I wasn't going to go to church today.

I didn't feel super good this weekend, and Cache and Nay were up late(Eating late night Tamales at Marta's).  Devin has National Board reviews, so early morning church, alone with two tired crankies and a tummy ache... seemed a bit pointless to me.  When Cache and Nay are tired in church they don't sleep on my lap like others. They start throwing things: hymn books,toys, themselves and punches.  They were both born with an incredible right hook. 

 I felt good about my decision.

But inevitably this morning, as I lay in bed, happy with the out look of the day. In to my head popped the faces of several good friends, who are single moms.  They have many more responsibilities and children than I do, and they are always, always, at church. 

Darn you good examples.

I went to Church...

• In sacrament meeting I looked over and saw two bare feet.  After scolding: "Cache where are your boots? Where are your socks?  Cache shrugged his shoulders and pulled out an extra pair of underwear out of his pocket.  ??? I still don't know where his socks went. 
• Naomi got her head stuck in a chair and I couldn't get it out.  Nice accompaniment to the Young women singing: "Be still my soul."  Also a lovely bruise left on her head from trying to get her out.
•  Naomi layed down spread eagle in front of the door to the chapel as everyone was filing into the other wards sacrament meeting... very much in everyone's way.  But in her mind they were in her way and glared gave everyone the stinker face, and tried to kick or hit anyone that stepped over her.
• We spent the last two hours of church just roaming the halls, and trying to block out the ever lingering thought: "Why did I come to church today?" 
  
• Then Naomi pulled my skirt down to my knees....  I think the only person that might have saw was Trent.  OH well, we're sorta family right?  Not really.. we'll pretend. aaaah.  

I'm glad I went to church.  There is always, a hidden blessing.
The blessing from today is that in 20 years I remember days like today and enjoy 
sitting through quiet church that much more... 
actually I imagine I'll miss it.

Getting stuck places is becoming Naomi's new favorite pastime...

I think I need to invest in some more Vaseline.

         
                         Naptime...

So I've been a little anti-blog lately,and my family has began protesting and "gently reminding" me.

Here is a video for Grandma's to hold you over till I post again.

excuse my annoying mom voice...

 

Are You Watching?

We love the Olympics around here.

I have my parents to thank for that.  It was the only time in  15years they ever bought a new T.V, because we needed a better one for the olympics!  I don't know who Devin has to thank for it, but I will tell you one thing.  No tears came out of Devin's eyes on our wedding day or even on the day our children were born, I don't think( i was kinda into myself and new baby those days). The only times I can recall seeing Devin shed an emmotional  happy tear:  a highschool basketball game when a kid dunked it...  I look over and Devin is blinking and trying to not wipe his eyes, oh and one other time at of all things an amazing Jump rope competition, (those kids were incredible), AND finally during an Olympic commercial!? Something about watching people push human limits. I love seeing others succeed.   So even if no tears,

Are You Watching?! 

What me and my rain boots did today...

{Actually what  Cache, Naomi and I did while all wearing boots today...}

It's a snow Nay!

We built our little friend after
 supper. Thus the reason it is
 short, because it was dark
 and we were freezing! 
 Naomi kept throwing all her
 snow stuff off, so we just
 stuck it on our li'l friend and
 then realized the spitting
 image we had created. 

Then inside for "warm" chocolate. 

is your blog magic too?

I had a suprise on my front steps this morning...

(note previous post)

First thought: "Wow, my blog is magic!" Actually I thought: "NO way!"

Second thought: "I'm so embarassed someone bought me shoes that I posted. They probably felt bad for me.

Third thought: "oh well, I LOVE them!"

Fourth thought: "I can't believe this. Who would do this for me?"

I narrowed it down fast. Someone who knows my shoe size: my mom, sisters, or devin....(I've been told i'de make a good CIA agent.)

One phone call solved my mystery.

It was Devin.In the ballroom with the candle stick...jk.

And I ruined his valentine's surprise. (woops). My excuse: "I didn't even know we gave more than candy on Valentine's day!" He wanted me to put them away till Valentines day and pretend surprised... BUT I suggested a better idea might be that I just wear them every day UNTIL Valentine's day...

He agreed.

Cache took these pics. He even told me how to pose. He always asks if he can use my camera when I get it out. I tell him no, because it might break. But today I said: "Okay you want to take pictures of me in my boots?" It was really fun. I think he is pretty good for a 4 yr. old. Maybe picture taking will be one thing him and I have in common, since Devin and him have everything else in common.
I asked him: "Cache is my hair look good?"

Cache: "yah mom, it's really POKEY."

haha! It is true. Especially that left side. It's sticks out about a foot further than the right today.

Thank you Devin. I'm gonna make you an extra tastey supper.

Egg rolls?

1.29.10

i like.

She would look so cute stompin around in these...

And I wouldn't look too bad in these...

Sometimes I stomp too.

1.14.10

Tonight while making dinner, things just kept getting crankier and crankier, Until they just spiraled unusually OUT OF CONTROL. Ciaos. On and on, both kids were SCREAMING,(a step above crying) throwing themselves and other things on the floor, hitting, then kicking, one thing after another. I was yelling over all noise. "STOP! What? HOw? Cache if there is no blood No Screaming!" Meanwhile, stuff is burning, phones are ringing, timers going off. I just kept getting tenser and tenser, my eyes wider and wider, my jaw tighter and tighter. Looking at Devin, he saw that I was on the verge of physically exploding, So he paused.. assessed the situation,

and THEN he did what anyone would do

AND

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

He Stuck the cooked squash on his HEAD.

