What the Snow?

So December 19th, almost 30 inches, January and February two more snow storms that each brought about 6 inches. February 6 almost 30 more inches. Today February 9 - Predicted "another 10-20 inches." On top of this.

And this is what it looks like around here after people have already dug themselves out, notice Spencer is barely tall enough to see over the shoveled walkways.

Here are some views out our window

And here is Lee digging out our cars at 12am Saturday night.

But I guess its ok because the kids got to do this, and eat these.


We were calling them Nature's Popsicles. What will Nature bring us today? Another 10 inches? I don't think I'll be more happy to see spring then I will this year. Although there will probably still be snow piles around here until June.

My Blue Eyed Babies

I can't seem to actually get a nice looking picture of the two of them because I have such a ragamuffin daughter who doesn't like to do her most gorgeous hair in the whole world. And then I have a son who always has some sort of battle wound on his face, usually from himself. He is a scratcher. Despite the fact that they are half way homely, I still love them and think they are super cute, and how can not love those eyes!! Those big blue eyes!!

Another thing I love about my children, Makenzie miss goofball social butterfly princess fairy right now is too much fun, but with all that fun comes one strong personality that gets to be more than I can handle sometimes. But I have my little Austin to off set her giant personality. He is so calm and mellow but loves to be loved and played with. He especially loves his big sister (which surprises me most of the time) who is super rough with him, but loves him to death as well. No one can get Austin to laugh like Makenzie. A lot of times we'll be in the car and all of a sudden he'll burst out laughing and then Makenzie will start laughing, and I'll look back to see what is going on and she is making faces at him and the only face he has is one great big smile that swallows his whole face. When Austin was in my tummy I used to pray that he and Makenzie would have a special bond and be good friends. I can see that I was blessed with that. Even though they are so little, they are good friends. Even at times when it looks like Makenzie is being too rough with Austin and I try and make her stop, I look at him and he is usually smiling and laughing. How can a baby smile when a two year old is squeezing it to death trying to roll it around the room? Anyway, I am grateful to have these two most beautiful children in my life. They sure are a lot of fun and easy on the eyes!

Enjoying the Snow? Lee is!

Who does this? It all started out as an innocent Friday night dare. The snow was coming down outside and Lee ran down and said "I'm going outside." I followed and when we approached the door, we realized we were half dressed. We stared at the snow outside our front door and Lee counted to three and then jumped into the snow in his bare feet. He dared me to do it as well, so I peeled off my fuzzy socks and jumped into the snow. (Don't do that!) its really cold and there isn't anything fun or refreshing about it. After that Lee ran upstairs all giddy and proceeded to tell me how this was the type of stuff he and his brothers used to do. I told him I didn't really give into peer pressure and wouldn't be doing anything else stupid. So he shuffled around the house in a mad craze, saying weird stuff and then goes "do you dare me to roll around in the snow in my underwear?" I was like "No, because that would be stupid." So he put on his fruit of the looms and ran outside like a 10 year old boy to go roll in the snow. Sorry the video isn't a little better quality. It was 10pm and I was filming out our 3rd story window. Also if you can't understand what I am saying, sorry I was dying laughing. I'm so glad I am stuck with this kid forever, he keeps me laughing. I love you Lee!

I spaced and was in another time and place

Ever have those moments where it feels like you are actually in another time and place? Today I had one of those. I was sitting at my computer (Kenzie underneath the desk beneath me), Austin on the floor right next to me and I stared out the window. Dave Matthews "Spoon" was playing on the computer, I was counting to 10 in Spanish and in those ten seconds I was in another world. I was staring out my bedroom window in Seattle 10 years earlier watching the light snow fall listening to the same song. Thoughts of a past life came back to me, mostly thoughts and feelings of myself, the only person I used to worry about. In the back of my mind were thoughts of school or work, but the thought of children never entered my mind, it was all about me. Then after I said "Diez" Kenzie screamed "Mommy find me!!" (The reason I was counting to 10 in Spanish in the first place) and I was whipped back into my present life, The snow falling outside was now in my hometown, the song was 10 years older than I had remembered it, and the only thoughts and responsibilities I had were of my family. Don't get me wrong, I love my present life, I wouldn't have it any other way, but that unexpected 10 second getaway sure was peaceful, and lonely (in a good way), two things I don't experience much anymore. So for now I'll enjoy life as it is and when another 10 second escape comes my way I'll be grateful.

