Holiday Gain...

Neighbor gifts...friend or foe? You tell me, I just polished off a WHOLE loaf of bread. No, not a mini loaf of homemade bread...a regular size. Why do people insist on food? Don't they know people like me have no self control?

Christmas Music Everywhere...

I was sent this, and thought it was neat. I get so sad sometimes when the word "Christ" is taken out of Christmas and the holidays these days. We have to say things so politically correct, and we cant say "Merry Christmas", and play Christmas music at events...but play "holiday music" that fits everyone's liking, so they wont be offended when the word "Christ" is mentioned at all. Then i saw this video in a MALL, and I just loved it!

Santa's Message to Thomas...

So, I found this link to have a REAL Santa make a personal message to your child...personal to the age, personality, what kind of year they have had, and the things they want...its super neat...check it out. Tommy as been talking with Santa all day. Its pretty magical.

http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/53vyp95-g22xGknIB6dQYw

All the hustle and Bustle...

As I sit here in our third bedroom (don’t want to make that sound too glorious…it’s a cubby hole really) which seconds as a home office and a guest bedroom and laundry room and Christmas wrapping center… I realize that I’ve been staring into space for a couple minutes now. Overwhelmed by the exhaustion of the season …Christmas that is. Anyone who knows me knows that I practically poop Christmas elves, I LOVE this time of year so much. However, I also build it up so big each year, I can’t keep up with myself…and Thomas is only TWO! How will I ever keep this pace up over the years? Couldn’t I, we, fuss a little less and enjoy the season a bit more…couldn’t we? SNAP out of it Kate! The thought has often come to me, “Why do we try to always cram it into just ONE month? Why do the Toys for Tots, Salvation Army, Road Home, and all these service projects or acts of service seem double time this time of year?” We give gifts to neighbors and friends to show them we love them and we care… just because it’s that time of year. This month is my favorite because I think we overindulge in every aspect…food, gifts, and generosity. But why only JUST this month? AS the Saviors example, we feel loving and give more this month…but tend to forget later. After December has come and gone, we all seem a little embarrassed or ashamed that we “did so much” or “got a little too cheesy” or “over the top”. We pull back in for eleven more months till December rolls around again. No wonder why we seem so overwhelmed, December IS crazy busy if we leave all of our generosity and serving and fun to one month! Suppose we cut back on some of the things this year…so we had some energy to make a little of Christmas last ALL YEAR LONG? That would really be my idea of heaven, Christmas all year. That means Christmas music the entire time sweetie (Rob)! Maybe I can try to slow it down the rest of the month and remember I can spread this out, and remember to celebrate Him more, who this special holiday is really all about. I’m serious. We can do it. Now, I’m going to get off my soap box, and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa!

To My Veteran on Veterans Day

Today is Veterans day. Most of us don't really think about today as any big deal...dont feel bad because neither did I for most my life. I think my dad described most of what I felt and what my family felt when Rob suddenly was thrown into war back in 2002 and again in 2004..."You don't really care about the game until you know someone on the team". This suddenly became true for me as a newly engaged girl and then as a new bride. As for all of our loved ones, we were all in shock. Rob, however, regardless of how we felt about the war, was true to his duty 100%. He never backed down, and was completely faithful in both of his deployments. Like so many have before, Rob has served his country faithfully. Im so grateful for him and for his sacrifices... it delayed many things in his life. However, he will tell you it gave him experiences he could have learned in no other way. Today I honor you Rob, and the many others who have served. I'm sorry that we sometimes forget the players on our team.

Our Halloween

We had a blast this Halloween. We had party after party. Some were documented... some were not. But here is a collage of what WAS documented this Halloween.

First Bike with Pedals

Tommy has had a bike, but it just scooted...it was by far, and is the coolest bike you will find. Its a European style Radio Flyer no pedal bike that he hauls around on. But we got him this only cause he could reach pedals on most of the kids bikes. So, I was at the DI looking for a fish bowl for our new gold fish ands saw them unpacking this Ketler (a sweet German brand, only sold in high end toy stores) kid bike, and was shocked someone was giving it up. Even more shocked to see the price. $3!!!! I about screamed, and grabbed it! We ran home to let Tommy try it out. Luckily my friend Christine,a photographer, was outside with her camera to capture it best. Now Thomas has two sweet rides. One with and without pedals.

Tommy is Getting too big

This video is a couple of months old, but it just made me smile because Tommy is so dang cute and smart. He surprises me all the time at how quickly he picks up on things and how independent he is.

Enjoy it now

Lately, I’ve been trying to appreciate each moment. Robbie and I have discussed that we can’t live our life in the “when…” type of thinking. “When…I’m feeling healthier…we are out of these apartments, out of this year of school, in this residency, when Tommy is potty trained, have more time with each other…” fill in any blank! Really, when any of these things actually come to pass, there will be something else that needs to happen. There will never be enough time, money, or me to go around. So enjoy the now. Regardless of the challenge. Enjoy it now.

