Time to blog

After my laregely successful blog on earth day, I thought I better redeem myself with this blog. :-) Just kidding.

So not much has been happening, Sataruday we went to Cheyanne to get pics taken of the kids. Kandace was an angel and just sat there and smiled the whole time while her big brother opted to run around the studio and eat fruit snacks. :) We did get a couple good ones at least. This is Michael's last week of school and then finals, and then he's done with the exception of bus driving--he's contracted to do that until June 3. We're going to try to get Stetson back on the "potty training train" when Michael'e done with school so we can take turns taking Stetson to sit on the potty. I hope it goes better this time. He actually asks to sit on it sometimes but of course its usually right when we're heading out the door to go somehwere or in a big hurry. And when we do sit him down he doesn't do anything but ask to get off.

Kandace is officially sleeping through the night, and of course now that I say that she'll probably be up tomorrow 2 am. :) Something kind of weird though is usually at like 4 am I'll hear her kind of move around and make some sounds, which is unfortuate for me because like any mother, I hear her EVERY move and so it affects my sleep. When Stetson was this old we kicked him out to the next room and it made a world of a difference for all of us, but we only have 1 spare room and Stetson's in there, so we might put her porta crib downstairs at night. Anyway, it snowed last night. Again. Do I live in Alaska? Seriously, this is not supposed to be happening.
I promise Michael's usually a happy man, but he feels the need to not portray that in his pictures. I feel like I have to take pics every Sunday before church because the kids look so cute. Jill & Christian got us this little authentic Hawaiin dress when they went a couple months ago. I got multiple comments on how cute it was--I wish she could wear it longer, she's just growing so fast.

I found this $1 bubble wand at wal-mart and Stetson goes BALISTIC whenever I bring it out. This kid LOVES bubbles. Especially when all the other kids inthe complex run over and chase bubbles with him.

Earth Day

In no way am I an expert on environmental issues, but I do have a little something to say bout earth day this year. I never thought much of “going green” until I had my kids, and I started thinking about things differently. I want my kids to enjoy the same beauty and environmental sources that we enjoy every day (clean water, etc.). I did take an environmental health class in college and we went to a waste water treatment center, and it dawned on me for the first time (I know I’m a slow learner) that everything we put in our trash has to GO SOMEHWERE, and everything we put down our drains in our bathrooms and kitchen sinks have to GO SOMEWHERE and since then I’ve been thinking more about what I put down my drain and in my trash. So I try to make a small difference in a few ways—

1. I recycle my newspapers. I hope everyone else does—its so easy to do, and there’s places to recycle almost everywhere. Call your town officials or ask around to find out where they’re located.

2. I use a reusable bag when I go shopping (as shown above). This is SO easy to do and if we all did it, I think we’d make a huge difference!! I’ve also found that these reusable bags hold a lot more groceries than a single plastic bag, meaning fewer groceries for me to carry from my car to the house.

3. I try to stay away from buying plastic bottles. Instead I have a red one (as shown above) I refill and take to step and drink out of at home. Its cheaper for one, and so much better on the environment. If plastic bottles don’t wind up in a landfill, taking years and years to decompose, then they end up hurting wildlife it seems.

Anyway, this is all I’m going to say about that. But I do hope you will all go out and buy a reusable grocery bag if nothing else! Happy Earth Day. :)

Kandace

ABC's

Michael keeps bugging me to post this video he took of Stetson speed singing his ABC's. He doesn't usually say them this fast but for some reason he was this time.

Phenomenon

I was channel surfing this afternoon and came across the end of one of my favorite movies of all time, Phenomenon. For one, I think Forest Whitaker is hilarious in this, and John Trovolta compliments him so perfectly. One of the reasons I might love it so much is because a lot of it (if not all, I'm not sure) is filmed in Northern California, where I'm from and the scenery takes me back, plus its romantic, dramatic, thought provoking and heart warming. Go watch it!!

