My Girls' Update

Kira:
She has two new tricks that she has learned in the past week. They are SO cute b/c they are interactive and, of course, coming from such a chunky cutie-pie!
1. Peek-a-boo! If she has a blanket in her lap she will grab on to it with both hands and lift her hands above her head, wait a few seconds and put her hands back down. We say, "peek-a-boo." Then she will repeat it for quite a while.
2. Yay! She was clapping a lot today as she was sitting on my lap while I was doing some stuff on the computer. Every time she clapped, I would say "Yay!" to try to get her to associate clapping with us saying it and it worked! Now she claps when we say "Yay!" (if she's fed and not cranky and tired). It is so amazing how quickly she learned it and so fun to watch! She is growing up! It is so fun to watch her grow.

Kira is getting close to crawling! She is getting pretty comfortable on her hands and knees, lifting up one hand or one knee at a time and also getting on her hands, one knee, and one foot sometimes. She can go from these positions back to sitting. It will be any day! Adalin was crawling about now, but Kira has a few extra pounds to bear, so she's doing well!

Adalin:
Just a few funny things she said today...
We were walking into the TCC to bring Adam dinner and I said to Adam who came out to help me bring the food in, "Wow, why are there so many people here?" Adalin says, "Because they don't want to get fat." Yup, that's basically the gist of it!
I put Adalin's pointy hood to her jacket on as we were getting out of the car and she says to me, "I look like a cowgirl!" Ok, so this one isn't as funny as the first quote, but I have no idea where she got this from. I asked her where she heard that and she said that she made it up. Yeah right.

My Birthday

My day was wonderful! So many people called, emailed, wrote on my wall... it was wonderful to hear from all those that love me and/or call me their good friend.
This morning I decorated our Christmas tree. It was such a joy to string the lights and hang the ornaments. That is one of my favorite things to do during the Christmas season. I love having a lit tree in my living room. Love it, love it, love it. They are so beautiful. The tree this year is small and fake, opposed to every other year when they have been large and real ones, smelling good furs and pines... I just don't trust Yukon at all (do you blame me?), so we borrowed a mini one and put it on top of our black chest in the living room so it doesn't get knocked over and dragged throughout the house. This one is still beautiful with all its gold and silver ornaments and many, many lights.
As I mentioned before, I bought myself some clothes for my birthday last week... so I officially get to wear them starting tomorrow! I am excited! Adam came home from class at 10 this morning and took Adalin out to Walmart and the dollar store to buy me a few things. He didn't only want me to open things that I had already seen and picked out myself. He is so sweet and always full of creative ideas and surprises. They came trotting in the house over an hour later very excited about their b-day finds.
Adalin first hands me a vase with 3 pink roses in it and says, "These are as pretty as you are." So sweet. Equally charming is that her daddy told her to say that.
Then they go into my bedroom to wrap the other presents in the pink princess paper Adalin was sure was just what I would have picked out myself. They come out, Adalin bursting at the seams, trying her hardest not to divulge what was underneath the beautiful wrapping jobs...
First, the biggest one, an oddly shaped object, looks like an article of clothing or throw blanket rolled up and wrapped w/o a proper garment box... it crinkles when handled... what do you know, a family size bag of Doritos! Hilarious! Adam and I cracked up, Adalin was so proud of her idea to get these for me, "Because they are Mommy's favorite."
Second, new measuring cups and teaspoons. Thank you, I love getting kitchen stuff anytime!
Third, a Butterfinger bar. Just what my thighs needed! I did enjoy every bite though!
Adam and I got a babysitter, Elina (thanks you're awesome!), and went to Il Spazio for a little dinner. It was great to sit and eat and just be with Adam for a little while.
Adam made me a cake too. He picked up a box cake at walmart and whipped it up last night at 9pm. It was so cute. He didn't want me to not have a cake this year. He is so sweet.
It was a great day, thanks to so many people! Thank you.

