Monday, June 22, 2009

is it inevitable that ring-around-the-rosies, london bridge and the hokey pokey end up in a tangled laughing mess of wrestle mania? we did get through one verse of "jesus wants me for a sunbeam" before it all broke loose... although senny's version is sun-beep and the enthusiasm is anything but reverent. I tried. really, I did.

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Sunday, June 21, 2009

saturday

friday night we drained the pool to clean it and fill it with fresh water. somehow even with the pool completely empty, my children found other avenues to become completely soaked.

you can view pics in a slideshow by clicking on the photo below and then selecting "slideshow" in the upper left corner. you know, detailed instructions for my dad...





saturday, june 2009

Friday, June 19, 2009

This week...

This week:

I made this. Mine wasn't so pretty as I made it in humungo quantities, but it was delish. Most everything from this particular blog looks pretty delish.

I cheered on Shellie as she installed my new shelf. Let's stop and think of the things in my house that would not be in existence if it weren't for her... hmm... the list is long!

I watched Bex paint himself blue at the children's museum. Breathe, Amberly. It's only paint and it's all fully washable. And he was thrilled with himself.

I had an pivotal phone conversation. The kind that gives me butterflies in my stomach before it happens, but turned out better than I expected.

I wore my son's socks.

I took Beckham off of the kitchen table where he was dancing merrily, about 57 times.

I listed stuff on craig's list.

I bought stuff off of ebay.

I prayed for heartaches to be eased and for peace to prevail.

I visited the temple and found gratitude for so much.

I sent flowers to a mourning family.

I struggled with my indecisiveness.

I swam with my children and watched their confidence increase.

I missed my sister.

I went to bed too late, too much and have no regrets.

I kissed three sets of cheeks lots and lots.

I took turns running with Cooper.

I had a very vivid dream involving someone from my past. I think I have those a lot, but seldom remember them once I'm awake. This one fused right into my awake self and was so real. What prompts dreams like that?

I danced with Seneca.

I read part of this.

I'm happy.

Monday, June 15, 2009

two things of probably no interest to you.

first,

denten brought us fresh corn this weekend from a farm just down the road.
picked fresh saturday.
I should have waited to take pictures when they were finished, because we were left with a lot of a lot of empty corn cobs.

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for the record, denten is not a fan of me taking pictures of him eating.
and a poll: how do you eat your corn on the cob?
I eat around.
denten eats across.
our children are not discriminatory yet.
second,
d has been researching (speaking to old navajo women) his fry bread techniques.
he keeps tweaking his recipe and methods and accomplished his finest batch yet yesterday.
it was soft, light and fluffy. and delicious.
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Friday, June 12, 2009

in training.

Cooper is participating in a triathlon as part of a family reunion in a few weeks. He feels the need to be prepared for this event. Therefore, he and his dad did a practice run tonight.

The specifics:

swim: 4 lengths of the pool
bike: 2 laps around the block
run: 1 lap around the block
(one time around the block is roughly equivalent to 1/4 mile)

ready to get in the pool.

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after lap 1.

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headed back for final lap.

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transition 1. yes, the socks make him go faster.

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down the chute to get his bike.

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off they go for lap 1.

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completing lap 1 of bike.

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off on the run. during this brief transition of ditching their bikes, I heard denten say, "you don't need to go too fast," seeing that he might be getting a little tired. to which cooper replied, "dad, it's part of the race to go fast!" and fast he went.

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down the homestretch.

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post-race.

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final time: 10 minutes, 40 seconds.

success.

Swim lessons were a hit.

We love you, Miss Erin!!



kicking, bubbles, duckies, happy songs, finding the wall, monkey walks, cueing, dipping, passing, twinkle twinkle on her back, elbow, knee... all things that sum up senny's lessons with erin.

most valuable to me is the pefect combination of excitement and caution with which she approaches the water.
some say erin's expensive. after seeing what my children can do after a couple of weeks with her, it's worth every penny to me.
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Thursday, June 11, 2009

I could blog about...

I could blog about my fantastic friends, but you all know who you are. Hope you know that I love you like crazy.

