wrapsody

So I have a new obsession.  I didn't need a new obsession.  I wasn't looking for a new obsession.  It just happened.  I have a baby -- a fairly big baby -- who likes to be held.  He doesn't like me to walk out of the room.  He doesn't like me to busily move around the house.  He most certainly doesn't appreciate me doing things like walk down the stairs without him!  I was willing to cut myself some slack the first year of his life.  So I wasn't accomplishing as much as I wanted, but I had a baby!  And probably my last baby.  Heaven knows I realize how quickly they grow up so I wasn't going to resent his babyhood or get frustrated with the undone tasks piling up around me.  But enough is enough.  There is something about the new beginnings of January and being inside all the time that makes me just want to get rid of everything and hose down the house!  Or at the very least streamline the cupboards and closets, sort through what clothes we really need and use, move some pictures around to appreciate them again, organize and discard old papers and files, not to mention prepare dinner regularly, learn to crochet, practice the piano, exercise -- need I go on?  Anyhow, despite his advanced age, I decided I needed a new way to strap him to me so that I can do what I need to do and he can have what he wants -- which is to be strapped to me.  

And so we have: woven wraps (aaaaaah).  They are so pretty, so silky, so vibrant... so expensive!  But I've gotten some used and some at deep discounts.  They're not all here yet, but here is my first one (and yes, I do need more than one since there are different uses for shorter wraps, different fabrics, etc. -- thanks for asking).

 This one is a silk / cotton blend and is so comfortable -- it's like I hardly notice him there at all.  He gets all comfy and relaxed, truly happy as a clam.  I brought it with me to my presidency meeting yesterday, tied him up, and he promptly took a nice little nap.  I've been watching youtube videos all week long for all of the best ways to wrap a toddler.  I seem to have found yet another subculture of which I knew nothing just a few short months ago.  It is fun, it is bonding.  And since I need some reason to justify all of this bother I'm already imagining wrapping up my grandchildren. Yes, I realize I'm crazy.

the story of my life

a new year

Happy happy New Year everyone!  We had a lovely autumn and beginning of winter.  I think we were trying hard to spend as much time all together as possible before our first little chick left the nest.  Oh my!  Bring on the tears!  I don't know if we'll ever all live together under one roof again and that thought is a tiny bit depressing, but what can you do?  I dropped her off in Idaho last Friday and when I called on Sunday evening I asked how she was feeling.  She said, "Mom, I know I'm in the right place."  Such a comforting sentence for a mama.  I was so worried, dropping her off in a place filled with only strangers, that she would be so lonely and scared -- not at all!  She has great roommates, a nice apartment, kind and helpful professors... such a relief!  And she hasn't even seemed annoyed when I call or text.

::Saying goodbye at the airport -- these were the last photos since I didn't get any of her apartment, etc.  Lame of me, I know.

 ::Ibby was trying so hard to not cry!  When I got home she told me that she was so excited to be upstairs sharing a room with Lulu now and then she started bawling.  I said, "You miss Ella don't you."  "Yes!" she wailed.  Indicating that the trade off wasn't necessarily worth it.

 ::Charlie being a goofball!

I just got back from our trip out west on Tuesday evening so I hadn't even started thinking about New Year's goals and resolutions yet -- one thing at a time -- but as I thought about some things this morning, there is a lot I'd like to work on.  I think a word I'd like to use this year is "Act."  Not as in playacting or pretending, but as in actually doing all of the many many things I think about doing.  I need to lose some weight -- so I'm going to!  I need to not waste so much time -- so I'm going to have an actual plan in place for my days and work on some side goals that will require me to plan my time better.  And most importantly I want to Act on the nudges and promptings that I get instead of ignoring them.  This is the most important one.  

I had to give a talk in church on December 30th and the topic was, "The Future is Bright" and I really believe that it is.  Come what may, if we are living right and doing our best there is no room for pessimism, anger, negativity, fear... Here is to a great year!

halloween

Happy Fall everyone!  It's getting pretty cold here, but I always forget how much I actually enjoy the coziness of it getting dark early and bundling up in jackets and sweaters.  I thought I'd share some of what we've been doing...

