Twitterpated.

Definition:
confused by affection or infatuation.

We bought a new house. Travis will kill me but, he is twitterpated. : ). We can't eat or sleep or do anything but dream of our new house and what we're going to do to it. We wake up at three and Travis hops out of bed to go to the new house and start working. We are trying to be in before Christmas, but we'll see if the remodeling is done in time. It was kind of a spontaneous decision, and I am having mixed emotions. More info to come soon...I'm too tired to write anything coherent right now.

Grandma Twilla

Travis's grandma Twilla passed away this afternoon. I don't even know where to begin in writing this post. We all knew it was coming and were emotionally prepared. However, when it actually comes, are you really ever ready for someone close to you to go? I have mixed emotions. I wish she were still here for me to learn from. In the four short years that I have known her I can honestly say that there isn't a sweeter more optimistic person on this planet. Even during her last days on earth there wasn't a complaint out of her mouth. When asked how she was feeling or if she needed anything all she would say is "Can I just look at you? I just need smiling faces. You are mine you know? Aren't I lucky?" These were the things she always talked about- her loved ones and how we should always cherish them. Every time I saw her she would tell me to enjoy every minute of having my little angels because they will grow up and move away one day. She always reminded me of what I should be focusing my attention on and what is really important in life. Last week she was telling us of her life during the depression and how they wouldn't dream of going to the store to buy food. Instead, they worked hard for their food and canned it to store it for winter. She told me that the most important lesson she learned in life was to stay close to the church. I left feeling so grateful for the things that I have that have come easily in life, including food and the gospel. She was such a sweet and kind hearted person. I truly am blessed to have gotten to learn from her.

Although I miss her, I am also happy for her. I know that she has been reunited with her husband, who passed over 30 years ago, parents, siblings, and son. How exciting for her to see them again and be in such a much better place. I am grateful that I know where she is and don't have to wonder if there really is life beyond mortality. It would just be too hard to lose a loved one and not know that I would see them again. I am grateful that Travis's family can not only feel sorrow and grief but hope and peace in knowing that she is happier and that they will be reunited with her one day. The passing of a loved one always brings life into perspective and leaves me asking myself so many questions. Am I doing what I'm supposed to be doing? Am I giving my kids enough attention? Do I let my husband know how much he means to me? Am I wasting too much time on things that don't matter? Do my kids know how much I love them? And my parents and siblings? and the list goes on... So, Grandma Twilla, you are such an inspiration to us and we are lucky to have known you. We love you and will miss you until we see you again.

My conversation with Kinsey while giving the kiddos a bath:

Kinsey: "Mom, why do we have to take bath'es'?"
Me: "So that we will be clean and not stinky."
Kinsey: "Why do we not want to be stinky?"
Me: "Well, no one will want to be around us or be our friend if we stink."
Kinsey after a second or two of contemplation, "mom, sometimes after you workout you stink. I can't be your friend anymore."

Also, yesterday after I asked her to clean up her toys she told she couldn't because she was going out for a date and a wedding. Yikes!!

Happy Birthday (a day late...)

Marianne,
Well I may be a day late but it's not because I didn't try. How do I let you know how much I love you and still not sound like a total cheese ball on my blog?? I guess I decided oh well if I sound cheesy. I'm so glad that you are my sister. You are always there for me when I need someone to come to with good or bad news. Thanks for listening to me whine, I know it's not fun. I have always and always will look up to you in so many ways. You are dedicated, hard working, and strong. I think of all the things we have done/been through together and I can't help but laugh (and want to cry at the same time for somethings...ha ha). Anyway, just wanted to let you know I think you're GrEaT!! Happy Birthday!!
Love ya,
Amber

Halloween etc...

