Harper Life

Christmas Finally

2012-01-27T12:20:00.000-08:00

Christmas was exciting this year. I couldn't wait for V to see his presents from Santa. Which he almost didn't get, because he unwrapped all the presents under the tree! But he was so happy to see a big boy bike under the tree christmas morning. Until he looked in his stocking and found a little transformer. After that the bike was second best. After church we went over to my parents house and the kids opened their presents from Grandma, Grandpa, and his aunts (who spoil them ruthlessly.) Then we headed out to Nama and Papa's house to have dinner not that I can remember what we had. But it is important because it is one of those meats they serve at restraurants like prime rib. But it wasn't that. Then we opened presents and there was more spoiling of the kids.

E- got her new wardrobe for her next size in growth. Love it. The only things I will have to get her as she grows is pjs. I will post a pic of her clothes laid out on one half of the couch and V's on the other half. She also got a porceline doll from Grandma and Grandpa

V- got books and a quiet activity book, cowboy boots from John Deere, an John Deere lunch box, a motorcycle, a gun that lights up and has a removable silencer on it, lots of pjs, a Mater face shirt, a Mater sweatshirt, and a puzzle.

M- Got a 5 drawer tool box to put most of his tools in, because it isn't big enough for all of them. Movies and a bullet kit of some sort. Just shows you how little I know about guns.

As for me- M surprised me with a silver bracelet in my stocking. I was so surprised. I also got a rice cooker, dishes, pjs, a leather hair clip that Nama made, and a new wallet.

Time and Update

2011-10-30T23:03:00.000-07:00

You know what I find missing with 2 kids? TIME I am usually being pulled in two directions for every moment they are awake. It is a juggling act. This is where going to mom and dad's everyday is nice. I get help. Of course this is going to change when we move into our own place BEFORE THANKSGIVING. That is my goal. Then we can get a routine down. Things will go back to normal after 6 months of living out of temporary things. I miss my stuff.

So I will tell you now that pictures aren't going to happen until we get into our own place. I have them stored up from when we moved. So there is a lot of them.

Speaking of our own place- we got a new roof and are going to replace a ceiling that was damaged in one room. Then painting, a pellet stove and maybe new carpet. Unsure on that last part. The nicest part of all of this? We aren't paying for any of it. We are only renting. Oh sure it is on a dairy and there will be cows, but this will be fun. The hardest part will be to keep V from going over to the pens by himself and keeping him away from the irrigation ditch that is on the edge of the yard.

E is 4 1/2 months old. Accomplishments?
rolling over
grabbing at things and trying to put it in her mouth
the noises she makes- very vocal
She is very alert and watches everthing around her

Things that make her laugh?
V everything he does is hilarious
the animals
getting tickled
and anything else that strikes her when she is content

And V?
Well he is getting so much bigger. And says some funny things.
He copies everthing you say and I love it when he gets mad and says he doesn't want it ever.
Then there was tonight during his night time prayers he was praying and told Heavenly Father that there was cat crap in the bedroom only he calls it crack. I had to hurry and finish the prayer cause I was laughing so hard.

V was a ninja for Halloween (he wanted to be scooby doo but I got the ninja costume for $1)
E was the cutest little kitty.

Like I said pics to follow.
And now that it is 11 at night I am going to go snuggle with M and fall asleep until about 4 for E's night time feeding.

Oregon State Fair

2011-09-07T11:33:00.000-07:00

We just spent one week at the O.S.F. and we had a blast. I know I won't remember everything on here so here is a break down:

Visited:
Reptile exhibit
4H pavilion (played in the corn kernals with trucks and tractors)
the animal races
the cows
the tractors
Chinese Acrobats

Ate:
brick french fries
blt melt
elephant ear
sausage
fresh squeezed orange juice from oranges ripedend on the tree
and lots of Oregon Dairy women Ice cream
roasted nuts
a scone
peach raspberry pie

Bought:
a remote controlled helicopter (for Christmas)
a poncho/surape for Vernon when it got chilly
a sweater from Peru for Elani
M got me a nice bracelet
a puppet

spent a lot of time:
working the draft horse show.
Hitching
Riding
Unhitching
feeding
coraling children
feeding baby's

Didn't spend a lot of time sleeping.

Witnessed a runaway on the junior cart class. The girl was thrown from the cart when it caught a rail guard, was run over on her arm and cut her leg needing almost 40 stitches. V, E, and I where close to it. I had to pick V up and get him out of the way or he would have been hit. But it was not a close call. I saw that horse comeing from 24 feet away and moved FAST! He was scared and crying and people asked if he was ok. He was.

V now has a nickname. Poncho. Feel free to call him that. We do.

One Week

2011-09-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

I know there is a lot of time between June and August but with a new baby the blog falls to the wayside. But here I am again ready to fill you in on the Harper life. We had one interesting week (and a tuesday) in August.

To start it was a Wednesday and the day went great. Then late afternoon happened. I was alone at the house with the kids trying to get caught up on laundry for our trip to Oregon. I was feeding E and V slipped out the door. Now he is usually really good at staying by the house. And he never leaves the property. Until this day. Could not find him anywhere. He had gone down the road to a neighbors house (he had only been there twice and both times where in a car) walking the back way. The only foot prints we found where by the great big irrigation canal. Well my poor mother's heart and brain immediately went to "he fell in and has drowned" so I start praying please just let us find him alive. He was gone for 40 minutes before we found he had been over there the whole time. Needless to say it was stressfull. But we where happy he was alive and unharmed.

Thursday was a special day. My sister was graduating and getting her nursing pin. We went up to Reno early to do some shopping. First we hit Scheels and then we were going to go to Target, a bookstore, get my ring sized and sautered together, and then finish up with Cabela's well when we left Scheels to head over to Target our car quite on us. Would not turn over. It had gas and the check engine light had not been coming on. So it is the fuel pump. Dad was a Scheels too and he came and helped us. I sat with the kids in the truck and we decided to get a tow dolly and bring it home. We called around and reserved one from the Uhal. We made it to the pinning just before it started. But the rest of the day was wonderful.

Friday was V's 3rd Birthday the 19th. It was a success. He had a dirt birthday cake with trucks on it. Grandma had ordered 2 yards of cement sand to play and dig in. Friends came over had so much fun.

Saturday was not so great. At M and grandpa's lunch break we took down the shade from the party the day before. V was pushing a dump truck around on the grass and went to go on the cement. The truck got stuck at the cement and V went flying over the truck smacking his face on the edge of the cement. It cut his chin open good and shoved his tooth into his gums. So to the emergency room we went. It took 4 stitches. We also had a dentist look at it. His permanant tooth is starting to bud and it was uninjured. Thank goodness. The tooth itself is not loose and will come down and fall out normal. Oh double thank goodness. But for the stitches and being in the ER V was amazing. He held still really well and only cried a little for the numbing. It broke my heart because all I could do was stroke his hair and talk to him.

The rest of the weekend was fine. M and the dairy had been haying all this time and it was the last load of the day. M was going to dump it and go home. Well he was slowing down to make the turn into the pit off of the road when the truck grabbed to the left so he tried to get it out of gear and slow down more when it grabbed harder. He smacked into a power pole (and a garbage can hahaha) and came to a stop. Then the hay in back shifted and some dumped out over the cab causing M to slide out of his seat. He was uninjured! But the the truck was a wreck. So the sheriff comes out and because it is a highway a state officer comes out. They pull the truck off of the road because it was still blocking one side of traffic. There was no ticket given. Yay! The scary thing is V had been riding in the trucks all day and on that last load grampa tried to get him to go with M but he wanted to go with great grampa instead. He would have been hurt if he been in the truck with M.

I don't want another week like that.

Elani Diane Harper

2011-07-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

Elani (pronounced like Melanie but without the M) Diane (named after my mom) was born at 2:58pm on June 14, 2011. I did not get to hold her or see her until almost 7 that evening. I also was put all the way under for the c-section because I could feel them cutting with pain. Turns out we just should have waited a few more minutes. By the time I got her she was starving. And latched on and ate for a good 10 minutes. I was so happy about that. She weighed 8 lbs 15 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. She has been such a good little baby.

We came home on that friday and sunday went over to my parents house for Fathers Day. It was nice. We also went over to my grandparents house and all the family got to meet her. My grandma had even bought a few cute outfits for her.

As far as recovery goes. I was feeling great by that sunday. And I keep forgetting to take it easy because I am still technically recovering. I feel it sometimes. For example I feel the need to cough sitting down. It is less painful.

V has been great in all of this. At first he was jelous. He didn't like that E was ALWAYS on mommy's lap. But he is very interested in the baby. The first thing he told her was "no baby these Dernon toys." hahaha. He cracks me up.

Fabulous 28

2011-04-29T07:17:00.000-07:00

Yup that time of the year has come again. My birthday. And I am 28 this year. It was a nice birthday. I had to do something distasteful-renew my drivers license. Oh well. I also got to go the chyropractor and get my back adjusted for the weight of the baby. Boy does it feel nice.

I got a Cold Stone Creamery cake and boy is it good. It tastes like oreo in cake and ice cream form.

We also went to the Shrine Circus. Oh it was a great experience. V loved the tigers and elephants. He hardly blinked the whole first half. There where camels and horses and men who balance swords on their mouths. Oh wow. There was also a bear.

However after the intermission he lost interest. Until the elephants did tricks. Then for the finale was the motorcycles in the cage. He was scared. Snuggled up real close but he couldn't take his eyes off the cage. They fit 4 motorcyles in that cage. WHOLEY COW was it intense.

I also had lots of people on facebook wish me a happy birthday. I am truely blessed in my life.

Easter

2011-04-29T07:02:00.000-07:00

I made things simple this easter. We didn't dye eggs, but I have boiled eggs to do deviled eggs, which I still haven't made. I got candy to fill the plastic eggs V was going to hunt.

Saturday I had to work and it was tiring. I stayed later to help out. We had three cashiers helping guests until 10 and there was a line at each register. When I got home I had to fill the eggs and M hid them. I also had to prepare for nursery the next day. We were splitting them again.

