Showing posts with label Kellie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kellie. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

A little bit of happiness...


Do you remember Ramona? The "Ramona Books" as I called them, were the first books that I devoured in elementary school. I loved reading about silly Ramona, and I especially remember Susan and her boing, boing curls.

So I decided to try reading this with Katelin about a week ago. She loved it and anticipated reading every day. It has been so fun to rediscover this little kindergartener with Katelin. We read a chapter every day while Seth was sleeping, and the only disappointment was that we finished and have to get back to the library before we can read another chapter book.

I really think one of the keys to being happy at home with your kids, is to find things you both enjoy. For Katelin and I, that is reading. Sitting and playing princess games in any way may drive me crazy, but this we have in common. Ramona is so much more interesting than Ariel, or Snow White, or Sleeping Beauty, or even Belle (my favorite princess --- because she is at least a little bit smart). Thank you Beverly Cleary.




Monday, November 23, 2009

Little bit of this and that

I haven't been doing a lot of musing lately. Here are a few things we have been doing --

Destroying the house. Toys at my house seem to breed. We can go from clean to this in just a matter of minutes. I'm working on clutter control, and have found some success in simply hiding or giving away many toys. The kids find new forms of clutter, but there is some progress.


Twirling around the house. This is a favorite pastime at our house. That is until one child gets yanked around too hard and starts crying. Then the fun is over. For a minute. Until the tears stop. Then the twirling begins again.

Posing for pictures. I love it when they both look at the camera. This is a perfect shot of Seth's hair - theclassic rooster shooting straight up in the air. It might have something to do with a certain little girl and a pair of scissors, but the double cowlick in the back can't help either.

Trick-or-treating. I wouldn't be a good mother if I didn't post a picture of my kids in their Halloween costumes I suppose. Too bad this doesn't showcase Katelin's pride and joy: her ruby red slippers. Sorry, Katelin. Maybe next month.

Playing nice. I wouldn't be telling the truth if I didn't say that I find these two playing nice many, many mornings. It is a gift to yourself and your child when you have a second child. A gift that comes with a lot of work, but really, well worth it.

Okay, so we obviously haven't been doing much of this around the house. We have just been surviving while Trevor flew half-way around the world to take this photograph. He spent about eight days in Rabat, Morocco and Istanbul, Turkey hosting "study abroad professionals" at the CIEE conference. Here he captured men washing their feet outside of a mosque.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Fun Week Highlights.

After a big trip to visit family, and all of Trevor's travels, we opted to avoid more travel and host our own "staycation" in Austin this summer. I'm pretty sure we have hit the pinnacle of hipness, as everybody is doing a "staycation" these days now that it is cool to save money. Anyway, here are a few highlights for your enjoyment...

Who wants to see lions, elephants, or giraffes when there are fish around. This was the favorite location at the San Antonio Zoo, possibly because it has air conditioning.


Katelin decided to hatch a few egss while we were there...


Later in the week, Trevor and Seth had some one on one time at Champion Park.


Seth had a good time digging...

Down the street at Brushy Creek Lake Park, Katelin and I enjoyed the fountains and Katelin's new scooter.

I should have worn my swimming suit... and I'm not so sure about the $1.00 special Target sunglasses??


Although you can't tell, we are all on the train. The Zilker Zephyr. We tried out Barton Springs pool afterwards... Seth thought it was a little too cold.

One of the highlights of the children's museum were the drums, always a favorite for Seth. Katelin liked dressing up (as usual) even though they didn't have any princess gowns.



Sunday, July 26, 2009

A Few Recommendations

When I received this book as a wedding present, I thought it ws a crazy wedding gift; actually, it has been one of the best wedding gifts we received. It contains solid, scientific, behavioral advice and principles you can apply in any situation. Understanding the principles is very easy, but practicing and applying them, for me at least, is quite a struggle. I am constantly pulling this book off the shelf. And, if you want a sneak peak, you can access the book in its entirety online here. I highly recommend reading chapters two and three as a starting point.



Some of my favorite toys come from a little company called Melissa & Doug. This is the pattern blocks and boards I've been eyeing for Katelin. If I could justify it, I would spoil my children rotten with Melissa & Doug's classic high quality toys.


Lately, I've become quite a fan of Shannon Hale's young adult novels (thanks to recommendations from Lonna and Jenette). I love when a book offers an imperfect, yet worthwhile heroine. In my former life, I would have definitely recommended these books to my eighth-graders. Today, I'll recommend it to my blogger-friends. They are quick fun books to read.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Airport Reunion

Katelin greets Trevor at the airport.

