Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater. . .

One evening at Disneyland Warner had to use the restroom just as we
were boarding It's a Small World. We broke away from the group with
plans to meet up at Aladdin via Toontown. So after our own viewing of
It's a Small World we headed to Donald Ducks Boat and then to Goofy's
House. Warner immediately fell in LOVE with this pumpkin and happily
played in, on, or near it for about an hour. It was the perfect
evening. . .the lights turned on, I had a comfy park bench, toontown
was all but empty, and my little boy was fascinated by a pumpkin.

Flapper

Email from Eric (2/7)

Now for some bad news...or rather not bad news but just not so great
news. Mudge was crawling around the chair by the fireplace and slipped
and hit his nose on the corner of the stone seating area. He cried and
kept saying "Owie! Owie!" I could tell it hurt him but thought it just
bonked his nose. But as I dabbed at it to clean away the blood, the
bottom of his nostril shifted unnaturally. It lacerated the very edge
part of his right nostril. I gave him some Tylenol and he stopped
crying and started acting normal again. There was very little blood,
which surprised be but I called Dr. Guapp's office to make sure. Of
course, they were out to lunch for 3 and half hours or so (what is
this Spain???) and Amanda called me back and reassured me that it
should probably heal on its own if it is not to deep and not
continually bleeding, but to call back or take him to the emergency
room to get stitches if it got worse.

So, I think it will be okay, but he is on watch for now. He played for
quite away like normal but I could tell the cut was having a hard time
staying put long enough to scab over. So I put him down for a nap and
hopefully it will give it a chance to seal together. Kind of a tricky
spot and I really don't want to have to get stitches there. It's got
to be painful! So here's to praying for the body to heal itself.
Otherwise it could just heal loose and we could call him Flapper.
Nope, won't happen. It should be fine.

Ninny

Oh I love this kid.  And I love Splash Mountain.  But unfortunately Warner and Splash Mountain didn't get along.   1st time he loved it.  2nd time he smiled and cried and smiled some more.  3rd time he went ballistic and I spent the entire time just trying to keep him inside the log as he screamed and screamed and I'm pretty sure had a panic attack.  He managed to wiggle himself off the bench and laid on the floor during the scariest parts.  Poor little soul.  I had no idea he was going to be so traumatized.  From that point on whenever we mentioned going on that ride the would cross his index fingers in an x and wouldn't even entertain any discussion. 

(aside from Warner on the floor, check out Denise and especially Tyson's expressions. . . priceless)

Pool Time

The gorgeous California weather made it easy to spend hours at the
pool. Inspired by his cousins, Warner eagerly slipped on his swimsuit
and floaties on and jumped into the pool.

One evening I spent from 5-9PM watching him swim. He pefercted the
fall in backwards move, the twirl around jump, and even the belly
flop. He spent a lot of time hopping back and forth between the
swimming pool and the hot tub, making friends with any and everyone.

On this particular evening we ate dinner at tables by the pool. I
told Warner absolutely no food in the water. A few hours later a nice
woman and her children joined Warner in the hot tub. The woman was
sucking on a toostie pop when Warner proclaimed, "My mom says no food
in the hot tub."

Around and Around

Warner LOVED the carousels and pretty much anything that went around
and around and around and around. . .

The Mouse

I love this picture with the Mouse. My sister Kari sent it to me.
Here's my favorite part of her email. . .

"Here are some of the pictures I took that I thought you might be
interested in. I had such a good time with you and Warner. The
picture I really wish I had would have been a picture of Warner trying
to bite your leg!"

The biting of the leg occurred just before this picture was taken
(thus the sour expression on Warner's face). I'm still not sure what
triggered it. . . something to do with his hat and the fact that I
touched it. . . and then pinching and biting followed. Warner is
usually very easy going but something happened to him at the Happiest
Place on Earth that provoked all sorts of spontaneous uncharacteristic
unhappiness.