Unfortunately V had (and still does) a cold so he didn't go to church.

I had gotten ham steaks so we had easy fried ham, instant potatoes, and rhodes rolls.

Yup I took things easy. We got to skype family in fallon, so that was nice.

Oh when V hunted eggs, we had to point them out, but he was quick to grab them, open them, and then dump the candy out into a candy bowl. Then he had to put the empty eggs on the couch. Once again I got pictures but am unable to load them.

BABY SHOWER

2011-04-29T06:45:00.000-07:00

I've been putting this off hoping I could post some pics but that isn't happening, so here goes. There are always women in my ward who are pregnant. Right now there are 4 of us due within weeks of each other. One woman and I are due within days of eachother. One is having a boy and two are having girls. I will be the tie breaker or evener. Anyway we had a triple baby shower to make it easier on those wanting to throw one for us. We had diaper cakes which turned out so cute! Love them. One lady in the ward made two cakes and they were so delicious. We had a nice turn out, and people volunteered to make food for the brunch. Muffins, keish, fruit and juice.

We played a quick game of guess the size of everyone's belly. I thought that was pretty funny.

It was a pretty busy day. There was a ward temple trip that afternoon and our hostess was incharge of the nursery for it. So she didn't even get to stay for the whole thing. All three of us who participated in the shower opened our gifts together. We got homemade bath towels with hoods, homemade nursing covers and two women wrapped their washclothes and onsies to make what looked like cupcakes. There are many talented women in my ward!

A sad thing happened during the shower. The fourth woman who is pregnant, she chose to help with the shower, her husband got in an accident.

He was driving a few youth to a stake activity, including my visiting teacher's son when they were hit by a tanker in oil country. The car was totaled and the boy was taken to the hospital. Thankfully nothing serious was wrong and he was able to go home the same day.

Me and one of the other pregnant women stayed and helped calm the mother's nerves. So the shower was at 9 and I got home after noon. It was a long morning. When I got home V kept trying to eat my diaper cake and he wanted one of the "cupcakes." I immediately wrote thank you notes and sorted the gifts so they take up less room until I have a place to put them.

Speaking of wich I keep trying to prepare for the baby and I keep running into snags. I need a dresser to put the baby clothes and blankets in. And I need to clean our room so I know where to put the bassinet in our limited amount of space bedroom. At least I have been organizing all the baby clothes so they are easier to find!

April

2011-04-04T08:19:00.000-07:00

I am on a roll! One blog a month. Hopefully that won't be the case this month. There is just too much happening. The dr. wants to see me every three weeks. So I get to go on my mom's birthday (the 12th)! Easter is on my parents wedding anniversary. Happy 29 years together! My birthday is this month!!!! Not sure how I feel about turning 28. Nope don't know. We got snow yesterday. Not fun. Although it wasn't a lot and it didn't stick for long it does make 7 consecutive months of snow. And I DO NOT want to see snow come again this october!!!!!!! That would mean only 5 months out of the year without snow. No wonder we want to get out of Minot for a while, or permanantly if the job opportunities were there!!!! Speaking of wich M's job is still slowed down. They get off every friday at lunch and go in ever day an hour later. But he just passed his builder 3 level so that was a raise!!!! I will be 30 weeks on friday. Unbeleiveable! And because I am in my 3rd tri-mester I have become an emotional roller coaster. Poor M he never knows if something he says will set me off. Some times I cry for no reason what so ever. And then there was yesterday. V managed to pull my hair on accident, well his fingers got caught in a curl, and I started to cry. I couldn't stop crying for about 5 minutes I just cried, and the pain had subsided. Well through the crying I was talking to M and told him that I didn't know why I was still crying and that I hated being me. M likes to make me laugh to get me to stop crying (which is one of the things I love about him) so I started to laugh cause it worked, but I was STILL crying AT THE SAME TIME. I was really creeping M out. It was a wierd 15 minutes. I wasn't emotional in this manner with the first pregnancy so it is another reason I think we are having a girl. We set a date for the c-section. It will be June 14th. I feel that it is weird to know the day your baby will be born. A part of me wants to try to experience labor again. Maybe some contractions this time. Or at least not have my water break so early in the game. V just keeps getting funnier and funnier. He will come and sit behind you and pull you back so you squish him. Then if you try to get up he chokes you back to him. He doesn't like to ride in the shopping cart anymore, so I get a little boy walking near me at the grocery store who doesn't watch where he is going or walking in front of. If we go to the produce section he tries to help put things in the cart. I have to keep an eye on him or he will take bites out of tomatoes, apples, avacodos, or anything else he picks up. I had to buy some grapes because he reached in the bag and took one. But we are working on what we do or don't do at the store. He has some friends from church, they are brothers, he calls one by his first name, Caleb, and the other by thier last name, Meade. So you here things like "Bye Meade" or "come here Meade" We went to a play group at the church where you could ride on toys in the gym. V takes his tricycle with a basket on back. I look over at him, and he has little Caleb sitting on the bucket so they can ride together. It was one of the cutest things I had ever seen. Happy April to you all!

Funny little man

2011-03-01T12:56:00.001-08:00

V has had M and me cracking up with laughter for the last few days. Here is what I can remember!

M was laying on the floor and V had him sit up where he proceeded to "rock-a-baby" daddy. Singing and rocking him at the same time. Too cute!

V likes "mu-ick" and "rock-a-roll" is his favorite he dances to The LITTLES theme song. Well yesterday he got really excited about watching the littles and threw his hands in the air and yelled "all right rockaroll" While moving his hips side to side with his legs spread out.

He can say superman but it comes out "supernaman"

But on the other hand he also is a definate 2 year old with ownership and power struggles. Wich result in me getting frustrated to the point of tears with him. For example one morning he wanted milk and juice but not in two seperate cups. And it took about 20 minutes to figure it out. Then suddenly he just stops throwing his fit and goes off like it was nothing. grrrr.

In other news I have a pregnancy photo on the camera and a date set for the ultra sound. June 14! Baby is growing and doing great. The ultra sound determined that the baby is farther along, due June 8th, but they aren't going to change it from the 17.

Ultrasound

2011-02-07T08:21:00.000-08:00

We fell in love immediately.

This was the best face shot

Baby was being un co-operative for the most part. But we managed to wake peanut up and all he/she did was kick me. You can see a hand right above the face. Then the curve of the leg upwards. Yep thats where the kicking came from.

We let V come with us. He was pretty interested in the two screens. And then he got bored, managed to get his finger stuck, and crawl under the bed.

It was a special treat for M, he hadn't been to any appointments up until now and so he never heard the heart beat. He only saw the first sonogram picture when I was first pregnant. Needless to say we can't wait to meet this sweet little boy or girl.

So V is definately a little two year old. Last night he got a hold of some markers and managed to draw a picture on our kitchen floor and wall. OOhhh I was soo mad. But it comes off easily with some 409 and a scrubber. He has really started talking now. He says three or four word sentences.

We are starting to get cabin fever and would like to get out of the house more. But there isn't really anywere to go in the cold. I still want to go ice skating at least once.

I have started to get a mild case of nesting. I realized that I am on the down hill side of this pregnancy and well there is so much to do. I did manage to get all my maternity clothes out though. And I realized that a lot of it won't fit for much longer. Which means I get to buy stuff a little at a time!!

I need a new diaper bag and I found one. I just need to find it again and show M. He isn't big on girly diaper bags. Oh he doesn't mind holding my purse if I am needing both arms, but to hold a pink floral diaper bag is where he draws the line. Wich is fine with me, the one I found is grey AND best of all it has a place to hook your keys and hold your wallet, plus plenty of side pockets. Now where did I see that at? the JCPenny's website???

North Dakota Winter

2011-01-29T20:36:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness for work and my ob appointments. Otherwise I would NEVER leave our cave we call a house. (Except for church). That isn't true! Every monday or so I get to try and navigate the icy roads to deposit checks into our Credit Union.

Oooh the weather turned right balmy here for a few days. It was so nice to see the snow melting. And only need a light jacket. Not for V of course. He was still bundled up. But he did enjoy the snow free ground and playing in the mud.

Because of the warm weather Adolf has been missing since Friday. He couldn't decide if he wanted in or out. So he finally stayed out and he hasn't come back yet. We are worried. We miss that annoying wierd cat.

M was able to dig out his Jetta so we can finally tow it over to his work where they are going to let him work on it after work on fridays. They get out at noon because the work has slowed down. That will be nice to finally have two cars again. I feel bad that I don't V to the ward play groups at 10 a.m. when they are happening. But we usually don't wake up and get out of bed until 9:30 because I am a pregnant woman who loves her sleep!!!! So it might not happen even if I had the car again.

V got a toy gun so he would stop dragging M's guns out of the closet. He loves to help Daddy "play" Call of Duty. He points at the screen and shoots his gun. It makes fake shooting noise and lights up. He says "hold fire" and then shoots. He also says "match" and "points." I think it is funny when we get up in the morning and wants me to play so he can "play." I don't play. I am a horrible shot. Sometimes M can get me to help him shoot Zombies, but my heart starts racing and I worry all night that a zombie is going to get me. If I close my eyes I can see them. Of course it is because during the game I am afraid they won't stay down after being shot.

I know, I know its just a game... but still it is freaky scary.

We are going to have the ultrasound next week so we are way excited about that. Half way through. I should get out my maternity stuff. And find some maternity skirts that I like.

When we put V to bed he has to be sung to. The song? "rock a baby" so we sing. And then he thinks the doll, his motorcycle, the helicopter, and the snake all need to be sung to too along with hugs. We have nipped that in the bud.

He has also started to take showers. He thinks it is rain. He still doesn't like getting his hair washed and rinsed and I don't know what to do to help him get over it. I think he doesn't like the water getting in his eyes.

