Tristan 6.5 MOs

Proposition 8 Must Read

Head on over the the "soapbox" on my blog roll. Her latest post is a must read.

Walmart Rampage

A few weeks back I wrote about my shopping experience at Wal-Mart and that I would never return. However before I go any further into my story a little BACK story may be helpful. I have always been a Wal-Mart hater from the get go. I saw a documentary about how Wal-Mart was forcing small business owners out of business here in America and having them take such profit losses on their goods to remain a Wal-Mart partner, or have the items shipped overseas to be made in China. Combine that with the infestation of a Wal-Mart on every corner, in every city regardless of the outcry and protestors, I decided years ago Wal-Mart would never get my business. (let alone about the terrible story of the women who was badly injured and Wal-Mart suing HER for the settlement)
I started to date a guy while I was single that was a Wal-Mart LOVER, we would get in arguments over the store, and how he loved how cheap things were and after all it’s a buyer’s market, he went where he could save the most money. I argued that it didn’t matter that you were saving a few bucks if you were contributing to the bottom line of an organization that was EVIL! Well during the time we hung out we did in fact shop on occasion at Wal-Mart. There was no denying the cheap goods that Wal-mart provides and I could overlook the general populous that shopped there because I went there only on occasion.
However when Jonathan and I started to see the real increase to our grocery bill and we were trying to cut out any and all unnecessary expenses, we decided to switch to Wal-Mart for our food shopping. I planned my monthly meals, did my weekly shopping lists and it was a chore that we set out each Saturday to do…brave Wal-Mart. We did see a significant savings in our grocery bills between 20-30 dollars each week, but with that savings came a downside. I could not overlook week after week the people who shop there. Every week we would navigate down aisles where it felt like we were in battle. Hoards of people and carts were going every which way. The amount of people in the aisles were staggering, we were constantly having to stop, let people go by, ask to get by others, see children badly in need of a bath running around without shoes, dirty, trashy, families talking too loud, complaining about this and that…produce that was limited or reduced to very few items. We continued to shop week after week for about 2 months and we left Wal-Mart exhausted, and cranky. Well for me the last straw was that I decided to run to Wal-Mart without the family and get some needed items. I was there on a Sunday morning hoping to miss the majority of folks, and get some better produce. I arrive at the produce section and what do I see? A family with dirty children running around TOUCHING all the food and as they touch the food, swarms of fruit flies are hovering. I was disgusted! See- I love to cook. If I had more time I would try and plan gourmet meals for us to enjoy during the week. As it is, I feel like I do my best to provide a sit down meal for the family as often as possible. I really enjoy baking. My meal preparation and planning is calming to me. I feel good about providing this to my family. I work full time but I never want my kids to feel that we didn’t have dinner together as often as possible. I have the staple meals that I can make without thinking but when I plan on doing something special the shopping is PART of this process. To wander around a store and look and smell the imported cheese section/ olive bar/ and artesian breads is a good thing. I see other patrons browse the organic section, see clean children, and to go to a produce section that is brimming with fresh goods that look like perfection, is the kind of food shopping that I enjoy. I want to be excited about the food that I will be cooking, and know that I didn’t just step into a war zone and battle my way out of a store. I want to know my checkers and baggers, see local sellers and unique items as I leisurely go up and down aisles in a store. I’ve decided my savings doesn’t outweigh the shopping experience at Wal-Mart and as such will no longer be giving them my business. Hello Harmons! Hello Fred Meyer(now smiths)! You have your old customer back and I will never leave again.

(Im putting in here a disclaimer...as a commentor mentioned, there are some decent Walmarts out there. However for me---- what it represents is what makes me not want to shop there. see video....just watch the first minute)

Elijiahs kind words

Khory was out of town for almost 2 weeks...which meant I had Elijiah all to myself during that time and I LOVED every minute of it. Khory came back on saturday and so he spent saturday night with Khory, but I went and picked him up sunday for church as it was the primary program. I arrived several minutes early. Heres how it went.

Elijiah- Mom you are early!
me- Yes sorry forgot what time I was supposed to be here, so I didnt want to be late.
Elijiah-Thats okay, Ive been missing you! Its been a WHOLE day!
Me- Yeah a whole day! Well Ive been missing you too!
Elijiah- That warms my heart mom, really warms it.....

I almost started to cry right then and there. Here is my almost 6 yr old son telling me that when hes away from me even for a day he misses me. I know this time is flying by. Soon enough he will be happy to not spend so much time with me...but for now I relish every second I can get.

ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT TWILIGHT?!

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!
*****
You are thoughtful and care very deeply for your family. A loving home is of great
importance to you and you always try to make people feel welcome. Although you have a great capacity to love, you also have a great capacity to hurt, so at times you can be sensitive. You're firm when you need to be, but people trust your judgment and appreciate the kind way you always handle things.
******
FUNNY!!!Who would have thought I would be Esme....?!