Halloween night we had a little get together at Travis's parents house with all of his sister's and their kids. We ate chili and hot dogs and then went trick or treating. It was really fun; everyone in the neighborhood gets really into decorating their houses and making it fun for the kids. Kinsey always gets really scared though and clutches on to my hand for dear life the whole way. I think it's kinda sweet. So, I bought Kinsey's Halloween costume about a month ago. Yes, you guessed it, I couldn't find it the day of Halloween minutes before we were supposed to leave. Yep, imagine that, I lost something. I was so mad, and I searched that house high and low for that dang witch costume. I had it sitting on top of the washer for weeks b/c the black fuzz on it was too messy to put anywhere else. So, while I'm ranting on and just being mad that I can't find her costume she just looks at me and says, "it's okay mommy, I'll just be a princess for Halloween." I had to stop and laugh at myself; aren't I supposed to be the parent? She had been talking about being a "scary witch" for weeks, and I felt so bad for her. Of course we found the witch dress in the toy box Saturday morning. Go figure. I also forgot to take my camera on Halloween, I know I just can't get it together, but Connor was a pumpkin and Kinsey was Cinderella. I made them dress up again on Sunday so I could get pictures. These are the pictures of what my children should have looked like on Halloween He looks really thrilled


Strike a pose honey...

My regular camera isn't working so hot, so this is all I could get out of my video camera still shots.

On another note... Connor is a little over nine months old. I just can't believe how the time has flown by. That little boy is just so funny and perfect, we love him dearly and are so grateful to have him in our home. He weighs in at just under 20#'s and is... I can't remember how tall, only that his weight was in the mid 20th % and his height was somewhere in the 90's. He is still not sleeping through the night, and the ONE time I decided I'd let him fuss it out he woke up with a huge bloody gash on his head. Okay, so it was more like a scratch (as you can see above) but, to me it was a gash. I felt horrible. He was actually hurt and needing his mommy and I let him cry it out!! I guess I'll have to work up the guts again soon bc I'm really tired of getting out of bed in the middle of the early AM. I just hate listening to him cry when I know I can console him so easily.

Connor got his top two front teeth in. They are funny little, or I should say big , chicklet teeth. HA!

Can't remember if I posted pictures of Kinsey on her first bike. She LOVES her bike, and now that it's finally cooling off we can take family bike rides. It's really cute if I do say so myself : ). Oh and ignore the really messy garage in the background. There really is no excuse for it except that we have NO storage space.

One more thing... I never blogged about our girls weekend away to New Port Beach, but it was a blast. I don't have any pictures due to my non-working camera but Marianne has some posted on her blog so click here to read more.

4 years...

Travis and I had our 4 year anniversary yesterday; I can't believe it's already been four years. We went to dinner at Ruth's Chris Stake House to celebrate. Travis was really sweet and had flowers waiting for me downstairs and diamonds waiting for me in the car. Yes, diamonds... I LOVE classy diamond jewelry. Travis thinks it is a tragedy to buy b/c it depreciates so fast, (that's my hubby always thinking logically...) but for me he will do it anyway. Aren't I lucky? It was really sweet of him. My earrings are beautiful with chocolate diamonds that he picked out b/c it would go well with my eyes. I would post a picture but unfortunately my camera won't work. (Dad, you left a day to soon. I need you to fix my camera.) We weren't supposed to do presents so the putz that I am didn't get him anything... sorry babe.

I'm not going to lie, our first few years were really rough. We are both hot-headed, stubborn, and "always right". I just can't help but think it's a miracle that we made it through those years. Does that sound bad? I don't mean it to sound bad... But here we are 4 years and 2 kids later with one on the way, and I'm so glad we've come this far. I am so glad I found you Travis. You are the perfect match for me. I know I drive you crazy sometimes but I love you more than you can imagine. You are one of the smartest, most capable, funniest, goofiest, most tender hearted people I know. You would give the shirt off your back for anyone who asked, and I love that about you. I know you would do anything for me and I for you. I love you honey.

PS. Psych about the baby thing I was just making sure you were paying attention.

???

This is a weird post but... Yesterday Kinsey threw all of the big toys out of her toy box and got inside with all of the small toys. Then she peed her pants. Doesn't that suck? It was quite the clean up job.