What Michael Phelps Can't Do

I don't craft (I hate using that word as a verb) but when I do, I do one project at a time, from start to finish. But for some reason the last few months I kept starting something new before I finished the last one. I blame the craft store for simultaneously inspiring me to do something new while not having what I came for to finish the current project. And then I started to watch the Olympics.  Michael Phelps has 22 medals and is a year younger than me. What have I accomplished??? Is it too late to get just one medal? Even if I start now? Then one night as I was trying to fall asleep, I realized I will never be an Olympic gymnast. Not that I tried or have thought about it since I was 9 watching the 1992 Olympics but still. There is zero possibility. Isn't that sad? I'm at that age where doors are closing on impossible dreams. 

I just want to finish something I thought to myself, even if it can't be the 400 IM.  Then I see the pile of unfinished craft stuff on Justin's homework desk. I can do something Michael Phelps can't do and that makes me feel better in a pathetic way. So here's what has boosted my self esteem. (I've included how much it cost me because I'm cheap and like to brag about that. And please don't tell me Michael Phelps most likely can spray paint and stick stickers because then I'll feel bad again.)

Here is Sarah's growth chart. I've had the piece of wood and paint since April when I made Henry's for his birthday.  Hers went much smoother and she loves how it turned out. Total cost: $8

This is a birthday countdown. I got the number stickers at Hobby Lobby, the birthday stickers at Walmart and the baking sheet at the dollar store. The kid's picture goes in the empty space and they get to move the magnet each day until their big day. Total cost: $5

This was my biggest project and one I roped Justin into doing the hard part. The board is a piece of wainscoting from when we did our kitchen 4 years ago.  I spray painted that and a piece of chair rail black. Then Justin mounted both pieces to the wall.  Total cost: $30 (that doesn't include the cost of the board since I don't remember and the emotional toll of doing a project with one's spouse).

These hoops are in Sarah's room, above her dresser. This was the quickest project although I might add some embroidery somethings to the big blue hoop. Total cost $13. They look crooked, don't they? I'm gonna go fix that.

This project was the stinkiest. It's a cupcake and cake stand for Sarah's birthday. The metal rounds are burner covers that I painted silver. Then I glued those to candlestick holders with glue people get high from. The burner covers and candlestick holders are from the dollar store and the glue and paint from Walmart.  Total cost: $10

Let's see Michael Phelps do that. And Michael, in case you're reading this, I'm just kidding. I think you and your wrap-around-back-slap are awesome.

More Stuff Sarah Says

Sarah's new thing is telling me about things she really has no idea about.  Like school. And airplanes. And how babies get in their mommy's tummy.  She has an explanation for everything.
Me: Hey Sarah, do you know how to count backwards?
Sarah: Yeah. Let me get to the stairs. 
Me: Stairs?? Hold on while I get the camera.

Here's the video.

We've been watching a lot of Olympics lately and some days she wakes up and tells me she has "gynastics" today (this takes place instead of her daily ballet performance).  I just love how she pronounces that and Olympics. Have you been watching the Lumpits and bynastics?

Justin tries to correct her but I like it.

And in case you were wondering what in-a-ins means,

I thought she was saying "Indians" until I got the definition. And my favorite part is Henry's entrance.

Sarah: How was Walmart?
Me: Good. I got a new mop.
Sarah: {{gasp}} For who?!

Pioneer Children

Pioneer Day is one of the few holidays I get really excited about.  I think it's because my hometown of Mapleton throws the best party.
After a breakfast of big-as-your-face pancakes and imitation eggs, there's a parade that has candy and loud firetrucks and primary kids.

 Serious Henry contemplating the validity of cheerleaders in parades.

New this year, pony rides! After one time around, Sarah wanted off.  Not until you get your $2 worth.

 Happy Henry petting a pony or something.

 Onto the games. You can fish for a duck,

  wait in lines with your cousins,

 and knock down an ugly troll.  And there's always a consolation prize of a tootsie roll to add to your collection from the parade.

 That night, the whole town gathers to listen to music and wait for the fireworks.

And of course, shake their groove thang.

