Better late than never...

I know today is New Years Eve...

but I thought I would share a little of the last holiday before things got too far out of hand.

We decorated!

Singing the Songs of Christmas Joy

 

Christmas sentiments and holiday joys are at an all time high at our house.

While Sunday was a day to remember the reason for the season, my monkeys decided to celebrate with a little bit of a different point of view.

 

Because what kind of true-love wouldn't give you  4 biting dogs or a bomb to blow up China?

Merry Christmas!

More of the same

Christmas prep is in full swing at our house. I should probably take some pictures....

Today I am just posting more family pictures from Thanksgiving. 

Because they make me happy.

I don't claim to be a professional-- by ANY means-- but I think having good looking people helps tons!!

Thanks given!

Now that I'm over my hostess hangover, I can post about the most delightful long weekend I've had in ages.

The Doctor's whole family came to celebrate with us, and I am so glad they did!! (I just spent a lot of time on my feet and the day after they left I was paying for it!) But it was exactly what my sweetheart and I pictured when we first walked into our house. I found myself wallowing in the joy of it all. Fabulous people, super space to keep them in, and the time to really love every minute! (plus- talk about beautiful people!)

It was basically a 4 day party, and I'm not gonna lie, while it was dream-a-riffic, it was exhausting!! The standard method of staying up WAY too late, followed by getting up too early with kids is not my daily plan for a reason!

 I'm not complaining, though. I loved laughing with my sisters-in-law, and it was like magic to watch my kids enjoy the time with some uncles. I would be remiss if I didn't also mention the down-right marvelous parents-in-law who love and lead our herd with finness and seemingly effortless skill. SO wonderful.....truth be told, there were tears when it was all through.

Snow!

It won't be long before we'll all be there with snow
Snow
I want to wash my hands, my face and hair with snow

...can you hear Bing Crosby singing it now?

We have had our first installment of white mountain snow. My kids are giddy.

They sat on the kitchen table and watched as the first flurries began.

It's Fall, and I'm Freezing!

I hope my blood thickens up soon! The weather is cold here, and I am not handling it well. Constant socks and hoodies, and I still find myself wrapped in a blanket and finding excuses not to move. The thermostat is set at 72, but I think it is a conspiracy.

Since last we met, our oldest monkey was recognized at school for being respectful. It is a monthly 'character' /citizenship award, voted by the students. Her teacher called me to invite us to attend, and he said he fully agrees with the classes choice. SO proud of her!
She is doing very well in this new place. She has great friends, and is enjoying school and the 'extended learning' class she get to go to. She is being her usual, enthusiastic, smarty self. I think we'll keep her.

I just want some MORE Halloween

*The title is a quote from Pencil this morning. One night of costumes and candy was not enough for this monkey this year.

We opted not to dress as a family crew this year, mostly because the three opinions could not find a way to align in any peaceful manner.

So Hermione and two of the Ninja Turtles (Mikey and Leo) were our attempt at a compromise. (Mom and Dad went as Mom and Dad. Easy costumes are... easy. I was going to say my favorite, but I'm not gonna lie. I had visions of  making up The Doctor as Professor Snape. It would have been awesome. There's always next year, right?)

Guest Momming

Our Seattle trip, through the eyes of my big little sister. (She's like 5 inches taller than I am)
She is a delight to be with and a wonderful friend in addition to being a relation.

Playing "Mom"

• Oh hey! Sister, Auntie, and pseudo "mom" here!
  Whit asked me to write as a guest blogger to describe my adventures with her monkeys while she and the doctor were away.
   I just want to start by saying I am one proud aunt and sister! Aren't I lucky to call the Whitings my family?!? I just love them! Any time I visit and spend time with them I feel pretty good about life. My problems seem so small and my blessing seem so big when I'm there. They have that effect on you, let me tell you.
  Any who, Grapes, Socks, and Pencil are the best kiddos. If you ask me, we had a blast!
  I'll be honest, I had my doubts about my ability to be "mom" but they made the job easy!
  Here are some of the highlights: Each night they took turns opening an envelope that explained an Auntie Activity(for bribery purposes, of course). Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures of our final results of any of the activities... Shoot! In fact, it seems as though Grapes and Sock didn't make it in any of the few pictures I took. I'm not so good at the picture thing.
  

Sea side in Seattle

Sometimes a Mommy needs to run away and figuratively join the circus.

