Mr. Bean

New Addition to our Family...

2011-11-27T02:13:00.000-08:00

I have to admit when I held Griffin in the hospital just hours after he was born, I remember thinking, "This cannot be the last time I hold a newborn. I'm not done with babies."

And then the fighting came. The reminder of sleepless nights. The potty training. The poop seemingly EVERYWHERE.

With time ... and lots of it .... most of that went away. I felt somewhat human again. And although my bathrooms always have a 'boy urine' smell to them, I realize that it will likely always remain that way unless I have my own child-free special room and bathroom built for me like Clair Huxtable did in The Cosby show.

Life has it's own routine now. We have the two boys who have a schedule which includes their own beds, alarm clocks, private quarters upstairs, and for the most part can feed themselves scraps for survival if need be.

Then there are the pets. We have 2 independent cats who somewhat come and go as they please. Bailey, the 11yr old Basset Hound stricken with Addison's Disease, finally is stable and runs on her own clock as well. Between the daily prednisone pills and $90/mo steroid injects ions, she sleeps mainly all day in her basket in the closet hidden away from the children. I spend most of the day envious of her.

So, with life so seemingly stable, why would I sabotage that? Would there really be anything out there that would be that worth to me? Definitely:

Mr. "Bo" Jangles

Pure Bred Chihuahua

8 weeks old

Will only get to ~5lbs full-grown

A year ago, you would have never been able to convince me that I'd own a Chihuahua, for 3 pre-conceived reasons, mainly; They're yappy, I don't want to buy dog clothes, and I will not carry a purse to accommodate carrying a dog inside.

The more I told myself that I shouldn't prejudge, I started to soften. First of all, look at those ears! Then I learned that he was litter box trained. True, I didn't want a newborn baby, but I could have a different sort of baby that would want to snuggle all the time without all the other crap you put up with for 9mo of pregnancy.

So. I got Mr "Bo" Jangles for my Christmas present last weekend. He's not yappy; in one week I haven't heard one peep from him. Ok, so I bought him a jacket to wear outside BUT - he doesn't like it so I don't pressure him. Therefore, I still consider this to be a clotheless dog. I don't have a doggy-compartment purse and still do not plan on buying one. I just carry him in his blankie ...

So far he's been a great fit for our family. Bailey has new life and spunk again, I get my baby fix, the boys are learning how to be soft and gentle, and I even see head-kisses coming from Nate as he tells Bo what a pretty baby boy he is. The cats don't get why we have a rat in the house, but they don't seem to mind.

Now all I have to do is convince Nate that the ball-swelling related to getting the Mr Vas D's snipped is no biggie. Peas to the groin, baby!

Magic Happens on Ships

2011-11-08T19:26:00.000-08:00

We had waited for a long time to tell the boys we were taking them on a Disney Cruise. The time finally came and it was really exciting. It took Maysen awhile for it to really sink in, but once it did it he was bouncing off the walls. I started to write the following post in a journal form, but realizing it would literally be about 200 pages long, decided I'd shorten it up and mainly include photos. At the end of the post will be a link to view all of the photos from the trip. Enjoy (I know we did!)

Having packed the night before, once we told the boys about our secret trip, we only had to load up the Tahoe and do the final packing. Amazingly the boys went to sleep up in the play room and at 4:00am we were on the road. Maysen stayed awake the entire 14hr drive to LA where our ship was docked. Amazingly, the trip went really well. Thank goodness for in-car DVD players! We also had endless supply of snacks, crayons, and coloring books.

We rolled to a stop at the DoubleTree by Hilton in San Pedro, CA around 7:00pm. We toured the hotel while we waited for our entirely-too-expensive room-service (but who cares, we're on vacation and too tired to get back into the dreaded Tahoe and go anywhere else) and we were all in bed by 9:00pm ready for the big day ahead.

We'd enjoyed our morning with breakfast buffet and a stroll along the marina looking a million dollar sail boats and yachts. Finally the time had come and the hotel shuttle took us directly to the ship around noon. It was a whirlwind! Our bags were unloaded and we were hustled into the terminal where our check-in process literally only took about 20min. There were Disney characters there to greet the guests and already the spirit of Disney filled the air.

Family names were announced as each family entered the ship. The boys had seen pictures of the Disney Wonder but seeing in "real life" was something surreal to them. They looked like orphan Annie at Daddy Warbucks' house the first time.

The staterooms were not going to be ready until 2:00pm so with a few hours to kill we walked around the ship, hit up Beach Blanket Buffet restaurant, and got ready to swim! That's one of the great tips I had gotten online was to wear swimming suits on board so that while you wait for your room, you can swim!

This was one of the 3 pools on board and the most kid-friendly, the Mickey Pool. It's only 2.5ft deep at the deepest part so we were able to really let the kids run free without worry of incidences. It was also the perfect temperature and even the hot tubs on deck were kid-friendly - not too hot. All of the kids loved the freedom.

Just around the corner from the Mickey Pool is a 24hr self-serve ice cream station. Nate and I agreed early on that this would be the boys' vacation as well and that meant that the kids got to eat whatever, whenever, and stayed up however long they wanted. It was a blast! I think this was Griffin's 3rd ice cream cone (most of them melted before the "cone" part).

Oceaneer's Lab/Club = Parental Heaven. Club was open from 9:00am - midnight daily. Child to Counselor ratio was about 1 counselor per 4 kids. Each child registered with Oceaneer's Club/Lab wore a bracelet attached to arm/ankle. They were scanned upon check in and parents carried a "wave phone" (ship-issued cell phone) around with them so that they could be notified at any second if the children wanted to leave, had an issue, whatever.

The lab part of the Oceaneer's Club contained kid-friendly computers, video games (monitored), science projects, bean bags for making forts, craft station, and much more I can't think of.

Craft Station. Nate and I utilized Oceaneer's Club daily for at least an hour or two so that he and I could have our adult time. At our dinner service, the boys were always served first usually within about 15 minutes and then taken to Oceaneer's Club so that Nate and I could eat dinner kid-free if we chose. There were a few nights the kids stayed with us through the whole dinner service, but mostly they wanted to be at Club.

The "club" part of the Oceaneer's Club consisted of barrel slides, dress-up closet, stage for dancing/acting/plays, more computers, games, etc etc etc.

The first full day/night was at Sea and also, of course, HALLOWEEN! Having had 2 very stimulated full days, the boys were a bit strung out by the afternoon and the thought of wearing these moustaches were about too much for them. Maysen bawled his eyes out before leaving the room and the tears had wet the moustache and smeared black all over. WE WILL HAVE FUN PEOPLE!!!

We shortened the trick or treating line (hallways of hundreds of people didn't thrill me) and once they'd had a full bag of candy we hit the quiet deck outside and relaxed in the 85F breeze while they stuffed candy down themselves.

The Halloween Deck party was a great hit though! We had a ton of fun watching everyone in their costumes dance away, play games, and party away enjoying Halloween at Sea!

Emma was our Assistant Server. She made sure that we had full drinks, the kids had ketchup shaped in the form of Mickey Mouse and other creatures. She entertained us throughout dinner service with making paper animals (she made frogs and even a Transformer!). On the last night she did a magic show for the boys that included making marshmellows disappear. Griffin had that figured out - he just kept snagging them out of her bowl!

Leo was our Head Server and he was amazing as well. He would get on the kids level and he was so gentle, sweet, and thoughtful. He would cut the boys' food for them when it arrived and would send extra dessert to our stateroom for the boys to eat later.

This is an example of the dinner we got every single night. We had 5-course meals and this example was beef tenderloin, Williams potato (that's the pear shaped thing, it's potato!), and steamed veggies. We always got an appetizer, soup, salad, entree, and dessert. The food was amazing. There was a separate kid-friendly menu that was just as yummy! Even the broccoli was Mickey-shaped!

On the last evening of the cruise, the dining crew sang Maysen "Happy Birthday". The chef had made him a birthday cake and he was thrilled. He felt really special. (This was at no charge to us!)

On Day 3 of our cruise we stayed in Puerto Vallerta, Mexico. We had pre-booked an excursion on a pirate ship. (Above). It was a 2hr ride out to a private beach where we boogie-boarded, swam, the pirates led the kids on a real "in the sand" buried treasure, we kayaked, and just relaxed. During our ride out to the beach, we had a pod of dolphins that swam with the boat. You could look down and see them right there, about a foot under the water. It was so refreshing seeing them in their natural habitat!

The island was a private ecological beach, so there wasn't much domestication which was refreshing. There were no manufactured homes, only man-built huts. Reminded me very much of the movie Nim's Island.

The 2hr trip to the beach and back was a bit long. It was hot, and the canvas that they strapped to the top to keep everyone out of the sun made a breeze impossible. They filled the ride with a sword fight, dance competitions, and fun stuff for the kids (tattoos and scars) but it was a bit long in the heat. Griffin even incidentally grabbed the first "fruit smoothie" he could find (they were passing them around the ship) and sucked it down! That is, until I noticed it was a white one and none of the other kids had a white one. Yep. It was a pina colada! He had sucked down about half of it, not realizing that it was actually the man's who was sitting beside me. Oops! Needless to say we understood as he quietly passed out about 20min later on the bench and remained asleep the rest of the trip. It was OK, he needed the nap ....

That night we left Puerto Vallarta, the cute pirates, and pina coladas behind. The next morning we were in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for 2 days. We chose not to do much in Cabo but remained on the ship and took in shows and events the ship was offering. The pools were amazingly quiet so we took advantage!

Watching the parasailers was breathtaking from our balcony. We sat watching them and the sunset.

Cabo Night #1 was Pirate-Themed. The boys (minus Griff) went impromptu and dressed up. Nate had the best time. The boys got pirate guns and enjoyed walking around the ship shooting folks. They were great sports.

Because it was pirate night, they had a pirate party out on Deck 9. It was filled with dancing, music, a buffet of pirate foods, and finally Mickey Mouse zip-lined across the deck from above. It was amazing! After he landed, there was a magical fireworks show. Disney is the only cruise line allowed to have fireworks on board and we were right where they were lighting them off. Griffin just laid with his head on my shoulder as we listened to Disney music softly in the background watching these wonderful fireworks against the warm, dark sky.

Triton, one of 3 of the restaurants we ate in for all 3 meals. Every night we ate in a different pre-assigned restaurant. However, Emma & Leo went with us to every restaurant so we had them every night. There was Triton, Parrot Cay, and Animator's Palate. Animator's Palate was a neat restaurant that started out black and white, and as the dinner service continued the pictures on the walls that were once black and white were now filling in with color; the paint brushes (beams) changed colors, and by the end of the service, the whole restaurant was alive with color.

Elevators looking out over main lobby, Deck 3.

Main lobby, Deck 3. Mickey and Minnie were out greeting guests.

Giant port hole seats. It was fun to sit and watch the ocean as we cruised at around 20 knots, usually. We were waiting for our show to start at 6:15pm. We had amazing entertainment shows each night. We had comedian/ventriloquist who was really funny. They were able to pull off Toy Story: The Musical which brilliant how they were able to assemble all 3 plots together into a musical. Disney Dreams was a play that was performed on the last night. It was set up where Peter Pan visits a little girl who wants to fly. Throughout the night they visit her dreams (Lion King, Aladdin, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast) with songs and dancing, and Peter Pan who really flew on stage and into the audience. The kids loved it.

Of course all the excitement and entertainment led to exhausted and irritable children. We had to have the "Be Grateful, not Spoiled" speech a few times but in the end the boys did great. About every other day we had to have a "down" day which still seemed to be filled with fun. In the afternoon we'd take in a movie at the Buena Vista Theatre on board where they played up to date movies such as Cars 2 in 3D, Reel Steel, and Nate and I even snuck off to see The Help (which I bawled my eyes out).

I just think this picture is incredibly cute. Goofy napkin hat courtesy of Emma.

We attempted a few of these and this one turned out relatively good. Everyone we asked to take our picture was extremely intimidated by our camera. It's like "You just point and shoot".

Our character breakfast morning came after our long day on the pirate ship. It started at 9:45am and Griffin was so tired he barely moved when we tried to wake him. Feeling sorry for him (who are we kidding, I wanted more sleep) Griffin and I stayed in bed, cuddled, and snored together while Nate and Mase went down to Character Breakfast. Nate admitted he ordered the Mickey waffles with Mase and Leo was nice enough to bring Nate a kiddy plate. He even cut his waffle for him. Leo was a character!

Of course there was a multitude of character meet and greets. Griffin thought Minnie was so pretty in her princess dress ... he even kissed her nose.

Stitch was a huge hit the last 2 days of the cruise. Why? I don't know. The boys haven't seen Lilo and Stitch the movie, ever! However, the boys insisted on getting Stitch stuffed animals and seeing him was a huge highlight.

We were lucky to also have an amazing Room Attendant, Dom. He would come and fix our room up twice a day; morning and night. We're talking I'd be horrified that anyone saw our room the way it was, but he'd come in and make it look new again. At night he would come and turn the beds down, make the boys' bunk beds up, and leave us little treats. He would make us a different towel creature every night and the boys couldn't wait to get back to the room to see what he had left. I took their t-shrits down to guest services and they had all the characters sign them. What a fabulous souvenir.

We are all still feeling a bit like this! What a fun time we had. We were checking out of customs and Mase kept looking back at the ship. He was quiet and without being prompted said, "Thank you so much for this vacation. It was a blast!" That made the trip all worth it.

We officially left LA at 10:00am and arrived back in Oregon at our home 14hrs later around 1:00am. Just as we were crossing the Oregon border I felt my throat start to get sore. Sure enough we all ended up with colds within the next day or two. Welcome to Oregon!

We had the trip of a lifetime. I'm sure the boys will remember this for years to come. I can't wait to do it again. The spirit of Disney filled the ship and everyone in it. It is a very different experience than what you get at the Disney Parks in CA and FL, yet just as amazing.

The night we told the boys of this surprise, they slept on the couch up in the playroom. We woke them up at 4:00am and everything was left as-is upstairs. When we returned, the boys stumbled back upstairs in a haze and laid in the mess left the week before. Moments later, Maysen stood at the top stair.

"Mom? Dad? Could you come up here and tuck is in?"

"No. It's so late buddy, just go to sleep."

"But I want you to tuck us in to complete the trip circle. Then it will be like our trip was all a big dream."

That's what it felt like. A dream. I want to go to sleep and go back!

If you didn't get enough pics (Ha!) then you can view the whole set here.

Surprise Cruise

2011-09-20T15:12:00.000-07:00

When I had children, life became more exciting. Not just because they're wild animals and now a glass of wine every night is almost a necessity versus a treat. Christmas mornings became magical again. Picking out pumpkins became a tradition again. There is a lull in life between when you're a child and when you have your own children where things go flat. It isn't usually until you have children where you start to see things (again) in a magical way.

That is why I absolutely cannot wait until October 28th. That is the night we are going to surprise the boys with a 7-night dream vacation to Mexico aboard the Disney Wonder. We leave the next morning for Los Angeles, California. We have been telling Maysen that would consider planning a "Mickey Cruise" when he was 8. That was last year. I saw something online about Disney and what they do for Halloween and I thought "Lets do it this year!" and just today I got our reservation paid off and confirmed our vacation! What a memorable Halloween this is surely to be!

Sure, I'm excited to go. But I'm more excited to experience this through the eyes of the boys. Nathan and I surely will get Disney'd out, so luckily you can sign them up for endless activities with the crew directors and alone time by the pool here we come, pager in hand if we need to go pick up the boys. Even at dinner they serve the kids first and then off they are escorted to arts and crafts for the remainder of dinner, if we so chose.

We are pondering ideas on how to tell the boys. If you can think of any, send them my way! I'm thinking of carving a pumpkin with a Mickey head on it and leaving it lit on the porch and ring the doorbell. Maybe have a box with a helium Mickey balloon inside they get to open with the cruise tickets tied at the bottom so when it does open, the balloon flutters out and up dangling the tickets. Can you tell I've put some thought into it?

First day of school 1st grade/preschool

2011-09-07T20:22:00.000-07:00

Seems like just yesterday I took this picture. So many people commented on how Griffin wanted to be just like his big brother ... and he's still the same even today. Check out this picture this morning of the boys on their first day of school. We saved those shoes Maysen wore so that Griffin could wear them when he started school. He loves wearing his Bubba's shoes, and we're so lucky Maysen outgrew them within a month so they were brand new almost!

Here are some more pics of their first day! Maysen has Mrs Mercer this year and Griffin is starting his first preschool year with Miss Nicole. Where does the time go?

And although school is now here, we thoroughly enjoyed a summer filled with this:

Goodbye summer. Goodbye campfires and marshmellows. Goodbye humidity. Goodbye late nights. Hello curfews. Hello crisp evenings with the smell of fireplace in the air. Hello leaves swirling in the autumn breeze. Change is good sometimes.

Camping Fail.

2011-08-17T00:38:00.000-07:00

Oh honey! You bet I’d love to watch football ALL day with you while I wait on you hand and foot. Oh! And lets rent a movie. The kind with lots of blood, guns, bombs, and naked women.

Ahh, the things we do for our spouses in the early years of marriage. It isn’t until about the 2nd year that all that crap goes out the window and the dialogue goes a little like this:

If I have to listen to one more minute of football I’m going to poke my eyes out with forks. I wouldn’t want to poke yours out because you wouldn’t get to stare at the boobs of that chick with the half-missing tank top holding the M16 covered in sweat and mud.

You get the picture. My husband likes camping. The nuts and berries/water out of a stream, dig a hole to poop, kind of camping. Now, pooping in the toilet can be challenging enough, that I knew early on that I would never partake in the kind of camping that includes digging a hole and mastering the concept of dangle and drop. My idea of camping included an RV with hot running water, toilets, carpet, and lights.

We compromised with a tent, air mattress, and the fact I can bring my down comforter. I know what you’re thinking, but shush; it’s the closest thing to a Hilton Inn, so I’ll take it.

Our first attempt at camping with our small kids didn’t go so great. We both decided for our own sanities we’d wait until they were a bit older. This past spring when we bought our boat, we decided it would be the perfect opportunity to start camping again .. or attempt it at least. After all, we were really enjoying our boat – mainly because I can get out aggression on my husband and kids in a non-violent but oh-so-fulfilling manner by putting them on a giant piece of rubber and driving the boat so fast I put the fear of God in them by swinging them side to side. Not to mention I get great satisfaction out of watching them fly off, screaming like little girls the whole way down to a fiery splash. It’s the simple things in life, really.

See, due to a little disorder I like to call Obviously Clean Disorder (not, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder like the over-educated doctors call it), camping for me can get a bit complicated. For example, I shower twice a day. Every day. I like my kids clean, warm, and lotion’d up before bedtime. I enjoy clean, cozy, and crisp linens. I don’t like to be too hot .. or too cold. I can sit in front of a campfire like everyone else, but if the shower and etcetera’s don’t follow soon after, I will appear one-half devil to anyone within a 5 mile radius.

So, when some very good friends of ours invited us to camp one night with them at a lake only 10mi away (lets be real: a short drive back home in case of small panic attacks), we were up for the challenge. The previous weekend we let the boys have a camp-out in the backyard to let the tent air out. This was the pimpest bachelor pad for boys under 7 ever made! At times that tent was swinging from side to side with wild-animal noises coming from inside and guess who didn’t care: me. I waited for blood splatter or bone cracks. It never came, so the swinging kept on.

Fast forward to last weekend. We showed up at the Glenn’s campsite ready to go. I had pumped myself up in my head with random sayings like “Leslie, you got this. This will be fun! All the luxuries of home, the kids are going to have a blast. THIS IS AWESOME!”

I was ready for mother nature to BRING IT! Our enthusiasm was met by silence. There was no one at camp. We weren't sure where to start setting up, where to park. The kids jumped out of vehicles like they'd been freed from a prison sentence. Mase went one way, Griff went another, and Bay-the-Bassett went in her own direction. Octopus-arms mom that I am jumped into action and scooped them all up and hog tied them with socks to the picnic bench.

We just picked a spot that looked semi-level and got the tent ready. After one roll out of the tent, I heard the words I don't like to hear.

"Ohhhhhh God. What is all that?!"

I turned around to find that somehow, chocolate milk had been left in the bachelor pad. It had been rolled up in the tent and stored in the dead heat for 7 days. Nate convinced me to go ahead and put the tent up and we'd let it air-out and we'd clean up what we could. I hesitantly waited outside the tent with bucket of soapy water in hand, not sure what to expect when I opened the flap of Chocolate Curdled Milk Tent. All I can say is I threw up in my mouth just a little bit. Yep. Sure did.

Nate, bless his heart, did scrub the best he could to get as much of it out as possible.

Just breathe through your mouith, not your nose. Clever concept, you might think, except instead of smelling it now I could taste it. And we won't go there. Who will be the lucky duck to get to lay on that quarter of the tent? Well, Bailey rolls in dead things for fun. She should appreciate this wall of deliciousness. I also assumed that my Snore-Eliminator Mondo box fan that I brought from home would help to dry it out some, too. Nate snores so bad that I either need major drugs or a really loud jet engine fan to drown him out just so I can sleep. As Nate got out the extension cord to get the magic fan plugged in, we heard it:

"Uhhhhh, these sites aren't electriccc, soooooooooo..."

What!? No electric? No Snore-Eliminator Fan? No Sleepy-Sleep for Leslie?

