API (from Liam's point of view)

API was this weekend, which means I spent over 30 hours doing team pictures in two days.  My sister Em stayed with me while Slice stayed home with the kids.  When he brought them up to visit, Liam charmed everyone with his enthusiasm ("GOLF CARTS, MOM!  WHITE GOLF CART!") and his chatter ("Hi guys! Wanna see your pictures?").  These are only a few of the 100 pics he snapped on our little Kodak in the space of two hours.  Except that last one, of course, which Slice took.

This is the life.

A Few Good Shoes

Over the last little while my plantar fasciitis has flared up again.  I'd like to blame it on the sprinklers, but it was happening before that huge project.  So....
I've finally come to grips with the fact that I will never be able to buy run-of-the-mill shoes again.
And I've been on the hunt for other options.


A few months ago I bought some CrocsTone flats, which I think are almost cute.

They are super comfy.  But not great for summer (make your feet sweat) - so I bought myself some Birkenstock sandals from the cheapest place I could find.

Then, thanks to Christopher Kendrick, I found these which (of course!) are the least expensive of the bunch, and I wish I'd discovered them first.  FACT: these are sold at Walmart, for less than the prices on their website.

But in the colder months I'm going to need some real shoes.  I'm thinking I will save up and buy these:

Or a different pair from the same website.  And I'll wear them every day during the looong Uintah Basin winter.

(Then Slice will hate them.  He hates when I wear the same thing over and over and over, which happens frequently.)

ANYWAY - if you know someone who has foot problems, send them my way.  We can start a club or something.  And I can tell them where to find supportive shoes that are not too hideous or too expensive.

I've been reading

I recently read Bringing up Bebe on my kindle - first parenting book I've ever read, possibly the last.
I really enjoyed it.

Lots of other people have read it, and you can find more thorough reviews in other places (Goodreads!).  For me, though, the main value of the book is that it describes a parenting style which actively prevents entitlement.
The problem of entitlement that is rampant in our culture; that turns parents into maids and chauffeurs and personal secretaries; that makes teaching kids of any age a living nightmare.  The problem of entitlement that has created a generation of people who think the world owes them something, who can't commit to a person or job or even a major because it might limit their happiness.

Slice and I have discussed this problem to great length, and fortunately, we're on pretty much the same parenting page.  As I read this book I told him about all the things he's already doing the same as French parents. (Case in point: making kids say "hello" and "good-bye" to visitors in addition to "please" and "thank you."  There's a whole chapter on the social rules that French children are expected to follow, same as adults.  They learn from the start that the world doesn't revolve around them.)
We both feel that many parents don't expect as much from their young children as they could.

Of course there are things in the book that I disagree with.  The disturbing sexism and deliberate pleasure-seeking of French culture, the anti-breastfeeding attitudes, and the standard full-time daycare are a few.  It almost sounded to me like these French parents are having kids just because it's the chic thing to do.

But, I'd still recommend the book to parents and future parents.  I keep thinking about how nice it would be if all the adults I knew had a collective understanding (like the French appear to have) about what we should expect of children.  Then maybe we could watch each others' kids without worrying about stepping on the parents' toes.
(Or, maybe I could let Liam play with other kids without worrying about the bad habits he's picking up from them.)
(Readers: NOT YOUR KIDS.)


Other good stuff I've been reading:
Sue's excellent post on First World Problems (I can really relate, and the comments on her blog are always worth the read), and Azucar's similar post.

The post that everyone read (and I'm glad they did) about same-sex attraction and a truly beautiful relationship.

An article about same-sex marriage and kids.  Some things to think about.

20 Days Later

Sprinklers are finally working.  I will never take a good sprinkling system for granted again!

Now for the cleanup, and the fun part -

planting.

Because that's the kind of mom I am

I called my sister at 4:30 in the afternoon and said "Let's have a party."

We had ice cream cake (cookies & cream) with crushed mint malt balls, stenciled in the form of a tractor. (It was another twist on a Pinterest idea.)  I put tea candles on top of the Oreos for him to blow out.

Quick and easy.

Sometimes I still forget that I am Santa and the Easter Bunny, and I am the one who has to make the parties happen here.

