Baby Jesus Stink

I just want to give a shout out for November. Yea, November. It is such a wonderful month for me. There are birthdays (my sisters and mine), anniversaries (John and Terri big 30 this year), THANKSGIVING (food...I like food), and then there is the the fine fact that it is the last month in the way of Christmas December!

This has been as good as any November. My birthday of course is just another day in adulthood. I promised myself I would not get after my kids that day as a present to myself. I didn't expect any surprises but I did end up with a few making a memorable birthday indeed.

The following week I had a "Tripp" trip. Phil and I have been keeping a secret from our families and friends for a few weeks....just because we could. We FINALLY have bought a second vehicle! We have gone through 8 years of marriage with just one vehicle to share. It has been good most of the time. However, living in this small town I have really begun to feel stuck with only the one. We have been looking for a while and finally came across a deal we could live with. A few weeks before Halloween we purchased an 09 Dodge Ram 1500. WE LOVE IT!!! Our dog loves it! With this new purchase came my freedom. I have been itching to go see my good friend Jodi Brown 5 hours away in Lewiston, ID. I wrote her an email asking if I could come and the following week I went. (That is where the Tripp trip comes in. My parents are not trip planners. Our vacations usually came as a last minute inspirational idea that we would all help throw together and leave. This is in stark contrast to my in-laws who plan vacations 9-12 months in advance and have every hour detailed out.)

The drive up to Lewiston is all canyon. Alex got sick on the way up, Emma got sick on the way back. But the time there was wonderful. The kids played together right off the bat. We were both afraid that they would go through a shy awkward beginning. Not so. Lauren saw Alex and thought I know you, we use to wrestle and immediately "sacked" him. Emma in 5 min found all Kristen's favorite toys and so began their battle. Jodi is one in a million. It was so lovely being with her and relaxing at her home. Thanks Jodi for having us!

When I returned home my mother flew up to visit me for a late birthday visit. She came with two suitcases stuffed with clothes for the kids that the cousins had outgrown. She was positive she would return with them empty. We shopped for two strait days. When she left they were just as full as when she had arrived! It was great to have her come. We all love having her. The kids get spoiled and Phil and I usually get to go on a date with Grandma babysitting!

Thanksgiving this year we spent at our home. Wednesday I spent baking. Thursday Phil helped me put together all the remaining fixings. My boys think a lot about food. Alex will always tell me when the meal is good enough or not. He like a lot of dishes to look at and try. Alex declared the Thanksgiving meal amazing and Phil ate two dinner sized plates (we usually just eat on lunch sized plates...this is my first time pulling out the larger plates). It was splendid. Both my boys were happy, that makes me happy.

The day after Thanksgiving marks the start of the Christmas season for us. I ran to JoAnn's for the early morning sale and spent 3 hours waiting for my turn at the cutting table. I am excited for the fabrics I got and the money I saved by going at 6:00 in the morning. After lunch we (Phil had the day off) turned on the Christmas music and began setting up the tree. The kids absolutely love it. The ornaments have not stayed for more than two hours in their original position. They keep taking them off and playing with them and then putting them on somewhere else. (Phil's uncle would send him an ornament every year. He always got rocking horses or airplanes. Terri saw how much her children liked that and has started that tradition for our kids. Alex gets Christmas characters that have a pull string that moves their arms and legs. Emma has a baby for her first year and last year she got a baby Minnie, Mickey and Pluto. ) Emma can hardly stand to not touch all the "heeses". Once the tree was standing lit and hanging with ornaments Alex said "It needs a train around the bottom". He ran to his room and dragged out his train tracks. He set up a cute little track and placed a train on it. He and Emma watched it all night. We even got some jingle bells to hang just right so the train with make them jingle when it goes by.

Next came the "activities," that is what Alex calls them. My mother was wise and started giving us pieces to the nativity collectible called "Fontanini." They are beautifully painted plastic pieces that can withstand a child's touch. Alex has set it up at least 5 times in the past 24 hours. After breakfast this morning he asked, "Mom can you come play this with me." Of course I can't refuse that. Emma likes to get in on the action but she doesn't set it up right in Alex's opinion. One of the times he was distracted with something else she was playing with it the nativity.

She came to me and said "Sesus stink."

Me "Oh baby Jesus stinks, you better fix that."

She grabbed the baby and ran into the bathroom. A minute later she came out with 10 feet of toilet paper trailing behind her wiping the small baby's bum saying "Ohh stinky, yuck!"

Having all this Christmas excitement has been so wonderful. It has gotten my kids away from screens and monitors and has them playing and imagining with all the Christmas season paraphernalia. It gives us lots of opportunities to talk about Jesus. It gives my house a new smell and look and feeling for the next month. Hurray for Christmas. Hurray for Christ.