St. Louis

We got back last night from a wonderful trip to St. Louis. We left Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, and came back Saturday night. We had such a good time. I can't tell you how wonderful it was to get out of Kirksville for a few days and take a little family vacation. We went with our good friends, the Goughs, who were so fun.
We stopped in Columbia on the way there at Hobby Lobby. Holy cow. I have never been there before; talk about a craft superstore. My mission was to get a few pages of scrapbook paper for my clock that I am decorating. I found some that I think will look fabulous. When I actually get it done, I can put a pic on here and tell you a little about the history of the clock (basically that I have had it for 3 years and still haven't finished it...)
We got lunch and headed to St Louis. When we got there we checked into our hotel first. Ruth got the hotel rooms on Priceline for $40 each! When we looked on the back of the hotel room door the listed price per room was $279 for 2 people and up to three hundred something for 4 or more people. Talk about a deal! We were on the 15th floor and had a great view of the city and the Cardinals Stadium. Didn't get a pic of it though.



We headed to dinner at Macaroni Grill. Oh so good. I crave good restaurant food after living in Kirksville for this long. There isn't much of a selection here besides hit-and-miss Il Spazio and Ruby Tuesdays. I tries their Penne Rustica only because I recently acquired and awesome Penne Rustica recipe from Katherine's blog that I absolutely LOVE. I actually think that I prefer this version to Macaroni Grill's. It was way good though there too. It was amazing to taste the Rosemary bread there again too.

Then we were off to the St. Louis Galleria (mall)... it was nice to step foot in a mall again. I'm telling you, Kirksville has done something to me. Some of my friends, like Ruth, get out of here a lot, but I haven't. I haven't been to a mall since our summer break, what like 4 months ago. When I say mall, I mean like any store that sells things not of Walmart-like quality usually located near or in malls. That is one great and exciting thing about moving next summer, we will be close to shopping again. Here are Noah and Adalin massaging each other in Bath & Body Works... so cute.

Adalin putting Emma in a head-lock, which was meant to be a hug. They are such beautiful girls.

All 5 stinkers. They were all such troopers being carted around town to dinner and shopping. They actually really enjoyed themselves and were great for not having their regular naps. Kira and Ben are the chunkiest babies ever.

Saturday we woke up, got breakfast at the St. Louis Bread Co., otherwise known as Panera Bread. This is one place that I really miss eating at. I love it. Then, off to the zoo we went! This was the bast zoo trip I have ever had. It was so fun going with friends, taking our time looking at animals, talking, watching the kids play. It was so fun. Notice Adalin's pant didn't want to stay up. She was showing crack all day. It was cute, actually.

We didn't quite know what this camel was doing.. maybe getting ready to, you know?? He (or she) stood there for a few minutes in this position. Funny. I love the foam at the mouth.

Adalin was terrified of this snake and would not touch it. We tried to convince her to touch it by telling her that Kira would. No success. If Kira only knew what it actually was... She might like this picture when she is older.

Fox's ears... I thought that they were funny.

Butterfly house, so peaceful, beautiful.

And a little family pic. Great day. Oh, and notice Adalin's coat... steal of the day Friday! From Gap, on clearance... $12.97. NO LIE! How cool is that!

Lunch at Steak & Shake after the Zoo... Adalin and Noah sat on the end of the table and played with the sugar packets for a half and hour.

Adalin was SO tired by the end of the day. She and Kira fell asleep 5 minutes after we headed out of St. Louis.

We hit the outlet mall outside of St. Louis where I unloaded my Birthday money at the Gap outlet. All sweaters were 50% off, I got 3 and also some brown wide leg cords that are SO cute. Adam won't let me have them until my b-day Wednesday though. NO FAIR! Everything at the Carter's outlet was 50% off too, so we got a few things for the girls there. Such good deals, we couldn't pass them up!

Overall, WONDERFUL TRIP! I am SO glad we went. It was just what I needed!

Adam is back. I didn't even realize that he was gone until Saturday was here, finals had been over for about 24 hours and after he got a good night's sleep. Adam was cracking jokes again, smiling, teasing us all a little bit, imitating W. C. Fields, quoting Lord of the Rings and other movies. He was happy, very different than he has been the last few months. He slowly lost his livelihood as this past quarter progressed.

