Today I'm Thankful For...

A great man recently told me that "to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven".  So here is a list of things I'm grateful for.  (and its not even November)

• Baby steps

• That I can live with my parents for 5 months, completely overrun their house, have a toy in every corner of their house, turn dinnertime into a war zone, and they still love it

• Sunbeams, primary program, and the leasson on Elijah (whodathunk)

• ARUP

• Fall Colors

• Fuzzy socks to sleep in 

Happy Birthday Mia

I've decided to start a new tradition (its was inspired by a very cute blog my friend posted on her son).  Every year on my kids birthday I'm going to write a letter/post/whatever to describe what they are doing, their personality etc.  Mia just turned one a few weeks ago so I its a good time to start.
   

Mia,

You are a delight to my life.  I like to call you my little tropical volcano.  You are sunshine and smiles all the time, but if you erupt watch out.  You once screamed for 20 min because you were playing with a shampoo bottle and I took it away from you.  Despite a temper, you have a very pleasant personality.  You are a sweet ray of sunshine every where you go.  In church the other day when you were out in the hall you cooed at every passing person insistently; until they acknowledge you and talked to you.  You love to climb on things and I have to constantly pull you off the fireplace.  You love to play with you big sister, who gets annoyed at you taking all of her toys.  You are fascinated with water.  If we tell you its time for a bath you perk up and say your own version of bath, "Baa" and make a b-line for the tub.  You also like to play in the bathroom, you can almost open the toilet seat so you can play in the toilet water.  Another challenge you present is keeping the bathroom doors closed. 

My favorite part about you at this stage is watching you learn to walk.  You are so broad and when you walk you waddle a little and its the cutest thing ever. Before I know it you will have given up crawling altogether.  You love to be chased, and you love 'pony rides' on sisters back.  You are going to be talkative just like your sister.  You can say versions of bath, bye-bye, grandpa, mommommom, dadada, bear, and bird.  I would like to teach you some animal sound.  You are a very accomplished growler.  You are almost to the fun baby tricks stage.  I'm so excited for the next year, and to continue to watch you grow and develop.  It will be fun to watch you and your sister play together.

I think when you grow up, you are going to be very sweet, and always thinking about others.  Someone who can make friends easy and make everyone feel at ease.  You will be the calming influence in our home, as you already are most times.  

I wish that I could put to words your personality, your cuteness, and all the things that I love about you.  But this is as close as I can get.  I love you and I'm so blessed to have such a sweet little girl in my life.  I thank God everyday for sending you to us.  For whatever reason you were meant to be our little girl.  I pray that one day I might know that reason and be able to live up to  it. 

Love,

Mom

Four Posts for the Price of One (what is 1/4 of free anyways)

Fall
I was missing autumn.  I'm pretty sure spring is my favorite season, but fall is close.  Because there is no elevation change autumn hits Omaha all at the same time, it was my favorite time of the year there (expect that it meant winter was on the way).  Maybe because this is when I really explored Omaha.  I remember many trails with Melissa on my back.  Well its the end of Sept and its still in the 80s but I was missing the fall.  Since my dad lives to hunt we often went camping in the fall growing up.  I can remember many years listen to general conference on the radio and contemplating how fantastic all the colors looked together; the dark green of the pine trees, and the light green of the aspens that haven't turned yet, and the bright yellow aspens and a splash here and there of reds and orange.  But camping in the mountains in the fall is COLD.  But this weekend my family was up there and my mom suggested we take grandpas old tent-trailer.  So we went up for a night.  And it was fantastic.  We stayed surprisingly warm, and the leaves didn't disappoint.  They were as pretty as I remember them being in my youth.

Reconnecting

Speaking of my youth, this has been a summer of reconnections.  I have reconnected with people, places and things from my long ago past.