I am a firm believer in the magic of absence making the heart fonder and the mind clearer.

Last week I left my adored monkeys in the capable hands of my dear sister, and I ran away.

 I got to tag along while my husband went to Seattle for an Emergency Medicine conference.

I did not attend that conference. I'm not one for lectures about airways and eye injuries.

Instead I high-tailed it to my sister-in-law's house

 to see my only nephew and one of my dearest friends, his Momma.

OH- that face!!

Little B and I spent some quality time becoming fast friends. 

Not just anyone listens while I read Piggie and Gerald OR calls me 'Win-tee"

Frosty

The other morning, I woke to the sounds of happy children's voices.

"Snow! Snow!"

The Doctor had mentioned that Flagstaff had recently seen snow, so I was not too surprised that it was now our turn. I was worried, however, because we don't really own snow clothes yet.

My tricky kids overcame that hurdle quite quickly.

Grapes' coat from last year (not really a thick one, but a coat nonetheless)

A room with a view

This is my new favorite view!

We finally found and bought bar stools for the island in the kitchen. The monkeys LOVE sitting there. 

I love it too. I can do dishes, or make dinner, or just hang out with them. They are close, but not in the way.

Making Progress

And we are claiming success in the fully-using-a-toilet-the-way-it-was-intended saga.

All three of my children are big kids. I have not purchased diapers in weeks. WEEKS. 

I may be suffering from a new identity crisis.

 He does still 'forget' to put his pants back on, and washing his hands makes more of a mess, not less......
But it is progress.

Keeping busy, building stuff

We got a delivery the other day. Who doesn't love a delivery?

'Specially when it is 11 big, heavy boxes from IKEA!

Our family room is directly off the kitchen. It is a space we spend a LOT of time in every day. It is also a space that is bigger than we know what to do with. In this before picture you can see that our furniture from the previous house just doesn't fill the space.

The last vestiges of summer

We woke up this morning, the delightful first day of Fall, to a crispness.

It seemed as though Mother Nature read our calendar, and in a fit of generosity, decided to grant us this boon. Frost tickled our window pane and coated the top of the (currently useless) hot tub. At alarm time, I burrowed blissfully down into the blankets rather than rolling out of the bed. My heart has been healed in a way I didn't know it was ill. I love Autumn, and I have missed it.

Desert living was good for us, and I do not regret one moment in that southern Arizona place, but being in the mountains- near the tinkling whispers of aspen trees and the sharp cool breeze that almost hurts your nose (in a good way)- it is a celebration for me.
Socks and hoodies for the lot of us this morning! Huzzah!

Our last Summer moments were good ones too. Dad's classic burgers on the grill paired with watermelon and Grandma Ida's baked beans recipe. Mowed grass and sprinkler fun. Summer isn't too shabby in this part of the world either. We'll look forward to seeing warm weather again, but we'll enjoy the cool for a while first!

Cardboard is cool

What do you do when there are a ka-zillion boxes in your new house?

You get crafty on a Saturday morning. That is what.

Crafty swords and shields would not be complete without the Zelda Tri-force!

At least, not at our house.

Going back, back, BACK to SCHOOL

Pencil and I got to visit the elementary school the other day.
We were showing up to crash picture day and get pictures taken of the littlest monkey (this mom wants pictures match the bigger monkeys) Also because I realized that this little man has not had professional pictures taken. ever.

Sock was not really excited or humiliated by our being there, but Pencil was head-over-heels thrilled. He wanted to ride the bus that morning with Sock, but I made him wait and take the car with me.

It was such a surprise for me when we walked in. I have been to the elementary school many times in southern Arizona, but the outdoor hallways and desert feel never jolted my brain the way this school did.
As soon as we began down the hallway, all the smells and sounds immediately kicked my brain into teacher mode. It made me miss teaching. I haven't missed it in a long time.

Put up your dukes!

We have been fighting the good fight in these parts. (although, to be honest, sometimes rather than a fight against poor choices or evil in general, it has felt more like a fight that is me against my children)

I fought this one over the idea that he can actually potty on the potty. He insists he will, when he is 4.

Too bad for me and my budget, his birthday is still 2 months from now. Here's to more diapers...

I had no quarrel with the Philly-cheese steak sammies I made for the Doctor's birthday. But...

