Best of 2006

First an overview of 2006:

Best Memory of 2006: Moving into our new home. A cute town home about two thirds the size we are used to but close to everything! We left the Ranches last year, mainly due to my paranoia about the new baby to come who wanted to come too early. We left our beautiful 3200 square foot home in the middle September 2005 to live with my in-laws while finding a new home. Now my in-laws are amazing. AMAZING. I totally lucked out. But anytime you live with anyone there is stress. Then add a two year old and a two month old. So when our offer, our fifth offer, was accepted we celebrated! We have been in our darling, yes darling, new home since July 1st. 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1 living room, 1 family room, a kitchen with an island (yay!) and, most important, a jetted tub. Yes, a jetted tub. Me happy.

Best Trip of 2006: That's easy. Doug and I went camping ALONE for our anniversary. In a RV with running water and heat and a toilet. Now that is camping. We slept. We fished. We slept. We went to Park City for ice cream. We slept. It was beautiful.

Best Non-Moment of 2006: No medical scares! Yay! We have gone an entire year with neither of us having surgery. That is the first year in the last five years. The curse if broken! Glory!

Best Movie of 2006: V for Vendetta. I can't say enough how much I loved this movie. I love the message being sent to the government. I love the twists.

Now for the highlights of 2006:

Weston turned one year old, Cameron turned three. Weston learned to go up and down the stairs and said his first word "Hey". He also finally said "Mom". He discovered Peek-a-Boo, now when he sees anyone new he immediately covers his eyes to play with them. I'm going to miss the cuddles this little guy needs.

Cameron discovered tools and hasn't put them down since. He also loves his friends, his tent, and most days, his brother. Cam has turned in to a Daddy's boy, when Doug get's home he runs to him. Everything is " When I get big and strong like Daddy..."

And of course, Britney Spears kicked Kevin to the curb.

Good year...

Secrets

So I can't keep secrets. I try, and I guess I'm good with other people's secrets but I can never keep one about me. I wish I could say that it's because I believe my life should be an open book or that I don't have regrets. But no, I just have a big mouth. Worse even, when I get nervous I talk. A lot. Unfortunately this usually leads to me taking about myself until I say something way out there, then I get The Look. The one that says " I can never think of you the same again."
I never know what to do after receiving The Look, so I usually end up sitting there quietly the rest of the time which probably makes me look even crazier. Then it's awkward. Then I find an excuse to leave.

Now the part that really sucks, I always do this around family. Usually Doug's family. Then I don't have a choice, I have to go back. Can't I just say I'm sick for the next 50 years or so?

The Day After Christmas

Twas the day after Christmas and all through the mess
Not a child would sleep, not even dear Wes.

The Toys have been thrown in the basement with care,
thrown, kicked and tossed right through the air.

So Christmas was awesome. Family, food, presents and babies! My boys were spoiled like no other; A tent, a play kitchen, a standing workbench, a vet hospital, a riding plane...that isn't even half of what they received. Doug and I received a new bathroom set, Cutco knives and games and movies. We are so spoiled. All in all, a fabulous Christmas. Doug and I spent so much time together this weekend I'm surprised I didn't suffocate him, but I loved it! Having our own family at Christmas just makes it so much better.

We spent Christmas morning with my folks here, then headed to my in-laws for Christmas afternoon. And there they were. The two cutest babies I have seen all year! Sam is only two months old and Ellie is four months old. Both adorable. I actually cried when I held Sam, it just made me want another. But don't worry, Wes promptly started screaming three seconds after seeing me holding Sam and didn't stop till I put him in his crib at home two hours later. Maybe it's time to make a more permanent decision when it comes to birth control.

Sick again, bummer!

My poor boys have been sick for ever. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating. Wes has been sick for five days and Cam two. Wes was mostly himself today so I think the worst has defiantly past. Cam on the other hand, is just so sad. Every time I turned to look at him today he had snot, tears or goop running down his face. His eyes are swollen, his throat hurts too much to talk. Its just so sad to hear your three year old sound like Yoda. Maybe just a bit comical too...

The thing that really sucks is that we were supposed to have my family Christmas party tonight. But were sick, my brother Jason is puking (along with his four children) and my favorite cousin has whatever we have too. So our party was canceled. boo.