Elijiahs Kindergarten report card

click to enlarge...

Wild Ride of Nursing School- NOT!

Im just getting around to blogging about this. I had a good cry a week ago about it, and I figured Im in a better mental state to write about it now. I posted something similar about a year ago when I got my acceptance letter in September 07. Jonathan and I discussed options and we decided that we would put the house on the market, hopefully sell quickly(as the housing situation wasnt as bad then as now) and perhaps I would either quit my job at Disney, or see if I could reduce my hours, and go to school. So that was the original motivating factor in putting the house up for sale. Several months went by and I contacted the school as me starting in January wasnt going to happen...for one thing being pregnant and starting a program was suicide, and another we still had the house. I was able to defer for a year, and I was thrilled. I felt that for sure by then the house would sell, the baby would be older and I could juggle. With each passing month that the house didnt sell, Jonathan and I would have the conversation about what we should do. We discussed keeping the house(not a favorite thought), not going back to school and perhaps we should still try to sell, but buy something more for our long term plan(bigger house). I went back and forth on - giving up my dream of being a nurse one that I had since I was 12, to Im an adult, with a family now, its not the right time to go further in debt, only to make about 1/2 of what I am making now etc. Ultimately the decision has been made purely by default. I have no idea what I would have chosen to do should the house have sold. The responsible me would say nope, weve got two kids, we want another one, we need to focus on them. The other part of me feels like a piece of me is dying- for all the hard work and sacrifice to have this option and seeing it go down the drain. What a bummer. As many of you know I got my BS degree at the time due to the wait for nursing. However when I was pregnant with Elijiah I went back to school to take all the nursing pre-reqs and then was placed on the wait list for FIVE years. 5 people! Ive worked in a job that is not professionally exciting to me, for the dream and hope of doing something that is meaningful, provides me more time to be with my kids etc etc. Now faced with the idea that the job I do everyday is possibly the same job Ill do for the next 30 years is unbelievably depressing. When I "officially" declined this next semesters start to the program, she let me know that if I were to change my mind or want to re-apply the wait is about 3 years now. The only thought that came to my head-- "oh goody". I dont think Ill put myself through all of this again, but who knows maybe when im 50 Ill think about it.

Great marriage advice from Pres. Hinckley

"I am satisfied that happiness in marriage is not so much a matter of romance as it is an anxious concern for the comfort and well-being of one’s companion. Any man who will make his wife’s comfort his first concern will stay in love with her throughout their lives and through the eternity yet to come"

--ah I think that is great advice.....I believe Jonathan has truely got this one down.

Oh Children will never cease to amaze me...

So Monday my dad called and said that someone was coming by to see the house Tuesday afternoon...so of course I am a mad woman cleaning and getting everyone to pitch in and help. Tuesday I scramble as we leave the house for school/work and make sure that the house is spotless and everything is in order. As I leave I take a last look around and the house looks good. Yesterday afternoon we get home and I am cooking dinner and my dad calls. "would it be alright for another realtor to come by and show the house? they are about 15 minutes away?" I said sure, the house is still in perfect order, we just started dinner so really not a problem. The realtor and client show up, they go through the house and then leave. Its not till I enter the bathroom with Jonathan to give Tristan a bath, that I notice, the toilet seat is up( something which I NEVER do, and make an effort before leaving the house to put down said toilet seats ) and peer in....OMG! Elijiah went #2 and didnt flush! Nor did he put the seat down, so while I thought everything was in perfect order for house showing, I didnt double check the bathrooms. I had no idea that between the time we got home and 20 minutes later this occurred. Let me tell you I am mortified! Jonathan and I laughed about it, but still has Elijiah TOTALLY forgotten how to flush!!!! EK!

Fall Hike

Ive been dying to get up in the mountains to see the fall colors...however it seems that we've had something going on each saturday, and the weather hasnt been all that great. However last weekend Saturday was perfect so we took the family up Mill Creek canyon to do a small hike.

The colors would have been better a few weeks ago as predicted...but it was still great to get outdoors...

As usual Jonathan is behind the camara snapping pictures so he isnt in any of these, but I think he really enjoyes taking the shots.
Such cute kids!

Tristan standing...we were shocked!

Recognize anything in this one mom?

(amber here)***I have to add some updates about Tristan honey- sorry for taking over your post!!!

He is now officially crawing. While he has mastered it, he will go a few steps- four or five, then decide he gets to his destination faster by his "inchworm" crawl. Also we walked in to his room saturday morning and found him standing up. Cute pictures to follow...as I was shocked! Our 6 month old not only now crawling, but pulling himself to stand! As my mom said- "oh no! he'll be just like you amber, climbing out of the crib at 8 months...watch out!!"

