Fall

After a 7 year hiatus from Fall (Houston does not have Fall) I am savoring every moment of it this year. Here are the top 5 things I have missed, and love, about my favorite season.

5. Crisp, chilly weather perfect for a walk through crunchy leaves.
4. The smell & taste of fresh, steaming hot Washington apple cider as it fills me with warmth on a breezy afternoon.
3. Wearing sweaters & scarves.
2. Searching for that perfect pumpkin in a real pumpkin patch with a nose running from chilliness rather than sweat running down my face from the heat.

Carving at Danny's preschool celebration.

1. Quilts of colors in the trees. Just look at our front yard.

How I have missed you Fall! Please stay a little longer.

Better Next Year

We planted our first garden this year after Danny expressed enthusiasm for gardening last spring. Our only goal was to have fun with it. You definitely reap what you sow.
I won't tell you what we started with, but it was definitely more than this. Perhaps next year I'll set higher goals. And find a sunnier location to plant.

Recent thoughts . . .

A few unrelated events that have left me pondering . . .

• Last week I made shrimp alfredo for dinner (don't be too impressed . . . pre-cooked shrimp, jar of alfredo, bowtie pasta . . . I did cut up some veggies & mince the garlic). Though I enjoy seafood, we don't eat it at home very often. Danny was very unsure about the shrimp. Now, I don't have a problem with my child not wanting to eat a lot of something they don't care for and we're not strict about them clearing their plates completely. However, I feel strongly about having my kids taste and try a little of everything. Matt and I enjoy most foods and like the adventure of trying new ones. This is certainly something we want to instill in our kids. So, back to the shrimp. I put 2 on Danny's plate. "What does it taste like mom?" "A little fishy. Good. You'll know when you taste it." He started with his broccoli, ate a few noodles, and then poked at the shrimp again. I showed him how to pinch the tail and bite the shrimp off. I think it freaked him out a little. "You only need to eat one, to try it. If you like it, you can have the second. You can't have a crescent roll until you've eaten the shrimp." He picked it up and took a miniscule bite, flinched, and gagged. I reminded him that eating the shrimp meant eating the whole shrimp, chewing, and swallowing. He went through a brief phase where he thought he would intentionally vomit something after he ate it, so I reminded him it had to stay down. Am I totally mean or what? I did give him a choice though - he didn't have to eat it, but he couldn't have the coveted roll unless he did. It was almost time for me to leave for a meeting, so I quickly finished my meal. Finally, Danny was ready. He put the whole shrimp in his mouth and began chewing, chewing, chewing. He drank a little water. Then he started to gag. "Do you need to throw up?" I got ready with a napkin. But he shook his head fiercely and kept chewing. The seconds dragged on, he gagged again. "Danny, if you need to spit it out, it's OK." But no. He continued on with a mad determination in his eyes. I think it took him a full 2 minutes to chew the whole shrimp. But he did it! And then he smiled. And said,"Hmm . . . that was good." Granted, he did not eat the other shrimp. And he has specifically asked not to eat the leftover shrimp. But I was so proud. Is it crazy that I enjoyed watching my little guy tough it out and succeed? What do you do to encourage your kids to be good eaters and try new foods? Do you have consistent rules or does it depend on the meal & the situation?

• Kaylee is a climbing maniac. Danny was not. If there is something to be climbed onto or out of, she's on it. High chairs & shopping carts are merely towers to be stood upon. Today I moved her off the table at least 20 times. She would go right back, climb on top, do a little dance, & then laugh and try to run away (on the table) when I retrieved her. Her sassy grin & mischievous eyes while she's atop the table, or sofa, or counter always make me laugh. But yesterday, she had her first big fall. She was trying to run away from me so I wouldn't take her off the table. She slipped on the table cloth before I could get to her and fell flat on her back. Fortunately, she didn't hit any corners or chairs. There was no blood, only tears. But, how many falls can a little kid take? And, how do I teach her that it's not a game? Do I just remove all chairs (because she pulls them out and climbs up on them) and stools? Any tricks for shopping carts & high chairs? Straps are useless . . . she wriggles right out of them every time. Maybe she'll be a magician . . .
  

• I need a new fitness goal. Having the marathon to train for kept me motivated and focused. It was great to have a plan and something to look forward to. Now I'm only looking forward to Halloween Candy, a Thanksgiving feast, and Christmas cookies. Any ideas?

• This past Saturday Matt and I did something we haven't done in a really, really, really long time. We didn't have any trips, activities, or commitments (unless televised college football counts as a commitment). Normally, this means we would go to a museum or a park. But instead, we just stayed home and worked almost all day. And it was SO much fun. We accomplished all these jobs that we never seemed to have time for before (Mostly ones that I'd wanted to do). Washed the windows inside & out, cleaned the grill, trimmed some bushes & trees, swept out the gutters, reorganized the office, & set up my cansolidator (see next bullet point). Danny LOVED it. He was my squeegee man during window cleaning & he was thrilled to help Dad haul the branches to the yard debris can. Though I remember many Saturdays working together as a family growing up, I forgot how invigorating, fun, & unifying it is! We rewarded ourselves with dinner out at Pogacha's, a local Croation joint. A delicious way to end a perfect Saturday.
  

