Secret to Sleeping Through the Night

You are looking at the secret to sleeping through the night. It's not the darling blanket by Tia Dori, although we love it so, it's the blue flowered PJ's from Cici's Mia and Isabel that is so snuggly and WARM. Warmth is the key. I know you are thinking "hello, it's 104 degrees outside isn't that warm enough for you?". Well, apparently not, because Ms. P wakes up and her little Gymboree short one-piece PJ's (my favorite) are not doing the job, her poor long extremeties are freezing. Well, we happen to have gotten air conditioning this year (say good-bye to the swampy swamp cooler, although we still have to say "hello" since it has not yet been removed from our roof!) and sweet P happens to have the coolest upstairs room in the house (and quite possibly the coldest room in the house, even counting our very chill basement). I just had to document this feat and beginning of a possible experiment. About a month ago she was sleeping through the night, which lasted about 2 weeks, and then once since then, when I noticed she was still at least nicely wrapped up in a blanket (albeit with the fav shorties on). We'll see, but seriously, try it!

In other news, we finally got O a bike as well. They earned a toy from doing so much homework in their Summer Bridge, and I just couldn't put him off any longer. Thank goodness it was only $35 at Wal-Mart since it is the exact same size and type (foot brakes) as H's recently retired clunker, which we were trying to make O ride, but he wasn't having it (and truly, it would not have been fair since he worked his tail off to earn that $25 at the L & B sale!). Here are some pics of Super O riding his new bike and H with his week old ride as well. The cape was from a Super Hero birthday party O attended where upon arrival, everyone received this hand-made cape with their initial and a mask. Terribly clever!

A better picture of the cape, H telling me a story while riding his Diamonback, and O making playdough this morning (thank you Grammy for the recipe!).

Sorry about the wacky photos' sizes, I haven't quite figured that out!

Great Recipes and a Great Blog for Mommas and All

Emily Anne Blog for whole wheat recipes (get out your food storage wheat and grinders ladies!) and some great discussions dubbed 'Discuss Amongst Ourselves' (akin to Mrs. Dub's HTT).

She's got some great discussions going on, the last one specifically about kids and T.V., check it out.

What I would like to ask you friends and family readers is what are the top three activities you do with your children besides have them hanging out watching T.V.?

For example, we have an "art drawer", where they can go and find the materials to paint and draw and clay (I really need to replenish the play dough, any good recipes out there?) to their hearts' content. We have a drawer in the kitchen that houses all of this junk, tons of paper, etc. and they have full-reign of the kitchen table. This activity occupies them for 30 minutes to an hour depending on the "project" given. By the way, if I haven't told you yet, my favorite watercolors are the Ikea art kit ones, their color is the best and they are the best deal (I find myself buying the Crayola watercolors a lot, and they seem expensive to me for their short life and dull colors). The $5.99 kit comes with pencils and thickish crayons too, which are great. I bought 2 more packs last week (just to have an extra on hand or for a quick gift, since I really won't need it for a year or so, really the colors hold so well and are quite vibrant.) and the pack of Ikea paper $4.99. I haven't yet allowed them to do this over the new carpet in the basement (AK would die), but I think it would be awesome and I definitely have room for some easels and the huge PB Kids paper roll and the darling craft table set-up shown above (in my lovely dreams). Maybe we should have gotten the "family friendlier" carpet? Check out the darling budget craft tables at Ikea, like this one for $19.99 (ours is currently outside, but has the art marks to prove our love). Maybe we should have gotten the "family friendlier" carpet?

Along these lines, etc. what are your favorite diversion, creative, chore-related, etc. tactics to avoid the drone of the T.V.? And if you feel to elaborate, what are your T.V./movie rules?

Is it Fall yet?