Deep breathing and counting to 2938, I got over the no-electricity concept and moved on. Maybe a good boat ride would help, surely. Docked in reeds 59 feet high (oh yeah, we just slam our hummer of a boat into the weeds like a make shift anchor) we made our way to the boat. No flip flops could hold up to the demands of thick mud, rocks, and weeds. Battered, bruised, and almost defeated, we made it to our boat. I twisted my knee, Mase was terrified of the "mysteries"that lived in the weeds, and Griffin cut his foot. I felt like the soldiers in 'Nam wading waste-deep in water up to my waste. The only thing missing was my rifle held above my head - oh, and the cigarette pack in my t-shirt sleeve.

At sundown, the smaller kids were playing random games in a flat field near the site. As if a clown were chasing them, they all came a'running, screaming, and grabbing various body parts. Turns out, there was a nice little yellow-jacket nest in the ground had been disturbed and any child around was a victim. Most of the victims were dainty pre-teen girls who sounded as though they were birthing babies rather than surviving a bee sting.

When dinner was over, the men decided they needed a guy's knee boarding trip so they headed out. I decided it was a good time to drag my boys down to the showers with me (will refer you back up to paragraph 3 about my illness). We show up and at first I wasn't sure there were showers, because the doors were the same size as regular toilet stalls. Yep folks, we're talking our shower was 3'x4'. Let's count the occupancy to this hummer: 2 rowdy boys under the age of 7 and one large woman with big parts.

By now the boys have learned that this place echoes. Of course that means we have to test the limits of this metal box of headache. Eventually bellowing through the tin shack was:

"GRRRRRIIIIIIFFFFINNN SMEELLLLLSS LIIIKKKKKEEEE POOOOOOOPPP ..... liiiiiiiikkkkkkeeee pooooooooop"

Giggles would ensue and then Griffin would seek revenge.

MAYYYYSSSEEEEENNNNNNN EEEEEEEAAAATTTSSSSS POOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPP"

OK! BOTH OF YOU STOP THIS NOW .... stttooop thssssss nooooowwww"

The new game after the echo competition was to see who could climb from under the stall opening to the stall next door the quickest. Maysen soon discovered if his body was covered in soap, he could slide faster than a seal covered in baby oil and be next door in 5 seconds. Now, I'm hot as hell from wrestling these boys around. The water was one of those that you had to push every 10 seconds so just as I'd get one soaped up the water would turn off.

I'VE GOT SOOOOOOOOOAP IN MY EYYYYYYYYYEEEEESSS .... HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLPPPPP!!!!

Then Griffin had to pee so he just lets her rip ... all over my leg. I finally had it, and I swear that public shower house sounded like I was performing an exorcism up in that joint.

BOTH OF YOU TWO GET IN HERE NOW AND STAND IN ONE STOP OR SO HELP ME GOD I WILL BEAT YOU WIT--.

I decided I'd better calm down. We finished the shower, double socks and all (double so that the dirt germs didn't get through the first layer ... I told you. I have an issue), and I was so worn out by the time I got back to camp I wasn't sure if I had just ran a marathon, or really in fact, just did showers. I was looking forward to hitting the bed.

Ahh, sleep. If it would have only been that simple. We hit the sack around midnight. Nate had coincidentally tweaked his back bending over to get something out of a bag (yeah, I know, right?). As we laid down on our air mattress the first thing we notice is about 25% of our air has oozed out. Yipee. Remember, no fan, so it was dead quiet, something none of us is used to. Nate could barely roll over or he'd be really hurting. When I'd go to roll over my knee would scream at me I'd about hit the roof (which consisted of nothing but a screen because Nate forgot the tarp for the top ... I was for sure a bird would fly over and poop all over my face. I kept waiting for it.)

Within minutes, I heard the dreadful sound. Not a bear. Not a bird pooping on my face. It was much worse. It was Nate's dreadful snoring. It's like a foghorn in the middle of the night, in a tunnel, right in my ear. Remember the fizzling air from the leak in the mattress? This has provided a trench, a gully, for him to fall right up against the side of me.

2:47am

4:07am: You've got to get the hell out of here so I can get some sleep.

By now, karma had paid my husband back for me and acid reflux was knocking on his esophageal door. He decided he'd better just go sit up in the chairs by the fire. Poor man looked homeless, curled up in a chair by the community fire in a dirty sweat shirt.

6:32am: CAWWWWWW CAAAAWWWWW CAAAWWWW!

Apparently at 6:32am the crows of the campground have a caw-fight. They were so loud. I decided I'd better check on the homeless man at the fire. Afterall, aside from the CAWWW's, it had been unusually quiet and when Nate's around sleeping, everyone knows about it. In fact, he would likely have scared the crows off. I peeked my head outside our tent.

There was the firering. There were the chairs. No Nate.

Crap, has he been abducted?

Then I saw it. Our Tahoe had magically appeared behind the Glenn's trailer. What's weird, is that we had left it 3 miles down the road at the boat launch the day before. How did it get here? Inside, I found the homeless man behind the wheel passed out, drool dribbles and all. I could hear the small vibrations of his snoring as I stood at the door.

*knock knock* How'd the Tahoe get here?

I went and got it.

Yeah, but. How? It's 3 miles down the road.
I walked.

... Yeah, bu-

I walked. Through the woods. In the dark. It was scary. I followed the trail and it took me to some random person's campsite. I waited to be mauled by a dog. Shot by a camper. Assaulted by a group of camping feminists. I didn't care. I needed shelter and a heated seat. So I walked. Now shut the door so I can go back to sleep or I'm tearing down the tent with everyone inside.

I've never seen anyone disassemble a tent/campsite so fast in my life.

When we finally got on the road, all was well in the Scovil vehicle. Nate dozing behind the wheel, bugs crawling out of my hair, and screams of joy and excitement radiating from the backseat.

MOM!!! WHEN CAN WE DO THIS AGAIN?! CAN WE DO THIS AGAIN TOMORROW!? PLEEEEEAAAASSSEEEE??

My girly boys

2011-08-04T12:25:00.000-07:00

Mom? What are you doing? I LIKE RED TOO! Can you paint mine? I want my toes to look like yours!

Sure. But your dad is going to kill me. And so will you in 10 years.

I don’t look forward to the day that my boys will break my heart; but I know it’s coming. No longer will they ask for me to lay in bed with them to talk about “funny stories”. No longer will they run to me for safety from one another, as they will learn to fight their own battles. No longer will I have to blow on their oatmeal so that it won’t burn their tongues.

And it will break my heart. But I also look forward to this day as well.

Maysen has started to have more interest in daddy and “daddy’s things”, which I knew (and warned Nate about) would happen. It warms my heart to watch Nate start to instill the male slant on things in their life, as I know one day they will reflect back to it when, perhaps, one day they have their own children. They’re boys and I know this is very important.

But I will still miss the days where they wanted toes like mommy. I will miss the days where Mase would fall asleep in bed with either a blanket or Leo the Lion on his head because it made him “have hair like mommy’s”. I know that these photos are great for blackmail when they’re 18, but that’s not why I have them. It’s to remind me of the days where, if even for a moment, they were my little ones who wanted to be like their mommy.

So, no longer will they aspire to have toes just like mom because “they like red”. But. That’s OK with me. Sort of.

first boat experience.

2011-05-20T16:15:00.000-07:00

As mentioned before, I mostly grew up on boats in the summer time. So, when we bought our magic watercraft on wheels, I thought this would be a piece of cake. Gone was the logic thought of,

Leslie, your husband has never really been on a boat. How do you expect to know what the hell he's doing? You're going to drown out there!! Think of your children!!! Oh, the humanity!!

Nope. All gone. Instead I relied on my husband's 10min brief orientation from the previous owner to hold solid and get us through this. Mainly because as the years have ticked by he's proven to me that he is MacGyver and can fix just about anything. Minus the hot 80's mullet.

Our infamous boat-launching day, we decided to "go it alone". Meaning, we'd been warned to not do this your first time alone.

Ha! We laugh in the face of the non-believers!

Or so we thought. We arrived at the boat dock, and like a panicked school girl, I kept frantically looking back and forth like some hyped up retriever looking for his ball.

What do we do now? Do you want me to get out? Oh, God, Nate what if people are waiting for us? What if you screw up backing the trailer up and then the guy behind us is pissed and then we get gossiped about by the Official Boating Club people?

The what?

Ok, I get it. My husband set the boat down in the water with amazing ease. Overjoyed that MacGyver had soothed my first fear, the boys and I hopped out and got on the dock. Neither boy had a life jacket on and now THEY were the ones who were the hyped-up-retrievers-looking-for-their-ball. I'm standing on the dock holding the 2 white ropes as the boat came off the trailer. I pulled the boat over to the dock and was excited for my own achievement. Then Nate disappeared over the loading dock and he went to park the Tahoe.

As time ticks by my hands are turning purple from holding the ropes so tight. I mean it wasn't a yacht in a windstorm for crying out load, I was just to hold the unloaded boat at the dock.

This is our first time, I kept saying with my big Jackie O sunglasses on, and I think the strangers noticed my hyper-panicky voice. I don't think anyone really cared. This was mixed in with:

Maysen get back off the side, your brother is going to watch -- Griffin you step back too ... Mase I said to just sto--- GRIFFIN! YOU BOTH GET BACK BEFORE I SWEAR TO GOD I'M GOING TO--This is our first time ...*smile*

Minutes tick by like hours as I'm waiting for my saviour to make his way over the hill and into my view. I can now audibly hear the "sighs" of the boats behind us frustrated that I, Jackie O who is yelling at her kids non stop because she's afraid they'll slip off and drown, is indeed taking up the WHOLE DOCK.

Finally here comes Nate. And what do I see? NO, and I mean ZERO boys' life jackets or backpack (which contained emergency snacks, sunscreen, socks ... always need dry socks). It takes him what seems like forever to reach the dock, and like a dog who fetched a bone was smiling wildly at me.

Ready to go?!

Nope. You left all the crap up in the car.

Sh--

Yep. Please hurry as I'm about to panic over these kids and the irritated two guys from Grumpy Old Men behind me. Which, as of program note, in fact had to go back out into the lake, circle around, and come back because I was in the way. Score.

Now here he comes with arms full of gear. As I strap the kids so tight they can barely breath in their life jackets, we load the boat. People flood out of the woodwork, seemingly, as soon as we hop aboard.

*Grrrrrrrrrrr---* *Grrrrrrrrrrr----*

What? You can't tell that's a dead battery noise? Well. It was. And while we tried for the next hour trying to get jumped by everyone sailing by on the water, no luck. We decided to abandon ship, and back we came into town for a nice $80 mid-Sunday afternoon snack of battery! If I had only grabbed my cellphone. I see now what people used to do before cellphones were here. Savages!

Back we go, all 20 miles back to the lake. The people have scattered, and to our relief no one had stolen our non-starting boat. Phew! Nate got the battery in, changed, and she fired right up! I was glad because I had already talked myself into believing that this boat HAD to be a pile of junk, and that we'd gotten ripped off, and the previous owner had, in fact, stolen our first born!

We enjoyed our day out on the lake, which really was only about an hour. But that was enough, as the breeze was chilly now and the sun was fading. Feeling we'd tackled the hardest part of the journey, I told Nate to go get the trailer and I'd load the boat. Nate missed the launch pad twice, should have been an omen.

I loaded the boat with ease and perfection. All except for when, thanks to the homeless guy on the dock who screamed "YOU LEFT YOUR BUOYS OUT!!", I was about to pop those babies in two. Take #2 went smoothly as well. Nate got out to crank the boat up and as we were driving up the boat ramp with smiles of triumph, Mr Homeless came running after us pointing.

"OWIEGN KDGIJD KJIIAASHIKJWE KDLJIAGHIE!!!!!"

I smiled and waved, "THANK YOU!"

**CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR--**

What? You didn't know that was the sound of your motor that wasn't lifted out of the water dragging on the launch pad? Oh. Well. It was. And now we are sitting high-center in the middle of the launch pad. Over much debate with whether or not I raised the motor out of the water (which I did what I was told and did) and with the help of 4 or 5 other boaters who came to help out, we remained high-centered on the launch pad and, again, in every one's way.

Dying of mortification, I just want to spread my wings and fly back into the middle of the lake away from everything, but instead I'm asked what no fat dwarf wants to be asked.

Can you get out of the boat?

Uh. Leslie here with 2ft legs and we're sitting approximately 8 feet off the ground. Right.

You've gotta be kidding me right? Where are those damn wings?

Somehow we all pile off the boat and I make the kids get into the running Tahoe while we (the guys) figure out what to do. It takes the kids exactly 4.9 seconds to remove their life jackets, seat belts, and are currently hanging from the vehicle complaining and whining like you'd just told them Santa ate the Easter Bunny.

With God's graces, they were able to push the motor up a bit and move the boat back into the lake. Now what? We still can't load it and take it out of the lake. The mystery was behind this magic black button called "Trim". Apparently we were pushing it all the way up but the motor was not coming out of the water. We were resolved placing all bets that our faithful friend who told us to wait, T, would be home so he could go rescue Nate.

I left with the wild animals who had no shoes, had not eaten, and were gnawing holes in the new Tahoe seats. I look back to see solemn Nate in the boat like a developmentally challenged person with no helmet. Boat sitting quietly at the dock and we all know is going no where. I fly down the highway as the tears start to flow. What am I going to do if T's not home?

I pass a highway patrolman who slams on his breaks. No, I'm not speeding, don't do this to me! I rounded the hill and slid behind some semis in hopes I'd lose him, although I didn't know why I was being followed to begin with. The lights of HOME were shining at me as I took the exit and sped to T's house.

Thank you JESUS he was home! His wife answered the door.

Oh my God, what's wrong? Who died?!

Did I really look that bad? I blubbered out my sob story as Hero T changed out of his church clothes at warp speed and before I knew it, stood there, wrenches in hand. We walked to the trailer and I think I found the culprit of why the highway patrolman slammed on his breaks.
There behind the trailer was 12' of the line used to crank the boat in with. It's a 3" wide ribbon/rope and Nate had not locked it. So I'm flying passed people on the freeway at warp speed, crying, kids going nuts, all with 39 million feet of this flag waving behind me.

T agreed to drop me and the kids off at home, now dark, and go rescue Nate. Within 30 minutes I got a call from Nate.

Figured out the problem. Apparently there's a separate black button that raises the engine out of the water.

Thanks T for saving us. And we will not be attempting this again without you.

Proud.

2011-05-15T21:19:00.000-07:00

As a parent, it is easy to get wrapped up in everyday life. I will admit that often there are times where my kids test my frustration-level more than my love-level. I know that I am not perfect and no matter how hard I do try and bite my tongue, I know my quick wick sometimes gets the best of me; I am sure I say some things that I wish I didn't. It is something that I am trying to get better at, honestly.

My sister directed me toward this poetry reader that she found online; Her newly profound interest in poetry came out of nowhere, like many of her new ideas and interests. This poem struck me more than some of the other random poems and site readings she sends me via YouTube. Perhaps its because I'm a mom. Maybe its because of her openness and honesty. Maybe its because it is so true, hidden behind some locked file cabinet in our minds, we know all of this, but yet it doesn't seem significant enough at the time.

At the time. At "this" time is what is most important. This is the time that will count for that time down the road.

In her poem, Rachel McKibbens mentions #1 "the crumpled photo of myself in the garbage".

One sunny afternoon, Maysen was going through my drawer where I keep old photos of classmates and dusty yearbooks. Annoyed he was dragging everything out of the drawers, I barked at him to put all the stuff back and shut the drawer.

Who is this, mom?

That's me. (Really do I look that different?)

How old were you? Why is your hair yellow?

I explained that the picture was when I graduated high school, right before college. As for the yellow hair, I tried to rationalize why I had over-highlighted to cover my dark roots and then my hair got too brittle and only becau--- I stopped there because the deer-in-headlights look was too much.

Nevermind. My hair was just yellow in high school.

He sat mesmerized and as his brother approached, he beamed.

Griffy did you know this was Momma when she was graduating High School? She was 18. She even has yellow hair!

He later asked for some tape. Annoyed at having to remove 29 feet of destroyed tape from his attempts to cut a 1" piece off, I gave him the tape. I didn't think to ask what it was for.

That night, tired and eyes watering from yawning so much, I was talked into going upstairs to lay with him. Griffin had fallen fast asleep and was audibly snoring.

Listen to that beast!

We both giggled, knowing it probably wasn't the best thing to condone him calling his brother a "Beast". All in all, we sat and whispered to one another. Maysen loves hearing about stories of when I was young. As he yawned, I kissed his forehead. Something caught my eye.

Taped on his headboard was my senior picture.

Why did you tape my picture up here?

Because, mom. You're so pretty!

He now has 2 pictures on his headboard. My senior picture from 12yrs ago, and one photo my sister took of Maysen and I when he was about 3 months old. I am holding him up in the bathtub, while he stares at Jenn with his huge blue eyes. He thinks he looks like "a baby monkey and I'm sooo cute, mom!".

I never want to see my picture crumpled up in the garbage. I think it would be the one thing in this world that could break my heart. I hope I always make him happy enough, proud enough, to display my picture.

Come on Summer!!

2011-04-09T01:52:00.000-07:00

But I am afraid of the dark spots in the lake.

Jenn, the dark spots are nothing to be afraid off.

But they're deep spots. I don't like them. I don't know what's down there.

Within a few minutes of being out on the water behind our pontoon blowing full speed, she forgot about the "dark deep spots" in the lake. Although I got tired of her wigging out that fish were swimming around her feet ...

There was also the feeling we got on Fridays when we knew dad was coming home from work. And when he came home that meant we'd all load the pre-packed motorhome that was strageically parked in the "get the hell out of Dodge" position along the street pointed in the direction of travel. Pulling out of town in our motor home, with usually a friend in tow (Jenn got Charity, I got Mollie), it felt so great leaving our little town behind and headed for ..... "the lake".

We would stop at the infamous 2-story KFC for dinner. That is where I discovered Honey Mustard sauce and that instant mashed potatoes were, in fact, awesome. Then off to finish out, hoping to reach the campground before dark.

Once at the campground we'd set camp. A fire would be built; s'mores were cooked. Going to the bathhouse to shower makes me remember the smell Herbal Essence in my hair while looking up at the stars. Walking back to the motor home fresh and clean carrying towels of a girls' toiletries was a challenge.

We'd wake up in the morning to dad already being gone fishing. Mom and Dad would come and pick us up once we woke up and jammed our fists full of chocolate covered donuts and orange juice as "breakfast" and we'd hit the lake. The sun made my freckles shine radiantly. Dad would pull us behind the boat on the "sked" until we went flying off, then he'd circle and do it again. When he was ready to fish and get rid of us, he'd take us to an island in the lake and dump us off. We girls would pretent it was an abandoned island and we were to "survive" the elements. That would last an hour, and dad would be back. Secretly we'd hope that some super-cute boys would come and flirt with the pretty 13yr olds on the deserted island. Never happened.

Point is this: I have the greatest memories of growing up every Kansas summer at the lake. Bonds were made, memories made, so much fun was had. And I want my boys to have that. A few weeks ago we purchased a boat. This last week we purchased a new family vehicle that can pull the boat. We have absolutely wonderful friends who also have a boat and we have summer plans already set for this summer. I cannot wait to start forming those close family times with my boys ... out on the lake :)

Cinnamon Laundry Room Flood, 2008.

2011-03-03T16:27:00.000-08:00

I remember it like it was yesterday; 2008. Maysen was about to turn 4 and had just started that climbing and getting into every.thing. We had just finished up supper and I was cleaning up. Griffin began to get cranky and so I left the kitchen to attend to him.

That's when it all went down. Like a perfectly planned masterpiece. But not.

I hear rustling in the kitchen.

Mase? What are you in to?

Silence.

MAYSEN. What are you ...

Just then I hear what sounds like an explosion of a million tiny bead-like objects falling onto every hard surface in my kitchen. What in the world is that? Is it beads? No. I don't bead. Is it marbles? No. Too heavy for marbles.

Then I remembered: I had a brand new bag of those tiny cinnamon candy balls I had bought for Maysen's bowling ball cupcakes for his bowling party.

I rounded the corner to see his eyes as big as silver dollars holding a bag that had been ripped from end to end. You can tell the look on his face said "This is NOT what I had planned"

My husband heard my exasperated prolonged sigh that I let out.

I will get the broom.

I'm so thankful I have a husband who, not only can read my mind, but can act without seeing the destruction ahead. As I heard him stop what he was doing, he headed for the laundry room where our broom was housed. I wondered how he would maneuver around in there because I currently had it filled with laundry as I continued with my 108-load marathon laundry day. I had originally expected to hear a curse word or two come out of his mouth as he trudged around in there. Instead:

Uh. Oh my. Umm. HONEY! SOMETHING HAS GONE TERRIBLY WRONG IN HERE!!

I stood there not knowing whether to grab my 4yr old off the counter and brave the death walk that was my cinnamon-ball covered floor like a scene off Home Alone when the burglars slip on the marble trap, or go to my husbands aid and brace for what was coming at me next.

I decided to opt for #2 as I told Mase to "hold still" as I had "an emergency to attend to". I ran to my husband's defense to whatever was attacking him in the laundry room. A few steps away from the laundry room I heard water. Like, splashing puddles of water. There stood my husband; he had pulled his pant legs up as to not get them wet has he stood, confused, in 2" of water that had flooded my laundry room floor.