                 ...you might think I had a bone to pick with my husband if you saw the pie. Yes, it looks like a radioactive dessert. No, I wasn't trying to kill anyone. The apple pie recipe calls for slits in the crust for venting. As I cut the first one, I feared it might look like a flower, which would obviously be too girly for a husband's birthday pie. I decided to make it more geometrical.

It is a process

I have to keep reminding myself that moving in and making a house into a home is a process. 

It is not something to be completed in one moment, or even one day or one week. 

(or month or year if we are looking realistically at this)

I have visions of bookshelves and media console/entertainment units. I picture bar stools and rugs, paintings and pillows. I imagine color where beige reigns supreme. 

Sadly, the world of retail in this tiny rural town has not seen fit to provide the items I imagine. 

(or not at a price I'm willing to pay, anyway) 

Online shopping, the new bane of my existence, is something I attempt, and abandon in a panic, nearly daily.

I am also hampered by the all-too-familiar not sure where to start, so I don't start at all syndrome.

Instead, daily life is keeping me busy. 

*Doing laundry, while Pencil spends time in the 'house' under the laundry room cabinets.

He has blankets, pillows, books and a flashlight in there. He calls it his room.

Home Sweet Home

We have moved in to our new home!


The headaches (literally) and paperwork and waiting and waiting were worth it. After what felt like ages, we are no longer living in my in-law's basement (that sounds like it was torture, but it was NOT) or some tiny cabin in the woods (which was most definitely torture after two full weeks). We are in a giant, beautiful, too-good-to-be-true HOUSE! And look at that yard. We have grass!

Mind the Gap, Part 2

Filling the spaces in between. That is what we are doing today.
Not yet into the new, we are reminiscing about the old.

--Like that time the temperatures climbed to well above comfortable, but we had to have an open-house to try to sell our house. So we piled into a van named Clifford and drove to Mt. Lemon. (remember, here?)

Only this time our car overheated about 1/2 way up and we got to enjoy the view from the side of the road instead.

Like a Cream Pie to the Face*

Hi world, it is us. We're still here!
Where is here, you ask? Well...
HERE is known as limbo. We are currently house-less and chilling in the land of Utah. (A desert, yes, but it has been seeming so delightfully green and lush to my Arizona eyes) Yay for time to hang out with family and while our summer days away.
Sadly, the padre unit is still in Arizona, working his officially employed magic. Officially Employed! (and there is nothing like jumping into the busiest month and busiest weekend of that month to start a career off right! Am I right?) (Also, there is nothing like a 10 year process to lead up that blessed employment, either. Am I right?)
So I am blogging to fill the gap (because we must mind the gap) between the old Arizona days and the new Arizona days to come.
For your viewing pleasure:

Pictures at the park while someone was viewing our house for sale

Memory Lane

Strolling down memory lane (in the form of photos saved on my ancient laptop) has been a delightful diversion as of late.
Because there is no news on the new house front. DON'T ASK.
So- lat's take our mind off it together.
Come, take a stroll with me.

Sun Valley Dreaming

My laptop is currently not letting me upload new pictures. It has decided to jump on the band wagon of stuff that isn't (or wasn't until recently) functioning.

I'm recording a list for posterity. Because someday I'll be able to look back and laugh at this list of insanity that had happened all while I've been trying to sell (and then re-sell) my house; to find and finance a new house; to say goodbye to a place we've grown to love and to figure out a new job/situation for our family.

In the last month we've lost/repaired:

*The garage door and opener

*The desktop computer motherboard (RIP)

*The dishwasher came away from the cabinet and had to be re-attached

*The fridge no longer sends whole ice cubes through the door- crushed, ALWAYS crushed

*The DVD player remote VANISHED-

(necessitating a new DVD player because the actual player only had a power and play button)

*Our toaster now only makes charcoal

*The washing machine began leaking and had to be fixed

*Clifford the van's AC gave up- causing the engine to overheat.

(replaced a whole AC system lately? NOT CHEAP!-- also not really optional in Arizona in June)

*The memory card in my phone died- so no phone pics or music

*My phone charger died too

*My library card expired (who knew they did that?!)

So- instead of worrying about what is next, or when that will be...

We are SUN VALLEY dreaming at our house today.

In July The Doctor's whole extended family (minus a few cousins off to France!) will be gathering in Idaho

We cannot wait.

It is a favorite getaway.

And so we remember....

2004- we went with a baby who was just starting to eat solids. I can't find any pictures.

