Etsy Shop

It's finally time for the unveiling. This is probably far more exciting for me than for many of you, but that's okay. I have decided, after much deliberation and much money spent (Brad will tell you all about that!), to open a shop on Etsy. If you are interested, check out the link on the right. I'm going to try not to be entirely shameless in my advertising, but I'll go ahead and ask you to tell your friends if you see something they would like. Also, the shop is new as of today, so there are only a few things in it. Look for some new things hopefully very soon. Thanks, everybody!

Happy Halloween!

Hello, all you ghouls and ghosts--and Disney Princesses! Hope everyone had a great, sugar overloaded day. We sure did here. First item on the docket was carving pumpkins. We only had one big one this year, and at the last minute, Brad and Leiden decided to carve it. They (Brad) did a great job.

Next up: Halloween dinner. Last year was an awesome dinner, and I wanted to keep the tradition rolling. All the things I looked at, though, were a little bit too gruesome for me, let alone little tender Leiden. (Moldy anything, anything's guts?) So, I was wandering around Target today, and I thought of...batloaf! Ha!

If you can't tell, the meatloaf is shaped like a vampire bat, and the fries are supposed to be witch fingers. Does anyone remember when they made green ketchup? I remember that, and I remember thinking, "What on earth were they thinking?" Until today. The witch's fingers would have looked a lot better in green! At any rate, Leiden wasn't grossed out by dinner, which is always a good thing.

Then it was on to costumes. Leiden has been so excited to be Cinderella, and I was thrilled that she was content to do something I already had in the dress up box. I think Leiden's highlight was the blue eyeshadow and glitter. (We're going to give her a make up set for Christmas--it's scary that she already loves it!) Machara was an angel--just like Leiden was for her first Halloween--again, operating under the 'What do I already have?' mentality. There are a bunch more pics here.

Then, it was time for the big event. Leiden's friend Ella came over with her dad, and the girls went traipsing around the neighborhood together.

This was the haul--they were only gone for about 30 minutes and then little feet and girls start to lag.

Warming up after the cool (but still unseasonably warm) evening out.

Surprisingly enough, Leiden went to bed without any fuss and without any fight. Astounding, considering the root beer, smarties, hot chocolate, sucker, and anything else I didn't see her eat!

Pneumonia

So, Brad has had a cold for a couple weeks, now, with a bad cough and chills and fever and rash and the whole nine yards. He got it right as the girls and I left for SLC, so we weren't around for the worst of it, but he was still sick when we got back, and is still sick today. He finally decided he would go to the doctor and see what they said. He was fully expecting them to tell him to just wait it out. Oh, no. He has pneumonia. I guess it's fairly uncommon to see it in healthy young adults, but there it is. He has to sleep in a room by himself, and is to have limited contact with the girls. If he has shortness of breath, he is to go straight to the emergency room. Well.

Hopefully his strain is bacterial, and will respond to the antibiotics that were prescribed to him. If it's viral, we'll just have to wait it out, and hope he doesn't have to be hospitalized or develop anything else like pleurisy or secondary infections. As Brad is prone to do, he did some research on the internet, and it's pretty serious. People die from it, so keep him in your prayers. The doctor said this was early stages, so if it's bacterial maybe he can head it off at the pass, but we won't know for about 5 more days when we see if the antibiotics help or not. Crazy stuff. Brad's pretty excited that he has a disease that rates among the top ten causes of death in the United States. (It's #6.) Trust Brad to see the silver lining. He'll be staying nice, warm, and cozy these next 3-4 weeks.

Wisconsin Dells

We just spent a fun weekend at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells. For those of you who don't know what Wisconsin Dells is, it's a little town in Wisconsin that has made an entire industry out of outdoor and indoor water parks. Totally fun--especially in a place that gets really cold in the winter. We went up with some friends and got a condo for the two nights, and spent some quality time going down waterslides, wallowing in the kiddie pools, and playing some serious Rock Band. Someday you should all hear me sing Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The weekend promised to be eventful when Brad's grandfather passed away early last week and the funeral was scheduled for Friday. We had already paid for our condo and it was too late to be changed. So, off Brad went to SLC to attend the funeral, while I stayed here with Mac (who currently has a cold), and went up with the Barringers in their minivan. On the way there, we stopped twice because Leiden kept telling me that her tummy didn't feel good, which is what she always says when she needs to go to the bathroom. I didn't think anything of it, until we stopped and she didn't go. We got back in the car, and she was looking really pale, but I thought she was just tired. Then, inevitably, she needs to go to the bathroom again, and it wasn't pretty. I thought the worst was over, and then she vomited for her very first time, all over herself and her carseat (it was remarkably contained--thank heavens) about 45 minutes outside of our destination! Uuugghh!!

That right there is my phobia. If there is any chance that someone is throwing up due to illness, I start shaking and my stomach clenches up, and there is some serious OCD with the issue. Even when it's my own poor child, crying and needing me to help her! This was long ago established as Brad's territory for that very reason, but was Brad with us? No. Luckily, my friend Kelly is a doctor, and totally unfazed by that sort of thing, so she helped me clean up--let me rephrase--she cleaned up my child for me while her husband cleaned the carseat as best he could at a gas station.

