ALL ABOARD!

He loves vacuums, hair-dryers, and choo-choo trains. We went with the train theme, for obvious reasons.

To kick off the Birthday festivities, on Saturday we took the kids on a scenic train ride, and although the train didn't go over 10 MPH the whole time...they DUG it. They even got a visit from the Easter bunny on the train (weird in know) which was a definite highlight.

Yesterday we had a birthday bash and celebrated with family. B really had a blast. It made my heart smile to see him so happy and excited. I know every parent thinks it...AND says it, but it really is amazing how fast they grow isn't it? I felt myself mourning a bit last night as I sat alone... realizing that in 7 short months B won't be the baby anymore. He is such a sweet, calm spirit and has really been a special blessing to our home. anyway, enough gushy stuff. check out this PIZ-ARTY would ya!!!

Thanks Andrea for the rockin' shoes...He loves them and hasn't wanted to take them off since he opened them. on the down side, Brent's now threatening to go down in the basement and dig out all his old cruddy skate shoes so they can "be alike." great.

A special thanks to all those that came to the party, and who sent cards and packages. we really are so very blessed to be stuck with all of you:) It meant the world to me (and Brody)!

hooked on houses

I like to take drives. Sometimes when Brent gets home at night, and I can't stand being in the house for another minute I just grab my keys and go. I never stop anywhere and rarely get out of the car...I just drive, windows down, music up, heat on...all alone...ahhh.

I usually leave around dusk. That way I can see in everyones houses as i go by. There's something about being able to look into people's houses that thrills me. does that

make me a peeping tom? whatever.

If I am a peeping tom I'm not the kind that are interested in seeing people...I'm more interested in...say.... what woodwork looks like, are there built-in's? How have they decorated? Is there a beautiful staircase? and so on. As I've said before I absolutely love houses.

I got word the other day at the park, amongst some mother's that were chatting, that one of my favorite houses in the area will be going up for sale this spring. Its a lovely little colonial, in a great neighborhood that sits on a couple acres of ground. It reminds me of a home you might find in Martha's Vineyard. The drive way is lined with huge oak trees, and the wood siding is stained the most lovely shade of green. AND... despite my utter hatred of birds it has a beautiful weather vane on top that I've often considering stealing.

(unfortunately on this particular drive-by the owner was raking in the front yard and i couldn't get a good shot. how dare her huh?)

Since learning of this, much to my nature, I've done a least ten (okay 20) drive-bys.

I stop briefly in front and daydream about the lay-out, how I would decorate and landscape and because it's an older home, what walls I would have to knock down to make it the home of my dreams (mind you, I've never actually seen the inside..minor detail).

In fact, during drive-by #15 or so the other day I was so involved in daydreaming about this house that I smashed into the mailbox across the street from it as I was turning around...smashed it right to the ground. Stupid tupperware mailboxes. I initially put a note on the door, but then stood it up and put it back together nicely myself and decided that they didn't really need to know. Is there something wrong with me? and if you have to ask yourself that in every blog you post...do you really need to keep wondering?

Anyway, I was reading one of my favorite blogs the other day "hooked on houses" and ran across this checklist, (that I may as well have written) it made me laugh that there are others out there like me (well probably not quite like me. I'm weird;)

Are you Hooked on Houses? Give yourself a point for each of the following statements that you agree with:

• If there’s a “For Sale” sign in my neighbor’s yard, I can tell you how much they’re asking for their house–and whether it’s worth it.

• I have a habit of checking the real estate listings online, even though I’m not planning to move.

• I think the best time to take a walk is at dusk–after people have started turning on their lights, but before they have closed their blinds!

• I’ve been known to visit Open Houses and model homes, just for fun.

• I will stop to take a photo of a beautiful house if I have a camera with me.

• When I visit someone’s home, I immediately start looking around to see what changes they’ve made since the last time I was there.

• I get upset when I see a beautiful old home that looks neglected and unloved, and I fantasize about “rescuing” it.

• I would go to a neighbor’s party just to get a look inside their house.

• I have considered becoming a real estate agent, or have been told I should be one.

• I’ve been known to check out the local house listings when I’m on vacation to see how much it would cost to live there.

• If I drive through a pretty neighborhood, I slow to a crawl so I don’t miss anything.

• I’m always redecorating my house. It’s never “finished.”

• There are certain movies I have watched repeatedly because of the houses featured in them.

on "having a baby"

Tomorrow is my first O.B appointment. I always have this certain feeling at the beginning of a "baby journey (is that so from TLC or what) that teeters between sheer happiness and sheer dread. You know what I mean? That feeling of "Wow, we're having another baaaabbbbyy"and "WOW WE'RE HAVING ANOTHER BABY?"