People
I have hooked up with two different friends that I haven't seen for a very long time.  The first friend  I were best friends in elementary school, Jr High and High School.  We drove or walked to school together everyday.  Sadly we drifted after graduating.  I have never been good at maintaining friendships something I try to work on.  I hadn't see her since she got married.   I was able to met her and her two boys in July.  The second friend I met in Jr High.  She was the friend that drove you crazy and you loved her anyway.  Likewise I hadn't see her since we graduated from High School.  She took me out for dinner in Aug.  I know it cliche but both of these dear people I connected with was because of facebook.  It brings me so much joy to have reconnect with these friends, and to have them in my life again.

Places 
Every year I can a remember my family would take a trip to Bear Lake.  It started out with my family, and then we invited our cousins, and a few friends.  Soon the whole neighborhood was camping with us.  Bear Lake was more than tradition; it was a ritual.  We spent all week in a swim suit, only changing out of it when it was time for bed.  But over time we stopped going.  I hadn't been to Bear Lake since the year or two after I graduated from high school.  Over Labor Day I took Kent and the girls to Bear Lake.  Kent said I was giddy as a school girl in the back seat, pointing out the landmarks and telling him around which bend in the road you would be able to see the lake.  I loved it there.  The girls had a blast.

Yummy Mud!

Things
My grandfather lives in Kamas.  As kids when we would go up there we had to entertain ourselves.  One of our favorite activities was a game call Mr. Blockhead.  It's just a simple game of varying shaped blocks which you try and stack on top of each other.  We could play with it for hours.  Earlier this summer me and the girls stopped by Grandpas house and had a few hours to kill.  Melissa was getting restless and there in the same spot in the closet was Mr Blockhead.  It was an incredible feeling watching my daughter play the same game I did, on the same floor of the same house, that I did when I was a kid. 

Birds
While my birding buddy was away, I headed out to Antelope Island and finally saw a Ruddy Turnstone, and it was turning stones.  I've had several opportunities to see this guy but never had the right timing. Here are some pictures of an Antelope that had just crossed the road on its name sake island.  I love that place. 

 Pictures from August (aka other stuff we did but I am too lazy to write about)

I'm reminded why I'm not good at photography...Melissa took this picture, turned out better than mine.

Well this one isn't bad

Dad's the man

Mom and Us at Ruth Lake

Enjoying the ride.

Mischief in the Making

Mia 'walking' with dad and grandpa

Random Donut eating contest in the living room

Mr Mom

I went back to work, so Kent is playing Mr. Mom.  Its been an adjustment for the both of us.  Today he told me the "wheres the baby...splash splash splash" story.  He was rounding up Melissa and noticed Mia was missing so he says "where's the baby" and then hears splash splash splash.  Any guesses?  Yep in the bathroom playing in the toilet water.  I had a hardy laugh at him, followed closely by eww gross.  And then the same thing happened to me.  Got to get the bathroom door to latch.

July: In with a Bang, out with a Splash

July was busy month. It all started with a Bang, the fourth, of course. For the 4th we went to the Murray parade with all of Kent's family. It has been many years since I've been to the parade in Murray and it was really really fun! I felt like a kid again. Melissa was so excited about going to a parade, she bounded out of bed, was dressed in 5 min. and then proceeded to bug us about why we weren't leaving yet. Kent's brother played commentator which was hilarious, and his brother-in-law was dressed as wheres waldo. There were lots of fun floats and tons of candy. Nothing makes it seem like the 4th than a good parade.

After the parade we went back to Grandmas house for splashing in the pool, BBQ, and visiting and having fun with family. I got a kick out of watching the nieces and nephew play in the pool. Plus I got my hair braided for camping. After lunch me and the girls headed up to Kamas, where we picked up my sister Lisa, and said hello to grandpa. Then up the canyon to met up with other sister and her family for a couple of nights of camping.

Camping was fun but cold!!! Both mornings we were there I drank a cup of hot chocolate. It was very pleasant, possibly because it was the only 5 min of the day I sat and did nothing. I can see why people would really enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning. It a very relaxing way to start the day. Melissa and her cousin play in the dirt, literally, but they had so much fun. Also on this trip I went fishing. I haven't bought a fishing license since I was in high school. We didn't catch anything but it was fun anyway. But I think I still prefer birding. They are very similar in many ways, they're both outside, with lots of boring parts followed by exciting parts. But the bird boring parts are more fun to me the than fishing boring parts.