PREGNANCY

2011-01-06T09:04:00.000-08:00

So I mentioned that we are expecting a baby. And we are. I don't want to make a big deal about the pregnancy itself, but I do want to mention a few things. I will 17 weeks tomorrow. I have started to feel Peanut move around some. The first week of February will be the ultrasound. The morning sickness didn't last too long. It was even mostly over before the end of the first tri-mester. I really like the doctor I have up here. He answers all my questions before I can ask them. On the last two visits we have been able to hear the heart beat. I was so pleased with that. No worries with this one. As we get closer to June 11 we will schedule a c-section.

By then we will also be making definate travel plans to go on vaction to Nevada and Oregon!!!!!! I can't wait. Seriously it has been too long since we have been home. And Nevada truely is home. It is like the state song says:
"Home means Nevada, Home means the Hills,
Home means the sage and the pine!"

V doesn't really know what it all means, but if you ask him he says he is going to be a brother and he wants a sister. But he also just repeats the last word you say. Because I always ask him if he is going to be a big brother he says brother. Then I follow up with- Do you want a baby brother or sister? And so he says tister! He really is so cute.

Oh we cute all his curls off. Super short hair (for him) I will post pictures when I remember to charge my camera.

December

2011-01-03T08:41:00.001-08:00

V all month long wanted to listen to the little drummer boy. He calls it pum pum. He also tries to sing along with it. Put up the tree on Dec. 2. V was trying to be helpful, but when it came time to the lights he wasn't so much. Next year I think I will put the tree together and do the lights when he is asleep so when he wakes up we can decorate it and I won't have to worry about the lights.

My mom sent some cute ornaments including a fragile looking fairy and a sock monkey that is just so cute. M's mom sent us a string of lights that we hung around one window. Along with some bead strings, a santa, and Its A Wonderful Life.

All month long we watched christmas movies. Miracle on 34th Street, Its A Wonderful Life, Jim Carrey's A Christmas Carol. That last one was really good. It put new meaning into what I had read in Jr. High.

I wasn't overly ambitious this year. I made a pumpkin roll and caramel popcorn.

We went to M's work Christmas party. It was pretty fun. The food could have been better, but was still good. Everyone got presents. You went up and picked a bag. You could either open it or trade it for a gift someone else got. We ended up with a big supply of Shampoo and Conditioner. All the better presents were toward the end and Mike was called early on. He was also voted Mr. Quiet at work. Not surprised there.

I also spent most of the month agonizing over the best way to break it to our parents that we are expecting a baby in June. We finally decided that they needed to play "The Peanut Game" I made clues for them:
Clue 1: June 17, 2011
Clue 2: My current name is peanut.
Clue 3: I am number two. (This one may be a little hard)
Clue 4: Brother or sister?
Clue 5: The ultra sound picture. With the word "suprize" on it.

They also had a few rules to follow. The clues had to be read out loud. You couldn't look ahead, and everyone had to figure out what each clue was to figure out who peanut was.

Well then I got worried that they wouldn't get there on time. But they did.

V was always talking about the "trismas tree" wich we both thought was so cute.

Our ward had a Christmas breakfast, with breakfast bake and cinnimon rolls. Then Santa came. V was so excited when he walked in the room. Even though I know he didn't have a clue. He was even brave enough to get up close to him and say hi. This santa didn't let any of the kids sit on his lap though. So that was dissapointing. We even stayed and helped clean up because we didn't take anything with us.

Thanksgiving

2011-01-03T08:34:00.000-08:00

Yup I have been really bad and haven't posted anything lately. So that said here we go...

I find a kind of joy in knowing that ALL of the thanksgiving food is my responsibility. So when the rolls are the best I've ever made I am a little proud of my work. I cooked a small turkey and it was delicious. Nice and moist.

Our ward dropped off a thanksgiving dinner again, which I wish I had known they were going to do that because we had two turkeys and LOTS of boxes of stuffing. They had a frozen pumpkin pie in there, and I have to admit it was really spicey. I didn't like it that much.

I also made a strawberry reubarb pie and while I royally messed up the crust it still tasted good.

It was a quiet Thanksgiving. And I didn't have to work. Thank goodness. And best of all we have lots to be thankful for.

Week before Thanksgiving.

2010-11-20T09:30:00.000-08:00

I feel unprepared for it. Dishes are waiting, food needs to be cooked in advance. I work a lot. I have decided to make a table runner out of some bright fall colored fabric. Haven't even started it yet. And yet I am terribly excited about Thanksgiving. Once again our ward gave us a box of Thanksgiving food. Including a large turkey, a frozen pumpkin pie, dressing, and other goodies. The only problem is I had already bought a small turkey breast because it is going to be just the three of us this year.

I also have plans to make a strawberry rhubarb pie. Yummy! And homemade rolls.

I just need to buckle down and do it all. This weekend is out though. It is dedicated to eradicating the dishes. And hopefully clearing off the table. That will create the work space to make the table runner. I only have tuesday and thursday off. So I will be busy. BUSY I say!

V has been watching this cute little show called Shaun the Sheep. We all like it. But there are only 14 episodes. So we watch them over and over and over again.

The weather has turned cold. Down in the low low numbers. It has snowed off and on for the last two weeks. In fact this morning it is snowing. It sounds like it isn't going to let up until tomorrow. I have to drive at night in it because of work. It scares me because I am not the best weather driver.
If you look at the side of my blog I have a weather thing and it should tell you what temp we are currently at and what the weather is doing. So feel free to feel sorry for us. But we are staying warm.

In other news things I am thankful for this season: a loving wonderful Heavenly Father for all the blessing he has seen fit to give this family. My amazing loving husband who treats me like a treasured woman. V who is so special and sweet. And all our family far away whom we think about all the time.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

A whole Month

2010-10-29T08:02:00.001-07:00

I can't believe that October is already almost gone. Where does all that time go? I was sitting here thinking that nothing has been happening. When actually we have been busy. I have been working and M and V have been spending a lot of nights together!

At the beginning of this week we got a blizzard. With a couple of inches of snow. Ever since then V has been aching to go out in the "now." I am not looking forward to this winter season.

We managed to get a flat tire and then I drove on it. Ruining it. So we are currently driving around on the donut. So need to get a new tire. But we will.

While at the store yesterday V got a pumpkin or as he calls it a Punkin. Too cute. And then we brought it home he snaped off the handle. But we glued it back on. So tonight we will be carving a punkin. He can even sort of say trick-or-treat.

V has managed to get a cold. I don't think his glands are swollen but he has a wicked cough and runny nose. But that doesn't slow him down at all.

M and I have been busy winterizing the house. We have really bad windows that leak air. Cold air. Into the house. So we taped up the windows and the house is nice and warm now. We don't even need extra blankets on the bed!

V learned something new

2010-10-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

V learned to get in bead all by himself. Too funny cause then he decides that he needs to lead the music from conference in the living room.

Halloween

2010-10-07T12:26:00.000-07:00

V got a monkey costume from Old Navy and he loves it. Plus I think he looks super cute in it.

A Quicky

2010-10-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

I am loving V today!!!!! I am so pleased with the the things he his picking up. During this past conference he actually sat through most of the Sunday morning session. And when it was time for the opening prayer he sat there with his arms folded and head bowed for most of it. And it was a long prayer for a two year old.

The other thing is his manners. Sometimes we have to remind him that when he wants something he has to say please. But the best is when we don't remind him and he comes along and grabs your hand and says: I want, mease!!! Too cute.

My last love about this little cutie for this post is his facial expression. And I won't be able to describe it because you really have to see it. But he furrows his eyebrows as far as they go and pucks out his lips with an expression on his face that clearly reads: What the heck is this wierdness.

I love every moment with this exasperating, independent, loving, smart, messy, talkative little cutie.

Yep I am utterly in love.

Interesting Night

2010-09-30T07:32:00.001-07:00

You learn something new every day. And last night at work was no exception. The Norsk Hostfest is in town, wich means there are people from all over the world. I thought just the US and Canada were here. But as I was on the express lane last night I had Canadians and Norweigans. You could tell because they had an accent and they didn't really understand American money. If they had a card they needed help understanding how to use it. One person told me they don't have this kind of thing over in Norway.

I had a wonderful old couple come through. And they were delightful. She didn't want the box for her shoes but I was having a little difficulty understanding her. But we were able to laugh.

Then later I had two older gentlemen come through with a huge suitcase. Had to do a price adjustment and when it was done they wanted to know why if the advertised price was $60 what the extra $4 and some odd cents was. But when I told them taxes they seemed to understand. Then they asked if it was ok to leave the store with it. I told them that yep they could go and go to sleep. They laughed and said they just got here so they where way jet lagged. I'm thinking the huge time difference. It was probably the middle of the day for them.

I had a conversation with a man from Canada about Linny's and Looneys? Any way he said he didn't understand the american paper money. So that got me to thinking: How difficult is the big huge numbers printed on it. I mean I thought math was the same all over the world. Oh well.

Thought I would share my fun night. And we will see what tonight brings because I get to do it all over again. Although I think I will be in the food area.

Starting Fall

2010-09-27T07:40:00.000-07:00

The first day of Fall was last week. And with the start of the a new season brought cold, rainy weather. V caught a stuffed up nose and cough. He then decided I needed it. That would have been all fine and dandy except that I started orientation at Target the same day. And the next day when I was training on the registers my nose decided to run. Well by Saturday my throat was sore and my voice was hoarse. But you know that's ok. I work about 25 hours a week.

I will be cashiering and working in food avenue. I already spent two days there and I really enjoy it.

M is loving his hours and the work. He gets paid every monday and that works out great. So we will constantly have cash flow.

OOOOHHH oh oh I need to let you all know that if you get a Target Debit card, it is connected directly to your checking account you will recieve 5% off your purchases!!!!!

Ok now, last but definately the best part, V got a hair cut. He looks so grown up. He has been acting it too.

Last night when I came home from work he was being silly. Throwing the cat toy and then hopping after it. Saturday he was running back and forth down the hall. When M asked where he was going he pointed down the hall and had a look on his face that clearly said "DUH" is he a teenager already?

Happy Fall!!!!

