Noah Turns 2 - Videos

Noah turned two yesterday! Thanks to all of you who sent gifts and money. You made this day extra special.

Here are three videos of him. The first is opening his gifts, the second is him dancing to his new train's song, the third is us singing happy birthday to him while he blows out his candle. Enjoy!

Mom By Me

I'm sitting on the couch eating my chocolate cache from the day, one bar I bought myself, one bar given to me at church. I've been trying to think of something to say about this day. I didn't want to go online to see what everyone else was saying. I just wanted to think up something that only I have thought of. But it's impossible. I'm influenced so much by other people and by what I read. It informs so much of my inner dialogue as a day-to-day mom. In the past month and week leading up to Mother's day I've read a lot about being a mom and parent. I loved that French parenting book, I enjoyed CJane's post, I kind of enjoyed learning about parenting around the world, I teared up at the end of these food blogger moms' experiences, I could totally commiserate with one mom's frustration about conflicting sleep training advice, I enjoyed the sweet and honest  naivete of the new mom/founder of Shabby Apple, I am perplexed and awed by the compassion embodied in Mother Teresa, and this video made me want to adopt a 7-year-old black boy in a suit. Internet, you be teachin' me 'bout bein' a better mom. (That was said in the voice of my future black son.)

I wanted to sit down and write something about the way I want to be remembered as a mom. Since my own clearest memories are from age 5 and up, I laugh evilly inside as I concoct the exact way that Noah and Sienna will remember me right now, May 11, 2013.

First of all, Sienna, you love me. You kiss me all the time and you never disobey. I always deserve to be kissed, just like this.

And this. The lighting is always magical when we are together. It's like heaven is always smiling and fairies are sprinkling glitter as we prance around the desert at dusk.

I always wear outfits like this. Everyday. 

 
Sometimes our life resembles a black and white movie because we're cool like that.

 I do my hair perfectly without fail. And, Noah, you kiss me, too.

You kiss me so hard sometimes you miss.

Sienna, I always have patience with you. Endless patience. But, really, you don't need patience because you are the perfect child.

 And we are best buds. Always.

EEERRRRRRRRCCCCCHHHHHHH.

Reality check. Life looks like that when we are dressed up for family pictures and the light is right and the moods are fueled by candy.

BUT.

Real life with mom right now, kids? It looks more like this.

Waiting on the steps for dad to come home after an excruciatingly long day.

Sometimes I stay in my robe for a good, long time and you stay in your diaper for a good, long time.

 Sometimes you're sick and you lie glued to me, much like this.

Sometimes you are naughty beyond all comprehension and I am baffled and ruffled.

Sometimes your toys make noises that grate all the nerves that ever were.

Here are some portraits you took with my iPod that showcase just a fraction of the mess that we live in day in, day out.

And in case you are wondering, I'd rather be sitting on the couch reading a book instead of anything else.


Happy Mother's Day, kids! Beneath all the sarcasm and negativity, I really do know that I am one insanely lucky lady to have you both in my life. You are both so different and so fantastic. Yes, you both defy comprehension and you baffle me. In the most incredible ways. Sometimes I just stare at you because you are so beautiful and real and mine.

In the past four years as a mom I've learned so much about hard work, charity, love, selflessness, wants vs. needs, heaven on earth, prayer, my heavenly parents, division of labor, patience, patience, patience, laughter, the relief that can come from letting go, the psychosis that can come from sleep deprivation, time management, organization, clean vs. clutter, patience, public humiliation, forging ahead with a positive attitude, the toxicity of a negative attitude, choices, the immeasurable value of date nights, the immeasurable value of a bubble bath, the immeasurable value of taking myself on a date, the joys of shopping at Safeway alone, routines, the power of a good book, the power of a good run, the power of good friends, the speed at which laundry gets folded while I'm talking to my sister on the phone, the power of having fun, the value of Facebook, blogs, and Instagram, the toxicity of Facebook, blogs and Instagram, the blessing of having a husband who can make our lives at home together all day possible, and, finally, patience. Thanks for making me a mom. I love you guys.

Here's to one more year before Sienna starts remembering things and I really have to get my act together.

Sienna Opens Presents - Videos

Adam Blows Out Candles - Video

I guess I thought I took a picture of the cake but what I really took was a video. So here you go, extended family, Adam blows out his candles!

Adam Turns 33, Sienna Turns 4

Now that I'm looking over my photos, I'm feeling like a super lame wife for not taking more of Adam's birthday on May 1st! Sure, having all 3 of my immediate family members' birthdays in May causes a bit of a brain burn on my part, but I usually don't fail in the category of "not taking enough pictures." I'm positive I got one of his cake, but it's nowhere to be found. Nevertheless, we did celebrate his birthday after he worked a normal day. No! He came home a half hour early! Even better! He requested his Grandma Giles' (yes, we both have Giles Grandparents and have not found where they connect on the family tree ... phew) oatmeal cake, which is always divine. Here he is holding a fan that my mom sent with a box of other fun things she got from her Caribbean cruise. She didn't get anything for Adam, so he's pretending this is his. Teehee.