Upside though, Doug made it a wonderful evening anyway. He gave me a present, a book on beading, which I love. And he bought crab and yummy crusty bread for us for dinner. I must say, I made some rockin' crab tonight. We toasted out Christmas Eve Eve dinner with Lambrusco and had a quiet dinner, just us. Did I mention quiet? No kids screaming. No sneezing. No one crying. Quite. It ended up being quite a good day.

The Dooce Rocks!

I have an addiction. It all started with just one click. Then another. All the sudden I now have a need.

Every morning I wake up, give my children chocolate milk, turn on yesterdays Tivo'd version of Mickey Mouse play house. Then it starts. I must go to the computer. Must go to Dooce.com. This woman rocks. She inspires me. She makes me laugh so hard the couch vibrates and my child looks at me like," Woman, seriously? Calm your shit down."

Now I am new to bogging myself, as you avid four readers know. Since visiting Dooce.com I feel a need. That woman is amazing. You will never be disappointed with her blog. And if you are, seriously, can I call you my friend? No. No I cannot. And for all of you people out there that love the Chickens, please go directly to Dooce.com and search "chicken".

Thank you Dooce for the laughs and the photos. And now my four loyal readers please run now to Dooce.com

A letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

I thought I might drop a note and tell you what I would love if you happen to fly by this year...


Some patience please. My children would be grateful.

A new car that doesn't take need gas, just a curse word now and then. I have plenty of those.

A bank account full of money in my name. Six figures would due.

A little black dress, size six. Oh, and the body to go in it.

World peace, of course.

A condo somewhere warm and tropical. Just big enough for my family. No guest room please.


I know this seems like a lot Santa, so if you can't manage any of these could you please consider the following...


Keep Weston small for just a little longer. My baby is growing too fast.

Keep Cameron witty, his quips make my day.

Help my boys stay Best Friends. There's nothing better than seeing them cuddle on the couch while they watch Mickey Mouse

Keep Doug just the same. He's perfect the way he is.


You know Santa? I have everything I need. Go ahead and skip past my place this year.

Merry Christmas!

Anxiety

Yes I have Anxiety. I have made reference to this in past posts. Most people who have anxiety hate Christmas. The shopping, crowds, family. These are thing that people with typical Anxiety Disorder hate. For me, Christmas is the best time of year.
Yes, some habits come to surface; making sure the tree lights are turned off every night so as not to start a fire on my artificial tree, the child who just won't stop singing in the aisle that already has 20 children in it, does make me drop and run. Really though, who doesn't? But for the most part, this is one of my calmest (mentally anyway) times of the year.
I can focus on shopping and not on impending earthquakes. Wrapping instead of fires. Chocolate instead of robbery. And with all the shopping and planning and parties who wouldn't be exhausted enough to actually sleep? I guess this means I need to be busy and have something to look forward to all the time. Or that I just need a steady flow of chocolate all year long.

A Whale of A Woman

This parenting thing isn't as easy as it once was. I have a three year old who scowls at me and tells me "no" like he can, and an eighteen month old who has decided that he runs the house. Now that could be all fun and dandy and even tolerable, but then you have to consider the Mom in the picture. Me. And I'm kinda crazy. As in needs anti-anxiety pills crazy. So add this all together and you get a semi hysterical woman when you walk in the door.

Now let me tell you the reason I say I am only kinda crazy. My amazing husband. Doug. He has this knack for knowing when I really need to just walk away. Get away. Just be me and not Mom or Wife. This man has seen me lose it over driving though a canyon, trying my damnedest to snorkel and watching me panic in pre-term labor. And the amazing thing- He hasn't left me yet!

This man is my rock. He can carry us through tough times like a super hero. And tonight, he saved me yet again. Damn I'm lucky!

The Christmas Party

Doug and I just got home from his work team Christmas party. I don't want to say where he works but let me tell you, it rocks. These people rock. See, here in good 'ol Utah it's sometimes hard to find people who accept you and include you when they know you are not (gasp!) Mormon. These people accept Doug and like him. They don't try to convert him. They are nice. not the fake, hey your my project nice, but really genuinely nice. Okay having that said, I must tell you the gift I received (stole! it was a white elephant gift), are you ready? An Anvil. A real 55 lbs Anvil. As in the thing that drops on the Roadrunners head. It is so cool. And not only that it also came with imported dark chocolate(uhhh,mmmm), Drinking Chocolate and yummy smelly stuff from Victoria's Secret. I love the man who brought this. Love him. Sorry Doug, I love you too but I may have a crush on Matt from now on.

