tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926250846118888132024-03-13T10:02:35.586-06:00SHENANIGANSOur life. Our record. Our journey.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.comBlogger296125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-43242179572506927082015-12-16T19:49:00.000-07:002015-12-16T19:49:50.418-07:00Missing HomeSometimes it seems a bit scary to be perfectly honest. Maybe it's because honesty makes you vulnerable. Perhaps it's because reading honesty is boring and the popular fabulous mommy blogger posts are more attractive. Well, good thing I am not a popular mommy blogger (Ha! So there). But you know what, I want to remember the real stuff. When I look back even 10 years from now, I want to remember how I really felt.<br />
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This holiday season has been difficult, I mean really difficult. Moving to the East Coast in August was exciting, so much that I didn't really notice the ping of emptiness that comes in the absence of family. Hey, I thought, I guess I am just one of those people that can just be a wonderer because I am lovin' this adventure. Then one day, I saw it. The Facebook post where there was a Christmas party. In the photo there was a beautiful table, decorated and complete with name plates. The little cousins opened their gifts, the adults were laughing in the photo, the house looked warm and inviting. That family was mine. My siblings, my nieces and nephews, and my sister's house which her and her husband finished building after I moved away. I was missing from the photo. My kids were not on the floor, excitedly opening gifts with their cousins, I was not sitting around singing or playing some crazy drum circle with my siblings. For the first time I felt really sad to be away from home on Christmas. It felt empty.<br />
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My family is a huge part of my own identity. Coming here is a massive shift for Sean and I and the kids. We are our own family, of course, and we are happy to be together. But my family (siblings/parents) is so important to me. I remember growing up in a home with 9 children. We didn't have much but we had each other (excuse the cliche). Christmases were spent together, filled with special traditions. We had an advent calendar which my mother filled with a daily assignment in December. The assignments were usually service or spiritually driven. Every year, we made treats and caroled to the firemen at our local fire station on Christmas Eve. Christmas tree decorating was a devotional where my mom would come up with some awesomely elaborate lesson on every set of ornaments and how they related to Christ's birth (she is amazing!). But don't be fooled, I had a bad attitude about sitting through it once I turned 15! My mom read us the Christmas Carol every year and cried at the end every time. I thought she was weird but now I totally cry at the end too and I've realized I'm equally as weird. We sang so many Christmas songs and the harmony part to Angels we Have Heard on High now holds a permanent spot in my long term memory. Grandma Jeannie always made us hand made gifts that are still my most prized possessions. Grandpa Dee always made amazing grandson gifts out of wood. Grandma Dotty was always so happy to have us over on Christmas too. I mostly remember the the hanging tinsel, I imagined icicles. I probably snuck at least 20 candy canes off the tree and stashed them in my pockets.<br />
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I think I am going to get through this. I am going to survive without my family for now, not because I want to, but because it is necessary. The kids are so excited about Christmas. I will make a Christmas dinner, we will stay up late on Christmas Eve, moving things around to make it look perfect. We will video the kids on Christmas morning. I will still sit in my jammies on Christmas and build legos or play a new board game. Things will be alright. Don't worry.<br />
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There is my honest bit of blogging. And I hope that my future self can read this and think, <i>what a great memory that Christmas was.</i><br />
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<br />Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-22968915049627808432015-11-14T19:54:00.000-07:002015-11-14T19:54:17.553-07:00New England and New York AdventuresLet me tell you the real goal here: I am trying to get everything up to date so I can FINALLY print my blog for my kids. I hope this is the last post because my brain is fried.<br />
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There are so many things I have left out but I will give it a try:<br />
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Rhode Island: We visited the beach where Taylor Swift has a mansion. The beach was beautiful, sand soft and there was a beautiful view of a lighthouse. Rhode Island is pretty, green and quiet. I think people who live there are probably really pleased with themselves for being native to Rhode Island....I mean it is very awesome.<br />
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Tower of the Sleeping Giant: We took the wrong trail and ended up hiking a long and steep hike. It was the closest to Utah hiking I have seen since I have been out here. When you get to the castle, you can go to the top and see the view, it's beautiful! Brody and McKay found a little dirt mound outside the castle so they were entertained the entire time. They also found the one tiny, nasty, stagnant puddle which existed up there. Yep and they played in it. Gross.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(This isn't actually the Sleeping Giant, it's called Mead Chapel in Westchester County bit it's better)</span></div>
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Kent, CT: The grandest display of Fall colors I saw this season, absolutely beautiful. Something that is interesting about Connecticut and all of New England are the thousands of Random cemeteries from the 1700s. These cemeteries look so cool with a backdrop of fall leaves. We stopped at a cemetery right outside of Kent in the middle of nowhere. As we walked through the tombstones, we came across a pile of bones on the corner of the cemetery. We looked at them for a long while and saw that they looked like human bones. The leg bone was long and thick just like a human. The hip bone seemed round and crested just like a person's hip. We called the police and they came to check it out. The officer called me and said they had determined they were deer bones. Hm. That was embarrassing. It gave us some serious excitement though.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(New England, fall colors)</span></div>
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New York: Of course we cannot forget the fact that we live super close to NYC which is so much fun. We have explored Times Square, Central Park, Metro Museum of Art, The Boathouse, Ground Zero, The Statue of Liberty, St John's Cathedral, Brooklyn Bridge, Battery Park, Columbia University, Harlem, Wall Street, Broadway and lots of other things in between. We took Kayla down to see the Statue of Liberty and she loved it. It's amazing to see so many things that are recognizable because from movies, news and other media sources. NYC is such a lively place. There are many more things to explore there and we can't wait to do more!<br />
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The Pez Factory: Located in Orange, CT, this was a fun day trip. You have to pay a few dollars to get in (really cheap for the kids especially) and then they include a 2.00 credit for the Pez shop and the kids get a bingo card which they earn a free Pez dispenser just for participating! The factory area can be viewed from the museum but it was closed on Saturday when we went. Well worth the drive and effort! We visited 2 months ago and the kids still ask if we can go visit the "candy factory". Staff was awesome too!<br />
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Of all the adventures we have been on, my very favorite is my stay at home adventure! This is the first time I have ever been able to stay home with the kids. It is so amazing to be here with them, read to them, hug them more, listen to their thousands of opinions throughout the day, and make them my main focus. It's been almost three months now and I don't want to quit yet. Staying home is difficult but I love it, I am finally getting my chance.<br />