I could blog about my daughter and swimming lessons, but that's already been done and I can take a hint regarding excessive blogging regarding particular subjects.

I could blog about the funny things my kids say lately, like when senny enters the pool how she always says, "oooh, nice, mom." the water feels nice. But I blog a lot about what comes out of my kids' mouths.

I could blog about how the cleanliness of my house is suffering a little seeing as my entire month has been spent by the pool, but reading about house dirt is boring. and a little gross.

I could blog about the numerous swimsuits I've ordered and returned trying to find the right fit and how fantastic shopping online is when the nearest mall is just not close enough, but that's just silly. Although we're definately finding some success!

I could blog about how good jackie's chicken pot pie was this week, but she should do that herself.

I could blog about sex. Mine, other people's... it's been a hot topic of conversation lately, and oh so interesting, but my mother reads this blog so I'll censor.

I could blog about upcoming adventures this summer as lots are in the works, but I should probably wait until they actually occur.

I could blog about how fantastic rachel is, but again, it's been said and if you don't know for yourself, then I'm sad for you.

so see, there is a reason this blog has been a little blah lately. I have absolutely nothing to blog about.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

it's love

occasionally I'm brave and let bex navigate the spoon all himself.
tonight he met chocolate pudding and I'm pretty sure it was love at first taste.
not that the spoon did much good...





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tidbits

first, my apologies for those of you who are tired of using your imagination when you visit this blog. our good camera is at the bottom of the grand canyon with the guy I married and I just moments ago located the little camera. I promise, photos are forthcoming.

second, dinner tonight included watermelon from produce co-op. after a few bites, cooper broke the "may I be excused" rule and jumped out of his seat and started spinning around. "this watermelon fills me with joy!!" well, then by all means, spin away.

third, we visited a new splash pad and park today. the little ones wanted nothing to do with the water. seneca will splash all day in the pool, but water shooting up from the ground freaks her out. go figure. she would be content living her entire park days in a swing.

fourth, my youngest child is a nose-blowing prodigy. seriously, he'll blow like crazy on command. this is especially helpful as he has had a runny nose for a week. at least he knows when a tissue makes contact with his schnoz, he blows for all he's worth. it's hilarious. yes, it's hereditary. senny can't blow to save her life.

fifth, dad is due home in a few hours, assuming he was able to make the last helicopter out of havasupai this evening. we feel really sorry for him when he has to travel down there for business. he practically skips out of here, it's torture, really. what wife would dare complain, however, in these perilous times when her mate has a job he really enjoys and also happens to pay the bills? not me. at least not out loud. busy and gone past bedtime every night can be rough, but unemployed would be worse. so much worse. I'd rather have him for a few hours at night a happy soul than here all the time grumpy. yep, we're grateful for busy.

sixth (why on earth am I counting?), gram sent coop a package today. it was a little set of books that he can use to practice reading. he is so stinking excited about he's been carrying the first one around all afternoon reading to me as I clean up around here. "mom, I'm so good!" yes, my dear you are. and so is our life. thanks gram.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

endless rambles.

let's start with my stomach. it has been yelling at me for two days. it's so hungry, all the time. seriously, it feels like I have a significant calorie deficit going on, but I don't. I was a little under the weather for a couple of days, so it had a little making up to do, but this is bizarre. no, I'm not pregnant. part of the problem is that we have absolutely nothing in this house that sounds remotely good to me, so eating doesn't sound fun, but I can't run on empty and take care of this little crew, so I eat. but fresh and easy is calling my name. loudly. I'm coming, just as soon as denten walks in the door tonight.

that brings me to my next topic. for mother's day I received (after ample not-so-subtle hinting) a homemade coupon for a car detail. I'm cashing in today. D took dutch to the dealership for a little check-up and a full detail. it's probably not healthy how excited I am about that. I only hope they live up to my expectations. and they're high. I want my boy to look, smell and feel just like new and have no sign of the three children that share it with me. a fresh start, so to speak. you know, a renewal of the commitment I made to keep him shiny and clean when I got him. I can hardly wait, except that I will 'cause I want them to take their time and make it good.