I have never seen him that stressed and overwhelmed. But its over! I could never be more thankful that we actually made it through somehow. It's funny to think about, but I look at his school and test schedule for the last two weeks of the quarter and all the things I had going on on top of that, and I really don't know how I lived through it. I know that w/o the help of the Lord, we would have failed, miserably. If I had those two weeks immediately ahead of me right now, I couldn't do it again. I couldn't handle it emotionally or physically. We were all at the end of our ropes in a serious way.

But we did it. It was hard, but we did it. I am so thankful for this break. We need the time to chill and do some things together. We have painted together, replaced outlets, cleaned our garage, organized closets, watched movies, ate together. It has been wonderful. We are going to St. Louis, shopping and to the Zoo the weekend after Thanksgiving. I am SO excited for that!

So, here's a shout out to all my fellow 2nd year spouses... we survived!

Snorenelle

My sister Lauren decided to visit us this weekend from Michigan. She saw that she had 5 days off from her 2 jobs, so thought that she would take a trip to the big MO and see us. I love having company! I appreciate so much when our family comes and visits. I know it isn't easy, but it makes us feel special and loved. She leaves tomorrow. :( So, yes, it is a short visit, but Lauren and Adalin have gotten some wonderful bonding time in. They watched movies, put makeup and perfume on each other, help each other get dressed and ready for the days, played in nursery on Sunday together and ate every meal hip to hip.
"The milk chugger": that's what I have named Lauren. I have NEVER seen so much milk be consumed from my refrigerator ever. We had 1 1/2 gallons in our fridge Saturday afternoon. I went to the store for a few things and picked up another gallon just so I wouldn't have to go get more milk before Lauren left Wednesday. We ran out Monday morning. 2 1/2 gallons in 2 days. That's sad. Lauren LOVES to drink milk, obviously. I ran this morning for more, bought 2 gallons, and one is already 1/3 full. Now she isn't the only one drinking it, but it is being consumed at about twice the regular rate. I never really understood the magnitude of this milk obsession until her visit this time. She says that she usually buys herself 2-3 gallons a week. Hmm, at $2.50 per gallon, that's $25 per month for milk. Not ideal for a poor college student. The verdict... milk rehab. She needs to learn to drink water.

The Kirksville Fire Station

We had a fun time at the Kirksville fire station Friday. The medical school student spouse organization puts together children's socials every month and it was the fir station this time. It was really cool to look into the life of a firefighter. They have an entire "house" on the second floor of the station complete with a large living room with 6 or 8 lazy boys, a big screen TV, a kitchen with 3 different pantries (with locks) and refrigerators for the 3 different shifts, a laundry room, and a bunch of little bedrooms with beds, nightstands and dressers. Adalin was a little afraid of the firefighter when he put on all of his gear. She warmed up a little by the end though. A friend of mine took the picture of us on the fire truck... sorry it's absent.

Habits

There are a lot of things about myself that I would like to change. Things that range from how I interact with people to very personal things such as where my thoughts are directed and how intent my prayers are. To try to change all of these (many) things at once would only result in failure. I'll take it one at a time. Prayer is first.

I feel like I am in a spiritual slump as of late. For some, they wouldn't know what I mean b/c they have never had a spiritual high. Well, let me honestly tell you, when I am in tuned with what my Heavenly Father wants for me and can feel his love, and am living like I should, doing all that I have been asked to do, I am happy. Nothing made on this earth by man can bring this happiness. It is when I concentrate on the spiritual that I feel good, motivated, happy, healthy, focused.

Why is it so hard to change? We are creatures of habit. Unfortunately, this means that when we develop bad habits they stick, just like the good ones.

So here goes my Better Prayer Campaign. I need to put forth more effort into my prayers. This is more important than I realize, I think. All that I have, all that brings me joy in my life, has been given to me by God. Why don't I sincerely thank Him more? Why, at the end of the night, can I not remember all the things that I was blessed with that day?

