Not goodbye...just see you later.

I had all sorts of grand intentions to take pictures of the kids on the swing set one last time, take pictures with our dear friends one last time, take pictures with Ollie 2 one last time, but as it seems to happen lately, my intentions weren't realized and the opportunities passed me by before I captured anything on camera to commemorate our goodbyes.

We had a wonderful month in Chicago reuniting with Kyle, our friends and neighbors.  We have the most ideal set up we could have ever dreamed up.  To have a fully furnished home (dishes, linens, toys, bikes, books) right across the street from where we used to live to move into for however long or short of a time we needed complete with a lush, green, grand acre-plus yard with a playset and a nice long driveway perfect for chalk art and bike riding is really more than we could have ever asked for.  Barb, our dear former neighbor (technically landlord, but really she's my "Chicago Mom") who lets us rent from her for the summer has been our angel.  I lost count how many times I went upstairs to get my laundry to find it already folded. Once I opened our fridge to find a pan of ribs with cooking instructions ready to go in the oven for Sunday dinner. How did she know I was craving ribs that weekend?  She baked us cookies, cupcakes, had us over for dinner, surprised the kids with gifts, and made me her famous potato salad...  all the while logging 80 hours of work each week, the poor woman.  She is amazing and our family will forever be grateful to her generosity and friendship. Because of her, I am able to have some semblance of normalcy despite our not-so-normal lifestyles insofar as Kyle's work schedule goes. The great thing is I never have to get too emotional about leaving (I hate goodbyes, I avoid them as much as possible) because I know I'll be back, so it's never goodbye for good. Just "see ya later."

Some of the highlights of my month in Chicago consisted of:

• many, many afternoons spent at Turtle Splash with Cade and Savannah
• 3 glorious prenatal massages at Lifetime Fitness (the free babysitting kind of kept luring me back I think...in addition to the opportunity to lie on my stomach, too)
• a trip with Cade and Sav to the Dupage Chidren's Museum
• an afternoon of slip 'n sliding on Barb's hill -- not me of course, the kids and some friends
• a Kane County Cougars baseball game complete with fireworks
• a family trip to Nauvoo
• a pedicure with a friend (while her husband watched the kids--so sweet!)
• Relief Society!  I quite enjoyed it. I've been in the Primary since we moved to Utah in August, which is wonderful, too. But it's always nice to be with the "ladies" every once in a while. 
• A couple Saturday evening dinners out with the sales reps and their families
• a few birthday parties
• a luncheon with my old presidency
• going to the mall playland to let the little ones burn off their energy on rainy days
• quiet nights on the back deck after putting the little ones down
• a movie night in Barb's movie room with Kyle and the kids. We watched  Benji and ate pizza and ice cream -- it was a special night for the kids to have Daddy around before going to bed. 
• a little shopping at HomeGoods
• ice cream at Tastee Freeze -- the local ice cream joint
• Sunday dinners with friends

Unfortunately I didn't . . . 

• make it to the city a single time -- unless you count flying in and out of the airport.  
• take the kids on a train ride
• go out for a slice of Portillo's chocolate cake OR bring an entire cake home with me as a carry-on the airplane, though I so badly wanted to
• read the 8 books I brought. Just 1.
• go shopping in downtown Geneva
• get  a chance to browse the Land of Nod outlet in Naperville
• go on a date alone with my hubby

It was a good month, and just the right amount of time. Just sure wish Kyle and I had been able to get away just the two of us.  Hopefully sometime this month!

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Cade waiting at the bottom of the hill for his next unsuspecting victim...

These boys had a blast together! Even after Cade and Savvy's little buddy Anthony went home and Savvy went down for her nap, these three kept going strong for another 2 hours!

Now Cade is about to be an unsuspecting victim...

...and he loved it!

We love the Kane County Cougars...mostly for the cotton candy!!

Happiness.

About that bob-cut...

I've given a bit more consideration to my hair after this brief yet comical encounter on Sunday . . .

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Setting: RS room after the closing prayer. I'm sitting down by a friend chatting. A jovial, middle-aged woman in the ward well known for speaking directly parks in the seat in the row right behind us and taps on my shoulder. (we'll call her "Sister C")

Sister C:   Michelle, remember when you were relief society president and your hair was shorter? You used to do all sorts of creative things with your hair.

(At this point I am slightly grinning, waiting for the inevitable punch line and looking a little puzzled trying to understand what she meant by "creative")

Sister C:   I used to look forward to coming to church to see what you'd come up with.  And now...

Me:   ...And now I am pregnant and I have totally let myself go and don't do much with this hair anymore.

Sister C:   You really shouldn't do that, dear. You need to find that creativity in yourself again. That long hair is not good.