New things

2010-09-14T08:11:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how fast things can change. Last week M and I were starting to feel hopeless. Maybe he would never be able to find a job. So I started applying. And by that I mean that I filled out 3 applications on friday. Then we went to church sunday. The nursery was roudy. All the 2 and under kids where wild! But thats not the story. The 1st councilor in the bishopric asked M to come see him Monday if he was still interested in the job with the roof and floor truss manufacturing company that this councilor just happened to be a mananger of. So he goes. And he comes back. And then he tells me that he has to be there the next day (today) at 7 in the morning!!!!!!!!!

It starts at $11 an hour. He will get weekends off, paid vacation after 30 days, paid holidays and he will work 9 hours a day!

OH how exciting. Well it doesn't end there!!!!!

Remember those applications that I filled out? Well I got a call yesterday from Target asking me to come in and do some interviews. Here we might run into a little snag. I told them I was seeking full time hours, but with M having a job now it is going to have to be part time in the evenings and open on saturdays. But if they work with me I will get to help bring in more money to meet our needs.

Thank you to all who have been praying for us. Prayers really are answered. I feel that this is the start of all our dreams being met. And we may just see all you Fallon dwellers this summer!!!!! Cause he has paid vacation!!!!!!!!!!!

September

2010-09-09T09:08:00.000-07:00

You know how sometimes you do something then look back and realize that it was really stupid and you feel like a fool? Well that happened to me yesterday. I was paying our bills in cash. Had to go to the office building of our gas company. There was no way in the building. One door was locked and the other said ring bell for deliveries. There was a very nice man sitting in a company truck. So he let me in. All the way through their maze of offices to the back where a nice lady let me pay. When it was all over she told me there were a few places around town where I could do my payments in cash. How silly I felt. And my question is why couldn't they have told me this before I even started. Oh how I felt like a fool.

Yesterday V took to wearing my shoes around the house. A black slipper with a bow on it, and a brown heel with a bow on it. So when he was walking toward you you heard shlip, clunk, shlip, clunk, shlip, clunk. Then he traded the black slipper for the other brown heel. And he wanted to go for a walk in them. I told him he couldn't wear mommy's shoes outside. So I had to wear the brown heels and he went and put on my.......

TENNIS SHOES!!!!!!!

So we went on a walk like that.

Every day V likes to sit at the computer and watch TONS and TONS of videos about tractors. Sometimes it changes and there will have to be videos of "Mycles" or "Tomas" trains. He is very much still a farm boy at heart.

The weather has started to cool off. The leaves are turning yellow. I love the crispness in the air. The only thing I am not looking forward to is the blanket of leaves that will fall in our yard. Four trees and two lilac bushes. We can't burn them either. It is too close to our neighbors and well we are in city limits. But it would be a whole lot easier to do that than to rake them up, put them in bags and then take them to the compost area. Last year we had 10 HUGE bags of leaves.

It has also been raining. A LOT. But V has some nice rain boots and he loves to walk around in the puddles. And splash. He doesn't care that he is getting wet.

Unfortunately I think that Insomnia has set in for M. He didn't fall asleep last night till 5 in the morning. I hated this stage of unemployment last time. And I hope that it doesn't last this time. He did have a job interview last friday, but we haven't heard anything from them since then and absolutely nothing from any of the other places he applied.

Daily life

2010-08-30T14:33:00.000-07:00

Well some big news. M was fired last Monday. Needless to say the stress level in the house has shot up. But he is diligently working on getting a new job. The whole deal was shady but for personal reasons I'm not going to blab them all over the internet.

We are taking things as they come and doing things to keep us fed, bills payed and rent updated.

In other news V has said his first sentance: I need nack. Or I need a snack.
He also learned a new word. Helicopter. But he says it Hell-a-pop-per. He truely is what keeps us from going to crazy with no job.

V Turns 2

2010-08-30T14:05:00.000-07:00

V didn't have a birthday he had a birthweek. First came the card from Gramma Whitaker, a dollar from Gramma Harper and then a box from Bampa and mamaw Harper. I was so excited I could hardly wait till the next day for him to open it. So of course first thing in the morning I got the box out and cut the tape. He got Carhart coats, and osh-cosh overalls, rain boots, animals, and pjs. And then came the tractor and all future presents became unnecissary. We tried to put him down for a nap and he wanted his tractor. So there was no nap.

Then on Friday when M got paid he received his tricycle. And Oh boy was that fun. Almost didn't go to bed.

Saturday V had a birthday party in the park. Kids in nursery with came and they played on the toys. We had to move locations because where we were was reserved. But we had delicious sandwiches, potato salad, and watermelon.

I made a strawberry cake. And V saw it in the fridge, well he took a handful out of it. I couldn't fix it. I had used all the frosting. But it was well recieved by the kids. He also received presents from those invited.

A "mycle" motorcyle. Love that he chose that word to say.

Two CARS cars

An ambulance that makes noise and lights up

a bath time boat with animals that squirt water

A soccer ball

Paint brush, paints, and paper that takes markers as well.

But nothing was better than the motorcyle. It out ranked the tractor from grandma.

In the mail was a box from Aunt Jodie. There was Church pants, sox and shoes. And with the shirts M and I got for him he looks quite adorable at church now.

Then on this past Thursday came

ND State Fair

2010-07-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

Before I tell about our great day. Let me start by saying I'm a little worried that we haven't heard from Pumpco in a week now. M had a follow up interview last monday and in the week since: Nothing!!!! Hopefully this week.

That said: We walked over to the Fair. What a work out! We weren't sure that we would make it across the street. But we did.

The parade lasted just about 4 hours. We caught bits and pieces of it. Unfortunately a little girl fell off one of the floats and was run over. She went to the hospital but I don't think her injuries where really bad.

Some things we did!

-tour model homes
-see the horses, bunnies, cows, and sheep
-toured a home that is celebrating 100 years! We where in the house with the Govenor of ND!
-Watched the tigers and a baby cub only six weeks old.
-M took the Air National Guard challenge!
-Wandered around the 4-H and FFA exibits
-had mini donoughts and Smoothies, and a blooming onion
-Sat by some water at the fishing catch and release pond.
-Visited the Fur Trappers Rendezvous
-watch a riding competion
-had a giant rootbeer float

We were there all day!

Vernon was afraid of the tigers when they got up on thier hind legs. He got to pet one of the draft horses. He thought he knew his way around the old train station depot. Ran and jumped and played. And was all around a very well behaved little boy. He didn't take a nap and we didn't get home until 8 o'clock. When we walked home we realized that we were wiped out! A little sunburnt but very happy. We want to go again tomorrow to see the dog show, have some dairy wives ice cream, and talk to some more people.

I said it before and I'll say it again

2010-07-16T08:25:00.000-07:00

SUMMER IS BUSY! Now that that is out of the way a few updates! For the Fourth of July V and I went with friends to the Zoo. M had to work. She has three boys and they are all 3 and younger. She needed someone to help and I don't blame her. Plus V loves the animals. Birdies and Bears where his favorite. Plus at the little barn he really liked the sheep. He kept trying to go back to them!!!

Fireworks are being fazed out up here. But you can still currently buy them and set them off. So from Friday to Monday there was an exorbarant amount of them going off. Sunday all over town they were doing a "Party in the Park" thing. We didn't go, but it would have been nice if it had been on saturday!!!!

However we did have some of our own fireworks and we decided to set them off. V did not like it at all. He clung to me like his life depended on it. We figured if he didn't like them we wouldn't waste our time going to see the big fireworks about 3 to 8 miles away. M and I were dissapointed. But he is still little!

I had to have two more blood drawings. The first one was still at 5.4. I wasn't happy because they wanted one more after it. But this week it was down to 2.8!!!!! But it isn't over yet. We still have to wait at least 2 months. But it will be worth it.

M put in an application with Pumpco, an oil company up here, and 2 days later they wanted him to come in for an interview!!!! So this last Tuesday he went in, after going to work at 7 to put away tires and having the truck show up 2 hours late and almost being late, and was in the interview for 10 minutes. They told him they would process the interview. And that was it.
We didn't know if it went well or if he had blown it. Well yesterday late afternoon he gets a phone call asking if he could come in today and have a follow up interview. Unfortunately he has to work from 8 to 5 today. So Monday morning 9 am he gets to go for a follow up interview!!!!! We learned that it will either be a maintance job or working on equipment. But either way the guys are all working 50 to 60 hour weeks. We also don't know what kind of pay it is.

But if we get a good enough pay increase, we will be able to buy a house of descent look and bedrooms. There are plenty on the market up here. And we will be able to look at going on vacations! Because we will actually be able to afford them!!!!!!!!! I have a dream of finally going on a honeymoon!!!!!!!!!! If we do that we will be handing V off to all his family in Fallon! I know they would love that. So time will tell.

Dreams

2010-07-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

So I thought I would do something different on here. I usually post about what is going on or interesting stories. Well today I am going to tell you the story of an interesting (to me) dream.

M and I were married and going to college. V was not around. We ended up on campus listening to Gina Sorensen and her husband sing with a small group of friends. We were in hiding. Un-noticed by the performers. Until they spotted us and recognized us as family. So we were invited to go with them out to a store.

It turned out that the store was an ice cream parlor. As we were getting in line a girl down the line stole her ice cream and left. It was a big to-do. Well she came back. And suddenly we were in this car with no doors driving down the street talking about being careful because the girl that shop lifted had died in a car wreck.

And then girls were talking to M and all excited that they would get to be alone with him on a school trip. They thought he was so cute and fun. They acted like I didn't excist or wasn't important. Right in front of me a girl gave M her phone number. I looked at her with astonishment and pointed to the ring on my finger and told her that "it doesn't matter what you do I get to go to bed with him every night. I'm his WIFE!!!!!!"

What a wonderful dream! It showed me that I am so greatful to be his wife. I get to share his life. And no one else gets that privelage.

How lucky am I!!!!

Why is summer always busier?

2010-06-29T21:29:00.001-07:00

It seems that there are more things to do. So far V and I have baby sat 4 kids under age 8! That was exausting!