• Why is it that the right gadget/gizmo/accessory can make a chore SO much more fun? I love making my bed. I didn't use to, but earlier in the year I used a gift card to buy a new bedding set with big pillows & a fun design. It's nothing too fancy or expensive (just Target bedding) so I don't worry about my kids (or dogs) climbing onto our bed. But, I love the bedding & it makes me actually want to make my bed every day. I look forward to the polished hotel look. My other favorite gadget (much to Matt's dismay) is my cansolidator. Technically it's a Shelf-Reliance free standing, can rotating system. Regardless, of the name, I love it. Silly, I know, but it brings me such great joy to get my food storage because I love seeing that cansolidator brimming full. It's so fun for me to put the cans in the top & hear the swish, clink as it rolls around and hits the next, older can. Everything is kept in order and there are no crazy, toppling stacks of cans. A friend of mine once posted about a new pair of rubber gloves that helped her fall in love with dish washing. What is your favorite gadget or gizmo? And why is it that the right tool makes something previously so awful suddenly fun?
  

• I have realized I need to spend $ on clothes. I'm still in a high school mindset, looking for the cheapest deal I can possibly find. However, now that I'm not growing (except during pregnancies), I've realized I don't have the same clothing changeover that I once did. Most people figure this out a little sooner than I have, but you really do get what you pay for. I'm always so excited when I get $4 t-shirts at Old Navy during a wicked sale, and then so disappointed when two wears and a wash later, they're faded and stretched out. On the other hand, I'm always scared to pay more than $30 for a shirt at a nicer retailer, and yet, my more expensive clothing, from many years ago, is still holding strong. I'm confident that I have wasted far more money buying mediocre clothes because they sort of fit and they're a great deal, than buying more expensive, quality clothes. Don't get me wrong . . . I'm still not going to shell out $100 for a pair of jeans that will get paint, playdough, and sticky fingers on them. However, (as Matt will tell you from our recent shopping excursion), I'm no longer going to limit myself to the deal of the week.

Wow. I think I've rambled enough. For those of you who plowed through . . . thank you for listening.

Ahoy Thar Mateys!

Danny loves pirates at the moment, so it was a natural theme for his 4th birthday party. I acknowledge I get a little carried away with parties . . . but it's so fun for me. And on Tuesday morning while Danny reveled in his celebratory hangover, he exclaimed, "Mom. That was the best party ever."
We were greatly missing our Billings cousins this birthday as it was the first time since Danny's birth that they weren't able to celebrate with us. However, we were spoiled to have Grandma & Grandpa Couch** and Grandma & Grandpa Billings all in attendance. Here, Pirate Grandpa & Grandma Couch wait eagerly with the Cap'n for the arrival of his crew. Once the scallywags (3 friends from church) arrived, they got busy painting treasure chests and decorating spy glasses with jewels.
Next it was time to practice digging for treasure. Even Grandpa & Kaylee got in on the action. Next Danny & his crew were ready to commandeer a ship with their cannon balls. Attack!

Time to search for gold. Garrett found a fistful of loot!

By now the buccaneers had worked up a whale of an appetite. The crew feasted on swords (long carrot sticks), fish (goldfish crackers), gold (cheese cubes), cannonballs (balled canteloupe & black grapes), and a fleet of ship (crescent wrapped hot dogs). To wash it down? Sea water (blue Hawaiian punch) of course. After a real treasure hunt, with clues throughout the house and a treasure box filled with gold (Rolos), silver (Hershey Kisses), & jewels (beaded necklaces), it was time for cake. Cap'n Danny was disappointed that his shipmates couldn't stay longer, but he's perfecting his catapult aim for their next adventure. **So, the AMAZING pirate ship? All the artistry and engineering of my parents. Aren't they incredible? And, many of the other ideas were also their genius & effort - the nautical flags, sea water, & sand to name a few. Thanks for all your help Mom & Dad!

Big Boy

Danny likes to remind us that he is not a baby or little kid any more. He is a big boy. With preschool starting this year, and now his 4th birthday, I realize just how right he is. But, I remind him, he will always by my first baby no matter how big he gets.

Things I want to remember about 4-year-old Danny . . .

• Danny is fascinated with nature and could spend hours outside collecting sticks & rocks and digging in the dirt. He has recently started mimicking me by saying, "Mom, isn't that a beautiful view" when we're driving through the mountains. It's so fun to watch him explore and investigate everything around me. He has so many questions about why and how everything works.
  