A Treat

September was a dreary month for me. I had the bonafide flu. The entire month I was sick. Two weeks of it was laying and the other two were "taking it easy." I am very very grateful September is over.
At one point I overheard this from Alex: "Heavenly Father, bless my mommy to get better. Amen." (I followed with an Amen too.)

Enough about September. October is the latest news!
October was the antecedent to my September.

First, Phil went hunting and I headed home. I visited good old Richmond right when the leaves were changing and the weather was pleasant. I was able to catch up with family and friends. It was wonderful. The kids don't mind it at all either because they get love and attention from both sets of grandparents!

One of the magnificient highlights of the trip was holding my cousin Jory's newborn baby girl. (Jory is a month younger than me. At the age of 15 his twin sister and my best friend, Julie, died in a car accident.) Jory has been patient in finding a wife and having the blessing of a child. No mother has worked harder to keep a baby inside and well than his wife Angela did. She started swelling with edema 5 months into the pregnancy. She was in and out of the hospital for 10 weeks before she was was able to deliver on September 29th. When I arrived at their home in Bennington (Bear Lake County) I held that sweet baby for at least an hour. She is so beautiful and petite. She looked like the aunt she was named for, Avery Julie. It was so tempting to stay there all night loving and cuddling her. I am excited for my handsome cousin, his beautiful wife and his new baby girl. I am ever grateful Phil went hunting for a deer so I could travel home and hold a "dear." (p.s Phil didn't shoot anything. Maybe next year)

Second, HALLOWEEN! I love Halloween. I love pumpkins. ( I tucked in pumpkins from mom and dads around the luggage when I went back to Idaho. Phil teasingly called me a "pumpkin hoarder.") I love the fall colors. I love getting dressed up. I love eating candy. I love Halloween! We had a party at moms with the Smith cousins and Grandma Viva while we were home, a party with Alex's friends when we got back, went to two trunk-or-treats and for the first time ever took Alex real TRICK or TREATING!!! Along the way I did my parental duty and told Alex all about how Halloween was for me back in the good old days....walking up hills both ways, houses built further apart, two feet of snow on the ground, etc. (REAL Trick or Treating)

Emma was so cute she would hold up her bucket, get a treat then turn around and show me her bucket with the biggest surprised eyes and a smile on her face. She thought that trick or treating was an amazing activity. She is my candy monster this holiday was meant for her.

Third, the BEST TREAT EVER!!!!! I GOT MY CAMERA FIXED! WAHOOO for pictures!
DEAR GRANDPARENTS please place your orders:

Grandpa Gene

"Cowboy Gene was long and lean,
hair of red and eyes of green.
Loved all the cows on Biddle Ranch
and every time he got the chance..."

Grandpa Gene came to visit us and every time I think of the name Gene I am reminded of the first lines of the book Sixteen Cows. It is a cute one.

Unlike the Gene in the book our Grandpa Gene is not long and lean; instead, he is short and stocky. He has a few strands of gray hair with blue eyes and hands that have seen many years of work.

We learned so much about Grandpa during his visit. He was in a story telling mood when he arrived and we enjoyed every one. For two days we heard some unthinkable stories. I wish I could repeat all of them but I can not. But here is a list of all the things I find interesting about Grandpa Gene:

-He is 77 years old and is currently working full-time as an auto mechanic

-He is not a member of the LDS church but was gracious enough to allow my mother-in- law to join when she was a teenager

-He believes in reincarnation (His reasoning is because he figures when someone is a "natural" at something it has to be because they learned it in a previous life) Dear grandpa those are just talents :)

-He began hitch-hiking when he was little and traveled across the united states four times in that manner of transportation

-He is a rolling stone; He had no problem getting jobs or letting jobs go

-He can fly airplanes. It is his one true love.

-He has seen the country on a motorcycle

-He never finished high school

-He is very stubborn if you tell him he has to do something and he doesn't want to HE WONT! (Emma shows sines of this - Heaven help me.)

- He began drinking and smoking at 14 but has quit both

- He had a fake ID when he was 14 (that is how he got the drugs)

- He has owned and ran a diner with a motel

- He has owned an auto repair store

- He has worked on numerous ranches

- He is currently living on an acre and 1/2 of land in a 29 foot RV. There is no sewer tank so he rents a port-a-potty every month.

His life is one that is so different than the one my Grandparents have lived I can hardly believe it. He is so young at heart. He is constantly reading novels and watching movies that Phil and I watch. But the most important thing is that he loves us and we love him.

Yoda or Cowgirl ?

It is time to get Halloween costumes together!