Some of my favorite words on the subject of prayer are written in the Bible Dictionary, at the back of the Bible published by my church. It reads:

"As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7: 7-11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings."

I forget this relationship. God is our father. He wants me to be happy, just as I want my own children to be happy. He would do anything for me, he has done so much for me already. He knows me so well, but do I know Him? This paragraph reminds me of some fundamental things that I am failing to remember. It was a good reminder for me today.

"When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece."

John Ruskin said that. It has provoked thought today as I have read it over and over on my google sidebar. I have thought all day about my grandparents in Georgia. Well, my Grandma passed away just days after Kira was born, my grandpa lives on. They were/are both skilled people. My grandfather is a woodworker. He has made many great pieces for me and my family. His love and skill have combined to make true masterpieces. They mean the world to me. My grandma was a wonderful woman who gave of all that she had to those she loved until the day she died. She helped me make my scripture bag. It a simple bag, but to me it is one of the things I have that mean the most to me. Her hands touched it, her voice instructed me how to stitch it. She laughed a lot that day it was made. My mom, both sisters and I were all down in her sewing room making the bags of our dreams and my Grandie was in heaven with us all there. When Adalin was born, she made at least 15 custom burp cloths, 2 silkie blankets, 5 flannel blankets and many more items and sent them all in a box for us to use and enjoy. An ordinary burp rag isn't anything special, but she made these using her talents and with SO much love. They mean a lot to me. They are masterpieces.
She was so happy when Kira was born. My girls were her only great grandchildren. She was so proud to be a great grandmother, SO PROUD. In just the few days before she died, she carried a picture of my two girls around in her work apron, showing everyone that would look and telling everyone who would listen about her new g-baby. I wish that she could have been able to hold Kira and see Adalin again. She only saw Adalin once when she was 4 months old. It had been too long. Why didn't we come from Utah to see her again? I wish we would have. She had a 11x14 picture of Adalin in her "happy room," a room where she would go and watch TV, write emails or read. We visited Georgia after her death and seeing that picture and others of my girls and our little family really touched my heart. She loved us so much. How grateful I am to know that I will see her again.

"Closed book, closed notes, open revelation."

2nd quarter was bad, 5th is worse. The past 3 months have been lonely, tiring and, at times, depressing. We are hanging in there though. Adam has 3 tests left this week and then its PARTY TIME!

Adam told me the other day that he doesn't know if the price he is paying to become a doctor is worth it to him. He isn't dropping out, but he didn't know that it was going to be this hard. He eats lunch and dinner with us and some days that's it. He thinks that he could have been happy doing a lot of things for work, but he decided medicine b/c it is fulfilling, pays well and is what he has always wanted to do. It's what a lot of his family members do. Is it worth the sacrifice though? Does he want to be a doc that bad? I think in the middle of all the stress of a million tests per week, he thinks not, but in retrospect, this will seem but a small moment and not as hard as it once was.

I am proud of him. I wouldn't trade my life for his for a million dollars, well.... haha. A million dollars would help out a lot right now. His life is stressful. He feels like a failure sometimes b/c everything he is involved in he needs to do better at or spend more time with.

I can't even describe how wonderful Sundays are. After this last week, we had Sunday, always a day of spiritual and physical rejuvenation. Adam decided not to study on Sunday back at BYU and has stuck to that through the years, at all costs. He promised the Lord, and himself, that Sunday would be a day for us and him. It has been VERY hard for him to keep that promise, though I know that blessings have flown and he has been looked after as he takes those Monday morning tests on 4 hours of sleep, not having studied at all the day before. I am grateful for a husband who is committed to everything he does.

I remember at BYU a professor was discussing a test coming up and said, "closed book, closed notes, open revelation." People laughed, myself included, but I know that Adam has been assisted with his studying and tests and that the Lord has helped him make it this far b/c he he has kept this promise.