For flashback purposes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd9jVshW7qU

I chose wrong

I could have kicked myself in the head like 10 times last night. So here was our situation.Lee's mom was going to be staying at our house last night because she needed to be at the temple early in the morning. So Lee thought this could be a great opportunity for us to be rebellious and go see a movie. He has been dying to see Avatar in 3D, I know because he's been leaving me subtle (or not so subtle hints) everytime I go to use my computer there is something Avatar on there: Downloaded HD trailers, movie show times, general Google Avatar searches etc. So since Lee's mom wouldn't be arriving until about 10pm, we were limited to the 10:40 showing almost 25 minutes away. The movie itself is 2 hours an 30 minutes soo that would put us home around 2am. My logical side said to me, "How old do you think you are, 18?" I also remembered that I have 2 kids who demand ALL of my attention all day, and the thought of running on 4 hours of interrupted sleep while trying to attend to their every need was a bad idea. So I told Lee, "I would honestly love to see it with you, but I must decline, due to the circumstances." So a disappointed husband hung his head in defeat, and a responsible wife held her head high, and both got ready for bed.

Little did I know that Kenzie had an agenda of her own last night. My daughter who has slept consistently through the night since she was 11 months decided that last night she was going to break the mold. At 11pm she woke up screaming her head off, normally I would ignore it and let her go back to sleep but this particular time she screamed for quite a while, I figured something must be wrong so I went in to see what was going on. BIG MISTAKE. From 11pm-2:30am she screamed, and boy did she scream, she used every line, every trick in the book to try and get us to take sympathy on her and go get her. I used Tylenol, I gave her a drink, a snack, and finally I lost my mind. Lee ushered me back to bed and said, its no good, just let her scream. So at 2am I gave up and tried to sleep to the sound of blood curdling shreaks. Frustrated, tired and on the edge, Lee leans over and says "I find it ironic that it is 2am and we would have just been getting home from the movie." This time I hung my whole body in defeat and realized I should have gone to the movie. I wouldn't have gotten any sleep (which I didn't anyway) but at least I would have been enjoying myself, the movie, and some much needed time with Lee. Instead I had gotten in and out of bed for 3 hours listening to an insane 2 year old go crazy.

Lesson: Life is to short to pass up the spontaneity, sure, under normal circumstance I would have been a little tired, and Friday could have been a little difficult, but guess what, it was anyway, and I passed up the fun part. So next time something spontaneous and crazy comes my way, count me in!

Gymnastics

So Kenzie is in a little Preschool Gymnastics class and it is pretty cute. She is the youngest in the class, sometimes it shows but I am hoping that she will catch on and start to understand a little better. Here is some footage of her class. Kenzie is in the Purple.

So much Christmas

So I am pretty behind on my blogging adventure. December took us for a wild ride. We had a good time at Parties, with friends, on Vacations etc. Here is my photo journal to sum up our wild adventures.


So it snowed, it snowed a lot. In fact it couldn't have snowed at a worse time for our family. Lee's brother's wedding just happened to be planned for the day we received record December snowfall. I mean it was snowing. We had about 30 inches on our deck. Anyway, the only people who were able to attend the actual ceremony were Lee's Brothers and Parents, and Charina (Bride) sisters and her parents and two friends who happened to be in the right place at the right time. No in-laws, no kiddos, no reception, no photographer, basically they were lucky to be married. The picture of Kenzie and I decorating the gingerbread house bring bittersweet feelings, we should have been at a wedding reception while we were decorating this house, only were snowed in and it was canceled anyway. Here is the car it took Lee 3 hours to dig out, and then we needed a push to get off the ice. So that was fun.