Now that we are back in Alaska we are adhearing to a strict 7PM
bedtime and an even stricter "no biting policy". :)

Disney Magic

My Padowan

My little Padowan and his first first against the dark side. [though
with the meldowns he was having this week I don't think it was his
only encounter with the dark side while in California.] Luckily,
during this particular moment, he was loyal to the force and feriously
(though a little shakily) fought Darth Vadar.

(I love that he thought it was too bright outside and insisted on
wearing MY sunglasses. . . )

I [heart] Warner

I hate Star Tours. Always have. Probably always will. For me it is
like willingly exposing yourself to plane turbulence (similiar to the
Warner family flying over the Colorado river in those small planes).
I think I'd honestly take labor over going on that ride again. At
least with labor at the end there is a beautiful baby. . . I only came
away from this ride a little green.

I love Warner. And Warner loves Star Wars. And so I took one for the
team and was thrilled when Warner came off all smiles.

Worth It

Disneyland was wonderful and horrible and perfect and frustrating.
Basically, it was a normal family vacation.

Moments like this make the meltdowns, the naseau from all the spinny
rides, and 11 hour journey home worth it.

Weary

Today I am weary. . . tuckered out. . . exhausted.  

I'm not sure how much longer I can keep playing basketball in the morning.  I love it, but I simply cannot keep up with ladies anymore.  I huff and I puff and about the only things that is going to be blown down is me.  

Being pregnant is hard.  It is good.  It is right.  It is godly.  But it is hard.  Everyone thinks that because we have a big family it comes easy.  I hear, "Oh you're so good at it."  "Oh, you're perfect for it."  "Oh, you make it look so easy." 

My sister Kari, just glows.  She likes being pregnant.  She's good at it.  

I don't even radiate a dull glimmer.  Nothing.  Nada.   Easy?  Hardly.  My pregnancies are good but hard.  And with this one, I am tired.  And I've got a long, long, long way to go.  

toothless grin [growl]

For days Hyrum would say, "I think my tooth is going to come out tomorrow."

Last week he lost the second of his two front teeth. The school nurse
gave him a little tooth container and he was thrilled when the tooth
fairy brought him a gold dollar.

Hyrum's forced smile, the growl, makes me giggle. He looks like he's
about ready to eat something (but without those two teeth is better be
soft and squishy).

king sized

Four little reasons why we have a king sized bed.

[one morning we brought Eric breakfast in bed. i think he was hoping
for a quiet meal, the boys had something else in mind. this is what i
found five minutes later.]

Brrr

It has been one of the coldest and snowiest winters in Alaska history.

I was hoping to capture the ice crystals on my eyelashes after a
morning walk with Megan at -15. Boy Howdy is that cold. Yo ustart
to wonder if your cheeks will ever be the same. One morning I even
broke out the robber [looking] face mask.

This morning it was 0 outside. I didn't even zip up my jacket and
quickly became so warm that I took off my gloves.

Our answering machine mesage currently includes Hyrum singing,
Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, Please shine down on me!!!

We cannot wait!

Christian

Christian gave his first talk on Sunday. I was more nervous than he
was and kept pestering Eric, "You read through it, right? It is
doctrinally sound, right? He isn't going to ramble on and on and on
or embarrass the family, right?" Eric just rolled his eyes and told
me he had "taken care of it." [what kind of comfort is that?]

But to my astonishment, Christian did a fabulous job. He definitely
inherited some of his father's talent. I can think of ONCE that he
looked down at his paper. He was articulate, and funny, and enjoyable
to listen to.

Zip Line

We went on a zipline adventure through the jungle of Mexico. 14 zip
lines. We were at the end of the group and our guides were gracious
to let us ride upside down and spinning whenever we wanted.

yoga poses

Bucerias

On Monday we enjoyed a 4.5 mile stroll along the beach to a quaint
town called Bucerias. There we enjoyed empanadas, shopping, eat
lunch, and simply being silly and carefree.