The hose, which is attached to the draining system for our washer, had become dislodged from our tub-sink causing all the draining water to spill onto the floor.

GET ME MORE TOWELS .... I HATE THIS G.D. WASHER! .... HOW DID THIS HOSE COME OFF? ... I DON'T KNOW, NATHAN, DO YOU THINK I DID THIS ON PURPOSE? .... NO! I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW ALL OF A SUDDEN ....---

*ding dong*

We both stopped, frozen in time with a half-panic look on our face. What do we do now?

Is Mase still on the counter?
Oh crap, yep.

I bolted from the laundry pond to find Mase, who was by now naked from the waist down for God-only knows why, standing in the living room with the phone in his hand.

*Ding-Dong*

As I snatched Maysen up with one hand I opened the door to find a police officer standing at the door.

Someone from this residence contacted 911. Is everything ok?

Yes, officer. Just another day in the Scovil household.

Principals office #1

2011-01-25T13:28:00.000-08:00

Ok, the first thing you'll notice is that I actually, yes, numbered this post. That is because I am fearful that this is the first of many trips to the principals office. I know that I, as a child, unfortunately became very familiar with the inside of Mr. Levin's office for various things such as: leading the entire 7th grade class down Main Street because I happened to be at the beginning of the line during an all-school walk to the high school. Mr Woodham, who was (what seemed to a 7th grader to be about 95 years old ) was the teacher in charge and the poor man was near a stroke by the time we got to the school. He was, regrettably, the same man who fell victim to Leslie Shindley's idea of a fun game called "Lets Hide From Mr Woodham" in his math class which was held right after lunch. He'd walk in, and I'd wrangled the entire class into closets and cabinets around the classroom. I'd hide in the closet directly behind his desk and as he'd enter the room, sit down and wonder "Where is my class?" I'd shoot out of the closet screaming and laugh as I watched him jump with fright. That was followed by the rest of the class bursting out and again, I'd see Mr Levin. But man was it worth it. I'm still laughing ....

However, when you have children you're supposed to teach them right, teach them the err of your ways. But, is there a certain "ornery gene" that gets passed on? Or is it karma?

Maysen doesn't "need" to ride the bus. He rides because he absolutely loves it. We live a mile from the school, so whatever. On Thursday last week his bus driver asked to speak to me when she dropped him off.

Uh Oh.

"I've been telling Maysen over and over again that he cannot stand up in the seats, or frog hop from seat to seat while the bus is moving. He really should get a citation for this, but I wanted to talk to you". Frog hop? That resulted in him being grounded from riding the bus for 2 school days.

Then yesterday I came home from a long day at work to see a mysterious envelope on my counter. "To the Parents of Maysen" so sterile, so blatant, so ... stark. The envelope was a business envelope from "Principal JR". I felt a sense of nervousness come over me as though I were the student. As I read the report marked "MAJOR ACTION" I began reading how my son "spit on other peer's food during lunch, which will result in mandatory lunch-time in Principal's office for the next 2 days". Oh Lord. Spitting?

At first he refused to tell me what happened. Tears welled up in his eyes and I could tell he was ashamed. After much prodding (and threatening of losing Wii privileges) he explained to me that his friend, D, had spit (or so he thought) on C's food, so because D is his friend, he did it too. Apparently D only "faked" spitting but Maysen had followed through. Oh the betrayal Maysen felt to find out that D had "faked me out". I have to admit I feel a bit sorry for the poor chap, eating in the Principal's office all alone. Perhaps maybe he'll wander over and spit in JR's food if she looks away ....

Scovil Decor 2010

2010-11-30T21:30:00.000-08:00

Double effect courtesy of the granite counter

This is our 11 foot Christmas Tree. We have never had a tree this tall and now that we have the ceiling space for it, we thought "why not?" It was hilarious watching us decorate this thing. Nate had to rig up a broom stick with a hanger on the end of it to get the lights/ribbon strung clear up at the top. 46 trips to Bi-Mart for non-functional lights and after 7hrs we finally had it finished!

The boys were even lucky enough to get a tree for their upstairs play room. They decorated it how they wanted to and didn't do too bad for a 6 and 3yr old. Kept them entertained, so that's a score in my book!

Part of our annual Christmas Village, courtesy of Mom and George.

Of course you can't see it here, but we have those (somewhat annoying yet fun) lights that are synchronized with the Christmas Music that belts out of the box the lights are plugged into. I'm sure our new neighbors love the seizure-causing flashes coming from next door. They then open their door to see what the chaos is, only to have "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" at 100 decibels staring them in the face. Ahhhh, the joys of the holiday. 'Tis the Season, folks!

Happy 6th Birthday, Bean.

2010-11-15T19:06:00.000-08:00

No, I know what you're thinking and that is NOT a pile of dog poop birthday cake. It is, in fact, an active volcano, don't ya know! Can't you see the spew of hot lava flowing down the sides as it explodes from the top? (That is, by the way, melted down Cherry Jolly Rancher for the explosion part and Fruit By the Foot for the lava down the sides). Maysen turned 6 this weekend and it was filled with cheers and thrills all weekend.

My little boy's love for trains continues to this day, mainly encouraged by random YouTube videos of Amtrak and other "bullet train" videos he finds. So, what could have been more appropriate than his first Amtrak ride. We have a train station in town, so Nate's mom dropped us off and drove with Griffin to Albany (45min away) while we boarded the train...just Maysen, Nate, and I.

It was wonderful! It was such a pleasant surprise for all of us. I've been on a train here and there, but never a "mode of travel" train like Amtrak. It was smooth, it was quiet, it was sooo relaxing. In fact, we decided on that 45min train ride that this must be our newly discovered mode of traveling. Maysen fell in love with this train, never diverting his gaze out the window as he rediscovered every day images in a new way.

This foot rest ended up being the coolest thing, for all of us. Within 20min of our ride, we all 3 had them up with our seats reclined and arms behind our head. We were enjoying life .. and our McDonalds apples.

The thrills continued the next day with Science Experiment Birthday party. We did experiments with Dry Ice, Milk Swirls with food coloring & QTips, Alka-Seltzer Lava Lamps, Instant Snow, Glue Gak, Baking Soda volcanoes, and the finale were 4 Mentos Diet Coke Geysers!! It was an absolute blast!

The fun and hilarity of chaos!

Maysen and good pal, Natalie. Doesn't he look handsome here?

Part of the loot

Digging in the piles of instant snow ..

I was so happy that Dad and my step mom Jo made the jaunt from California to be at this party. It was the first one they've been able to attend and it was such a help having them here as I think we underestimated the amount of help we'd need for this caliber of party. As you can see, even the adults were enthralled.

Even though I did a run through before the party, I needed to re-read instructions for the Green Glue Gak (which we deemed "Monster Boogers"). Again ... as you can see the adults were just as intrigued...

During the last few kids, we added food coloring to our vinegar when we did the volcanoes. It was a neat change. I, regrettably don't have pictures of our Diet Coke Mentos geysers. I am trying to get a few from a few of the other parents who had cameras out. If I get some I will post them. We did them in our back yard. Nate had my dad as an assistant and all of us were safely sitting on the porch. Safely, we thought, until Nate pulled the release trigger, dropping the Mentos into the 2L bottle and the top was on crooked. The diet Coke shot out sideways shooting most of the kids. I will admit that a few parents shrieked with surprise too. It was an absolute blast and I'm sure that we will be remembering this party for quite some time. Some of Maysen's friends at school were still talking about it today ... he was so proud!

So, Happy Birthday, My Little Train Conductor. I'll love you forever ...

Go Go Mario Kart - Trick or Treat!

2010-11-01T11:43:00.000-07:00

And this is what we wait all year for. Costumes. This year the pair decided to be Mario and Luigi from "Mario Kart". What a hoot they were!

And because they were from "Super Mario Kart", we had to be complete with the Mario Kart vehicle. They drove this hummer door-to-door all night trick-or-treating. It was an ordeal hopping in and out of this thing every 20ft, but they did it! And were excited to!!

Earlier in the day we went to the Community Center for Harvest Festivities complete with ring toss, cotton candy, cake walk, and $1 hot dogs. It was a blast. We met up with some great friends there and that completed the afternoon.

The boys were even asked to join the costume contest. They didn't win but they were sure cute up there strutting their stuff!

The afternoon was rounded off with making a trip to MiddleField Oaks to visit mom. The whole place was so excited to see these two munchkins walk in the door that we could barely leave. We played a few rounds of Go Fish with mom and then headed home to prepare for the real deal !

And it all boils down to this repetative position and phrase "Go Go Mario Kart, TRICK OR TREAT!" They said it over a hundred times last night, I'm sure. Our loot is ridiculous and I'm hoping to accidentally drop some in the trash. Oooo, wait. I'll pass it out as party favors for Maysen's upcoming birthday party. That's our next event. Two words: Science Experiements. Can you imagine the mess? Ugh.

Little Red Riding Boots

2010-10-22T15:36:00.000-07:00

Big brothers are usually good at many things. In our house, Mase is usually the fight instigator and bully most of the time. I know he really does love his brother but he likes to put Griffin in his little-brother-place. I bought the boys slippers for this winter, as I usually get "My feet are cold!" in the mornings getting ready for school. They love wearing them and have donned the phrase "Little Red Riding Boots". At the library last week, Maysen picked "Splat the Cat" and has been reciting the book over and over. On this night, sitting by the fire, Bubba asked Griffin to sit by him as he recited, word-for-word, Splat the Cat Goes to CatSchool. They really are good pals ...

LonePine Farm 2010 .. another year.

2010-10-17T16:04:00.000-07:00

It smelled the same as it always does; crispy breeze carrying the smell of kettle corn through the dusty parking lot as we all bailed out of the van. We parked on the field lawn - a zillion yards away from the actual farm itself. It is like we've done every year for the last 6 years. There was a sense of annoyance in me mainly because I don't necessarily enjoy crowds and this tiny little farm houses four hundred million crowded into a city block radius and no one and I mean NO ONE knows how to drive around there. But we do it ... for the kids.

We spend $5 on handfuls of feed to feed the overweight and bloated sheep and goats with the other 200 kids behind us waiting to stuff the goats as well. But the kids love it.

We revisited the genius of a creation that is the ATV roller coaster. Built only out of used parts from chairs and barrels, this $7/ticket ride is a must every year. We scoff at how much money they must rack in every single year from this thing ... but at the same time marvel in the simplicity of this gold mine ... and the kids love it.

When we finally make our way back to the pumpkin fields the kids dart in 86 different directions in search of the perfect pumpkin. Meanwhile, Nate and I are left in the dust to maneuver around vines and disintegrating pumpkins that 325 people before us have trampled on. But we do it ... for the kids.

Then there was the majorly hazardous new hay maze they had this year. They stacked hay bales 5 high and created a maze for the kids to wander through. I watched in horror while 728 kids all ran around on top of the bales with little or no parent supervision. The nurse in me was envisioning a little one getting shoved out of the way by bigger kids, little on falling over backwards and landing on head, arm, leg wrong resulting in fractures or worse. Paranoid? Admittedly a bit, probably. But still. The kids love it.

Yes. I sound a bit critical in this post. The fact is, every year it feels like a duty to our children to go. However, as I sat watching the boys getting chased by my 6'2" husband as he loomed over the hay bales pretending not to find the boys in the maze, I heard quiet whispers behind me. As I turned around I noticed this tiny older couple in their presumed 80s. I smiled as they nodded my way and asked if those were my boys. We chatted about how fun this place is and the woman, weak and tired-looking said, "You know we used to bring our 2 boys to the farm every year. They are grown and gone now but we still come to the farm every fall just to watch all the young families and reminisce." I turned around to watch my husband snatch up the boys from where they were trapped, them screaming with anticipation. It was then I realized that this wasn't a "duty". Every year we come, there might continue to be the same things. However, the boys experience it different. This year Griffin could carry his pumpkin and he wasn't scared of the roller coaster. This year Maysen wasn't afraid to feed the goats and he was able to load the pumpkins and push the wheelbarrow. Their experiences change every year there and it truly is a blessing to get to watch this transformation every year.

We walked hand in hand out of the parking lot. Maysen squeezed gently, smiled, and said "I can't wait to do it again next week!" I knew he meant "next fall". I simply smiled, "Me either, buddy. Me either."

First School Days

2010-09-18T16:15:00.000-07:00

He always saw us take Bubba to school so there really was no explaining that this was "his" school now. Maysen has sadly graduated from our beloved Christian preschool and moved to public kindergarten. Griffin took the Scovil void Maysen left behind at the Christian preschool.

"Having" to wake up for something is a concept that Griffin has not really had to experience. So when Nate walked up those steps and gently woke him up, he was a bit flustered, but he knew he was going to school; whatever that meant.

With the parking lot filled with aflutter of nervous tots walking into the building, Griffin seemed to remember the wall of apples that greets the new children on their first day. Nate helped Griffin find his apple as he proudly sat on the bench like all the other kids to pose with this official certificate that meant HE was positively 'in school' now.

This was not an unfamiliar hallway to Griffin, as just last year Maysen was across the hall and we were trekking down this hall daily to pick up Bubba from Miss Nicole's classroom. However, he had never experienced the cries, screams, and wales that came from within his particular classroom. Nothing like the first day of "Young Preschool" cries from children whom had never been left alone before. Griffin wasn't too sure about willingly going in there.

He noticed a familiar face poke out from behind all the books; Karaline! Luckily we have great friends who have a little girl in the same class. She has been doing day care at 5Cs for a few years now, so this was a piece of cake for her. She openly hugged Griffin to show him "See, its ok!" If only it worked for a few others .. Griffin seemed to enjoy his "vacation" for the day as he thought. For when he went back the following day, Wendy was not greeted with such a welcome response. He threw himself on the ground and cried out as if torture is what was coming. Poor Wendy ... these boys are everything to her (and also not her kids) so to see her glorious baby having such a hard time was very hard for her. He was a bit clenchy on day 3 when I took him but I think by then he had realized it was going to be ok and although he shut the door behind me upon entering (such a sly dog thought that would actually keep me IN!) he begrudgingly let me go on my way. I did take a wandering peek back to see him happily playing Farm with Kara.

Next was Maysen. We had a wild week of orientations/skill review and finally last Thursday he officially started Kindergarten. I'm blessed with such a mild mannered kid. He just cruises through whatever situation is handed to him with such ease. I don't ever have to worry about him. In fact, I'm a grown adult and I had anxiety for him boarding the school bus for the first time and to him, trip up the first step and all, he smiled and there would be nothing that would get him down.

This particular picture is from the very first day of skill review, and the bus didn't come get him. It was a misunderstanding, but this picture breaks my heart when I look back at it because I know in about 5min from the time this picture was taken, the bus drove off up the street with him waving and all - and didn't pick him up. Broke my heart!

What is even more sad is that I came in right away and called, and was reassured he was on the list for taking the bus home. I picked Griffin up from school and sat outside anxiously awaiting Maysen's return on the bus. Now, it was to arrive at 11:25 so I sat with the camera, video camera ... 11:30 ...11:33 ... 11:38. I figured I'd better go in and check my messages. I heard the following: "Hi Leslie. This is Mrs. L. Maysen has been waiting for pick up since 10:55. He's now in the office waiting for you to pick him up." You got it folks. My new little kindergartner had been waiting for his momma to pick him up for 45 min now after I reassured him after school he'd be on the bus :( No worries - the rest of the week went just fine and he's been riding ever since!

Getting ready to go in!

"LOOK AT ALL THESE KIDS!" His little 5Cs entire school had the whole population in the school that was in this hallway. Upon really looking at this photo, I note that Maysen is not taken aback by the crowd, but he has spied a little boy with a blue Mario Brother's shirt on. Nothing like distraction ...

That's my boy ... so handsome.

Maysen went to 5Cs with these two little ones, C and C. He went straight to work on the important stuff: playing house. And so it proves it really can start at an early age. He did tell me years ago that C was his girlfriend.

Our rain is here! I took this picture because we just got our fence stained just in time. We're all ready for fall (especially me). Our small privacy fence got put up and I think now we're just ready to settle in for fall! I even walked in the rain yesterday ... true Oregonian. Hah!

Yosemite

2010-09-09T19:28:00.000-07:00

We are lucky enough to have family who travel around the country so we can take advantage of visiting not only them, but the super cool places they live and work in. My dad and Jo travel around and manage KOA RV parks. They've worked in Florida, Texas, Arizona, and a few awesome places in California. Because of their California choice, we've been able to visit Disneyland and just this past weekend, Yosemite National Forest.

Maysen has been a huge fan of trains since he was about 1yr old. Griffin is following in his big brother's footsteps like all little brother's are supposed to do and his love is growing leaps and bounds. We took the Sugar Pine Railroad Steam Engine train ride. It was really neat and the boys were amazed by the actual "fire" that was under the train.

One of the first things we did when we got to Dad and Jo's was grandpa built Maysen and Griffin a tree swing. It was hard imagining their little rear ends on this small, tiny actually, little piece of board. It was only within a few hours that Mase really had that thing down and enjoyed it a great deal of the time.

Although gorgeous, it was hot most days. Nearly 100F every single day, a campfire was more like roasting marshmallows in hell than anything, but there is just something about a campfire at Grandma and Grandpa's to really feel like vacation. At night it would cool down (a bit) to the 60s.

On the 3rd day, Dad and Jo had to work so we headed off on our own to Yosemite National Forest. Sporting the proud football Oregon Duck attire, both boys must have been thinking it was just about lunch time ...

The wait in line was horrible. Leave it to us to decide visiting a World-Renowned National Forest on a National Holiday was a great idea. We didn't end up getting to see any view points, as all of them had 2hr waits. Instead we found a few pull-offs with no one around and had some quality alone time. Look at the boys' catch of the day. I won't tell you that 6 of those monster pine cones accidentally made it home with us. Sap and all ...

I guess we forgot nap time this day ...

Post Monster Throw via Daddy.

Here's Griffin playing "Bob". Somehow Griffin got it in his head that my dad, grandpa, was "Bob". He started calling him "Bob" about 4 months ago when, matter of factly, he walked up to dad and said 'Hi Bob". Ever since, my dad is Grandpa Bob.

It was a fun time, but knowing we had a busy week ahead of us, we left and decided to drive straight through home. I had already spent $104 on our hotel, done, paid, signed and ready ... but my bed was calling me too hard. Nate was luckily on the same page so instead of stopping and spending the night in Redding, CA we trudged through another 5hrs home. It sure felt good to get home and in our own beds and the kids did so well. It certainly helps to have a DVD player with endless amount of Scooby Doo at your fingertips. Very thankful we had this time together as a family right before important changes in our lives; the boys starting school! Griffin started "Young Pre-School" and Maysen will start Kindergarten tomorrow. School pictures to follow ...

I'll help you fold those clothes ...

2010-08-26T23:47:00.000-07:00

Mom and Jenn, July 2010
I have to admit; this has been a very challenging past 12 months. One that has pushed my limits - my boundaries - to their fullest thus far in life. I've learned a lot about others, but more importantly myself, over the last 12 months. Luckily, I have felt the vice grip ease up on my life, and I'm learning to breathe again. Many do not know the extent of my pressures the last year, although I have had many concerned and wandering looks made my way. I recognized these but that feeling of "I need to act like I'm OK" just wasn't here. My motivation to give a damn was gone. I felt guilty many times, feeling the way I did, because I knew that so many others out there had it worse than me. Was I merely feeling pity for myself? Yes, I decided, to some degree, which just resulted in my pity for my pitiful feelings.

Chapter 1: Mom
The foundation that rocked my world 12 months ago was that my disabled mother was "dropped" into my lap, or so I felt. Multiple Sclerosis has wrecked havoc on her body and equally her mind. Clouded by dementia, she divorced my dad (and me) when I was 17. She didn't speak to me for 2 years. She didn't come to my wedding. She lied. She hurt. She wasn't there. But how could I expect her to be? She moved across the country with strangers and eventually our relationship grew into a once-every-6 month phone call about the weather. She didn't know my sons. Last year the stranger she lived with died. His daughter started stealing my mom's money - and identity. With no options left, my sister and I moved her to Oregon. I put my house up for sale with the heroic thoughts of building a bigger house to accompany her. I was, after all, the "nurse daughter". What I didn't realize was just how much anger, sadness, isolation, nonrecognition I really had for her. The first time I saw my lice-infested, urine and feces covered mother she was being wheeled off the plane by a chaperon because she was unable to fly on her own. I didn't know her. I didn't understand her confusion - I just met her confusion with frustration, not compassion. Nothing could prepare me for what I had in store.