Me:   (Laughing now) Um, did you know that I used to come to church with WET hair every Sunday because of the early morning meetings, so the only thing I could do was wear it up?  Today I actually spent a lot more time on it-- I blow-dried it AND straightened it!

Sister C:   Yes dear, you shouldn't wear it down. Wear it up like you used to. It looked better. 

Me:   (still laughing, quite near hysterics) It goes to show that I'm just better off spending 5 minutes on my hair instead of 45. I won't be here Sunday, but you have my word that I will gladly wear my hair wet and up in my ward in Utah on Sunday just for you.

Sister C:   Oh good, I'm glad. I know we've known each other long enough that I can tell you like it is. Now, would your family like to join me for dinner tomorrow?

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By the way, dinner tonight with Sister C was lovely. I made sure to wear my hair up in bobby pins and donned my fake pearl earrings for good measure. Sister C kindly complimented my efforts and restated how much better I look not wearing my hair long.  I mentioned I wanted to get an A-line bob haircut sometime after the baby was born and she nodded, "Yes, dear. After you lose the baby fat of course."

Yes, of course. 

:)

A few of my favorite things

Method's Pink Grapefruit All Purpose Surface Cleaner

I don't know why, but I just feel good cleaning my counter tops with this stuff. Perhaps a little of it is that it's natural or something...perhaps because it smells freshly of grapefruit?  Perhaps I feel like I'm not cleaning with some product full of weird toxic chemicals?  Maybe just because it's pink?  I don't know why exactly, probably all of the above. But I love it, love it!

The Dainty Petal Etsy Shop and blog -- for darling bows, headbands and earrings.  I'm hurrying over to her shop for these two...and maybe a few more. :)

Savvy was stuck in a bow rut, wearing the same pink, white, or black bows over and over again.  I love the bows made by this darling cousin of mine Stefanie especially because of how versatile they are. Savvy can wear them on her head, and I can clip them on my cardigan, or in my hair to defrumpitize my daily pony-tail.  They also are very hardy (Savvy is not exactly gentle with her headwear). Stef also has a blog in which she posts what she is working on: thedaintypetal.blogspot.com

Pentel RSVP fine point pens

I have turned into a pen snob. I whimper in disappointment if I check my purse and don't have one of these to write with and am stuck with a Bic or some other cheap pen.  I chuckled the other day when I was at a Relief Society meeting where they passed around a familiar ziplock baggie full of of a hodge podge collection of pens. When I used to live in the ward here in Chicago, I would clean out my desk that would be full of pens (Kyle's a pen collector it seems) I never used or wanted and donate them to the relief society closet. I'm glad to know they are still being put to good use. In the mean time, I will write my thank you notes, to-do lists, and checks with these babies. They just feel good in my hand, you know?

Plastic scraper

One of the handiest little kitchen gadgets that I have managed to keep track of during all of our moves has been this awesome plastic scraper. I received it along with some other cool kitchen gadgets at a bridal shower and I have to say, it is one of my favorite gifts I've ever received.  Every time I use it to get "guck" (as we called it growing up) off the counter or floor, I have to smile and just be grateful for such a handy tool. I found a yellow one at Wal-Mart or Target not too many months ago and bought it. What could be better than a plastic scraper?  Two plastic scrapers!

Bailey Baby Design -- my favorite are the onesies for both the baby boys and girls -- so cute!

Giving one of these at a baby shower is nice because I can fit in with all the other talented and crafty women who thoughtfully gift their handmade quilts, baby carrier covers, knitted booties, etc.  These gifts are handmade and original, too... only I just didn't make them.  Giving one of these adds a personal touch of thoughtfulness and cuteness.  (Note that I have not taken credit for making a onesie from this store...yet!) There's also cute car seat covers, blankets and other darling baby stuff that makes shopping for a shower or your own little one easy and fun.  I think its about time I stock up for our little girl come to think of it... :)

Sears' Jeans warranty for kids

I cringe thinking about the two pairs of jeans I bought for Cade at the Children's Place last fall which he subsequently ripped holes into not 4 weeks later.  Had I known about Sears' warranty, I would have been buying their Levi's for him a lonnnnng time ago.  If your child gets holes in the pants, simply bring them back with the receipt and replace them for another pair for free! (of course they have to be the same size). I've already gone back twice and the returns have been hassle free.

Eventbrite.com

I am in the middle of planning my 10 year class reunion which is coming up this fall. Without this Web site, I'd be so lost! It is collecting all the money and keeping track of the tickets and attendees. Hooray.  Planning something long-distance is hard enough as it is, so I am beyond grateful to have learned about this tool! Downside? Eventbrite won't deposit the money it has collected into my personal account until 2 weeks after the event. A little silly, but other than that, it has been a life saver!


