Field Trip: Wheeler Farm

I'm playing major blog-catch-up. Life got insane there for awhile. Good insane, though.

Our final preschool theme was on "animals" so we took the boys to Wheeler Farm:

They got to milk a jersery cow! See the woman sitting beside Andrew? She's smiling because when Andrew sat down, he got right to business and knew just what to do. They told him that he should take up dairy farming.

I can't get over how cute these boys are. It was so fun teaching them this year.

The brothers in their matching outfits. Note to self: Don't give Josh the phone when trying to take his picture.

The trip wouldn't have been complete without a hayride.

Awwwwwwww....

It's been a long time since I've seen a good romantic-comedy, so I just had to blog about it:

I know, it's probably been months since this has been out, but we wait until we can check it out from the library. If you haven't seen it, watch it-so cute!!

Rich Decadent Naughty Fudge Frosting

I made brownies with frosting for Enrichment and was asked for the recipe. This is actually my friend Lorena's recipe-the girl knows how to indulge.

Start with a box of Betty Crocker brownie mix. Don't bother trying another brand; Betty's got it down.

1 ½ c. granulated sugar
6 T milk
6 T margarine/butter
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Begin this recipe after your brownies are done. On medium-high heat, bring the sugar, milk & butter to a boil. Let boil for 30 seconds. Take off the burner and add the chocolate chips, stirring until you get a smooth consistency. Pour immediately onto the brownies.

How I Support My Habits

All of this for $12.33

I'm serious.

The Grocery Game is the best. I've been doing it for 6 weeks now. I'm saving some serious cash and it's fun!

In our neighborhood....

....there is always a friend nearby. We are so lucky to live here.

I'm Relishing

I love the word RELISH. Isn't it a great word? According to Mr. Webster it means to have enjoyment of or delight in something that satisfies one's tastes, inclinations, or desires. I've found great joy in being a mom these last few weeks because of an interesting point that Elder Ballard brought up last Conference:

"If a child lives with parents for 18 or 19 years, that span is only
one-fourth of a parent’s life. And the most formative time of all, the early
years in a child’s life, represents less than one-tenth of a parent’s normal
life."

My children are growing at an exponential rate. And although I think it's incredibly unfair, I'm relishing the love that my super-cuddler Josh gives me, watching Andrew get lost in his imaginary play, and sneaking into the boys' room several times each evening just to watch them snore.

Randy and I agree that Josh is at his peak cuteness. He's walking all over the place, just jibber-jabbing along in his own Ewok-like language. He's easy to smile and he can turn me into absolute mush when he giggles. He's really good at banging his head on something or falling down-my heart has stopped more times in the past 6 months with Josh than it ever did in the last 4 years with Andrew. He's added "car" to his repertoire, and he seems more interested in looking at the pictures when I read to him. He loves his Grandma-when she comes around, he wants nothing to do with me. He has this fake laugh/giggle that he does when he gets really excited about something or when he's getting into something he shouldn't be.


Andrew tells me that he doesn't want to grow up, that he just wants to stay little; but wakes up at night several times a week complaining that his feet hurt from growing pains. He's already in 5T pants-he's got his dad's monkey arms and legs. I love the way he smiles for the camera:

Here he is proudly displaying his farm animals that he colored from preschool. He loves coloring. His one red crayon has been wittled away into a tiny stub. If only they made red-only boxes of crayons. He can write his name all by himself and I think he's going to take after his dad's freakish number-crunching abilities.

The Kid Loves His Brother

I had a cute conversation with Andrew this morning. It went something like this:

Andrew: I want a baby to come.

Me: Oh? Do you want a brother or a sister?

Andrew: A brother.

Me: You want another brother? You don't want a sister?

Andrew: No, I don't like sisters.

Me: Oh. Okay.

Andrew: But we can't take Joshy back.

Me: Nope. We get to keep Joshy forever.

Flashback Friday: Joshua Bryant, Birth Day

The fertility gods were smiling upon us when we had Joshua. My due date landed smack-dab in between Randy's Pediatrics & Surgery rotations (both very busy). Randy had two weeks of Christmas break; there were no if's, and's, or but's about it-Josh needed to come then, and only then. My body was cooperating nicely and I tested positive for Group B Strep so an induction date was set for the first day of Randy's break (5 days early).

It was fun to telling people the exact date our child would come into the world. I felt like I was cheating somehow. We went to church on Sunday and then dropped Andrew off with Randy's parents that night. We got a good night's sleep and went to the hospital first thing the next morning. When we arrived at the hospital, a room was waiting for us and I was promptly started on Pitocin. What a difference from my first induction!! I was already dilated to 4 cm, and my labor was progressing a little too quickly for my nurse's comfort, so the Pitocin was turned off. We had to wait at least 4 hours for the antibiotics for the Group B Strep to do its thing. Then we had to wait for another 2 hours, I can't remember why now. I think my doctor was in surgery. Then my doctor came in to break my water and Joshers was born 3 hours later.

