once!  3.  I got to test out my new Garmin for a multi-sport race (very cool!)  and 4. I got 2nd in my division!!  It was really fun to be able to work on speed a little bit, rather than just endurance.  I feel really good about my performance, because the girl that beat me did so by kind of a lot (6 minutes), and there’s no way I could have shaved that much off my time because I think I went pretty hard…or could I?  Will try next month ☺

Post-race smiles!

Training for the half marathon is going well, we’re having fun and staying motivated doing a good portion of our runs together – the long weekend one gives us a couple of hours to get away from the kids and just enjoy being outside!  We’re a couple of weeks ahead of schedule since we were running regularily when we started, but this gives us a little leeway for injuries or sickness (hopefully I won’t need it…).  I’m really loving running & racing, despite me being very much the naysayer before.  I love to always be learning something new, and this fills that need as well as providing great exercise and lots of fun time with my friends.  New year, new me!

Hazel Cuteness January 23, 2010

Hazel likes to screech (happy screeches), roll all over the floor, and is desperately trying to figure out the crawling thing.  In general, she  just impresses herself with everything she learns each day, and really gets a kick out of new experiences and new food (Riding in the shopping cart!  Sitting in high chairs in restaurants!).  I looked at some videos of Evan from this age, and there was a lot of banging, yelling and throwing things going on – I know, shocking!  Hazel plays like a girl – looking intently at toys and playing happily by herself for long stretches.  It’s very interesting to see the differences between them, and we are VERY thankful that we get to raise “one of each” ☺

Buckin’ Broncos January 23, 2010

Given Evan’s history with the word “buck’“, it was pretty hilarious to hear him talking about the broncos trying to “buck the riders” at the rodeo.  We took Evan, Catie, and the babies a few days ago (even all-out skipping the coveted nap!), and they had a great time.  I’m pretty sure the highlight for Evan was the blue cotton candy, but he did seem pretty mesmerized by all of the animals.  This was my first rodeo, too, and I have to say – I’m not sure I really get it.  I mean, only white men would think of these games.  I was especially disturbed by the event where 2 riders basically corner a poor cow, then one man tackles the thing and twists it’s head violently thereby pinning it to the ground.  Am I the only one who’s seen this and thought Where is PETA when you need ‘em?  Oh, and then the one where they (again ganging up on the animal) rope it’s head, then legs, then tie it up on the ground.  The Stock Show is a big deal here in Denver, and they kick it off with a big parade downtown.  The “prized bull” is part of this parade, and get this – I just found out they SLAUGHTER it at the end!  For real!  Is this like an offering or something?  Excuse my naivety, I just don’t get it.

Now, I thought the Westernaires were very entertaining, and I don’t mind the bronco/bull riding so much.  Clearly, the animal is dominating in that event.  And probably all of these animals have a better quality of life than livestock.  I’m just saying, at times it was hard to hide my gasps and instead say Wow guys, did you see that?!  How cool!

Don't they look scared? And this is before the abuse started!

Just happy & oblivious to it all

Turbulent, Trying Three’s January 21, 2010

In a nutshell, they’re terrible so far.  Two was nothin’ compared to this.  Probably there is some beauty to be seen in a little person exerting their opinion (loudly and ferociously), challenging their superiors constantly and trying to figure out how to handle their wide range of emotions…which, by the way, resemble a very active volcano.  But for the most part, the beauty is lost on me as I try to handle a little boy who outsmarts me on a daily basis (embarrasingly enough) and seems to be put on earth to age me 20 years in the span of 1.  Lately, Evan has decided he doesn’t like school (probably because he’s in time out regularily), has taken tantrum-throwing to a new level, and cries often at the injustice of it all.  My threat to abandon ship and relocate to a solo paradise that involves a lot of beach-laying and no argumentative children seems like it could actually be a reality pretty soon here.  Just a few examples – he calls me out when I don’t follow through as I’ve said.  And not in the “you told me I could have a cookie” way.  More like the, “I got a special treat anyway even though I had problems at school.  Na-na-a-boo-boo!”, way.   He says things like, “Well, I have a better idea”, if he doesn’t like his options.  He’s even peed on his bedroom floor for attention (“Look what I did!”), and as recently as last night, bitten Pete.  We’ve tried hard to stick to the Love and Logic method of parenting, and re-reading our book I did confirm that beating is out as far as disiplinary options, bummer.  Stay cool, deliver empathy and consequenses, and above all, try to love them despite their…um…colorful displays. 

We were kind of in denial about this Being 3 thing, thinking it was just all of the excitement of his birthday and holidays, having the grandparents around, etc. – but we’re starting to realize that this may be our life for a while.  Oh wait, this blog is called Our HAPPY Life!  My apologies… There IS a lot of good stuff going on.  But that’s for another post.

Good thing the kid is cute, surely someone would take him...