(Did I tell you about the time I didn't buy candy for our Christmas stockings?  Like EVERY YEAR?)

The Best Two Years

Dear William,

Today's your birthday.  It's strange to think that two years ago I hadn't even met you yet.  So much has happened since then!

This picture, to me, captures you entirely.  You are a bundle of energy.  Sometimes people watch you for a while and then ask me, "Does he ever slow down?"  or "Is he always like this?" And I just smile and let them feel sorry for me.  You keep me running and jumping and catching and kissing owies ... and always, always cleaning up after you.

You are one smart cookie.  You know all your colors and shapes and animals and body parts, you sing lots of songs, and you spell my name "M-O-M-O."  You also count to ten in THREE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES - which we didn't even know until you whipped out the Spanish.  (Thanks, Dora!)
We just never know what is going to come out of your mouth, you little parrot.
Sometimes you get very frustrated when you can't do something that you think you should be able to.  We call this your OCD.  I have to calm you down and make you ask for help, so you know that you don't have to do it alone.

You are a boy, through and through, and I'm reminded of this every single day.  Every hanger becomes a gun in your hands.  You spot tractors and buses and "HUGE TRUCKS!" and rocks that I don't even see.  During the school year, we watch the school buses drive by our house every morning and afternoon.

You talk a mile a minute, except when we're on Skype and we want you to talk.  You're bursting with personality, and we love it.  Ward members still come tell me just how much they love you.  My favorite things you say are "Silly mommy!" and "Wummy!" (Yummy!).  I also love how you yell "Yah! Yah! Yah! Yahhhhh!" when you get excited about anything.

Your baby sister adores you.  You love her too and you're a good big brother most of the time - I just have to watch and make sure you don't smother her with all your blankets and toys.
You are teaching us every day, and we love you more than you know.  Thanks for the best two years of parenthood we've ever had.

Love,
Mom

Liam

over the weekend

Still much more to do.

Time for a new post

I'm sick of looking at the old one.

Emily, here's a picture for you:

Let's pretend we took this on Mother's Day

And here's an update.

Thursday we went to Salt Lake to see my dear Brittanie get married.  It was a beautiful sealing, my favorite ever besides my own.  I think there were at least ten people crying by the end.  And Brit looked lovely, and I am so so happy for her I almost cried myself.
The day was also fabulous because we had no kids.   We ate at Siegfried's, strolled around City Creek and walked through Tiffany & Co., H&M, and Swarovski. I felt like I was back in Vienna on Kärntnerstrasse.  (Only this time I actually have money.)

Friday Slice and his brother trenched our yard for sprinklers.  We ran into some difficulties, as you can always expect to with house projects.  But the project is well underway and should be finished by Wednesday - then we just have to get our grass growing again.
Our house is the greatest source of discussion these days, since we aren't planning to be here for too much longer.  We refinanced a few weeks ago (hooray!) and gained $5000 on the appraisal - I know, this doesn't mean much - but our game plan really depends on long-term decisions, i.e., if we will sell it or try to rent it out when we move.  How much money should we put into it?   What are our top priorities?  How much longer do we stay?
Hard to know.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day, which means my Liam is turning two this week.  I don't have anything planned yet.  Hey, at least I already have his presents.

sometimes

I was telling Slice last night that I don't know if I need a kick in the pants or a week in bed.  Or a higher dose of Synthroid.  Maybe a combination of all three?

I've got a to-do list a mile long (not to mention 10 lbs. more than a year ago!), two babies and a house to take care of, and sometimes I don't feel like doing any of it.  Sometimes I don't even want to walk out my front door.  I call it lazy, but actually it scares me a little when I get to that point. 

There have been two specific "worst" times the laziness has happened before: when I had strep for six months and right before I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism.  Every time, though, I wonder if everyone feels like I do and they just deal with it.  You know, working moms who train for marathons on no sleep and take meals to needy families while homeschooling?  Young fathers who do school and work, both full-time, while filling demanding callings and doing home improvement projects?

Is everyone tired all the time but they do stuff anyway?  Do they want to do the things they do?  Do I have a mental illness?  

Am I making excuses?

Seriously.