Of course, he would no longer have a sane wife if I didn't see him on Sundays either... maybe that's his motivation. :)

Cinderella Days

OK, so Adalin wants to watch Cinderella everyday. I didn't let her watch TV at all before she was 2 and after that she didn't really know how to focus on any movie. She wasn't all that interested. Things have changed! She was once scared of the stepmother in Cinderella but her bravery has now increased and the wicked lady doesn't even phase her. I always give in and let her watch Cindersmelly (as Adam calls her) while I shower and get ready. It's a little too easy.

What motivated this Cinderella post? I have been thinking a lot about how I used to watch this same movie and many other Disney classics when I was a child (Dumbo, Lady & The Tramp, Sleeping Beauty were a few of our all-time favs). That is cool stuff, that these movies are so timeless and last through generations and are as magical to her as they were to me.

Adalin said to Adam one day while watching Cinderella and her prince dance in love, "Daddy, when will I get to dance with my prince?" How cute. It made me think that someday Adalin will grow up and find the man of her dreams. How I hope for all the happiness in the world for her and for a wonderful, righteous man to take her to the temple and marry her. I am sure her future hubby will like that line of hers when she was 2.

I have my favorite parts of Cinderella now too, different from my favorite bits as a child.

OK, so next time you watch Cindersmelly, when Jaq comes into Cinderella's room to tell her that there is a new mouse in the house, Gus Gus, C. gets out a dress and says, "Oh, well she'll need a dress" and, here it is, Jaq's laugh. This giggle is my favorite part of the movie and I don't think that it even made me laugh at all as a child.

I know, this is pathetic! Getting ready in the morning, I listen to this movie at least 3 times per week. I just had to share my thoughts about this little giggle. I love it, it makes me laugh every time. Go ahead, turn your C. movie on and find that part, it will be fun!

It was SO funny, when C. is mopping the floor and when you can see her reflection in all the bubbles while she is singing "Sing, sing nightingale" Adalin says the other day, "Mom, how is she going to get out of those bubbles?" I love little brains.

Kira the Muffin

I can't even describe how much of a joy this little girl is. She makes my heart swell with an immense love. She is so sweet and so smiley and wonderful. So fat too! It cracks me up that her waist won't fit into 12 month sizes anymore and that I am putting 18 month jeans on my 7 month old. I love her bald head. I like to just rub it sometimes and feel the fuzziness on my fingers. Her smile is immaculate and brings such happiness to my soul.




This quarter is only a week and a half from ending and has been the worst yet. Adam has been amazingly upbeat and positive through it all. He ALWAYS has to study, but we have managed to have some moments full of laughter in the last few days. Adam got our cowboy hat and afro wig out of our coat closet last night and put them on Kira. We laughed, smiled and were able to charge up for another night of studying.

My mom started the muffin thing. That's Kira's nickname, "muffin girl," "muffin top," "top top," the list goes on. Silly, I know, but what is sweeter than a sweet, soft muffin? Nothing.

The Rose

This is the best rose that we have grown so far this year! It is in a vase in our house now, and is just so pretty. Looking at it as I pass by, I have been reminded often over the last few days how beautiful God's creations are. I just love having fresh flowers in the house. It humbles me somehow and reminds me to take pleasure in simple, naturally beautiful things.

The TP Saga Continues

I felt like I was ran over by a bus this afternoon, so I decided to nap... Ahhhh, I love taking naps. Anyway, I awoke from the sound of 13 year-old voices in my front yard, cleaning up the Toilet paper! They are sweet kids and I am SO thankful that they have good parents who made them come back and clean up the mess they made!

Halloween!

Baby Kira with daddy on Halloween night. I thought that she was a pretty cute frog!


Adam coaches basketball for the Mary Immaculate 7th & 8th grade team... they said a few weeks ago, "Hey coach, would your wife care if we toilet papered your house on Halloween?" Adam: "Uh, I don't think so." So here you have it... The sad part is that I got back home from trick-or-treating at like 8:15 pm and they had already TPed. Who TPs someone house before 8PM at night? 8th graders.

I have some better pics of our little Tink, but here's one to start. Some friends took pictures for me, so I need to get them still. Adalin loved going trick-or-treating with all of her little buddies, esp. Jocelyn. They were so cute!