Although I didn't catch any fish my little nephew did. And of course as adults we had to capture the perfect picture....

Monday we got up and broke camp which took forever. (BTW if any of you are wondering camping with two kids is a lot of work). Then headed to Grandpas house in Kamas where we washed one or two layers of dirt and grim off the kids and some clothes, because we were headed to the Oakley Rodeo. I love the Oakley Rodeo. The kids were surprisingly good and so were the cowboys. Melissa wanted to stay for the fireworks of course.

Well the fireworks didn't end till well after 10 and its a long way home, so Tues morning came very early, but off we went again. Tues Melissa went to dance class with Aunt Krisi then up to Ogden with Aunt Krisi where we went to the children’s museum and the dinosaur park. The Wed we headed down to Cedar City with Aunt Krissy and her kids.

In Cedar City we met one of my best friends I haven't seen since she got married, played in the pool, and watched Court do some gymnastics. Once home again it was time to rest and catch up on laundry but not for long because the next week my brother and his wife were in town. So we went camping with them. Missa decided that Brooke (my newest sister) was where it was at. Poor Brooke had a shadow. Andrew and Brooke may have wanted some alone time but every time they turned around Missa was right there.

I was looking forward to my hot chocolate routine, but this time by the time I got up and dressed, out of the tent, and had hot water, it was just too hot to enjoy it as much. Oh well.

By the time we got home from that camping trip I was ready to stay put for awhile. And the BAR exam was looming very near. Kent was hitting the books hard and was stressing. With Kent gone so much it was easy to get restless around the house so we played in the pool. And one day I took the kids on the train downtown. We wondered temple square, played in the fountains at the gateway, and went to the church history museum. And then we bought a few fireworks to shoot off on the 24th of July.

And then Kent took the BAR. Yiks. He survived. And no we won’t know how he did for quite awhile.

And what’s a better way to celebrate the completion of the BAR exam than going to Cherry Hill with Kents family? It was awesome, and I only got a little sunburned. We had a great time.

Also in July Mia learned to crawl, and got another tooth.

This takes way too long to upload pictures. So for the rest go to www.kentandbeth.phanfare.com

My New Blog Picture

Don't you just want to reach out and tickle those toes? Well there is a story behind that photo which is silly but nonetheless am going to share. Feel free to stop reading here...

SO...you know how everytime you go to get new baby pictures taken they always suggest taking pictures of their feet. I always thought that was so silly. How could you tell it was your babies feet, don't all baby feet look the same? So I always say no.

But then I got ta thinkin...I thought it might be cute to have ALL of our bare feet in a picture. So then you could see the size differences, Mia, Missa, Mom, Dad. So when we went in for family pictures I requested this particular shot. She looked at me as though I was crazy. Okay I know its a bit different but aren't I allow some creativity in my family portraits? Anyway she said she had never done the baby feet picture thing. Should have been a BIG warning flag. Well the pictures turned out totally lame. So I didn't get any of them. But I still had this "idea" for a really cute picture. So I did it myself.

Kent wasn't around and I never thought to use the timer on my camera, thus the pictures I took of three pairs of feet, girls and mom, didn't turn out as cute as just the girls. I wasn't so sure they turned out at all until I made them in black and white, then I think it turned out close to what I had envisioned.

And that's the story.

My M&Ms

One of the benefits (I think) of adoption is sending updates to the birth parents. They become a journal of thoughts, feelings and milestones your baby is making. So here are some excerpts from Little m's last update.