I ♥ Kindle January 15, 2010

Do you have one?  If you read at all, you should have one.  I know all of the arguments – you love the feel (or smell, in one friends case) of books, you think reading on a screen will be icky or whatever, you’re a library-lover.  But seriously, this is my favorite piece of electronic luxury.  I was lucky enough to receive one as a gift last year from my very amazing and very generous best friend, Natalie.  We’ve also purchased one for each of the moms, and if I could, I would purchase one for everyone I know, Oprah-style (“And everyone is getting one of their own!!!” - mad screams from the audience, hugging, weeping and all around freakin-out).  I wish!  I won’t list all of the reasons why I love it so, suffice to say I truly ♥ the thing.

And here is just another reason to love it.   We had a little issue with my Kindle this past weekend - something about a flying remote control and a subsequent screen crack.  Needless to say, I was heartbroken!  I’m talking real, physical pain.  And maybe some tears and 1/2 hr. of silent treatment towards my husband.  Maybe if you own one, you love yours just as much? 

So I just talked to Customer Service, and the guy said that the screens are “very, very, very, very fragile”, even when they’re protected in the case (I didn’t mention the remote control, just said it was in my purse and now the top of the screen isn’t functioning).  He said even the slightest bit of pressure can cause that – and obviously the force of an incoming remote gets the job done, as well. 

Can you believe that they’re sending me a NEW ONE??  I mean, just like that – no charge or anything.  No multiple calls & emails, no trying to sell me other products, nothing.  And, I get it on Monday…as in, hardly 1 business day!  I just have to send the old one back, with free shipping.  That is pretty stellar service.  And I was fully prepared to pay whatever they were going to charge to fix/replace it.  So Pete, you’re forgiven – but you’d better keep the remote far away from my new Kindle.

Traveling With Kids January 12, 2010

We just got back from a really great weekend up in Keystone with our friends.  Our weekend trips are good and bad.  Good:  Mini-vacation to appreciate this fantastic state even more, great friend time doing things we love, loads of fun play time for the kids.  Bad:  Kids are kind of PITA’s to travel with, and these trips mean lots of extra work for the parents.   Travel with Evan has pretty consistently meant the refusal to sleep anywhere other than our bed (most certainly NOT the evil Pack ‘n Play), no naps, and usually a lot of screaming that turns into puking for the first night or 2.  Or on one occasion, for a whole week due to a haunted room – but that’s another story.  Basically, tons ‘o fun!   I may have mentioned before that Hazel is the most angelic, happy, easy-going baby there ever was.  When we arrived Friday night, I fed her as she happily watched the dads unload the cars, then put her in the Pack ’n Play where she promptly fell asleep for the night.   Whoa!!  This may not seem like such a feat for those of you that have had an easy kid, but this was total bliss for us!  Then there’s Evan…maybe it was our decision to put a couple of 3 year olds in their own room, but (shocker), the toddlers didn’t fare so well.  After only a couple hours of sleep, Evan spent the rest of the weekend in a makeshift bed-on-the-floor in our room.

Aside from that, the kids had a great time sledding while the moms got in a fabulous day of snowboarding.  It’s been a while for me, what with all of this baby-growing and birthing the past few years.  My Dad and I got a really fun day in together pre-Christmas, but I didn’t get up at all last year.  Saturday just reminded me again how amazing it is that we have access to world class ski resorts only an hour away!  A whole day riding with some great friends that I haven’t had a chance to hang with nearly as much as I’d like (you know, the whole having babies thing vs. having no babies), enjoying a beer break in the warm Colorado sunshine, and NOT having to drive home afterwards – ahhhh!!!!  Sunday was the dads turn, and we got Evan & Catie on skis for the first time.  This was a roaring success…for Catie.  Evan did exactly what we guessed he might do – 2 “runs” and then a plead to make snow angels & eat a sandwich.  The kids get free ski passes until they’re 5, so it was only a $10 rental fee/photo-op.  All in all, it was a great time - but we’re still waiting for the kids to make up for their lack of sleep over the weekend and take a long nap…

There was a lot of playing in the top bunk & freaking the parents out

The "little" ones

Doesn't he look enthusiastic?

The morning of departure - this is the most quiet we got all weekend!

Holidaze January 4, 2010

It seems that although I have extra helping hands when my parents are here, I get less done – including keeping up with our blog!  We’re just starting to get back into our normal routine now that all of the grandparents have journeyed back to the midwest.  It was a long visit (I think the grandpa’s get bored…) but really fun to have so much time together.  Hazel changed a lot in the last few weeks, so it was wonderful to have everyone here to share in that.  It sounds so cheesy, but having kids around really brings the magic back into Christmas.   This year was so much fun with Evan – he really got excited about Santa, and even hung in there for 5+ hours  of opening presents!  We’re excited for a new year, and wish everyone much joy in 2010!   

Christmas morning fun

Evan holding a TARANTULA. This is as close as I could bear to get.

They are so great together!

Cuddles with Grandpa