My sister and I had decided it would be best, until things could be ironed out with her disability status in Oregon, that she be placed in an adult foster care home. One memory that will haunt my being is when I was 12; my mother was under going steroid therapy, for which she was gone for 2 weeks. When she returned, she looked in my 4th Grade eyes and said "Promise me you'll never put me in a nursing home". I nodded, horrified at what that even meant. My efforts to mentally prepare my mom for where she was going were not understood. When we wheeled her into that empty, stark white-walled room with a metal electric hospital bed, the look on my mom's face is one I will never forget. It was completely silent except for the 90yr old moans coming from next the bed ridden woman next door. Trying to make light of the situation, my sister said, "And look mom, you even have a dresser here". Dazed and expressionless, she responded, "But I have one at Leslie's, too". Finally she grasped what was taking place. She tried to mask the horror she was feeling and said "Ok, leave. I will just roll over and lay here until I die." There is nothing that I could have said or done at that moment to make what was happening OK. I had cut all her hair off to rid her of the lice, I had thrown all her clothes away because of the filth and poor condition they were in. Here this grown woman of 57 years old had nothing but a borrowed clothes hamper, broken glasses, and new unfamiliar clothes. And we were leaving her there. Sure, she lived just 15 minutes from my sister in Portland but still. She was being left alone in a new place.

Within a couple of weeks an opening at a brand new Assisted Living facility 6 miles from my house came about. That included a studio apartment, one that the state would provide for her. We moved her down, got her new furniture and I thought I felt better. But then came the clean up. Doctors appointments, dentist appointments, appointments at the bank, phone calls to creditors trying to straighten out my mom's accounts, appointments at Social Security. The facility wasn't bathing mom because she'd "refuse", so then came the Urinary Tract Infections. Then the calls at midnight that her blood pressure was high. I was fighting so hard to micromanage this facility and their inconsistencies and incompetence's that I was driving myself nuts. I was lashing out at my loved ones because of my frustration.

Chapter 2: Building House
Because our house sold, then came the decision on where to live, what to do. We decided to continue with our plan to build a house - even though now it didn't immediately include having my mom live with us. I realized that this would jeopardize things with "my" family. It was crucial to have separation in order to maintain sanity. But with building a home, came even more stress and frustration. 7 months worth, to be exact. I never felt the stability and security living in the house we were renting because I knew it wasn't going to last. I knew it wasn't "my" house. Anxiety mounted and proceeded into panic attacks. Its amazing what panic and anxiety can do to your life.

Chapter 3: H1N1 illnesses
Remember H1N1? Seems like a distant thing fleeting thought but I know in my heart it wasn't even 3 months after mom moved here when that flew into our lives. Everyone in my house got very ill except my husband, thank God. Maysen ended up hospitalized with H1N1 plus pneumonia. I was sick for a total of about 6 weeks. Tamiflu held Griffin at Bay, but $4,000 in medical bills is how we spent Christmas that year!

Chapter 4: Ouch and Financial Ouch
Through the winter, the arthritis that I have in my feet soared to a new high. Unable to wear supportive shoes because of the tight laces which pulls my foot together causing joints to rub (OUCH) led to very painful plantar fasciitis in both feet. Thankfully, cortisone injections to my heels kept that pain at bay but nothing has helped the arthritis. Anti-inflammatories I was taking caused my liver to react and elevate my enzymes, so I could no longer take them. I developed chest pain around the same time, and $2,000 worth of cardiac testing ruled that it was nothing but Acid Reflux eating my lining of my esophagus away.

Chapter 5: Break-In
In April my van was broken into and my purse and all of the boys summer clothes we'd spent that afternoon getting were gone. We were to "run in real quick" and tired of lugging that purse around, I left it in the van and *snap* - just like that, my window was gone and so was everything in my van. That included my meds that enabled me to walk, money, ID, glasses, gone. $500 deductible to fix my window and $800 to replace everything I had lost. One lucky break: David West was caught 2 days later. That idiot drove through a stop sign and incidentally had my ID, credit cards, my mom's disabled parking permit, and apparently other women's identification AND a window breaking device was all found. I didn't get any of my stuff back except of course my ID and credit cards but I had already been working to replace all that so it was worthless. Just last week I received a Victims Packet in the mail where he plead guilty to THIRTY-FIVE counts of miscellaneous things and sentenced to 10 years in prison. I am supposedly getting $1200 in restitution, but I'll never live to see a penny of that I'm sure.

Chapter 6: False Accusations
In May I took mom to her dentist to start some extensive work on her mouth. On this visit, she was having 3 teeth extracted - that didn't go so well. I kept her at my house for 3 days to watch her due to questionable competency issues at her facility. Sure enough, Day 2 mom developed an infection on her mouth. I spoke to the dentist over the phone and received telephone orders through him on what to do next, including antibiotics and a few other things. Because I am an RN and I still had mom's "physician order form" from the facility, I wrote out the telephone orders Dr W had given me over the phone. I returned mom to her facility and explained the new orders to the Med Aide. All was well until the day before we were to be moving into our new home. I received a letter in the mail from the Board of Nursing in Oregon stating there had been a complaint against me and the allegation was "dentist forgery and narcotic discrepancy". Let me back up on a few things. #1: The facility administrator, C, and I don't necessarily see eye to eye. Because I'm an RN and have an idea of how, medically, things are supposed to be ran there, she and I have battled a bit. We battle because I CARE about my mom's care. I don't just ignorantly walk through that place, turning a blind eye on things. #2: Due to the extent of mom's mouth, she was given a prescription for a narcotic pain medication. On day 3 when I returned her to the facility there were #10 missing from her bottle. Apparently C didn't find it necessary to look into this matter, and just assumed that I removed ten tablets from mom's bottle when the whole story WAS: Mom took #10 pills over the course of 3 full days at my house for pain control. That is very much reasonable. But because I am my mom's daughter, I showed up to drop her off with MY hand written order form, plus missing some tablets, C took it amongst herself to decide I must be doing something fishy. She attempted to contact the dentist to find out if he did, in fact, authorize those orders but when she was met with "I'm sorry, he is on vacation until next week", instead of waiting for him to return, she just decided she'd better contact Adult & Protective Services against me, who, in turn, contacted the Board of Nursing. You got it people! It made THAT much sense to me, too. When Dr W got back from vacation, he heard of this and contacted C and told her "I completely authorized Leslie to write those orders and fully support her intent of taking care of her mother". With that, C contacted Adult and Protective Services, but the complaint had already been made to the Board and I had to be investigated. My "mandatory 2hr face-to-face" interview was downgraded to a phone meeting when I explained what happened. I learned just last week that all complaints and been 100% dismissed by the board. I have, in the meantime, been talking to an attorney seeking a case in slander. It was C's responsibility to fully investigate any suspicions before making a claim like that. She, in fact, did NO investigation. Just one more thing for me to deal with...

Chapter 7: The Turn Around
It's been over a month now that we've settled into our new home. With that settling, I've felt more settled about a lot in my life. Mom has grown wonderfully in her surroundings. Nate's step-grandmother lives in the same facility and in fact, lives just down the hall from mom. They sit together at meals, laugh and joke it up. It's like watching 2 school girls giggle and snitch. Mom has a wonderful relationship with my boys. They absolutely love her. When we drive down to Cottage Grove, Maysen will say "Are we going to pick up Grandma Linnie today?" When I bring mom home, Griffin runs to her and says "Grandma Linnie's here!!". I never would have envisioned that one year ago. I go once a week and help mom with a full-shower. She will wash her hair and style it through the week. She has a "crush" on a man that sits with them at their table. His name is Phil. He seems to be part of their little gang. Mom will come over once every other week or so for dinner and a few times a month she will actually spend a night or two at our house. She has her own room here. I pick her up sometimes to go to Maysen's swimming lessons with us. Last week we took her to the coast to see the ocean. It was great seeing her eyes light up. I've grown used to her repeating things. Before it used to frustrate me, but now I deep breathe and just say "oh yea?". That seems to pacify her. I've seen her sit silently but have the look of intensity on her face. If you inquire, she will say "Just thinking". If you give her a few minutes, soon to follow is usually a "You know I love you so much, right?" It's been about 20 years since I've felt like I had a mom. The last outing I had with mom was the best yet. I picked her up to take her to the dentist. She begged me not to leave her, so I sat right beside her, held her hand while they numbed her mouth. I stayed right there the whole time. We laughed on the way home about inappropriate things to do in a dentists office. She told me about what worked for her when she potty trained me. We got home and as I sat there folding clothes she said, "bring that in here and I will fold those for you." So we sat, at the table, laughing about something stupid. She held up Griffins shorts, looked at them with a smile and softly kissed them before she put them on the table. It was in that minute I knew that I'd spent all this last year being mad, frustrated, sad, angry at my mom. Instead now I see that God's given me a second chance with my mom. I know in my heart that if something happened to mom while we were estranged I would never have closure. Instead now, I know that she knows her grandchildren. I know and see that she really is happy now. I see she's been taken care of. I've learned things about my mom I've never known, and I'm giving her a chance to be my mom again .... even if it is just folding clothes. It's more than I've felt in a very very long time. I see now that instead of being jipped and slated in life having mom "thrown" at me, in fact I was given a gift.

Chapter 8: Lessons
We all react different when we know something with a loved one is wrong. Some smother, some run away, some act like they don't notice. I can't judge others for how they act because I'm not in their shoes. All I know is that when I was in my darkest hours, I felt so alone. Do I wish I felt more supported by those I knew understood my hardships? Absolutely. Am I bitter? No. Because again - it is just another hard lesson I've had to learn. With the last chapter done, I am now looking onward and upward. I think this taught me the people I know I can count on and those I cannot trust. Life is too short and I've learned that I can't waste it on people/things that aren't worth the time. I spend my time/effort on people/things that count and reciprocate effort. That only seems fair, right?

I am looking forward to the new chapters that lay ahead of me with my new life with Mom; my new life in my new home; and my new life with new friends who were there for me. There are still things that need to be worked out. There are still things I need to work on. But life's a huge book of chapters and I'm only on the first few pages.

More to come ...

Come take the tour ...

2010-07-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

Come on in .... Welcome!

Foyer

Moms/Spare Room

Boys/Spare Bathroom

Living/Great Room

Dining

Laundry (LOVE my new W/D!)

Part 1 Master Bath

Part 2 Master Bath

In Great Room looking at Kitchen

Master Bedroom

Boys Bedroom Upstairs

Bonus/Play/Theatre Room upstairs (Nate built that built-in)

Looking downstairs.

Ta-Da! The boys have been gone all week to Grandma Sherrill's and Papa's in Myrtle Point. They had a blast, but I am excited to go pick them up. Leaving right now! Enjoy ...

In 3 more days ...

2010-06-29T19:27:00.000-07:00

...THIS will be our new home. As I sit and write this, it was brought to my attention that some might view this as bragging. If that is the case for some of you, I truly hope you don't think that. Nathan and I have worked very hard to get to where we're at. I worked my rear end off in Nursing School while Nate was in the Army (and fighting in the war!) and Nathan studied his way through college with many sleepless nights (with a brand new baby crying at night) to get to where he's at. So. Bragging? No. Proud? Yes.

The only hitch so far in this process is that our furniture has now been back ordered for the THIRD time now. I was told today that our furniture (which accounts for 4 of our rooms of the house) will not be here until the middle of July. Many of you that know me can probably guess how well this went over and as of now they're scrambling to come up with floor models to deliver next week until our new furniture arrives.

I am ready for the changes this house represents. I'm really going to be working about not bringing bad habits with me to this new house and create better ones. I am excited about this being not only a fresh new house physically but the emotional, spiritual freshness that comes with it as well.

A decade ago ...

2010-06-10T13:26:00.000-07:00

... I married my best friend. How cliche, I know. I didn't realize back then just how "best" my best friend was going to be. When you marry someone you know you love them. But as the years go on, the trials you face only make that bond stronger. People say "what doesn't kill you will make you stronger". That is true in relationships. Are there days I'm amazed Nate is still alive? Sure. Are there days I'm amazed he hasn't killed me!? Sure. But together, we've supported one another's hopes and dreams ... and gratefully I can say that right now we're living them. I am doing what I love which is being a nurse and raising two wonderful boys. Nathan fought hard in the military, then through school and is now doing something he's always dreamed and excelling in it! We are building a brand new home that we've always wanted. I don't mean to seem like it's a dream because believe me we've had our trials and hard times. But we've fought through them together. So, here's to you, honey, for sticking with me and honoring our vows we made to one another ten years ago. I can't wait to see where life takes us in the next 50! I love you, my inspiration. (Ok, go puke now ... hehe).

voting begins

2010-06-08T18:23:00.000-07:00

The following are just a few of the pics I was able to get on my little boy/momma time this morning on our drive around town. To view the whole shoot (or the best ones), click here. My purpose behind todays little shoot was to get some updated shots of the boys to frame and have around the new house. Please let me know which one/ones are your favorite so I can get other's opinions about which to print.

getting there

2010-06-02T18:54:00.000-07:00

Poop Foam.

2010-05-14T13:44:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning a few weeks ago. 7:42am. Nate and I are dead asleep. We are awakened by a shrieking 2yr old streaking through the bedroom, naked from the waist down. Following close behind was an antagonistic 5yr old brother yelling, "Mom! Dad! You gotta come see this!" We were led, sleepy eyed, into the living room. Aroma hit me in the face as I rounded the corner. Griffin has this new phase where if he poops, he has to take his diaper off. And ... he had pooped this morning. So, you know what that means.

Let me back up so I can include one intricate part of this story: for Xmas, we got the boys these sticks that if you turned it upside down it'd make a funny noise while a stopper from inside the tube slid down - and visa versa when you turned it the other way. He had gotten this infamous stick out and proceeded to beat his poo with this ... and my couch ... love seat ... floor (white carpet) ... chairs. You get the picture. So, before we're even fully awake, we're hit with this atrocity.

I will paint the picture of what I saw when I turned around to see Nate's reaction: Fully naked man, hair afro'd out, swollen eyes with bags under them, beard starting to form. with that Where-Am-I? look on his face as I hear only 2 words, "Ohhhhh Lorrrrrd."

Griffin had attempted to clean up this mess on his own, you see. We have the 298 gallon Costco size vat of Dawn dishsoap with the actual "handle". He had carried it to a certain poo spot, however you could see the Dawn drip-trail all the way through the living room. So, not only do we have poo to clean up, now we have magic blue soap to clean up too. Out came the carpet cleaner, eyes still glassed over. After a bit, as I'm trying to get Griffin dressed I hear "Oh God, you've got to come help me!!!!" I go down the hall, round the corner ... and can you guess what happens with super concentrated Dawn dishsoap, warm water, and major agitation? BLUE POOP FOAM EVERYWHERE .... Yeah. The neighbors loved watching this mysterious blue foam be emptied out of our carpet cleaner along the side of the house ...we had to hose it down ... it took about 2hrs to clean up.

Next story? Fish Tank Fishing, Mase!

Little Bit of Nate

2010-05-11T22:31:00.000-07:00

I'm so proud of Nate. With the help of a wonderful friend, Scott Woodland, Nate completed this custom built-in for our new home. It was a vision of ours back in March and it is now complete and installed! It is the new toy cabinet - 15 baskets were measured and boxes made custom for each basket. Of course there are extra boxes to hold random things such as movies, pictures, etc. He worked from 4pm - 11pm last night getting it finished and ready to install today for our deadline. I am humbled at the work he has put into this, and excited that this will be a permanent fixture in our custom home.

Stories & Floating Legos.

2010-05-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

Going back to work on a regular basis has been refreshing. I don't know how long it will last, as I'm basically filling in (along with a few others who have rearranged their schedules) for a triage nurse that's been out since November. One thing that's been fun about going back is visiting with my old pals who frequently ask about the boys and what they've been up to. As life gets more and more hectic I, at times, forget about some of the outrageous things they come up with and do; however, when I tell people at work these things that seem to be "every day" for me, they laugh hysterically at the comics life seems to bring to me. I thought that it might be a good idea to start journaling some of my stories. So, I will start with a few of the most recent. Stay tuned as I try and keep up ...

Floating Legos
A few weeks ago, I worked my short day until 11:30am. Maysen doesn't have school on Fridays so they were both home. I wanted to veg for just a bit, so out came the Legos. Immediately I had Legos strung across every inch of my living room floor. "Whatever," I thought as I decided I'd better fold the load of towels that was waiting for me. As I was on towel #28, I see a flash dart by ... a naked flash.

"Maysen? Why are you naked?" ... silence. That's usually my cue to investigate. I round the corner as he stands there not only naked, but wet. "Why are you wet?" .... "I'm floating my Legos." ... "Why are you floating your Legos?" .... (with a sarcastic "duh mom" voice) "Becauuuuse. I made a boat...". Off he went 100mph. I realized he was going to my bathroom, which has a huge soaker tub surrounded by tile. Before Maysen can reach the bathroom, I hear squeels of joy which can only mean one thing: Griffin. I start my jaunt into my bathroom and I hear water running. I bust open the door and step in water. Not only was the water running, but had been for some time now and was at the brim of my tub. Griffin looks at me as he stands up on the tile staring with wide eyes at the tub. "MOM! WATSH". I look up in horror as he completely cannon-balls into the bathtub, water flowing over like a tsunami. Good thing I washed towels ...

No ... the story doesn't stop there. I glance up at my iHome (which houses our iPod) and there's no iPod. "Maysen? Where's my iPod?" ... "Oh. You mean Griffin's phone?" .... (uh oh) "Nooooooo. My iPod." ... "He had it in the toilet" ... and that's where I found it. Floating at the bottom of the toilet.

I'll tell you about the poop foam tomorrow .... Yes. I said "Poop Foam." MmmHmm.

2010-05-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

April 11, 2010

2010-04-11T21:18:00.000-07:00

Upstairs

Dry Ice Easter!

2010-04-10T23:39:00.000-07:00

Easter 2010 was a great one this year! You would have thought it was Christmas Eve at our house as Mase was so excited and really got into Easter this year!

What we do at our house is we put the basket of eggs in the middle of the table and then set a "flour trap" to catch the Easter Bunny tracks as it goes through the flour to get to the basket (noted above ... we caught him!). The basket of eggs is replaced with the boys' baskets and the eggs are hidden.

Maysen just wouldn't go to sleep! We had to play "hide the eggs" about 5 times the night before and even then he couldn't sit still. We had to use the "He won't come until you're asleeeeeeep." He was up at 4:00am sleeping on the floor in our room. It was pretty magical this year.

After we had our Easter morning we went to Mom and George's house for Easter dinner and hunt there. Mom came with us and she really enjoyed herself. I think Griffin was the big winner, finding a $5 bill in one egg. To the piggy bank it goes! Had a wonderful time!

At work yesterday, I was lucky enough to be working at the time our vaccines came in. It comes in a Styrofoam box with dry ice. What a great Science Day this would be! I brought it home and the boys LOVED it. (That includes the oldest boy of all ... Daddy!) We played Volcanoes Mad Scientists, and Smoking Race Cars. It was a blast....

Will have new pics of the house posted tomorrow. We have the windows in!! Dry wall goes up next week. Its sure moving along!

Great friends...

2010-03-27T22:14:00.000-07:00

What our house looks like today. Lots done inside! Tub is framed, all upstairs is framed. All arches are framed. I love my house ... just can't wait until it's "really" mine.

What wonderful wonderful friends we have. Love you guys, Lins and Sore (and baby beans!).

2010-03-22T21:29:00.000-07:00

2010-03-14T20:27:00.000-07:00

3/8: Walls are up

3/8: Southwestern view

3/14: All walls up, trusses started

3/14: Facing our house.

Very productive week!

2010-03-06T20:16:00.000-08:00

Monday

Tuesday (if you notice the plywood Nate is standing on is marked "iLevel" - when he worked for Weyerhaeuser, he built some of the software for the iLevel company within Weyerheauser, so that was neat ....

Friday

This is our picture window in the living room - you can see what our view will be ... the wooded nature reserve! We lucked out with a great calming view! And, note our 12ft ceilings here. So tall compared to 6'1" Nate!!

More play time at the property today ... and snacks, too!

2010-02-28T23:11:00.000-08:00

View from the street

View from the backyard. Nate is standing in our covered patio.

This will be our concreted slab for roller skates, basketball, sidewalk chalk, etc. It is on the East side of the house. This week will bring plumbers, the flooring will go down, and the walls will start to go up. Its moving fast, now!

two less pedals

2010-02-27T17:42:00.000-08:00

“I just can’t do it, mom. I’ll fall off!” is what came out of Maysen’s mouth as I looked into his terrified eyes when he learned his Training Wheels were coming off. I reassured him that we’d be right there and that daddy wouldn’t let go until he said so. He whimpered as he bravely climbed up, looking back multiple times to make sure his security blanket was still there.

“Push real hard with your legs, buddy,” Nate said and with wobbly legs he pedaled forward. Within literally 5 seconds Nate just let go and away he went. I yelled, “You’re doing it buddy!” and he looked over with shock. Insecurity set in and down he gingerly went but got right back up exclaiming, “MOM! I did it! Did you see!?” I could only smile as I thought, “Did I ever, buddy. Did I ever.…”

As his legs grew weary, so did his little patience. As he kept trying to turn around he wasn’t understanding the concept of continuing to pedal while turning. He’d get to the curb and over he’d go. This little image captures what a Drama King we have in our little growing man. This is just one more step I dreamt about you making as I held you when you were first born. So distant it seemed and although I'm so happy for you mastering this growing up thing, I'm a bit resentful at how fast this really is going. I love you and am so proud of you, little buddy.

2010-02-07T13:55:00.000-08:00

Shallum is building the fence to where this 30yr old oak tree is in our backyard!

this is our neighborhood view from the front door.