• Danny loves weapons. Maybe this isn't something I want to remember, but it is a big part of who he is right now. Every night his various swords, shields, & armor are scattered throughout the house from all his battles with bad guys. He loves nothing more than watching You Tube videos of guys shooting bows and arrows at targets. Recently on a quick trip to Big 5 Sporting Goods he was fascinated by the real shotguns & bows. On the way out he explained, "Mom, when I grow up, I'm going to have a real gun like that. But don't worry. I'm not going to shoot deer. Just scary animals like T-Rexs and dragons."
• Danny has a vivid imagination. It is so fun for me to eavesdrop on his quiet playtime. All of his Playmobile guys have important missions and rescues to do and he plays & plays. He got several new Playmobile sets for his birthday and he played for hours in his bedroom by himself.
  
• Danny loves to play I Spy, animal hunt, hide & seek, duck duck goose, firefighters, pirates, diggity dog, matching, & legos.
• Danny loves to eat mac & cheese, chips & cheese, quesadillas, yogurt, broccoli, steak, chicken wings, PB&J, waffles, chicken nuggets, pears, grapes, oatmeal, carrots & ranch, and apple slices. He is also an even bigger cold cereal junkie than I am.
• Danny is learning so quickly. His favorite game right now is "I know a 'B' word. . . 'b' 'b' 'b' blanket." He chooses a letter (usually b or d) and thinks of as many words as he can with that letter. The entire day he goes around saying 'b' 'b' 'b' 'b.' His recent enthusiasm for letters, words, & reading has been so much fun.
• Danny is great at doing his chores and can finally complete most of them independently. Putting away his laundry & toys. Putting away silverware & setting the table. Making his bed. Cleaning windows & mirrors. Getting dressed. Feeding the dogs. We're still working on sleeping through the night/staying dry through the night but there's so many things he can do on his own now!
• Danny loves to play pbskids.org and watch PBS shows. His favorite are The Cat in the Hat, Dragon Tales, Curious George, Sid the Science Kid, & Max & Ruby. His favorite movie is Playmobile's Pirate Adventure.
  
• Danny is fascinated by scriptures stories . . . mostly the battles. But I love how his little testimony is growing. Recently, after I scolded Dozer with a harsh yell & a swat, Danny reprimanded me. "Mom," he said consoling Dozer, "You need to be more kind like Jesus. You made Dozer sad. Jesus would be nice." I had to smile, even though I was still mad at Dozer for getting up on the table. Danny is also quick to ask his dad for "special prayers with hands on my head" when he is sick. Usually he thinks of it before we do.
• Even though he is a "big boy" Danny still loves stories & snuggles at night, tickles, & tackle hugs.
  

Baby Monster 2006

Beagle 2007

Airplane Stick Man 2008
Buzz Light Year 2009

Pirate Cap'n 2010

Messy

Sometimes I think Kaylee is old enough to try something.

Then moments later I think . . . maybe not.

(Tears from when I told her she was not allowed to eat the paint or paintbrush & then had to take the paintbrush away)




Fortunately, while the messiness on faces & clothes washes quickly away,
the messy memories will last forever.

BYU Trivia

During our recent trip to Provo, I decided to make a little game for my blog readers. While Matt slaved away at a job fair trying to recruit promising, new employees, the kids and I wandered around campus. What a joy to wander around at a leisurely pace with no concern about the next paper, midterm, or project. There was no stress about who I was dating (or hoping to be dating) or where I should apply for teaching jobs or what the future held in store. I was content to explore my favorite haunts with the kids while snacking on giant rice krispy treats and Jamba Juice. What a fun few days!

So . . . to the game. Can you figure out where we wandered?

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2 -

3 -

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14-

A few highlights from the Provo trip . . .

• Canning salsa & lunch with my old friends Leslie, Becky, Amy, and all 13 of our kids. Old because we've been friends since high school . . . not because we're old. :)
• Creamery treats and exploring with Timmy & Aunt Debbie.
  
• Reading books with the kids in the library and bookstore. I felt a little guilty disturbing the studying students, but figured they probably needed a 15 minute break anyway.
• Exploring every exhibit in the Museum of Art and admiring the well-polished banisters. Danny was impressed when I told him I used to polish the banisters and vacuum the floors at the MOA.
  
• Cafe Rio . . . twice.
• Finally meeting Matt's mission companion Elder Hall.
• A session at the Provo Temple with Matt while some of our grown up youth from Houston babysat the kids. Thanks again Leica, Lori, & Emily! Next time Hannah!
• Swimming & playing with all the cousins at a nice hotel pool.
• Bridal Veil Falls & Park City
• Matt surviving a 5 hour round trip run/hike up Mt. Timp
• New BYU gear.
• Lunch with the Hong cousins before the BYU game (the game itself was NOT a highlight - boo).
• Driving through the canyon.
• Watching the sunset at Rock Canyon Park.

Overall it was a fantastic trip! I'll think of a fabulous prize for anyone that gets all 14 locations right. :)