This is what happens AFTER Mom and the kids return from their visits with Grandmas and Grandpas and Dad returns from his two-week tour of China. It was a sweet day at Austin-Bergstrom.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Three Simple Things

Katelin gets some exercise. I wanna be like her.

My goal is to do these three things every day -
  1. Read at least one verse of scripture.
  2. Get moving. Twenty minutes of exercise.
  3. Organize one shelf, one box, or one closet.
Notice my emphasis is on consistency, not quantity. Getting started is my challenge, but if I just do that little bit I keep the habit.

Today I've already danced to the Yoga Booty Booty Ballet Hip-Hop video (thanks for lending it mom) and read a conference talk and scripture this morning. Now I just have to dig into the book closet. That could be scary... but worth it... I hope.

Monday, May 11, 2009

One Dollar's Worth of Fun



Mother's Day Kite Flying

My Mother's Day brought a sick Katelin, or at least a recovering Katelin so we spent the day at home, while Trevor headed off to church, where he would be speaking on what a wonderful mother I am... or something like that. I was particularly disappointed to miss his talk and what would have been Katelin's debut with the Primary children singing "Mother I Love You." So sad.

Nevertheless, in the evening we hit the park with some heavy duty kite-flying -the highlight of my Mother's Day. I just can't help but love watching something soaring so high. Oh to be a kite...

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Burning Questions



  1. How did this child (the bald one) "fix" my computer screen so that to read it you have to turn your head sideways?

  2. How does one who doesn't have much interest in scrapbooking still keep a few sentimental  items (besides pictures) and such for posterity's sake?

  3. How would one go about getting rid of fruit flies?

  4. Should I donate or trash my graco carseat, expiration December of 2011, but it has now been used for the first year of life for both of my children? Is it still safe?

  5. What should we have for dinner tonight??
If you have answers to these or any other questions, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Fashion Sense

Black ballerina dress - (free from cousin Addie), pink tutu (Walmart -$10), white gloves (mmmm? Not sure), pink princess shoes (Walmart $3), Princess backpack (c/o Grandma Budge)

White summer hat (c/o Aunt Julie), heart swimming suit (c/o Cousin Addie), pink tutu (used to be Mom's) Purple top (gift from Trevor's co-worker in India)

A friend of mine used to joke with me that you knew you had given up on life when you started wearing sweats to go grocery shopping. I haven't resorted to that yet (after all, why would you wear sweats, when you can wear yoga pants), but after two years of pregnancy, breastfeeding, and basically putting of any major clothing shopping, things in my closet were starting to look kind of shabby (and definitely not shabby chic).

So, with spring in full bloom, I decided it was time to replenish, my dwindling wardrobe. I am by no means a fashion expert, but I can't explain how much better I feel about myself when I have a fresh t-shirt and a new pair of flip-flops. It's the little things right?

I used to spend a good chunk of my hard-earned teaching money on clothing and on looking professional. I started teaching when I was 22, and I felt I had to dress up so that I wouldn't look like a high-school student sneaking over to the junior high school (as a student-teacher at Sky View High School I had been sent "back to class" by one unknowing teacher). When I quit teaching, I slowly sorted through the dress pants, the skirts, the collared shirts blouses and after four years as a stay-at-home Mom, I have given all but a few pieces away. The bulk of my wardrobe now consists of jeans, shorts and t-shirts.

I like the casual dress-code of motherhood. It is fitting to dress down for diaper changing, training toddlers to self-feed, and playing at the park. But there is something about putting on a skirt, a bracelet, and a fresh coat of lip-gloss once in a while. Just because I'm casual, doesn't mean that I have to wear sweats.


Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Missing You!

My former self - Taken sometime in 2004

Sometimes I feel homesick. Not for family or mountains or snow (though I do miss them all at times), but homesick for my former self, the person I was before I was Mom. You know, that gal who taught school, read books, joined writing classes, played the piano, went hiking, and took up mountain biking, and sometimes had the time to just sit and think. It's not that she is gone, but she is busy at the moment, and so some of the things that used to completely define her sit on hold, waiting for the time when they will be useful again.


Here is a list of a few things I miss about her life:


  1. Spending hours working on a school project or teaching unit - developing it, studying it, planning it

  2. Reading poetry (here is a good one, because poetry is short enough that if I think about it I can still fit it in).

  3. Voice lessons - I'm not a solo singer, but I took voice lessons from a crazy kid in college named Nicholas who had hips like a girl. His voice often drowned mine and it was hard to learn when you mostly listened to someone else during lessons. Still, I had fun trying.