I am trying. Really, I am. It seems that as I’m trying, my own health pounds me to the ground and I get the wind knocked out of me. It's hard to seize the day when you feel bitter, alone, and life is unfair at the moment. I had a particular doctor’s appointment I was dreading and I had a priesthood blessing right before. I’m grateful for the amazing support of my husband who gives his all to love and support me. I was calm and collected and grateful for it. Feeling discouraged I said a prayer on the way home in my car to help these feelings leave me. I came home and found this video on a friend’s blog. This was all I needed to put things in PERSPECTIVE. We all have challenges, but there is always someone who has it worse. Someone who can teach us how they are handling their challenges in a Christ like way. How grateful I am for examples to inspire me. It's a little long, but well worth the minutes.


All I have ever wanted, I have. I pleaded with the Lord to give me a righteous man and He DID. I pleaded with the Lord to make me a Mother somehow and He DID! I ask that he make me a better person, more patient, kind, and stronger and he is. I am grateful for all I have. I am blessed to have the family I do, the friends that I do, and the life that I do. I am enjoying it now.

A day of Guns

For those of you who know me, I'm not so comfortable around the gun/shooting scene. I never was raised around them, and I don't really like them. The first time Rob took me shooting, I cried. I really don't like the idea of having them in my house, or having my kid around them. However, there are compromises you make in marriage, and this is one of them. I'm working on it. We have some good friends from medical school who all wanted to go shooting one day...and I decided to be a good sport. Here is documentation that I was a good sport. And that I suck at shooting.

Our Big Tahoe Trip

Each year, since I was born, we have gone to Lake Tahoe for the summer. Rob has since been adopted into this tradition with my family. We were only able to go for a little bit this summer, but here is a collage of some of our fun. Sorry its taken me so long to post. I promise I will be better.



My little Brother was filming our entire family photo shoot, and we had no idea. We thought he was checking his facebook as usual. Turns out he was filming. Now you have an inside to a few minutes to my family...Only my cousins and close friends will appreciate this video. I'm sure my sister-in-law loves the fact that my brothers are trying to teach Van the word "douche". You are caught red handed Roy.



Now we are back home, Rob is back in Medical school full force, and we aren't sure where our summer went at all. We do know that we had a great summer. We miss our Daddy now, but he is kickin butt in school. We are proud of him as ever, and are gearing up for another year.

Tampons...a new toy...fun for a girl or a boy!

Boys...The littlest things fascinate them

Thomas and a Bud

Thomas loves friends. He is super social...I have no idea where he gets it. He has many friends right where we live outside our door in our courtyard...he loves them all so much. One in particular is our neighbor across the hall Peyton. They like to get into lots of trouble together. Our friend Christine caught them outside our house planning their next move...

Diet Coke...A friend who is always there for me...

For all who have known me, I rarely am seen with out a Diet coke close by. I blame my mother who breast fed me the stuff...I had no hope. In case anyone is wondering how my Diet coke habit is going...well, I'm not quite hooked up to an I.V. yet, but I am having to buckle my new cup into my front seat to make sure it doesn't spill. This fifty cup keeps my coke cold ALL day...and just so you dont panic, I do fill it mostly with ice, so it really isn't 100 0z of real Diet coke...there is some water in there too. Don't judge me. You know you wish deep down you had a cool mug too.

It's been a while. Here's a quick update. Rob decided that since he feels like he's going bald, he needs to figure out a way to transplant the hair somewhere else on his body, namely his face (thank goodness it's not growing on his shoulders). I finally convinced him to shave it, so he no longer looks like a scary caveman. I think he's decided that facial hair is not for him. It was fun while it lasted....

A big milestone has been passed this past Friday. Rob finished his first year of Medical School!! He's so excited to spend the summer working doing research (and being published). He'll have pretty much every night and all weekends off so we can spend some quality time together. We had a BBQ at our apartment with some of his best buds from his class to celebrate. He's made some amazing friends and their wives are fun too!

Tommy and I made a couple of signs congratulating Daddy. Then I made some brownies with hot fudge and strawberries for dessert. MMMMmmmmm.

Thomas turns Two!!!

So, about a week ago, Thomas turned two years old. I’m just now blogging about it, cause I’m about a week late on most things these days.

Most people are resolved to the fact that they are a parent about a month after their child is born. Not me. I still wake up each morning, see this amazing creature running around my apartment and am amazed that he eats, sleeps, poops, talks, laughs…and that I made him. Like people grow plants, gardens, businesses…I grew HIM! The fact that I am the one to teach him all that he must know; right from wrong, good and bad, ugly and cute (ha ha), the fact this little baby is becoming this little man with a huge personality is overwhelming. I remember wanting to punch people who say “it goes by so quick” on the days when I wanted to end it all, in the days of his colic. Now that he is two, he has finally sprouted some hair and he knows most the letters in the alphabet. Where has the time gone?