The week after Kent left for Utah, (about one week before we left), she finally figure out how to roll over from back to her stomach. When she learned to roll from her stomach to her back she would do it once and then not again for a week or more. This time was totally different. The first time I notice she did it was Monday, by Tuesday she would roll one way and then the other like 5 times. She is getting so close to crawling and will sometimes get on her knees. But even without crawling or scooting, she is really mobile. She rolls and pivots in a circle and is quite good at rolling to what she wants. J She no longer stays where you put her. Sometime I’ll walk back into a room and say “now how did you get all the way over there?” She also loves to stand up and sometimes thinks she can do it on her own (which she can’t) and tries to let go of your hands. And you should see her in that walker you gave us in my mom’s big kitchen with hard wood floors. She can cruise in that thing in any direction that she wants.

Since coming to Utah we bought Melissa a new bike. (Okay technically Grandma bought it for her, yea for grandmothers who spoil). She has a two wheel big girl bike with training wheels. She LOVES that thing and is really good at it. She can get cruising. So we have been going on lots of bike rides/walks. We love to go down to the park by my mom’s house. Mia loves being outside too, and is usually perfectly content in the stroller.

We also put Melissa in swimming lessons, she has enjoyed them once she’s in the pool. Melissa loves the pool, swim lessons she tolerates so she can play in the pool. Mia has LOVED the water as well. We have taken her swimming a couple of times. She is so funny, she goes totally spazz, kicking and wiggling, and splashing. It is so cute to watch.

Mia also cut her second tooth soon after getting here. She had one little tooth for a long time. I think she just cut her first one on top today. Maybe that’s why she has been driving being crazy all day today. ;0 She picks up all kinds of new noises every day. She can coo, and say da-da-da, ma-ma, and a whole lot of other sounds. My sister has a baby girl just two months young than Mia, she sounds so dainty compared to Mia. She will be da da da, Mia is DA DA DA. She’s going to be a talker just like her big sister. She has been very social and has warmed up to all of our family really easily.

Mia loves to laugh and giggle and Melissa can still get her to laugh faster than anyone else. She is a really easy going baby, and a delight to have around. Her personality is starting to come through and she is a wonderful addition to our family. While they are small it’s sometimes hard to see beyond the baby stage. But before you know it they are little people with thoughts and minds of their own, walking around demanding things. LOL! We are reminded everyday what a lifelong commitment being a parent is and we love it.

We have some fun things planned for the summer; including the 4^th of July parade, and camping with my sister and her family. We are also going to go down to Southern Utah (about 4 hours drive) and visit some other family, and Beth is going visit a dear high school friend that I haven’t seen for 10 years. Kent stays busy studying and studying. It’s a daunting test but I’m sure he will be fine. We are still in the process of finding a job.

Since writing this Mia is even closer to crawling and can take a few crawl steps.

Birding Adventures: Utah

It is so much fun to have a birding buddy again! Our first adventures was up to summit park to see an evening grosbeak. We didn't see him but did hear it. Which means we were in the right area, just had bad luck. They are birds after all, and wild ones at that. But it was a fun day anyway. I saw lots of birds I hadn't seen for a long time.

But then posted on the internet were directions to a spotted owl....in Zion's national park. Do you know what the best part about having a birding buddy is? They don't think a 10 hours car ride for a spotted owl is all that crazy, in fact its their idea! So we went. And it was so fun! We crashed at my brother-in-law place in Cedar City (Thanks again K&M). Got up the next morning headed to Zions. They were seeing the owls along the trial to Angels Landing. That day they weren't roosting in the trees right off the trails so I think we got lucky seeing one in this crevice.

Can you find the owl in that picture? It took us a while too.

Angie searching.
We never found the other ones. (Three were two adults and a juvenile).

Angie enjoying the fruits of our labors.
After enjoying him for awhile we hiked the rest of the trail to the top.

It was really great to be in Southern Utah again. We are really lucky to have 5 national parks in same state! And the landscape is so unique.

Then we stopped of a slushy and headed home. It was a great weekend, with a great friend, great conversation, great scenery, and a great bird.

The only thing that could have made it better was if Bushtit E could have joined us. But for a last minute quick trip 2 out of 3's not bad.