MacBook Pro:

I've always thought it a little odd having majored in PR and done the majority of my design, writing and editing education on Mac computers, yet not being totally converted to the Mac way of life....until now, 5 years post graduation.  It must have been simply because I didn't have my own Mac. Now that I do, I love it!  It was an easy transition.  I know there are still dozens of easy shortcuts I still haven't discovered just yet, but for now, it is doing the job fabulously.  Some of my favorite applications are the i-calendar, the photo booth, and how well it organizes my pictures for me in i-photo. Oh and I love the magnetic power cord feature! So brilliant!!

This maternity dress from Old Navy:

So comfy. I wear this paired with a hot pink Shade shirt underneath and teal cardigan on top multiple times a week. It keeps me cool while helping me keep my dignity by covering my vericose-veined legs.  I am sure I'll keep wearing it after the baby is born, too. You know, to help me during that awkward post-pregnant-but-still-look-pregnant stage.

Buster Brown shoes and snow boots

Like most, my children are tough on their shoes and so far this brand for the price can't be beat.  Cade recently grew out of his pair, but we were lucky to have a pair of Keens (equally as fantastic as the BBs, but I haven't priced them) given to us from our friends to pick up where his Buster Browns left off.  Savvy has a pair of white ones and brown Mary Jane's. They are sturdy, and usually you can get a great deal at Famous Footwear on them.  This past winter I didn't realize until after the first snow that both of my children needed new boots. I don't enjoy spending money on boots that may only last my children one season, so I avoid the high-quality (expensive--usually) brands.  Of course Target was cleaned out their boots, as was Wal-mart. Lucky for me, Famous Footwear had the Buster Brown boots in stock and had them on sale, too. I was thrilled. I've been really pleased with them and I think (knock on wood) they may last another winter. Yahoo!

More pictures from Nauvoo

At Pioneer Past Times

Savvy makes a cute little pioneer mama!

Cade got really good at this game...

Off to fetch some eggs from the chicken coop perhaps?

Cade focusing on this toy gadget the pioneer kids played with way back when

Kyle & Co. standing in front of a plot of land his Great, Great, Great Grandfather owned in Nauvoo

the field where we caught fire flies

The Joseph and Hyrum statue in front of Carthage Jail at the Visitor's Center

I still maintain my favorites in Nauvoo being the Sarah Granger Kimball home, the Groves, and the Trail of Hope (aside from the temple). I didn't make it to any of those on this trip, but it was still absolutely wonderful.

The post in which I dig up an old draft that was mostly written, and finish it. :)

{All things in these fancy captions or in this color are comments made in the present. Everything else, the past}

Beautiful Blogger Award

Thanks, Rebecca!

Terms of this award: must list 10 things about yourself, thank the person who gave you this award and pass it on to 10 wonderful bloggers.
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Well, since it's Mother's Day {Ironic I chose to start this post on Mother's Day and actually post it the day before Father's Day}, why not have a post revolve around me for a moment? I mean, who doesn't like to talk about themselves? {Clearly I do, because I am taking the time to finish this!}

1. I am 25 weeks Pregnant!  {Note, I am now further, much further, than 25 weeks pregnant. I don't know how far along I am. I just know I will be 40 weeks on Aug 21st. I welcome someone else to do the math for me. Please, anyone!?}  I've stopped keeping track (lets face it, I've been pregnant forever!) so I went to an online due date calculator to figure it out.  My health has improved dramatically the last few weeks. This may not be the last child after all. :) {BTW, my health is still in check and it has been a long while since I tossed my cookies! Contracting a lot- the Braxton Hicks kind--i think--, tired all the time, lots of heart burn, not much energy, sleeping terribly at night.... all of which translates into me being a totally normal pregnant lady!}

2. Winder Farms milk has been delivered to our home the last few weeks and I quite like it. It's nice knowing that is one trip to the store I won't have to make. We had cereal for dinner tonight (Happy Mother's Day to me!) and finished off the milk but no worries. We'll have oatmeal tomorrow morning and by Tuesday morning, it will be waiting for us on our doorstep. No grocery shopping for me! The milk is absolutely delicious. {I miss this. I have to go to the store tomorrow. Mostly for milk...I look forward to returning home to have delivered milk again. I swear I save money on groceries by doing this. How often do you go to the store just to pick up milk and 64 dollars later you are unloading all sorts of things from your trunk into the house?}
 
3. I just returned from a weekend trip to Las Vegas with the little ones (hence the cereal for dinner. It was a win-win. I could feed the kids quickly and ship them off to bed sooner and they were totally thrilled since they didn't get cereal for breakfast this morning) and I continue to be amazed at what great travelers Cade and Savvy are. We went down there to welcome home my cousin from his LDS mission to Russia where he has served the last two years. We stopped once the entire 6 hour drive, and that was just to get gas because I didn't want to chance running out on the side of the freeway with like 3 miles to go. That would be my luck. It really is enjoyable traveling with my munchkins. Ideally I wouldn't be doing it solo, but they make it pretty easy on me so I don't let life pass me by when there are opportunities to go visit family for special occasions. I'm a lucky Mama.
 
