Thursday, July 09, 2009

Life as usual, just better.

Everytime my mama comes to visit everyone asks," So, are you guys doing anything special?" and the answer is usually something to the effect of, "Just living life with the babes." We carry on with our routines and adventures, but it's just sweeter with her here. And easier, I might add. And more fun. With lots more giggles. It's pretty much wonderful.

We still go to the park, but I don't have to sprint between the swing (Amelia) and the too slick slide (Sam). Have I mentioned that playgrounds make me tick? I am usually not a nervous mama, but playgrounds with two two year olds make me crazy, unless they are an appropriate toddler size. But, look at Amelia's face as she swings. So, we go.

We still go to the park with friends. This was lunch today after art in the park. It was such a fun morning! The city gives out free brown bag lunches every day to all kids under 18. So we got three bags for the littles and had a fun picnic.

We still go to the fun, fun farm and ooh and ahh over all of the animals. "Oooooh, so cute!" as Amelia would say:)


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We still go to music class and ring bells and bang on drums and sing lots of songs.


We do all of the things we normally do when their Mammy isn't here, it's just that the norm becomes more special whenever she's around. Anyone who has ever been around her knows that is true.

All for now, Jen

Saturday, July 04, 2009

Oh, my little guy...




At 27 months old, our little Sam got his first hair cut yesterday! Mom started it by cutting his bangs in the morning so that the hair would be out of his eyes. Then, as he ate dinner she started snipping a little more in the back. By the time she had finished we were laughing so hard we couldn't see straight. We just couldn't decide if it looked like a cute little surfer cut or a feathery 80's rock band cut. So, off to Great Clips we went:) Sammy did perfectly, happy as a clam sucking on a "special treat" as she evened everything up. As you can see in the last picture, it isn't super short but it's still a big change! I love that it's out of his eyes and a bit cooler for summer, but boy did I love those long locks:)

Thanks for your encouragement on my last post girls, it really did help! I even thought of you guys during class today, thinking, "Keep going Jen, they're all rooting for you!" The 2nd class was a little less humiliating, though only because I was sitting in the back row this time! I still don't understand why I am the ONLY one in the class whose legs seem to give out every time I try to stand up on the bicycle. I asked the instructor afterwards if I was doing something wrong or if I am really just super weak! She said that it will take time to build up my muscles and to learn how to rely on my core and not just my legs when standing up. Ah well, at least I'm burning calories while I work on getting better. Onwards we go!

Hope you guys have a wonderful 4th! Jen

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

I'm so dizzy, my head is spinnin'...

So, I went to my first spin class today. I could sum it up in one word--humiliation--or I could tell you the whole story. I think the whole story is funnier and so I'll tell ya.

Background. I haven't worked out in ages. I have recently returned to the gym but my work outs were such that they usually allowed me to be reading a book while on the bicycle, tread mill, etc. So, I decided to amp it up a notch and try a class. Spinning sounded fun. Music, a guy inspiring you up front, no crazy coordination skills needed...sounds good. So I signed up and got there this morning at 9:15 ready to go. Ahem.

I was the last one to arrive in the room and there was only on bicycle left--very front row, very center bike! I noticed quickly that I was a fish out of water. First of all, I had no water bottle and no little towel and no spandex. Also, everyone was buzzing. Talking and talking and talking. I still don't know what that was about. Anyway, I told the instructor that this was my first class and that my seat felt too high. I felt like a dork saying that but I didn't need any more handicaps and had no idea how to fix it! So, he did. Then we started. It was going along fine until he kept saying, "Okay, stand it up!" and everyone would stand up on their bicycles and keep riding. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! After about 2 minutes of this, my legs were literally giving out and I had to sit down. I was the only one in this jam packed room that was having to sit down! I kept trying to stand back up and wham, my legs would just quit! I knew I was not doing well when the instructor got off his bike and walked between the bikes encouraging everyone. He would clap in people's faces and say things like, "PUSH IT!" "GEAR DOWN! (I still don't have the slightest ideas how to work that gear knob)" "PUSH IT PUSH IT PUSH IT!!!" When he got to me, though, he would just pat my back and say," Doin' good" in a voice that relayed I was doing anything but good. I was just surviving.

My new goal was just to make it to the end. I gave my feeble attempts to do the sprints, but I didn't even try to stand up again. Who were these robots around me? These ultra thin blondes with sculpted abs and leg muscles? I almost threw up several times and so I guess that's something to be thankful for. I didn't throw up nor did I fall off the bicycle. Two good things. That's about all I can say. The 80 year old guy next two me? No problemo. He sailed through the class and then he grabbed his yoga mat and headed off with about half of the class to yoga next door. Seriously? Then I saw about five of the super thin blondes on TREADMILLS after the class. What?! Then, I saw the rest of the gang picking up their kids from kidsclub. They are mamas too?! Don't they ever hide in the pantry and eat cookies while their little one has a tantrum in their bedroom? I mean, I don't, but I've heard of that happening.

Ah well, a little humiliation is probably good every once in a while. It makes me want to do better in the physical discipline department. It was a bit of a wake up call. Once I got the babes back in the car and sat there for a second in shock, and then reminding myself that my value as a person doesn't just come from how good I look in work out clothes or if I can stand up on a stationary bicycle and spin my heart out while U2 belts out, "It's a beautiful daaaaay!" I am more than that, thank the Lord. But I do want to be strong enough to do it and so, believe it or not, I am signed up again for Friday. Partly because Joel gets sooooo proud of me when I do things like that that don't come naturally. I am a sucker for trying to make people proud. Must be the middle child in me:) But mostly, because I know my body needs to be kicked into gear, and there's nothing like being stuck in a room full of motivated, strong, abnormally fit people to make ya do it.