<br />Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-65294939184414813742015-11-14T12:02:00.001-07:002015-11-14T12:02:57.279-07:00AnaphylaxisBefore we left Utah we celebrated our tenth anniversary. I always thought we would do something grand like go on a cruise or visit Europe together. However, circumstances as they were (only days away from our journey to the East) we had to settle on a dinner at Cheesecake Factory. I had Parmesan Crusted Chicken and Sean had Cajun Jambalaya. As usual, we had a bite off each other's plate to taste. We had a lovely time, great conversation, reflected on the past year and talked about hopes for the next ten years together.<br />
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On the way home, I began to get congested and my mouth felt itchy. I told Sean I felt like I was having allergies. We thought it was weird but kept driving. Within a few minutes my eyes started to water and I was getting uncomfortable. I had experienced allergies before so I wasn't completely alarmed. As we got closer to home, I continued feel more congested. When we got home, Sean suggested I try a hot shower to see if that would clear my congestion. I thought it wasn't a terrible idea. I went in the bathroom and noticed in the mirror that my eye was a little bit puffy but still wasn't terribly alarmed. No sooner had I turned the faucet on, that I felt a swollen lump on my tongue. Okay, now I was alarmed. I went straight out to Sean and told him he has to take me to the Emergency Room right away. We apologized to the babysitter and ran back out the door. The hospital was a 12 minute drive (I know the exact time because I used to work at this hospital). En route to the ER, my eyes began to rapidly swell, my throat was so swollen I could barely talk and it was very difficult to breathe. I sat in the passenger seat, leaning forward, starting to feel desperate for relief. I am very familiar with what anaphylaxis is, but it wasn't until I actually experienced it that I realized what anaphylaxis FEELS like.<br />
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In the Emergency Room, they quickly got my name and walked me straight back to a room. I couldn't see because my eyes were swollen shut but I remember IVs, a lot of hurrying and then being wheeled in to "Bed 11" which I was well aware what room that was: one with a crash cart because patients in that room are at risk of death. I didn't care, I just wanted to breathe. Once I was in that room, I heard someone say they were going to give me some Epinephrine. I am also well aware of what this medication is used for and I wasn't too worried. When they gave me the medication in my IV, it was then that I really thought I was facing death. There was a sudden elephant sitting on my chest, my extremities and head went completely numb, it was dark, my body felt heavy, and I couldn't move my hands. I literally thought to myself "I am dying, right now, this is it."<br />
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The symptoms subsided and I came to. I was happy to be alive but I was still very swollen. I stayed in the ER for about 6 hours until my throat swelling had significantly subsided. Before discharge, I asked the Dr to have a look at my cardiac strip during the Epinephrine. He returned and informed me that I had a 20 beat run of Ventricle Tachycardia (AKA V-Tach). This is a rhythm where, often times, the heart is not perfusing but there are crazy electrical things happening. Essentially, the reason why I thought I was dying is because I was. He said he does not typically see that with Epinephrine. I guess I am just the lucky one.<br />
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Could be a new onset shellfish allergy, or maybe just a random freak thing. Until I can get in to an allergist, I am not coming near shellfish or anything crazy. I now carry an Epi Pen a long with a little bit of paranoia.<br />
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So instead of a romantic getaway on a cruise boat, we spent our tenth anniversary in the Emergency Room making some serious memories. I have now come pretty close to death, much too close for me. But we made it through our first ten years of life together. We have taken many adventures and there are many to come....they just can't include Shellfish!<br />
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Without the photo, you really can't get the full effect. Sweet dreams! (evil laugh)</div>
Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-37145077715469060472015-11-14T10:23:00.004-07:002015-11-14T10:23:58.908-07:00Mystic, CTI have refocused on journaling for my family. I feel that this life is so short and my brain is too small to fit all the memories in it. I have to purge my memories in a written format in order to keep them and share them with my children. My mom has tried hard to record memories in writing which has become something that my children beg me to read to them often. My hope is that one day my kids will share their childhood with their own children.<br />
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One of the first day trips we took when we arrived in our home in New England was Mystic, Connecticut. This place is amazing. I think it's one of the first places I have seen where I could imagine myself retiring here and living a fairy tail for the rest of my life. The town is cute, little shops like anything else but the thing that sets this place apart from any other small town is the way that it is nested in a small ocean inlet. There is a drawbridge that separates the two main areas of the town. There is a lot of foot traffic on the bridge but it's stopped by little pedestrian drop gates when the bridge is preparing to lift. The people all stop to watch as the bridge makes way for sail boats. This might sound like the most annoying thing in the world but it is so cool! The kids loved to watch the bridge and see the huge sail boats go through. There is a museum (which was outside our budget to visit) which had huge ships that looked like they were from a pirate movie. We ate at Mystic Pizza (where they filmed the Julia Roberts movie, Mystic Pizza), had ice cream at some really yummy place right by the drawbridge (may have even been called Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream). So basically, if my dreams come true I will retire there and you can come visit me in my porch rocking chair. <br />
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Watching the Drawbridge</div>
Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-77571398914206112782015-11-10T21:41:00.001-07:002015-11-10T21:41:24.805-07:00The Trip Across the CountryTrip taken at the end of August 2015<br />
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The journey across the country. That was a big one. Basically, it seemed like any other road trip (we love to take road trips) only it was going to be a very long one. I decided I would tell myself that I was only traveling to the destination we were planning for that day. For instance: "I am so excited for our trip to Cheyanne, then I am so excited for our trip to Omaha today, ect." This helped and made it so suddenly we were going to arrive at our East Coast home before we knew it. A long the way we had a great time. Thanks to Instagram, most of the trip was documented.<br />
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Wyoming is flat and boring across the I-80. No offense but it may be the only part of I-80 that is worse than Nevada. Once we arrived in Cheyanne it was quite beautiful. There were rolling hills and it was greener than what we'd seen in the rest of the state. We stayed at a shabby run down hotel but were excited to have a place to sleep and a shower. We saw a lot of semi trucks. The worker at the little gas station where we stayed was really sweet. She gave the kids free cookies for "Costumer Appreciation Day." Nice.<br />
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Nebraska. Much greener than Wyoming and we started to see massive windmills. We stopped off at an exit that had a dirt road going all the way to the horizon. We got out, had a roadside pee and walked down the road. McKay was ecstatic because there was dirt. The one thing McKay asked when we told him we were moving was "mom, is there dirt there?" There was a feeling about Nebraska I really liked. It was peaceful yet a little mysterious. I found myself wondering what it would be like to see a huge twister rip through those endless fields. Then again, I am glad there weren't any twisters! We visited Winter Quarters Museum in Omaha. This is where the Mormon pioneers camped during the harsh winter of 1847.<br />