I hope not, but it seems that our little Tristan is proving himself to be a mover and a shaker, not content to sit still for long!

One last thing...I had no problem with Tristans first words being dada..however he is now saying with great regularity...mama!!! (and it warms this moms heart) ****

Random Pictures

This child is contstantly doing the weirdest things...I just happened to catch him on camara this time...
IM SO LOVING dog sitting for my Keeva. With Khory out of town Ive had the pleasure of hanging with my "baby". While 7 years old now, and getting grumpy at times, shes still my puppy. She follows me around and is very mellow.. However she doesnt like to be apart from us for long, as I realized the first night. I had her dog bed( the one that I saved from almost 2 years ago) in the living room. She was up all night coming to our bedroom door and whining. I moved the bed to the hallway outside the room, and she promptly laid down for the night. Ive enjoyed several runs with her, and while she is an escape artist out of her crate(houdini should be her name) Im so happy to have her for these last few days. While this is bringing up the topic of getting another dog, Its hard for me to say for sure what we will do. Certainly not in this house...its just too small...but perhaps the next house we will consider it. Im going to miss her when shes back with Khory.

Corys leaving

Cory left for South Africa on Tuesday and we were all told that we werent to go to the airport. However Dad had a business trip scheduled and made an effort to connect with Cory before his flight. He brought him some goodies and hopefully it made the long flight more enjoyable with the treats. Head on over to Corys blog to see the rest of the photos...

Last soccer game of the season

Over the weekend we did very little with the exception of Elijiahs last soccer game of the fall season. It was a short 6 weeks but this was the first year that the kids played positions. My uncle Peter, and Elijiahs dad were the coaches and I think Elijiah really enjoyed it. Saturday was incredibly cold and snowy, but we braved the weather, bundled up and made the best of it...My dad made the game and it was great to have him come. Dad played for BYU back in the day and I know it makes him proud to see his grandson enjoy the game he loves.

Lookin' good Elijiah!

Sweet shot honey! Great action...
My uncle Peter


I couldnt find any mittens for Tristan and thought the socks would be okay...poor kid...he fell asleep and it wasnt till an hour later back in the car that I pulled them off....his fingers were red and ice cold. Mental reminder-get some gloves for him!

Elijiah- you are a superstar....Im so proud of you! XO MOM!

BAD DADDY!!!!

So Amber decided to pull out my camera and fire off a couple shots of me and little bubby hangin out. I wanted to make sure that the camera settings were adjusted properly so I sat Tristan on the couch for a split second and inspected the camera...

Then comes a loud "THUD"...

Tristan had fallen off the couch onto the floor and although it was only about a foot and a half, my heart stopped and I was immediatly in some form of shock! Amber let me console him for a bit but then she had to mother him up a bit so I decided to snap a shot. LOOK AT THE ACCUSATION IN HIS GAZE!!!!

Fortunately, this shot was taken about 5 minutes later when we plopped little guy into the bath with Elijah. No, I didn't Photoshop that smile onto his face so THANK GOD he's okay!!! I don't think I've ever felt so bad in my life!! SORRY SON - NEVER AGAIN!!!!

Tristan - Sad today

Im sometimes hesitant to write some of my feelings here so I have to state to all readers that I love Tristan to pieces. Each day that I see his smile it warms my heart and there isnt anything in the world that I wouldnt do for this child.

However---- Im struggling with feeling like am I someone hes bonded with? I dont know what my expectations were honestly with a second child. Jonathan hates this but because I didnt raise Noel, my only experience with mom-hood is Elijiah. And he really was a piece of cake. He was a mommas boy and very attached to me from the get go. I could easily see from his reactions that he wanted to be with me, had some separation anxiety when I was away, and to be honest, sometimes felt nice to be so appreciated. Im not sure what Tristan feels for me, but its not the same as it was with Elijiah. I think that because the pregnancy with him threw me eyes deep in depression which required some professional help, being so incredibly sick, suffering through the labor and delivery which was not in my control, only to bounce immediately back to my happy self, fall deeply and madly inlove with our child, only to find out that I- super mom to Elijiah, couldnt soothe, calm or care for a colicky child left me full of doubts. To feel so helpless in being able to bond normally, because he was crying so much, slept so little, having to return to work so quickly and turn him over to others during the day hasnt been good for me. Thankfully hes outgrown his constant crying, but because he still doesnt sleep during the day, when I arrive to pick him up from daycare, hes more often than not exhausted, irritable and hard to console. I spend the 2 hours a day that I have him often feeling overwhelmed because I still am unable to make him comfortable or enjoy play time when hes so tired. Jonathan and I do our best - but we know he needs his sleep and often times by 6pm hes out for the night. Weekends are good, as we really make up for the week, by following a strict regimen of naps followed by lots of play time and I feel that we reconnect during that time. Maybe because hes teething, maybe because its Friday after another long week of not having good quality time with him....whatever the reason I feel that as long as someone is caring for him he doesnt really care who it is. Could be his day care providers, could be Jonathan, could be anyone of his grandmas. But me, mom- well Im just one more person that takes care of him. I think if I felt that all my sacrifice, exhaustion, migraines from my own lack of sleep, etc etc was rewarded by a child who let me hold him, cuddle him, lay with him without his flapping around, twisting and turning to move any which way...perhaps Id feel better. (Sigh) this is im sure just a phase, one that as time passes Tristan will know who mom is, but for now at the end of a long work week and I feel desperate to connect with him again.

