Hot Rod

Sam is in love. The object of his affection?
She's got a bright future at our house. I have a feeling this could be the start of a beautiful relationship.

As of today...

grossest place on earth: grocery stores
second grossest place on earth: my house
best time of day: late morning
worst time of day: early morning, early evening, and all night long
dreams: already crazy
pants: already getting tight
kids: beyond excited (especially Addie)

# 3 really feels a whole lot different already. I haven't thrown up yet, which feels like a milestone compared to the past two. But some things are still just the same. I'd really forgotten what it was like, but being in the thick of it again is bringing it all back. Off to toss and turn. Hopefully I'll return to regular posting soon.

Back in the Saddle Again

We're back from our extended Easter trip to Idaho to see my fam. A few dos and don'ts to recap our trip.

Do:
-pack a lot of trip entertainment for the car. Our portable dvd player is about as cheap as they come (we got it for free as a "reward" when we bought some furniture probably 5 years ago), but it sure helps with the car ride. Good trip snacks, some music, and delaying pulling out any entertainment for the first hour were also key to our success.
-find a surprising lack of melt-downs in the car. Hooray for the kids pulling through on that one.
-spice it up to make visiting family a little more exciting. A trip to the zoo one day was just the trick. A trip to one of my most favorite Boise destinations, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor and candy counter helped with the next day.
-let the kids share a room. Even though they weren't sleeping nearly as well as usual, they were having a great time! The first night Addie "sang Sam a song, got him a cuddle toy, and rubbed his head to help him go to sleep." (her words, not mine) What a sweet sister. Another morning she informed us that Sam didn't sleep all night because even though she was asleep, she heard him.
-enjoy a little jam session by your brother and one of his band friends. So excited his band won a competition last night and gets to open at BSU's spring fling for Reel Big Fish and another headlining band. Addie was slow to warm up, but was clapping away by the end.
-make delicious rolls, red potatoes, roasted asparagus, and grilled honey mustard pork loin for Easter dinner. And then eat no less than 3 rolls.
-watch your kids loving their uncles. And then wish their uncles were married and had kids of their own-imagine the cousin fun. And then realize it will probably be a while before that happens.

Don't:
-stay with a dog if your kids are afraid. My mom's poor dog was banished much of the time and not happy. My kids were not happy whenever he was around. We have got to conquer this.
-remove some of what's in the car when loading up and forget things. The Easter bunny had to make an extra trip to Target on Saturday night, where there were not even eggs left. The kids benefited from the Easter bunny visiting them in Idaho and Utah, since all of his loot was still in the garage.
-drive home in snow. It's just miserable and makes the drive seem even longer.
-let Sam fall asleep in the car for 5 minutes every afternoon, thinking that would suffice as a nap. It did not suffice.
-attempt to send out Easter cards the morning you're leaving town. Be much more prepared.
-forget to call your neighbor you take to church each week to tell her you won't be there. When you get back and hear her message wondering if you're coming, you'll feel really, really bad.
-road-trip while 6 weeks pregnant. It's not fun to be on the road when the all-day-sickness is setting in.

Soon to be adorning my walls...

...are some new pics of my family. I won't post my favorite family pics until I send out some Easter cards, but here are a few that are just fantastic. And thanks to Candis for doing such a fantastic job.

More Addie snippets

Addie got her hands on a random issue of Parents magazine that came in the mail the other day (I'm not a subscriber, so not quite sure why it showed up), and I have to say her narration of this magazine was more entertaining than any article they published. A few highlights:

-Disney has obviously done their marketing well. She saw a full-page ad for Pinnochio (which she has no idea what that movie is) and quickly shouted, "Look, mom, it's a Disney classic!"

-The whole way through the magazine she found "cool" and "gorgeous" products she'd like to order for Flossy. Obviously Freddy doesn't need the bum cream, dresses, or feeding tools that Addie found, but Flossy will be all set.

-On one page she saw a rabbit and said, "Oh look, Dad! It's a bunny! Maybe if mom doesn't die we can get a pet bunny." Not quite sure what my mortality has to do with getting a pet, but good to know the two are somehow linked.

Thanks, Parents, for such an entertaining publication enjoyed by parents and kids.

What I have to look forward to...

Addie made a new friend yesterday, and wow is she impressed with him. Here's a sampling of conversations overheard...

K: So, when we grow up, do you think we could get married?
A: Sorry, James already asked me to marry him first.
K: Oh.

Later on the way home...
A: Mom, Kris is my new friend. Can I have a playdate soon with me and Kris and James? Maybe when I get bigger first I can marry James and then I can marry Kris...

My thoughts: Let's hope you only get married once. And just what this family needs, another Kris (since 3 out of 5 kids/spouses have some derivation of Chris in their name).

A few thoughts on a Thursday

-Cheerios are no longer coming to church with us. Two weeks ago Sam spilled them all over, and I do mean all.over. Sunday School (he's currently on a nursery strike, hence his presence in Sunday School). Last week he took a large handful and then dumped it down my shirt in sacrament meeting. Enough is enough.

-Addie's really growing up. Man, that girl's emotions can spin on a dime, but there are so many amazing things about her. She's currently been working on word search puzzles, and doing a great job. It's fun to see her confidence grow. Today we had a cuddly nap together, and I was again reminded how glad I am that she'll do that with me from time to time- I'm sure it won't be long before those days are gone.

-Spring really makes me get my shop on. It always has. I'm currently putting the finishing touches on Easter/Spring outfits for everyone for family pictures. Addie is being...particular, so I'm hoping to have a shopping date tomorrow to finalize her outfit. I also still need to pick up a tie for Pat and some shoes for Sam. I am so excited- we haven't taken family pictures since I was barely pregnant with Sam, so I want to have a good picture of all of us!

-I am really grateful for good friends. Grateful for those I see all the time. Grateful for those who've moved back to Utah. Grateful for those who come to visit. Grateful for those I'll get to see soon on an upcoming trip.