V got an ant bite on his leg. On the upper upper inside of the thigh. It has now bruised. And a rash has developed there and all over his little tushi.

M got a DOLLAR raise!!!!!!!!!!!

V tried to light the house on fire!!!!!!! Its fine. Just a slight burn mark on the floor.

We decided Adolf might have a new family. He dissapears. But it turns out he REALLY likes to prowl at night.

M's bycicle was stolen.

We had 6!!!!!! raccoons in our tree one night!!!!!

M thinks he knows why his car isn't starting! So that is a good thing.

We play outside every day. We visit the older couple neighbors and thier great grand daughter who thinks V is her boyfriend. Too cute!

My hormone levels are at 26 :c So I get to go do more blood work. And in the mean time I start bawling for no reason what so ever!

V likes to tell me "Topit!!!" Other words include
byebye any time he walks away from you.
Hi or rescently Hello
tonight it was Jell-O mmmmmm
bananum. so cute. And he can eat a whole banana by himself.
He cries if he doesn't get enough peas.
He no longer says ba ba it is now bottle.
He learned to call M's name from the other room. (Oops mommy)
He says jump, swing, slide, and bounce!

Every day this summer is an adventure! We die from the heat and hummitity and roll our eyes at the tornado warning! Except there was a ton of rain.

My talk on the Atonement went well and I am glad for the things I learned from it.
Including that we tend to believe in Christ but we don't trust or believe him that He will save us.

Next things comming up include another blood test and the Fourth of July!!!!

Something I never thought would happen.

2010-05-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

The pregnancy test read positive. I was a week late. M was super excited and we both called the little thing growing inside me "sweetpea." I started to bleed off and on here and there. I was told it was normal. I had searing pain in my right hip area. I got a doctors appointment. I was weighed, blood pressure taken, pap smear done, cervical check, and a vaginal ultrasound. The doctor wanted to see me in two weeks. I got blood work done.

I started bleeding steadily and had cramping. I called the dr. My test results had come back. I had a Urinary Tract Infection. I went in for more blood work. My hormone level had dropped. I am miscarrying. I cried. And cried more.

I knew the whole time something was different. I didn't feel pregnant. Not like last time. I didn't want to lose my "sweetpea" I wanted a baby to hold in 9 months.

Then yesterday and today I passed some large tissue clots. I got angry. Why was I losing this child. It wasn't fair. My body betrayed me. The last one was so easy.

I didn't tell people right out. Some knew. Some suspected. I couldn't do it. I felt that something was going to happen. And it did.

But you know the Lord works in some pretty interesting ways. I have been asked to give a talk on the Atonement in Sacrament on Sunday.

I feel loved. Looked after. Alone. Scared. Grateful. Sad. Mad. Blessed. Hurt. All at the same time.

I find it Ironic that on monday after the appointment I told a friend that a part of me wishes to be able to start over from scratch on this one. I think that not really a prayer was answered. But ohhhh how cruel to have that hope of another baby. And to sit here and know it is happening and not be able to stop it or change it.

M said it best last night. Our poor Sweetpea.

I look at it as no big thing in the big picture because lots of women have it happen to them. So in that regards it is nothing.

But on a personal scale it is huge. I was not expecting such a trial in my life. In fact looking back there have been so few trials that I figured my whole life would continue on this seemingly smooth path. And while it really is just a little hill to climb I would rather stay on this side of it where I am still expecting a baby. I would rather not hurt and cry.

So I have joined the ranks of women who have had a miscarriage.

I want to take it back, but I also know that there are millions of reasons why it happened. And I am really ok with the knowledge that this was supposed to happen. But I am still allowed to grieve and sorrow for what could have been.

I had even started getting ready. I had pulled all my maternity clothes out. I was nesting. I was having pregnancy brain. I had started burning dinner. I didn't feel like cooking. But it was not ment to be.

So to our little Sweetpea I say. Your mommy and daddy where looking forward to you very much. We already loved you. And we will miss you.

RELAXING SATURDAY

2010-05-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

M had Saturday off. We went to Roosevelt Park. V ran in circles and M and I read the men in ND who received medals for bravery in combat. And then the train came by. OH how V's eyes lit up. We walked on. He met a little 3 year old girl. By the time they were done chasing each other and the train (half way around the park) she was calling him "my buddy!" We discovered a water slide and pool area. Which we will be enjoying this summer. And learned that we needed cash to ride the train. Oh well.

M tried to show V the giant bumble bee and we saw a goose by the tracks. We crossed the bridge over the river and watched the water. On the other side of the river we saw a family of geese. A mommy, a daddy, and about 7 or 8 babies. In the water two geese swam over to us because we were sitting on the bank. They came up the bank and got super close. We were right next to their path.

At the play ground there were lots of other kids, but V didn't mind. He is a big kid and can do what they do. A young girl asked M to help her. She kept saying "Excuse me young man can you help me?" We both thought it was a little silly. V hung off the monkey bars all by himself. The sun was hot and I was glad I had brought some nice cold water to drink.

It was such a nice saturday and I am so glad that M didn't have to work so we could all enjoy it.

When we came home I made a quick dinner, V took a bath and then when he went to bed he zonked right out. NOW that is what I call wonderful.

Mothers Day: Better Late Than Never

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

Mothers Day was such a nice day. Ok except for the rain. I got to talk to my two mothers. I had made a book using Shutterfly.com to send to them on mother's day full of pictures of V. They both enjoyed it very much.

At church V and I were the only ones to go because M's schedule has changed. But I enjoyed the talks that were given. The older girls in primary sang "I often go walking" which is my favorite mothers day song. It made me think of my own mom and how much I miss her. I can honestly say that I really don't think of all the wonderful things I do as a mother. I guess it is because I have just the one little boy. I know that I love him to pieces. Even when I get frustrated with him trying to help with the dishes. But he makes up for it with the random kisses and the constant want for someone to play with him or read him a story.

I am glad that we decided to have him. He has brought such joy into our lives and the happiness that he has in him so sweet.

Right now he likes to have pillow fights in the kitchen. He will bring you a pillow and then start whacking at you he bends down really low, gets this look of concentration on his face and then he swings his arm with all his might. So hard in fact that he usually falls down on the floor because of it.

I have gotten into the habit of fake crying when he is sad, and because he is a little copy catter he does it too. He starts fake crying and climbs up into my lap puts his arms around my neck and pats me on the back. He is just such a joy.

Ok now that I've gotten off topic enough... Back to My MOMs

They are wonderful examples to me and I love them both wonderfully and completely.

I LOVE YOU MOM

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!!!

Bringing up new things

2010-04-30T19:59:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how life sneeks up on you. One minute it is Easter and the next its your birthday. Where did 27 come from? I remember when that was old. Grown ups having babies and families. Oh well.

V has kept us entertained and full of joy and love. Here are few things that he does.

1. Write on himself with a pen.

2. Pull the chair to the sink to put things in it. Anything really.

3. Says Bodie for play-do. And then eats it.

4. He likes to get a set of keys, my purse, and a Bubba Keg and then go outside with it.

5. He takes his wagon for a walk. I am not allowed to touch it. He also has to hold the keys when we check the mail.

6. He likes to get into the drivers seat of the cars. We ran the battery down on the Jetta that way.

7. He tells us no and crosses his arms.

8. He thinks that horses are cows.

With M's job they just changed his schedule. He now gets to work sundays and have saturdays off. I want him to find a new job. Or get one on base. Dang it. We are still looking for places to buy and/or rent. We need smaller payments.

I have been put into a new calling. I am the Nursery Leader! AAAAHHHHH oh and the best part is we currently have 19 kids in there. And only two of them are going to be going into Primary in January as of this moment. And we have like three coming in by the end of the year. Oh no wait I mean we have 20 kids. We just got 2 new kids because they moved into the ward. So yeah that is challenging.

And that is what is new with us up here in North Dakota!!!!

Easter Fun and other stuff.

2010-04-03T12:19:00.001-07:00

Ok So Easter isn't until tomorrow, but we have had some easter fun already. Today the Zoo held an easter egg hunt. We waited in line and got excited about the geese we could see. We paid our two dollars and roamed the Zoo while we waited for our turn to hunt eggs in V's age group. So where did we go first? Up the stairs into the gift shop where they had turtles, snakes, frogs, lizards and fish. V had a great time. We saw deer and camels, giraffes and wart hogs. There where tigers and lions. Leopards and bears. And as we walked the path by the river some geese were at the fence. V wanted to grab them. I knew that if he got close enough they would see if he had anything to feed them. He didn't. We made our way back to hunt eggs and he got so excited. He was so excited he even helped put eggs in other kids baskets. WHAT A HELPER!!!!!!

We saw a worker driving around in a maintenance vehicle and V wanted and thought he should just climb in there and have a ride. We followed it for a while. Because he was walking around on his own and wouldn't let me hold his hand we chased after the cart and tried to get a leg up into it. There was candy and bubbles in the bag of treats you got for turning your eggs back in.

The next step now is to boil some eggs so when V wakes up from his nap we can dye them.

On another note: We have been cleaning up our yard. Yes the weather has been awsome. But a problem we run into is keeping V from running away. So M came up with the idea to tie him to the wagon. Well it took V all of about 3 seconds to figure out that he can go where he wants by pulling the wagon. He is strong enough to do it to.

V is just like Daddy. Last night he was trying to figure out to get to something he wanted. (Daddy's foot cream in a jar type thing) So he blows on like Daddy does when he's working on something, to clean it. Then he takes the screw driver and just keeps on wiggling it around in there until he breaks through and gets the cream on the screw driver. He tastes it and realizes that it doesn't taste very good. So he decides that maybe if he tries it again it will taste better. No dice kid.

Well I'm off to boil those eggs. Now should I boil 6, 8, or 12? How many boiled eggs do we want eat. I know M likes deviled eggs but I don't.

All About V!!!!!

2010-03-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

V thinks he is growing up. In the past week he has been showing that he is a big boy who is very smart and not at all forgetful.

