New Year's Resolutions

Normally, I'm not a resolution type of person because I find that I make resolutions almost every month - not just when the calendar switches to a new year. But this year I feel rather compelled to make a few resolutions that I would like to see happen by this time next year. Since I have this great blog - I actually can go back and check periodically on how well I am doing on my resolutions. So here they are, in no particular order:

1. Get everyone in our family passports. Sadly, the only countries we have all been to is Canada and Mexico and even now - you can't visit those w/o a passport. Since visiting the Canadiain rockies is one of my favorites - time to get those passports.
2. Make a revocable living trust for our estate for our children. If you are fan of financial expert Suze Orman - you'll know what I'm talking about. A trust is different and BETTER than a will. Basically setting up a trust ensures that the trustee will have the legal authority to distribute assets immediately to the beneficiaries based on the terms of the trust. No court is involved. No public notice of death is required as it is with a will. All that is required is a death certificate and a trust document that describes how things are to be distributed through the trust. Because a trust bypasses the court system, or probate, there are no fees, and there is no public record of the value of your estate, protecting your privacy.
3. Volunteer at least once a week at the kids' school.
4. Have one day a week where we are "unplugged". I tried this one day over the break and it actually worked out much better than I expected.
5. Find a cleaning lady and a weekly babysitter. I had both of these luxuries in Seattle and I'm sorely missing them here.
6. Get both bathrooms retiled.
7. Take the kids to DisneyWorld.
8. Sneak away with Jeremy at least four times this year (once every three months). He has expressed an interest in doing this, but this year, especially with a new baby, I'm going to try my dardnest to pull it off. Maybe I should shoot for two times this year and then next year shoot for four. Yeah, that's what I'll do.
9. And last but not least - lose the baby weight. That won't come into play until April, but I'm already planning for it.

Recap on Christmas Week '07

Well, the weight loss commercials have already started, so I guess it is time to say goodbye to the holiday season and hello to the new year. But first, let me offer you a quick recap on our holiday week.

We decided to spend Day 1 of Christmas break making Christmas cookies.

This worked out fine, until Blake decided he really liked playing in the flour because "it is so pillow soft". Now, as a control freak mom on the messes, this was really huge of me to let it all go and just let him play in it.

The boys did a lot of laying around and relaxing over the weekend. Jeremy finished the Golden Compass.

Many pillow forts were built and defended.

Many many many messes everywhere, everyday. This is Day 4 of vacation and I'm starting to go a little stir-crazy at this point.

My day brightened considerably when I went to Home Depot and purchased my Christmas present from my mom and poppy - a new fan for the family room!

We had a visit from Jeremy's brother, James, and his wife, Michelle and they brought their child with them - a loveable Rottweiler named Rudy. Chili was in dog heaven having a playmate. She also went into deep depression for a few days after Rudy left.

Christmas Eve 2007

Aren't my boys handsome?

Jeremy told me that he would be working late, so the Jackson side of the family (my dad's side of the family that lives in Salem, OR) came to the rescue and hosted a small Christmas Eve celebration so at least we had somewhere to go until Jer got off work.

Christmas Eve Night, after we got home from my aunt and uncle's house, Jer and I looked at each other's tired faces and decided to forgo the very crowded Christmas Eve service at our church (see, once again, I changed my plans). We decided to stay home inside and at the last minute, I turned on a movie called "The Nativity Story". It was perfect! If you haven't seen this movie, I highly highly recommend it for your holiday playing list next Christmas. It was a little slow and complex for Blake, but Jackson sat through the whole thing and totally understood the meaning and significance of Jesus' birth and all of the events surrounding it. Truly, I could not have asked for a better gift from God to see Jackson embrace the Christmas Story - which really - is the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas Morning 2007


Christmas morning was fun, easy, relaxed, and we had a great time. These boys - what can I say - they are lucky boys! They got everything they wanted plus some. Blake asked me on Christmas Eve if it would be okay if Santa came to visit, and I told him that if he wanted Santa would be more than happy to make a stop at our house for Blake. See, I'm not that cold-hearted if my kid wants to believe in the fairy tale.

