Wednesday, June 29, 2011

"just kidding... i just want to be a veterinarian."

Tonight over our (very fancy) dinner of TJ's Fish Nuggets and Bell Pepper slices, Brent asked the children (8, 4 and 2) what they wanted to accomplish this summer.

This led to a conversation about their future goals.

Mercedes wants to go to BYU (UT).  During her time in high school and college, she'll work as a cashier and earn money to buy a mini-cooper or a mercedes.  Then she'd like to be a veterinarian or do hair and be a mom.

Cooper wants to go to USC.  He'll drive a big blue truck.  First, he wanted to be a train engineer after college (because he'll be too young in high school).  Then, he decided that he wants to be a veterinarian and a dad.

Once Brent illustrated the joys of being a Father - namely cleaning up barf and poop - Cooper said:

"Just kidding.  I don't want to be a dad.  I just want to be a veterinarian.

Smart boy.

Monday, June 27, 2011

today i don't feel like doing anything

It was VERY hard to get up this morning.  We've been sick for the past week, and this morning the head-cold hit hard.

At one point I got up to get Cooper some cereal.  And then I went back to bed.

Then I got up to change Lincoln's diaper.  And went back to bed.

The kids (who I rationalize are also under the weather and need to just rest) have taken turns picking shows/movies to watch.  I've let them watch as much as they want today.

I let the kids eat whatever they wanted.  Granola Bars?  Sure.  Goldfish?  Sure.  Cookies?  Sure.

I finally got out of bed for good some time after 9 am.

The downstairs floor is covered with granola bar and goldfish and pretzels.  And water.  And I don't care.

My wonderful husband doesn't care either; isn't that nice?  He's downstairs heating up some soup and pizza for the kids so that they get some nourishment today.  He understands how bad I feel because he's the one who gave me this cold.  And he loves me.

A cold in summer?  Really?

Except it doesn't quite feel like summer today, what with all of the rain and the temperature below 70 degrees.  But I sure do prefer this weather to the 90 degrees my dad says he's been experiencing in Utah.  We don't have air conditioning.

Hopefully I'll feel more like myself tomorrow.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

it's coming along...

One of the pros to buying an existing home (rather than a newly-built one) is that the home is already landscaped.  Well, we are silly people.  I've waited and dreamed of having my own home with my own yard, and once I got them I wanted to make them all my own.  When we moved in, the yard felt overgrown and as we began to take some things out... we ended up taking out everything except the lawn!  (almost)  

I waited and waited all winter to finally be able to plant something.  Spring came late to these parts.

And I made my first "online nursery" order.  I didn't realize when I ordered the weeping lavender that it would come as a bare stick.  No dirt.  No leaves.  Just a stick and some roots.  


But if you look very closely, you'll see that it's finally getting some leaves!  It's more than just a stick!!!




And the hydrangea I ordered looked dead for the longest time.  But it's blooming!  And it's beautiful.  This pic was taken a couple of weeks ago.  Now its bright pink.


One of these days we'll finally put down some mulch...

he's a two-wheeler


Brent was afraid (I think) that if he didn't teach Coop to ride without training wheels before his residency started, that the poor boy might be in second grade and still using training wheels.

So on a sunny Monday evening, Brent took the training wheels off...




He does pretty well without them.  We survive a fall every once in a while.

We look forward with great anticipation to someday being rid of both our stroller and bike trailer.

crazy hair day



I could have had a blast with Mercedes' hair on her school's annual "crazy hair or hat day," but Brent got ahold of her first.



Our little Pippi.

I was worried that she'd poke someone's eye out with the piece of metal hanger sticking in her hair.  But there were no casualties, thank goodness.

what'd you say?



This morning I asked Lincoln, "How are you doing?"

His reply: "I Winkon."

_______________________

Yesterday in the car as we were on our way to dinner, Cooper asked why we couldn't stay (in Portland with friends) longer.  I told him that tomorrow is Sunday and we need be home to get ready for church.

Coop:  "Why do we have to go to church?"

Mommy:  "So we can see our friends and be like Jesus."

Coop:  "I just want to be like myself.  Like I am right now."

______________________


Today during Sharing Time the kids were given a paper to fill out, all about their dads.  To the prompt of "my Dad doesn't like to:" one sweet boy's response was "bee fat."  Mercedes' response to that same prompt was "eat junk food."

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

happy june!

We're so happy it's June!

Brent's program doesn't officially start until July, so we've enjoyed having him at home with us this past week.  He's been painting and yard-working and teasing and playing and cleaning and relaxing and studying hard.

On Monday we tried to see Mt. Ranier... we drove all the way to the National Park, but the overcast skies obstructed our view.  Really, I wouldn't have guessed that we were anywhere near a gigantic mountain covered with snow and ice.  We did have fun eating lunch on a real (stationary) train.  The food was actually very good.

Lincoln has a new favorite word.  It starts with "S" and ends with "hut-up".  His other favorites remain, "leave me alone" and "go away!"  He still likes to pretend he's a monkey, foraging for snacks by climbing to the top shelf of the pantry.  When he gets really mad, he bares his teeth.  And bites.  Ouch. Living with a two year old is never boring.

Cooper has decided that he can now swim and no longer needs a life jacket in the deep-end of the swimming pool.  He swims with all his might, but doesn't really get anywhere.  He's making progress with the alphabet; his favorite letter is "Q."   Cooper recently lost his first tooth and has another one that's loose.

Also, Cooper is relieved to finally be sleeping in a "donkey brown" room (that's what Brent calls the shade I chose, which is really just a sand color).  Once it was painted Cooper told me, "I slept really well last night mommy.  I just couldn't sleep in the room when it was bright pink, but now I can sleep really well."  It was literally "bright bubble-gum pink" before.  One of these days I'll post a picture.  Brent is currently using the leftover gallon to paint the master bath.  I am excited that the mint green walls (painted to match the green tile floor, I suppose) will soon be a memory!

Mercedes is learning multiplication and loving it.  She has a new friend who lives a few houses away and is in 3rd grade and is very nice, whose name is "gracie."  I love that she lives close enough that I can watch Mercedes run over to her house to ask if she can play, without even leaving the front porch. I also love that she's a very nice girl.  Gymnastics is still Mercedes favorite activity.  In any room of the house she can be found doing handstands, walking on her hands, walkovers, etc... at any given moment.

I'm looking forward to summer and trying not to panic about it at the same time.  It will be great to have Mercedes home, and we'll love the freedom of going and seeing and doing in the sunshine.  I'm just a wee bit scared about losing Brent.  Apparently, for the first while it'll be a 7 day a week gig.  Eventually, once he gets fast at doing "notes" (?) for the doctors or cases he working with, he'll be home 1/2 days on the weekends.  He's already got trips scheduled for July and August.  At least I'll know he's safe this time!