4. I am looking forward to getting a Swagger Wagon someday. Hopefully soon. Kyle is in charge of purchasing our family vehicles, so we'll see when he is able to spend some time to hunt for a deal. Usually we go the E-bay route, but Kyle found our most recent vehicle purcase locally.  I call it my anniversary gift to him. I'm such an awesome wife. :) I'll give you a hint. It rhymes with shruck.

5. I LOVE getting lost in a book. It is a great escape and I feel really out of sorts when I'm not in the middle of a great read, like something is missing in my life. I quite enjoy historical fiction. My next goal is to somehow get my little sister to fall in love with literature....she claims she doesn't enjoy reading ...fiction anyways, but I think she just hasn't reached a point in her life in which it even seems possible so sit and read, much less enjoy it. Once her daughter starts taking her three 2-hour naps a day, I think I might be able to hook her. :)

6. I'm growing my hair out until the baby is about 6 months old (or until my face is no longer chubby from incubating and I have decided I am tired of having long hair) and then I want to get it all whacked off in a bob. I've never had a bob hair-cut before, and I'd like to give it a try because everyone I've seen with one looks absolutely adorable. And who wouldn't want to look absolutely adorable?  While I've never had super short hair, it has been quite a long time since I've had really long hair. My hair has maintained a very "medium-ish" length for a very long time now...so the goal now is to go for "cascading long hair," longer than I've ever had it....we'll see how long I can make it!

7. There are many things I feel like I am on the verge of discovering the fine art of doing, and maybe even being good at it.  I swear, there's a burning desire in my heart  but for some reason, none of those desires have reached the next level. Cooking is one of them. I still envision myself over the stove dicing and slicing and spicing and loving it. Loving to cook is something I struggle with loving. Baking, yes. Cooking? Not too many dishes.  Another is art, in many forms.... be it oil painting, quilting, sewing, or just something you create with your hands that is beautiful--music even!  I've so often come across women who discover they love something and are actually quite good at it--- and it all just came about by trying something new and giving it an honest go.  I SO want to find that something, discover a love for it, and become good at it. I really do.  I just haven't given something a good enough chance to win over my heart. In the mean time, I remain mediocre at best in most things domestic, athletic, and artistic and have yet to claim something as "mine."  But it's out there.... I can feel it!  With unpacking, settling in our home and baby nesting on the schedule when I return to Utah and then baby-having shortly after, it may be a few (or several?) months before I find my groove and find myself in talent discovery mode...

8. Along with being on the cusp of a talent discovery breakthrough, I also feel like I am heading toward a health and wellness breakthrough. I've contemplated a number of times what it would be like to eliminate sugar from my diet altogether.  Then there's the other desires of mine to grow a substantial garden, bake my own bread on a regular basis, make my own baby food, and live off my own produce as much as possible while only consuming whole and healthful foods. These thoughts have ever so slowly crept into my brain the more I read and the more I experience life.  I almost shed a tear when I think of the day that may come in which I do give up my Oreos and chocolate cake and I (GASP!) discover how much better I feel without them.  The desire to give that lifestyle a chance at some point in the future is there....but we'll see if that would ever, ever happen.  You never know. Stranger things have happened.

9. Speaking of food, I really love grilled cheese sandwiches with a bowl of Brunswick Stew, an incredibly tasty stew you can only get in Central Virginia grocery stores as it originated in the rural locale of Brunswick County, Va.  Grilled cheese and Brunswick Stew are my ultimate comfort combination. If you were to add chocolate milk, it would send me to the moon. That would be a glass of chocolate milk to drink, not chocolate milk to add to the stew. Ew. That would be gross.

10. In the 7th grade I mastered with my girlfriend Jessica Hughes how to speak just like a native New Yorker. I still can. Haven't done it since probably 11th grade, but I think I've still got it. You never know when a skill such as this will come in handy, so I just thought I'd let you know about it.

Here are the Bloggers I look forward to learning more about. No pressure, gals, take your time. :)
Megan, Stefanie, Hilary, Lyndsey, Alicia, Bethany, Lauren, Kelli, Susan, and Jeri Lyn

A Little on our Trip to Nauvoo, IL

Getting Kyle all to ourselves for 2 1/2 days for a family vacation was a rare and special treat we relished. Right now we are in such a great spot with our kids -- Cade is really interested in Church History and Savannah comprehends much more than the last time I went down with my parents when they came to Chicago for a visit. Cade was 4 and Savvy was 15 months-ish.  This time around we had no stroller, diapers, or bottles to tote!