To be honest we weren't expecting things to happen quite so quickly (but what else do you do in the middle of a blizzard...i'm just sayin'. lol. TMI) and it just doesn't seem real; hasn't sunk yet. Plus, this first six weeks have been odd. I don't have a lot of my normal symptoms that come from hormonal chaos...that of puking incessantly, crying at every off-color thing Brent says, and wanting to die by 5:00pm. Nope... I'm just tired. In fact I've now taken 4 pregnancy tests (that's about 35 bucks worth if you're interested) just to make sure I'm really pregnant. Is there something wrong with me?

My friend ask me recently "what I was feeling and what sort of emotions I was experiencing," and a strange thing happened...I couldn't come up with anything! Yep...I basically feel nothing at the moment. It's a weird time in your child bearing career when you've made it to that place where you don't dream about nurseries, or mobiles, or scented lotions anymore. When it becomes more about the not so nice things, like getting huge, delivery, and bringing home a baby to your (too small) home and other children who strangely resemble huge monsters. oh, and then there's that awkward emotionally devastating time where you think you may actually die from sleep deprivation and hormonal overload.

How can I be there with only two children? I like to think it's because I'm a practical, well oiled machine, completely down to earth and real about what the next 14 months (or so) will bring. So here's to being real...to being happy, exited, scared, anxious, sad, crazy, ugly, beautiful, in love and to every other emotion and feeling that comes with this miracle called "having an baby."

I'm ready. I think.

Changes

I was thinking it's about time I changed up my blog banner. You think this sounds right...

"FIVE Little Fishes"

?

It's gonna have to :)

Happy heart day!

My parent's watched the kids on Friday night so Brent and I could steal away for a Valentines day date (which coincidentally, just so happened to) fall on the same weekend as my fav "vintage hip" shop's annual sale (score dude)! We were able to go the temple on Friday night and then spend the day Saturday shopping around. I'll be posting my finds soon:)

Valentines day seemed so special this year. Being in the temple with Brent and feeling the Savior's love there was the best Valentines day gift we could have dreamed of. Festivities with the kids were a blast too..after all, they're the ones that have my heart.

Could I be the poster child for "Glee" or what! Furthermore, would someone tell me what's up with me and the "thumbs-up" all over the place. i mean seriously, it has to be like a syndrome or disorder or something. i get excited...the thumbs get erect. what the?

You may think I'm exhausted from shopping, but no... it's actual brain exhaustion from trying to figure out how I can afford this amazingly, perfect, scalloped-back linen sofa. Brent on the hand...exhausted from shopping:(

My sister-in-law Amy makes Martha Stewart look like...well...me:( she had an awesome party at her home for the kids, and they had a blast (thanks amy).

WHAT THE?

So apparently I went to sleep the other night and woke up in FARGO NORTH DAKOTA!!! What the?!? I mean seriously it hasn't snowed this much since my grandfather "walked to school in 4 foot of snow barefoot" ya know what I'm sayin'.

It's been kinda crazy around these parts. There's a certain feeling in the air that makes you want to have 10 gallons of milk, a truckload of toilet paper, and LOTS of Little Debbie snack cakes on hand. For the love of Pete, all I wanna do is eat (what is up with that). We've been stuck in the house since last Thursday and my mental state is what I'll refer to as "fragile". The only time we did leave...to go sled riding, we got slammed in the rear-end by some 19 year old teeny-bopper who was probably texting (Oprah would so be all over that).

Anyway, all jokes aside it's been pretty cool getting to experience all this snow. Brent's been able to work from home in the basement all week, and the kids are all sorts of giddy. We're suppose to get 10-14 more inches tonight..can you even imagine? I can't!

Here's our last few days inside.

.

made some nice meals..what else was there to do?

this has been Brent's general look all week..what can i say..he's not home much.

ahhhh...smells so good

even B was getting bored

so we got out the playdoh and mom schooled em' on a little ice cream sundae makin'.

do i look pathetic? i was missing the hair appt I'd been waiting three weeks for.

gettin' jiggy with it before the Superbowl

"you can do it put your back into it" what what.

don't kid yourself...he's lovin' every minute of it.

here I am, just out running with the kids...SIKE! did i just say "sike?"... man that came outta no where. why did we ever stop saying that anyway. I loved that word.

This guy was pretty hardcore, he even had little ski's tied to the back wheels.

our front and back walk...gives you an idea of how much is out there.

more to come after what the media refers to as...(dun dun dun)

WINTER WEATHER SLAM PART 2... is over.

later