Merry Christmas Adam!

"Merry Christmas Everybody, Merry Christmas!"

Monday: Nativity FHE at the Talbots, featuring Tage, the Shepherd.

Tage didn't want to be a shepherd and wear the robe, but after some bribing (hooray for candy!) she agreed to put it on. Chocolate works for a lot of things in our house!

Tuesday: CHRISTMAS EVE! Okay, so it is really only Christmas Adam, but we are headed to Mom Mom and Pop Pop's tomorrow, so we decided to have Christmas a day early and do some celebrating with our own little family.

Tage helped make popcorn, and wanted to be the one to hold the towel (our popper is crazy, so we use a towel to shield the flying kernels...) Then we got a plate of goodies and laid out a blanket and watched "Christmas on Sesame Street" which is probably the coolest Christmas movie EVER! I used to watch it when I was a little girl, and my mom found it on DVD for me! Poor Big Bird freezes his giblets... (what??)

This must have been a really intense part of the movie... I think it was at the beginning, when Cookie Monster is doing some extreme ice skating, trying to jump over ONE... TWO... THREE! THREE barrels! Ah, ah, ah, ah.....

After the movie, we got ready for bed, and Tage put out some cookies and milk for Santa and went to bed very excited. It was a fun evening, and I can't wait for tomorrow morning!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! It really is the best time of the year, eh?

Grateful

We took this picture about a month ago at the Olsen's ranch (If I look uncomfortable it is probably because I am!) I am so grateful for the Olsen family! They could be my parents, but we count them as very good friends. They have definitely given us much more than we have given them.
It all started the summer we moved to Maryland. It was the 4th of July and we didn't know anyone and had no celebration plans. But then, we saw a flyer for a community potluck breakfast at the Olsen's Ranch, and we went. We contributed bananas to the breakfast. The Olsen's provided the pancakes, eggs, bacon, and sausage. Every year they do this, and every year it gets bigger. Hundreds of people attend, and the program usually consists of bag pipers, quartets, children singing, and Iraq war veterens who tell their story. War veterens are asked to come forward, and they are recognized and applauded for their service. It is an amazing program the Olsen's do every year, and we never want to miss it!
This past summer, Mr. Olsen invited me to help on the ranch and in return I could share in some of the produce. What a BLESSING that has turned out to be! Between my garden and his orchard, I rarely bought any produce over the summer. And it continues still... having canned a lot of his fruit, we are still able to cut down our grocery bill, and it should last us until the trees start producing once again.
Since the Olsen's were providing us with fruit to can, it got me into canning lots of other things too. Thanks to some more friends who are experts at canning and knowing where the good deals are, I have canned everything from Peaches to Beef--- that's right... BEEF. For super cheap. I even found an orchard that was selling apples for $6 a bushel! We got some in October, and are still trying to plow through them today! The Olsen's have really helped us get going on our food storage, and I am so grateful to have it to use right now.
Can I just talk about that beef again? It was so easy to can (I bought 25lbs of it!) and the thing I like the most is now I have meat that I can use and don't have to touch to prepare it. There is nothing worse than touching raw meat... so I spent a day where I touched it a lot, and now I don't have to. Yay!
I will never be able to thank the Olsen's enough for their kindness to our family!

I am cursing

I just wrote a wicked long post, and because my computer/internet is lame, it is now lost somewhere in cyberspace. Here was the gist of it.

I am 33 weeks pregnant.
My baby no longer looks like a wrinkled alien.
Tage has major poop problems.
And it is not funny.
After dealing with that all day (like I have every day for the past 9 months) plus her vomiting, plus my cold, I am going to bed.
And it is only 8:20pm.
And I pray the Fire Hall's alarm does not go off tonight and I can sleep peacefully.

Fire

We enjoyed Saturday night at the Talbot's house, eating lots of Harry Potter themed foods and watching the BYU football game. At 8pm, we decided we had drank enough pumpkin juice and ate enough Yorkshire pudding, and we headed home. As we approched our house, we were greeted with dozens of firetrucks, ambulances, and police cars. Being forced to turn and go down the alley, we were unsure if it was our house that was on fire. The church next to us was blocking the view, as was all the emergency vehicles and flashing lights. Fortunately, it was not our house. Unfortunately, it was our neighbor's house, the Stulls. The Stulls are good people, and have lived in this town most of their lives. Their house is a triplex, and they rent out a portion of it. The house is one of the oldest in town, and rumor has it that it used to be run as a hotel (sometime in the 1800's I'm sure). We took them over some freshly baked cookies yesterday morning and it was really hard to see Ron and Steve in tears as we let them know we were thinking of them. They are really concerned about their elderly parents, who have never lived anywhere else. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

"No, It's a Pumpkin"

Saturday brought us to the pumpkin patch. We met Tage's friends (and their parents) there and searched the patch for the perfect pumpkin. Tage touched every green pumpkin, and said "Nope, not a green one... get a orange pumpkin"

She also tried to pick up every pumpkin and would exclaim "Oooooohhh so HEAVY!"