All for now. My mamas here!!! Jen

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Able hands...

I could title the times that Jim and Shari stay with us, "Able Hands". It is what they have. Jim can fix just about anything that needs fixing, and he does. He goes beyond that though, and he creates. This time he created the most wonderful barn for Sam and Amelia's beloved animals. I had been drooling over some barns online for the longest time and Jim looked at them one time with me and said that he could combine them to make the one I, I mean the babes:), really wanted. So, he did. Isn't it lovely? Years of imaginative play to come, and what better gift is there than that? He also finished assembling a rocking boat/ walking bridge that Joelie had started. It is so much fun to see the babes practice their balancing skills! Again, years of play ahead!




Meanwhile, Shari uses her able hands inside the home. She cooks and she washes and she folds and she gets things cleaner than I ever will (of course, she does use clorox--hee, hee I couldn't resist Shar:).
They both inspire me each time we are with them to use my hands to serve others. It's a beautiful gift and we are so thankful for it. Jen

Saturday, June 27, 2009

These are the days...

No really, they are. No matter how frustrating or flighty (ahem, Amelia) or OCD ( little Sam), or whiney they can be-- they are just so adorable and funny and curious and unique and affectionate. Oh, little ones, how we love you!
June was such a mellow, rainy month. Adventures to the park, gardens, or back yard in the mornings, naps while it rained, snuggles and a show while we waited for the rain to stop and then outside to splash in puddles as we walked our daily walk around the neighborhood.
This is how they sit during most bath times...so adorable!
Amelia will go to great lengths to watch buggies! I walked outside and found her wedged in this pile of sticks. She looked up at me and said, "Ants!"
Sammy at the Red Butte Children's Garden...love that place.
Amelia and Vera after "Art in the Park" class. Whew, art in the park with two two year olds by yourself is not something I'd try to tackle again! Thankfully, my mama will be here for the rest of the classes--yay! Honestly, I just love the part where the babes get to make a big mess with glue and such and it's not in our house:)
More exploration at the gardens, what a handsome little guy:) ...


Anyway, we are loving summer and we are loving having two year olds. I mean, it's exhausting but there is just something so wonderful about this age. I guess it's seeing them grow into children and leave their babyness behind. It's such a gift to be able to watch and experience that first hand, that the (mostly emotional) exhaustion is well worth it at the end of the day. Hope you are all well and are enjoying your days,
Jen

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Hearts overflowing...






I think I can speak for Joel and I both when I say that our hearts are overflowing after our weekend in the mountains together. It was such a rich, full, restful time. We talked, and talked, and talked, and talked (and, believe it or not,not much of the talking was about our precious little ones!) and read and read and snuggled under flannel sheets in the crisp mountain air. We took long drives and discussed our books and dreamed and planned and laughed. Oh man. Good times. I am so thankful for it all. For the friend that offered for us to use their cabin, for grandparents who nurtured and loved our babes, for uninteruppted time with Joel to give us clarity on so many things and just time to rest. Thankful, thankful, thankful.

Oh, and happy happy fathers day to my sweet man and my sweet dad!!!!

Jen

Thursday, June 18, 2009

The three amigos...

Sam, Amelia, and Vera. They have been friends since their very beginning. Before, really, as Anne and I would walk together in the park with our pregnant bellies. So many of my memories of the babes first months have Anne and Vera in them, and that's so nice--to share those first months and now years of motherhood with a good, true friend. Oh, sniff sniff--I don't know why I am getting so sentimental! Anyway, they saw each other at their first Art in the Park class today and their reunion was so adorable--hugs and squeals all around and Shari said Vera even gave Sammy a big smack on the lips:) They had fun creating catepillers--well, Vera did, Sam and Amelia were a little grumpy. Then, there was much puddle splashing, running around and playing in the fountain, and then plane and car rides. Such a wonderful summer morning and so fun to share it with Jim and Shari too. Yay for the comfort of friends and family!







Then it was home for naps and then a long, long walk with grandma with pauses to collect treasures and throw rocks into puddles. Then out to the garage to watch grandpa work on some WONDERFUL creations (just wait till you see them--this mama is so excited for some toys coming our way!) and then off to bed.


All of the grown ups (minus Evan--thanks for staying with the babes again friend!) went and had a wonderful dinner out to celebrate Jim and Shari's anniversary and Shari's birthday.

Fun times for all,
Jen

P.S. Funny happenings that I don't want to forget:

1. At music class we were playing ring around the rosey. Sam kept leaning away from me and looking across the circle towards a little girl who has been in the class with us for 8 weeks now. I said, "Sam do you want to hold Julia's hand?" He walked right over, grabbed this little girl's hand and gave her the dreamiest look before we started the next round. All the mamas in the circle just cracked up!

2. Jim and I were driving the babes to the museum and we were laughing about something. About thirty seconds after we stopped laughing Amelia busted out from the back seat with, "What's so funny?" Another first.

3. We are loving hearing Melia say, "Bless you" after people's sneeze. Tonight in their nursery I sneezed and she said, "Bless you , mama" and I almost ate her up it was so adorable.

4. Today I was telling Amelia to stop pushing off of the picnic table with her legs b/c I didn't want her to fall backwards. After a few times of not obeying she looked at me and said, "Sorry teacher." ?!?!?!?!

More to come, I'm sure!