Starting with Sunday: As soon as Sacrament Meeting was over he grabbed ahold of my hand and ran to Nursery. When we got to the door he let go of my hand and walked right over to the table of play-do. He only needed me to get through the crowds of big people. When did he grow up?

Ok so while we were in Utah V discovered a three wheeler that was just his size. We couldn't take it with us because it didn't fit on the plane and it wasn't ours. But ever since we got home he has been trying ride his dump truck and his race car garage like a bike. So we tried to show him the remote control car and he threw a fit when we put it away. Yesterday we went shopping for his own bike. The one we found is still a little bit too big. But he didn't care. He kept trying to take it off the shelf. Unfortunately he can't sit on the seat and touch the ground at the same time. But we know what to get for his birthday.

On Monday V was playing in the dirty sink water, making a mess. I told him that after I change his diaper I would put some water in the tub so he could play in that. I got his diaper and became distracted. I had given the diaper to him. He came to me where I was distracted and grabbed my hand leading me to the couch. I change his diaper and he then leads me to the bathroom. The whole way there saying "Tubby" I love that that is his word for tub.

This morning he woke up and was acting grumpy. M figured out that he was hungry. He would lead you to the fridge saying bapple. We didn't have any apples so he settled for carrots.

Oh and M brought home an innertube just V's size. He loves that thing. Right now he has it around his ankles and is trying to walk around like that.

When I changed his diaper this morning I told V to bring me a pair of pants and a shirt so he could get dressed. He brought me a shirt and pair of pajama bottoms. But they were a shirt and pants. Like I said when he did he get so smart and grown up?

Way too Long.

2010-03-11T11:59:00.001-08:00

Sheesh I can't believe that it has been a little over a month since the computer went kaput. I was bad and hadn't added anything in a long while.

So our room mate moved out at the beginning of Febuary, and we decided that instead of jumping around renting places we would try to buy. We talked to a realtor, we talked to a mortgage loan officer, we looked at a house. And the results are that we have to build up our credit. So we are waiting on that before we know what our price range is. It is a long proccess.

Shortly after we started that our computer received the blue screen of death where windows wont open. Oh and because our room mate took his nice big screen tv we had nothing to watch. We lasted about 2 that way and then decided that we needed a tv so that we could at least watch movies. It is amazing how fast you come to depend on choice when it is gone. We only have so many movies to choose from.

Then on top of that the insurance rates through M's job went up so they take more out of his paycheck, we where late on two bills (which made the amount go up), and there fore had to dip into our tax return money.

But we decided that we should spend the money on a computer so that we would have access to job hunt on it. Because lets face it: $10.75 an hour with only 35 hours a week just doesn't add up when you have $750 a month for rent. In addition gas, electric, and phone bills. Gas for the car, groceries, milk, and other expenses that come up. We need a change.

My family was kind enough to pay the way for V and I to fly over to Utah for a few days. It was great to see them. My oldest niece was baptized and it was great. We went and saw the new Alice In Wonderland and had Olive Garden.

The plane trip back was horrendous. We had a 4 hour lay over in Denver and then the out going flight was at 9:30 pm. We arrived in Bismarck at midnight. Then had a 1 1/2 hour car drive home. I can honestly say that today we are finally all recuperated from the trip.

M was great. While we were gone he cleaned the house, did laundry, cleaned the rain gutters, cleared out the stuff under the porch, got his car running, and reorganized the bedroom. He is good to me and V.

While in Utah my mom and sister where kind enough to treat me to a little shopping trip. I got new shoes, a skirt and shirt, a pair of pants, and a few regular shirts. I felt spoiled. I miss my family and am amazed at the love and kindness they show to me.

V learned new things from his cousins. He learned:
That you can pretend to be puppies and lick people's hands.
How to say Grandpa i.e. bampa.
Stairs are best done with grandpa.
Rough boys are scary and mom is his best friend because she will always save her.
Zhu Zhu pets are cool.

When we got home his little outdoor slide was inside and he has to go up the slide and down the steps. This is best achieved holding on to someone's hand.

Adolf went crazy while we were gone. He lets V torment him more than usual. He cries if he doesn't have some one to snuggle on. He has to get right up in your face. And he has to sleep in the bed with us. NOT!!!!!!!!

I think the cutest thing was Monday morning when V was holding Adolf around the neck and Adolf was just purring away. Every so often he would lift his face to V's cheek and rub his nose on it. Basically saying that he was glad he was home.

The snow is starting to melt and the temps have been warmer. Yay!!!!!!!!!

It is great to be back on here. I will continue with the updates.

Fun and New Things

2010-01-27T13:25:00.000-08:00

So yesterday M had the whole day off. He didn't have to go unload the tire truck or anything. Yay!!! So we took advantage of it and went over to the mall where we looked at books at B&N. V liked the books that had wheels on them. I looked at book written for pregnant wome that was funny. For example One page talked about all the things that pregnant women shouldn't eat or do. Then on the next page she talked about the other things that she also thinks pregnant women shouldn't have to deal with:
-dishes
-a bad hair day
-pre treating clothes
-driving someone to airport.

I was cracking up. While I was enjoying the bookstore M suprised me with a hair cut. He had gone to get one and wouldn't tell me what he was doing. We also went looking for some more plates. I broke one and we only had four left. So we took a trip to wal-mart because we didn't like anything in K-Mart or JcPenny. But before we did that we headed over to gamestop. There was a boy and his mother there. The boy was looking for a game and the mom was getting impatent. He opened the empty display box and his mom said that he had to get the real thing from the counter. The little boy responds to this by replying "Wow mom you REALLY are a smart girl." Well M and I were chuckling about it and so was the guy behind the counter. Little kids have such an innocent outlook on things.

V keeps us entertained all the time. His new thing is to go into the bathroom where he wants to brush his teeth. And he will say teeth. so cute.

At church on sunday I told him to say hello his little friend that is also in relief Society so he tip toes over to her bends down to be at eye level and gives her his best flirty/I'm cute smile.

This morning we had a fight about him eating a tomato. He pushed his high chair over and grabbed it then ran over to the living room to eat it like an apple. I innitially wanted to just get it away from him. He threw a huge fit. I looked at the tomato and saw that he had bitten right into a bruised spot. So I let him have it in his high chair where it wouldn't make such a big mess.

He loves to play hide and seek. He runs into our bedroom and gets in a closet and then sits on the shoes waiting for you to come find him.

I think today I give him some paper and crayons to color with.

OH this morning I made some Cinnamon Toast Blinis and I want to share the recipe with you. They come from the kitchen of my friend Tiffany.

So you need:
1 pkg Cream Cheese softened
1/2 C sugar, divided 1/4 C
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 egg yolk
1tsp cinnamon
12 slices of white bread
3Tbsp butter, melted

mix cream cheese, 1/4 c sugar, vanilla, and egg with a wire wisk. Mix remaining sugar and cinnamon together in a seperate bowl, set aside. Flatten bread with rolling pin. Spread one side with cheese mixture. Roll up. Brush with butter and dip in cinnamon/sugar. Place seam side down on cooking sheet. Serve warm.
400 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

If you try it I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Updates and Babeling

2010-01-07T19:27:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I worry that our life isn't interesting. But every day brings new and exciting things.

We had grilled cheese sandwiches and milkshakes for dinner tonight. I thought V would love them. He just wanted slices of cheese while I was making the actual sandwiches. When he was done and out of his high chair, he climbed back in it to get to the stuff on top of the dishwasher.

I had to run to the store for ice cream and when I came home I had to go into the other room and shut the door. V followed after me and when I wouldn't let him in he ran to M and had him come and open the door to be with me. He also needed to watch me make the milk shakes and Daddy HAD to hold him. If M put him down he got sooooo mad.

V decided that he didn't need a bed time tonight. He wouldn't come any where near me when he had his pajamas on. It was time to be silly.

V loves fruits apples, bananas, oranges, candy. Yes I said candy as a fruit. Because sometimes when he wants fruit he says candy.

He likes to wear daddy's shoes. He snuggles on top of his kitty. Poor Adolf.

I've decided that to V all animals are Jojoes. Because we where watching a commercial with dolphins in it and he sat there and said "jojo" and pointed. Horses are moo's though. And Cats are definately Kitties but other than that all animals are lumped into JOjo's.

With some wonderful Christmas money I got my hair cut. Nothing too fancy. Just a trim and layers on top so that the curls weren't weighed out.

I am also pretty bad at keeping up on house work. Yesterday I got all kinds of dishes washed and some (1) loads of laundry done. Today? Nada. Zilch. I don't know what is wrong.

Although I did shovel the walk way, porch, and parking area in front of the house. So maybe I did more than I thought. I do a lot of playing with V. I need a hobby of some sort. Maybe I will go and get some scrapbooking essentials so I can put photos in V's baby book. M does get paid tomorrow... I also have about 3 craft projects going. Ok one and a half. I need picture frames for some portraits and a wall sign to put some lettering on that we received for Christmas. It says:

FAMILY IN PROGRESS!

How cool is that? Then this place would seem even less like a cave in all this winter. It doesn't really.

I got all of the christmas taken down. It was kind of sad. But it is only 12 months until we can put it all back up again. And by we I mean me. I am so reluctant to let Christmas be over that I am contemplating making Cinnamon Rolls again. There is nothing stopping me except my own desire to actually do it. Maybe when I go shopping and get raisins this time. I have everything else I need.

Best wishes to you guys.

Here's to 2010

2010-01-02T09:55:00.001-08:00

A new decade starts. Well it started yesterday! But my point is I can't believe that it has been ten years. I was going on 17. My life seemed so complicated back then. But looking back it was really simple. I didn't have to worry about much. Mostly just school and everything that went with it. Including boys. Now I have much much more in my life. Like a wonderful husband who loves my dearly. A fun, energetic child who brings lots of love and frustration into my day. I wouldn't have it any other way. It is our responsibility together to make sure that there is food in his belly and a warm dry place to live. He has wonderful animals to play with and thats just a bonus. We get to make sure he is loved and healthy and clothed.