My favorite present was my new nano Ipod, which I also got a some sporty and "luxury" new earbuds for exercising with my Ipod and a new fancy speaker system (refer to my post earlier this month on speaker systems). Jackson got an Ipod and a Ihome boombox. Lucky us!

Chili was just so tired, she lounged around the whole day. So much activity in one week!
At the end of a very long day, this is what we found on the couch at around 8pm. Blake fell asleep with spaghetti noodles clutched in his tight fists. Go figure.

Overall, my hopes and expectations for a quiet and meaningful Christmas were completely met. I feel so grateful for my family - my boys and husband - and all of our extended family as well. After this crazy and eventful year, I saw how we all banded together to not only survive the events, but to grow closer as a family. Moving to Salem was not my first choice of places, but when we asked God to move us to where He wanted us to go - I can now see how His hand was in everything. Our house in Salem is perfect for our family (as is our mortgage payment - much lower than in Seattle), the kids are happy and thriving here, and Jeremy's job is so much less stressful and he is home a lot more now. I also gave myself a break when we moved here and I no longer feel a need to please everyone. I always felt conflicted about having a career vs. being a mom, but this move taught me, that for the time being, my investment is in my family and I am 100% content with nuturing them and providing for them. We decided to add to our family after we had previously made the decision to stop having children, and fertility issues added another dimension of stress to getting pregnant. Luckily, our new baby is almost here and I feel honored that God would allow another boy to join our family. Another lesson I think God was trying to teach me this year was how much of a role that my attitude plays in the outcomes of life's situations. I really tried to remain positive, give people the benefit of the doubt, strive to become a conflict resolver (this was my Bible study topic this fall), and model problem solving and good attitude to my children. I can't say I've arrived at the resolution, but I definately feel a difference in myself.

As I was putting away the Christmas decorations today (yes, I take them down ASAP), I was daydreaming about how much my life has changed since the last time I brought out these decorations and when I bring them out next year, how much more different my life will be.

Here's to a New Year!! I hope your year was as blessed as mine.

Accidental Traditions

I read this article the other day on accidental traditions (things that happen every holiday but you don't mean for them to happen) and it got me thinking. After some careful observations this past week, I've come up with a few of my own accidental traditions.

• Every year I will scowl and silently curse the stores (esp. Costco) for putting up the Christmas decorations with the Halloween decorations -but then, I will probably buy some in November.
• Every year I will whine and nag my husband to get the Christmas boxes of decorations down - and then being the independent woman that I am, I'll think, "I really should put these where I can just get to them" - but then, I don't and the cycle repeats itself every year.
• Every year I kind of scowl at people who put lights on their houses at Christmas - it's all a part of my humbug-ness, but I kind of don't get lights on houses at Christmas. I just feel like it is a waste of energy.
• Every year, I feel silently mad that my husband won't decorate the tree - or the house - with me. But then after that first fleeting thought I'll remind myself that in the ten years we've been married, he's never been into decorating and it really is a woman thing, so get over it.
• Every year our shopping is done by Dec. 1st - but we ALWAYS spend at least another $100 or so adding gifts in at the last minute.
• Every year, one of my kids will get a broncithis or asthma episode in December that will sufficiently freak me out for the rest of the winter season every time one of them coughs again.
• Every year I'll change our Christmas Eve plans at least ten times - up to the last hour before they are set to begin. I always try to avoid this and plan, but I always change my mind about where I want to go and what i want to do and what time I want to do it at.
• Every year, I'll spend at least thirty minutes remembering the Christmas traditions I grew up with - namely Christmas Eve at my Grandma's house - and then the actual day and all the rituals we had with my grandparents and then when my cousins would come over and we would compare and show off our gifts. Every year, I always wish my kids had some cousins to make holiday memories with.
• Every year, on Christmas Day, I will be so exhausted and tired that I don't want to go ANYWHERE - but we always have to be somewhere. I always forget this. So this year, we have absolutely NO PLANS on the actual day and I'm really happy about this.
• And finally - to end on a positive note - every year my kids will do something regarding holiday traditions that pleasantly surprises me and my love for them is absolutely recharged and I feel like I'm doing good things in their lives. This year, it was when they wanted to watch Christmas movies on the couch with me and snuggle up in blankets and they were so sweet about it.