  4. Playing George Gershwin. Okay, I haven't played much George Gershwin, but I always wanted to sit down and dedicate myself to learning some of my favorites from him. I took piano lessons from a woman named Chiyo Honma who was much more interested in classical music than in Gershwin.

  5. Dancing. I specifically remember walking home from a ballroom dance class when I was in college and feeling soooo good. Something about music and moving just brings a lot of joy. Of course, our dancing sessions in the living room are equally rewarding.

The funny thing is that all of those things could probably be incorporated into my life as a mother if I made it happen, but then the today-self has a lot of new interests, and I'm short on free time, so it's a matter of priorities. Besides, I'm pretty sure George Gershwin and his music will still be around in a few years when my children are a bit more independent. And I plan on living a long time.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Library Day

We picked this book up at library day today, after a recommendation from Ms. Celia who is much more interesting during baby story time than she is during preschool story time, in case you were wondering.

Anyway, after doing quite a bit of clapping and singing, picking out a few books, offering my perpetual donation (a.k.a. fine) to the library, and picking up my reserve items, we were back at home to read all about The Napping House.

I've been meaning to try to quit reading annoying books to Katelin, and this one, which definitely is NOT annoying, might help me in that task. It is a bit reminiscent of the story - This is the House that Jack Built, and it in no way makes me feel like burning it (which is an urge I usually have to fight after reading any adaption of a Disney Princess movie).

On a side note, I really wish I lived in a napping house, but I don't want to live in this napping house because a flea is involved here. I like napping, but I really, really, really hate fleas.

Back to the story - after reading The Napping House, and ALL of the other library book to the kids, we enjoyed a few minutes of quiet reading. By quiet, I don't mean quiet at all, as Katelin interrupted me about 17 times in that fifteen minutes and I only made it to page three or so of Teaching Montessori In the Home: The Preschool Years (which is, by the way, very interesting - a whole new discussion).

Then Seth went down for his nap (okay we do have a little napping at our house), and Katelin & I headed outside to absorb some much needed vitamin D. Several circles on the tricycle, a long chat with Tracy, a short game of hide-and-seek with Mia and Belle (our cute 8-year-old twin neighbors), some lounging on the blanket with Seth (after he woke up), and several more attempts to read MY book later -- we tromped back to the house.

Overall, a pretty good day.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

I Love My Life!!

Life is pretty good.

These pictures, taken a few weeks ago when we biked to Trailhead park, really show how I am feeling about life and my family. I really love my life, my kids, my husband.


Nothing like sitting in a tunnel upside down, right?


One more kiss for good measure.

Trevor's lifelong quest: feed the kids just one more bite.


My constant sidekick.

The joy of the swing.


Flying high.


They're happy here, but wait until Seth gets his helmet. Yikes.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Dejunking


This is not really my junk drawer. I'm currently unable to download photos to my computer; gotta buy a new cord so I stole this shot from some lady - (here). I don't really have a junk drawer, because I only have a few drawers available in my house. Instead, I have a shoe organizer hanging inside of my closet which serves the same purpose as a junk drawer, only it looks worse and holds more junk.


You may be wondering why, after my declaration on spending my time and talents on the "Best" stuff, I have come back to my blog so frequently over the last week. I will tell you: I have determined that blogging, more specifically writing, is important to me.

I am still working on dejunking my life. I reiterate, it is much easier to dejunk your junk drawer than to pull out and look over all pieces of your life. I've been struggling to pull it all out - feeding the kids, grocery shopping, working on Young Women -- these things are all going back in the drawer. Aimlessly searching and reading the internet, talking on the phone when my kids need attention, volunteering for something that makes my life too crazy. This stuff can go to goodwill for someone else to pick up, or else maybe to the trash. Then there is the maybe pile - selling modbe, organizing my cupboards, going to storytime with Katelin. I just don't know how these fit into my life. First, I've got to take care of the important stuff. Stick to the basics. Then we'll see.

The best thing I've done with all of this is to rediscover and re-emphasize the items that were sort of buried before. Playing with my kids - on purpose. Talking to Trevor about something besides diapers and potty training. Writing. Exercise. Reflecting.