This is the last picture you'll see of our property without some sort of "house" on it. They are going to start pouring our foundation next week. We met some of our neighbors today, Denise and Steve. They seemed very nice. They are a young couple but already have 7 grandchildren. They informed us that they are the chocolate-givers of the neighborhood to all the kiddos. I let them know if mine are still vibrating at 3:00am they'll be getting a ding-dong from 2 little boys who want to spend the night! Already feeling like a very comforting neighborhood.

This next week is going to be another full week for me. I'm doing Triage Monday-Wednesday and then Friday Jenn will be in town to come with me to mom's follow-up with her neurologist. I'm excited to talk to him about the new FDA-approved drug, Ampyra, which has a pretty good success rate of improving ambulation (walking). That would be so great for mom.

I think I'll go take a nap before the marathon of football known as Superbowl starts .... I'm already excited, can you tell?

Broken Ground

2010-01-21T19:51:00.000-08:00

It was an important day for the Scovil family today. We finally broke ground on our new home!! Maysen got to see the gravel truck bring in our gravel for the foundation today and explained why the gravel was used. It was just a neat thing to see. It sounds funny, but the thing I can’t wait the most for is when they pour our concrete. I can’t wait to put our little family’s handprints and the date. Then it’ll be … HOME for a very long time. I feel very very blessed to have been given this opportunity to watch my home be built, custom for our family, from the ground up. I’ll forever be grateful for yet such a blessed opportunity.

Lost at Sea..

2010-01-19T21:29:00.000-08:00

Maysen,

Yesterday was kind of a hard day for our little Mr Bean. First you pooped your pants (poor guy) and while you were washing your hands, Griffin came right behind you, picked up your poopy underwear (StarWars favorite, btw) and flushed them down the toilet. You just couldn’t believe it!! I was not only amazed that a) he flushed your underwear but that b) it actually WENT THROUGH. I was envisioning a huge clog of sorts, but it just sailed right down!

You had a melt down because (courtesy of “Finding Nemo”) you just knew that all drains and such lead to the ocean. And now your pour undies were somewhere out there, lost at sea. But rest assured. I informed you that there are other little boys out there that have this happen to them, too. So, when all the underwear finally float to the top of the ocean, they gather in an underwear pile near the shore. PHEW! You knew there had to be an explanation, and there it was!

After such a long day, you finally had it and rested cozily up in your little personalized toy box. I knew that thing had another purpose. Sleep tight, my Bean.

Future site of the Scovil Home 2010

2010-01-07T15:49:00.000-08:00

This is the future home of the Scovil Family June 2010. What I love about this lot is the fact our backyard will be backing up to the trees, for the most part. It’ll be so beautiful (and shady) in the summer. Our neighbor, whose house is pictured here, is our builder’s mother-in-law. She’s single so nice and quiet neighbor and of course we don’t have a neighbor on the other side of us yet.

Our lot that we bought is along the bottom, last sold one if you're looking left to right. We have made some plan modifications, the biggest one being 12ft ceilings in the foyer and living area. Because of that, the front elevation of the house had to be changed and so we should be getting those plans back this weekend. Can't wait to see!

What Happened!?

2010-01-02T18:28:00.000-08:00

Where did the last 4 weeks go? I mean, seriously? I spent 3 months preparing for the last 4 weeks and it’s gone in a flash. And every year goes faster than the year before it. Life has been an absolute blur since August. We’re still adjusting but we have some exciting news … we’re building a new house! We got our approval last week and we meet with the builder on Monday to review our house plan and pick our lot. Nothing like starting out 2010 with a bang! Hopefully we’ll be breaking ground in January and having it finished right up when our lease here ends in June.

Christmas Eve Day Nate had to work, so the boys and I enjoyed some together time and finished up making Christmas cookies for Santa. Most of the frosting went toward the boys' mouths than on the cookies but it was a great time for Momma and boys!

We started off with Christmas at Nate’s mom’s house. Maysen did the usual helping with handing out of presents. Griffin had fun this year as he was ripping presents open left and right. He was getting frustrated at not being able to play with the toy he had just opened! Maysen did so good being patient awaiting his turn at opening another great score!

Christmas morning we had homemade cinnamon rolls (a new holiday tradition) and opened presents. Jenn and Mom were here. By present #3 Griffin had enough and was done opening presents. We kept the rest for his birthday, which was right around the corner in 2 days!

Griffin turned two on December 27th. We had a Barber Shop-themed birthday party. It was filled with family and friends. We had presents, followed by Griffin’s first hair cut by Grandma! Cake was soon to follow and BOOM .. he was TWO!

This is a "before" picture above.

"After"

The next day we headed to Redmond for a get-away to the snow! It was wonderful! The house we always stay in is equipped with everything you might need and we barricaded ourselves in for 4 days. We played games, watched movies, played in the snow, built snowmen, swam, soaked in the hot tub. It was amazing!

We’ve had a great vacation. Maysen goes to school on Monday while we meet with the builder, and Nate goes back to work on Tuesday. Time flies when you’re having fun!

I have made a resolution to not make a resolution this year. It’s going to be another wild wild year and I can’t wait to see what it brings. But I know one thing it will bring … A NEW HOUSE! I can’t wait to move … the last time for a VERY long time.

Polar Express, Etc 2009

2009-12-15T20:24:00.000-08:00

This last week represented another action-packed weekend of fun at the Scovil House. Maysen had his Christmas Program where he was in the choir as a singing Snowman. He did very well, of course, belting out made-up words that sounded right (Sophen Sleigh?) but kept at it for the whole hour the program went on.

Friday night we headed to Portland to see the Imagination Movers LIVE at the RoseGarden. We went with some friends of ours, Tim & Tiffany and their two little ones Austin and Karaline. T&T hit the ice storm as they were leaving town, but luckily we made it out of Eugene in time. We did hit a wreck on our way to the hotel and met them at the Rose Garden just in time as they were announcing the Movers. Since we had an aisle seat, Rich actually High-Fived Maysen twice! He was sure awe-struck. They had just about had it toward the end, but even Griffin was getting into the dancing/singing. It was a blast. The worst part was the Portland Public Transportation Max ... GERMIES!

We woke up, dinked around and had lunch with Jenn on saturday before braving it out in another ice storm - this time on the way to Hood River. I-84 closed down right when we got to Troutdale, so like the rebels we are, drove through town to the other side where they had yet to put up the barriers and kept trucking (slowly of course).

We got to our hotel and went right for the pool. The kids enjoyed swimming in the warm pool. Maysen is quite the swimmer with his arm floaties. Griffin tried to jump in the pool to me, but jumped straight up, scraping his back on the way down. Bummer! We joined T&T for ice cream, pizza, and then returned to our room to change into our special Polar Express jammies! It was Tiffany, Austin, and Karaline's first train trip, so it was extra special. As noted above, Maysen started to have a real bad attitude when we got there. Stinker!

We couldn't have had better seats! We were in the very last train car at the very back (almost a private seating area for us) so the boys were actaully able to lay up in the back by our table and see out. That was super exciting for them.

What exactly did that conductor punch in my ticket?

By 9:00pm, we were having a GREAT time ....

.... and it only got better ...

... this took some prompting and softening up. Once he started talking to Santa there was no shutting him up. Some things he asked for were: new train set, Space pajamas, new books, and new Hot Wheels. Once hot chocolate and the Santa chat were over, Maysen and Griffin laid down and slept the rest of the way back.

... I don't think they even woke up once we got to the hotel.

Maysen slept the whole 3.5hr ride home. He didn't look so hot and sure enough by the afternoon on Sunday he had 103 temp. Unfortunately, it has remained. Went to the doctor today and awaiting culture results but probable strep throat. Remember that Public Transportation I mentioned above? Yeah ...

First Love

2009-11-18T15:21:00.001-08:00

Do you remember your first love? Was he the dashing boy who drove the Corvette? Or was she the girl behind the counter that always gave you extra whipped cream on your sundae? Or ... perhaps was she the cute little red-head in your preschool class? In Maysen's case, he's already discovered his first crush, I do believe.

Ms. Claire has been a household name these days, so it seemed natural to invite her to Maysen's birthday party this past weekend. She came and did just great with most of her fellow classmates at the party. Last night, we sat down to do Maysen's Thank-You cards. He got his markers out and his stickers and as he made each card I saw a trend. Most were filled with cars, monsters, snakes, dinosaurs that he would fictitiously draw with is markers. When he was all done he brought me the stack. He showed me each card and who it was to go to. He explained what the snakes were, and which dinosaur was attacking what town, etc. That is, until we got to the last card. You see, Claire had just been "one of the boys to me". That is, until he opened that last card.

"...And mom. This one is for Claire. I made it special. For her." And as I looked inside I no longer saw the dinosaur attacking the city ... or the snake eating the big mouse. I saw ... a long-stemmed purple flower. For Claire. (see photo above)

I although the other 90% of the cards were filled with total BOY MANIA, I realized that I am so truly lucky to have such a thoughtful, soft, caring, and sweet little boy.

Happy 5th Birthday, Bean.

2009-11-15T01:17:00.000-08:00

If you put it into true-time form, Maysen is now 1/2 a decade old. Thursday we had his party at school with school friends. Last night was his "real" birthday so we went to ChuchECheese to let him play games and such (Sterilizing between toys ... germaphobe was out in full force). Today was his "friend" party. Next year we're going to have to nix this 3-day birthday event. It's expensive, exhausting, and ridiculous!

Maysen went next door while Nate and I finished up decorations. Fin and mom were taking naps so we got it all done quick. Guests started coming at 3 and before too long they were all here. First everyone looked for their goody bag with their name on it. Then with they ran around and found scooby clues to see who could find the most ... they all "won" Scooby Snacks. Nate volunteered to be "Mummified" with Charmin toilet paper and before too long the kids wanted to be mummies too. After everyone were scary mummies then they chased Maysen through the house. The next game was "who can pick up the most toilet paper?" Worked like a charm. 12 kids running around picking up toilet paper? Genius :)

What party would be complete without "Duck, Duck, Goose". Well, we had our own rendition of it ... "Shaggy, Shaggy, SCOOBY". The 5yr olds didn't quite have the whole concept down, but who cares? We let them run and chase and take turns. They loved it.

And with a fury of tissue paper being thrown to and fro, I looked up to see gifts being torn apart. No supervision, just like a pack of wolves going after a ham. We haulted the show and started over, courtesy of dad's lap. He hit the jackpot with lots of great gifts from all his friends.

At 9:34am on Friday, November 13th my baby turned 5. We laid in bed right when the clock turned 9:34am and daddy called. We talked about his story of when he was born; how he had to eat right away because his blood sugar was low, and how he peed on all the nurses because he came out peeing everywhere. He's such a brilliant boy, full of life and energy. He's been a lot of fun and he's truly my best friend. Happy Birthday, Bean.

Chicken Little and Scooby!

2009-11-01T15:03:00.001-08:00

Happy Halloween 2009! Its been a wild few months and we continued with our little Chicken and Scooby filled night of Tricks and Treats.

Unfortunately I was in Urgent Care getting breathing treatments and steroids while the boys were carving their pumpkins but they had a great time. Really all they did was play with the pumpkin guts but that's all that really counts, isn't it?

Griffin wasn't too sure about his costume until we got outside and he got to carry his pumpkin that Nanny-Wendy brought for him with his own name on it. He started getting the hang of things, even saying "Tank Too" and "Bye-Bye" and waving his little wing while falling off their steps to leave.

This looks so real when Maysen puts his head down. Nate and I kept making him put his head down so we could giggle at him.

Last night was the big anticipated USC/Oregon game. It started at a bad time, 5:00pm so we set our DVR and concentrated on the kids and their night until we put them to bed. Then we pretended the game was live (minus commercials) and had a great time watching the game. GO DUCKS! We cut the Trick or Treating night off due to recent illnesses for all involved and the boys were pooped even after our very brief escapade. Tonight we'll finish "Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" with popcorn and settle in for the anticipated Thanksgiving Holiday soon to come! (first stop: Maysen's 5th birthday, though.)

This stuff is not a Media Scare ...

2009-10-30T15:51:00.000-07:00

With the way media works anymore these days you wonder what is fact, and what is more of a scare tactic. This whole PANDEMIC N1H1/SWINE FLU!! Has made me wonder the truth behind all the scare. That question turned into a reality at our house and hit home harder than I ever thought it could.

SATURDAY: It started with a small cough out of Maysen’s mouth Saturday morning. Considering he’d been fighting an ear infection and pink eye I sort of thought he was battling drainage and that was all there was to it.

By Saturday night at 5:00pm he was in bed, fast asleep (which for any of those that know Maysen, that was truly a rare event) with a 102F fever.

SUNDAY came and the fevers continued as did the cough for Maysen. Motrin AND Tylenol became a round-the-clock medication and when I let the Tylenol lapse for 1hr his fever spiked to 105.2. One episode of puke, but that's it.

MONDAY: The cough caught up to me, but I had no fever and Maysen’s fever seemed to stabilize.

TUESDAY: Nate went to work, Griffin started a runny nose, and Maysen’s fever started to dwindle but cough remained. By the afternoon, though, his fever was pretty much gone (maybe 100.4) and he was ripping the house up! Burning around chasing the cats, wanting to go outside, etc.

WEDNESDAY: 1:00am Wednesday morning, I awoke to Maysen coughing his little heart out. It was a dry non-productive cough and he just couldn’t sleep. Griffin was also running a fever by now and was up off and on all night. I woke up at 3:00am absolutely FREEZING to find my fever was nearly 103F.

Nate took the day off Wednesday to take care of everyone. I called the pediatrician and got Griffin on Tamiflu, but learned what I had worried about – nothing to do for Maysen nor I … just treat symptoms, which we were doing. Man I forgot how bad fevers hurt. Ouch..what surprised me was how hard Maysen kept coughing. He was coughing so hard he was making himself sick. Every time he’d fall asleep he’d wake up 20min later, he started refusing to eat, and when Nate finally laid down with him, I sat – and watched him. Nurse radar went off when I heard him grunting. I pulled the covers back and saw his little chest flailing. “You got about 5 seconds to get your shoes on and get him in the van”. Off to the ER they flew. I still had my 103 fever, so I stayed home with Griffin.

Upon arrival to ER is oxygen saturation was 88% (should be upper 90s). His respiration rate was near 60 (should be 20s). He just couldn’t breathe! He was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and N1H1.

THURSDAY: My fever had broke so I was able to go to the hospital and give Nate a break. That morning he was still having a hard time breathing. Through the night his oxygen was dropping to 89% so he was having to wear continuous oxygen through the night. He also threw up again out of nowhere. But, when I got there, he was off oxygen and resting well. The doctor came in and said that if he stabilized out while he slept he could go home, only because it was safer for Mase to recover at home versus in the hospital. There were so many sick kids in the hospital the doctor didn’t want to risk Maysen getting more sick. I shut cartoons off and Mase was asleep before I knew it. Our prayers were answered and his oxygen stayed 92-94%. The doctor discharged us that night and we couldn’t have been happier ... but not before the nurse came in and said the culture came back POSTIVE for N1H1/Swine Flu. 2 nasal cultures, 2 IV pokes, 4 rounds of antibiotics, 3 trips to the radiology department, and 2 hospital chocolate shakes later and we were out of there!

Today we’re all home. Maysen is acting like he’s never been sick. Griffin’s nose is still running but he’s fighting with his brother like nothing’s wrong. I’m still coughing and man does my chest burn. It luckily goes away with Advil so I’m hoping that goes away sooner than later. I’m the only one not on Tamiflu and from looking at the kids, it seems like a miracle drug! We’re ready to carve pumpkins tonight since we won’t have much of a Halloween this year. We’re considering having some friends put out more candy next week and act like it’s Halloween. I don’t have the heart to not put his Scooby Doo costume on tomorrow, but at this point can’t risk spreading the epidemic.

Thanks to all who passed on thoughts and prayers our way. Not one went unappreciated.

Pumpkins 2009

2009-10-16T01:06:00.000-07:00

This time again ... PUMPKIN PATCH! We seem to go every year to Lone Pine and this year was no different. It included a Sunday morning ... bitterly chilly and thankful to have coats ... and outragiously priced hotdogs that end up in the gravel. Splendid. But the kids really enjoy it and so we do it ... to live vicariously through them I suppose. We get a "family" of pumkins, one for each of us, that sits on the porch closer to Halloween.

Picking out his pumpkin took 3.2 seconds. It was the closest to where our wagon stopped.

Mase takes a bit more time in his selection process. Many times he's putting in his two cents into what everyone else should be getting.

Gathered up thinking, "When in the world is this thing going to take off ... because I'm going to throw these boots over the side one more time if it doesn't hurry!" (Twas Fin thinking these thoughts)

Trying to convince Griffin this was, oh indeed, fun. It worked once we hit the orange glowing mass that was the pumpkin patch....

After attempting to eat gravel-infested hotdogs, the brilliant cow "rollercoaster" (55 gallon drums cut out like cow carts driven by 4 wheeler and charge $3 a head ... genius) was ridden. Little one, not so sure. Big one, best thing around.

Lately we're having to play "ghost" which is a festive driven game. All lights get shut off minus the Thomas the Train flashlight, which boasts is annoying "chugga chugga SHHHhhffhfhfhfhfhf" with each flicker of light. Nate will pretend to hide down the hall and when the kids get close he jumps out and yells something to the effect of "Booga Boooga Boooga." Surprisingly it continues to make them jump. Whatever.

Mom got news that Middlefield Oaks has an opening. She saw the doctor today who wrote her orders to move in, so Nate and I are shopping for furniture for her new little apartment there and we'll be moving her in! She seems excited and I can't wait to get her involved in more activities such as bridge. It's good having her close.

New Rental House

2009-09-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

(Sorry the pics are so cruddy - camera phone w/ no lighting)
Long await has paid off and we’re finally moved. We don’t close on our house until next week but I am proud to say that we’ve moved into our rental and settling in before mom comes into town on Friday. I have realized every time we’ve moved it has gotten harder and harder. You get more stuff, you have kids/babies. It’s just harder! And finally the move is over. The TVs work, the computer works, I got my washer/dryer (just got used ones because my new ones will go into my new house once it’s built) and finally got laundry done, and I have all my stuff up -- finally I’m at peace …for a few days before mom gets here. Then another chapter of craziness begins!

… and I finally have time for a haircut tomorrow. I can’t wait. ME TIME! I almost forgot that exsisted.

Moving Day

2009-09-17T21:07:00.001-07:00

A
Maysen started school last week. He goes 4 days from 1130 - 215 and he loves it. He is looking so forward to learning Science. Miss Nicole is his teacher again this year. She taught PM preschool last year and things have moved this year and she is now teaching PM Pre-K. He loved her and it's great he gets her another year. He is also thankful for returning friends from last year! Griffin just HAD to stand in this picture with him on his first day. It turned out to be one of my favorites. Bubba can do no wrong in his eyes ... I wonder how long that will last.

Tomorrow we are moving into our rental house. It is a 4bdrm, 2 bath approx 2000 sq foot house only 1 yr old so we are pretty lucky. It was either get a small house and save money, or get one with enough space to accommodate mom on visits. We are going to temporarily move mom into an Adult Foster Care home when she arrives in Oregon. We have decided that based on the realization that we are unsure exactly what mom's needs are right now. It's been about 4 years since either Jenn or I have seen her and assessing her needs seems to need to be a priority right now. Unfortunately there were no acceptable foster cares in my town that had availability so she'll be staying in a really nice place near Jenn in Portland. In the meantime, mom will come stay with me for lengthy periods and we needed a house big enough to accommodate her.

God works in mysterious ways and I can't wait to figure out what He has in store. In the last 30 days we've made the decision to move mom, put our house on the market, sold our house, found a rental and signed lease and will be moving tomorrow. On top of that, Nate found out today that all of his former coworkers from Weyerhaeuser got laid off just today. Nate accepted a new job about 4 months ago and it was a decision he didn't take lightly. In other words, he was torn. I can't imagine what life would be like with all that is currently going on -- only to find out today that my husband lost his job. They might just have had to commit me! And what's even more weird about the timing him getting his new job, is that Nate wouldn't have left Weyerhaeuser if it weren't for Mel coming and finding Nate and offering him a new job. So wild ... Thank YOU LORD!

One more blessing is that my dad and Jo are here to help. They had planned to come visit for a few days (Mon-Wed) and dad announced they were changing their plans for the rest of their vacation to stay and help. Totally not expected but it's been an absolute life saver. I think in the delusion of everything going on we didn't realize all we had to do. Thanks to them ... I have a great family.

Life's Curve Balls ...

2009-09-08T14:55:00.000-07:00

I think my name should be “Changes”. That seems to be where my life has been headed the last few weeks. So, shall we just begin and hold on … it’s a bumpy ride!

My mother has Multiple Sclerosis. She has been living with it for a long time now, and it has moderately affected her life, getting worse each day. Last week my sister and I made a decision to move her out of her current (bad) living situation in North Carolina and move her here. It was a sudden decision that had to be made. What now? Well, Leslie (me) has taken it upon herself to decide that what is best for me and my family is to build a bigger home to accommodate mom. She needs her dignity and that requires her own living quarters and handicap bathroom. So, on Thursday last week our house went up on the market.

On Friday morning I got a call to see if the house could be seen that morning. Ok, Nate and I were planning on taking the kids to the mountains for Labor Day weekend. We rented a brand new 3bdrm resort house at Eagle Crest and given all the stress that has occurred with mom’s situation over the last few days I was personally looking forward to the private hot tub on the back deck. The showing happened at 10:30am and as I picked Nate up and headed out toward the mountains my phone cell phone rang.