To my everlasting thankfulness, that was the end of the episode. We got to our condo, I threw in a bunch of wash, and Leiden ate two pieces of pizza and a banana before running around until an hour after normal bedtime with no adverse effects.

The rest of the weekend was so fun, except for my constant worrying that we had all contracted the stomach flu. (I'm still worried.) Leiden did so much better than the last time we were there, playing in the water, and even going down some seriously scary slides with Brad! There weren't any amazingly awesome pictures, so I just put the whole set here. Mac also did great, despite having a cold and working on 4 teeth!

When we weren't in the water, we were playing Rock Band, which is also really fun. Believe it or not, I have a difficult time purposely making a fool of myself, so it's a good game for me to move outside my comfort zone. The first night, we stayed up until 2 AM playing, and the second night, I fell asleep on the couch by about 11:30. I'm getting old. Thanks for a great time, Espins and Barringers!

Back in Town

I always forget that I have to upload the pictures backwards, so we'll talk backwards. This was the view from my front window, taken today with my very inadequate camera. Today was the most perfect fall day--chilly, cloudy, rainy, and the tiniest bit of breeze. The colors have already peaked here, but there's still plenty of color to see.

We've been in Salt Lake City for about 12 days. We went for a long trip because it was MEA and Leiden didn't have preschool. On Saturday night, we went to the Garden Room in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, and got these shots of Leiden. I do not know what possessed me, but I didn't think to get Mac out of her stroller to put her in the picture, as well! If you ask Leiden what we do in the Temple, she'll tell you we get married there. Smart girl. Just remember that.

Machara is really into eating, these days. She doesn't seem to be interested in her formula, and I'm talking 5 swallows and we're not drinking any more. But, she loves her 'real' food. She's kind of sputtery sometimes, so we end up with faces like this. She also has a funny tendency to sneeze while she's eating. Sometimes I catch the spray, and sometimes the spray catches me.

Just a cute one of Mac. If she hadn't had her bink in, it would have been even better.

On Friday, I watched Gavin and Max up at Grandma's house, so Leiden was thrilled to be able to play with Gavin. She always asks if she's going to play with him when we go to Utah. They were enthralled with the umbrella.

So was Mac.


My parents used to do this with me when I was a baby. They own a silk-screening business, so there are lots of piles of warm, clean, freshly printed and dried shirts to snuggle in.

On the first Saturday we were there, we went to Gardner Village to see the witches. Last year they really freaked Leiden out, but she was fine this year.

Well, now we're back, and Mac has contracted someone's cold. Both Brad and my dad are sick, so who knows where she got it. I just hope I don't get it, and that Leiden is spared, also. These are the times that them sharing a room is even more a pain than usual. Tonight, Mac slept for about 30 minutes after we put her down, and then cried and cried. She can't keep her bink in very well because she can't breathe, and if her cold came from Brad, she probably aches and has a headache. So we've got Mac crying, and Leiden 'sshhh'-ing her so loudly that I can hear it over the crying in the next room. Dear Leiden tries so hard. So, Mac is now in our room in the portacrib, and I'll be sleeping on the couch.

Like I thought they would, Weekly Goals did not go as well as I had hoped in Utah. But, focusing on the good, I did hang out a lot with the kids, I read my scriptures almost every night there, but there wasn't a run in the whole 12 days. Uggh. Tomorrow is a new day.

New Weekly Goals ending Monday, 10/27:

1. Exercise 3 times before next check in.

2. Get my ducks in a row to announce some very exciting (for me!) news!!! (No, I am not pregnant.)

While we were in SLC, Brad's grandfather became very ill and he passed away yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time. He was a wonderful man who always had a kind word for everyone. Every time we saw him, he would tell us how proud of us he was, and how happy he was that we are making good choices. He will be missed.

This coming weekend, the girls and I (and Brad, when he gets back from the funeral trip) are headed up to Wisconsin Dells to enjoy two days and nights of indoor waterpark fun. Now I have two children to prevent from drowning, so I have to keep my eyes peeled. Wish me luck!

Start Fresh Weekly Goals and etc.

Weekly Goals are difficult for me, but I feel like I get more done when I actually post them here, so bear with me. I am going to try and do better! So, the abysmal turn out for goals the last few days is prompting me to start fresh. So...

1. Read my scriptures daily. I am going to start the Book of Mormon again.
2. Exercise 4-5 times. (This is lower because I'm in Utah this week, and usually I totally fall off the wagon while I'm here!)
3. Spend some real, focused time with each daughter each day this week. When I'm at home, sometimes it's easy to just let them play and play while I do my thing.

The other day, before we left for SLC, borrowed a camera from my friend, Kelly. Compared to my point and click, it is an awesome upgrade. The pictures I took with it are so superior. The weather cooperated, too, by being overcast. Here are some ABSOLUTELY wonderful pictures of the girls. (Thanks, Kelly!)











Leiden is just a knockout. She is just all eyes and gets more beautiful all the time. It will be so interesting to see how she changes as she grows. Mac is so full of personality. She is already more mischievous than Leiden. She always has this impish look about her like she's just thinking of all the things she can't wait to get into! She too, is beautiful, with some of the most interesting eyes I've ever seen. Blue in some light, and gray in others. Wow.