Please put on pants

Did your parents put "THE CURSE" on you? Meaning, at some point in their frustration with you as a child they said, "I hope you have a child who acts just like you!"

Well Blake, my second, has been complete and total payback for anything I EVER did to my parents and I'm sure what Jeremy did to his.

For instance, let's take this past week at his preschool. I walked into his holiday party to volunteer and the assistant teacher found me within the first few minutes and said, "did you see Blake's angel?"

"No," I said, "I didn't yet."

She brings it over to me and holds it up without a word waiting for my reaction.

I said, "Wow - that's great. He made a project." (which he usually doesn't do).

Then I take a little closer look and I see that he has drawn...um......certain male body parts on his angel. And if you turn it around, little butt cheeks on the back.

I literally died.

Also, I tried to play very casual and cool and blew it off - "Oh ha ha, can you guess what we've been talking about in our house?" I swear preschool teachers and babysitters get all the good dirt about what is happening in their familys' homes.

So when we came home, I couldn't take it any longer - I drew shorts on the angel, had a serious talk about appropriate venues for correct male/female anatomy, and said a silent prayer that my child won't be the one to draw penis parts on textbooks in the future.

Can you say PAYBACK Mom?

AmyT - email me!

Hey Amy!!
I'm so glad you commented a while ago - I just emailed you and I don't have a current address for you. Would you mind emailing me? I would love to catch up!

shannandesh@msn.com

Right there with ya - J-Lo

I read this today on the MSN homepage.



"Jennifer Lopez might be thrilled that she’s pregnant, but according to some sources she’s “freaked out” over gaining weight.
“She is huge and freaking out. Her face has become really puffy from retaining a lot of water,” a source told international press.
The weight gain is enough to prompt Lopez to put her career on hold until her little one makes an appearance.



She plans to do a Victoria Beckham now and hibernate for the last few months. You won’t be seeing much of her in public from now on.” After a months-long bump watch, Lopez announced her pregnancy in November. She’s due in the spring. Lopez’s rep weighs in saying, “This is ridiculous and untrue. She is happy and healthy.”





I think I may also pull a Victoria Beckham and hibernate these last two months. Oh wait, I'm a member of the real world. I can't.

May I just say this - I've been pregnant in my early 20's, my mid-20's, my late 20's and my early 30's. Even though my first pregnancy was a lot more high risk, this current pregnancy is far more strenuous, taxing, and I'm just plain fat tired all the time! there is something to be said to bearing children when you are young. You can handle it.

Our early vacation week Recap in SLC

Since I'm one for marching to your own drummer, I decided to take an "early" Winter break. We decided to fly down to Utah to visit my mom and poppy for a fresh dose of a Utah Christmas. Salt Lake City is my hometown and I have not lived there for close to 14 years, but I'm here to say, that there is NOTHING like SLC at Christmastime to get you in the spirit. This year, we were lucky enough to have 6-8 inches of snow dump on the valley to complete our holiday fantasy.

Flying on the Skywest airlines into SLC. They just started service from Salem airport (which is a cool 5 minute drive from my house) to SLC direct. It a small jet that feels like a corporate paradise. I L-O-V-E this flight. We made it in about 1 hour before the first snowflake fell.

Hey, had to add to the experience of snow. Jackson shoveled for hours!
Then, some backyard playing time with my mom's dog Mitzi, or the Black Guy as Abbey calls her. Seriously, being from the Northwest, we never get this kind of snow!!

Nana and Poppy took the boys sledding - something they have NEVER done. And they absolutely loved it.

How cool are these grandparents going zooming down the hill with their grandchildren?? You can't beat that smile!

Blake had no problems going by himself down the hill on the "little disk".