Phil and Alex have decided to be a Jedi master and his padawan.

Emma, I can't decide if she should go along with the Jedi theme and be a little green Yoda or if she should be a cowgirl.

I am mixed because she loves Toy Story and she has a very cute pink Woody hat. But "cowgirl" attire are some peoples everyday wear.

So which should she be?

You tell me.

Thanks
Melissa

p.s If Phil had his way she would be a Yoda and I would be Princess Leia dressed in the outfit she is wearing when captured by Jabba the Hutt. YUCK!

part two:

Written September 20:

Good intentions not fulfilled are disappointments. There went another month; here comes another novel.

Sunday the 9th of August my dad was flying out of town so my mother flew up to see us and the new house. It was exciting to have her come and share in the joy of our new adventure. Plus, it had been an entire week since she had seen the kids and she missed them. Since she was here it gave Phil and I a chance to go on a date on our anniversary the 10th of August. It was a very romantic evening filled with excitement. Eight years of marriage and I love him more now than then. I think he is cuter now than then as well, which tickles me. If he gets cuter every year... well I just can’t even imagine. It reminds me of the Brad Paisley song “Then.” Good song.

While my mom was here we shopped a lot. The best purchase was Governor Drake Bellingham the dog (no he came with that name). We have wanted a dog for so long. We kept telling Alex that once we had our own house we could get a dog. As soon as we moved in Alex asked “so can we get our dog now?” We went to pick up a different dog from the shelter and came home with Drake. He is so big we actually had to borrow a friend’s truck to bring him home. He is a 6 month old black lab with a smidge of coon hound in him weighing 62 pounds, standing 28 inches tall and 36 inches long. He is so fun to have and so very strong. When we go for a walk/run he pulls the stroller and I steer.

Before I knew it Emma’s birthday arrived. It had been such a crazy time I hadn’t planned a big party. The day before I was stressing because I didn’t have a cake idea and I felt she at least needed a good cake if nothing else for her big day of turning 2. Luckily, my friend Adelyn saved the day. She is a cake lady. She had a handful of cute cake pans and cute ideas. She is very cleaver that way. I snatched up an ice-cream cone cake pan and Sunday morning put it together. It turned out extremely cute. I can’t thank Adelyn enough for saving me.

Emma woke up really early on her big day. We rocked and when Alex arose the three of us watched her birth-first year video Phil makes for the kids. It was purely wonderful. We went to church and then Emma and I napped while Alex and Phil wrapped presents and set them out for her birthday. I was so proud of my men. They did an excellent job. When Emma came out she immediately wanted to open them. She was even gracious enough to let Alex control the situation and help. The rest of the day was spent together as a family. (warms my heart)

Four days later we had a surprise. I found Emma on the toilet after she had gone potty. She has been interested in the toilet and I had bought her a potty seat but she had only just sat on it. There she was undressed and wiping herself. I thought “I can’t be this easy!” The next day she did it again….and then I woke up. I have no idea why she did it for two day and has now stopped. We keep encouraging her but I am not ready for the full fledged potty training week. For now we will just let her enjoy sitting on it when she wants.

Labor Day week-end:
We did it. We went camping again. This time we went camping with our friends the Withers. Our original plan was to go up to Cascade Lake a three hour trip but that changed two days before we left. We ended up going into Oregon to a camp site on Brownlee Reservoir. It was like camping at a park. It was covered in grass, trees and manicured bushes along with flush toilets and shower stalls! It wasn’t our kind of camping but it turned out to be very good to have those amenities. Plus, it was only 30 minutes from home something Phil and I had to take advantage of on the second day.

Once again we crammed the car with all the necessities. Luckily, the Withers have a truck that could handle a few of our bigger items. Once both families were packed we hit the road. We looked like a clown caravan. The Withers had a stuffed truck with 4 kids, 2 adults and pillows and blankets padding every inch of the cab of the truck. We had a low riding car with our kids surrounded by pillows and blankets as well. In the front Phil and I squeezed in with Drake riding with me ½ on the floor and ½ in my lap! Once the car got moving Drake just took a nap as I stroked his head. He is a good dog and we love him.

Camping was an adventure with the four adults, 6 kids and a dog. We had a fire every morning and night even though the temp didn’t make it a necessity. There were lots of kids to play with and fishing to be done. Adelyn and I sat around and talked while we held down the fort and kept an eye on the kids as they ran around and played.

