In the City

We've been in Virginia for about 3 months.  I can't believe it but here we are.  In all this time, we haven't been able to make it into the city (which isn't like us at all).  We've been painting, hanging blinds, building gates for the deck, moving in.  Basically we've been going to Home Depot and IKEA a lot.

Last weekend, after a trip to the temple, we took a pit stop at the Jefferson Memorial.  I felt that feeling I have been hoping to feel, I am excited to be living here.  I'm excited to be in this place and for the experiences that are to come.

Engaging

I had the moms over for playgroup at my house this week.  I spent the morning before vacuuming up the last crumbs, wiping counters but it seemed that everywhere I looked there was a mess to clean up, a crusty hand print here, a spot in the carpet to clean, a dirty handle (Amy loves that she can reach cabinets while sitting in her high chair).

With Amy crawling and cruising along the couch (do you really think it's possible that my baby would learn how to crawl and then walk in the same month?), there are many more things to worry about.  Little pieces of geo tracks and screws to the construction set.  There are dangers lurking everywhere and I have to be on my toes all the time.

With all this life happening here, I have been making some adjustments in myself.   How easy it is to check out and to just do what needs to be done.  The stresses of having two very young children are high. I feel like I'm putting out fires instead of getting ahead.  I'm running around crazy trying to manage everyone's schedules, food intake, and plan the next step.
 
Well, I've decided that I'm tired of just surviving. The thought that has been running over and over in my head is the word engage.  I want to not just be meeting the needs but fully engaging.  To me this means that I am taking the extra time to look in their little faces and really meet their needs, to read another story even when all I want to do is say, "why aren't you sleeping!?"  I know the type of mom that I want to be but honestly the tiredness has overtaken me and I haven't been doing all the things but I'm going to try a little harder. 

I don't just want to engage as a parent but in my home.  I build this life here.  When I am engaged, I am not just cleaning the essentials half heartedly (you know that cleaning has never been my strong suit, you can even ask my mom), but I am trying to make it a comfortable, clean place.  I'm organizing the closets, I'm hanging up decorations.  I want my life to be purposeful.

This thought of trying to live "engaged" has been a big boost and motivation to keep trying.

I was reading a talk today by Joseph B. Wirthlin that I thought was incredibly profound and wanted to share with you.  You can find it here.  He began the talk with a story of a horse named Snowman.  The horse was old and discarded when a man purchased him and brought him home to his family.  It was discovered that he wanted to jump and he went on to win competition after competition. There was greatness in this most unlikely creature and I'd like to think there can be greatness in me too.  That greatness can only be found if I try.

Elder Wirthlin says,"As illustrated in the story of an old, discarded horse that had within him the soul of a champion, there is within each of us a divine spark of greatness. Who knows of what we are capable if we only try? The abundant life is within our reach if only we will drink deeply of living water, fill our hearts with love, and create of our lives a masterpiece."

"We are sons and daughters of an immortal, loving, and all-powerful Father in Heaven. We are created as much from the dust of eternity as we are from the dust of the earth. Every one of us has potential we can scarcely imagine.

How is it possible, then, that so many see themselves merely as an old, gray horse that isn’t good for much? There is a spark of greatness within every one of us—a gift from our loving and eternal Heavenly Father. What we do with that gift is up to us."

The abundant life does not come to us packaged and ready-made. It’s not something we can order and expect to find delivered with the afternoon mail. It does not come without hardship or sorrow.

Love the Lord with all your heart, might, mind, and strength. Enlist in great and noble causes. Create of your homes sanctuaries of holiness and strength. Fill your minds with learning. Strengthen your testimonies. Reach out to others.  Create of your life a masterpiece.

I make my life.  This is one of those major lessons I learn over and over, I am the one who makes my life and I want it to be a happy one.  I am engaging.  I am trying.  

Life Lately in Fall

“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Oh Anne, you are so right.  It's been a lovely October thus far.   As a side, some of the Anne books are my all time favorite reads.  There is so much wisdom in their words.  