The 4 hour drive there was rather painless (a far cry from the road trip down and back that I took with my parents. I recall Savvy hollering for the majority of the way) For me personally, sitting anywhere for 4 hours isn't exactly comfortable, but it was well worth it. After all, it was a cushioned seat, I had air conditioning, and moving significantly faster than your average ox cart, which is around 3-5 miles per hour. On a really good day.

We stayed at a delightful place called The Nauvoo Grand Bed and Breakfast.  Our "room" was in the attic portion of the home which was a perfect set up for us. It had a queen and two twins up there, and very spacious-- and the same price as it would have been for any of the regular rooms that would not have been near as accommodating for the little ones. The bathroom was tiny, but we made do just fine. I wasn't there to take bubble baths and read. Maybe next time?  The ceilings reminded me of the second floor in our old Chicago home-- the upstairs was certainly built for a Woodbury. Someone of greater stature would not be comfortable and would likely hit their head at some point, but none of us resemble basketball heroes so we got along just fine up there and walked away bump free-- minus Savannah, but that's to be expected, low ceilings or not. She'll always manage to find a way to get a knot on her head.

Some of the highlights

For Michelle:
Home made breakfast served to me every morning! The food was incredible. I would have been thrilled with the average bacon, eggs, pancakes type meal, but we got much better than that.

Going to the temple. Kyle was really thoughtful and stayed at the B&B while both kids napped (Cade was a bit under the weather) so I could do a session at the Nauvoo Temple.  It was wonderful.  The Nauvoo temple is beautiful beyond description. Even the lockers in the dressing room are luxurious.  Lots of stairs to climb, though the sweet temple workers kindly offered the elevator to me. I declined but my quads were begging otherwise.  I appreciated feeling the calming Spirit and having some quiet time for reflection, both of which the temple always has to offer, no matter which one I choose to attend.

Zion's Mercantile--- food and finds!  Just before my temple session I stopped in for a delicious chicken salad sandwich (shocker-- the daily special was chocolate bread pudding with a scoop of ice cream and I did not order it. I know, what's wrong with me!?)  and found some darling candlesticks. While I like to find crystal or glass candlesticks at antique stores when I go out of town, Zion's Merc carries some darling ones and saved my family painful detours through rural Illinois in search of the perfect set.

Chatting with the missionary couples who serve in the historical sites and the temple.  The sites and temple run on 380 missionaries who are all there voluntarily. These couples leave the luxuries of retired life behind and serve for 18 months (some more, some less) on their own dime so that people can experience the incredible Spirit the city of Nauvoo has to offer. It was fascinating to me to hear about all of the logistics that go on behind the scenes to make Nauvoo the historic gem that it is. These senior couples (some of them near 80 years old!) work 13 and 14 hour days, survive on 6 hours of sleep, and remind me of how much one can really get accomplished in a single day. I learned that if Kyle and I want to serve a mission in Nauvoo when our kids are grown and out of the house, the only for sure ticket in is to be a teamster with horses. It's a dying art we are told, but if you have horses and can bring them to Nauvoo, they'll be happy to take you. :)

The bricks.  What a significant meaning the Brickyard had to me.  Why were so many of the early saints so bent on building their homes with bricks once they reached Nauvoo?  Building a brick home signified permanence. Be truly settled. Having a home.  After being driven out of every city the Mormons had settled in, Nauvoo was finally a place they could happily settled down in without fear of being run out. Or so they thought. This really struck a chord with me.  Some of these families finished their brick homes just a few months before they had to leave and move westward to seek refuge for a new Zion.  I've been settled in my home for about 6 months now, which has had the most permanent feeling any dwelling we've ever experienced in the last 7 years.  If I was told I had to move in 2 weeks would I do it? My heart breaks for all of those families who were driven out of their Beautiful Nauvoo so that we could enjoy the blessings of the gospel that we have today.

For Cade:

Catching lightning bugs at night in the field behind the B&B. He named his first one Bronie. Bronie died the next day, so Cade and Daddy caught a bunch more the next evening and name them all Dave, in honor of one of their favorite Dr. Seuss stories.

Catching a toad just before the "Sunset on the Mississippi" show. When Cade brought him home that night the frog was being really still, so he thought it died and placed him in the trash can. When he woke up the next morning, the little guy was no longer in the trash can. Smart toad. :) Apologies to the Nauvoo Grand inn keepers.... there is a frog on the loose in your home.

Getting a Prairie Diamond and a horse shoe made for him at the Blacksmith Shop.