We had an offer. (Notice Sale Pending in pic above!)

We had to accept/decline/counter within 24hrs. Once we got to the property management company they were kind enough to let me use their computer/fax and we were able to get the counter out. We signed papers today and our HOUSE IS SOLD! 5 days on the market and it is officially sold. That’s got to be some record!

I’ve been on the move with rentals and we are going to be renting a 1921 Victorian house right across from the park in town. It’s got 2500 square feet and I’m relishing over the fact my kids will actually have room to play! We’re just renting it for now while we are on the hunt for property to start building. What an amazing last 7 days ..

Mom will be arriving into Oregon September 25th. We will need all the prayers as we all adjust to this new and hectic life. It is a good feeling knowing I can help my mom, and she’s not been able to get to know my kids yet. Or my husband for that matter. I’m looking forward for her to get to know my family for the first time.

On another note, Maysen starts pre-kindergarten tomorrow!! He will be going 4 days a week and I think we’re both equally excited. I will update Griffin’s blog tonight … his words are sprouting faster than he is growing! Its an amazing time right now in our lives …

Work is great ... I've been asked to step up into more scheduled hours as a full fledged PACU (recovery room) nurse and even work some in the O.R. Could be interesting! I'm only going to stick to my 10hrs/week ... I love being home too much and I get my RN fix as well. The other day I had a patient nearly crash from a Fentanyl injection. BP drop is common and it just so happened to flatten out this guy ... as his heart rate dropped 55, 49, 44, 38, 33 ... on the monitor. Needless to say the color drained from both our faces! But ... IV fluids bolus (big gulp, basically), O2 and some reassurance we had him back up in no time. I LOVE my new on-call Nanny. The boys love her, too. I came home from work she had my laundry done and dinner started. Life is good!

I will be posting more as events progress in my life. Stay tuned!

New Additions

2009-08-10T10:43:00.000-07:00

Here are our new kitties; the white & black one is Dottie “Dotts” (4mo) and the tiger one is Daisie “Daise” (2mo). We wanted to get a kitten for each boy. Maysen picked Dottie out right away (she’s so great) and I picked out Daisie for Griffin. Daisie was abandoned when she was 4 days old and only weighed 5oz. They had to really work with her and bottle feed her for quite some time and her start just reminded of the trials we had when Griffin was born and got sick. Maysen named them both and so far they are getting along great. I have to make sure the boys don’t strangle them – which seems to be a struggle at times – and keeping Mase in bed past 5:30am is also the new challenge. He’ll sleep good tonight after being at a birthday party all day today. No one can replace Bird but having these two in our house is sure helping create that new start that we all needed.

I will close with a great and wonderful story of my husband’s misfortune. (Aren’t I sweet?). It was when he and Maysen went camping a few weeks ago. Nate decided he’d take his hiking boots along which he hasn’t used much in the last 10yrs. They seemed to be good shoes and all, so why not? On day 2 the boys all went on a long hike up some mountain and snow was even still on the ground in parts. Maysen climbed most the way and then decided he’d had enough. Nate decided they’d better turn back so they started to make their descent. As they started to go, Nate noticed the front of one boot – the rubber part – had started to pull away from his shoe. “Hmm. That’s weird,” he thought as they continued down. He eventually had to cut the rubber flap from his shoe to continue. Soon after, he noticed that the front was coming off the other boot as well. Then he noticed his boots were sliding and looked down to realize that the sole of the boots were coming completely off the boot. Then his foot was cold as he looked down to see snow packed into his shoe. The shoes were coming apart piece by piece …. Thread by thread. As he’s telling me this story and I’m laughing because I’m visualizing this complete circus while Maysen’s losing it coming down. He then adds that he met up with some people on the trail who stopped Nate and INSISTED that he use their duct tape to wrap his shoe back together. By now I’m CACKLING! Poor guy. Then he insisted that he show me the aftermath. Here is what I saw ….

Sad.

2009-08-08T14:58:00.000-07:00

RIP Birdie

1999 - 8/8/09

We laid our dear Birdie to rest today. She had been with us for a very long time … through lots of transitions (military deployment, moving, birth of 2 children, first house purchase) and she was a very faithful friend through good times and bad. She became overwhelmed with infections due to a compromised immune system and her kidneys were starting to fail. It was a difficult decision but in the end, it was the best thing we could have done to repay her for all she brought to us.

We rescued her from the pound in Manhattan Kansas in August of 1999. Nathan was just about ready to be deployed to Kuwait for 4mo and I needed some company for those 4 months.

We knew Bird was the one when her cage was the only one unlocked and she kept rubbing back and forth talking to us. On our way home, a bird flew in front of my car and I said, "Lets name her Bird." Ever since then she's always known she was our Birdie.

She loved all kinds of things. She loved being outside and in the trees. Playing with the red laser light was also a love. Most dogs/cats don't get alone but she absolutely loved Bailey. They were pals. When she needed warmth, she'd go to Bay. When she needed protection, she went to Bay. She took care of Bay and licked her. They were best friends.

If I sit still enough, I can still hear her behind me …. but deep down I know she always will be. Miss you … my little Birdie …

Updates ....

2009-07-28T00:58:00.000-07:00

Momma & Mase Beach Trip: We went up on Tuesday, stopped at the market right by the house and got pizza for dinner and soda! That is just what he wanted. We unloaded the van and after he'd inspected the house and put his favorite blanket up on the bed we went down to the beach. He stayed out of the waves and we built volcanos. We had our lunch on the beach and I'm not sure how much sandwich he ate ... I think it was mostly sand. Ugh.

After an hour we were back at the beach house for Shower#1. We made cake, ate cake batter, and while the cake baked we colored and did workbooks ... all while soft music played in the background. Then we did puzzles and it was soon announced we were heading back down to the beach. Away we went and I talked him into a seashell-hunt-walk. Holding ever so tightly he held my hand careful not to let the waves get him (had a scare last time we were at the beach). Then we buried Mase' legs/feet in the sand and Maysen put his shoes on the sand and he thought it was hysterical. There was an older boy behind us that buried his whole body and Mase was all concerned. :)

We made it back up to the beachhouse in time for dinner and a movie (Shrek). Maysen got cake and frosting and pizza. Happy boy! Before bed, we went to the park in the community and blew bubbles and played on the playground. He went to sleep relatively easy after we read stories and then I got some quiet time. It was a great time just him and I. I am hoping to make that a yearly ritual.

Boys Camping Trip
Nate and Maysen went camping shortly after I returned from the coast with Maysen. I had my 29th birthday the day before they left. Jenn was in town and we had a good time. Last year in my 20s! Anyway, our poor cat Birdie hasn't been doing well and we had got a new prescription of meds that might save her life, but they needed to be given 3 times a day. I had been planning on going up to Bend to spend time with my step motherinlaw and my sis in law. But in light of Birdie's condition and her new meds, I had to stay home to take care of her. I kept Griffin here so I got some quiet/one-on-one time with just him too and that was nice. The boys had a great time, came back sunburned (nate) tanned (mase) and eaten alive (both!). I flinched at the idea they didn't wear PJs camping ... I'm sooo not a camper. The boys came home after day 4 covered in dirt and filth and they had a blast. Tired, but a blast.

While hiking down the mountain, Nate experienced that seemed to be something out of the twilight zone. You see, as he started down, he noticed the rubber front off the tips of his boots came undone. By the time he got down the mountain it looked as though he was no longer wearing HIKING BOOTS, but rather leather moccasins! They just fell completley apart! I laughed so hard I peed! Poor Nate ...

Birdie
2nd round of pneumonia. We have figured out it is a herpes infection that causes a secondary infection. So her new medicine was a new antibiotic and Lysine. 3 times a day. She seems to be acting better, but not quick on the weight-gain. She looks like a poor little malnutritioned lion. :(

House
We are going to look into putting our house back up on the market. We're realizing now is the time to get out before our house is worth even less .... and we need more space! I'd love to be able to start building a house of our own ... but we have to sell this one first, so that might be happening in the next coming week...

Mom
If no one knows, my mom is disabled. For the last 7 years or so she has been living in North Carolina with a man who took her under his wing to take care of her. He began to develope his own problems and fell very ill the last few weeks during which his daughter, M, was looking after my mom (who refuses to move closer to us). I got a text today that this man, P, had passed away today. I don't know how that changes things, but I think my life will be taking a different path in the next few weeks/months.

Griffin
The second that the boys left on his camping trip, Fin started spitting out words left and right. He didn't have to compete with Maysen and the words came flooding out. He started saying: Ooops. Ooopsie. Uh-Oh. Wet. Momma. What's That!? It was fun. He needed a lot of attention because his Bubba was gone camping, but we had fun ..

Enough of the updates ...

Ahh, my beach house!

2009-07-13T00:42:00.000-07:00

Chapter 1: THE BOYS

Griffin: Griffin has successfully been able to bust all 4 I-Teeth out now but they’re slow to come in. He is saying full sentences with inflections, but no words yet. He does say about 15 words independantly and according to Dr U that’s perfect! He had his 18mo check a few weeks ago and nothing to report there except he is slowing some in height. He used to be like 90% in height and Nate was just so sure he was going to be his tall boy … but I am afraid we’re going to have just normal but stout boys. Linebackers maybe? I can’t believe how quick the “Terrible Twos” comes. First of all, the TT theory needs to have a exeception clause that states “…give or take a few…” because lemme tell you. I have an 18mo old already into it …as well as a 4.5yr old who IS STILL IN IT! Griffin will drag out curling irons, crayons (before he munches then shines me the red/yellow/green flecked smile that looks like the homeless woman’s smile who lives downtown – yikes). We are throwing tantrums these days which involve (not always all at once, but it has been known to happen): throwing himself on the floor, kicking, hitting, will run away just to run back and lug into you like you weren’t there, scream and whip his head side-to-side. I can’t even bring myself to laugh anymore because its … that.ridiculous.

Maysen: Ahh, yes. The addendum to the terrible two’s. This one said goodbye to his long-lost best friend for the past year, Treyger. Treyger lived next door and is about 1.5yrs older than Maysen and yesterday they moved to Idaho for better work. T and M have frequented many ‘a backyard for random water gun fights, and I don’t know how many PB& J sandwiches those boys ate in M’s clubhouse. He was a great kid who taught Maysen to draw within the lines and now we have a whole other level of OCD – the color-within-the-lines-or-I-might-break-a-sweat OCD challenge. It’s good, because now his pictures are much more involved passed the simple scribbling.

However, T brought this screaming “AAAAAAAAA” to Maysen’s lifestyle that I absolutely can’t stand. It’s not only the AAAAAAA but it will be incorporated into words. For example: “AAAAAAAAdon’t want to go therereerereerereerereerAAAAAAAA.” Yeah. Brilliance. Now couple that simple wonder with the fact that he won’t listen and we’re talking in 5min I’m having a nervous breakdown. Fact is, the more sneaky Griffin gets the less patience I have with Maysen. Which sucks. It just does. So after a melt down night with him I decided I needed to take just him and get away. So I booked the beach house (in case you were wondering what the random beach house pictures were for) for this Tuesday and we’re going to spend Tues/Wed at the beach. Away from work, house, friends, brother, dad, everyday food (we’re eating nothing but cookie dough according to M). Yep! We’re loading up the kites, bubbles, and books and we’re sneaking away for awhile. I’m honestly very excited.

Then while at swimming lessons last week he got too far away from the side without anyone seeing him and “sunk” as he called it. I looked up finally to see 1 hand sticking out of the water. Poor boy … he was a bit pale and bluish lips, coughed up some water but not too scared to not swim anymore. But it was scary. It can happen so fast!

Chapter 2: Weekend
Went out this weekend with some old and new friends. It was so fun to feel like 21 again … being out with all the youngins! We got such a kick out of watching what I’m sure we looked like once before … the awkward silences between two new couples, the idiots some people make out of trying to dance (No … not ourselves!). It was fun. I actually did it two nights in a row! It was M’s last night in town so I wanted to see it off one last night! Thanks again, though wish I hadn’t ran out so fast .. who know what YOU could have gotten into! We also had my nephew’s 6th birthday party Saturday so that was fun. I think I’ll die when my son is on the “other” end of the decade spectrum.

Chapter 3: Work
Work has been going really well. Once the nurses who took vacation came back my schedule went to right what I wanted. Right now it's 1 afternoon a week, about 5-6hrs. It's perfect. On Thursday they asked me if I'd be interested in working in an upper PACU position. Meaning, I would get the more critical cases that came out of the OR .. I said sure! It will require a couple full-time weeks to get fully trained but I'm excited about the experience that I'll gain from that. I will be getting a longer day - still one day a week, but I'll get more hours out of my one day. Maysen wasn't real keen on me going "back" to work (my day or two) but he's adjusted fine now. Both boys have and I think htey kinda like it now.

With that I will close. I have work, yoga, walking, 2 boys, work other job, laundry, yard work, cleaning, cooking, and many more things this week that I must rest up for. Good night.

summer playdate

2009-06-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

You know its summer when your child spends the whole day, literally, in his swimming trunks and the smell of sun screen doesn’t even register anymore. Maysen once-darkening hair is now back on the blonder side and his skin is turning more brown as the days pass by.

Today Maysen had his best bud from school, Roman, over for the afternoon. They have swimming lessons together on Tues/Thursdays and last week Roman’s mom took Maysen so I could stay home with 2 babies before I left for work. Today I took Roman and after swimming lessons they had a fun picnic outside on the deck. I honestly think Bailey ate most of their lunch – it was too much fun to have her fetch their pieces of cheese off the deck. Ha!

With July 4th being so close I couldn’t resist getting them each multiple bags of “Pop-Its”. My driveway looks like 32 boxes of Kleenex exploded on it, but the boys had fun throwing them, then driving over them with the racecar looking for “duds” that would fire under their tires.

What warm summer day would be complete without a water gun fight? Uh, NONE! It actually lasted more than the 2.5 minutes I thought it would and they got good and soaked. In they came and put the rest of their energy into building “Big Track City” …. Yes; that was the official name. I knew it was time for the play date to end when they started bickering like the couple on “Grumpier Old Men”. This track wasn’t right, and the bridge wasn’t working right, and Roman’s train was longer than Maysen’s, and Maysen wasn’t being fair …. Roman was a delight to have over and so polite! It’s refreshing when you see little tiny friendships blossoming …

busy

2009-06-12T21:30:00.000-07:00

We spent time with the in-laws last week and got some good photos. Bobbi and George got up their above ground planters a few weeks back and we reaped the benefits of fresh lettuce, radishes, and dill.

Life sure has picked up these days. I have started my new job and although it was very stressful at first, I am settling in. I have only had about 20hrs of training and I’m on my own in the O.R. on Monday. A, my boss, is in the military. Although I was hating her “Just throw her in there” mentality when I first started, I now am thankful (almost). Its how I learn the quickest and it’s not as though it was “unsafe” but just enough independence that I learned things very quickly. I’m not feeling like I have worked there for 20 years, but I am comfortable enough to ask if/when I need help. The staff is all very nice.

One of my most proud achievements is my IV skills. I can say that I was feeling insecure with my IV placement skills when I first started. Mainly because it had been 6yrs since I last started one and I wasn’t exactly proficient in them even 6 yrs ago. On Wednesday I had to put in 10 IVs and I got them all but 2. Even my supervisor had trouble getting those 2 in. Its amazing how much more confident the older you get.

I’m getting to know Glenda more – my Yoga/Walking trainer. I’m not sure how much of a fan of Yoga I am but I can tell its sure making me stronger. Glenda and I are walking in between Yoga days and in 1 week we’ve gone from 1.5 miles in 45 minutes (had Yoga in there, too) to 3 miles. She is interesting and we get along. She sure pushes me which is what I need. Learning to balance a new job, getting off at 6:00pm then having her come to work out, on top of missing my kids! But life is life and change is good right now in my life.

I thought I'd see if Griffin would like corn on the cob. It was an instant hit! On another note, flu has hit our house. Nathan came home sick with the flu yesterday from work and last night it hit me. Luckily it has been an amazingly fast bug and we’re all feeling much better. In fact tonight I asked Nate to clean off the ceiling fan blades and that lead to vacuuming off every tall surface and dusting. Things look a lot cleaner. Getting ready to do the same outside in the yard tomorrow (dread …).

I am hoping to keep posting rather sensibly - however the next few weeks bring 20hr work weeks on top of gymastics, swimming lessons, and my Yoga/Walks. It's getting hairy these days ...

RIP

2009-05-31T14:42:00.000-07:00

Rest In Peace, "Chacho" (grey bird on right). We'll miss you and your Andy Griffith.

changes

2009-05-29T23:48:00.000-07:00

How handsome is this guy? He's going to the be the fox in school!

Wednesday was Maysen’s last day of school so I guess for him that signified the beginning of summer. And today sure felt like it! I think it got to above 90F here today. By 7:00pm tonight it was still 87F. So we pulled out the hose and let the boys get wet before bedtime.

I have always said that I believe that everything happens for a reason. And sometimes it just feel like life’s taking a turn. That is what is happening for me. I haven’t said anything but there have been some changes heading my way that I am excited about. We are expecting another baby! No – just kidding!!!

I have felt a heavy weight on my back over the last few months. Almost like a conflict. The Mommy in me loves staying home … but the NURSE in me, the part that craves helping and healing has felt stifled. True; I still go in and work at the clinic and work Triage and fill in here and there, but I have craved something “more”. More of a specialty, maybe.

So, I started keeping my eyes open for PRN (meaning basically “fill in”) positions in other areas of medicine. I applied for PRN positions in the ER, the ICU, and even the OR. That produced nothing, as I learned from a physician-friend of mine that the local hospital is experiencing a hiring freeze. Then one late night I happened across an ad for a PRN pre-op/PACU (recovery nurse) position for approx 1 day per week. I sent in my application, 1 week after it was posted and waited. Nothing. Then on the 4th day, I got a call from the NeuroSpine Institute in town. She asked me to meet with her the following morning and we had a TWELVE MINUTE interview. I thought it was doomed. I have, afterall, no experience in Pre-Op or Recovery Room. She told me she’d call me the following Tuesday after Memorial Day.

Tuesday came and went. No word. On Wednesday morning one of my fellow co-workers called to tell me that the Neurosurgical team had called her for my reference. While on the call with her, they called me! She asked if I’d come to the surgical suite to meet the other nurses and then “lets discuss training”. I get there and about 25min later a nurse, C, comes to get me. We go back to the nurses station and she sits me down and I get hit with a mother load of non-expectations: “So, what assets can you bring to our company?” HUH!? I was so not prepared for that, I had no idea this was Round II of interrogations. I BS’d my way through that in the end I’m sure it was more of a confusing answer than a real one. I got asked about my level of competency, my level of pace, etc. After 20 min of that I was glad to hear her say she was done. She then let A know she was done with me. A sent me back out to the waiting room for 10 more minutes and then came out to ask me if I could start training next week. It was a bit awkward having that go down in the waiting room … in front of “other” staff. But whatever, it was fine. In the end I GOT THE JOB. I am a true RN with a true specialty of Pre-Op/PACU nurse.

I have this sense of peace now knowing that although I’m going to home with my kids pretty full-time, there is one day a week that I am skipping out of my house and to somewhere where my inner true self will shine. I get MY identity back, and that is that I am an RN! I get to produce skills that only an RN can/will do. I get to be that person that helps others, strangers, in a time of need. I get to help the doctor perform miracles on some people. I’ve been missing that heightened level of … nursing. And it’s back now!!

Something even more fun that is going to start happening on Monday is that I have hired a private Yoga Instructor who comes to my house 5 days a week and teaches me Ashtanga Yoga out on my deck in the evenings. We’re going to alternate Yoga with high endurance walking. I am excited to get that going – someone to come and kick my butt into gear while teaching me a holistic form of Yoga that can calm my core!

I can't wait to see what these 2 different things in my life do. Either/or could quite impact my life so I'm just going to hold on for the ride :)

camping 101

2009-05-26T20:56:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? I’m living still! I do still smell campfire in my hair after 5 washings and I had to wash some loads twice to get the smell and grime out of some clothes, but we had a great time. It was challenging with children so before I go into the miseries of the camping trip, let it stand that we did, in fact, have a good time. I was disappointed when I got there and my battery was dead in my camera and all my other extras were left at home.

We got to South Beach on Friday later than we anticipated, around 4:30pm. We had perfect campsites – right beside the campground’s playground complete with 2 play sets, a rock climbing wall, 2 sandpits (with a bulldozer built-in) and multiple slides. Maysen (and wishful Griffin) was in hog-heaven! The downside to such good sites is that the wind along the coast (which blows a constant 20mph!) was not blocked by anything, so we were sitting ducks for the wind. Plates blew over at every meal, cups were gone, and the gusts sent a chilly and bitter streak through our bodies. It felt impossible to warm up with the gusts hitting us. We got our tents set up and upon unloading discovered that we had forgotten Griffin’s blankets. We gave him 2 of ours, which left us with nothing but our down comforter (harsh, I know). Before dinner Maysen fell out of a tree playing "Sandy Buckets" (whatever the heck that means). I had given him a warning not to climb it one more time but the older boys were and apparently the temptation wasn't worth the consequence. Luckily he didn't break an arm or collar bone but he did do a number on his back with deep scrapes. The boys had a hard time going to sleep but that was to be expected but nothing prepared us for the frigid night ahead. The wind didn’t stop and our tent has an open top. It’s screened but open. By 2:00am and no sleep, I climbed into the van to warm up a bit. I’d start it, turn it off, start it, turn it off. All in all I got just a smidge over 2 hrs of sleep that night.