Tage plays a lot with her friend Sabrina. The only problem with this is that Tage likes to touch Sabrina (hold her hand and lead her places, give her hugs, etc.) and Sabrina does not like to be touched by other kids. So whenever Tage gets too close to Sabrina, Sabrina crys.

The picture above was kind of funny. Tage and Kenny had the same conversation about 10times consecutively. It went like this:

Kenny: "Sabina?" (He was calling Tage Sabrina)

Tage: "No, it's a pumpkin" (She thought he was referring to the Pumpkin)

Kenny: "Oooooooohhhhh"

Repeat 10 more times.

After finding our pumpkin, taking the hay ride back to the barn, playing in the corn box, having corn go down Tage's shirt as a result of it being thrown at Tage by a stranger child, petting the goats at seeing other animals, taking pictures with the headless horseman, and falling in the dirt, we went home. It was a great time, we all had lots of fun! So, until next year pumpkin head!

Our Own Hercules

Last night...

Tage crying in bed.
Daddy goes in and picks her up.
Tage says "Oooo strong. Kev so STRONG!"

Whirlwind

Kevin had Thursday off, and took a personal day on Friday, giving him a four day weekend. I think we made the most of it. Here are the highlights:

Thursday: What do fish feel like?

We took Tage on her first fishing trip. She really liked the bobber, and holding the fishing pole. She was brave enough to touch one of the fish we caught, but didn't really like it. Later that night, when I was cuddling Tage before she went to bed, I asked her what the fish felt like when she touched it. Her response? She grabbed my face and licked it!

Friday: Happy Birthday! and Yardsale

To recognize Tage's 2nd year of life, Kevin and I hung butterflies in Tage's doorway while she slept. When she awoke, she was amused by all the butterflies and counted 12 of them (although I think there were more) Next we ate craisin pancakes and rushed out the door to our friends house to have a yardsale. Colorfest was this weekend in Thurmont, and on Friday nearly everyone in town has a yardsale. We made bank on our junk. We would have liked to dedicate the day to Tage, but the butterflies and lots of "Happy Birthday sweet heart!" was the extent of our celebration on her actual birthday. We got home late that night, put Tage to bed and made her cake and cupcakes, only to find out that, oh no! Could it be? Where is my food coloring??? GRRRRRR! Unable to locate it, and being tired, no, exhausted and ill, I went to bed.

Saturday: Half Marathon, crying marathon, and party

6:00am- still asleep, although I was supposed to be awake.

6:40am- Kevin wakes me up, we run downstairs, make egg sandwiches, wake Tage up and rush out the door at 7:15am.

8:45am- Waiting for the light rail in Baltimore.

9:45am- Kevin starts running

10:30am- Daddy is still running, Tage and Mommy find entertainment in the form of fire, sword, and bowling balls being juggled at the same time at the Inner Harbor. Very odd fellow...

11:45am- We head to the finish line to find Daddy

12:45pm- Still looking for Daddy... what made us think we could find him in a crowd of 17,000 runners and their families???

1:15pm- We FINALLY find Daddy, and I begin my own marathon of tears (hunger, illness, headache, heat, exhaustion, sleep deprivation, pregnancy hormones, and a party that's supposed to start at 3pm, will do that to you)

1:45pm- We get back on the light rail and get yelled at by a woman who says we ran over her toe with Tage's stroller (but I was watching carefully and we did NOT, although we came close and did bump her sandal) She was mad though because her other foot was broken and I guess she needed some attention. Kevin apologized, and I continued my crying marathon (I just couldn't stop!) The train was so crowded, there was no where to sit, and no where to rail to hold for support, so I had to brace me and my big belly and try not to fall for the next 15min, all while crying and standing in front of the woman who was mad at us.

2pm- We arrive at our car. I continue to cry, half way home. We bribe Tage with cake and icecream when we get home to take a nap. She excitedly complies and crashes in her carseat.

2:45- we get home and have 15minutes before our guests arrive to put a party together. Luckily our friends are not high maintance and don't care that when they arrive at 3 that they will need to help me.

3:30pm- We finally get the party really going with mini caramel apples, followed by a very serious pinata whacking (whacked by the incredible strength of 2 year olds) cake, icecream, and lots of presents. Tage enjoyed every minute of it, and so did Kevin and I. I love that little girl from head to toe!