Carthage Jail.  Cade is fascinated with Joseph Smith and to be at the place where Joseph was martyred was really special for Cade. We had been there before, but he didn't remember it, so I was glad we took him again. Cade kept asking the tour guide/sister missionary questions about Porter Rockwell (Joseph Smith's body guard and Cade's church history hero). "Where was Porter Rockwell when Joseph died?  Why wasn't he at the jail with Joseph?  How did he know when Joseph died?  Did he get the mean guys in the mob and kill them?"  It really bugs him because he just knows if Porter had been there, Joseph wouldn't have been killed.

For Savannah:

Ice cream, or Custard rather. Can't remember the name of the place, but it smelled heavenly of sugar, spice and everything nice.

Dressing up like a pioneer at Pioneer Past Times and playing house in the little log cabin and riding the pretend horse.

Catching a firefly at the B&B. She named hers Chrysanthemum.

Watching the very kid friendly play, "Just Plain Anna Amanda."

Singing "I am a Child of God" on the carriage ride.

Watching one of the oxen do his business during the  Ox Cart ride.

Dancing in the field while the Young Ambassadors were performing.

This morning she told me, "all the places we went in Nauvoo were my favorite." So cute.


For Kyle. (He may have to edit some of this, but I think these were a few of his favorite moments)

The Jonathan Browning Home and Gun Shop. Kyle was quite near drooling during the tour of the Browning House. It has been said of his son that no one else has contributed more to the national security of this country than this man. He was a remarkable inventor and passed his knowledge, talent and business on to his sons and the Browning gun industry is still in the family today.

Going to the Seventies Hall and finding the name of one of his ancestors as one of the Seventies who served in Nauvoo.  He was able to research at Land and Records in Nauvoo where he owned property and was given a map of where to find them. He later discovered a grandfather on his other side was also a settler in Nauvoo and owned a significant amount of property and apparently some of it is still in his name today. He was particularly close friends with Joseph Smith. We drove to a few of the plots and took some pictures. Kyle walked around and told Cade some of the stories about them.

Watching the World Cup (while the kids napped). :)

Fire fly catching with the kids.

Dancing with Savannah in the field (she was determined to be just like the Young Ambassadors on stage dancing and demanded a partner)

Nauvoo 2010

Playdates, Painting and PCs.

What the children have been up to as of late:

Playdates! Cade and Savvy have been arranging my social life and scheduling play dates with all their Chicago friends.  It has been fun watching them pick up right where they left off nearly a year ago with their friends. It's so cute to hear them discuss what they've been up to since they last saw each other. . I really need to write down some of the stuff they say because it's pretty hilarious stuff.

Going to the pool. Although "pool" doesn't accurately describe what we do while we are there. 95% of the time we spend there is enjoyed in the giant sand pit area digging holes and building sand castles.  The remaining 5% is in the actual water swimming.

Swinging. My kids have logged about 64 hours on the swingset in the backyard. It would easily be double that if it wouldn't stop raining!  Last week it rained so much I wanted to rip my hair out.  We are so dependent on that swing set, so when it rains, we all feel a little bit lost and out of sorts. I have no idea how many underdogs I've done with them...but if I got a nickel for each one I have done, Kyle could retire tomorrow.

Painting. Cade got a very grown-up art set from his grandparents for his birthday a few months ago and is very protective of it.  Now that he is out of school and he has some one-on-one time with me when Savvy is down for her nap, we get out the paints and turn on our latest book on CD (currently Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. I highly recommend it. Cade loves it so much he begged me to put it in the car so he could listen to it while driving to friends' homes and to the pool). It's interesting to watch how methodical Cade is about his color and line placement selection. He uses a lot of geometric shapes in his artwork. I'm really enjoying watching him explore this new hobby of his. It may be short-lived, but for now he seems to really enjoy it.

Playing with Ollie II.  Barb's (our former neighbor and dear friend whom we rent from) dog Ollie died a few months ago and I didn't have the heart to tell the kids. They so loved little Ollie.  He was the best dog. And it was perfect set up for me because Cade and Savvy got their doggie fix and I wouldn't have the burden of taking care of him.  After Ollie passed away this past winter, Barb got another dog that looked just like Ollie, so she named him Ollie II.  Well, now that we are here again and there is another Ollie in his place, it's just like it was before. The best part--- the kids don't know the difference. :)  So they've been playing with Ollie 2 non-stop.

And me?