We still hadn't decided on a name when we came to the hospital. When I first found out I was pregnant, I wanted to name the baby Natalie if it was a girl and Matthew if it was a boy. Matthew was thrown out the window early on because it souned too much like Andrew and we didn't want to name our 3rd boy (if we had one) Bartholomew. Joshua came to me during the end of the pregnancy. Jared & Alexander came to Randy. So we took Joshua, Jared & Alexander with us to the hospital. My step-sister was pregnant with twin boys at the time and they were playing with the idea of naming one of their sons Alexander. I just couldn't do that to her-naming one boy was hard enough, I couldn't imagine trying to come up with two at the same time! (By the way, they ended up naming them Benjamin & Jackson) So, I really wanted Joshua and Randy really wanted Jared. We were dead-locked. We had to make a deal: We could name him Joshua, but if we have a 3rd son, we have to name him Alexander. I know, not a ton of logic with this one, but that was the deal and I got my way.

I was completely numb once again-that must be my lot in life when it comes to epidurals. But it took only 3 pushes and he was out! It was such an easy labor, and this was the result....

Doesn't he look like a Joshua?

His middle name is Bryant-named after Uncle Lewis Bryant

He had a perfectly round head. My doctor said he looked like a C-Section baby. I protected that perfectly round head at all costs (that statement will make more sense later).

Aparently, Randy likes to take pictures of our newly born children when they're screaming. And cold. Here he is in all his 8 lb. 3 oz & 21 inch glory. I grow them big. His cry was small and sweet-just like his brother.

Andrew looked like he was 18 compared to Josh. It was the strangest feeling for me. When he walked into my hospital room and saw me in bed, his eyes widened and he looked pretty freaked out. I'll never forget that look on his face. He ignored the baby and just played with us. Then he went back to Grandma's house for another day.

Here's Josh on his way home. I don't think they get any cuter than that.

Joshua was born 5 days before Christmas. The best Christmas present I could have ever asked for!

Help a Brother (or Sister) Out!

Where is my flashback friday, you ask? Well, I got sidetracked with the financial debacle we've gotten ourselves into over the past four years. You see, I know it sounds great that Randy is graduating with an M.D. degree, $$$Cha-ching$$$. Right?

WRONG!

He still has 4-6 years of specialty training where he will be paid meagerly. We were okay with that and we were comforted in the fact that we would thus qualify for a deferment on our monstrous student loans until after Randy's training. Deferment means that the subsidized portion of our loans will not incur interest during residency (for the average medical student, this is about $30,000 of interest during the residency period. Hefty stuff we're talking about here).

Well, thanks to the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (HR2669) that was signed into law effective October 2007, we will no longer qualify to defer our loans during residency. Under this new act, we make too much money and should be able to repay our loans during residency. For the average medical student, this means a payment of $1800/month! We still qualify for forbearance, which means the interest on our subsidized loans will not be suspended. Very generous of them, I know.

In the Fall of 2008, the Burr/Isakson Bill S.2303 will be voted on. This bill will reinstate the Economic Hardship "20/220 pathway" and will help out our fellow medical & dental residents.

The AMA has a web site to make it easy to send a message to your Senators and Representatives and voice your concern.

This affects all current & future medical & dental residents. Please tell your friends and family about this and please write to your representatives. Thank you!

For more info, go here: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/18025.html

April 2008 Conference Packet

My friend Ruth sent me this awesome Conference packet for our kiddos to do this weekend. Click here to view it on the FHE Lesson Swap blog.

Thanks Ruth!

Field Trip: Fire Station Tour

Our preschool class went to the fire station yesterday. The firemen were awesome and we had lots of fun!

Scheduling Conflicts

Randy is a fun-loving-goofy guy. He very rarely gets mad at anything. HOWEVER, you'd best stay out of his way when he's HUNGRY. I'm serious. He becomes this whole other person. I try to have dinner ready before he gets to that point, but you know, sometimes it just doesn't happen. After he eats, he returns to the fun-loving-goofy guy we all love.

Well, it seems that Joshua has inherited this trait from his dad. Every evening, he's impossible! He throws himself on the floor, he screams and he wails. In the past, I could usually appease him with a peanut butter sandwich or string cheese, but tonight, noooooo, he was having none of that. He wanted a warm meal on the table - NOW! And just like Dad, once dinner was served and he got a few bites down, he was all smiles again.

I'm thinking we need to move dinner time a little earlier...

The Power of Praise

I tried the Grocery Game today which turned out to be a small nightmare, but I learned something very powerful in the process.

As I was trying to find the sale items on my list (which were either out of stock or not actually on sale), my kids were losing their patience with me, and I with them. I was on the verge of breaking into "mean mom" mode. You know, when you're sentences are clipped, you use phrases like "QUITIT!" or "STOPIT!," you threaten to put them in time out, take away a privilege, or take their lives. My favorite phrase I use is "You're driving me crazy!!" I hate when I see other moms treating their children impatiently, but I find myself doing the same more than I'd like to admit.

