animals at the zoo

spring break - day three

 BIGGEST EVENT OF THE DAY: Larry casually ate an entire apple for the first time in his life.  If you know Larry, you realize this is a big deal.  I silently celebrated but pretended not to notice. 

This picture was taken secretly.

[Socks on hands are pretty common around here.  He wears them when he and Lennon play "Pet Cat" and he's on all fours because he always has to be the pet.  Always.  It's not easy being the cat.]

 

 Legos.  I make them play outside because HOW DO PARENTS KEEP THEIR ONE YEAR OLDS SAFE FROM THESE THINGS.

 Lennon created a new game - Zombies.  Can he hear us watching Walking Dead as he sleeps?  I really hope not.

And...didn't do any laundry again.  But...didn't yell today, either.  Day three.

on getting old and lame

 

 

Friday night after our date I took our sitter home.  She is 16 and so happy and beautiful and full of funny stories and young lingo.  Now I'm the old lady saying lingo.

 

  Did you know that instead of saying teenagers are "seeing each other" or "dating each other" they say they're "talking to each other" which means sort of dating but not exclusively?  I had no idea.  That's because I'm getting old.  So old that while she attended a "Kick Back" (party) Saturday night, Tod and I were in our pajamas watching Dateline and eating popcorn.  So old that I wanted to tell her stories that began with, "Well, when I was a teenager" or "When I was a cheerleader" which sounded so lame in my head I made my mouth stop talking.

 

So old that I dropped her off and came home to this:

 Because he's older than me. 

Luckily Saturday morning started off with this sunshine who relaxed

 while these two slaved away. 

 Tod spent Saturday afternoon making snakes with our kids plus Caleb

 Sunday after church: I promise I'll buy some bibs this week.  Tod kept calling her a Greek ghost.

 Sunday after church: Mom exists.  In the seemingly only dress she owns.

While everyoneintheworld posted back to school pictures this morning, I was handling this (above).  My kids aren't back to (pre)school until September 10th so this was my morning until

 I decided to take the kids to Town Square to cool off. And I started wondering why I was so anxious to send them away.  Why am I so ready for them to be gone for half/all the day?  What's so hard about THIS?  I don't know why it's hard but it is.  These boys played play-doh, built towers, ran through sprinklers, watched a movie and took a bath today.  Why am I wishing any of that away? 

I need to take the same advice I gave our sitter:

Stop and enjoy this time.  It will be gone before you know it.

park city

I feel like adulthood crept up on me.  Yesterday I was the kid running through the halls of a hotel begging my parents to let us swim before bedtime.  Yesterday my mom was pouring milk into my mini cereal box in that hotel room for breakfast and I was excited to eat in bed.

 Now suddenly I'm the mom, Tod's the dad, and our kids are the ones excited to stay in a hotel.  Swimming in the pool all day long.  And I'm the one pouring the milk.  When did all this happen? 

We spent a couple days in Park City to cool off and it WAS cool.  In the above picture you see the boys' outfit choices.  I tried to explain it wasn't hot like Las Vegas so they agreed to jackets.  With hoods.  And cowboy boots.

 Lunch at Red Banjo

 Lennon takes a picture

 And another.  Which reminds me of Tod's comment on the drive home about how Larry has his eyes and Lennon has my pizza pie face.  Yes, he said pizza pie face.  Now I look at myself and all I see is a pizza pie.  He can be so charming.

 Olympic Park where Lennon couldn't understand why he never "got a turn."

 Babe in the rain.  Is anyone else worried about her cold toes?  He wasn't, I was.  I didn't even pack socks.

 Our plans for boating and Alpine Sliding were rained out so we caught a Madagascar 3 matinee with this little chick.  Space was limited so Tod took one for the team.  Then took another one for the team during her diaper blow-out about 30 minutes later. 

 Unfortunately, no pictures of Brett and Rachel and their kids...Tommy and Shantay were there too...no pictures.  We must have three kids.

 This one took a power nap after a long day which led to

 no sleeping by 10 pm.  His face is covered in chocolate because he smelled our dessert and we couldn't say no.  Could you???

 And finally, our hotel babe.  The sweetest child you ever saw sleeping in a hotel closet for three nights.  Never complained or called CPS.  Just slept in that closet.

Before she knows it, she'll be the one pouring the milk.

nine years ago

 Nine years ago over Memorial Day weekend Tod proposed to me on a ski lift in Sundance.  We had just hiked to Stuart Falls carrying nothing but a light backpack. We moved quickly.  Breathed easily. Our body fat was low and our hopes for the future high.  

So over Memorial Day weekend we went back...with two boys and a seven week old baby.  Way more than a backpack.