Follow my train

Enter in the mind of a paranoid person...yes, me.

I'm so tired
Why am I always tired? Maybe I need to work out.
Maybe I'm sick.
What if I'm really sick? What if I died?!
Does Doug know where the I keep the medicine for the boys?
Oh, hell. He doesn't know how much to give them.
I'll give him the Pharmacy phone#
I need to make a list in case I die.
Important phone numbers.
Important future dates.
I wonder how long he would wait before dating?
I wonder if he would get remarried?!
He better get remarried!
List: What my husband needs in a future wife.
Shit, what if the list is nothing like me?
WAIT! Stop thinking. Now I'm tired.

Yes, this is my train of thought. Regularly. Now where did I put the Buspirone?

As long as Im bitching already

For those of you who know me know how my mom is. Some of you know her personally. She is the kind of mom who put my clothes in the dryer on cold days before waking me up in the morning. She didn't buy cookies much, she made them from scratch. When I went through my teenage drama stage she would make me a chocolate cake every time I got my heart broken. And not just any chocolate cake. A double layer cake with fudge icing. She made my sister cheesecake. Between the two of us that's at least 12 cakes a year. We had a lot of break ups okay?

So anyway, my point is- Why aren't I that kind of mom? I don't wake up full of ideas of homemade playdough and cut my kids sandwich into stars and Mickey Mouse. I don't make hot breakfast. I forget to give my kids vitamins. I let my kids watch way WAY to much TV. Where did the great mom gene go? Did it just skip over me? And seriously, is this screwing up my kids?
Am I screwing up my kids?

Holy Shit, We Saw Santa

Okay. Going to the mall, taking the kids to see Santa. Sounds like a good idea right? So very very WRONG. I ended up with a three year old in heaven (great!) and a one year old thinking I was going to give him to Santa for good. The poor kid was terrified! So sad. I'll upload the pic later. Once Wes (1 year old) starts crying he doesn't tend to stop till he falls into a post cry coma for at least 20 min where you cannot wake him if you threw ice water on him. Unfortunately it usually takes an hour to reach that point. Today it took an hour and a half.

All sorts of cuteness!

Things my 3 year old has said lately that made me laugh....

To the order machine at Sconecutters " Wait, just one more thing. Mommy needs her diet coke!" Even my 3 year old knows I must have a few a day.

To my husband Doug who just burned his hand on a light bulb and said "Wow, that's hot" Cam looked very concerned, touched Doug's hand and said "it spicy?"

"Cuddles me Mommy? One more time."

With stethoscope in hand, " Want me to feel you all better mom?"

New Years Resolutions

Every year my father taught me to make a list of resolutions, try to meet them, then the next year see how many resolutions from last year have to be moved forward AGAIN. So here is my 2007 list, the first in several years.

1. Follow my budget at least 9 months of the year
2. Learn enough Spanish to have a conversation
3. Go just one day without sending my kids to timeout or screaming at them. Repeat!
4. Write Doug's Grandmother once a month. She's such a sweet woman.
5. Actually advertise my Real Estate Business. Anyone need to buy or sell in Utah?
6. Try to cook every other day (at least). You can only eat frozen waffles for so long.
7. Try to be a bit more rational. Stop being paranoid.
8. Be paranoid just enough to be prepared.
9. Pay off debt. Hahaha, I know that one will be there every year
10. Lose weight(again, every year) Goal: size 8
11. Get over my past issues, there are so many!
12. Go on a date with Doug once a week. And yes, Doug is my husband.
13. Be less dark and Twisty. Speaking of which, Don't we all just love Grey's Anatomy?
14. To try to teach my Children something at least once a day.
15. Read to my kids once a day. The credits on TV don't count.
16. Read 1 non-fiction book for each fiction book I read.
17. Drag my husband to a Play!
18. Learn a new word a day. Us Utahan's aren't known for our vocabulary.
19. Accept that I will never be Supermom, but I won't give up trying.
20. Stay Sane!!!!