still kickin!

Hey everyone, I'm not dead!  This past week has been crazy busy.  But I am NOT dead.  The good news of the week is that the graduation packet is in!  WOOT!

Best day EVER!

DISCLAIMER: there are no pictures with this post.

So, one day (it was today) I got to drop off the baby with my sister and spend some time with my Hunky Hubs.  I went with him to his symposium(I know.  It just makes your skin tingle to read the word, huh?), and everyone presented in only Spanish(I am NOT bilingual).  But it was ok to be bored, cause my husband was better looking than anyone else in that room, and I got to just sit and look at him for a while.  So that was pretty nice. 

The best thing happened after, when we went to pick up Muffin.  There was my sister, and there was Muffin...with no pants.  It happens often at home(the little nudist!) but I try to keep him dressed when I take him out.  I KNOW he had pants on when I dropped him off.  My sister had her grossed out face on.  Apparently my sister's (sorta) boyfriend was there, holding my kid, being gallant and impressive and Muffin PEED ALL OVER HIM! Bahaha!  Wow.  Sorry about your shirt strange man. 

Pinewood Derby

Our ward is having a pinewood derby.  My husband got totally stoked about it, so we decided to do one.  After some consideration, I decided that I was going to carve mine to look like this:

SA-WEET!

My husband went on a google quest for tips to making the best car. Google said to bake the block to remove moisture and, consequently, weight.  We forgot it was in the oven... Apparently leaving a block of wood in the oven for 4 hours does the same thing it would to a pan of brownies.  Rock hard and  IMPOSSIBLE  TO CARVE!  After 3 hours with a pocket knife, my work of art was well on it's way to looking like an automobile.  It was shaped like this

That's almost more like a BelAir shape than a block of wood shape, eh? I have blisters on my hands and wood shavings everywhere!  They seriously put these projects in the hands of 9 year-olds?!  GAH!  It MUST be easier if you don't bake the block, right?  Whittling with a pocket knife always looked so easy in the movies.

All I can say is, I better win that race.

HILARIOUS baby with a lemon...

oh thanks, I needed something to distract me while you were making dinner

WHOA! What WAS that?

How could you DO something like that to me?!

Actually, that was kinda good.

Maybe I'll try another bite

YUP! It's still sour!

So, Muffin got a hold of this Lemon after it missed the garbage when I tossed it(Let it be known that I am no baller).  He packed it around and chewed on it for about a half hour.  He really liked it, even though it was SUPER sour!  That sour face is priceless!

Mommas against domestic violence!

Hey Mommas.  Up here in Logan there's a 5-k this weekend to raise money for CAPSA, an abuse prevention agency.  We're trying to raise money for our team(though it all goes to CAPSA) and have created a fun little place to vote and donate.  Even if you can't donate, go vote on the AWESOME paintings! CLICK HERE TO DO IT. 
Love and stuff...

SPOILER: a crying post!

I'm so sad today.  Life isn't fair.  Last week my friends sister died of Leukimia at 20 years old.  This week my cousin lost his brand new baby boy at 10 days old.  I almost feel guilty to be alive when this other, better daughter got taken home.  I feel guilty to have a perfect healthy baby boy, like i'm almost rubbing Muffin in my cousin's face if I try to tell him how sorry I am.  My heart just aches for them.  And there is nothing I can do.  There's nothing I can do to make it hurt less.  There's nothing I can do to even hold the heartache for them for a little while.  I can't tell them I know how they feel, or can even imagine.  So I did what I have always done; I tried to get all my crying out while I wrote.  Then I have a place to put that heartache down for a little while so I can go on with life.  So, here's what I came up with.  I think I will give it to my cousin:

Not enough time to say ‘hello’ before having to say ‘goodbye.’
Not enough time to kiss and hold and look at that little guy.
Not enough time for him to learn to smile or crawl or talk
Not enough time for binkies, long nights or warm spring walks.
Not enough time to feel the sunshine kissing his baby face
There just wasn’t near enough time before he had to leave this place.
And while it breaks my heart to feel like I didn’t get enough time
I know he’s not too far away and that he’ll always be mine.
A beautiful gift from a loving God, who also lost a Son
And a loving brother who gave his life so this death could be overcome.
So I’ll pull my strength from the other side where Ethan’s waiting until I come
I’ll pull my strength from knowing that I’ll still get to raise my son

WHAT?!

Aw peas.  I think my muffin said his first word.  Isn't it supposed to be "mommy"
or "daddy" or "tig" (his tigger).  No. No sir.  Not THIS boy.  His first word is the DOGS NAME! What a little stink fish pot.  Of course,  the dog has loved the boy THIS much from the day we brought him home.  But REALLY? Gus? That's your first word son?

Yikes!

I can't decide if I am super excited or scared out of my mind.  All of the sudden I realized that my husband is only months away from that ever out-of-reach bachelors degree.  We have gotten so used to this basement apartment, poor college student with a kid lifestyle, that this is where we feel safe.  Now what?  He has to go find a REAL career!  I have no idea where life is going to take us in the next year.  Will we stay here? Get a job far away?  Get a job at all?  Have to go back to school?  I know that my husband is a talented genius.  But will some Multi Billion dollar international business guru realize his cultural and linguistic talents?  BAH! 

These are the times when I have to remind myself that my life is in the Lord's hands.  No matter what happens, I know that things will be okay.  So, Momma, take a deep breath.  Don't stress out about things you can't control.  Remember to enjoy and learn where you are right now! 

heartbroken...

A family in our ward just lost their daughter to leukemia at 20 years old.  She has been fighting for about two years.  She went peacefully, with no pain(in the end).  She was able to see her brother come home from his mission two weeks ago.  I am heartbroken for this family.  As a mom myself I can't imagine losing a daughter.  To watch her suffer for so long and fight so hard.  I know that she is happy now, and not sick anymore.  I know she is no longer tied  to a hospital bed, but running like she loved.  But it's still sad.  And it makes me realize how much I have to cherish every day.  Even the teething days, or the missed nap days, or the up three times in the night days.  My son is the greatest gift I have been given.  Since we never know what is going to happen or when, I'm going to rock my little guy a little longer tonight.  I'll squeeze him tighter and kiss him more.  I'll thank the Lord for him more often and soak up every gummy grin.  Curse you Red Robot, but thanks for reminding me how precious life is.