6:00am rolls around (there were no roosters to welcome the day light, only crows … who pecked into any and everything) and guess who wakes up? One son, then the other. So we were up with the sun. I don’t think they’ve ever gotten up at 6:00am. With no firewood, we all got out of the tent and stood there, frozen still. We decided to go get coffee (excuse to warm up!) and not kidding – I was so exhausted I made Nate to check the vacancy of the local hotel nearby. He was mortified so after a couple of sips of coffee I changed my tune and sucked it up.

We got back to camp and after a warm shower and some breakfast we headed to the beach. We had to hike over the Swiss Alps of loose sand (burning thighs) but it was gorgeous! Of course we had the wind, but the sun was out and blue skies all around.

We had lunch and Jessica and I decided to go get some things much needed for a good nights sleep … blankets and a space heater! Once we got back, it was evident that Nate hadn’t heard Griffin screaming his lungs out in the tent. He was trying to catch his breath, beet red face, swollen eyes and he was so upset that it took him the next 2hrs to calm down. I think over-exhaustion played a part there because it was late even for normal nap, let alone being up so early.

We had a great night that night. We made spaghetti and the wind seemed to calm down at least for dinner. We had Josh’s birthday cake and presents, the kids played bubbles and silly string, and although we had a rough time getting Fin to sleep and then Maysen to sleep we stayed up and talked around the camp fire and that was fun. We slept better that night and stayed warm.

Having an 18mo old baby while camping is exhausting. It’s like having a puppy off a leash for the whole 2 days. Nate would be watching then I would and you just can’t relax. Mix exhaustion and wind into the equation. Plus Maysen had been up bawling the night before saying he wanted to go home and he missed home. Well, we got up Sunday and both agreed it was time to go home. Nate really wanted to have an extra day to mow, I had tons of laundry to do and it was just time to go. Nate is Mr Back Packer and even he was saying “I’m done”. We had a wonderful picnic lunch at Devil's Punchbowl (above) before heading out. There were 4 grey squirrels that came out to catch our hand outs which the kids loved. Griffin kept saying, “Cattttt”. Funny.

We got in the van and Griffin was totally out asleep. Nate slept while I drove over the mountains. We hit the freeway and I slept and when we rolled into town the whole van was asleep (except Nate … driver!). We all got home and showered with fresh clothes and sat outside in our non-windy backyard. We grilled and just relaxed. Much needed. The boys slept wonderfully that night and we agreed we couldn’t wait to do it again. It’s effort and challenging at times but well worth it. Fresh air, camp fire, great company .. it all boils out to a great time. Thanks Josh and Jessica for putting up with us and we honestly can’t wait to do it again!! We hope you’ll have us again!

baby steps

2009-05-19T13:19:00.001-07:00

Jenn was here this past weekend and aside from scoring MAJOR deals on summer clothes we happened to take in a photography session at dusk. I am particularly fond of this picture with the bat-like cloud structure hovering above the nearby farm. Some of the picture did get cut off because of the file size but you get the picture. You can see the rest of my pictures along with some other recently downloaded albums here.

Most people who know me well, know that I am a bit particular when it comes to just a few things. Ok, some have called it "majorly OCD". A nurse/blog friend of mine was just chatting about this similar subject and I interject that I think all of us nurses have to have a small bit of OCD to help us do our jobs well. In any event, I have met my challenge in regards to my OCD. We. Are. Going. Camping. This. Weekend. My kind family has offered to start me off small - tent camping - in a state park - which means we have ... SHOWERS. THANK YOU, JESUS! I would need a major dose of tranquilizers to calm the effects of 3 days with no showers for not only me but my very messy two boys as well.

In about 5 seconds you're going to read something you probably didn't necessarily need to know about me, and that is that I'm in the shower at least twice a day. I have to shower when I get up for that crisp ready-to-go feeling. Then at night when my long day is over and I'm settling in for relaxing "me" time I need that warm, clean, comforting feeling. Now, throw in mowing or landscaping mid-day and then we're tackling shower #3. So! The thought of me going to the beach, sitting by a smoky fire, dirt floor, gooey marshmellows, wind, salt water air, dirt, more dirt, spiders (hives are beginning to develope now) ... well, you get the idea. At least I have a shower but will be slowly breaking my mold and easing into the thought of being dirty and looking at my filthy children for an extended amount of time. We'll see if we can do it without me scratching my own eyeballs out. Remember family: I love you, but please bear with me. (insert image of Bill Murray in "What About Bob?" saying in his meek voice ".... baby step get on the bus ... baby step sit in the seat")

I'm actually really looking forward to it. We grew up camping. But we also grew up camping in an RV or something to that effect. We had showers, carpet, sink, stove, TV. Nothing like this tent business. I want the boys to experience this as it's super fun for them and I don't want to be fun-spoiler so I am sucking it up but I believe I'll resemble much of the image of the hated girlfriend in Parent Trap who keeps dabbing herself in sugar water with the lizard on her head. But I'm up for the adventure and hopefully this won't be the last time you hear from me *wink*.

I'm MOM OF THE YEAR!!

2009-05-10T20:34:00.001-07:00

I think this is hilarious ... but totally awesome. Thanks to Sherrill for sending it to/for me.

CLICK HERE TO SEE

happy mom's day

2009-05-10T00:31:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothers Day, everyone.

I never knew what drastic direction my life would bring me after becoming a mother. I always knew I wanted children but what joy they would bring my life is something I didn't expect. I won't drone on and on and make this sound just like every other post from every other mom out there who blogs. But I do, in fact, have the best set of boys a momma could ask for!

I got my first real home made Mother's Day gift from Maysen this week. It is a sachet that they made in school. Maysen glued on the paper, helped cut it out, and his favorite part was tying the bag of potpourri up. When I picked him up from school on Wednesday he mentioned he had a "proprise!" but I had to wait until Thursday to get it. When I picked him up on Thursday (Nate got off early and surprised Maysen by picking him up - I had gone along too to talk to Ms Debbie and I turned while he was walking down the hall). He had the biggest smile on his face, showing all his immature teeth - even the chipped front tooth. He announced he had my proprise and that I'd have to wait to open his pack-pack when I got home. We arrived into the garage where I was given orders to let him out first and he'd go inside and I could then follow. Once I had followed, I was then told to close my eyes and come into the living room. There he stood, same beaming smile with his hands behind his back and when I opened my eyes this baby (above) shot out at me. He told me all about how I could hang it in my closet and it'd make my clothes smell alllllll good. We decided we'd hang it outside so I could see it everyday. He propped himself on the bed while I taped it up there, still beaming even when I walked out the doorway. He later came out and looked at me puzzled, "Momma, um, isn't it beautiful?" ... "Yes, baby. It's my very favorite" .... "Mine too." and off he went with a content smile on his face.

That makes all the many sacrifices a mother has to make worth it. I have been struggling with going back to work part time, but it's times like these that I would give anything not to miss.

This is my Wisteria Garden in my backyard. This has been the most fruitful with flowers than it ever has been and man it smells marvelous. We arched it up over our gate this past year and it's taken to it wonderfully. Could be this mommy's favorite part of the backyard right now.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommies out there! I hope you enjoy YOUR day!

Dad's visit

2009-05-07T12:49:00.000-07:00

Dad and Jo were here this last weekend for a few days. The weather was wicked while they were here – raining monsoon-like one minute and then sunny the next. Welcome to Oregon! The smell of rain and lilacs is something I wish I could bottle up and keep forever always … (great pic, Jenn. Was this one you took with my tripod?)

The last time they were here Maysen was 3 and Griffin was only 8 months old so it was fun with the boys being older this time. Of course that included "Silly Face Time" and most everyone participated. Nate just happened to have the camera while grandpa and Auntie played along. Maysen talked non-stop and Griffin was surprising bashful for the first day or so but when he warmed up, he warmed up big.

Dad helped Nate put up Maysen’s bunk bed. The bunk bed is actually the same bed that Nate and his brother used when growing up. This summer we’ll be putting Griffin in his day bed, and by his 2nd birthday we hope to move him in to the same room as Maysen. Maysen LOVED sleeping on the top of the bunk. We did have an incident on Day 2. Apparently “fishing” for your little brother with a blanket is a fun game … until you fall off the top bunk. Yeeeeah. “THUMP” is all we hear and here comes Maysen holding his forehead. I couldn’t get a straight story out of him until I happened to walk by about an hour later and I see Maysen hanging off the top bunk “…heeeerreee Griffy, Griffy, Griifffffffffferrrrtttty.” (I love he calls him Grifferty). He’s dangling his blanket down as Fin goes to reach for it, Maysen start slipping and the writing was on the wall.

The last day they were here we decided to go to the beach, Jo’s favorite place. It was raining but when you’re at the beach you almost don’t notice (except when it started raining sideways!). We also visited the Newport Aquarium. Maysen was having a hard time building up the courage to touch the creatures in the Touch Pools but eventually with grandma Jo's help he braved the storm and weathered through and he was happy he did!

This was before Grandma Jo coaxed him into touching things. A sting ray? "I don't like StinK Rays", per Maysen. To add, "..and I don't like sharps!" (sharks, there were baby sharks to pet in this tank)

Nice choice of finger to point with, bucko...

Fin and his Pranpa...

Seashell hunting with Pranpa and Mase.

Check out those Huck Fin pants. Nate was going to brave the current across the little river where he did and found the biggest agate I've ever seen!

Grandma reading “Green Eggs and Ham” was a hit with the boys. Apparently I never noticed that there is a mouse on every page, so they’d play “hunt for the mouse” with every page turn. One thing I can be thankful for is the fact that Jo is an exceptional grandma to those boys. She has patience, enthusiasm, and ideas for those boys all the time. I’m grateful she’s part of their lives.

I LOVE this picture of Fin. He got so excited finding the mice with grandma and she'd hold his finger and go "Buzzzbuzzbuzzbuzzbuzz" and point at the mouse. He loved it.

Nate’s last day at Weyerhaeuser was today. And as a surprise they took him to his favorite place for lunch and then told him he could go home. It’s 12:30pm and he just pulled into the driveway. That’s a nice surprise and Maysen will be just as excited when Daddy picks him up from school!

screams and sales

2009-04-29T21:17:00.000-07:00

Garage Sale & Auction
My fund raising Garage Sale for the Christian School was very successful! Friday was very busy and a lot of our bigger stuff sold. Saturday was an additional day we did this year and it wasn't necessarily worth it. We only made $700 that day and it was pretty slow. Overall, we made $2500.00 for the school so I was pretty proud about that. It wasn't quite my goal but I usually have a way of overshooting my goals. The family that donated the use of the storefront for our garage sale also started inquiring about our ultimate goal of building a new Christian School. He, needless to say, could be a very big financial gain to our goal so I think that was a very good connection to make.

I was pretty tired today - I think it all caught up to me. Papa and Sherrill are in town and they came to watch Maysen in gymnastics tonight. He did great - completing his hand-stands with his arms, not head. He's doing really well at listening and following directions. For a smaller, strong boy this has proven to be the perfect thing for him and he's enjoying it.

Dad and Jo will be in town on Saturday. I'm excited to have them in town. It's been almost a year since we've seen them and Maysen is excited to say the least. They'll only be in town for a few days but I'll take what I can get!

Friday is my sister-in-law, Danielle's, fund-raising AUCTION for the Christian School. She takes months to prepare for this so we're pretty excited. They usually will pull in $15,000+ at the auctions and this is the 4th annual auction. With the economy the way it is, I'm hoping that it will continue to be a success even this year. We have a new caterer this year who is fabulous.

First School Incident
I forgot to mention that a couple of weeks ago we had our first "incident" at school with Maysen. I picked him up from school and his teacher pulled me aside. Apparently she walked down the hall and while she was gone, Maysen jumped up, turned off the light (basement classroom-no windows) then SLAMMED the door and started screaming. THREE. TIMES. It scared the crap out of his classmates and woke some babies in the baby room across the wall. He got grounded from his snack and show time after bath that night and the next day he apologized on his own to Miss N. Something tells me that won't be the last time that happens ....

YAY!

2009-04-24T20:21:00.000-07:00

In an update about this post, Laith got a new heart!! You can read about it here.

job

2009-04-23T01:08:00.000-07:00

Nathan accepted FT's offer on Monday. He officially told Weyerhaeuser he was leaving. They took it well; mainly that they were sad to see him go because he was such a big asset to them, but at the same time they understood that this was a job promotion for him and how do you refuse that? They agreed to meet in the middle with salary requirement so Nate accepted and signed his Acceptance Letter yesterday. He's going to lunch tomorrow with the guys from FT again just to get to know them. This is a good thing, I think.

Learned that my dad and stepmom Jo from California are coming for a few days to visit starting May 2nd. I haven't seen them in months so I was excited. They are buying a new car and since they're Oregon residents they will be coming back here to buy it. I'm looking forward to spending a few days with them. Lord knows when the next time I'll see them will be.

I booked tickets tonight for Nate, me, and my sister to see comedian Dane Cook in Portland on June 6th. He is hysterical, you can see some of his acts on YouTube.com. One of the best I've seen so I'm pretty excited about that. We'll be going childless so I'm not sure what I'm more excited about :0)

Heading to bed. Tomorrow starts 3 days straight of Fund Raising Garage Sale FUN! Tomorrow is set up/finish price and then Fri/Sat are the sale days. Pray for good return! Last year we raised $1900 in about 7hrs. Since we're doing 2 days this year, it's hard not to set expectations but I hope we do around $3500. We'll see. Night.

Easter 2009 & Backyard

2009-04-19T20:33:00.000-07:00

Finally Easter pictures have emerged. See post below for all that we did but we had a great time. I still can’t believe how much Maysen looks like Nate and Maysen looks like me. I guess in a way that’s sorta how it’s supposed to go.

Bunny Tracks CAUGHT! And what a loot!!

Mmmmm Chocolate for Breakfast!! Does Chocolate Bunny count as protein?

Dad helping Fin find eggs at Aunt Danielle's house. He's the one who hid all 50+ some of them. Ahh, his mind is slippin...

There is one left ... and he "thinks" it is in the kitchen so the kids are on the hunt!

We’ve been working long and hard this weekend, thank goodness the weather has been beautiful (70s). Friday was spent hauling/loading donations for the garage sale I’m doing for Maysen’s school. It was the last day of parental donation-pick-ups so as you can imagine there was a ton! I had 4 van-loads plus 1 trailer full (Thanks to the guy who was unloading a chair). The rest of Friday was spent sanding our original deck so when the new deck was stained they matched. Saturday Nate and I spent 4hrs sorting donations with volunteers and I think we about got it sorted out. This week I’ll spend one more day pricing non-bulk items, Thursday setting up, then open on Friday. I still don’t have childcare figured out for Friday but I’m sure Lord-Willing it’ll happen. The rest of Saturday Nate stained our decks and I got the van washed up and back to pre-donation pickup.

Today was our shopping and planting day. We’d anticipated this day so it was fun. Nate got his Father’s Day gift (his new grill) and I got all my new flowers/chairs/plants and planters for Mother’s Day. The boys played in a bucket of water and water gun fights with the neighborhood kids so they were entertained. Now? We’re pooped. Nate should hear tomorrow whether they FT accepted his salary requirement. He took a vacation day tomorrow so he’ll be home. We plan on relaxing and maybe heading to Dorena Lake tomorrow.

So, with that said, here are the end result of our projects thus far. We still want to do some more planting and lay down mulch but you get the idea...

BEFORE: May, 2008 (last year)

Before, February 2009...

AFTER, Today.

Cement slab, BEFORE May 2008

Thanks to George and Dad for all the ears lent to Nate for his questions and frustrations. I'm sure proud of my Mr Handiman.

developments

2009-04-13T22:20:00.000-07:00

It was another sugary Easter Success in our household this weekend. On Saturday night we put out the infamous secret “Bunny Track Catcher Powder” (flour) in hopes of catching the tracks. We previously had dyed our eggs, put them in a basket in the center of the table, only to be switched out with Easter Baskets from Mr Bunny. Maysen got an array of Curious George paraphernalia while Griffin scored a few new balls and plastic tractor (all of which Maysen thinks are his as well). We searched for eggs at our house and then headed over to Danielle’s where MIL Sherrill is watching her kids while they are on a mission trip. They have a huge house so Nate had gone over previously and hid all 50+ eggs around. After all eggs had been accounted for we started dinner and it was very yummy. Great time was had by all…

Another happening occurred Easter morning. Ever since Nathan graduated he’s had a “mentor” if you will, Mel, who has helped him out along the way in just about every job Nathan has had as a software developer. A couple of weeks ago, Mel retired. It was a sad day and on Sunday Mel actually called him yesterday morning to tell him that although he had retired from Weyerhaeuser, he hadn’t retired for very long. He had accepted a Director of Developing position of a software company here in Eugene and he wanted to “entice” Nathan to leave Weyerhaeuser and offer him a promotion as a Senior Developer with more $. It seems so weird to think of Nate as a Senior Developer because usually that requires 5-8yrs of experience. Nathan has 2. So this has been a great honor. Today he had lunch with the company guys and Friday he is having a final interview with everyone including their satellite counterparts in the UK (Scotland). I’m so proud of that man and the progression of his career!

I had to take Maysen in to the doctor today. Oddly there was a strange bulge that developed in the back of his left knee. Although I was pretty sure it was just a cyst, I didn’t want to take the chance of any other developing tendonitis/fibrosis. It turned out to be what I expected: A Baker’s Cyst. Although not usually seen this young, they’re very common and shouldn’t be of an issue.

I promise to post pictures next time …

2009-04-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!! More to come ...

My Soft

2009-03-30T22:00:00.000-07:00

Her name was Great Grandma Edith and although I lived in Kansas and my family was far away, she thought enough of my birth to make me My Soft. My Soft was a term I coined because the underside of this hand-sewn blanket was a flannel bottom. It was warm and soft against my skin and I loved it a lot.

The Kansas winters were often very cold and frigid. Climbing into a bed with cold sheets is nothing anyone (even at this age) wants to do, let alone being a little girl climbing into bed to be warm. So my dad would flip My Soft over to where the flannel part was up and making it not-so-cold against my skin. Again, it was an immediate comfort.

I wasn't the only one who possessed the infamous "Soft". My sister, Jenn, had one made for her as well by Great Grandma Edith, but hers had more blue to it. We were the Shindley Girls ... with our Softs.

At night before bed, we'd bring our Softs into the living room and lay them out. There were 4 of us, so each one would get on a corner. You notice the variety of different pattern blocks in the blanket. That made for a great hunt-and-find game, in fact it was The Soft Game. Dad would start it off by saying (Jenn you'll remember the pitch) "Caaaann yooooooou fiiiiinnnnnd ..........*long pause* ....... the one with the 2 red wheels and one brown wheel on it" and it would be a race as to who could find it first. Those were good times. Really good times.

My Soft was given back to me when my dad sold our childhood home to travel in their RV and work. It had been stored up in our attic along with other childhood memorabilia that I now possess like my dad's Vietnam photo album. In a way it was strange to get all these things back at such a young age. But in another way, it was comforting to know that a piece of all that was back with me. Safe.

I sit back as I watch Maysen watching cartoons with his beloved Blue Blanket (that's what he calls it). He requires such Blue Blanket on all trips and every night to "cozy-up with". Its amazing what we can form attachment to and what it means to us. I can only hope that his Blue Blanket means just as much to him in the years to come as my Soft meant to me.

Thanks for thinking of us, Grandma Edith, when you made those blankets. It's turned out to be more than just a blanket for me. Thanks to Grandma Sherrill for having M's Blue Blanket made especially for him.

Written in plain ink-pen, this states "Made By Grandma Shindley"

Happy Birthday, Honey.

2009-03-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Finally, the age is catching up with the white hair on my honey. I think it's a symbol of how hard he works for his family. He works 4 ten-hour days so he can spend more time with us. But those are very long days, often resulting in only 5hrs sleep at night.

I idolize him a lot. He reminds me a lot of my dad in how hard he works to get whatever needs completion DONE. He has the patience I could only hope to possess. He has the willingness and eagerness to learn and to try anything - no matter the task. He is humble at times I would be perhaps "too" proud. He knows where he lacks and works harder at those areas to excell. No matter who or what has him down, he continues through the corridor with his head held high. He is unlikely to hold grudges. He sympathizes with those who struggle and genuinely cares for people and their feelings. He is passionate on his opinions but is also willing to look at any and all views on the matter. He never gives up. He has a very honest and boastful laugh that will immediately infect those around. I personally feel the world is a better place with him on it; in the decade that I've known him, I know I am a better woman and person with him beside me; and my kids are lucky enough to such a great role model to look up to.

Therefore, I celebrate another year of you being who you are, making it just that much more "right" to be here. We love you, honey. Happy 32nd birthday.