Went to cousin Heather's for gingerbread decorating, food, family, and FUN. You guys have donw a great job with your house and it was sooooo fun to see everyone. Thanks! (that little Abbey has her picture-smile down to a science - every picture is flawless)

My mom and I got a chance to sneak away downtown one night to eat at the New Yorker and see a Kurt Bestor concert - kind of like a BYU Manaheim Steamroller concert - only it features AMAZING Utah artists and in in Symphony Hall. My favorite was Sam, the fiddle player.

We then took the whole family on Trax (SLC's commuter rail) downtown to see the lights. Notice the guy behind Jackson - Blake said, "That guy must be really naughty, he's growing horns on his head". I love that SL has some flavor to it.

Temple Square was beautiful, but cold cold cold. I also could not help but wonder if they are using LED lights now or what the electric bill is. That's how my mind works.

My mom set aside a small tree just for Blake to decorate. He loved it.

THANKS FOR A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY AT HOME MOM!!

Gotta have those Wiiiiiiiiis

This Nintendo video game system has caused many a family of woes this holiday season - including mine. But in a different way. Here let me share.

Wiis are all the rage right now. And thanks to brillant Nintendo marketing stategy, the supply of these in-demand items is short - and in our consumer driven economy this means BIG BUCKS for the retailers and people who just happen to have these in stock. Our family personally experienced this phenomena last holiday season when Jeremy decided his family just "had to have it" and we ended up buying a brand new system out of someone's trunk in a Barnes and Noble parking lot (not one of my proudest days). I have since sold our family's Wii system on Ebay since my kids don't really play it.

But that's not the point of the story. Here it is. My husband works for Costco in upper level management in the Salem warehouse. Up until yesterday, his warehouse did not have a policy for purchasing electronic goods in bulk - namely, if you had the cash, you could buy as many electronics as you wanted. Which meant, if you happen to walk into Costco and they just received a shipment of Wiis, you, the member, were allowed to purchase as many Wiis as you wanted. Which is what happened last week when his Costco received about 2 pallets of Wii (about 50 Wiis) and within 5 MINUTES they were all gone because about 5 people walked in and bought 5-10 Wiis each. Now, if you know my husband, he is one of the most rule-conscious, fair, and benevolent people around - so this made him really mad. He knows that many people have been callling into Costco asking when the shipments are coming in and if they can reserve them, etc and Jer has to tell them that it is first-come, first-serve. It made him even more mad when a mom came in and begged and pleaded for him to tell her when the next shipment is coming. He kind of took pity on her and when they received the next shipment, he called her and she showed up with 2 of her friends and they each bought 5 Wiis (that's 15 Wiis if you do the math). This made Jer angry because he thought he was helping a mom get something for her kids now he was taken a little advantage of. So because of people getting a little too greedy - Salem Costco has now instituted a policy of 1-per-customer. I happened to go into his Costco last night (because Friday night shopping, one hour before closing is when Costco looks like a ghost town) and they had just received 3 pallets of Wiis. And my funny, sweet, and fair husband stood guard over those Wiis the entire time they were out on the floor to make sure that EVERYONE has a fair chance of getting their ONE Wii for Christmas. Human nature is so funny.

So if you're wondering why you can't get a Wii this season, it's because the lucky few that get there first will buy them all up. People - come on - share the love this season.

Starting Young

My youngest boy, Blake (almost 5) told me today that he wanted to learn how to "cook everything in the world". I secretly think that there are 2 things a mom must absolutely teach her boys how to do (and don't worry, not one of those things is shopping). Every boy should leave his house knowing how to cook (at least at beginner level) and clean (including his own clothes).

So I told Blake we could start with spaghetti. I would coach him, but he would do it all. Please scroll down this picture scrapbook to see the results yourself.

First you brown the meat (we use ground turkey)

Then you get the water ready for the spaghetti noodles.
Watch the water to make sure it boils (it always boils really fast if you watch it)

Okay, put a lid on the water, and continue to stir your meat to make sure it cooks evenly.

Meat is done - drain it!!

Shake up the meat and get a steam facial while doing it.