2 months

Last Friday Kandace turned 2 months old. She has been a really good baby--her temperament is a lot different than Stetson's was it seems. Stetson cried a lot more (EVERY time we changed his diaper, bathed him, etc.) She doesn't cry as much and just seems pretty "cool" about things. :) We're totally smitten by her and so overjoyed to have her.
She had her 2 month appointment this morning and she is 10 lbs. 3 oz (wow) and in the 30 something percentile for her weight but her height is 23 in. and she's in the 75th percentile for that, which didn't surprise me too much because she's growing out of her 0-3 so fast. Anyway, they did 3 shots and I heard the sadest cry I've ever heard-broke my heart.

She has slept from about 10pm - 6 or 7am the last 3 days and that has been great--I give all the credit to a Baby Wise--a book written by 2 peditrians who teach you how to "sleep train/schedule" your baby. Its been a huge blessing to us and I don't know how other moms do it. I asked my pediatrician about scheduling and he said he's all for it and he goes by the "Ferber method." Ferber is a doctor whose dedicated like his whole life to studying babies and sleep. I'm going to try to find the book this weekend when we go to Cheyanne. Anyway, I feel like I could write a book on scheduling I've thought so much about it and talked to so many other moms about it. I am definitely all for it and could give a hundred reasons why I'm a believer.
We got Kandace some pacifires a while back because she likes to suck on our pinky and our pinkies were getting sore so we bought the pacifers and told ourselves we'd just use them for "emergency situations" but we've been using them for more than "emergencies." :) Its nice when we travel or go out to eat. I also asked the dr. about that and he said he thinks they're great--they're suppoesd to reduce SIDS and babies find comfort in the sucking motion and its better in my opinion for them to be sucking on a pacifire than me all the time. :) The only thing is you have to deal with getting rid of it down the road. Anyway, its been a lifesaver for us and we're going to use it while we can.
Anyway, one of these days I'm going to do a post about BabyWise and give some info because some people have asked about it and I'm happy to share my experiences with it.

good times were had by all

For easter weekend we went to McCook, Nebraska to visit Michael's brother and his family. It was so so fun and I wish we could get together more often. Jill spoiled us and cooked us yummy meals every day and didn't even kick me out after I flooded their toilet (thats all I'm going to say about that) and Stetson thought he'd died and gone to heaven with all the fun toys Carson has. We love our family and feel so lucky to have them!! We just wished we could all live closer together.
we found the boys like this one night watching a movie together pretty cute boys--patiently waiting for the easter egg hunt to begin
Carson has the GREATEST imagination and likes to put on his knight helmet and ride his horse around like a crazy man, and the first night there he let Steston chase him around. It was hilarious to watch them.
...coming soon is an update on Kandace's 2 month check up!!

A good day for Stetson

This picture was actually taken on conference Sunday-we had chocolate icecream cones for dessert and Stetson LOVED his.
He also loved trying on his Uncle Matthew's irrigating boots
But this is my favorite picture--Stetson got to have 2 of his buddies come over this morning to play--Will & Adam. Stetson thinks that Will is hilarious and so it was fun to watch them play. Will would let Stetson chase him with a plastic sword all over the house while laughing hysterically. It was too cute. Adam was mostly interested in my cell phone and baby Kandace.

The snow is melting and we're loving the warmer weather. The girl I've been co-teaching with is going to teach my class tonight so she can be evaluated so it will be fun to just be just kind of be a spectator and enjoy the class as a participant and not an instructor.

Later this week we're going to go to the great state of Nebraska to visit Michael's brother and his family. We're so excited!!

SERIOUSLY?

I guess we won't be barbequing this weekend...

Cabin fever!!

Michael wanted to go to Carona village really bad tonight so we waited until 6 and headed over there and it was PACKED so we tried Chili's, but the wait there was 30 minutes, so we went to Applebees where the wait was 45 minutes, so we settled for Hong Kong Buffet and stuffed ourselves. When we got home we partied with Matthew & Charlene for a while then headed home for baths and bedtime.
It snowed again today, but its supposed to be in the forties again next Monday and then stay nice for a while. We're SO excited. Matthew & Charlene came over last night and when they left, Stetson BAWLED so they took him with them to go do chores at the state vet lab where Matthew works. I felt bad for Stetson because we're stuck in the house all day with nnowhere to go besides the rec to swim about once a week and then story time on Thursday. I'm excited for nicer weather so we can go on walks and stuff.



Looks like trouble
She sleeps like her dad
Steston fresh out of the tub--I LOVE his hair :)