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Then there was Iowa. I felt so far away from home in Iowa, like we had earned our traveling stripes. Iowa was beautiful. The corn went on for miles and miles. All over, there were signs that stated "build in the city, save our farms." I would be interested to learn more about the politics that exists behind this statement. Des Moines was an awesome city as well. Luckily, we were in Des Moines during the Iowa State Fair. This is a BIG deal! We met families who had been going to this fair for generations. It did cost money to get in but totally worth it. We ate at a yummy Mexican restaurant where the staff was super sweet. My Des Moines experience was a sure positive! Right on the border of Iowa and Illinois there is a city called Davenport. In Davenport, the John Deere headquarters has an amazing museum which is FREE and super awesome! There were massive farming machines which had stairs to get up to the driver's seats. The kids (and adults) were able to climb up and sit in the seat. There is a kids area with really fun activities that relate to logging and farming. There is a few simulators where you can operate an excavator (not as easy as it looks folks!). The John Deere Pavilion is a must visit if you pass through Davenport.<br />
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Up close at the Iowa State Fair</div>
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We found a sign later that said "no swimming" oops</div>
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Illinois, don't pronounce the s! It was very exciting for me to cross the Mississippi River but I was not a fan of the traffic south of Chicago. Illinois, in my opinion was more of the same with Iowa, only more city. I liked Iowa a little better.<br />
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Indiana: The crossroads of America. It seemed like we had just passed through south Chicago and we happened upon a big sign that said "Indiana." For some reason every state line we crossed the further from home I felt. This was uncharted territory for me. I remember learning about Indiana in Elementary school. I thought it was a strange name for a state and it was so far away, there was no way I would ever see the state of Indiana. When we approached Michigan City, Indiana Sean had an idea. He said "If this is east, then the shores of the great lakes should be that way" pointing left. He turned the car down the street on the left and drove toward Lake Michigan. Because of time we didn't stay long but I snapped a photo of Kayla by the edge. I have always wanted to see the great lakes, and now I have! I am glad that Sean's sense of adventure has benefits.<br />
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Denny's Gary, Indiana</div>
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Ohio, well it was pretty cool but I will tell you the one thing I didn't like: toll roads. Man those things came up quick. We were on a toll road (the Ohio Turnpike) the whole was across the state. This made it hard to go and explore much of anything. The exits were all the same service stops with a gas station, Dunkin Donuts and a McDonalds with jacked up prices (the beauty of a monopoly). It was in Ohio that Brody had to poo so bad we snuck in the back door of an upscale hotel, left a treat in the perfectly decorated bathroom and then left before anyone saw us, regular criminals we are. We stayed near Cleveland, which was awesome. I liked Cleveland....good vibes.<br />
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Love when Hotwire lands you in a Holiday Inn for $50....</div>
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Then there was Pennsylvania. What a State! Beautiful green rolling hills. Bridges with large rivers. I-80 took us over the Susquehanna River twice. There were a lot of farming communities a long the way. So far, this was the greenest state we had been through. This day was rough. I believe we had been on the road for 5 straight days and the kids had had it. I remember snapping a photo of poor McKay, dirty face, tired eyes and huge crocodile tears. He was so done with being strapped in to a carseat. I got out of me seat, climbed in the back, hugged him and held his hand. Poor guy. We stopped at a rest stop and McKay took his monster truck with him (mistake #1). Then, when Sean went in to the restroom he placed the truck on top of the vending machines where he thought no one would be able to reach it (mistake #2). Well, someone took the monster truck. I hope Karma bites the thief in the butt one day! Pennsylvania took a long time to drive through.<br />
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He never lets me take his photo</div>
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The mentioned photo of poor McKay</div>
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New Jersey! When got to New Jersey, it was dark. That is the problem with our family and road trips. It takes about an eternity to get anywhere. The biggest danger is stopping. Getting the kids motivated to get BACK in the car after having a short break is nearly impossible. Therefore, when the trip is "8 Hours" just plan on 12. New Jersey was exciting, I felt like I was officially on the East Coast. I take it many New Yorkers don't like New Jersey because the response to my facebook post "we're in New Jersey" came the response "I hope it doesn't last long." and "Oh I'm so sorry." It didn't seem too terrible and we found gas for 2.15 a gallon! We arrived at the Tappen Zee Bridge and were ready with the toll. As we crossed over, there was the city, off in the distance, New York City. Even though you could only see lights it was still exciting. Kayla smiled as she said "We are really here mom, I just saw the lights of New York City."<br />
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Passing over the bridge we suddenly entered New York State. We were excited but so tired that we just hoped the sign for Connecticut would come soon. Dark, and much like the roads in New Jersey it really wasn't that exciting to be in New York.<br />
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Finally it came, the sign to Connecticut!! We had waited so long to arrive. We were almost there! Even though dark, we could see the trees overhanging the road. I couldn't see the trees but I could tell there were a lot of them. We entered the our little town around 11PM, exhausted. We were really confused because after 10PM some of the traffic lights turn into stop signed by blinking red for one way and yellow for the other way. We were confused but now that it's our everyday life it's not that big of a challenge. It was the end of August and it was just about a perfect temperature outside. The boys were asleep but Kayla was too excited. Kayla walked in to the dim house (with no overhead lighting) and was so happy. She went straight to her room, led by the phone flashlight and claimed her space. We all slept in our room together. We slept good, really good.<br />
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There you go, including Utah, we passed through 10 states. If you ever have a chance to take a cross country drive, do it! It was such a blast.<br />
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Just a few words of advice is you are going to move your family in a mini van thousands of miles:<br />
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1. Pack a bag for each day with a clean change of clothes for each person, including socks, unders, etc. This way you grab one bag out of the car instead of multiple pieces of luggage. Then, when everyone changes, put the dirty clothes from the day before in the same bag and it's then zipped up and kept in the car until it arrives safely at your new home, ready to be laundered.<br />
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2. Pack a toiletry bag which includes a pair of PJs for everyone, if you are really careful and you don't have any major bed wettings, one pair of PJs will last the trip! This bad goes in the hotel every night. We literally were able to walk in to the hotel room and NOT go back to the car for luggage. Loved it. Will never travel any other way.<br />
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3. Keep activities simple. Crayons and paper were the most popular.<br />
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4. We planned for about 6-8 hours of driving per day. This was perfect because when you drive that many days in a row, stamina dwindles.<br />