Late Weekly Goals and Miscellaneous News

Sorry, it's been longer than usual. Things have been a bit busier than usual! I have a couple things up my sleeve that are taking a bit longer to get going than I would have liked. Then, we're leaving for SLC on Friday, so there's all that to take care of, and trying to keep Leiden out of time out for 5 minutes straight, take pictures and video to put up here, finish a sewing project for a friend, and trying to reestablish my food storage. On top of all that, there's a trip in 2 and a half weeks to the Wisconsin Dells, at which point people will see me in a swimming suit. You would think this would make me amp up the exercise, but we're still putting it off as much as possible!
We'll get the ugly stuff over with:

Late Weekly Goals
1. I don't know why it is so difficult for me to remember to read my scriptures. I bow my head in shame.
2. I ran 5 times again, this week. Although it is not the 6 I was shooting for, it's still the high end of what doctors recommend. I take heart in that.
3. I got the dress pattern pieces cut out! They are going to be beautiful dresses, and I'm so excited to put them together. There are some trim pieces I need to work on before I start the sewing, so sewing will begin shortly.
4. Quiet Book. Hmmm. I'm having problems with the lamination that needs to be done. I need to contact the lady I got them from.
5. Treats are also difficult. Some days I'm so full of determination, and other days, I honestly don't care.

So, New Weekly Goals (Until Sunday, at which point I will be back on track for Sunday to Sunday)
1. Read my scriptures daily. Night or day, whenever. We'll worry about the rest later.
2. By Sunday, run 4 times.
3. Get the trim pieces cut out and sewn for the dresses.
4. I'm going to get going on my secret project.
5. Whenever I crave a treat, drink a glass of water first.

These are a little more reachable, and we must, after all, have reachable goals!

Now onto the cute stuff--there's a lot more to this post! Pictures and videos!

Mac was watching a show. She wouldn't respond to her name, loud noises, or anything else. You can see why they recommend no TV for little ones!






A little blurry, but a cute picture nonetheless.



Love those fingers.



Love those toes even more! Leiden never did this, so I think it's really funny!






I sat Mac down on Leiden's bed to play with her the other day, and she immediately flopped back into big bunny. What the pictures don't show is her thrashing around trying to eat big bunny before I gave her the chewy fish.







Yesterday Mac was laying on the floor playing, looking at her book,

and all of a sudden, she pushed up onto her knees! She has done it several times, but I caught it on tape this time! After she is up, she rocks back and forward and then eventually flops onto her tummy.







I don't like to dress Mac until she's eaten breakfast, and her jammies got milk on them, so I set her down to play and put the blanket around her. When I turned around again, Leiden had put it around her head and this is what I found.








The other night a cat wandered up to our deck while we were eating dinner. Leiden thought that was pretty fun, but every time the cat came near her she darted. (It's our next door neighbor's cat, so it's safe.)



Mac being cute while eating. She clenches and unclenches her hands all day.

Apple Orchards and a Random Tag

First, I was tagged by my friend, Stacey, and these were the instructions. I'm to go to my pictures folder, pick the fourth photograph from the fourth folder. Well, this is random. It's Brad holding our nephew, Gavin, on the day he was born in 2005. Wow.








Today we wandered off to an apple orchard in Hastings, MN. We went with some friends, who I gather all went to two more when we were done with the first! Here are some pictures of the day. It was a nice, small place, with places for the kids to play, animals to look at (please don't touch the goats, Leiden...), and apples and raspberries to pick! Leiden was very enthusiastic about picking the apples, so we eventually had to enforce the 'You're not allowed to pick it unless mommy tells you to' rule. I don't want worms in my apple pie. Stacey and Kelly took some pictures of Leiden that I'm sure were better than these (nicer--much nicer cameras), but I don't have them, yet.
Leiden playing on the train:


Leiden and Mac on giant hay bales:


Apple picker:


Poor Mac spent almost the entire time in the stroller, but did great.





As I've said, I recently discovered Facebook, and on it I found a guy I went to high school with, so of course you read all the info on them. Well, this guy, Aaron, married a girl from high school and they now have three children. Their middle child, a boy, is just barely three last week, and a month ago was diagnosed with Leukemia. Aaron and Morgan keep a website that logs daily events in this struggle for their son's life, and the difficulties of chemotherapy, hospital stays, and the general dealings in the lives of their family members. Of course I read all this after having one of the more difficult days with my three year old, and realized that my day was a day made in heaven in comparison. It is terrible that others suffer, and that we ourselves suffer, but there are truths to be learned in the suffering. And just when you've forgotten for a moment how wonderful your children are, there always seems to be something to remind you.

I love both Leiden and Machara with a fierceness that is sometimes scary in its ability to overwhelm. They are beautiful girls with beautiful spirits about them, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have them lent to me for a time. Every night both Brad and I thank our Father in Heaven for his wondrous plan that lets us feel this way about our children and for the ability to safeguard our family with the sealing power. Leiden and Machara are our Father's, but they are also ours! What joy.