2005- Little Grapes

 2006- at the Italian restaurant we visited as a giant herd of Parker People

and bike riding with a silly monkey

No visit in 2007, because I had a newborn Socky

2008- our last visit. Socks was only 1 year old, and The Doctor wasn't even able to come with us.
Did I attend his family get together without him? Why, YES, I did. I love these people. 'Nuff said.

More photos soon... I just have to find them.



School's Out for the Summer!

What have my kids been learning at school, you ask?
"Gun Star" song and dance. Yeah.

We are learning at home too, though.

We're starting with front and backward rolls.

Here's hoping we make it through this crazy summer.



What the?!?

It has been more than a month since I last blogged.
I know, you've all been muttering, "What the?!?" to yourselves. A day without a dose of this blog is tragic.
I know.
To ease your tender hearts, I will relay the facts:
We too have been muttering, "What the?!?"

When our house had an offer after 24 hours of being on the market.  What?

When our inherited computer bit the dust (again?) WHAT?

When a friend in our ward here in Tucson offered to watch all three of my kids so The Doctor and I could get away for a few days of house hunting/10 year anniversary commemorating. WHAT?? (she is the happy mom of 6, and she insisted three more would be a treat. a blast was apparently had by all. WHEW!)

When we reached the milestone of married for ten years. What the?!? Ten years?... I'm not old enough for that. I am grateful for every day and excited for an infinity more, though.

When we found two houses that we liked, and thought would work for our family, and there were only $100,000 difference in the two prices. What the?!?

When we started the apparently never ending process of trying to buy a house despite the fact that our current paycheck says we earn like residents, but there is a promise of earning like a doctor. Oh, PAPERWORK! Never ending hoops to jump through and people to wait for. What the?!?!  It has tested my patience. I have wept, and will likely weep again. But recently I have been blessed to feel a calm about the process. I'm certain that the Lord's hand was in the work of getting us to this new place. He won't leave us now. It's an eerie calm when my brain says there should be stress and fear. But I'm going to roll with it.

Someday, we'll have a place to live. I'll blog about it then.

My last WHAT THE?!? was when my ancient lap top refused to read the memory card from my camera. Sorry, only lame phone pics on this blog. I'll figure it out if it kills me!) another post, another day.



My kids keep growing. They are evolving beautifully into these people who are too smart, often funny, terribly opinionated, rowdy, riotous little monkeys.
Grapes got glasses.
Sock is now a reading pro- and fan of BB gun shooting. (thanks to a father/son camp out)
Pencil is a proficient mess maker and randomizer. Case in point:
    While walking across the library parking lot he shouted, "Quick, Mom, RUN!"
    "Run? Are some cars coming?" I naively asked. (cars? in a parking lot? shows what I know)
    "No! Look!" He frantically pointed to another mom and her son, a few spaces back. "HUMANS!"
    So of course, we bolted.

 At the park with Grape's dear pal, "J" and Sock's bud, "T"

 Schwingin' (all 'S' words have an sh sound now days at our house. It's Shweet.)

she can see!!

Being Busy and that middle monkey

 The Doctor is home, and we are thick in the throws of trying to prep a house for sale. (BLEH!)

I have been up to my elbows in yard work and paint. I have vacuumed and rearranged furniture, and I am not done yet. (Special thanks to our dear Grandma Jen who washed walls and scrubbed a stove top and did SO much laundry while I was busy with the other stuff!)
Just to show you some of my most recent projects:

The master bathroom (before)

In the process

Finished!

I also redid the front bathroom. I can't find a before photo, but it had the same cabinets and floor as the master bath before. But now:

I also created a patio place, and we love it! Grapes is out here reading ALL the time.

 I'm sad I didn't think of this three years ago when we moved in.

So as we near the day of actually LISTING this house, I find myself hoping someone will see it and want it.
Let's be honest, I'm also hoping I'll find a house that I want in our new town too.... but we'll take one blessing at a time over here. We're not selfish.



 AND just to leave you with a laugh...
This is Sockie's school paper that came home a few days ago. The object described is bigger than a pencil, smaller than Sock, heavier than a straw and lighter than Sock.... and this picture had me really worried.
Did my monkey draw and describe a poop at school?!? How do you face a kindergarten teacher after that one?!

So I carefully asked him what he had drawn.
"It's a big block from the play spot at school, Mom."
A block?! Oh-- of course.  How could I miss that?