Here is Austin with Baby Jack. This is our newest Nephew and what a cutie he is. While family was up for the wedding we got to attend Jack's baby blessing. The boys meaning Lee and his brothers (I call them boys because whenever they get together they resemble just that) had a great time playing basketball, while the girls (actual little girls Makenzie and Cousins) got to run around and have cousin time. I would post more pictures but I put them in a weird place in my computer and I don't know how to get to them without Lee's help. Out of the whole week we had planned together we only got to see the family for a few brief periods due to weather.


So after our winter storm we braved the airport (after two days of canceled flights) we were one of the first flights to take off again and let me tell you, without accidentally cutting in front of the entire line at the airport we wouldn't have made our flight out to Utah. We started out our trip a little crazy but once we got to Utah we had a great time. We were lucky enough to visit old friends. The first night we were together we had dinner with Julie and Will and Brad and BrieAnn. It was so much fun, just like old times, like no time had gone by at all. Brad made my favorite tacos and we were able to just relax and enjoy our time together. Thanks guys for putting on such a fun get together it was so good to see you. I was also blessed to see all my old college buddies Jessica, Adri, Rachel, and Danica. What are the chances that almost all my old friends were in UT for Christmas and able to hang out. It was great, life has sure taken us all down different roads but it was so nice to be together again and laugh and talk like old times.





Actual Christmas day was a blast. It was fun to visit my parents and siblings in UT. It was also fun this year because Kenzie seemed to have a better understanding of what was going on. Santa brought her and me some pretty awesome stuff. Note the matching aprons. This would be because Kenzie is my leach in the kitchen. She is constantly asking "Mommy can we make dinner?" She takes a very active roll in helping me in the kitchen. It is fun and a little annoying at the same time. Lee and Austin thought these would be perfect for us, and they are we love them!
Also this Christmas I had an age check. Pretty sure I must be 17 because Lee got me the Glee soundtracks and an Edward Cullen Poster. Did I ask for either of these? No!! But I totally love them. I told Lee that I was hanging the poster up (trying to call his bluff). He seemed thrilled with the idea that I was going to Hang Edward somewhere in our house. I was a little baffled because I am pretty sure he is on team Jacob. Anyway as soon as you walk into our front door you are greeted by Edward himself. Don't believe me, come on over!
Also Makenzie got the gifts of a life time. She got her own Jewelry and Makeup set. Mistake you might ask? Enh, I'm not sure yet. It can be a little annoying, but overall it really isn't very messy and if she wants to make herself look like a clown, I don't really care, it keeps her entertained and out of my hair just long enough for me to put on my real makeup. Her older Cousins took the liberty of making her beautiful, she thought that was the best. Thanks Taylor and Kate for making Makenzie's day. Austin had a good Christmas as well. Although he had no clue what was going on he was just happy to be alive and have lots to look at. He is the best baby and we couldn't be happier to have him in our lives.



Last but not least we were able to spend New Years Eve with our long lost friends Shannon and Jared and their kids Kailee and Allie. We adore them and had a great time. We had a killer dance party, played some ping pong, ate some good food and made our way into 2010 dancing, talking, being awesome etc. Kenzie and Kailee also had a great time at our dance party. They knew each other as babies and quickly reunited as old friends, you can see they took an immediate liking to each other. It was a great way to ring in the new year.
We were really blessed this Holiday season to be among family and friends and those we love. I am so grateful for the birth of our Savior and all the blessings it brings into my life. I am sad to see December go as we enter January and February, (I deem them the 2 worst months of the year) but I hope to plan some killer activities so we don't all sit in our houses and almost go crazy. So even though it is now January, Merry Christmas everyone and Happy 2010, May it rock!!