Pour meat back into same pot to make sauce.

Grab a ziploc bag of Mom's homemade marinara sauce and pour it into the meat.

Okay, water is ready. Time to put in the noodles. Fun to eat a few uncooked pieces while you do it.

Making dinner is so much fun that brother wants in on the action. Shoo him away while stirring the noodles in the boiling water.

Drain noodles - notice brother is right there looking over your shoulder.

Fine, brother, if you must help, you can pour the steaming hot noodles back into the pot.

Taste sauce to see if it is ready. I know people get eliminated from Top Chef if they stick utensils in the food and taste test, but we're a very unprofessional kitchen here.

Yep, it's ready.
The person who doesn't make dinner has to set the table.

Serve 'em up. (that's Mom's hand serving - she controls portion sizes around here)

PERFECT!!!

Ra Bum Bum Bum and Fah Ra Ra Ra RA

Everyone in my family has a favorite Christmas song. I start playing them around Thanksgiving so we have lots of time to select them. This past week, Blake officially made his favorite choice. It's The Little Drummer Boy - except in Blake's version the chorus is "Come they told me, Ra Bum Bum Bum Bummmy Bum". Leave it to my little "angel" to change something special to pottyish.

Jackson's favorite is what we call "Fah la la la la", so I have to think for a minute what it is. Oh, okay, I just remembered - Deck the Halls. I like to imitate funny scenes from "A Christmas Story" so I often sing over the chorus and say, "Fah Ra Ra Ra Ra, Ra...Ra...Ra... Rahhhhh".

My favorite is the song "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" because I figure good PMA (positive mental attitude) = good Christmas memories. My second fav song is "Grownup Christmas List".

Jeremy will not commit to any favorite anythings because he is a Scrooge. I do know that he enjoys when South Park makes fun of anything holiday-like.

Quick Update for the folks from afar

12 weeks left folks! 12 weeks. I remember when I was just passing being 12 weeks pregnant and look at me now. Update - went to my fabulous Silverton midwife and we discussed how big I am getting. Okay, she was mostly assuring me that I'm really not that big while I tried to woman-trick her into saying that I've surpassed the alloted amount of bigness for someone my size. But unfortunately for me, she understands and I seem to not be able to understand that because I am 5'4" and have about 2 inches from the bottom of my ribs to my hips that the only place for this big baby to go is straight out. Overall, everything else is good. Blood pressure good, weight gain good, diabetes test good, rhogam shot delivered.

Because of the fact that I'm coming to grips that this baby really is coming sooner rather than later, I am gathering as much baby stuff as I am able to. You see, I wasn't really supposed to have this baby. Meaning...my husband and I were "done" and I gave everything away - cribs, bassinets, carseats, clothes, toys, blankets, bottles - everything. So now, I get to employ my great skills of beg, borrowing, and stealing baby goods (okay, not steal, but buy). And may I just say that since I had my last baby five years ago - wow - have things changed already!! So many new baby items have come on the market. I called a good friend in Seattle who is in about ten baby playgroups and I wanted to ask her what is absolute must-have and what isn't. We discussed and broke down all baby products and I came away with two must have baby items- an Ergo baby sling??? and a McClaren Quest stroller. I also feel quite fortunate that another one of my good friends from Seattle is "done" with kids and has offered to sell me at a greatly reduced best friend discounted rate all her baby goods - namely crib, carseat, baby equip, Bijorn, clothes, etc.

I'm craving a good chilly winter day complete with snow, so the boys and I are heading out to Utah tomorrow to visit Nana and Poppy. I hear there is snow, so the boys should be more than adequately entertained. As I've always said, when you have boys all you need is water (liquid form in summer, frozen form in winter) and you have instant entertainment. We're also packing our days with lots of memory making events that help form my idea of Christmas time in Utah. I can't wait.

We are needing to upgrade to a family of five car and I assigned Jeremy the task of trading in my station wagon and getting me a new Toyota minivan while I am gone. Think he'll do it?? Well I'm one to reach for the stars and I figure if I plant the seed now, I'll be getting that van just in time for the baby's arrival.