Only in my life

2009-03-17T01:20:00.000-07:00

When it rains, it pours!! Why me!?! Of course .. WHY NOT!? There are a plethora of sayings that apply to you when you are having one Hellova day or two. I think mine went a tad like this, “*#^&@(@*(T^Y&*$U(T*&*#(“ Period. Let me explain:

Sunday morning seemed like a normal event. Griffin called for his bottle around 5:30am. He wakes back up at 6:30 and I thought “forget it, he just ate!” for he usually will sleep in until 8:00. True to form around 8:30am he wakes up and Nathan decides it’s his turn to get up and let me sleep. All I hear over the monitor is *door opening* “Ohhhhh. Nooooo.” My response? Shut the monitor off and turn back over. So I’ll tell the story through his eyes:

Everything’s fine. Griffin’s awake and sounds happy on the monitor, no distressed baby or anything to warrant a need for bracing when opening door. Reach for door handle, turn, and it was as if the seal of a casket had been broken open; a casket bearing a decomposing body for the last 83 days in the New Orleans summer … PFSHHHHHHHHHH. The vile smell hits his unprepared nostrils like the unassuming fly disintegrating on the 893mph windshield shrieking right for him (enter “Ohhh Noooo.”). As his eyes adjust to the cave-like darkness that surrounds, it finally reveals a beaming baby standing in his crib. He appears to resemble the drunken mother from What About Mary, smiling so big it seems unnatural. His hair is in straight-up Mohawk fashion so high and straight you’d think that 348 cans of Aqua Net was involved. But no. The true culprit is a mixture of milk curds and partially digested peaches from the day before. Yep. Vomit. And lots of it. Having been tossed previously, the creature beaming weirdly at you had rolled, danced, and fallen back asleep in the tossed salad. The day goes by fine until that evening...

10:30pm Griffin is up.
11:00pm Griffin is up again.
12:00am Maysen is up “My ear hurts”
1:30m Griffin is up again – gets Tylenol.
2:00am Maysen is up again with ear – gets Motrin. I look with my otoscope, ear appears inflamed.
6:00am Griffin is up. Check his ears. Too waxy to view ear drum. Goes back to sleep.
8:00am We’re up. Fin has piece of bread, which he throws up, along with suspicious milk curds on the floor.
10:00am Maysen complains of ear again. Otoscope now reveals infection in L ear of Maysen. Dr appts are made for both boys with our old pediatrician.

1:45pm: Griffin must get up from nap. Hand on the door. Knob turns and immediately the rotting flesh odor consumes me, but this is more of an odor of dead pig carcass roasting away in Nigeria for a week. It singes my nose hairs immediately causing a fury of watering eyes and gagging. Ahhh, diarrhea. Just what I’m prepared for considering I need to be walking out of my house RIGHT.NOW! Now, what happened next could actually be a pretty good marketing tool for Huggies, had it not been putrid. I know this won’t be pretty so I just rip the diaper off and brace for impact. I am absolutely amazed at the built-in dams Huggies has created has actually held in the cement-mixer-like diarrhea that came shooting out. I know you’re dying for visual color, so we’ll go split pea soup with hint of mustard – and that consistency as well. Got that one? Yummy. I stood there frozen – like a tight rope walker who needs to poop – wondering just what to do. Any sudden movements could end this whole ordeal badly. And then it happens. The Back Arch, then foot-plant action. Rrrrrrrrrigggght. Now he's looking like a white African baby covered in war paint. Somehow we recovered with lots of prayers to whomever would listen, running out the door as quickly as we could.

Now. “There’s more!?” you might be asking. Ohhhh yes. In my life, there’s always more. You see, we left the house in such a hurry, the bounty diaper was left folded up on Fin’s dresser. And as we returned home from the doctors and then the joyful wait at the pharmacy (both boys have ear infections), I walk in my house and I am thrown into a realm of confusion because I again smell the rotting flesh. You see, I happen to have a Beast-like animal who roams my hallways. Her name is Bailey. And as she saw me leave through the dark and dampened laundry room door and shut it with such force I would not be returning anytime soon, she immediately started salivating. She does this because she knows, to my dismay, that I have inadvertently left this … "treat" of sorts, for lack of better wording … within her grasp. And you know the rest. She took no time in devouring the contents of that poop-filled bundle of joy with savage-like agility. All. Over. My. Living Room. Floor.

I hope none of you read this while eating Split Pea Soup. Good Day.

Mr Reader

2009-03-15T16:46:00.000-07:00

I have found one seriously good book for Maysen. Lately he's been into Curious George and while at the library a few days ago, I found a huge 352pg (mind you BIG print and many pictures) compilation of the first 6 or so Curious George stories. I found the book on Amazon.com so I think the Easter Bunny might stop off there this Easter. Of course, Griffin liked looking at all the pictures, too.

Loved how this book matched Fin's PJs...

Just a small portion of what we're doing to our backyard. As you can tell it's monsoon season here in the Willamette Valley and it was true-to-form here today! But ... Nate got the "pig pen" done yesterday. This is where we'll house Bay when she's outside. As much as we love her, she is destroying our grass so she'll have her own space back here under the maple tree. Nate is building her dog house next, so hopefully will be done soon after the sod gets laid down. I can't wait to get the grass here to get rid of all this mud! Then it'll be painting and planting around here! My BIL was here yesterday and did the estimate for our deck extension, so we'll have a 2 level deck which will be nicer than our piece of concrete that's falling apart!

And now we have blue sky and sun. Welcome, Spring!

Ode to my Tree Pee'er

2009-03-10T13:47:00.000-07:00

Alright. So I debated about putting this one on here, but it's nothing too horrible. Just another pic that displays just what we're into these days and that's peeing outside! One good thing about having boys and you're "far" away from a bathroom, is the simple fact that if you're in an isolated place (or not-so-isolated in my dad's case .. hehe) you don't have to fear! I just so happen to have my camera in-hand when I turned around to this view. I know when he reads this at the age of 30 he's going to kill me...I promise to not put this in the highschool yearbook when you graduate, son. Well. Maybe ... is this blackmail material or what?

Maysen is sure becoming our little Mr Independent these days. He likes to be helping with whatever is going on. Whether it's cooking, or folding laundry, or putting clothes away, or getting dressed - he wants to do it himself or help with it. We have started on our backyard this past weekend and while daddy was outside scooping up old mulch chips, I look out to see our Mr Bean with bright red cheeks, rain boots hiked to the hills carrying this huge shovel putting mulch chips into a pile. And that's what he's been doing all week this week. In the afternoons he wants to go "shobel". The other morning I wake up to him looking into the toaster. "Cooking brefass mom". Thankfully he really was - Toaster Strudel and all! Juice in his cup. Then he adds "You can go sweep more, mom. I'm just getting ready!". In a way it saddens me that he's growing up so quick he doesn't need me to do his breakfast anymore. One day, sooner than I'd like, he'll be going to school not wanting hugs or kisses anymore. I'll be one sad Momma when that day comes.

I'm so proud of you, Mase, in more ways than you'll ever know. You amaze me at how smart you've become doing your work books. You can count soundly to 14 and ABCs are a breeze. You can spell your name up until the Y (although you write it backwards) and you know your name is Maysen-David-Scovil. You know the teachers call your mom Leslie and your dad's name is Maysen, too (so you think, Nathan does sound an awful like Maysen).

You have a mind like a steel trap. Recently you recalled Papa's white church on a trip in Baker City, although they haven't been in that church since you were 1yr old. Just last night someone was sick on TV and you remembered being "...on the big plane with grandma-grandpa-motorhome-house and I coughed in that bathroom..." (recalling being in Iowa for great-nanna's funeral and you got the flu when you were 3). I am not sure the memory is a good or bad thing *wink*.

You love Griffin, however lately you are being a typical big brother. You don't like him bothering you and pull him out of your room by one arm on multiple occasions. You yell at him when he takes your toys and you've taken to putting Anti-Griffin Signs up on your door.

You have started gymnastics and so far are liking it. Your best bud is Austin from school and even play at gymnastics with him sometimes. You are smart, considerate (often getting my coat for me on my walks because you don't want me cold), strong, and overall a great little boy. I love you so much.
Momma

Wanna-Go-Back-Now Vacation

2009-03-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

I failed to mention in the below post that during our vacation we hit up the outlet malls in Lincoln City. Let me tell you moms out there 4 beautiful words: Children's Place. $2.99 STOREWIDE! Talk about a bargin blissful day!! I got complete outfits for the boys for next year. 3 huge bags later ... my total was $83.00. Thanks to Tiff and her additional 15% off!! Ok. Read on ... Most of us when returning from a vacation are ready to come home. I know I was on Sunday. But. I’m ready to go back! Our little getaway to Bella Beach was relaxing, quality, and fun. The cottage we stayed in was so inviting and warm that it was hard not to fall in love with its coziness. It was clean, bright, airy, and smelled of a mix of ocean and cinnamon. The kitchen was loaded with more amenities than was needed and I was glad I brought lots of stuff to cook with because I took full advantage of that gourmet kitchen!

The beach was a 2min stroll out our back door. We stopped and visited with neighbors and met fellow dog-friends along the way. Aside from our close-call mentioned in the post below, the kids loved the ocean. I am afraid to think that we have a 2nd dare devil on our hands … Mr Fin is a bit fearless of the water as well. Makes for Momma-Stress x2!

Our days were spent cooking and eating breakfast in our jammies, watching Fin sweep the entire houses' wood floor (which he was obsessed about!), playing Peek-a-Boo with Fin sitting inside their cabinet and flinging the door open (which he thought was hilarious!), playing "spin game" with Maysen's kite tail which was ripped off in a record-breaking 30 seconds, and relaxing by the fire watching movies.

There was also a playground on-site which was wonderful at entertaining the kids before lunch/nap time. It was a "Maysen & Dad date" that they'd walk down to the beach leaving me at home alone while Fin slept. Ahhh, serenity.

Some good friends of ours, Tim & Tiffany, were ironically also staying at the beach a few miles from us at their condo so we were able to meet up with them on our last day there. They have 2 kids as well; Austin & Karaline. Austin is in Maysen’s class and they’re best buds so that was really fun. We went golfing and to the batting cages where I think the big boys (husbands) had more fun than anyone! We went back to their condo and went swimming. Griffin, who despite the statement above has been skiddish of swimming pools, wanted in with all his might! We’ll have to remember that for next time. Maysen is getting more fearless of the water by the day, I believe. It’ll be good to get him back in swimming lessons this summer.

On our way home, we stopped in Lincoln City and visited a park near Devil’s Lake. It has an absolutely AWESOME wood play structure, that yes; even WE got lost in. Bailey was coaxed down the slide, which it was her last trip. We are thinking this would be an awesome structure to play paint ball in … ??

Poor Bay ....

On another note, we have moved passed our karate misunderstanding to gymnastics! Maysen had his first class last week and is loving it. That could change on a dime, so stay tuned ... (but I did love how good he slept that night so I'm hoping it sticks!).

While we were gone we had a shed built for us. Nathan’s plan was to build this himself, but we started to realize that the cost of having it built vs. the time it would require of him … it was worth it in the end to just have it built. NOTE: The following is a Lesson-To-Be-Learned from. We got home and to our dismay, our shed wasn’t quite what we had in mind. Lesson #1: Be around while someone new is building your project. Lesson #2: Don’t wait until you’re unsatisfied to research their “license #” only to find out their Contractors License is expired. Lesson #3: Specify EVERYTHING. Assuming contractors “know best” isn’t always true. The other half of his money we still have. Once he completes the job how we want it, with signing a Waiver (because he’s not insured), he’ll get the rest of his money. That’s set tentatively for Friday. I’m still skeptical. What a nightmare!

Ahhhhh, I want to go back. Maybe after my fund-raising garage sale, Nate will take me back ... just ME!

UPDATE ON LAITH:

2009-02-28T14:53:00.000-08:00

UPDATE TO POST BELOW: Laith's prayers have been answered. Although the full donation of $1.5mill has not been met, a Pittsburgh hospital has agreed to help the family by providing the use of a heart pump to keep him healthy until a new heart can be found. You can read the story here.

Our vacation has been going very well. We have had a few injuries along the way, mainly in the form of bumps and bruises but it's been great. The beach house is spectacular and so far I've enjoyed my afternoons quietly while Fin is asleep - while the boys go down to the beach.

We did have a scary experience yesterday, however. The Oregon coast is notorious for their sneaker waves; you have to be very careful. Without warning, Maysen took a run for the water, Nate had Fin, and I noticed just in time that it was one of those waves where it was going to travel a ways up the beach before receding. The wave caught Maysen, pulled him down and I got there in time to pull him out of the water before it's receding. I got him up and out, Nate was able to get him back to the sand. I unfortunately was caught in a 2nd wave right after pulling Maysen out and was drug down. I held onto the sand underneath until all of the wave had receded and was able to get out but I have had my share of water-close calls. 2 years ago while White Water Rafting on the Trinity river in California, I was thrown out of the boat and held under by a current under the river. Amazingly I'm not afraid, per se, of the water, rather I just have more respect for it's power.

We're heading home tomorrow where hopefully our new shed will be ready and waiting for us. We decided to have it built by some contractors vs Nate building it himself. In the end it was worth the money to have it done compared to the length of time it would take for Nate to complete it. More on that later! Hope you have enjoyed your weekend thus far...

for anyone who has a heart to help ...

2009-02-23T21:13:00.000-08:00

Do you remember the movie John Q starring Denzel Washington whose son was going to die because his insurance wouldn't pay for a heart transplant?

Please read HERE about the living and breathing John Q, a baby boy named Laith. Without $1.5 million up front for a heart transplant, no hospital will touch this little boy and have prepared his family with the statement that essentially they just need to start deciding how he dies. All because of money. His family is desperately trying to raise this money to save their little baby. Having had a sick baby in the NICU just this past year, I can't imagine the terror this family is experiencing.

It is a harsh, harsh world out there we live in these days and I'm hoping that all of you who are able will give to this little boy. If nothing more than a few dollars - it will all add up in the end. And if you're the praying kind, please stop and say a prayer right now for this little boy named Laith. I know I've done both ... please keep this story going ...

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THIS LITTLE ANGEL.

Maysen's Day Out

2009-02-21T16:40:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful day yesterday with our little Mr Bean. It seems like we don’t get all that much alone time with Maysen with both daddy and mommy so that was made a priority and he ate that up. Fin got his own alone time with Grandma while we were out.

Our afternoon started with Put-Put golf in which Maysen blew us out of the water! There were several times that Maysen “accidentally” hit his ball in the water, because I think fetching it out was more fun than focusing on hitting it right.

Then it was on to our own private slide-ground. No one was there yet so we enjoyed having free reign over the place. Even the Slide-Tickle Monster came out once, and only once. Dad even enjoyed going down the slide, which I’m sure was prohibited somewhere in the rule book.

Love the reflection ...

Next door was bowling which is always fun. Maysen was the Ball-Keeper-in-Line’er. I think we have a smidge OCD act going on there …

Good shot 'o Nate. I think he looks pretty pro. He said he was trying not to fart during this throw ...

Doin' the success-jig. It took exactly 18.4 minutes for the ball to hit the pins. I think that was the success part. That's got to be a record!

I posted this picture purely for shock-value. Isn't she our perty-piggie?

This morning we went to Open-Gymnastics with some friends of ours. They have a 6wk class for Maysen’s age that I think T is going to enroll A into along with Maysen. He really picked up on the trampoline and by the end of our hour was going across the high monkey bars by himself above the huge foam pit. Since our karate disaster, I am thinking this is something he’d be really good at, a way to expend energy, and something fun for him to enjoy with his friend, A.

I got some interesting news last night. Some other friends of ours D&R have been invited to be on Dr Phil. They start filming on Monday. The topic of the show is very interesting as we learned a bit of information about them we hadn’t known! As soon as I get her OK, I’ll share all of that with you, including the date of their airing! We now know celebrities (not really).

The rain is setting back in for a few days. I hope it clears up before our trip on Thursday. Then again, who cares because I can't wait to snuggle up to our fireplace, playing games drinking hot chocolate. Then again, grilling steaks outside throwing a frisbee with iced tea after returning from building sand castles on the beach sounds just as appetizing. Ok, now I am excited ...

2009-02-20T01:02:00.000-08:00

In light of a few afternoons that have been filled with never-ending Time-Outs for Maysen, tomorrow Nate and I are going on a date with Maysen. We haven't done it but for a few times since Griffin has been born and it's about time. Grandma Bobbi is going to have some alone/cuddle time with Griffin while Daddy, me, and Maysen go do some mini-golf, pizza, and bowling. I'm hoping his acting out lately is only in response to needing some Mommy/Daddy attention.

Then it's off with some friends to take the kids to gynmastics, which really is like taking them to psycho ward ... padded walls for them to go nuts on, scream, kick, and bounce insanely around. Seems a little demonic. But to those who have kids under the age of 5 you know exactly when I mean when I say that it sounds heavenly. Better the padded castle/room/pit than my tiny-walled house.

I think we'll all sleep well tomorrow. I'll have pics from our special day tomorrow.

Why my mirrors are dirty ...

2009-02-11T13:36:00.000-08:00

This is the reason I don’t wash my mirrors …. Just kidding. I do. But I can’t hardly stand to wash away such baby handprints. Someday I’ll look up at my mirror, my clean mirror, and wish I had those baby handprints back so I’m allowing it to be dirty a bit longer!

I think our toilet paper addiction has continued to new lengths. Wonderful little progression …

And doesn’t this just scream Linus from Charlie Brown? Isn’t it Linus who plays the piano? That mini-grand piano? Well, Linus minus the clothes.

And lastly we decided that our little family of four needed a vacation so we have booked a Beach Cottage on the Oregon Coast to enjoy 4 days on the beach! We’re even taking our dog, Bailey. After the week Nate had last week (big conglomo politics .. need I say more?) and the fact that I've decided to do another massive fund-raising Garage Sale for Maysen's Christian School. I tried to find the link from where I talked about it last year but I must not have explained or announced it via blog last year. I am planning to do things different this year, including a two-day Garage Sale. Last year we did it all in one day and came close to $2000 and we still had a ton of stuff left. With the US Economy in the dumps, I think people need it more than ever these days ... so it feels good to be dedicated to giving back. So, in light of everything from last week, and what we're facing over the next few months with being busy with that, we need to get away from the hussle-bussle -- we’re going to go and veg, cozy-up (as Maysen would say), and just relax some Scovil time. You can see where we’ll be staying here.

2009-02-08T22:32:00.000-08:00

My favorite things:

1) Feeling of jumping into bed with new/clean sheets

2) Smell of crock-pot chili on a cold/rainy day

3) tick-toc of an antique clock in the otherwise-silent room

4) Listening to the rain/wind from my warm bed

5) Hearing Nate come home at 5:00

6) putting away groceries (I know .. shush)

7) Freshly popped popcorn

8) Baby snores

9) Unexpectedly turing on a TV show from your childhood

10) Watching Maysen sing in the shower/school programs

11) .. Via mom ... Watching snow fall on Christmas Day 2008. Considering we never get snow, let alone 3 constant hours of huge-white-flakes on CHRISTMAS DAY was very magical.

My Cooker

2009-02-02T11:41:00.000-08:00

Isn't this a beautiful Amaryllis? I got 2 bulbs for Christmas and got them planted in planters shortly after and they bloomed last week. Very beautiful!

Maysen decided to be a little baker today. He has always loved getting out the bowls, plastic spoons, but today it took a new mold. He wanted the pot holders out, the apron on as he was going to cook lunch for everyone.

He's making "candy" (aka: Griffin's spoons).

Such precise measures ... check that tongue out!

Ahhhh .... delicious! The timer has gone off and the food is done. He finishes this off with, "Careful, it's really hot!" What a good husband this little man will be some day!

So many people have asked how I'm losing my weight so I thought I'd share. It's slowing down (to my dismay). I started on 1/1/09 walking 5x per week in the evening when Nate gets home. I walk about 1.5 miles those days and on weekends when Nate is home we walk longer (ie: did a 4mi walk this weekend). I had lost about 13lbs doing this within 3 weeks. I joined Weight Watchers Online 1/23 and have lost 5lbs more. It's slow but sure -- I have to remember it's taken me years to put on, it's going to take a while to get off. So that's that :-) If you want more info on it ... just email me.

Until then ... I have to make my little Baker Man lunch. Or did he already make it? He probably didn't fill up too much on the candy spoons ...

NO TRESPASSING!

2009-01-28T23:19:00.000-08:00

As noted in my previous post, Maysen "won" back his train table. This has brought mixed curiosity on the part of Maysen's arch enemy, Griffin, who (in Maysen's eyes) is only out to destroy him and his trusty train table. "I'll solve that!" he thought and up went his solution, on the door. A sign, written in Hebrew, stating "GRIFFIN STAY OUT!". You can see how well Fin obeys signs. Perhaps he couldn't read the language....

Yes, our son is a pirate. It wasn't until Maysen brought it to my attention that Griffin, in fact, had no feet any longer. Ahhh, he must be a pirate walking on peg legs. These certain pants have elastic along the bottom and slide over his heels and cover his whole foot. Cracks me up when he comes blazin' around the corner, no feet visible.

sidenote: You'll notice along the side that I have included a little "losing leslie" tracker. For the last 30 days, I have been on a road to losing my extra butt, neck, thighs, arms that I have had around WAYYYYY TOO LONG! It's been exciting so far but I keep this on here to remind me, keep me motivated, and accountable. Wish me luck!!