so today suby took senny and I to swim lessons. I really love suby, it is a complete shame that she doesn't fit my littles well. I'd drive her to the death, I would. I'm really feeling my cars today, apparently. anyway, swimming lessons. I wondered if I would be bored doing swim lessons with senny, but that has not been the case at all. I've totally loved it. someone asked my why we were paying for an experience to do things she already knows. a few reasons: first, I learn how to teach her these things correctly, and can also use the skills I'm learning to teach bex. I get 30 minutes of one-on-one time with the senny, which you think I could have at home, but that's a little hard sometimes. seneca is having a blast. she's being challenged just enough to be uncomfortable for a minute and then master the skill and it's so fun to see her succeed and be proud of herself. it's amazing that at two-years-old, she displays a fight, one that pushes her to try something again even if she didn't like it for the sake of conquering it. gotta be honest, she didn't get that from me. she's a little delight, kicking her little heart out, blowing bubbles and eager to try new things. and her cheeks smushed under a pair of little pink goggles? well, that's worth it right there.

making a completely smooth transition to a completely unrelated topic: the bexinator. this kid greets me with an enormous drooly smile every time I look at him. he races his little waddly legs over to me and buries his head in my shoulder for a snuggle. he attempts to kiss me with a giddy open mouth and laughs so hard it nearly knocks him over. at what point do kids lose this uncontainable sunshine and glee that radiates from them? I'm shooting for never.

and one more thing to document for history's sake. my bedroom, you know, the place of peace and rest? it acquired a treadmill this week. a massively heavy treadmill. moving the sucker made us all sweat like we'd used it for hours. I'm gonna owe nick dinner for a week. oh, and the sweating? that was all them. mine came from watching D and nick and trying really hard not to picture it tumbling down the stairs. did I say tumbling? I mean crashing. seriously, it's heavy. I had to walk away. it's better that way sometimes. so between the treadmill, the bike trainer, the weights and the assortment of swimsuits constantly in rotation, my room looks like a gym with a bed in it. let's just be grateful it doesn't smell that way, shall we?

ok. I have more thoughts on more stuff, but that should do for now. over and out.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

overheating

I keep stepping in wet spots on my carpet. Wondering how much water could have really been tracked in from the pool. I always make them dry off before they come in. Everyone who needs them has a diaper on. hmmmm.

Cooper is running through the house at a very steady pace, going from room to room carrying his water bottle. And then I see it. He lifts it above his head and gives a squirt. What? "I'm in a race, mom. gotta cool down." right.

I guess the kid learns from observation. We've been to too many races.

Monday, June 1, 2009

one weekend. four ways.

MY WEEKEND

lindsay's graduation from westminster. a trip to the temple with all of my siblings. shopping. a new sweater I wore all weekend. mama's good ribs. relief in letting things go I had been holding onto for all the wrong reasons. laughing at boogs. kissing tess. runnning with dad. cardiojam that kicked my butt. no children waking me up for three whole nights. incredibly pleasant weather. eating on the patio. sourdough pancakes. a phone call with trish.


grad

templ

tess

THE MR.'S WEEKEND

boy time. tin foil dinners. 4-wheelers. brothers. the cabin. late night fires. shooting at stuff. cold nights. catching their limit at the reservoir. fresh air. grandma's pizza. quality conversation.

fish

river

drew

shells

sunset

lake



LITTLE MISS


two grandparents entirely to herself. berry shortcake, "nummy!" the petting zoo. snacks. finding nemo at the aquarium. the porch swing. bath time. the park. not wanting to vacate the swing. her baby. "ready, set, go!" a carriage ride.

grandpa

fish

feet


THE BOYS

swim lessons. playing "forest" at rachel's house. meeting new friends. loving new friends. cooper's first movie in a theater! playing "superman" at rachel's. josh's 2nd birthday party. coloring and craft projects. wii sports contest with new friends. sleepover and movie night in rachel's family room. smores in the backyard.
we all had wonderful experiences this weekend. now back to this thing we call reality!