 

So I have my fall wardrobe (thanks to the Nordy sale) and I am getting ancy to get Lou Penele in her fall gear, thus the adorable sweater and jeans over her sun dress. Oh and don't get me started about the boys being in school. Don't get me wrong, we are having a blast, but some afternoons are a little boring and difficult. Take for example today, we had a great mid-afternoon swim at Kate's, headed home for some much needed naps that did not materialize and ended up towing the 3 kids to Larry H Miller Honda looking for a new ride. I am not super in the market, but it's fun to look (although the 8th seat, 2/3 fold rear, leather, and sliding doors that have windows that go down (the upgrades from my 2004). I know I don't need it, so seriously we might be getting.....bored. In a few weeks I will be crying again that my boys won't be with me 24/7, but fall is looking sweet weather wise. And I won't mention snowboarding yet again, oh sorry, I did it again.

By the way, P's 4 month appoinment was on Thursday. She's weighing in at almost 16 pounds (89%) and 27-inches (100%). Want a piece of that? She's tough too, I was expecting her world-renowned scream, but just a very red face and a bit of a cry, when she was attacked with her 3 shots.

Boys - 7, 6, 5, 4, 3

 

For a few months we have the phenomenon of cousins that are 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 years old, respectively.

Fun Week of H's B-day

 

Holden, Tristan, Tanner, & Owen at the top of Snowbird.

Fun Week - H's B-day, First Lemonade & Brownies, Snowbird

I can't believe I have a six year old! We had a very mellow birthday. Andy made yummy waffles with blueberries, per H's request for breakfast. The boys and I hit Costco (yeah, really fun), well, they got their own huge "ice cream" (frozen yogurt) and we went bike shopping (for them,can you believe it wasn't even for me, I glanced, trying to look as much as I could, but truly, it was for them). Which brings us to the next event. So Sunday night we were on a summer walk/ride with the Taylors and AK picks up H's bike, he had been riding seconds before, and the front wheel falls off! The "ifs" flew through our head, especially since we had a fresh memory of darling friend 4 year old H Taylor having her foot run over by a Subaru in McD's parking lot (the "ifs" of the car being bigger, not stopping, etc. are terrifying) happening the day before. Although rushed to Primary's, miraculously nothing was broken/injured and she was riding along with us on Sunday evening, a day later, fine as can be. So that was it for me. I have been bugging AK to allow me to buy H a bigger, tougher, better bike, mostly for our fun Park City bike rides, etc. Thus we went shopping for one, on H's b-day, the day after the $35 Target bike wheel fell off (it really was great, for a year!). So we fell in love with a few bikes, had them adjusted, took a spin on them, and go home. At home, I talked to H about how expensive the bike is and I suggested we do a lemonade sale to make some money to go towards it. Long story short, we held a publicized (the most adorable flyers, written and designed by H and moi and delivered from 9-10:15PM by Owen), 'Lemonade and Brownie' sale. I set a goal for $50, steep I know, but the Bunch and Harrison gang had just had a successful sale of the same and I knew we could do it (competitive much?). So the next morning, Pioneer Day, we had sourdough breakfast with some neighbors and immediately after cleaning up (AK wouldn't let me think of starting until then) I made from scratch, 8 batches of brownies (4 big pans). I got some ice and lemonade mix and the kids did WORK! It was awesome and fun and the best to see the kids holding up signs at then end of our streets and yelling at cars, and passersby, and our neighborhood unicycler marketing the sale. The flyers were a hit and I think 90% of the people we selectively marketed and a few randoms that Owen insisted on dropping off, came and supported the boys' bake sale. When Owen had crashed at nap time and we were tiring out, H and Jennifer took the wagon and did 'Traveling Lemonade and Brownie Sale' around the block. H went up to every door all by himself. He will always remember which house and lady who said 'No' (since he's mentioned it 3 times and pointed out the house to me twice! And I am still a little upset at some neighbors who will remain nameless but happen to have very noisy dogs, I mean dog, that just stared at us, and I mean literally watched from their porch, all 4 of them, while all the others, even the reclusive neighbors made their way over! whatever!). I think next time, they should start off that way and just go door to door, they rocked it, but just didn't have the energy or lemonade to go further. We only had a few extra brownies, thank goodness, enough for the Pioneer Day BBQ (yummy AK's Santa Maria - Cooks Illus. tri-tip, bread, and baked beans, and my corn and salad, cheesecake, brownies, and AK's homemade berry ice cream. With additional change from some piggy banks, we made our $50 target, giving the boys $25 each! Today, we found a great, tough, and more reasonably priced bike from the original bike shop (we went to 5 others since Monday!). The service was the best, which is saying very little about the service at all of the bike shops!!! So H's family BBQ with the Creer's and Dori was fun. I am too tired to get the camera cord, but we have some great pics from the week. Of course I have Harry Potter, got it the first day at Frost's books and cried in the store (about the emtpy boxes of books, the whole phenomenon coming to an end, the fact that their were so many people in this tiny, Mom & Pop store because of this event, and I just had a weepy, but good weepy weekend. Yeah, I am still on page 35. I haven't been able to do much and I thought I would rest more today, but haven't yet. I insisted on joining AK and the boys for H's birthday fun at Snowbird, which was fun, but got rained out at about 6:30, which actually got us fed and home on good time. I love it up there. I cannot wait for this winter and to get my season's pass (I think I am going for the unlimited weekday pass - oh this is foregoing obtaining a new mtn bike this year, see I am giving something up, hee hee!). On the mtn bike thing, my 13 year old Marin still rocks, and the trails haven't changed, so why would I need suspension now? I am sort of kidding because my bum is gonna feel it, but for maybe a once a week ride, I'll deal. Any takers on a weekday morning babysit trade for P? (O & H will be in school!)