Rollie Pollie Henry rolled around a lot while waiting for the fireworks.  The fireworks were a-mazing as always.  If you can't feel your gut shake and get ash in your hair, it isn't a good show.

 Messy face break.  And this chicken is delicious.  Check out the recipe here

Nothing completes a week of cousins and pioneerish celebrations like a trip up the canyon. And sticks.  You need lots of sticks.

 Handsome Henry.

So I'm on this treat fast.  No treats from June 11 to my birthday (September 10) with a s'more exception.  I like to go big or go home when it comes to s'mores. Two mallows and a Reese's cup.  And apparently close your eyes and keep your pinkies up.

 More cousins and sticks.

Henry made this face yesterday to get his message across more forcefully.  He wanted something and I wasn't understanding so he thought this would help.

And Henry loves to watch flies.  He gets so excited when he sees one on the table.

How 'bout them kids?

Perhaps it's presumptuous of me to assume you like to see my kids as much as I do.  Oh well.
"Mom, take a picture of me while a run in a circle really fast."

Henry likes to play cars while lying on his back.  Yes, that's the laptop cord underneath him.  He's not picky.

Sarah loves her some foam curlers.  We've done them for church the past couple of weeks. I don't have an after photo since Sunday mornings are a bit crazy.

Henry loves this blanket.  At night, I can hear him rolling around, wrestling it until he gets comfy. He is so happy to go to bed because he likes to snuggle with it.

After a long day up in the mountains, he was so happy to see it.

 We went to Payson Lakes for the 4th. Sarah wanted her picture taken and this is the pose I get. 

 I didn't get in the water because I forgot/didn't care enough to remember my swimsuit.

Camping with a crawler is NO FUN. Henry would rather crawl around in the pitch darkness exploring the trailer rather than sleep. And he can't crawl around since he'd eat the dirt so he was stuck in his highchair or carried around. I came a day later since I knew it would be tough and then I took him home a day early because we both had enough.  The smores were worth the trip though.

Sarah, on the other hand, is a camping champ. She loves sleeping in her cubby-like bunk in the trailer, eating pancakes every morning, riding her bike around the firepit, feeding squirrels, eating marshmallows and getting dirty.

She made Uncle Dallin a play dough birthday cake. Happy birthday Dallin in Brazil! (I love that her face is dirty.)

And then it rained the day after we got back.  After 36 days without rain, it felt and smelled so good. We sat on the porch for nearly an hour just enjoying it all.  Yes, Sarah is wearing her pajamas and coat.

Monday Sarah and I went to see Brave.  I loved it.  She got scared.  Several times she buried her head into me and asked to go home.  I was mean and made her stay.  But ask her now and she'll say she loved it. 

 My hippy ballerina putting the silverware away.

 Henry figured out how to knock the tray off his highchair and stand up.  Awesome.

 Last night Justin taught Henry how to make car, truck, and motorcycle sounds.

Henry loved it. 

 He tried it himself.

Henry is all about Dad.  He is so excited when Justin comes home. I think he wants Justin to rescue him from these girls he's been with all day.

He can say "Dad" and "Daddy" but not "Mom" of course. He says "hi" and "bye" and "book".  He's pretty good at imitating sounds but they don't have any meaning to him and he forgets them.  He has no interest in walking but he can crawl up the stairs so fast.  He won't try going down.  Instead he just cries at the top for me to rescue him. I'm tired of that so the stairs are now blocked.

Sarah is asking lots of tough questions.  "Why do you wear makeup?" "Why don't boys wear dresses?" "Where's heaven?" "How come cars need gas?" If I say I don't know, she then says, "Because God made us that way?"  

Sarah's quote of the week: "Babies and squirrels have little hands."

Justin gives me a hard time because my left and rights aren't natural to me.  Thus he also makes it a point to teach Sarah.

Sarah: (Pointing to her left) What's this way?
Me: I don't know.  (I was thinking she wanted to know what was in that general direction, like Walmart or whatever.)
Sarah: That way's left. (Points to the right) And this way's right.
Me: Yup. (Dang her. She's already better at it than me.)