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5. See a few things. You will regret it if you don't. Sean is Mr adventure and I am woman on a mission, get there and don't mess around. We made a good balance.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-11123371189579839082015-11-07T08:21:00.000-07:002015-11-07T08:21:00.148-07:00Twin Preschool Bedtime Problems <br />
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There is a post that is often viewed on this blog called <a href="http://thedclan.blogspot.com/2013/10/how-i-solved-my-toddlers-insomnia.html" target="_blank">How I Solved my Toddlers Insomnia</a>. It's funny how loosely the word "Solved" is used. I feel like it's been a constant continuum of change and seems to present new challenges a long the way. Recently, we moved across the country and if nothing else will throw a wrench in the schedule, it will be that! So the twins slept in our room on the floor for about a month. I finally had it, I couldn't take it any more. So finally, I took a parenting class at the local library which was specifically geared toward preschoolers and bedtime. The teacher was fantastic and I felt ready to take on the challenge. We had a family meeting and we told the kids the rules (quite simple, stay in your bed all night). Then we made a bedtime routine in the way of three little 8X11 posters.<br />
Poster #1 says "Three Books, one picked by each twin and mommy picks one"<br />
Poster #2 Prayers (if prayers aren't your thing you could choose something like, tell mom 2 things that made you happy today, etc.)<br />
Poster #3 Kisses and covers.<br />
We taped the posters up on the wall of their room. After the kids are ready for bed with clean teeth and jammies, we start the short routine. The boys love to tell me what is next. If they ask me to read another story, I say "Oh lets look and see what the poster says." For the first few nights Brody threw a fit about wanting me to lay with him but I just kept putting him in his bed. I sat in a chair outside their room and they fell asleep without anyone laying with them! From there, each bedtime has become easier. I also start the routine at 6:30 PM and they are asleep by 7pm. This also allows me time to read Harry Potter to my 8 year old! There have been a few times they come in to our room but walking them back to their beds has been effective for that.<br />
So bedtime has transformed from a complete nightmare to something I do not fear. Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-76129563305437003712015-11-05T07:56:00.001-07:002015-11-05T07:56:03.895-07:00Time Passes Quickly<br />
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Oh my, hurry before we surpass a year without a single post! What a year. Where do I start? How about a list:<br />
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1. Sean graduated and after applying to a few graduate programs, he is now attending graduate school at Columbia University in New York.<br />
2. We sold our house, left everything behind and moved to the East Coast.<br />
3. Because graduate school is so time consuming, I am staying home with the kids! For the first time in my life!<br />
4. I love being a stay at home mom. A lot.<br />
5. The twins start Kindergarten next year.<br />
6. Kayla is thriving in her new school.<br />
7. I love New England in the Fall<br />
8. New York City is awesome, it will take us years to see everything.<br />
9. That's it in a nutshell.<br />
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So now that I have brought the blog up to speed, I am okay for another year! But really, just yesterday I began to realize that I completely forgot about all the funny things Kayla used to say. I thought I would never forget. However, I recorded them on this blog! So I have priceless records of all the things that made me laugh and cry as the kids grow. So, because I cannot let this time pass me by, here is the conversation that McKay had with the speech pathologist last week:<br />
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SLP: McKay, are you a boy or a girl?<br />
McKay: I McKay.<br />
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SLP: McKay, if there was a fly in your house what should you do?<br />
McKay: Cut it (with a slicing motion).<br />
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Ha, analyze me that one!Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-29028823129020049612014-11-11T11:22:00.001-07:002014-11-11T11:24:41.866-07:00Individuals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We made a birthday poster for Kayla's school class. It gave me great insight to what she loves, here is what she came up with:<br />
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I like soccer<br />
I like to dance<br />
My favorite food is roasted asparagus and orange chicken<br />
My favorite color is Green<br />
I love playing with my dog Rainy<br />
I like hiking with my family<br />
I like riding bikes<br />
I like playing with friends<br />
I am into snowboard stuff<br />
I like swimming<br />
I want a Kendama for my birthday<br />
I think American Girl dolls are cool<br />
I love school<br />
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Of course, when the boys saw the birthday poster, they wanted one of their own. They told me what they love.<br />
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Brody's poster mentions:<br />
Trucks<br />
Trains<br />
My mommy, daddy, opaaaa, omaaaaa, auntie, gwama, gwampa. (notice he doesn't mention his siblings, hmm)<br />
Pizza and hotdogs (favorite food)<br />
I like to run fast<br />
I love my doggy<br />
Reading books<br />
I like to help mommy<br />
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McKay's poster reads:<br />
I love my jammy pants<br />
I love my backpack<br />
I love iPods<br />
I love my sissy and brother<br />
I love cereal<br />
I love watching shows<br />
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<br />Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-6229340662314952362014-10-29T20:17:00.003-06:002014-10-29T20:17:32.458-06:00Brody tonight: (crouching down to speak to the newly squished bug on the floor)<br />
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"Hiii buggy. Hi buggy. What you doin? Are you dead now? Okay buggy, that's a good buggy. Bye bye buggy"Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-16774729119906959172014-10-13T22:58:00.001-06:002014-10-13T22:59:06.603-06:00Striped Pants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There is a little something called guilt. I am familiar with it. One of the reasons I feel guilt is because I am letting priceless moments pass by without recording them. As I peered at this photo in my editing program, I couldn't stop noticing how beautiful these kiddos are. But do you notice McKay's striped pants? Did I pick those out as part of the family photo. Well, no. McKay has a little bit of an obsession. He loves these striped pants. They are size 12 months and they now appear to be yoga pants. They have a hole in them, they are stained, yet they are the most wonderful thing that has ever entered in to this boy's life. He wears them day and night and he things if he spins them in the dryer for 2 minutes that they are "Cweeeeen pants mommy!!" I assure you this is not an effective way of cleaning pants that have been worn around the clock by a grungy three year old. On the photo shoot day, I placed some dark jeans over the striped pants. When we arrived, McKay screamed at the top of his lungs, completely inconsolable (not to mention he fell asleep in the car and doesn't wake up well.) Finally, after a good ten minutes of attempted consoling, we decided to ditch the jeans. He didn't crack even one smile and scowled the entire shoot but he wasn't screaming any more. As for the jeans, they spent the remainder of the shoot in the grass where dad chucked them. McKay, I hope your determination motivates you to aspire a great potential some day.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-28273749137925508942014-04-19T23:21:00.000-06:002014-04-19T23:21:09.151-06:00Today I have been thinking a lot about my upbringing and the way my parents did things. My parents are amazing. How did they know all that stuff, I mean I feel lost so much of the time. My mom had 9 kids, NINE kids! I thought, before I became a parent, that I wanted a lot of kids and I would be great at it just like my mom was. Well, then I had Kayla and I still thought I wanted lots and lots of Kaylas. Relatively calm easy baby, a toddler who could use so many signs that she was rarely frustrated, and then a wonderful school aged child who has her moments but has become my little bestie. Then I had these two boys at the same time. Pretty good babies but then they turned in to fire breathing toddlers (okay you know I really REALLY love them though). Have you ever heard of <a href="http://www.spdfoundation.net/about-sensory-processing-disorder.html" target="_blank">Sensory Processing Disorders</a>? My little McKay was diagnosed with it about 9 months ago. It has been a challenge that I have questioned my ability to handle. I love being a parent and I am so thankful that I have been given the opportunity to have these individuals in my life. That being said, my euphoric ideals about becoming a really amazing parent have been shattered by the humbling reality of life. I can do my best every day but that's it. My room is full of clean laundry that hasn't been put away, my floors need to be mopped, I am about 2 years behind on my spring cleaning, and if you sit in something sticky don't say I didn't warn you. I choose not to paint a picture of a perfect life. I want to remember with all the great things, came many challenges. I would also like to remind my three beautiful children that we are just guessing and trying our hardest. We are far from perfect and I know I am not doing everything right but we are doing our best.<br />