H is 6!

Holden darling! I clearly remember your every year and what a darling, bright, happy child you are. I loved when it was just you and I (Daddy was working a lot in WYO) in WYO, our frequent living in Utah, and our fun trip to CA (La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club with a 1 year old anyone? Awesome!). You were and are excited about every new and fun thing. Your first days in the sand, first swim lesson (in Wyo), first brother, first sister, each and every day of Kindergarten (and Pre-school too, but especially K!), and every day which is almost literally EVERY DAY that ends with you saying "I had the best day ever today Mom!". You are an amazing artist, reader, writer, biker, skier, son, helper, and friend. Your friends at school who are boys look up to you, cheer for you, and welcome you to join their every moment. The girls quite like you too, your sweet looks and style (thanks to your father), and your so unabashed cool aloofness. Your teachers admire, love, and appreciate you! You are an amazing learner and explorer. I love how you want to be everything, literally EVERYTHING when you grow up. I hope you live so many years that you can do it. So you can be a scientist and an astronaut and a zookeeper and a police officer, etc. You teach your brother amazing things, from scriptures to manners to letters and numbers and deciphering which one is which and many other skills you have mastered. You are truly a wonder of nature and a pure delight to be with you. I feel honored to be your mother and look forward to each and every day I can be a part of your life. Love, Tu Madre

Paint by Number Seascapes

Inspired by the latest Better Homes and Gardens magazine and the beach house, which I love, I thought I could also collect a wall of paint by numbers and try one on my own. So I just ordered my first kit which I thought would be fun, of the above shot of Catalina island. This is totally reminiscent of Good Will Hunting for those of you who've seen it (edited and non-edited versions).

In other news, I am having a hard time, walking/controlling my body as I did a 40 mile road ride this morning, which was about 20 miles downhill to start then 20 miles uphill and against the wind. So after speeding away and enjoying an easy ride and then really needing that energy to get back home! It was worth it all the way, but my body is paying for it. No hiking with the family today. Our "leader", my riding buddy Susan's husband, is an ironman, literally for the past few years he has done the ironman. Last weekend he did a triathlon and next weekend he is doing another. So as I was dying and nearly home, and Susan was escorting me to the end of our trail, he veers home and tells her, "I'm going running now". I wouldn't have been able to run if someone was waving thousand dollar bills in my face. I got home and collapsed. Well, here's to the next ride - it's just my thing.