::The only pic we have of our Charlie -- he had to go to traffic school on Halloween night for four hours -- wah, wah!

::My two little pirates -- we said to Phin, "What do you say?" meaning trick or treat and he would say, "Arg.  That's what pirates say, mom."

 ::All the girls still like to dress up.  Ella handed out candy so that M and I could both take the littles around the neighborhood and Lulu went with some friends

 ::This was Ibby's miniature pumpkin.  I suggested that she not try to carve it, but she insisted and even included a mustache.

 ::Phin's jack-o-lantern -- he designed while daddy carved

 ::Lulu's

 ::And the leaves!  Archie loves to help!

:: Phin with his own purple rake

 ::The girlies helped for hours!  For some reason our two oldest slaves children missed this event

 ::He insisted on using one of the big rakes

 

In my estimation we raked about 55 million leaves last Saturday and one of our trees is still green!!!!  But we do love our big yard with its leafy canopy!

Babies crying, gotta go! 

lethargy

Wow!  That is all I have to say about my blog lethargy.  So it is definitely fall around here.  I LOVE fall!  The sky is so bright blue, the cool air is so refreshing (especially after this inferno of a summer), the brightly changing leaves are intoxicating, and the crunch crunch of the fallen leaves adds rhythm and sound.  We often talk about moving to a warmer clime, but I would certainly miss the changing seasons.  I also really like wearing more clothes!  I always feel a little too exposed in thinner tee shirts and capris.  There is nothing like putting on some jeans that pull in the tummy a bit and adding a cardigan to conceal some of the unsightly rolls.

I have been spending too much money, as usual.  I think it's because I'm tired.  It is energizing in a strange way, so maybe if I can get baby to sleep a bit more, that would be good in so many ways.  One way I am counteracting the thrill I get from procuring things is developing the absolute rush I get from getting rid of it again!  I've been selling things online and I think the whole process is so fun!  I like taking pictures of everything and describing them, checking to see if people are interested.  Then after they buy them I have a little scale and can weigh the packages and print out and pay for postage from my own computer!  It's like I'm a little girl playing "store!"  Another interesting thing is kind of getting to know and interact with different people that you will never meet.  For the most part, I'm selling kind of niche baby items so most of the people are educated and have similar interests to mine.  Well, a little while ago I decided to sell some household items on an online garage sale site and it was crazy the messages I was getting.  For example:

"I'm prolly posta be home at that time."

What?  I get that prolly = probably and must be a quick way to type it and I've seen it before, much to my chagrin, but posta?  Really?  I don't even want to hear this person speak in real life.  It made me realize that with texting and tweeting, what have you, the massacres of spelling and grammar are probably getting worse, but my friends are fortunately shielding me from the worst examples of it.  Thank you.  It is appreciated.

Anyhow.  It makes me think I should start a business of some kind.  Hmmm.  But what?  I'd love to have a virtual store because then I could buy things and then turn around and sell them again.  Perfect!  My husband is quick to point out that I do have a business -- teaching childbirth classes -- and perhaps I should work on growing that business.  Good point.  As usual.

That is it for now.  These few paragraphs were written over the course of a few days, with multiple interruptions, crises, laundry changes, questions, playing games, etc. ensuing throughout.  Doesn't make for much cohesiveness, but it is my life right now and I wouldn't have it any other way.

::walking is hard, must stick out tongue for assistance!

 ::Buddies!!!

where do I belong?

Sometimes I feel like I don't fit in anywhere.  I went to a playgroup with friends from church and they were talking about ultra conservative political things and looking around with a look like, of course, everyone agrees about all of this -- but I don't, I mean really, really don't!  I sometimes can't believe we're given the same information and come to such wildly different conclusions, but that is fine and I try very hard not to argue with anyone.   And then if I happen to mention natural childbirth, cloth diapering, hanging out my clothes, recycling, wanting to put solar panels on my house, not using paper anything -- I'm looked at like I'm a complete nut case!  But then when I'm around another group of friends, who I dearly enjoy being with because they're all about peace, love, and taking care of each other, I'm on the opposite side of the spectrum because I'm Mormon, have six kids, I didn't have homebirths, don't co-sleep (well, all night anyway), don't eat everything organic, take the occasional tylenol, and shop at Old Navy.  I just don't fit in anywhere and don't feel very comfortable sometimes.  Oh well, end of rant, and hope I didn't offend anyone.  At least I try not to be offensive on Facebook :)