Our life has been much more settled this month.  It's been busy but not strung out kind of busy, you know what I mean.

Most nights, since the weather has been so nice, you can find us eating dinner out on the deck.  It is my favorite part of the house and reminds me so much of being in Ophir (the canyon where my grandparents owned a cabin).  I have been watching the "forest" of trees in our backyard as they are slowly changing for fall.  Right now there are spots of yellow and a bit of red creeping in. 

Amy is crawling all around!  She is exploring and grabbing and getting into everything.  It is so fun to see her crawling over to me.  We have been baby proofing everything.  She is really pleased with this new milestone and I guess we are too.  I remember that when Leo started crawling, I wanted to pull my hair out but now, it's not such a big deal.  Mostly it's fun to watch her enjoy herself.

It's the season of pumpkin patches.  I am officially drawing the line at 3 and will not go to any more, even though we've been invited to two more.  I am going to be a party pooper and not go.  Pumpkin patches are a big deal out here.  The farms go all out and have slides, games, bounce houses, rides.  We went to one down in Fredricksburg called Belvedere Plantation.  We were there all day and still didn't do everything. 

Look at his face.  He just loved it and had a great time being one of the kids.

The blog has been a bit quiet, I think I am still processing all of the changes that have happened.  I'm trying to figure out me in this new situation and how to make our life here.  It's the same adjustment that happens with every move.

My sister had a new baby this last week and I am longing to be there and meet the new little guy.  I miss them all and most likely always will while we live here, but that is life.  I have talked to them all several times so I don't feel too far away.

I was in charge of our preschool co op this week and I taught about pumpkins.  We made pumpkins shakers, sang songs, and read a cute pumpkins story "It's Pumpkin Day, Mouse!"  It's all about emotions and the kids liked it. 

I have been serving with the Activity Day girls at church.  We have six 8 and 9 year old girls and I am enjoying it. I really liked to be that age when I was growing up so I find lots of things to talk to the girls about. 

Heber is liking his job.  He's still in the adjustment period but is really positive about the environment and the work that he gets to do.  He's been working on all sorts of little projects around the house.  This week it has been new blinds to replace the mini blinds (I swore I would never live in a house with mini blinds again). 

Leo loves trains and cars still.  He talks about his birthday all the time, I better get planning a great party.  I am potty training him this week, oh boy.

So, that's the latest.  Well, most of it, this post is already long enough!

Weddings and Births

There are two events in people's lives that you have to be there to celebrate, their wedding and having a baby.  People will remember for the rest of their lives who was there at those times.  I know that I do.   I think this is the case for more than just the first baby too, doing something special for the second or third on down is important. 

The Mom's and kids. 

So, a couple of weeks ago, I threw a baby shower for my friend who was expecting her second.  She wanted the husbands and kids to be able to come too and so we made a party of it.  As a mom of two, there are so many kid centered events that I attend that I wanted to make this one a little more grown up.  I did candles (yes, even with all those little ones, and they did great!), I did a more grown up menu of enchilada's and mexican food.  Who would have thought?  Me, the absolutely reluctant hostess, putting together a party with decorations and even a favor (thank you Christy for inspiring caramel apples for everyone to take home).  If you had said this to me years ago, I never would have guessed. 

We held it out on our beautiful deck.  Officially my favorite part of the house!

Amy, standing up!

The whole crew

I was pleased with how it all turned out and I think everyone had a good time.  So happy to celebrate little Lucas! 

I thought I'd share some recipe's because I am always on the hunt for new great recipes and these two are ones that I cook all the time. 

Black Bean Spread (from Cooking Light)
I make this one all the time.  It's quick to whip up and so delicious.  Even the kids like it!  When I make it just for us, I usually half the recipe and just do one can of beans.