Plus others whose pictures are not on my phone.

This little guy didn't complain once.  It was muddy and long and he was happy.  Even happier when the hike ended and he saw our car.

"Look...LOOK!  Our CAR!  We go home! We did it!"

Awww Larry.

And Lennon was stung by a bee during hour three of four and was a trooper as well.  Wevers aren't wusses.

Family picture at the falls although Lux is facing the wrong way. I guess Larry is too.

Cute boys.  And is there any place dreamier than Utah in the summertime?

 Gorgeous

Megan asked if Tod proposed again at the falls or if we renewed any vows or whatever.  Ummmm no we were busy feeding two hungry kids and trying to keep our newborn out of the sun.  Took a couple quick pictures and headed back.  After all, it was way past naptime.

Life has changed.

like I was saying

who wants to hear a sad story

Last Thursday:

Tod: I want to take the boys to a Monster Truck show this weekend.

Me: Please do.

So Friday came and I spent the entire day telling the boys there was BIG SURPRISE that night.  That Dad was taking them somewhere REALLY COOL and they were going to FREAK OUT when they got there.  In fact, I even convinced them both to nap so they could stay out late with Dad and their big surprise.  They waited for him by the door.

The funny part of the story came as Tod loaded the boys in the car that night.  I was on the couch with my book...excited for an evening of solitude and quiet.

Tod: Honey are you sad you're not coming?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA no.  Goodbye.

About an hour later Tod sent me some pictures.  Look at them, having so much fun!  I loved seeing the boys in a huge stadium doing boy stuff.  They deserved a fun night with Dad after a long week home with a sick, huge mom.

However, when they returned around 10 that night, Lennon couldn't spew out the real story fast enough:

Lennon's version:

Mom, Dad totally messed up.  The show started at 5 and he thought it started at 7 so we got there and everyone was leaving so we saw the trucks but they weren't moving so then Dad made us leave and took us to see the Lorax.

Tod's version:

NO WHERE did I ever see 5 pm as the start time.  And when we got there at 7 there were fireworks going off so I thought the show was just beginning.  But people kept pouring out of the stadium and I thought huh that's weird.  And when we walked up to the usher no one tried to get tickets from us so I thought, Cool, free Monster Truck show!  Then there were plenty of empty seats on the 50 yard line and I thought, Sweet, this is going to be awesome!  But we sat there for awhile and people kept leaving and the trucks weren't moving so eventually I put two and two together...we missed the show but didn't miss the traffic trying to get home which was cool...

The saddest part was that night as I kissed Lennon goodnight.  I told him how lucky he was to go out with Dad and see a movie.  His response:

I just really, really wanted to see those trucks move.

Maybe next time buddy.  Maybe next time.

i'm pregnant?

I've discovered the perfect remedy for feeling nine months pregnant. It's called bronchitis.

The picture Tod advised me not to post.
Me: "Why, because I look ugly or because it looks like I'm smoking something?"
Tod: "It's a combination."
Actually a picture of the breathing treatments I've had to do so I can breathe again.  I'm not ashamed.

See, when you get bronchitis and you're 38 weeks pregnant, suddenly your former aches start blending with body aches and fever. Your huge belly that kept you breathless before now blends with the fact that you can hardly breathe at all. Sleepless nights are now not just because of size but also headache and chills.

My view for the last six days

 Love notes from a very concerned Lennon ("Mom, when you cough it scares me...like I don't want to get it from you.")

 St. Patricks Day came and went.  Pretty sure Tod hung out with the boys but who knows.  I was asleep.

A few other things happened while I was in bed all week.  For starters, Larry converted to Jehovah's Witness.

Some JW missionaries knocked on our door and left us this magazine.  He's dragged it everywhere with him for seven days.  Browsing through it in the yard, taking it with him to the bathroom, perusing it before bed. 

Larry studies his magazine while Lennon plays Memory...with himself.

Larry also started enjoying broccoli.  Which is a little concerning considering he wouldn't eat anything that was green for about 18 months.  Big step.

But this morning I woke up and finally felt like myself again.  Drove Lennon to school with the music blasting because Hey!  I'm out of my house!  Came home and started cleaning up the kitchen then decided maybe I'd do that after I rested for awhile...

Before I got sick I fantasized about not being pregnant and all the things I wanted to do.  Backbends.  Sprints.  Jumping on the trampoline. Sleeping on my back then flipping onto my stomach.  Now I want to do all those things but also add taking Ibuprofen, NyQuil, and any other cold medicine my heart desires.  Maybe even all at once if I feel so inclined.  While jumping on the trampoline.  Wearing normal jeans. 

Two more weeks.