Snickerdoodles and What is the deal with my blog?!

Sorry I have been utterly consumed with my own blog and trying to fix why my links and all are suddenly appearing at the bottom of my page instead of the side? Any tips? Anywhoo, to my five readers who aren't directly related to MS, the hippest, horticulturistest, grammiest, and funnest lady who happens to be a most fabulous mother (you can see AK as a result, incredibly impressive), mother-in-law, and friend has been a long-time blog reader and commenter, one of my most loyal and sweet, and now has her own blog, Snickerdoodles. It looks way better than mine, AK's and many others I have seen, so I suspect that darling T, who quickly became a blogging expert, had something to do with it? Check it out, and let me know if any of you have any tips on my messed up blog. The picture is from our May trip to Red Butte, at 'Grammy's Spot' named after her when we visited while the little area was under construction and the day Grammy bought us our annual membership in 2006 (thank you, thank you, thank you, we renewed as quickly as could to keep going, Monday night activities there have been so fun! as well as going other days, as you well know).

Relief Gang - Super Duper Trooper Random - Beware the Musings from 4AM

Relief Gang, as stolen from Mary Kate and Ashley, oh I mean Melissa and Mary Beth, twins whom my husband lived with in Salt Lake City while attending BYU. Yes, scandelous, and he didn't even grow up watching Three's Company, I still don't think he's ever seen it! A moment of silence for Jack Ritter. Anywho, I love the term, it is not used disrespectfully, I think it's just fun and modern. I mean Society sounds like a snotty New York Society type that our church certainly is not. We have our snotty, holier than thou days for sure, but as a society I am seeing long flowing poofy dresses and hats with umbrellas, or even good Vogue fashion sense, which is incredibly rare (props to Laurel Chirico and the lady in NB1 ward who worked at the couture section of SCP Nordstrom,with the crazy kids, and Susie Gross who always brought it to Church). Anyway, thanks to Mary Kate and Ashley, I mean, Mary Beth and Melissa, a great term that is dearly admired and utilized.

But for the record, I totally coined G-Force. In the winter quarter of 1994 as a matter of record and fact. I don't think anyone else uses it but it certainly does make sense and works for me. I can recall the day when Mark Balstead (sp?) received his endownments, he was my first good mormon guy friend to do this, going on a mission and all. That night, about five of us good kids, no really, it was a really good kid phase, anyway we all took him out to the Vortex. We all knew it was the wrong thing to do for a guy who had just gotten his G-Force and all. We didn't stay for long. And even though none of us understood or had been through the temple yet, we got it, the importance of it at least to start really paying attention to where you are and what you do really matters.

Have you read the next RG lesson on Reverence yet? It is really good!

To do this week

A few to-do's for a successful and fulfilling week.

1. Read or re-read Harry Potter #5 and #6. I don't think I have ever read #6, and I have finally caught the Harry Potter #7 fever. I actually think I may attend the midnight party at BN Sugarhouse, crazy huh?


2. Start Knight-Creer Summer Camp beginning with pizza making tomorrow. Tie Dye next week?


3. Get Marin bike fixed and ready for trailer. Get Trek brake adjusted and squeak in wheel fixed. Attend REI bike fix session on Saturday in Sandy.


4. Read 5 pages a day in Talmage. Last week I think I read and re-read a paragraph...lagging!


5. Pick up apricots at Eldon Hunt's house!


6. Re-schedule dinner for Nichola (since I totally spaced it last Wednesday!)


7. Schedule dinner for Marisa and family. Does anyone else think we are having a baby boom year?


8. Clean house. Ha.


9. Clean room, like clear off tops of dressers, clear off bottom of closet, move bed, 27-fling boogie!


10. Keep dreaming about new furniture for front room. It is a mess of furniture!

I saw this hilarious item through the Tangled and True blog. Check it out, Mom's spit.

