7/28/2011

In the midst of trying to pack really fast this morning, Isabela has her stuffed dog and says, "Doggy speak Spanish.  Woof! Woof!"  We both died laughing.

7/24/11

Isabela was playing tonight, fell and twisted her knee or something.  We had a great campfire in the yard with the Jensen's, then Isabela gave us a great adventure to Instacare.  We probably wouldn't have taken her, but it swelled up a bit and she tried to walk on it and collapsed.  Two x-rays.  She should be fine.  She still won't walk on it, but is in good spirits.  She was laughing and teasing the nurses the whole time we were there, albeit a little whiny and hurting a little.  Life's little adventures...

Last week here

We were in Sacrament meeting today, singing, and I started to cry.  It's our last week in this ward.  It's weird how some wards instantly seem to become family.  I am really going to miss it here.  Hopefully the Lord will bless us with a new great ward family in Colorado.

I can't believe how well Isabela remembers people and their names.  She knows the name of every infant in our ward, even the one blessed today.  The dad was walking to the front, and Isabela said, "Baby Marie."  I couldn't believe it.  She saw her only once about a month ago.  She connects with people of all ages really well. (I guess most 2 yr-old's do.)

Xander's hair is falling out, just a little bit, around the crown of his head.  It's still pretty thick, and quite long, on top.  He's a great little baby, whom Izzy LOVES.

Oh, and we went swimming yesterday instead of packing!  YEAH!  The first time this summer, and Isabela LOVED it.  She got comfortable pretty fast in that water and wanted to go down the big slide over and over again.  Xander also loved the water, just smiled and giggled.  Tonight we get to roast hot dogs over a fire at our friends' house.  Boy am I glad to finally get to do two summer activities!

Renting

I would rather pay to take care of my own house and all of the mishaps than deal with landlords right now.  We have been so spoiled.  We LOVE our landlords!  We love our house.  We love our yard and garden and the sheep across the street, and the horses down the road.  We detest dealing with nit-picky people we have never met before, in attempt to find a new place to live.  Can't we move and take our house and landlords with us? If faith can move mountains, surely it can move my house.

7/20/11

I packed a couple more boxes today.  Mostly I am trying to get rid of things.  Looking at how much I still have, I am not doing a good job.  We have a lot of stuff. 
Mom came to watch the kids while I worked and washed my dishes!  Thanks mom!

I painted my bookshelf the other day (black paint over the black spray paint that was already there).  I finally got a map laminated so I can frame it and put it on the wall.

Isabela wanted to see the horses today.  I had a ton of packing to do.  We saw the horses.

Xander finally went pooh.  He filled three diapers right in a row.  I changed him and could barely get the next one on before he filled it to the brim.  We barely escaped a huge explosion.  Tender mercies all around.

Sharing the Love...

 Isabela helped Great-Grandma Forster with the dishes.  Aren't they darling?  I love this picture.

 One more piece of evidence showing how much Isabela LOVES having Xander right by her side. 

Isabela took Brandon some balloons to work for his birthday last month.  I let her hold them all the way from the store.  She looked like she was going to fly away.  The picture doesn't quite do it justice.

Xander brought daddy some frozen fruit bars.  Everyone at the office loves them because he never gets to bring any home to share (but it's ok, that's the whole point of taking them to the office in the first place). 

Xander's 1st wrestling match

 Xander may be bigger, but Jack is two months older.  Evidently, wits won over size this time.  Xander lost his first wrestling match. :)  It was way fun to watch them play. 

Really, Xander would squish Jack to smitherines if he were on top, but Jack did get him in the face pretty good a couple of times.  Xander just laughed.  We sure are going to miss these guys when we move :(

7/17/11

Tonight Isabela was sitting on the bed reading her book aloud to herself... in a really dark room... wearing her sunglasses.

I love how Xander rubs his eyes when he is tired.  He uses the entire back of his hand, his knuckles, and his fingers.  He also laughs a lot more now.

I am so glad...

... that my husband isn't in the military.
... that my husband is not gone serving a mission like husbands did in the early days of the church.
... that my husband is still on this earth with me.

Because he has been gone for a week now and I miss him like crazy!  We don't function nearly as well without him.  Kudos to every wife and single mother who runs a household without the help of a spouse.
My sanity will return Thursday night :)

A little too much love...

Yesterday Isabela and Xander were on my bed. I left them for a just one minute.  I came back and Isabela was giving Xander a "hug."  She was laying on top of him and he could barely breath (well, he was crying mightily, so I guess he was breathing).  I took her off and she started crying hysterically, "I want abrazos."  She hugs and kissed him ALL THE TIME.  I love it, even if it is a bit much sometimes.

Window Washing

Brandon and his friend, Rodney, started a window washing business a little over a year ago.  It has done really well, especially in Cache Valley.  The other week they were washing windows here in Logan and I went to visit.  They had a friend that followed them all day as they progressed around the building.

Xander - 3 mo old

Today at our friend's house Xander rolled from his tummy to his back three times in a row.  He usually hates being on his tummy.  We tried to get him to do it again, but he wouldn't.  Maybe it was just a fluke...

We got home and Xander was being pretty fussy.  I started eating chips and salsa with him on my lap.  He would fuss, then every time I put a chip into my mouth he would start giggling with a huge grin.  I think he likes the crunching sound. 

He is talking and laughing a lot more lately, and is always blowing bubbles.  He is a really happy baby.  Compared to Isabela, I just can't believe how big and thick the kid is.  His body seems really strong, maybe a little rigid.  He doesn't always bend at the waist very well.  At three months old he is mostly only wearing 9 mo clothes.  Crazy how fast it goes.