Henry's first (and hopefully last) trip to the ER

Sometimes Henry holds his breath when he cries and I'm like, "Breathe Henry. Let it out" and finally he will continue on with his wailing. On Thursday and Saturday he held it for so long he kind of passed out.  But on Sunday, Henry took it way too far.  Just as we were getting ready to head out the door for church, Henry got really upset and stopped breathing mid-cry like he sometimes does but he didn't let it out.  Justin was holding him and he went blue, then limp, his eyes rolled back and he spit up and his arms and legs started twitching around.  And he still hadn't taken a breath. Scary huh? I breathed into his mouth then laid him down and finally he started gurgling and breathing again.  Justin called 911 and 2 cop cars and an ambulance arrived at our house. (Just as everyone in the neighborhood was leaving for church.  We were quite the topic of conversation, I'm sure.) He was pale and limp but conscious while the EMT's checked him over. Then Henry and I both got our first ambulance ride.

At the hospital, they took blood and urine and ran all sorts of tests.  He had a CT scan and they put in an IV (those two things were worse than the seizure).  Everything came back normal and there's nothing wrong with his brain.  His seizure was caused by lack of oxygen to the brain from holding it while crying.  I never knew that could happen.  From the helpful handout the ER gave us, breatholding is caused by the involuntary nervous system, not manipulation on the kid's part. So the safest thing is to not let Henry cry anymore. So everyone be nice to Henry. What baby wants, baby gets.

I can joke about it now since it's been 4 days but really it sucked. On the ride over, I was watching Justin in the car as he followed the ambulance and realized that nothing else matters but my little family.  Everything I was worried about just 30 minutes before (Sarah's hair, Cheerios, clean faces) didn't matter. My mom and s-i-l Lisa came over to the hospital and their stories of how their kids scared the crap out of them was supportive and helped pass the time.

After given a clean bill of health they unhooked his IV and let us go home. We arrived just as church got out so Henry timed all this just right. I hope he's learned his lesson. After his nap, he was just fine. I was pretty emotional and traumatized for the rest of the day but went to bed feeling grateful.

What would I do if I couldn't kiss this face everyday?

Why do kids have to pose all crazy?

Sarah is obsessed with my mop.  Everytime I pull it out (which isn't often) she freaks and begs for a turn.  I've learned to just let her do it because she gets bored after like 5 minutes.

Last Wednesday I was a nice mom and took my kids for an outing that wasn't to the grocery store or the bank.  We went to the Provo Temple and the Bean Museum and to Burger Supreme for lunch.

 I've told you Henry loves water, right?

I wonder how long they can both get filled up on a single cheese sandwich. We'll probably stop taking them out to eat when that happens. I have major anxiety about taking my kids places all by myself but they did great. No tantrums or injuries.

 Friday we grabbed some dinner and headed up to Bridal Veil Falls. Henry was all smiles.

 Sarah was all cheese.

Seriously.  Next time I'm taking family pictures where Henry can see a river or waterfall because he won't stop grinning.

Mmm handsome.

This is Sarah playing school.  She doesn't really know what school is like but that's what she called it.  It was more like a bossy tea party.

 Later as I was folding towels (trying to, anyway) Sarah was making "campsites"

I don't really know how to preface this video.  Hopefully that still-shot makes you curious enough.

Last weekend (like 10 days ago) Justin and I went to SLC to stay overnight now that Henry is all weaned. It had been a year and half since we last got away for a night. It was to celebrate our anniversary a little late and Justin's new job. We stayed at the Marriott, walked around City Creek (very cool but nearly all the stores are way too fancy shmancy), and ate at the Cheesecake Factory.  Saturday, Justin surprised me by taking me to Park City to go horseback riding.  I was so excited! My horse was named Smokey, Justin's was named Duke.  Leah, our guide was super cool.  She stuffed her sandwich into her shirt pocket to adjust my stirrup straps.  I am so happy I just got to type that sentence. It was kind of scary to sit on something that could buck me off and trample me or just bolt while I hold onto dear life but I tried not to think about that. The 2 hour ride was surprisingly relaxing. Justin is hooked. I am going to check if La-z-boy makes a saddle. I have no pictures because I forgot my camera.