Blogging Addiction?

64%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Free Online Dating from Mingle²

I am kind of relieved, it's not as bad as I thought. My scores are pretty much dampened by the fact that the computer I use is gone most of the day (AK's work laptop) otherwise I might have serious issues. I am curious about your scores.

Our Great Week

Annette & Rebekah
The girls attempting to attend the Provo temple during the reunion.

Making Pizzas. Owen's day camp this week had a cooking theme. Since their favorite show to watch is Barefoot Contessa, he loved it!
Making strawberry ice cream
Admiring BullwinkleBullwinkle & the beautiful wildflowers. On Alta's Cecret Lake Trail.My Mountain Girl

As I was pondering my week during the sacrament...as I am doing what we are taught to do, think of the Savior and his life and sacrifice and meaning in our own lives to repent upon, improve, and change for the better...I usually think how much I've gossiped and need to change, or how poorly I have treated my kids and need to improve my tone and methods, and other sins throughout the week, this week I honestly was pretty good. Not perfect or anything, but we had a fun happy week with not too much gossip, yelling, etc. Of course I have my moments and thank goodness for the lesson on idols of which I have many, oh, my bike envy, degree worship and concern, snowboarding, my husband's company car (just kidding, I do not idolize it in the least, oh that is kind of what we are talking about here huh, in the other way), etc. You've gotta love the opportunity we have to mess up, learn our lessons, repent and get back on track utilizing our Saviour's example and Heavenly Father's love of us, and His amazing parenting example. Enjoy our fun week in pictures. I guess it was our last week and a half where we saw dear friends the Jacksons, family reunion in Provo (which Owen announced today in Primary that we were moving there, untrue!), attempting to attend the temple (Andy actually made it to a session on Saturday), making pizza, Pe getting her bumbo, making ice cream, cutting H's hair (his idea, it will grow back!), swimming (thanks Josh and Katie), bike rides with Holden (to Park City Farm Trail on 7/11 Mom and H, we got the free slurpees after! and then the next day with Dad, Weston, & H), my great road bike ride up to the H (which turned into a mountain bike ride on my road bike, very fun and crazy), going on a hike and seeing Bullwinkle, a little too close, and Holden's awesome talk today in Primary on the family! Good times were had by all.

Ladies Snowboard/Ski Camp Anyone?

We are about halfway through summer and I am already thinking about the upcoming winter season! Well, I think we have decided to get the kids in a weekly ski camp at Snowbird (early bird special) and get a family season pass there as well. My new motto, well not so new, is that we live here so we have to sacrifice and take advantage. What I am sacrificing? Not so sure yet, maybe a winter wardrobe, but whatever it takes, I am stoked to get snowboarding and to get both boys skiing! Note, I have not been for more than a year due to darling and way worth it Pe, so I am jonesing for it! BTW, maybe our little family hike today up at Alta finally pushed me over the edge. We have some great photos from the hike, and once we find the camera cord we will show you. We have some great ones of a bull moose they call "Bullwinkle" one of the few males they routinely see up there. We were about 15 feet away, a little scary. It was just chillin', scratching its huge antlers on some low branches, right off the very family friendly Cecret Lake Trail, with 7 photographers snapping photos. When we returned home we all crashed at about 4 and woke up at about 7, so we are in for a long evening! Pe is still asleep so we may also be up for a long night.

Reunion Photos

Gorgeous H
The Grands. Note O is doing his "I need my medicine" eyes.
The boys and their baby girls in their twinner dresses (thanks Kate!). Ryan looks 12.
The almost entire fam damily, sans the Matt Stayner gang. Can you believe we all fit peacefully in a 14,000 sf mans? Yes, I can too! Read more about the reunion here and here.

Courtesy of Rachel from rachelandmia.blogspot.com

It was 1993 . . .