6pm- football game at the Talbots

8pm- bedtime for everyone! Yay! Thank goodness for Sundays-- rest and relaxation and a good dose of spiritual upliftment.

Happy Birthday Tage. I Love you.

P.S. Happy Birthday as well to GRANDMA! Who's birthday was on the 8th! Wish we could have celebrated your's and Tage's together again!

Craisins, Waffle batter, and Crazy hair

Life is a never ending adventure when children are present. That's why I love Tage. She keeps me on my toes and keeps me laughing. I have read reports that claim children laugh on average 300-400 times a day, whereas adults laugh about 20 times through out the day. Somewhere between childhood and adulthood we seem to lose 280-380 laughs. WHERE did they disappear to?

By 2 years of age, children laugh about 18 times per hour when they are interacting with their mother. The mother laughs about 30 times per hour when interacting with her infant. Hooray for children! They keep us young!

This weekend was full of laughter. Here are three instances in particular.

1. Tage and I were cleaning the bedroom when Tage sneezed. More than just snot came out. A nice plump Craisin made it's way back to daylight after being housed in Tage's nose for 18 hours. She had stuck it up her nose the previous night (under Daddy's watch might I add!) while I was at Relief Society enrichment. Repeatedly, she had told him "Craisin in the nose! Craisin in the nose!" But Kevin was unable to see it and thought it had come out. He also failed to tell me of this incident, so it was a suprise when it popped out the next afternoon! I had wondered when the day would come that my dear daughter would get an object stuck in her nose...

2. Sunday morning we all made waffles together. We fought off Tage the entire time while she tried to use a teaspoon to "taste" the eggs (which she professionally cracked on the counter), "taste" the flour, "taste" the baking soda, and she finally succeeded in tasting the completed batter. She loves to taste, and always says "I taste it" or "one more taste." I laughed throughout the entire cook off. Who really enjoys eating flour straight anyways?! I think it is weird. Tage thinks it is delicious. Kevin and I both think it is funny.

3. At Church yesterday Tage found a moment to sit by our dear friend Kirsten Dugan and say hi to her daughter "Baby Nora" Upon inspecting Kirsten, Tage touched Kirsten's beautiful, red, curly hair, laughed, and said "CRAZY hair! Crazy, crazy hair! So silly!" Kirsten (whose children I'm sure have said embarrassing statements to others as well) laughed and looked at me saying "I think Tage just told me I have crazy hair." Tage then continued to laugh and say "crazy hair" for a few more minutes until Baby Nora once again distracted her.

4. Allow me a fourth laughing moment. This also happened at church yesterday. Tage escaped us, and was a few rows away, when suddenly she stopped. I saw her face tense up a bit, then go red, then relax. Then again.... tense face, red, face, relax. Suddenly, she shouts back to Kevin and I "I POOPING! YAY!!!! (she claps her hands) I POOPING!" I hide my face, and then quickly spring into action, scooping her up and taking her out of the chapel, and straight to the mother's lounge where we change her, yes, poopy diaper.


I am recommitted to laughing more. I believe it is good for you. As a recreational therapist, I have seen the importance of laughing and having a good time. It is healing and can produce results that no modern medicine can.

I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes. It reminds me to enjoy life, no matter what task I am working on. I can have fun and find happiness in anything, if I allow myself to.

"A Master at the Art of Living makes no distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues with excellence what he is about and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. He, himself, always knows he is doing both." Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone July 1995

Cuddle Bug

"I cuddle Mommy? Okay!" and "I cuddle Daddy!" are phrases repeated frequently in our home. A few months ago, Tage got into the habit of wanting to cuddle before going to bed or taking a nap. Although Kevin and I both know that she uses it as a way to stall bedtime, we allow it to happen. At first, we tried to resist it, we didn't want her to expect it all the time, but now we love the time we have to cuddle our little angel.
We have had many memorable moments during our nightly cuddles. For me, I relish the times she sings "the Temple song" ("I love to see the temple") to me, or gives me a kiss then wipes it off and gives me another, and another, and another. I like to use the opportunity to tell Tage how much I love her. Kevin likes to use the time to teach her gospel truths, like "Jesus Christ is our Savior."
I don't regret letting this become a habit. Sure, it extends her nighttime routine, but how long will she want to keep doing this? Some day, she will grow up, and won't beg to "cuddle Mommy" anymore. I am going to take advantage of this time while it is still here.
And now, my little cuddle bug is awake from her nap, and I am going to go smother her in kisses!

Fire Trucks Help

A few weeks ago....

Fire alarm sounds at the fire station across the street.

Tage and Mommy watch the fire trucks and ambulance take off.