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<br />Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-69059650962820402922014-03-05T16:40:00.002-07:002014-03-05T16:40:54.720-07:00New Chapter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today I am feeling mixed. There is a big change coming. I recently took another job which is a big deal because I love my current job in many ways and I absolutely love the people I work with. The one downside to working in any hospital is the night shift. Some people are cut out for it, I however, am not. For two years I have worked rotating shifts between graveyard (6PM-6AM) and days here and there. And over the past two years I have fallen in to a greater vegetative state. I have energy to expend at work, giving 100% to patients, coworkers, and the flow of the floor. But at home I am merely surviving. I sleep terrible in the day, after falling asleep at 7AM, I awake at 12 noon exhausted but can't return to sleep. My kids suffer from my exhaustion, my husband suffers from my exhaustion and my energy tank has become completely empty. Nothing left. A few months ago, Sean came to me and, in a kind way said "Hannah, you need to find something with daytime hours. We want you back." I knew I didn't want to take just any day job, it had to be something I really felt good about. About a month after that I received a message from a friend, telling me there was an opening for a dialysis RN at the dialysis center right near the hospital I currently work. The hours are all days! I applied and was called for an interview. When I went in to interview it was after a night shift. I felt exhausted but when I walked in to the building it was bright, open, and it just felt right. I was offered the job and accepted. Last night was my last night shift. I may never stay up again my whole life. I would be okay with that. Leaving the job comes with a price though, I am so sad to say goodbye to the people I work with. I have been a supervisor for over a year and a nurse there for 2 years. I have been inspired by them and it is painful to say goodbye. I start my new job on Monday and I am very excited, a little nervous too. I am staying on as a PRN nurse in the Emergency Room at the hospital I have been working so I can keep my skills fresh on a variety of things. So here starts the next chapter, one that has me putting my kids to bed at night. I will spend time with my daughter every day after school, and I can maybe feel normal again. As sad as I am to leave, this feels like the right thing for us.<br />
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And yeah, that first picture, the boys are using the drawers as a step ladder (what am I supposed to do now?)!!Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-65381953207539967962014-02-14T21:57:00.002-07:002014-02-14T21:57:56.762-07:00WaterI have literally been asked the question "do you recommend having twins?" I thought and thought about this question. Do I even recommend my crazy life? Well, if it's between that and a private white sand beach um....<br />
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Wednesday morning I got home from work at 7:00 AM, my usual time. I was so tired I passed out as soon as my head hit the pillow. Apparently McKay was upset because he wanted me to get out of bed at 9 AM. So as any intelligent two year old would do, he problem-solved. No sooner had I entered my 2 hour <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_eye_movement_sleep" target="_blank">REM</a> sleep cycle, a one liter cup of ice water was dumped on my head. I did what any other normal person would do: jumped and screamed VERY loudly. Sean understood clearly that this may turn volatile so he put down some towels (the majority of the bed was soaked), directed my half asleep, soaked head to a dry pillow, and took McKay out of the room. I slept the rest of my short "night" on the small corner of the bed which was left dry. So McKay, I know you are only two and there is an essence of innocence that resonates in your sweet little voice. However, I would like to teach you a little concept called "payback". There will come a time when you are lazily sleeping in and your attitude exceeds your desire to listen to your mother. Well, it'll be then when I get to dump a liter of ice water on YOUR head. And believe me, it will happen!<br />
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Did I mention that Brody climbed in to the dryer and McKay turned the dryer on? Yeah that happened. Sean said the blood curdling scream could be heard a mile away. Sean heard 2 "thuds" before he reached the dryer to turn it off so our guess is he spun twice. Brody wasn't hurt, just traumatized. Needless to say, NO one has climbed in to the dryer since!<br />
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So we continue this journey of survival. I struggle to manage the life of handling a household of rowdy children, a constant messy house, and full time work. Sean is still in school but there is a light at the end of the tunnel! He will be a 2014 graduate, woohoo! <br />
<br />Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-78901328029509580682013-10-29T13:52:00.003-06:002013-10-29T13:52:51.258-06:00How I Solved my Toddler's Insomnia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am not really sure why my son started to have sleep problems. Could have been his brain didn't know how to shut off, or his new trick of climbing out of the crib was just a little too fun to pass up. Whatever the reason, bedtime is now a breeze again and we are feeling a little bit more sane in that department.<br />
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The problem:<br />
McKay (2 years old) learned how to climb out his crib. He started to climb out the second we would leave the room and even started helping his twin brother get out. He would jump on the bed, laugh, and wreak havoc for about 3-4 hours until he would fall asleep with one of us sitting in a chair at his bedside policing him so he would not get out. Bedtime would start at 8 PM and he would be asleep at midnight. Then he would wake up at 2 AM and stay awake until 5 AM. Now, as you could imagine, we were going insane. With after bedtime being Sean's only time to study while I am working nights, this was not working out for us at all!<br />
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The solution:<br />
I asked the pediatrician what in the world we should do. She made some suggestions and this is what I put together: That night I moved Brody (his twin brother who is a champion sleeper) in to our oldest daughter's room with his crib. Then I took McKay's crib down and put together a toddler bed. I child proofed the entire room and removed all toys. Lastly, I put a child proof doorknob cover on the inside of the door. I put him to bed that night and said, calmly, "McKay, if you stay in your bed, I will leave the door open but if you get out of bed, I will have to close the door to remind you to stay in your bed at bedtime. Love you" I left the room and McKay was right out of bed. "Sorry McKay, looks like we'll have to close the door to help you remember it's bedtime." I shut the door and he started screaming. I let him cry for about 5 minutes and opened the door again. "Would you like to try it again? Stay in bed and I will leave the door open." Again he came out and I shut the door again. He cried and soon fell asleep by the door of his room with his little hand under the door in a perfect fan. I felt really horrible but the pediatrician had assured me that some children need this boundary or their body literally can't shut off. The next night was like a miracle! I told McKay 3 times when I put him to bed what the deal was "If you stay in bed I will leave the door open but if you get up, I will have to close the door." He apparently understood because he didn't get out of bed once! Since this time (about 3 weeks ago) he has been going to bed like a champ. Sometimes he comes out and stands in the hallway until I come get him and shut the door. Seems like, some nights he wants the door closed to help him calm down. It's been awesome.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-20580583553932568192013-10-21T00:02:00.001-06:002013-10-21T00:02:48.731-06:00The Greatest Thing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return" -Moulin Rouge<br />