Upon our arrival to Chicago, Kyle each gifted us with a surprise of sorts. For Cade, it was his Rocket Ship Candy.  For Savannah, it was Dora Yogurt and fruit snacks.  And me?  I got my own lap top. (fair to say he must love me more, based on the gift)  It's a MAC!  I love it.  I have had my reservations in the past about Macs, but it didn't take me long to fall in love. I was quickly motivated to cross something off that one particular to-do list that is full of things which are nagging and annoying, but low on my list of priorities.  My in-box needed some attention bad.  It had over 1200 e-mails. They were all read, of course, but for some reason, still in the in-box. As if I still had something to do with them?  But with my new fancy lightweight laptop, I eagerly got to work, and sifted through every single last one of those messages. I sorted a small portion of them into existing folders and deleted the rest. It was so liberating! The goal is to keep no more than 40ish e-mails in my inbox at a time.  How does that feel? It  feels fantastic! I consider that quite an accomplishment.  And now that I have  a Mac, I guess the next thing is getting a Bosch.

Have we ever told you about a theory we've tested?  If you own a PC, you probably have a Kitchen Aid. If you have a Mac, you probably have a Bosch.   It's strangely accurate a good majority of the time. I, in fact have been a "strictly PC girl" until now. I own a Kitchen Aid.  We'll see what happens now....

I digress.  Being out here has certainly had it's adjustments and while there are some conveniences of our home we miss, there are so many benefits. Being together, for one.  Cade has been "Wii-less" since our arrival here and has survived just fine.  The children rarely ask to watch a show or movie, so it's been a rather refreshing and I love not having to fight that battle on a daily basis anymore.  Cade and Savannah spend a lot of time playing together all sorts of make-believe games and it warms my heart seeing how much they love horsing around together. I used to worry over their age difference and wonder if they would ever play together.  It turns out I had nothing to fret over at all.

So, that's just a little snip-it update of us. We are fine and dandy. So long as it doesn't rain, and then we all get cranky, because that means no pool or swingset...which then leaves us with just painting. And you can only do that for so long.  :)

39 Days

On Monday, May 31 at approximately 1:23pm I very gratefully handed over my temporary card as a single parent. I was pretty strong and held it together during my 39 days of single parenthood. But as soon as I saw Kyle at the Chicago Midway airport I melted to a puddle of tears; weak, tired, and exhausted beyond description. I didn't want to be strong any more. I just wanted to be a mother with a husband.

My heart is full of gratitude to the military wives (and husbands) out there who go for months at a time taking on the task of raising the children without a partner.

It's tough stuff.

I don't understand the hype behind celebrity women adopting babies or getting impregnated willfully and intentionally to be single mothers.  As my uncle so eloquently pointed out, these women plan on hiring nannies and won't really be raising the kids on their own.  But still. Why try to give it a go on your own from the beginning?!

The 5.5 weeks prior to our reunion was nothing short of a whirlwind. While the days were sometimes long, they went by so fast.  And the cliche'd saying "you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone" -- yeah, that totally applies.  I gained a deeper appreciation for my husband in all aspects.  From honey-do labors, to errand running, and emotional support ---  I realized I took much of my teammate and husband for granted.

Lifting, for one.  I hadn't realized how much lifting I demanded of Kyle.  Since I can't (or shouldn't) lift anything being great with child and all, this left me many times in much of a predicament.   Like one day I finally decided, "I am tired of the secretary's desk being in the basement, I am ready to move it upstairs. Oh yeah, I couldn't move it. And no honey to move it for me. And then there's mowing the lawn.  While I could mow it, I couldn't lift the bag of grass to empty it.  Buying furniture?  I preyed upon my Dad, brother-in-law and neighbors for help loading and unloading the two purchases I braved buying in Kyle's absence.  No one likes asking people for favors and help...I felt like that's all I did anymore-- was ask people to carry and lift things for me. Not cool.

Shoe tying.  Now that my midsection has expanded considerably, bending over to tie my shoes is like a game of twister. I tried to contort and hoist my body in all sorts of directions to attempt tying my shoes and finally gave up and put slip-ons on.  Had Kyle been around, I would have just called upon him to not only tie the shoes, but put the shoes on, too.

Kyle is our family photographer-- and boy did I miss that. He's always carrying the camera around, and he takes the best pictures.  I was mourning the absence of our family photographer greatly during Cade's last week of school. Clearly those shots are far from fantastic, I was just happy I remembered the camera.

Emotional support.  At the end of a particularly long day, it's nice to bounce thoughts off to your spouse, almost in a confessional sort of way, like what a horrible job of parenting you felt like you did. You can expose all your rottenness and crankiness that your children witnessed...even shed some tears, commit to do better, be more patient, and pick only the necessary battles while your teammate can give you a hug, a nod, or a leg pat, or all three even and doesn't have to say a word for you to feel totally heard and understood.  Yeah, I missed that.