This next year for us, we hope, brings love and happiness. And now here are the things I want for 2010!!!!!

I want to lose the added 20 pounds I've gained since moving here.

I want us to be in a better house.

I want M to find a job that pays better, but that he also loves.

And most of all I want for us to add another member to our family. So if the others on this list happen then this last one can happen too.

Here's to a bright outlook to a great year.

Blizzard conditions

2009-12-27T19:53:00.001-08:00

Christmas was great. V loves all his toys. He is always playing with them. His favorite is the Chatter Telephone from Fisher Price. He also likes the bouncy ball with water and glitter in the inside of it. He likes to throw in it in the cage that holds the cat stuff that he isn't allowed into.

We had Cinnamon rolls and oranges for breakfast. We tried to go to a friends house for Christmas dinner but there was a blizzard going on. We couldn't get the car backed out. I suppose it is a good thing. The blizzard lasted all day Saturday and the snow kept drifting up on top of the car. All roads where closed and no one was going anywhere. Even if they wanted to. So V, M, and I stayed indoors and enjoyed being together for an extended 3 day Christmas break. M didn't have work.

I got some great pictures of it all but they aren't letting me load it. So I'm sorry for that.

That is how Christmas was for us. We got some great movies. Including UP!, Pete's Dragon, and Mr. Magorium's Wonder Imporium.

We are so greatful for all the Lord has given us. May you have some happy Christmas' and a Fabulous New Year.

Christmas Update!!!!!

2009-12-14T14:43:00.000-08:00

There are only a few days (Ok maybe closer to two weeks) left until Christmas and I thought I would let everyone know that we have some decorations up. Still no tree but hopefully by tuesday.

I went to the relief Society Christmas party and there was a swap table. So I picked up some wonderful gifts for V and found a glass Nativity, a sign that says "Home for the Holidays" and a snowman hanging. I also hung the stockings and put up a holiday chain. I also cut out snowflakes that don't look anything like snowflakes. Oh well.

I am excited to make cinnamon rolls and a ham dinner.

Ok so with the cold weather we have had a few car troubles. First M's car doesn't start at all. He has the stuff to make it start but we just haven't had the time to do it. So in the mean time he has been taking my car to work. Until one morning he went out there and my battery was dead. So we had to get a new battery. Oh there was also the day that he got my tires aired up and learned that one wheel was low because there was a nail in it. How does that happen?

We had a great time at M's work Christmas party. V went to a baby sitters. I participated in the Holiday game show of trivia. In return I got to pick a present. Of course the present I chose was a can of soup!!!!!! And the owner of the shop was willing to buy it off of me for $30. That was before I opened it. Oh well. The food was good and it was great to meet the guys that M works with. Oh funny story while we were there. There was alcohol and there was one particular boss of M's that was drunk. We were getting ready to go home because V needed to go to bed and church was early the next morning. So we said goodnight to this guy. He started gushing about how much he liked M and what a good worker he is and that he only gives him grief because he likes him so much. He kept shaking M's hand and a hug or two. I honestly thought he was going to start crying. He had us cracking up the whole way across town to pick up V. It was great.

Oh and another thing because of that party. M's boss calls me Holiday girl. Because I was so willing to participate when none of the other better halves did.

Some V things:

He loves to pull the books off of the book shelf and then try to get them back up there.

He spent 20 minutes this morning moving the pillows on our bed around. They had to be stacked on top of each other. They went from one end of the bed to the other. Way tooo cute.

He likes to scream.

He says Hi!!!!!!

He always wants to be in the sub-zero temprature in the snow.

He keeps us laughing and always amazed.

Merry Christmas.

DECEMBER!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-12-01T12:45:00.000-08:00

In true Christmas fashion and a little wierd for me. It snowed today. In fact it is a winter storm warning until 9:oo tonight. Plus the highs are supposed to be in the 30s and the lows in the single digit area. I LOVE MINOT!!!!!!!!
Any way. It doesn't seem possible that in 24 days another Christmas will come. I'm not really excited because I have nothing done in prepareation. Maybe when we go get a tree and have it up. Or maybe when the cinnamon rolls are baked. Yes I like that idea.

I am seriously hoping that there is a Santa at our ward Christmas party because I REALLY want to get a pic of V on Santa's lap.

Speaking of V he knows there is snow on the ground and so all morning that is all he has wanted: to be outside with the snow.

He also thinks that he needs to hold your hand and lead you around the house. Very opinionated.

We did go out in the snow this morning and he loved running around in it. Never mind that his snow boots are too big. They kept falling off. He didn't care. He kept running with one boot on and nothing but a sock on his other foot. He doesn't have gloves yet so every time he fell down it was on his bare hands but that didn't bother him either. What did bother him was comming back inside and taking off his boots and coat. He started to cry.

That's another thing he has started. Temper tantrums. He gets down on the floor and hits his head on it or he whacks his head with his hand and then looks to see if you are watching. If you are he does it again. If you aren't he gets mad and starts to cry. I try very hard to just ignore him but it is so funny to watch.

M is still working hard. We have a work Christmas party this saturday and until today with the snow there was talk of cutting back hours. But with the snow comes people who panic and NEED snow tires ASAP. So when he goes back to work tomorrow we will see what they say. He may be working long hours. Which both stinks and is great for us.

Ok so I have a few ideas for Christmas presents:
V-
Toy tools i.e. wrench, hammer, etc.
wood blocks that he can stack and easily nock over.
M-
a tool box
Me-
a crepe maker. Too bad its soo expensive.

Last night I made pizza and I must admit that it was delicious. In fact right now I'm going to see if M wants his piece or if I can consume it. Even though I already had one today. That is how much I love food.

OH and as a fun fact:
The shortage of Christmas to Xmas is not sacriligous. It is in fact just an abbreviation. In the Greek alphabet X is the CH version of our alphabet. So it doesn't take Christ out it just shortens it. I thought that was so cool when I saw that.

Happy Forthcomming Christmas preparations!!!!!!!

Tis the Holiday season!!!!

2009-11-21T09:35:00.000-08:00

The count down for Thanksgiving has begun. I am feeling a little overwhelmed with what I WANT to have happen this Thursday. I don't think it will happen.
I want to:

Truely clean the house.

Have a cute center piece for the table.

Be able to pull out the leaf for the table and actually set a nice table.

I want one more chair, just in case.

To be organized and ready and plan meal preparations so that everthing turns out at the same time.

Make rolls, pies, and stuffing from scratch.

Have a nice moist turkey that is delicious.

Here are the reasons that I think it won't happen:

I am unbelievably unorganized.

I get overwhelmed easily.

I don't know where to begin.

I've never cooked a turkey.

But I have a plan. I am going to start unthawing the turkey tuesday night so it has all day wednesday to thaw out. Then I'm going to cook it in an oven bag. Oh I should probably find out if it fits into any of the pans I have. Maybe I should go get a pan to cook it in that has a rack and other things that I will need for cooking. A turkey thermometer. I will also need the makings for stuffing which means that I need to go shopping!!!!!! And I will find a center piece and a table cloth. I think I will also pick up some disposable eatery.

I'm just excited for this day. I've decided the reason they call it the holidays is because there are 6 holidays in 4 months. 1 in October, 2 in November, 1 in December, and 2 in January. Crazy!!!!!!!

V has been up to some pretty funny antics. He loves his dad and copies everything that Daddy does. Yesterday it was trying to go to work with M and blowing his nose the way that daddy is trying to teach him. Today it was V being unagreeable because he didn't get to spend much time with his morning buddy (Daddy.) Yesterday M had a parade following him around. V would follow M and Adolf would follow both of them. If Moose went anywhere other than the living room and dining area. I'm sure that he would have been following them around too.

He also likes to have your hands do things. He will grab your hand to point at things and pick things up and hold them and open them.

Another thing I want to mention is how our ward gave us a Thanksgiving dinner. That was very nice of them and it gives me a whole new appreciation for giving things like that.

I remember in Mutual one year we took Dinners around to families. But I always thought it was for families that wouldn't have A dinner if we didn't take it too them. I never thought of it as a nice gesture.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Do I remember it all?

2009-11-09T21:52:00.000-08:00

All right for the past few day there have been things that I was wanting to remember for this post. WILL I REMEBER IT ALL? I don't really know.

Ok so obviously I haven't taken the time to figure out how to show off our pile of leaves yet... COMING SOON!!!!!!!!! In the mean time. Saturday night after V was in the tub and M was having me help him cut his hair we decided that V needed one too. So we pulled him out of the water that he had actually drained out by that time and plopped him on a chair buck naked. He was ok with this for a time. It was also interesting to watch M use V's baby comb and some dull hair cutting scissors to trim his hair. We had to move on to clippers. That made it go by faster but not super fast because every single moment of that hair cut V was turning his head as M put the clippers to head. I'm just glad that M didn't draw blood.

So now V's hair is the shortest it has been in his entire life and maybe his next hair cut will be next year. I am seriously keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

The weather has actually been nice up here the last couple of days and so we played outside some. It wouldn't be so bad if we had a fence. But because we don't this is how outside play goes for V!!!!!

Down on hands and knees inside the door. Crawl backwards on the porch to the steps.

Go down the steps.

Run to the back of the house to the other side of the house.

Go around the back of the trailer next to us.

Run back.

Run across the grass that is not part of our area.

Run back.

Think about playing on the slide.

Dive into the pile of leaves.

Chase Adolf to the front of the house toward the road. Send mom into a panic. Pick him up as I spot a car on the road.

Put V in his wagon to sit while I continue to rake up the endless leaves in our yard.