Rob has always been Thomas’ favorite. I’m not sad about that at all. In fact, I think it is so special. They have a bond that most mothers and babies have. Rob took on the nurturing role the first few months of Thomas' life due to me being so sick and their bond is undeniable. How lucky Thomas is to have a father like him who does all he can to love with all he can? If only Thomas knew how hard we prayed to get him here. If only Thomas knew how much he has been loved in this family the past two years. If only Thomas knew how much I’ve longed to be his Mommy, and am grateful for his patience as I try to figure out how the heck to do that as I feel so incapable to do it. Two years down sweetie…hang in there with me…I’m new at this. I’ve only had two years experience just like you.

Im a good parent...I swear.

So, on cold snowy days (we got a foot of snow in one day), I feel like a bad parent 'cause my kid is stuck inside our Polly-Pocket-of-an-apartment all day, which just about makes him crazy...and then he drives me crazy. He thinks I'm pretty fun from about 7am-9am, then I'm old news; play-dough, puzzles, cars, tents...all old news. Its the end of winter so this kid is done with all that crap. So, I resort to his constant beckon..."BLUES CLUES!" Don't ask me why my child loves a show that peaked in 1996. We have Netflix on demand, and it happens to be on there, and now...he's obsessed. Its all that he thinks about, talks about, and I assume dreams about. So, yes, I let him watch it way too much on days like this...I confess...I'M A BAD MOM!!! But, I am a good parent, I swear. Here are some pictures to prove it. The day before the storm, it was way windy and we flew 2 kites. Yes two, cause one broke. Then Robbie insisted we try another, better kite...with a 25 foot tail. Was this for Rob, or T? Here is proof I'm a good parent. Is this to make me feel like a better parent, as my child is watching Blues clues right now? YES!!!!



The First Kite...

Broken Kite. Then a New kite...Good save by Daddy.

Easter

Easter has always been a special holiday in my family. It is fun to start traditions in our own family! This year we were with the Whites, our other home. We had a wonderful dinner, followed by a huge Easter egg hunt for the kids. Thomas loved running around, but didn't like waiting to put the egg in the basket, he wanted to eat them right then. After hunting, he played his favorite game with Caleb, and would scream over and over, "YEAH!!!!". Caleb was such a great sport.

Urine on the Face

So, we've been trying to potty train Tommy (it's not working) and so his interest in the potty is off the charts. The other night I (Rob) came home from a friend's house with Tommy and had to pee like a race horse. So, I busted into the bathroom and gently swung the door closed behind me, but it didn't latch. Tommy knew exactly what was going on in there, so he threw the door open while I was in full urination mode. The excitement on his face when he saw daddy "going pee-pee like a big boy in the potty" was too much to handle and he lunged forward to get a closer look. Unfortunately for him, I was standing with a wide stance and he tripped over my foot, which catapulted him towards the cammode. Both of his little hands grasped the rim of the toilet, stopping him from falling right in to the toilet. That's not the bad part. His momentum carried his larger-than-average head directly into my urine stream. It all happened so fast that it took a moment for me to realize what had just happened...I just peed on my kid's face. I knew he was in shock because he just stood there, with both hands still grasped tightly to the porcelain, until he finally allowed one hand to wipe the urine from his eye. Kate was in bed by this time and when she heard the tub water running (we'd already given him his nightly bath by this time) she came out to see what was going on; why would I be giving our son another bath??? So, then I had to explain to her that I had just peed all over her son's face. Ohhh, the joys of fatherhood! I can just see him in 10 years, laying on a couch, explaining to a shrink that all of his anxiety and social problems started as a child, when his father peed on his face. Hopefully he's too young to remember it. I hope that's the case, but only time will tell.

These Ruined Everything

Some say that that Christmas is the worst time of the year on their waist lines...not me. Easter is the worst for me. Easter candy kills me... Mini Cadburry Eggs to be specific. I feel like I kid at fat camp who needs to eat it while he can, and I stuff it in my mouth by the palm fulls. Kate, get a hold of yourself. You were doing so good. You are a strong, confident woman. Wait, whats that? They are 2 for $6 at the store, gotta go.

Family Pictures

We got new family pictures taken this week by an amazing photographer and friend Christine Olson. It was a quick shoot, cause little did we know, Thomas has a double ear infection at the time and wasn't cooperating with us. But the 15 minutes that we shot were fun...and I am getting over my great fear of getting our family pictures done cause I don't like "how I look 'right now, give me a few more months'". If I keep doing that, we will never have family pictures, we will never have any...wait, that is what has happened. So here they are...Thanks Christine! You are worth every penny!