So off I go - signing off......

Waitress

This is called "Baby lodged Up in My Ribs" pie.

It has raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries.

It is very tasty.

I was considering making "Naughty Pumpkin" pie, but Jer has to work late tonight.

If you don't know what the heck I'm talking about here

Rent Waitress.

It's good.

Slimming Down

I'm really proud of myself because I'm slimming down.

close your mouths folks because it's not what you think. I'm slimming down my TV watching schedule. I didn't realize it, but somehow, over the past year, my TV is insanely huge! A lot of it started when Jer started his horrible overnight/graveyard shift two years ago and I was alone at night - What else is there to do after you put the kids to bed? Also, I have been in college for the last three years. Too tired to seriously read anything fun. Then, about a year ago, we got the DVR (cable's version of TiVo). This is a blessing and a curse. You can't organize your TV viewing a lot better AND you don't have to watch commercials, but I'm here to tell ya, you watch a lot of TV when it is recorded!

Last week, I looked at my DVR schedule with a critical eye and I eliminated 1/2 of the shows I record. Most of it was daytime TV that frankly, I don't really need to watch anyway. With Rosie off The View, that's boring. Ellen and Oprah - strictly case by case basis now. All of my favorite HGTV shows like "What's my House Worth?" "Spice Up my Kitchen" "House Hunters" "Design ReMix" and "Designed to Sell" - these can go because all they make me want to do is tear apart my house and redo it.

This is what I'm down to:
Amazing Race
Brothers and Sisters
Heroes (although that ends tonight, Boo-Hoo)
Journeyman
Real Housewives of Orange County (hold your judgments)
Project Runway
30 rock
Grey's Anatomy
Run's House
Tim Gunn's guide to Style
America's next top Model
Little People, Big World

Of course, I'll throw in the occasional Kids by the Dozen, Jon and Kate plus 8, HGTV shows (esp. Saturday night), but for now, that list is plenty!! I'm now up to finishing 1 1/2 books a week now that I cut out daytime TV and stupid shows. Judge Away at my TV viewing, but I save a fortune on DVD rentals - that's for sure!

I'm one of those people

**!!WARNING! HIGH ALERT ON SPOILING LITTLE CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS' FANTASIES - DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE UNDER 10 YEARS OLD.!!**

Santa doesn't come to our house on Christmas. Not that our family doesn't celebrate Christmas, but Santa doesn't really exist - if you catch my drift. I made this decision when my oldest was a baby - I just felt so guilty about lying to him about this character. (Keep in mind that I have no problem inventing monsters that live in the garage so they won't wander in there unaccompanied). And since my oldest was very technical and unimaginative, it didn't really bother him that Santa didn't come. We filled in any holes in his heart that it was a huge celebration for Jesus and for families to celebrate Jesus. Fine, no problems here.

Anyhow, fast forward to second child being born. He is full of cartoon characters and fiction stories and even though he came into a world with no Santa, he promptly decided that even if the rest of his family doesn't believe in Santa, then he, by gums, would believe in Santa.

All of this no-Santa business bothers my mother. She can't comprehend why I would want to deny them this really "fun" part of childhood. Most of my friends wonder this as well. I can't explain it, I just think it is mean to lie to kids about this. I have no other explanation. And I'm not super-vigilant Nazi mom who says No Santa anything in this house. We have Santa decorations, we watch Santa movies, we giggle at Santa videos on America's funniest home videos. I just don't tell them that Santa is a real person who comes into our house on Christmas Eve.

My husband didn't grow up with Santa and he is one of the most well adjusted individuals on the planet, so I figure I'm not doing too much damage. Here's the kicker that I didn't anticipate years ago when we made this choice - teaching your kids NOT to announce to other children that Santa doesn't exist. This has been tough. But I kind of made my own bed on that one. I know my boys have been "those kids" who ruined the myth for children like your own and for that - I APOLOGIZE -

And by the way, Tooth Fairies, Bunnies, and any other magical people kind of pass by our house as well.