Drake enjoyed camping just as we hoped he would. The first time we took him to the river he ran at top speed. Then he found some long grass and ran back and forth through it. Phil and I just smiled as we watched him frolic in the weeds and water. We were worried about him not behaving with all the new smells and people but he did great. Jeremy pointed out he only barked at old people when they passed by. After a few of my own observations he was right! Silly dog has a phobia of aging…I think he got it from me.
Camping ended with the kids and moms finding a mud hole. We were worried we might lose life and limb. But after prayers and swears we all made it out except one sorry shoe. We will all miss that shoe.

Aside from the specifically mentioned outings our weeks are filled with playing, library visits, dog walking, and small projects around the house. Adelyn and I have been doing a lot of canning over the past month as well. I really enjoy the harvest. I love the smells and colors and best of all the popping sound of a jar sealing after it has been processed.
So far I my pantry is housing
66 tomato pints
14 tomato quarts
72 salsa pints
28 peach pints
20 various jams
…..pasta sauce to come.
Next year I will get to have my very own garden at my very own home. I am excited. Hopefully we can acquire a freezer as well so I can put up corn.

Alex; is as imaginative as ever. He is a sponge when it comes to quotes and speech patterns. It is hilarious when he tries to use big words when carrying a conversation. A “must record quote” was: “Dad, Dad I have to tell you something that me and mom just saw. There was a purple shirt with a girl in it that had hand cuffs on!”

He has periods were he eats and sleeps (I imagine growth spurts) and then he will go for awhile eating like a bird and waking up early. The three days we were gone in Jackson I think he grew an inch. He enjoys books and is learning to read. Sporadically over a couple of months we have worked on the sounds of letters. He can put together “at” words such as cat, sat, mat, etc.
With his age comes more and more opportunity to play with dad. The other day while Emma and I napped they went out to eat and run some errands. They both love fishing, LEGOS, dogs, medicine, and Emma and I. Currently as I write they are playing tandem Age of Empires. It is good for both of them to have each other. I hope and pray there bond continues through their lives.

Alex is becoming more cognitive to the fact that the older brother has to take care of his little sister. He does an amazing job. I can send them out to play and have little worry. I will see him give her things or take care of her when I am not looking. On occasion he will dress her up so she is pretty – it’s cute. He does get his teasing in at least twice a day. What a brother.
He loves battles. If anything is a mess whether it is toys, dead bugs, clothes etc. he declares a battle has taken place. “OH, a big battle was here!” We have many imaginative battles with his swords and guns daily. Along with battles are parades. He has noticed that military personnel not only battle but they march in parades. He will don the appropriate attire and march through the house tailed by Emma. Last night he told me he wants to be a soldier when he grows up.

Emma is a marvel. She came into this world a moose and is now a petite little girl. She is quiet and deceitful. She often gets called a doll by strangers and is makes me smile. She is a doll to look at. The sun has bleached her hair to blond that is bobbed at her shoulders. She has BIG dark brown eyes that haven’t lightened since the day she was born. Her dimples are to die for and her smile is contagious especially when she dons it with a flirtations giggle. The deceitful part comes in when the “doll” says “NOOOOOOO” and quietly disturbs the order of things.
Her speech is a little delayed but seems to be improving every day. She loves to tease Alex as well. She is a girl after my own heart because she likes to be pretty and dress up but she also loves to be outside in the dirt with the worms. She feels the need to take care of Drake and I find it enjoyable to hear her try and command him around. “Siiite Dwake.” She honestly has to have chocolate every day (this is a Stevenson trait). Her favorite movie is Toy Story and Toy Story 2. We have seen it once every day!

Phil gets along with her well. Every morning he gets kisses on the way to work. Then when he arrives home she runs top speed to give him a big hug and more kisses. At night her deceitfulness shows up and she teases him by deny the bedtime kiss. Phil stated that he is already feeling sad for the day when she feels she is too big to give her daddy kisses.

A month ago I had written this about her sleeping:
“Emma is trying to kill me one night at a time. We are working on getting her to sleep through the night in her bed. A big kink was placed in it when she learned how to climb out of her crib. Last night I awoke to whimpering as her door was being shut and she was wondering down the hall to our room. She then insisted that I get up and take her to the rocking chair. Anytime I attempt to stand up I got a “siiiit, siiiiiiiiiiit”. Promptly I obeyed and resumed my position upon the chair. (Well knowing parents and psychiatrist could point out a million things I do wrong with this scenario- I am aware of them…we are working on it… this is they have a jobs.)”

This has improved greatly. I read a book and have been trying hard to choose the right when it comes to her and her sleeping. I have learned that she isn’t like the “usual” children her age needing 11 ½ hours of sleep. She is good with 10 and a good nap around 10:30-11. If she gets these things she is pleasant and sleeps well at night. It is not ideal yet but it has improved so exponentially I don’t care. Our routine takes much less time and she and I are not doing any crying.