1. Who was your best friend? Lori, Abby K, Alli, and CT

2. What sports did you play? Volleyball, Soccer (for a minute), badminton, and cheerleading.

3. What kind of car did you drive? VW Cabriolet and the SL when Dad got a new car my senior year. The VW was funny because of course it was always unlocked and the radio would work without the car being on, so random people would say, hey I was just in your car listening to music, etc.

4. It's Friday night, where were you? Football or basketball games or working at Spag, then at a party.

5. Were you a party animal? Yes.

6. Were you considered a flirt? Not so much.

7. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? No talent there.

8. Were you a nerd? Not so much.

9. Did you get suspended or expelled? Quite miraculously, no.

10. Can you sing the fight song? Once, at graduation.

11. Who were your favorite teachers? Mr. Sizer!

12. Where did you sit during lunch? In the quad, neutral ground. Jr & sr year, we would leave and go to Atrium Court, In n Out (I had ASB before lunch, which meant long lunches), Al's, etc. Although Fr, Soph, & JR we hung out at the most southwest tree, nearest to the "tree monkey" area.

13. What is your school's full name? Corona del Mar High School

14. School mascot? The Seakings

15. Did you go to Prom? I went to Edison's prom. I planned the prom my Junior year and it was truly awful (sorry class of '92), we didn't know what we were doing and Mr. Waterman could care less, I think we lost a ton of money on like ice sculptures and the crappy hotel. Edison's prom was amazing compared to ours, which is weird because our tickets were like 4 times as much, go figure!

16. If you could go back and do it over, would you? Geekily, yes, I had a blast!

17. What do you remember most about graduation? Jill Hamilton got us leis, which we wore, Christina and Brent were there, then we went to way too many Graduation parties, including one of the last was at the Fuller's for me and Chad. Oh and Chad smoked a cigar in the quad, along with some other boys.

18. What was your favorite class? Mr. Sizer for Trig/Calc/etc.

19. Where were you on senior skip day? Nicole S.'s house in Eastbluff

20. Did you have a job your senior year? The hostess with the mostest at Spag.

21. Where did you go most often for lunch? Atrium Court, Golden Spoon, In n Out, Al's, Gallo's, Wahoo's Bristol - again long lunches. What about breakfast (no 1st period!) Balboa Bay Club buffet once a week and Ruby's about 2 times a week, then Starbucks and Pain du Monde (when it was in Atrium Court)

22. Have you gained weight since then? YES, about 40 pounds! but I am working on that:)

23. What did you do after graduation? Rode my bike around a lot, daily beach trips to Crystal Cove and El Morro and Laguna, and worked at night at Spag. Played with CT, RH, AW and the girls. Shopped at SCP for everything my hearts desired before U of A, ha ha, and cruised around in the SL, never putting the top up, and always getting sweet valet parking hook-ups (I didn't realize I had such a sweet car). Oh and cruised around in Austin's '56 mustang. Trips to LA to shop (why, we have SCP?). Probably and few Dead shows up north or in Arizona. RH & I wanted to go to Mardi Gras for our senior trip but my mom wouldn't let me (I had no idea what that was, now I get it!).

24. Who was your Senior prom date? Brent King, adorable.

25. Did you go to your 10 year reunion? Yes, it was most fun to see the kids that I went to Roy O. Anderson Elem with, since we traveled through 15 years of our life together.

Perfect Day! I am working about a week late in my life, bear with me. Here is darling PJ in her blessing dress and blanket. Thank you to all who participated, brought food, took picctures, and enjoyed darling PJ with us. She is truly a delight and blessing to us. But now she is screaming for nourishment, gotta go, more to come.

Old Glory

Happy Fourth of July! Our day has started out great. I dressed up P in her cute 4th outfit and bow and we went out for an early morning walk. We will head to decorate our bikes and walk in the Millcreek parade with the Wixoms and Creers for the second year and head to the 2nd annual sourdough pancake breakfast (ala AK) at the Wixoms. Then head home to pack and relax before the Stayner family reunion and hopefully a lot of fireworks. Have a great one everyone!

Penelope's Blessing