winter-style shorts

When winter set it, we let Nolan know he couldn't wear shorts again until the spring. This caused several major meltdowns, practically every day when it was time to get dressed. That is, until one day, several weeks ago, when he invented his own shorts - created by rolling his pants up past his knees!

(I actually thought it was a pretty creative solution to appease Mom and Dad.) Now Nolan's modified pant-shorts are one of his wardrobe staples. Well, apparently Macy's taking her fashion cues from her older brother these days. This pic is what I noticed while they were chillin' on my bed.

blast from the past

Hello out there....so I'm back on the bandwagon, at least for today. Is anyone out there still reading? Well, there is certainly too much to catch up on since the last post in October, so I'm opting to not catch up at all. After all, what else should I do after such a big gap??? So, instead, here's a bit of a game from some friends' blog tags.

Here are the official rules:
1. Go to my documents/pictures.
2. Go to the 6th file folder.
3. Go to the 6th picture.
4. Blog about it.
5. Tag 6 people to do the same.



Here's the winner! I love this picture of Jer and Nolan, fishing with PawPaw and Uncle Dick in August of 2005. I love that Jer is so adventurous and loves to take the kids on outings. He loves to take them ice fishing, to Wendy's for frosties, and for walks in the wagon. They are lucky to get to spend two days a week with him, while I'm at work. What a great daddy!

Okay, here is the tag, that is if anyone still checks this blog!
Shannon, Lisita, Lisa, Moey, Alisa, & Nat

picture plug

Check out the pictures we had taken of Nolan & Macy in August, slideshow on the right. If you're interested in a local, on-location photographer, let me know! We've been really happy with Elisha! It's too bad my point-and-shoot photos aren't this great!

a new car!

According to Nolan that's what I'll be driving next week at this time! He told Jeremy today he knew what they should buy me for my birthday, then whispered a secret in his ear so I wouldn't hear - a new Volkswagon Beetle car! He knows I think it would be fun to have a Bug, so the perfect solution: buy Mom one for her birthday! :-) I thought it was pretty cute that Nolan came up with this by himself, and what a fun present would that be!


latest self-portrait

One more great Nolan outtake:

During the closing prayer of the afternoon session of LDS General Conference today, we hear Nolan, "Come on, guy! End the prayer! I can't keep my arms folded any longer! "

hello again cyber space

Things have been a little crazy this past month or so. Proof - I can't say I have ever reached the point on my digital camera that it said "out of memory" because I haven't downloaded my pictures for so long. Needless to say, when I've had a spare moment to blog, I haven't had another spare moment to download pictures. Solution: no post.

Now that I've actually downloaded the images, here are some of my favorite pictures taken before summer slipped away from us.

Labor Day Weekend

Nolan agreed to ride with us as long as

he could use the fancy goggles!

I love that Macy isn't afraid to get in the water. Late in the afternoon, we were wrapping up our trip on the lake with one last turn for anyone who wanted to get in the water again. When Jer asked who was next, Macy gave her favorite line, "I do!" because she wanted to get back on the tube. She was excited to ride with Aunt Leslie. Check out those goggles! Vogue.

Four-year-old photographer

These are some of my new favorite pics. Nolan has taken to shooting his own pictures when we're not looking. I find all these extra shots (20-30!) when I download the images. No wonder I'm getting the "out of memory" message!

Nolan's first day of preschool

He was super excited but the nerves set in when we got to the classroom. He wouldn't take his backpack off for at least an hour into class, or so they tell me. I thought it was cute, sort of a strapped-on security blanket.

Afternoon just for the kids

We went to Krispy Kreme for free donuts when the "Hot" sign was on then spent an hour or so working on our driveway masterpiece. Nolan had a blast!

Macy only lasted about five minutes with the chalk

then found other things to keep her busy.

Loving the backyard

Inevitably, Macy comes inside with her drawers full of sand and sand practically glued to her scalp, even if she was playing alone. I can't quite figure out if she gives herself a sand shower or what! Maybe I'll have to wire a webcam to catch it live.

And finally, Nolan's latest trick on the tramp!

celebrate macy!

A break from the fives for just a bit....I am now officially the mother of a four-year-old and a two-year-old. Macy's birthday was yesterday, and now she is "Doo!" We sure do love her personality! Here is some of the fun that Macy brings to our family!

five pet peeves

1. Stores that don't have the antibacterial wipes to clean the cart handles before you use them. I actually despise shopping at WalMart for this very reason, but still brave the germs with my own sanitizer on occasion. (It's okay, I have come to terms with the fact that I am a germaphobe!)
2. People who don't care enough about their job to do their job, case in point: ornery customer service agents.
3. Chain companies that are so big that regular employees can't help you with what you need. Instead, you have to be transferred five different times on the phone or ask three different people in the store where to find a particular item.
4. It seems a rare occasion that you can call a doctor when you need to see them and actually schedule an appointment any time sooner that three weeks or three months!
5. People who think that because I am a Landscape Architect, I should come mow their lawn. (Not because I have anything against mowing the lawn.)