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In rebuttal to my last whiney post about how crazy my life is, may I just add I am blessed beyond measure. Lately I have been listening to some awesome inspirational messages from the last LDS General Conference talks and they just remind me of how many things I have to be grateful for. My kids may be crazy at times and more than we sometimes think we can handle but when I look in to those eyes and momentarily see a part of their souls, there is no doubt in my mind they came from Heaven. That's all.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-1830747810616228052013-10-17T02:35:00.000-06:002013-10-17T02:35:02.541-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I guess my bum is already numb from working on the computer too long (editing photos from recent photo shoots, so productive!) so what the heck, might as well fit in a quick blog post. I don't know if I mentioned this before but I have twin boys that are 2. Let me say that again, I have 2 wild high energy boys that are 2! I am not sure if my life can reach any greater level of insanity really. A few weeks ago Brody got in the dryer and McKay turned the dryer on. Sean rescued him after he had spun twice. He heard the dryer turn on, Brody scream blood murder and then two consecutive "thuds". He has not climbed in the dryer since. McKay recently decided he is not going to sleep any more. I don't mean he is arguing nap time, he is fighting all sleep tooth and nail. In the last two weeks it has taken us about 3 hours to get him down at night. He is jumping, laughing, climbing out of his crib or throwing a fit. Tonight we moved Brody in to his sister's room temporarily, kid proofed McKay's room, set up a toddler bed and gated him off. Of course, I went in every 5 minutes and offered to open the door if he is willing to stay in his bed. After 2 hours of this, he finally agreed and stayed in his bed. We are hoping this sudden toddler sleep training won't last too long, heaven knows we need sleep and sanity. We told the pediatrician we will end up joining the circus soon if we can't get things under control. McKay loves the street and we're lucky he hasn't been hit. Brody is a climber and we are lucky he hasn't fallen and been seriously injured. When they turn 3 we are having a "twins stayed alive" party. I mean seriously, the thought that we are entrusted with that type of responsibility. Keeps us praying. My house is a complete disaster. Every day Sean and I both clean yet it still constantly looks like a tornado has hit. I would like the FlyLady to visit MY house, I don't think she was a full time working graveyard shifts mom of twin toddlers and a school aged child while putting her husband through school, if she was, her SINK would not have reflections in it!!!<br />
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Despite the complete chaos, we are actually enjoying life as much as we can. Fall has brought fun outside with sweaters and hot cocoa. Kayla is loving first grade and our schedules have been working out. Wish us luck on the sleep training but other than that I think we are going to make it.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-64572645309272301812013-08-21T15:24:00.002-06:002013-08-21T15:29:39.847-06:00At the Close of SummerI have thought so many times that I need to post. Over and over I hear things the kids say and do, knowing it needs to be recorded but so much is omitted from my journaling.<br />
Well we bought a house:<br />
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Not very big or showy but it's our house and we love it. We have a fenced yard, a garage, a garden, and enough room to run around. I went to see my grandparents in California and they are my garden inspiration. My grandpa is a retired dentist and an engineer extraordinaire, my plan is to one day replicate his amazing gardening at my house. Here is where I have started:<br />
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Since the photo, the ground cover has grown, my little white crate herb garden is growing and it looks better. But then taking another picture is a tiny bit too much effort at this point, I think you can get the idea. Thanks Grandpa Dee for the advice and inspiration, I still want to build those grow boxes!<br />
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We went on a trip to California for a family reunion:<br />
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So fun to see the next generation playing together. The family just keeps growing.<br />
Kayla is going in to first grade this year, FIRST grade! Can I even handle it, hardly. When I sent her away to Kindergarten it was exciting as I waved goodbye knowing I would see her again in a couple of hours. But first grade? I mean, what if she doesn't know where to sit at lunch? And what if she sits by herself because she can't find any friends? And then after lunch, what if she forgets where her classroom is? I really wish I could just go with her so she can ask ME all the questions and I can say "Hey, she looks like a nice kid, lets go say hi and I will help you make friends". I will sit with her at lunch, she can tell ME how she feels, she can tell ME her secrets, and she can tell ME about her fears. But I have to let go, with a lump in my throat and tears welling up in my eyes, I have to let go. I have to let her make mistakes, feel embarrassed, make friends, lose friends, get hurt, and sometimes even play alone. My only hope is that she continues to tell me everything and that we will stay best friends forever.<br />
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Oh Brody, here is the thing. You were made with an angelic little face, bright blue eyes and a cute little bod for one reason only: SURVIVAL. Otherwise we don't know what we'd do with you. He is Mr. Mischief. Climbs on top of the TV stand to unplug things, flushed Daddy's smart phone down the toilet, flushes everything he can get ahold of down the toilet, jumps off furniture without fear, wrestles relentlessly with McKay, takes off his diaper to poo on the living room floor, escapes and runs straight to the street. There was a time when I thought Kayla was high energy but I think Brody trumps anything I have ever seen. It's safer to keep him strapped in to a stroller or corralled in to a place where he can safely run around (like a padded room!) But his kisses, smiles, and the way he is a momma's boy, my life would not be as rich without him.<br />
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McKay likes mischief just as much as any other two year old but he has this really unique quality about him. He is so empathetic. Every time one of his siblings begins to cry, he pats them on the head, snuggles them and gives kisses. He is always concerned when someone is upset and loves peace. He is a cuddler and has a way of just melting right in to you. We found out recently that he also loves animals! We took the kids to the fair and in the petting zoo he ran from animal to animal just hugging them and petting them, grin from ear to ear. I don't think I have ever seen him get so excited about anything. Needless to say, we are entertaining the thought of getting a small goat. He would be in heaven.<br />