That was the most logical thing to do right? We actually all stood in shock for a full 10 seconds before no one could resist. Like magic, the rest of the evening was very pleasant from that moment on. So I'de like to leave you all with a word:

When the going gets tuff...

There isn't much a spaghetti squash on the head,

(That is still warm and squishy)

Can't Fix.

:)
*picture taken after he had eaten all the strings hanging down on his face.

travel log in pictures

I was so so excited to go home to Oregon for Christmas ...
Now: 26 days later, 8 states,5 different airplanes with 2 little monkies, 100 sugar cookies, 10 different beds and 12.5 lbs heavier(lovely)

I AM so glad to NOW be home in St. LOUIS.

Quick run down of trip:
1. Bro. Ben comes to St. Louis, cuuuz, he's a BIDNESS man, and had some Bidness to take care of. Naomi loved her uncle Ben.

2. The children and I hopped on Ben's flight home to AZ. Leaving Devin behind for Finals week.

She gave him lots of open mouth kisses. Ben missed his two li'l girls, so he let Nay slobber all over his face when she wanted a kiss.

3. Arizona was warm and beautiful. So was Ben and Cindy's new home. Favorite memories:
**Every meal: Nay would finish her food, then go stand next to the highchair on tiptoes while Savannah happily fed Naomi her food.

(**Claire and Cache racing and both so stinkin competitive(and fast) that Claire collapsed in hysterics from not winning and Cache determined not to be beat, ran full force into the wall. Bloody nose and mouth. First of many on this trip.

Cache finally met his superior in passion and will power, and attitude. Love that Sassy Claire.

Took some family pics that I haven't gotten around to editing yet, but they still look pretty.

My Big Bro Ben and his 3 beauties.

4. Off to Oregon. Naomi almost jumped across the isle to grab a ladies sandwich. Her mouth was already full of granola bar... I don't starve her like she ACTS.

** fav memory: Having so many bags that Cache had to push Naomi's stroller through the Portland airport, I didn't even have a spare pinky to help him. Cache got her through the revolving doors like a champ. I'll never forget that!

5. Devin and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary. We had an overnight date in Portland. I was SO excited to see him after a week apart. He took a shuttle to our Hotel, I tried to have everything set up in the room, But when devin showed up, there was confetti all over the curtains and my hair( I didn't know it was going to EXPLODE) I was sweating ,and sucking on my bloody finger that was a result from the sparkling cider shattering when I slipped on the snow in the parking lot. I was almost in tears, I tried, I REALLY tried. Devin happened to be thinking just like me and pulled a bottle out of his suit case. We laughed so hard at the disaster I had created and Devin's terrible hair cut he attempted to give HIMSELF to impress me, and had a wonderful evening. So fun and so needed to be just us two for a day.

6. The next day we drove home and simultaneosly sighed. Beautiful. It felt so good to be back home in Oregon.

7. Then the Quality time began:
Talkin on the couch with my sis... somebody is listening..

it's exhausting being wierd. :)



Cache got really good at Mario cart. My mom thought she was driving a real car...



One day everyone came out for a shoot and to eat my mom's Chile.

JOE and SAM (above).My "little" brothers.

I use to rock Joey to sleep. Now he's 6' 2" and likes girls.

Cache preferred helping Uncle Nick load the clay pigeons to shooting.


I stayed in, and snuggled my new li'l nephew, and cleaned out all our old prom dresses with my mom and sisters. We decided to keep them all. Dress ups! My mom wasn't super thrilled.

8. Meet my nephew Danny.

We are sisters. Love sisters. All the men in Danny's blessing circle. So fun to be related to the Leonards now. All because Sarah and Nick fell in Love...

9. Santa Came. Bringing Cache a pirate costume just like he asked for. Naomi got some nice gifts, but all she wanted were candy canes.

Cache's was so thankful for all his gifts, which surprised and overjoyed me. Every time he opened a gift he would exlaim: "look LOOK! New cowboy boots!, a super man cape! a bat man cave!" He really is a good boy. Just has some very passionate moments. His reactions MADE my Christmas.

10. Drove to Utah and Idaho to see more loved ones.

but I took pics of my own. Sorry. I'm conceded.

Naomi and Grandma Orton.

I get the biggest kick out of watching my children interact together.
I'm not sure exactly what it is about this picture that I love. But Oh I love it.

Sweet, sweet nieces and our pink marshmallow

puff, just rolled down hills and wandered around.
Cousins are so fun. These 4 were trying to all "Share" the piano. Krista is a complete crack up.

10. PLEASE LET US GO HOME TO ST. LOUIS!

When I say flying with Naomi is a wrestling match, I mean LITERALLY. She was trying to eat something off the floor, and would not take no for an answer.

Below: Waiting for our car in the airport, we finally got

smart and walled her in a play pen of suitcases.

The End.

I am sad there were so many friends, that I just couldn't get into town to see. But We feel so blessed to have so many people to love and to be loved by. Counting the months now we have left with our "St. Louis family."

Where will we be next Christmas?!