But before I got to that point, a woman said to me, "You're doing a good job, you know. I've been watching you, and it's nice to see parenting done right. I know you don't think you're doing a good job, but you are."

She stopped me dead in my tracks. I wanted to be that good mother she thought I was. As we went to the next store, I found myself treating my kids with more paitence, and they actually did better!

I'm glad that woman took the time to give me a pat on the back.

Soccer, Revisited

Last year we put Andrew in little league soccer. It didn't go over too well. We lasted four LONG weeks, and decided to try again the next year.

And here's our soccer star today:

He loves practice time when the kids get to run and kick the ball aimlessly:

But when it comes to the actual game-playing time, he pretty much looks like this:

When he's called in to play, he'll go out there, but he's crying the entire time. I think the first game he played scared him when he ran into another player pretty hard.

Watching Pre-K little leaguers is quite entertaining. They've got their hands down their pants half the time and they each have crying bouts at least once during the game. One of his teammates carries her doll while playing. Another teammate forgot her shorts today, she just had her socks and jersey on. Pretty funny.

So far, we're undefeated. That might have something to do with player #8-the kid is amazing!

Go Green!!

Flashback Fridays: Back Next Week...

....I know, I'm such a slacker. But I have some good, embarassing stuff to share, so be sure to check back next Friday. My lovely, generous, fabulous friend next door scans my old pictures for me, and I just keep forgetting to ask her to scan my latest Flashbacks. Fridays are sneaky that way. One day it's Monday, and before you know it, it's Friday!

Growin' Up

Josh is 15 months and I am loving it!! I love babies, but I REALLY love the toddler stage. Josh took his first steps two Saturdays ago (a week shy of 15 mos.). We were watching Andrew's soccer game--I guess Josh didn't like the feel of the indoor grass field because he decided to skip the whole crawling thing and take the 5 steps toward his granola bar. He gets better and better everyday, although walking is mostly for recreation--he gets around much more efficiently on all fours.

A toddler toddling...melts my heart!! Here he is with cousin Ammie.

He's just too cute. This is why I get nothing done during the day.

Doesn't he look like Andrew? Andrew liked sitting in this basket as well.

He HAS to feed himself these days. Mealtime lasts an eternity and I need a Shop-Vac to clean up the remains.

Look Ma! No Hands! He's everybody's baby. He flirts with the ladies in Relief Society. He likes to say "whassaat?" He is adventurous and keeps me on my toes all day.

Good Thing For Aunties

My Aunt Maranda helps me hunt for eggs....

...and gives me loves...

...and squeezin's.

I am one lucky baby.

Bunny Sightings 2008

Yep folks, on this sunshiney yet chilly day, the Easter Bunny once again made his appearance. If you see him hopping around your neighborhood, don't be alarmed. His intentions are only to spread cheer and tooth decay....


Good thing he had his Bunny helpers with him. I'm not sure he would've made it without them.

He's like black jelly beans. Either you love him or hate him.

We love him.

Drumroll Please.......

Rice Eccles Stadium, Scholarship Room

Thursday, March 20, 2008, 10 a.m. (sharp)

Congratulations Class of 2008!!

(We're happy, relieved, ecstatic, and grateful. And yes, we'll still live in student housing and be glad about it.)

He WILL Be a Pathologist

We received word via email (as did all 4th year medical students across the nation) that Randy has indeed matched into a residency program. I'm not a very patient person so the suspense is killing me. We find out our fate on Thursday. Here is a conversation Randy had with a patient's daughter today:

Patient's Daughter: So, what field did you choose to go into?

Randy: Pathology.

Patient: That explains what kind of person you are.

Randy: (No comment)

Patient's Daughter: Oh, too bad you won't be working at the clinic. You're so good with people.

Randy: (No comment)

How I wish I could see Randy at work. I know his flagrant comments about detesting patient care are half-truths, but still, I'd like to see him in action.

Sidekick

Josh wants to do everything that big brother does. Here he is watching Andrew playing a computer game:

He just learned how to drink from his cup without help, he doesn't use his hands.

We attempted to sleep the boys in the same room. Andrew was all for it. We set up the Pack 'N Play, which was probably my mistake-Josh has never really liked sleeping in it. We did the whole bedtime routine with extra stories and songs. I then put Josh in his bed, turned out the lights, and ran out of the room. Josh, of course, put up a stink.

Then, something magical happened. Andrew started singing to him. He started with the Itsy Bitsy Spider, then I Am a Child of God, then Silent Night. Josh went silent. Josh soon discovered that it was pretty fun to have a bedtime companion and began squawking and squealing to get big brother's attention. An hour and one very wide awake baby later (Andrew actually fell asleep), I separated them and Josh went back to the storage room. He fell asleep almost instantly. Andrew awoke early the next morning and started crying and asked where brother went.

I think they'll do fine...once I'm brave enough to try it again...

Snow Day

Finding entertainment for two children on a cold, snowy day, in an 800 sq. ft. apartment; not a simple task. We've recently discovered read-along audio books from the library-sure beats the hours of TV watching and Computer Game playing that usually occur on such days...