It isn't easy to make each day, each moment matter and seem important, and it is so easy to let junk seep into your life. But it seems, as I'm working at this day by day, it gets easier and I'm finding the things that really matter to me giving me purpose and happiness.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Searching for Balance

This morning while I attempted tree pose with Seth pulling on one leg, and Katelin hammering me with questions about her Lucky Charm marshmellows, I wondered if Rodney Yee had this in mind when he designed this little workout video. Probably not, but thinking about what I must look attempting yoga with both kids crawling all over me did make me laugh out loud.

This I do know - finding your "center" both in yoga and figuratively of course, is much, much, much more challenging when you add kids to the mix. Still, I think it's worth trying.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Choosing The Good Part.

Getting outside with the kids always fits into the BEST category.
Excuse my absence over the past, ummmmm.... month. My goal for 2009 is to choose not just the good, not just the better, only the best when it comes to the way I spend my time and talents (See Elder Oaks talk here for more info). Until this morning, blogging just didn't make it to the best category. I see room for blogging in my life soon, but right now I am trying to work on weeding out some of the less than best things that are cluttering up my life (figuratively). Dejunking your life is even more challenging than dejunking your junk drawer so I might be a bit sparse for a few weeks. I hope you all can survive until I become a bit more consistent...

Sunday, December 21, 2008

How to be a good parent - Part 2

Just say "good job," when your three year old runs to tell you that

1) she has just gone "peeps" all by herself and

2) that her baby brother is now playing in the unflushed toilet.

Then clean the bathroom while you give your kids a bath.

Disclaimer: This one time event resulted in what I consider to be good parenting behavior. In no way to these type of events always result in such behavior.



Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Wanting



I'd like to believe that material things don't matter much to me -that all I need is the basic simplicities of life to be happy. But lately, I keep imagining the happiness that would fill my life if I were to wake up each morning and eat a bowl of cereal from a fiestaware cereal bowl. I could choose tangerine or shamrock or sunflower depending on my mood, and I am pretty sure the entire day would be better.

I would use the lunch dishes to teach basic colors -- "Seth, what color is your bowl?" -- and numbers -- "Katelin, how many blue plates are on the table?" And instead of tossing a few plastic dishes on the table at dinner time, I would carefully set a new palette of dishes each night. It would be simple. It would be beautiful. I would be happy. Don't you think??

Monday, December 1, 2008

Today...

Sethie's Purple Swollen Teeth - taken just over a week ago

  • Today Trevor woke up just 20 minutes before he was supposed to be at the dentist.
  • After Trevor left I realized that we forgot to pull out the carseat so that Katelin could get a ride to preschool with a friend.
  • Today Sethie's second upper front tooth finally made an appearance.
  • Today I felt like I had accomplished nothing during the 2.5 hours Katelin was at preschool.
  • Today I looked at the mold growing the cracks of my tile in the bathroom and simply COULDN'T take it anymore.
  • Today Katelin & I fixed the wooden letters that make her name and re-hung them in her bedroom.
  • Today Katelin "spelled" silly words on my back while she procrastinated going down for quiet time.
  • Today the phone lines went down and we couldn't make or receive any phone calls any phone calls.
  • Today my kids managed to make three big messes in less than two hours.
  • Today I spent what felt like the ENTIRE afternoon cleaning the bathrooms while my kids destroyed the rest of the house.
  • Today Trevor rescued me by helping at least straighten up the rest of the house and suggesting Rudy's instead of a home-cooked meal
  • Today Seth and I bonded with a few grins and laughs during dinner
  • Today we caught up with an old friend while the AT&T repairman fixed our phones and our internet line (I hope).
  • Today it is late. I am tired. I will probably wake up with Seth three times between now and six in the morning, but today, life is good.


Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Creating

I can't say enough how much I loved President Uchtdorf's talk in General Relief Society Meeting (you can find it here) and the emphasis he placed on finding happiness through creating and compassion. So here are a few of the creations from my house that are bringing a little joy to my heart.I've been wanting to make whole wheat pizza (loaded with veggies) for a while now. It felt so good to do it, though it still needs a few improvements.
A few preschool supplies. Prepping for 6 preschoolers is surprisingly fun and flashes me back to my teaching days. There isn't a lot of difference between preschoolers and adolescents.

Katelin's hay "H" was a nice creation, but the big deal was her name written on the bottom of the page! She can write it if I tell her the letters.

I love Katelin's mini-buns! It's a succes when she lets you comb her hair. I love Seth's do too!
Trev created the perfect spot for cuddling and vegging!

More vegging and snuggling.

Seth just does a great job of creating smiles and laughter.
Life is so sweet (especially when you remember the good moments).