Happy Birthday Brandon!

Hey Babe!  Happy birthday!  You are the best husband ever and the love of my life!  I hope your day is perfect!

Fold your arms

In Sacrament meeting today, we told Isabela it was time for the prayer.  An elderly gentleman sitting on the other side of her bowed his head and closed his eyes, but did not fold his arms.  Isabela kept tapping his arm, pointing, and saying "Oracion," until he finally folded his arms.  She then - finally - did likewise.

Isabela brought Brandon a Dad's root beer from nursery.  We got him stuff for his grill and salt and pepper grinders.  He is such a great father and husband.  He always plays with Isabela and Alexander, and changes countless dirty diapers.  I couldn't have asked for a more perfect match.  The Lord really knows what he is doing.  Love you babe!

And Happy Birthday Renee!  Love your guts!

Picture Editing

We recently got some pics taken at JC Penny.  I had a coupon so it was really cheap.  Of course, I could not buy all of the really cute ones with enhancements.  So, I started playing around again to see what I could come up with.  Here are some before and afters that I like.

 

Just don't mind I look a little funny.

 

 

And this one is just hilarious.

6/15/11

Since I am not a creative-minded person, I really do not enjoy creating titles for my posts.  Now that Jenny has started using the date, I think that is the best idea since ramen was created. (That only comes to mind since I was watching a movie the other day where they were learning to make ramen.)  Again, not being creative, I am going to copy her idea. Thanks Jen!

Brandon and I were foot zoned for the first time this week.  I was way excited.  Brandon was very skeptical.  We both feel tons better now.  I am in love and wish I only had the money to do it all the time.  Brandon is no longer a skeptic.

We went out for a walk today with some friends.  I fed Izzy lunch when she came back while I fed Xander on the couch.  It got really quiet in the kitchen.  I called out, "Did you eat all your food?"  No answer.  I thought, Maybe she is sleeping.  Then she was all happy and said, "No."  Nope, not asleep.  But a few minutes later I walked in and she was curled up in this tiny ball in her high chair sound asleep.  I honestly don't know how she fit in there like that.

Birthday and Swimming!

 Isabela was spoiled for her birthday! More than any 2 year old should be.  She LOVES basketball!  Seriously, though, look at that form.

 But the really big hit was Winnie the Pooh.  He was about 5 feet tall! Talk about life-size.  I think he is only 2 feet tall in real life.  Really, look at him and Christopher Robin.

 Good thing some bigger kids showed up to help out.  Winnie the Pooh was a little out of her league.

 The Birthday Buddies! 

 Swimming the first time this year at the hotel.  Izzy would only come out for a minute or two at a time then had to go sit back by Grandma.  But she loved it and went back the next day.

Chillin' with Grandma Becky.  Xander's first swim ever at 2 months old.  Well, he mostly just got his feet wet, but he looks awesome in his swim trunks.

Changes

Xander is HUGE!  At two months old, he is already wearing his 6 month outfits.

It's been the perfect weather.  Brandon was great and tilled the garden the other week.  I finally got around to planting, and haven't watered once!  It rains at night, a little during the day, but mostly it's just sunny.  What a blessing.  Except we will move before we harvest anything.

Isabela is going to be a great big sister.  She loves her little brother.  Everyday she gives him more and more hugs and kisses.  She even wakes him up sometimes to play if I am not paying attention.  She is getting really good at putting multiple words together.  She will usually pause between some, though.  She says, "I love you, (pause) Anner." It's really cute how she pronounces Xander. 

We are getting more and more excited to move.  I can't believe how soon it will be here.  I really haven't even started packing or anything.  It will be interesting to see where we get to live.

Be-lated Mother's Day

Yesterday I taught the lesson in Relief Society.  I didn't feel it went so great, but it's over now.
That was the bad part of my day.

When we got home from church, Brandon took a short nap, then watched the kids while I took a very long nap.  He woke me up a couple hours later to feed Xander.  Then, he brought be dinner in bed... steak!  It was the greatest and I finally got some sleep.  Needless to say, I felt like it was mother's day all over again.  Thanks babe!

These days...

Our typical day consists of me nursing Xander more often than not throughout the day, Isabela saying "Xander no come." (Xander don't eat.) because she doesn't want me to feed him, she just wants to play with me.  She begs to watch Diego all the time.  Usually I only give in when Xander eats.  I can't prevent her from terrorizing the house.  Yes, I use Diego as a babysitter.  What can I say, he's free of charge and Isabela loves him.

Today Isabela grabbed her baby doll and said "Come" (pronounced co-may) while lifting up her shirt and holding her baby to her chest. 

Xander smiles all the time now.  He coos a lot and just started to giggle.  Today he had such an infectious laugh that I was laughing and crying.

My house is never clean... I don't even try anymore.  My neighbor down the street says she sees a mess and it drives her crazy so she cleans a lot all day (she has four kids).  I told her, I see a mess and it bothers me, so we go for a walk to the horses where I don't have to see it anymore.  Unfortunately, it is still there and still bothers me when I get home.

I intend to post everyday, but if and when I get the chance, I begin to edit one picture, which turns into messing around with editing programs.  I never get many pictures done, but it is fun to figure out new things on my own.  Therefore, I don't actually get around to posting them to my blog.

Brandon just got a job offer in Colorado to teach Spanish.  We will now be moving the end of July and are way excited for a new adventure
.
Isabela had a really fun birthday party with giant Winnie the Pooh day before Xander's blessing.  We got to go swimming the first time this year, finally.  Thanks to Grandma Becky.  Maybe she can teach my kids to swim since I can't.

So I posted today because I didn't allow myself to look at pictures.  They will come later.