So my blog has turned into the catalog of funny things Phin says and cute pictures of Archie, but I can't help myself!  Yesterday as we were driving in the car, Phin says, "Are Super Man, Bat Man, Spider Man (said Biter Man), Iron Man, and the Hulk friends?"  Me, only half listening, replies, "Mm, hmm."  He freaks out!  "What????  They're all friends?  Superheroes are all friends with each other??!!??"  Whoa!  I don't really know these kinds of things and I didn't really think before I spoke.  I didn't know what to do!  But I decided to just stick to my guns and say yes, they're all friends!  He accepted that and we moved on.  Then he started talking about cats and breakfast, who knows what, for about five minutes and then said, "That was a very long question, wasn't it?"  Yes, dear, I have no idea what you're talking about.  So amusing.  Then later we were in Target and saw some ISU fan wear.  Well, Phin thinks that the ISU mascot, Reggie the Redbird, is an Angry Bird

 One can see the resemblance.  But it becomes more convoluted, because Phin thinks that Angry Birds are really called Hungry Birds so the whole way through the store we're talking about how HUNGRY Reggie the Redbird is.  I tried to explain, but it doesn't get through, and it's pretty cute anyway.

Now some pictures of Archie and we should be set!

::showing off his sprout woolies!

 ::one of his favorite spots -- he loves to hurl things off of the second floor!  Fun!  Loud noises!

 

swing of things

I feel like with a title like that I should have some pictures of the boys swinging or something, but I don't :)  Baby just found me.  He likes to stand up next to the couch and jump up, yelling, "Gah!!!!"  It never gets old!  He is so cute!  As much as I lament the kids going back to school, it is always nice to be back on a schedule -- one that is mandatory, since providing one of my own is definitely not a strength.  Matthew is back teaching seminary so he gets up way before people should, Eleanor is working from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. so her daily habits are completely skewampus, Charles has decided he has to kick his running up a notch so he gets up and runs at 4:30 and then with the team again after school, Lucy has been getting herself up very well and is always out the door by 7:30, Ibby gets ready in about 23 seconds and always comes running in to get the baby already fully dressed (including that smile!) and with her bed made, Phin sleeps in -- but usually makes it in time for walking Ibby to the bus at 8:20, and I just get up with Archie -- anytime between 6:30 and 7:30.  The boys and I walk at 8:45 and then we just eat candy and watch t.v. until the kids come home.  Totally kidding!  I had three loads of laundry done before 11:00 this morning so that was eventful.  Who knows what I do all day, but I am trying to have at least one project every day --  on top of the usual suspects: laundry, dishes, dinner, not missing any great deals, and making sure no one dies.  I reorganized my desk area the other day.  Whoop!

Phin is so funny trying out new vocabulary and has now decided that his favorite word is especially.  He uses it in every single sentence.  Last night he said, "I'm done with my dinner, especially there is still food on my plate."  It is adorable.  He is also curious about plurals, which is much more complicated in English than it ought to be.  There is a stretch of grass we pass every day that has a lot of geese living on it.  I'll say, "Look!  There's a goose.  There are so many geese."  He seemed very confused, so Ibby and I thought of other examples of not just adding an S, "One mouse, two mice.  One die, two dice."  He said, "Oh, I get it!  One tree, two trampolines!  One swimming pool, two tree houses!"  Yep, son, got it!  Doing us proud!  Another funny thing he said today, "Is this an elbow bed?"  pointing to the arm rest in the car.  Can you stand it?  So cute!  I love four year olds and I will miss him so much next year!!!  I'll stop thinking about it!

I'll end with the required picture of baby.  I gave him a more proper haircut, but I still don't want him looking too much like a big kid.

 And here is our bus stop gang -- only three of whom actually get on the bus -- it's a fun crew!