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As for us, Sean is in the Social Work Program at a University pretty close to where we live. He is working really hard and succeeding. He will be moving on to a Masters as soon as he is finished with his undergrad. He stays home with the kids while I work full time and we manage to work our schedules such that one of us is always with them. And I say he works hard in school but he works even harder being home with them. Twin toddlers is exponential child rearing and when you add a 6 year old that really needs our attention as well, it's all he can do just to survive and collapse at the end of the day. We spent some time in a neighboring mountain city for our 8th anniversary and it was fabulous. We stayed in a beautiful resort and cruised the town late at night NOT stressed about tired kids. We felt like we were dating again! Life is so busy and often exhausting but great. I love my job as a RN supervisor which has given me ample opportunity for growth. The summer seemed to fly by and there were so many things I wanted to do and didn't but we had a great time together. Trips, evening walks and lots of outdoor play kept us busy and active.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-86386718085041723292013-05-23T16:52:00.001-06:002013-05-23T16:52:42.635-06:00A Kite<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So I forgot to add in my last post, one of the greatest parts of mother's day:<br />
Kayla woke up at 6 AM and Sean got up with her only to turn on a show and fall asleep on the living room floor (we were up with bad allergies all night). At about 10:30, kayla opened my door "Mom, I brought you breakfast in bed" with a huge toothless grin. "Oh my gosh, thank you Kayla!" As she got closer, I could see it was a peanut butter and jelly toaster waffle sandwich. I took it and when I went to pick up the sandwich, the waffles were still frozen! "Mom, Dad couldn't help use the toaster and so it's still cold, I hope you don't mind." Huge hug and more thank you's. By far, the best breakfast in bed EVER.<br />
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We took the kids to fly kites last night because the weather was just right. It got cold (it's been in the 80s and suddenly there was a cold wind that came through). The boys loved the kite. McKay was terrified at first and really worried about this weird looking winged woman on a string in the sky (go figure). After he realized what was going on, he wanted to fly the kite, and, as you can see, so did Brody. They managed to fly it a bit and watched us fly it mostly. Love having fun with these kids!Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-73977467397582507262013-05-12T23:53:00.001-06:002013-05-12T23:53:18.570-06:00On Being a Mother<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My mom asked me for one Mother's Day present: To post a blog describing my feelings on being a mother. Well, I feel like I am supposed to take a freight train sized load of jumbled up feelings and place them neatly in to the back seat of a sudan. But I am up for the challenge.<br />
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You may or may not have noticed that my photos have gone from edited, great lighting, toned up hues to straight snapshots via phone and calling it good. Well, this is indicative of my current priorities. My first priority is my family: love, nurture, parent, play, spend time in the outdoors, teach, tickle, laugh, and take a million photos a minute in my mind, hoping to somehow freeze these moments. I use my phone to take photos because I have it on my most of the time for that very reason, to capture as many moments as possible. I have come to discover that I can relish the memories created by photos, even when the catch light is not perfect, eyelashes don't look like tiny perfectly focused daggers, and they have not been through Adobe Lightroom.<br />
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I think motherhood is a unique experience for everyone. I found it difficult when I went back to work when Kayla was a baby but I have since learned that instead of stewing over the fact that I can't be with my kids 24/7 I choose to embace my own unique experience. When I look at my kids my heart smiles (excluding the moments when you want to escape the madness). I love my kids more than I ever thought I could love anyone. When I am away from them, I talk about them, think about them, tell patients about them, tell coworkers about them, I just can't help it. I feel that Heavenly Father has entrusted me with a task far too important. I sometimes wonder if I can carry out the task of bringing up my children in a world where evil and hate is far too prominent. How can I teach them to love? How can I teach them not to judge? How can I teach them to become confident adults? Unfortunately, they do not come with instruction manuals and I am again left guessing if what I am doing is enough. I love them, listen to them, and attempt to teach them. However, I am seeing more and more each day that my children are teaching me far more than I could have dreamed of teaching them. I love motherhood.<br />
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Greater frustration I will never know. But greater love I could never have imagined.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-34639680860726205752013-04-20T00:04:00.001-06:002013-04-20T00:04:20.156-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This girl is hilarious. Seriously.<br />
You know how I used to post tons of funny things that Kayla says? I have another one.... or two<br />
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Kayla: "Mom are you going to have any more babies?"<br />
"I don't really know"<br />
Kayla: "Well I hope you get pregnant and you have Quaplets!"<br />
"How many is quaplets?"<br />
Kayla: "A lot"<br />
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After a birthday party Kayla had a huge jaw breaker.<br />
Kayla (holding up the jaw breaker): "what IS this??"<br />
"Oh it's a jawbreaker"<br />
Kayla: "Um, what?"<br />
"They call it that because it's stronger than teeth."<br />
Kayla: "Sweet, I love this 'jawwrecker'"<br />
"Should we see if it breaks on the cement"<br />
Kayla: "YEAH!"<br />
Kayla (the rest of the day): "Oh man, that was the coolest 'jawwrecker' EVER, I love jawwreckers! Hey everyone, we broke a jawwrecker on the cement, it was AWESOME"Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-50074752383677247522013-04-01T00:05:00.000-06:002013-04-01T00:05:06.229-06:00Twin Toddlers: Logistically Impossible<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Have you wondered why my photos aren't looking as professional as they used to? Well....one word: I don't have time. I used to take all my photos with my SLR camera, edit them in Adobe Lightroom and then put them on my blog. Now days, I still take a lot of photos but they are with my phone, which is an excellent camera but not SLR! Oh well, the memories are still there, maybe just not the photo quality.<br />
Today I took the boys outside to play (a common occurrence around here). The thought came to me that it is logistically impossible to have 2 toddlers, yet somehow they haven't been hit by a car, fallen down stairs, or fallen off of a counter. When other adults stop and want to chat in the park, it is almost comical at how bad of a conversationalist I have become, due to the constant motion the boys are in. One kid under your arm, the other one plunging off the slide, someone bumps their head and is now crying, one starts to run toward the street while the other starts climbing the jungle gym alone. I mean insanity at it's best. Church is a 3 hour chase-two-kids-through-the-halls session. My house constantly looks like tornado alley and every evening when we are cleaning up the living room I wonder if we should wait to clean up for a few years and just embrace the chaos. I crave a life of organization and order, where I can find the things I need in the house. I have pinned (on Pinterest) hundreds of ideas on organization. I guess I will have that organized life one day. I will have my house in order, smelling lovely, and my kitchen floor will stay clean for a few days. But ya know what, I have a feeling I will miss the sound of little feet running across that dirty floor. I will miss sitting in the middle of our toy-covered living room holding my babies snuggled in a blanket. I don't think I will regret putting all my free time in to my family. Organization can wait, those sweet growing kids can't.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-10192190941729363362013-03-22T16:50:00.001-06:002013-03-22T16:50:48.352-06:00Lessons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Even with my slackish blogging (or just lack of blogging) our children still continue to grow, I just can't stop it as hard as I try.<br />
It seems our world is always changing, continually taking us on adventures that surprise us. Recently, I was made a nursing supervisor at work. It's been a really good learning experience for me and created opportunities for me to grow as a nurse and a person. The responsibility of running a whole floor makes for busy shifts, which makes my days off even more enjoyable.<br />