Okay lets see if this works..will it load sideways again?

Okay this is SO dumb. Its still uploading photos sideways...SORRY! Had to post some old photos for fun...too bad I get a kink in my neck looking at them!

16th birthday

a black phase I think I was 14?
me and cory...I was 12

a good ol family photo and me and my sisters- get a load of those shoes we are wearing?!

one of many photos

enjoyed cliff jumping from a young age!

1st grade

kindergarten

cowboy amber- i still remember this

my favorite baby photo

love the outfit!!!

Im catching up!

Okay I finally am back in the office and had some time to post the latest for Cory on his blog...so head on over there next...

That being said, even tho Im back in the office I am swamped at work so I can only do a brief recap...

First of all I have to say that I got to see an old friend the other day(Garian- see blog roll) while she was in town and that was a lot of fun. We didnt have much time, but she and her mother - in - law made the trip downtown for some shopping and I met up with them for a bit. Garian looks exactly the same since the last time I saw her, which was high school. Bryson, her little boy, is adorable and it was great to meet him. Have a safe trip home Garian, next time lets try and get the hubbys together as well......

Soccer is coming to an end...this weekend being the last game. I have a love hate with soccer season, and I definately feel that I need to put Elijiah is something else until spring soccer begins....Im thinking gymnastics!!! :)

Trsitans 6 mo appointment

It was Jonathans turn to see our child in pain. At the 4 month appointment even though I didnt cry, it created anxiety for me to be there during the shots so- I let Jonathan know it was his turn at the 6 month appointment. Everything went well - Tristan is growing and during great!
Official stats:
Height: 30 inches- over 100%
Weight:19.15lbs-78%

My yearbook pictures! Isnt this funny!!!

Weekend recap

My oh my...lots has been happening over the last few weeks. Mainly just all the family stuff, but none the less its kept us incredibly busy and overall exhausted. Tristan is now if full teething mode, and has become very irritable, and whiny. Not that I blame him . Also he has mastered the inch worm crawl. Not on all fours, but reaches out with his hands and "inches" his way across any floor, or surface. We are now having to watch him every second. He is babbling with greater consistency...saying "dada" and "mama" but Im sure he hasnt figured out the meaning. He is continuing his early morning wake up calls with little success of returning to sleep once he is up. This morning it was 4am. I think that overall all of us having a cold/sickness that we couldnt shake, little sleep, and this going on for a month or so, has left us in our current state. This past weekend was a great respite. Besides watching conference, we had Elijiahs saturday soccer game, did some errands but once home we literally holed up, ate too much and relaxed. It was a much needed couple of days.

Elijiah is doing very well. He has finally adjusted to Kindergarten and the schedule. His teachers are bringing in extra work for him so he doesnt get bored and he is being challenged. They also are reaching out to him one on one and having him be the "classroom" helper. We also got him enrolled in piano lessons and between that and soccer he is a busy boy.

Halloween is coming and I have volunteered to be a room mom at Elijiahs school so I am in charge of the class party...this being said October is full of so many activities for Halloween Im excited! We got Tristans costume at Old Navy...after searching high and low at many stores- finally finding a costume I wanted to make him, I went to old navy and found the cutest red dragon costume and bought it. Now still on the hunt for Elijiah- if I could convince him to be a knight- wouldnt that be adorable??!!!

Flashback pics of Jonathan

I have to say that Im ticked off that some of these pictures loaded sideways...I mentioned in an earlier post that Jonathan worked on the HTML code to fix it with no avail. I deleted them then re-uploaded hoping it was a glitch. But alas- not so. SO- I decided that I wanted to posted them regardless as during my yearly "blog book" I can rotate them, but online they will look this way...SORRY!

My favorite childhood photo of Jonathan
Jonathan and one of the MANY newspapers articles that highlighted him....
Jonathan and his dad growing potatoes

Piano Playing
Such determination!
Family Photo
Out Camping..
Jonathans Dad- Carl
Mom and Son
Grumpy boy!
Another Family photo
Jonathan about 1 year old...