Tage "I see fire truck!"

Mommy " You do! Fire trucks help people. That fire truck is going to someone who needs help."

Tage repeats "Fire truck help people"

Fast forward to This Morning:

Fire alarm goes off.

Tage, pointing to her ear "I hear bells!"

Daddy "Yes, you hear the fire alarm!"

Mommy "Tage, what do fire trucks do?"

Tage "Fire truck help Tage poop!"

Laughter from both parents concludes the conversation.

Poor Tage needs help pooping.... if ONLY the fire truck really could help! It would solve all our problems in that area. I guess we'll just settle for another Doctor's appointment and more laxatives....

I need help too... maybe a fire truck could come help me clean my house... hmm... if ONLY!

Baby "Broken"

Last weekend we made another trip to Dover for Tage's newest cousin Brooklyn's blessing. Tage loves to see Brooklyn and prounces her name "Broken" It is really cute. The weekend started with a late afternoon departure and an hour delay at the Bay Bridge. It has been a long time since we have driven to Dover without an hour-two hours of delays at the bridge due to beach traffic. Last time we went was July 31, for Great Pop-Pop's funeral. A 2.5 hour trip turned into an almost 4 hour trip... making us 30 minutes late to the funeral, which they kindly held up for us. I was completely embarrassed, but it was out of my control. It wasn't even a weekend, or rush hour. There's just never a good time to travel that direction during beach season.

Anyways, I had a cold the entire trip, so I didn't do much of anything while there. The picture is from Sunday just before church. It turned out decent, but Tage was actually being very uncooporative! In the picture, she is actually pushing Daddy away, saying "Don't Daddy!" and I am barely holding her as she was throwing herself around. She looks happy though! She was pretty upset about the dress she was wearing. It is silky and has hearts all over it. She loves hearts, and wants to draw them all the time, so you'd think she'd love the dress! Whenever we try to put it on her, she crys and fights us and says "Noooo! A different dress! A different dress!" But I made her wear it that day (it was the only dress we brought with us). Even in Sacrament Meeting, she began tugging at her dress and she said "I don't like it! Take it off! Take it off! A different dress!" That was probably the last time she'll wear it though, it is getting pretty short. She wears mostly 3T dresses now, because she is so tall and I like them to be a little longer, instead of right at her bum.

The drive home was much better. We only had a 10 minute delay at the bridge. I would like to thank Hurricane Hanna for that.

I blog

I have long been an anti-blogger, but have now succumbed. It is mainly for my purposes, I can't imagine anyone other than my family being interested in what I have to say, but I think it could be a good way to journal and record our family memories.

First of all, Happy Birthday to my dear Daddy-o! I hope he had a great day, spending it with his grandson Jaxton in Utah! I tried to have Tage call and say "Happy Birthday Grandpa!" But when I put the phone up to her, she pushed it away and said so sweetly "No thank you mommy, all full" (a phrase she learned at meal time when I give her something she doesn't want!) Oh well, we tried, sorry Grandpa! My Dad is great, and I love him and am grateful for this day that we celebrate his debut in the world!

Tage and I had a pretty good day. She slept in her big girl bed last night and didn't fall out. She woke up and was telling me about something "ewwy! gross!" on the wall. There was a spot of something (who knows what, and I don't think I want to know!) and then grabbed her bear and said "Bear! Look! The wall... eeewww! Gross!" and put the bear's face right up to the wall to look. I laughed to myself, she is so much fun in what she does and says now! She likes to sleep with her bear, hippo, and bunny. She also must have her pink blanket (her favorite) and her purple blanket and white blanket. Every morning she hands every animal and blanket to me before she will get up. At night she likes to sleep on her belly, so she also puts her animals on their belly.

I finally went to the doctor again for my OB check up. My 2nd time in 5 months of pregnancy! Not completely my fault though. The first three months I was kept in the dark of my pregnancy... thinking it was just anemia flaring up again, and poor eating habits that was leading to weight gain. My own brother, who had just returned from his mission had the guts to ask me if I was pregnant at back in June. When I told him "No, I'm just gaining weight..." he responded with "Oh, it's just looked like you have a beginning of pregnancy stomach" How would he know anyways? He's lucky I didn't clobber him, but it turned out he was right!

We are expecting a BOY, and so are excited to have one of each gender now. People that Kevin works with say "OH good! You'll have one of both, now you can be done!" HA. They are shocked when we tell them, no, we actually plan to have more. At least 4... and then we will go from there! Hopefully this baby will be small than Tage. Or at least no bigger. Tage was 8lbs. 13oz when she was born and that was a SHOCKER! I'm not so sure I want to birth a baby much larger than that. We shall see!

Okay,