Mental Health Dates. Kyle also has a way of shoving me out of the house to do something other than being a mother and housekeeper  which in turn keeps me sane. While sometimes I complain that he never gives me any notice-- he'll just spur it on me and expect me to leave the house giddy and thrilled to get away, the truth is, getting away with 2 minutes notice is better than not getting away at all.   I didn't do a very good job of scheduling some mental sanity dates with myself.... I mostly self-medicated with Oreos when the kids were tucked in bed at night which probably isn't such a great idea.  Okay, it's totally not a good idea.   When I did get a sitter, I used the time out to run more errands or attend some sort of function or meeting I felt in some part responsible for taking part in.  Which, it's great I did get out and away from the kids a bit, it wasn't very much. Or I guess it didn't feel like very much, and towards the end of the single-momma stint, I could feel it wearing on me.  Enough so that  I had set a goal (as bizarre as it sounds) to get a pedicure before I came out to Chicago.  That would guarantee an hour of uninterrupted quiet time and a foot rub.   It sounded like a delicious idea, but the time to do that quickly vanished.  Had Kyle been around, he would have made it happen.

All the little jobs around the house I couldn't tack on to a honey-do list.  Like purchasing that little part for the dishwasher we've been needing for weeks and weeks. Taking out the garbage. Buying salt for the water softener. Hanging up pictures, moving bins up and downstairs or out of the garage.... the list went on.  While it's great it forced me to be more independent and self-reliant, I am grateful to have a man around the house most of the year so all of this isn't weighing on me all of the time.

Now there were a few things I didn't mind about his absence. We have to think about the positive, right? Reclaiming the pantry was one of them. Kyle will sometimes take it upon himself to do the grocery shopping-- sometimes unannounced. He'll just come home and stock the pantry and fridge full of the stuff that my kids are crazy about, that I am trying to wean them off of.  Did you know there is a chocolate and marshmallow cereal out there?  It's like Cocoa Puffs meets Lucky Charms. My kids LOVE that stuff, so Kyle buys it.  Kyle loves to have a variety of chips, juices, and drinks around, too.  While I'm the first to admit I love me a good Dorito, bowl of Cocoa Puffs, or can of Root Beer, it's just easier to eat healthy, and promote my kids eating healthy if it's not there in the pantry.  So when Kyle left, so did the junk. And you know what? My kids survived. Kix, Cheerios, Special K w/ strawberries for breakfast. Or Oatmeal.  And they didn't complain!  It was nice.

I was a bit nervous when Kyle said he did some grocery shopping for us to prepare for our arrival. I had visions of Chocoberry Crunch cereal and bags upon bags of Cheetos or those cups of yogurt with candy to stir in....He pleasantly surprised me with some Honey Nut Cheerios for the kids.  Yes, there were items I never would have purchased myself-- Dora yogurt for example (Savannah was in heaven. She once threw  a fit about it in the grocery store when I wouldn't buy it.  come to think about it, I swore I was on the phone with Kyle while it was happening. Of COURSE he would buy her Dora yogurt!) and frozen corn dogs, but those I can handle.

In the mean time the idea is to pretend like I am on vacation. I am out of my home which means my unfinished projects and extended to-do list in preparation for Baby are no longer staring at me in the face. We are living it up in our former neighbor's basement apartment.  Which really doesn't feel like a basement. It's a walk-out, fully furnished home with plenty of space and toys.  The backyard is gloriously large and full of adventure for the kids. We bought a pass to the local pool slash water park and we go as often as we can.

Kyle's hours are the typical summer ones that we have grown accustomed to when we first met 9 years ago -- long.  We see him for just a blink in the morning and rarely again before the kids go to bed, but it is still nice to finally all be together again.  My 39 days of parenting solo was more than enough time to make me realize I'd like to not have to do it again.

Recreating Easter and the Benefits of Buying a House in the Winter

On our little getaway for Kyle's birthday back in February I purchased a dress for Savvy and a matching tie for Cade in honor of the Easter holiday that has long since passed us by. They've worn them several times over the last few months but who has their ducks in a row well enough to spare a photo session amidst the pre-church preparations on a Sunday morning? I assure you I rarely do.  With our upcoming departure to Chicago, I figured I better hurry and do it while trying to capture the beauty growing in our back yard, too.  These were taken this past Sunday morning before church . . .  Admittedly, I think I was a minute or two late. They were singing the opening hymn when we snuck in. :)

We are all partial to the adorableness of our children, so pardon the overkill on photo posting. I couldn't pick just one or two you know.

As usual, the candid shots of them goofing off are always the cutest. :)  

One of the redeeming factors about closing on a home in the dead of winter, if there is such a thing, is the anticipation for Spring, and the landscaping surprises that come with it.  I love watching plants and flowers bloom that I had no idea were waiting underneath the soil.  The wisteria (I think that's what this lovely purpleness taking over the back patio is) is my favorite surprise. It's gorgeous. :)   The true beauty? I didn't do a thing. I swear I just woke up one morning and this is what greeted me.