Ingredients

3 garlic cloves, peeled 

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro 

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 

1 1/2 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained 

1 (15-ounce) can black beans, undrained 

Cilantro sprig (optional) 

With food processor running, drop garlic through food chute; process until minced. Add fresh cilantro and next 5 ingredients (through undrained beans), and process until smooth. Garnish with cilantro sprig, if desired.

Beatrice Johnson's Chicken Enchiladas (a Grantsville recipe)
Never half this recipe.  Ok, just kidding, it's so delicious you will really want them all and it will make a ton.  I often freeze a pan when I make this.  They taste just as good coming out of the freezer. 

Combine and set aside
1 pint sour cream
1 7 3/4 oz. can green chili, Ortega
3 cups chicken breasts, cubed and cooked
2 10 3/4 oz cans of condensed cream of chicken soup

Cook in a pan until soft/tender
1 cup water
1 onion chopped
1 cup celery
2 cups carrot (really!  Vegetables in the recipe!)

2 1/2 cups grated cheese
1 package tortillas

Prepare vegetables to cook and place in water to cook for 45 minutes.  When thoroughly cooked, mash or pulverize.  Boil chicken (I usually use canned chicken or a cooked rotisserie chicken from Costco).  Assemble the sour cream, chilis and cream of chicken soup, add the chicken, the cooked vegetables and the cheese and mix.  Scoop ingredients to a tortilla and roll.  Place in pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes covered.  

Amy Stands Up

Oh how life is changing here....

 

 

Our little Amy is moving all around, exploring and finding all sorts of shenanigans to get into.  And she is just loving it.  Just tonight she stood up all by herself.  She is growing up.

I'm off to dig out the baby gates! 

Sick Days

Last month, I spent a full week sick with a sinus infection.  Oh joy, just what we needed.  With all that time at home, we had to entertain ourselves somehow..... 

Gunston Hall

I visited Gunston Hall with a friend today.  We loaded our kids up in strollers and went down to see this historic estate, the home of Founding Father George Mason.

I have been to Gunston Hall once before, it was exactly 11 months ago, to the day.  The Hall was the last thing we saw before leaving Virginia the first time.  We put our entire life on a truck, stayed with friends (thank you Blake's!) and visited Gunston Hall before flying out. 

Nov. 1, 2013, about 30 weeks pregnant

2013, don't we look tired?

Seeing it again, nearly a year later, brought back so many memories from that time.  I was expecting Amy, our life was changing so completely but we knew that the job wasn't going to be what we'd hoped for even then.  I didn't want to leave but I wanted to be with my family and friends in Utah.  It's a lot of emotions mixed up.  

All things considered, I'm happy with where our life is at the moment.  It's been a crazy 11 months but I've learned so much.  I still miss my family in Utah, my friends, but I think I will always yearn for something different (mostly because the things that I want are 2,000 miles apart).  It's choosing to be happy in the now that's important.  This is my life now, lets make it a happy one.

I really enjoyed my day today.  Good company, neat place. 

 

Amy had to be playing where the "big" kids were. 

White Noise

I have a lot of ideas about parenting, about what to do and how to make things happen.  Slowly I'm breaking down.  It's true. 

Amy is not a stellar sleeper.  By not stellar I mean, doesn't want to nap unless she's right next to me and wakes at night.  A lot.  Especially with all of the moves and different sleeping situations, there were some nights in the hotel where she was waking 5 or 6 times a night. 

I have tried to do sleep training but there were limitations with our two bedroom condo and a hotel room with people all around.  To some extent, we had to help her sleep, no matter what. 

I have been weary.  Which I think is beyond tired.   I'm not complaining, I just think this is probably a part of parenthood that I should remember that I survived.

Things have been gradually improving as we get more and more settled in.  But this week, a huge change came.  I broke down and started using white noise.  It was one of those things that I didn't want to use because she should learn to sleep without it but now, I'm a believer.  She is napping!  She is falling asleep at night!  She is sleeping!!

A few more nights of this and I might actually feel like a person again. White noise.  Best invention ever.