I consider myself so lucky and humbled to be a part of so many lives as a nurse. Recently, through some really poignant experiences, I am reminded how quickly life can change. I see people pass away in my line of work. Some elderly, who have lived long lives, others are far too young and unexpected. A good while ago, I was taking care of a young mother who was terminally ill. One evening when I walked in to find her embracing her son while he sobbed in her arms, it suddenly hit me: Why do I ever take anything for granted? This young mother may have had the opportunity to say goodbye but that is not always the case. I should hug my kids that tight, with that much pure love every day. Since that day I have not let one day pass without feeling true gratitude in my heart for living. I breathe the morning air in and think of how thankful I am for each breath. I look at every silly grin my kids make and feel thankful I am with them. I say a prayer of gratitude for my husband and what a best friend and phenomenal father he is. I am thankful for everyday, and I will never ever forget the lesson this young mother taught me. <br />
<br />Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-10649564353096771142013-02-10T01:02:00.001-07:002013-02-10T01:02:47.486-07:00"I have a feeling"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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While the five of us are driving in the car, Kayla leans forward from the back seat and says, thoughtfully: "Dad, mom, Sometimes I have a feeling I might be a real princess." Sean and I smile at each other. Sean: "Kayla, I think you might be right."<br />
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While the whirl of my busy life seems to continue on, I have been looking at things differently. Attempting to establish more inner balance and connection to the earth (okay yeah, I am sort of a hippy.) But I only have one chance to live this life and I want to enjoy it. On my days off, we take a drive, take the kids to the children's museum, go to the snowboard shop, go for a walk, play in the snow. I think when I see people pass away and leave bewildered family members behind, I start to realize how quickly things can change. Every day I spend with my family is a gift. Sitting on the floor playing with the kids in my pajamas is never time wasted. I found the above photo of Kayla from when she was only a couple of days old. It cracks me up. Sassy from birth.<br />
With my brood, there is no denying my hands are full but my heart is too.<br />
Enjoying these little monkeys before they are grown.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-91225805385465707102013-01-20T00:33:00.001-07:002013-01-20T00:33:19.197-07:00Bringing you up to Speed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It seems as though life has been so busy lately. Not the kind of busy that is like "oh good, I got a lot done today" but the sort of busy when you are going to bed at 2 AM and you think "oh my, I didn't even have time to shower today."</div>
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It has been a good while since I have journaled here so I shall bring the record up to date. We had a fabulous Christmas. It was simple but fabulous. The kids had fun, we didn't have a lot of plans, and we were together. We welcomed "Skippy" into our home. He is from the North pole and came to make sure the kids are on Santa's nice list. We loved all the silly places he hid each day and the funny tricks he would play. Definitely added to the magic this year. </div>
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My dad came out to visit right before Christmas too which was a blast! It was a short visit but priceless (see photos below)</div>
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Kayla had her dance recital and did great! She is in Jazz this year and loves it. Can't believe she has been dancing for 3 years!</div>
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2 days after Christmas we took our first family trip to Disneyland. Leading up to the trip is when the chaotic business started. I was working overtime every week for about a month before the trip (to fund it) and it was crazy. No matter how hard we tried to keep calm and carry on, it just seemed so chaotic. We made it though!</div>
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The trip turned out to be a blast! We surprised Kayla and she didn't know we were going to Disneyland until the morning we went. We broke the news to her in the hotel room. Epic moment. You can see the video <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHTednfzihM" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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The first day in Anaheim, Sean's parents took the boys so we could have a day with Kayla by herself in the park. We had so much fun. We saw about 7 different princesses, one of which is Kayla's favorite: Merida. She is also a huge fan of Rapunzel (hence the beanie) which we were able to see too. Rapunzel even had Flynn Ryder with her too, so much fun for Kayla. She loved the rides too. Her favorite was Space Mountain and Splash Mountain but she was afraid of the Jungle Cruise (go figure). A bit of a thrill seeker are we?</div>
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Anyone who is planning to take a trip here is my Disneyland money saving advice: take food in to the park! They allow it now. We brought a whole loaf of bread and the Goober PB/Jelly mix. We also brought snacks like granola bars, bananas, a water bottle, fruit leather, ect. We only bought food once. Otherwise you can easily spend $100 on food in one day... ridiculous!</div>
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I was a huge fan of California Adventure too. Cars Land is the most impressive thing I have seen by Disney; hands down. The road you walk down resembles Radiator Springs exactly. They even have a orange cone Hotel!! (you can tell this whole thing brought out the kid in me)</div>
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After DIsneyland, we spent a few days in Newport Beach. It was absolutely beautiful. The kids played in the water for hours, we walked miles up the boardwalk, played in the sand, and soaked up the sun. I may have almost cried when the sun set on the last day we were there. I didn't want to go home, not even a little. I believe we made a priceless memory that week. Family together time is like nothing else. These little kidlets are growing far too fast. I told my dad today I want one thing in life: enough money to take a lot of vacations. I don't want to be rich, have a fancy house or a fancy car.....I just want to vacation a few times per year. It's therapeutic for us.</div>
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Since we got back, Sean started the semester, I am back to work, and we are just trying to make it in this world. </div>
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I think I try and sugar coat things but I am going to be honest: I have been so tired lately. I think the graveyard shift takes years off your life and it sucks the marrow from your bones. It works though, for now, it works...therefore, I am going to keep on going. Luckily, I love my job and love the people I work with. And happiness in the workplace: you can't put a price-tag on that.</div>
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Okay, I am going to end this novel with a Kayla Quote:</div>
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"Mom, sometimes I think I want to grow up and be just like you. Then other times, I feel like I just want to be your daughter forever and not grow up at all"</div>
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Love that girl.</div>
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Good night. </div>
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<br />Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92625084611888813.post-55370615539352892182012-11-08T15:23:00.002-07:002012-11-08T15:23:24.655-07:00Mom: (cell phone ringing) Kayla, can you go get my cell phone really quck.<br />
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Kayla: Mom, I would but that is YOUR responsibility.<br />
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<i>Dangit! I just started teaching her about responsibility and now she is turning it back on me!</i>Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512761565154979248noreply@blogger.com0