five loads of laundry (and counting)

Day 1. Sheets and blanket
Day 2. Sheets and blanket
Day 3. Sheets and blanket
Day 4. Sheets and blanket
Day 5. Sheets and blanket

You get the idea. We've traded in pull-ups at night around here for big-boy underwear and are having quite the time keeping them dry. Although we've had a bit of success, the Groundhog's Day version of laundry in the morning is getting quite mundane! Any ideas for potty-training at night?

five phrases of 'Macy speak'

We're excited to report that Macy is really starting to talk these days! These are some of our favorite phrases of 'Macy speak':

1. "I Do!" - This comes in two forms. The first is a relatively calm version, telling you she wants to do something, like have a bite of your ice cream or go with you. The second is much more demanding, "I DO IT!" This goes for anything you are trying to help her with that she wants to do by herself. We hear this one plenty around here!
2. "Eez" - aka "please". We're working on combining #1 with #2, or in other words, "I do it, please."
3. "E-O" - this refers to any instance with more than one. e.g. Macy, do you want a cookie? Response: "E-O!" Playing hide-and-seek with Nolan, Macy's counting sounds like, "e-o-e-o-e-o". If she's pointing out two birds, she says, "Mommy - Bur! E-O!". It's pretty funny!
4. Possession. Macy's loves to point out what things belong to whom. While I'm folding laundry, she tells me who the clothes belong to, "Mommy's" or "Nolan's". Every time I take the kids somewhere in the truck (usually while Jer is gone to work with the car), Macy points at the truck and very adamantly states, "Daddy's. Daddy's." She certainly knows who loves the truck the most!
5. "Doot!" - aka cute. This is new one from today. She pointed at Nolan's shirt and said "Doot!" and later Nolan's swimsuit, "Doot!" I guess we'll teach her later that boys don't like to be "cute", but cool or handsome or something manly.

five notes about Karl Malonic this week

If you don't know about Karl Malonic, see the side bar under 'looking for something' (at the bottom). Here's what he's up to this week:

1. Had a birthday and turned 5. (I am relieved that my son is now playing with a 4-5 year-old instead of a 40-year old!)
2. Went to Disneyland, took Nolan and Macy. He's taking Nolan and Macy to Disneyland again tomorrow. Nolan invited me to go with them! Should be a blast!
3. Has a sister named Lizzy; she's two. When she was born, Nolan told Karl Malonic's parents they should name her Lizzy, because he likes that name. Apparently they agreed!
4. Visiting his grandpa in Park City tonight.
5. Living in Mexico by those "Mexico Hills". By the way, when Nolan went to visit him there, he took Macy with him. Macy wouldn't obey Nolan, so he had to bring her back from Mexico then go back to visit Karl Malonic after he brought her home. Too funny.

p.s. Nolan now has another pretend relative. His name is "Uncle", not Uncle 'so-and-so', just Uncle. We'll see how long he'll be around. FYI - He's made a few appearances this week already. He and Karl Malonic seem to get along well.

five favorites

We're finally online again after several days transition period between internet service providers. Hooray!

I've decided to try something new with the blog for awhile. Instead of the update about what's been happening with our family, I decided to start a series of "fives". Here's the first:

Five of my favorite things about Jeremy:

1. His eyes, blue eyes - especially blue when wearing blue or dark grey. (I always wished for blue eyes myself, you know.)
2. He makes me laugh, quite often at his own expense!





3. He loves to play with the kids, and they sure love their daddy.







4. He rubs his hands together when he gets excited - those of you who have seen this habit know exactly what I'm talking about (and I would guess you're probably smiling now while you think about it). It happens when he's excited about Christmas or just talking about playing foosball or ping pong with the family, when he's getting ready to watch the Braves game or heading to his own softball game, when he's getting ready for a fishing trip with Christian and when he's taking Nolan ice fishing, when he's getting excited about his birthday and even more when he's telling someone else about the present he's giving them...and I quote"You're going to love your present!" The excitement has to make you smile...it's contagious!







5. Jeremy is the "husband of the year"! Okay, so this is an honor that he has actually given himself on several occasions with a comment like, "I must be husband of the year!", after I come home from work to a clean house, complete with vacuuming, dinner on the table, laundry washed and kids ready to eat dinner. Or when he has planned a birthday party for me, organized/made dinner for everyone and made a German chocolate cake (my favorite). Even though the title has been self-appointed, I have to agree he's earned it, don't you?

cheese whistles and beer allergies???

Nolan and Macy found something to keep them busy during lunch, besides eating, that is. These are pics of their self-invented whistles from their mac-n-cheese noodles. You wouldn't know from Nolan's picture how much they had been laughing at their genious invention!

Later Nolan was asking me about a family friend, who has severe food allergies.

Nolan: Mom, why is Nathan allergic to eggs and nuts?

Me: Some people's bodies handle food differently than others. If they eat the things their bodies don't like, then they could get really sick and have to go to the hospital.

Nolan: Well, did you know that I'm allergic to beer and coffee? (Pause) It's okay though, because we don't drink those anyway.