 His main b-day present was binoculars! He loves them. He has already taken up bird watching.

 And close-range TV watching.

Today, May 6th, was Sienna's fourth birthday. She opened my gifts in the morning, along with cards and (college fund) moola from her extended family (you know who you are, THANK YOU, you rock).

Then we went to the gym and McDonald's.

We watched her new movie, Tangled, while Noah took a nap. Then we used her new sand toys at the park. When Adam came home, we did dinner, cake and more birthday presents from Adam's parents.

 She was super excited about this cabbage patch doll! What a flashback. I love it!

I asked what she wanted to name her and she said, "Maybe Sue." I dig.

 Check back for a multitude of birthday videos on the blog sometime later when I get around to it...
Happy Birthday you two!

Camping, The First

 We took our kids camping for the first time evuh! It was epic. It was extraordinary. It was short, sweet and to the point. We all loved it. And then we came home. Perfect.

 It was in the desert about an hour east of our house. The campground is called Lost Dutchman and it's set in front of the Superstition Mountains. Super spectacular! Are they not? Wow.

We got a family size tent. It has two rooms. Kids sleep in one, adults in the other. Bliss.

 We spent the first hours at the campsite looking for shade. The tent finally gave us some (the kids and I found shade behind the bathrooms while Adam set up the tent ... awesome) so I planted myself there. It was H-O-T.

 But the sun started to go down and Adam made a fire in the ... grill. Too hot and dry to allow fires in the pits this time of year. So, we used the grill. Good enough! I can't tell you how excited I was for campfire food. I've been waiting for this for years. There have been several camping trips missed because of babies who don't know how to sleep in the wild or know how to sleep at all anywhere really, so this trip felt so long overdue.

Sun down, food done! Heaven in a tin foil wrapper: beef, potatoes, carrots, seasoning salt, ketchup. But all that eaten only because of what comes next.

 S'mores, s'mores, s'mores, s'mores, s'mores, s'mores. I measure the success of my summer on how many legit s'mores I've had. The previous several summers have been sorely lacking in legit s'mores of any kind. No more! We want s'more s'mores!

 The picture that you don't see must now be inserted with your imagination...
When the kids were in bed and Adam and I nestled into our sleeping bags on top of our luxurious queen blow-up mattress, the moon was nestled behind the Superstition Mountains. Our tent roof was screen only so got to watch the moon rise from behind it. RO-MAN-TIC. UN-FOR-GETT-ABLE. Seriously.

Back to our actual pictures. I'm happy to report that everyone slept solidly through the night. At 6 am, Noah woke up howling with anger. Cue Sienna howling with anger. They didn't know where they were and they were mad. We got up, went to the bathroom, got dressed, ate oatmeal and went on a mini-hike.

And by 8:30 am, we were gone! Family Camping The First was a success! But we are done camping in the desert. Toooooooo hoooooottttttt. Next month we go north!

Family Pictures in the Desert

 I usually take our family pictures with my own camera on the tri-pod. I just love running back and forth pushing that timer button. But mostly I really love not paying anything for them. And they always turn out pretty good, so I'm always happy with them.

 But then there's this girl in the ward whose sister is practicing photography and was asking for families to pose for her. I was all for it.

 I've really wanted some pictures of us at South Mountain, the park/preserve near our house that is textbook desert. We'll likely never live in the desert again, so this was my chance to get us in this really cool environment.

I love how the pictures turned out. It was hot, I wore platforms, it was rocky and I almost fell, the kids had face rashes, Noah had a scab on his head from falling on a rock during, that's right, a hike in the desert. But family pictures would be boring if EVERYTHING was perfect, right?

 I was ready with candy bribes, though. So it was all good. Also, they kissed. Hahaha. They're gonna love this picture when they're teens.

 Noah is such a special little sweet boy. He put his hands on my head! I thought that was funny. He's never done that before. Puzzling, but cute.

 I absolutely love this one. Isn't that just classic son and dad? Lifted high in an airplane.

 Bird is a hoot. She's got a face for every moment in life. Mostly I think she just likes to stick it to the man. "You want cheese? I'll give you cheese."

 Noah the snuggliest little happy sweetheart you ever knew.

 That's right, girl. You love me. Right?!

 A-Ware and M-Ware. We celebrated 7 years of marriage on April 22. GO US!

 Dusk was quickly turning into sunset so these ones are overexposed. But I like to think of it as vintage lighting, you know, some filter you'd add to an Instagram photo.

 The kids were OVER it when it came to my turn to pose with them. So I planted myself betwixt them and we made it work.

 A couple of these black and white ones are fun. We told Sienna to put her hands on her hips and she turned into a little model poser.

 Ahhh. Adorbs. These two have always been tight.

 Love you, A-Ware. We've done good so far, eh?