While he is in the wagon go to the end of the street and check the mail.
He definately keeps us on our toes. M continues to work and that is pretty much all we do. Last week I was invited to a party given by a girl in the ward. It was out on base. I got to get a voucher to go on base. They had to check the car for bombs. It was really nice to get to know some more girls in the ward. It is amazing but I already almost feel at home in this ward. Today V and I went to lunch with the "Lunch Bunch" group in Relief Society. It was lots of fun. V was fascinated with something in that restuarant that I'm still not sure what it was. Either the waiters or the parrot that he could see.
Now that I see it is late. I'm cold, and my contacts are starting to say "take us out." I am going to go to bed.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

2009-11-01T14:38:00.000-08:00

To start Saturday we tried to take V trick-or-treating and that didn't go so well. He was dressed as a farmer with a hat, wrangler shirt, over-alls with a rag hanging out his back pocket, and his trick-or-treat bucket. We missed the mall trick-or-treating. Which would have been the place to go because he would have been indoors and could walk around and be supper cute without a coat on. Instead we tried to find a nice neighborhood around that we could go to a few houses. But it was the end of trick-or-treating so we didn't even get out of the car. When we got home we put all of our candy in his bucket and took pictures. Oh well. Next year will be funner any way. He will know how to say trick or treat.

And for some reason I'm not going in order so we will do Friday now.
We did go to the mall after M got off work on Friday. He needed a new wallet really bad. In Barnes and Noble we let V out of the stroller and he listened to music. He danced and he waved his arm around like he was conducting. When he got bored with that he decided to push his stroller around. Mommy helped stear. He didn't want to push it any more so we walked around the shelves of books. He knew where he wanted to go and he didn't pull anybooks out of the shelves. He behaved very well. We found daddy. We passed daddy. We went and looked at little kid's books. We played on the story time stage. We got tired. We got stuck back in the stroller. Mommy looked at a Wizard of Oz picture book companioning the movie. We didn't fall asleep until 11:30.

He actually sort of behaved in Church. As much as a 14 month old can be expected to behave. He did have a little trouble falling asleep for a nap.
Waking up from a nap was quite the adventure. He had taken of his dirty diaper and there where brown spots all over his crib sheet. *sigh* So he got a bath. And his bedding is being washed. So are his clothes.

He is such a busy body. He knows how to get undressed and he knows how to help put on his coat.

He has rescently started to walk backwards. I don't know where he learned that from.

He thinks he is helping when he shakes the dirt out of the rug at the door. He leaves it in a pile right there too. So of course you are going to trip over it if you come in or go over to the living room.

Why are his favorite things buckles? Car seat buckles, high chair buckles... just buckles.

Suprises

2009-10-28T09:54:00.000-07:00

It is only noon and already there have been a few suprises in the Harper household.

1st. V slept until 10:00! That is about 12 1/2 hours of sleep. And because he slept in we did too!!!!!

2nd. V got stuck in the floor heater vent. He knows how to take them off and then he gets down in them. He can fit both legs. But this time around he got all scraped up and it was hurting him. You would think that he learned his lesson. But he didn't. After getting hugs and snuggles he went right back over to it and was lifting the top off again.

3rd. V has officially learned that he can take his diaper off. Maybe its because he didn't the one he had on. It was one that I had left over of a different brand I had been using that I just didn't like any more. Apparently neither did he.

M says he way too smart. Last night I had to get into the dresser but there was a laundery basket in the way. I moved it to where V could get to it. Well it has a lid and he took it off. He placed it on the floor and was going to start taking the contents of the basket out. Fortunately it was time to put the basket back where it was. Out of his reach. I then asked V if he could hand me the lid that was still on the floor. I didn't point I just looked at him and asked. He turned around, bent over and picked up the lid. He didn't exactly hand it to me, but he did pick it up cause he knew what I was asking. M was very impressed with this.

He has always been way too smart and way too strong.

But we love this little bundle of boy. And he is all boy. He plays rough, he loves hard, and he screams loud. He is a quiet observer of everything. He doesn't want to miss anything that he might learn how to do. Unfortunately one of his teachers is Adolf his cat. He will bite you because that is what his kitty does.

I don't like to discipline the little tike but if I don't he will think that he can do anything. He already thinks its a game to climb on top of the freezer and see if mommy will come take him off. But he is just so dang stinkin' cute with those faces he gives. Or the noises he gives that are so originally his.

Ok if I can figure out how to do this. I have a few pictures of our front yard. Completely layered in fallen leaves. You can't see the grass because of it. So if I get it to work I will post some of those.

I have been thinking and there are a few things I want to do.

I want to learn to take better pictures.
I want to take a cooking class.
I want to take a creative writing class.
I want to sew with a sewing machine.
I want to be good at making blankets.
I want to get picture frames for our family portraits back when V was a
month old.
I want to go clothes shopping and get three pairs of pants and 5 shirts
and 3 knew dresses.
I want to fly home for a visit. I miss Nevada in the fall. All the changing colors.
I want to explore Minot with M and V.

Man what a list. I guess I should get started on that.

Jam

2009-10-26T09:10:00.000-07:00

V is a very silly boy. This morning we had cream of wheat and toast for breakfast. V loves toast. But this time around he was licking the jam off of daddy's toast. He has a jam mustach.

Saturday was our bi-ward Halloween party. V went as a farmer/scarecrow he wore a wrangler plaid shirt and striped overalls with my palm hat. Big rimmed and too big for his head. He was so cute. Well all he wanted to do was run around and take all the other kids trick-or-treat buckets. He loves buckets. Every day he has to bring me the mop buckets. He also puts various things in them.

The other thing that he loved at the party was the pumpkins that people had decorated. So now he can sort of say pumpkin. Although his favorite word for now is appo. Apple. We had to go look at them several times.

All the leaves have fallen off the trees here. And yet it is still green. I think the wierdest thing is that even though it freezes at night there is no frost on the windows in the morning. What is up with that?

M was able to get new headlights for his car. Now they don't bounce around when he drives and they don't point directly at the ground. He can see when he drives at night.

I have been staying busy cleaning and baking the things I love. Brownies, cupcakes for the party, breadsticks. YUMMY! On pay day I have plans to get some vanilla ice cream and making brownies so that we can enjoy brownies with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream. I have plans to make waffles for dinner tonight, I have to go to the store today for animal chow, maybe I will get strawberries and whipcream. Ooohhhh that sounds sooooooo good.

Minot is the coldest place on earth

2009-10-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

Being from Nevada has some definate lows, but for the most part it is a great place to live. Unlike here in Minot. We got snow on Monday! And this is just the start. Everyone up here talks about how the -25 degrees is barable, its the extra -15 degree wind chill that will get you. And the blizzards. Church is actually let out early for the men so they can clear sidewalks and cars because of all the snow that falls during church. Oh and I get to have a block heater put on my car so we can plug it in at night to keep the fluids from freezing so I can start my car!!!!! I wanna come home. (Yes that was a little whine!)

With the snow comes something good and bad at the same time. M's work is supper busy. He has been told to come in to work half and hour to 45 minutes early for work so that if its busy they can just jump in and help out. And then plan on staying to close no matter what time you started. We aren't sure if he will be able to have days off anymore. He didn't this last week. So while we may not get to see much of our husband and daddy we sure do appreciate his hard work and the income he provides. Which is ladden with overtime hours. So it is going to be easier to make ends meet.

Wednesday night the bishop called and asked if I would be willing to be on the Halloween party commitee. He called at 7:30 and said the meeting was at 8. I was in the middle of dinner and mike wouldn't be home till almost 9, I told him I would and they will let me know what I am going to be in charge of or help out with. I definately think the Lord doesn't want me to be lonely up here.

Oh I have to add this little story. Last night in bed M and I were talking and he said that he had been praying that he would be able to make ends meet and that we wouldn't be stuggling with rent and things. He said "the Lord really gives us what we need and not what we want." He was hopping it would be in the form of a better paying job with regular hours. Not the same job with a lot more hours. So true.

V is as big a stinker as always. He climbs on everything. Last night he thought it would be a good idea to smack his daddy on the face. He was a little suprised when daddy didn't find it cute or funny. He also didn't like that daddy wouldn't give him hugs and loves because he was crying. He has been way to cute for way too long.

He is cutting another tooth on the bottom.

He has learned to run.

He loves it when he thinks he is going out side. He will try to sneak out when you let the cat or dog in or out. If he sees I'm going outside for any reason he wants to come too. Even if he is only in his diaper and there are a few inches of snow on the ground. He will get downright mad about it.

We think he swallowed M's wedding ring.

Love to all our friends and family

sad things.

2009-10-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

I was planning on giving everyone an update for our little family... But instead I want to express my feelings about things that have been happening to my friends and family.

First to my cousin and her little girl who was diagnosed with diabetes (and I know I spelled that wrong). I can't imagine how upsetting and scary that must of been. But I am so glad that she has all kinds of family close by for support. You even have family far away who is thinking about you and praying for Caylee. We love you guys.

Second of all. One of my closest friends just lost her little sister to lukemia. I feel horrible. I feel that she needs me. She was there for me when I was terrified that I was pregnant and didn't know what to do. She helped get us enough food when we needed it and was there when I had worries and concerns. A truely awsome friend. Now she needs me and I am so far away and have no way to get to her. This is soo different from the "aww I'm so sorry for your loss. Tell me if there is anything I can do" kind of sympothy. This is the "Your my friend and I'm hopping on the next plane to be there for you" kind of sympothy. And I don't have the means to get there. So anyone out there reading this who knows them please be what I am unable to be for her right now. Give her a hug, take care of things she needs without her asking for it. Let her grieve.

How hard to lose a sister. So call your sisters and tell them you love them.
I'm thinking of you Jess and Family.

Two weeks

2009-10-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

Life in the Harper house for the last two weeks!
So about two days after we got the internet connected I took our computer tower in to be cleaned of all viruses. I was unplugging everything when I came upon the last cord. I pulled and tugged and wiggled and tugged but it just wasn't comming out. So I pulled harder. Why wouldn't it come out?

Because it unscrews!

Well I completely bent the plate in the back. The guys at the store kind of make fun of me for it. And then I wait for them to call to tell me what they have done to it and how long until I can pick the computer back up.

8 days!!!!!

That is how long it took them to finally call and tell me that they had cleaned it up and replace the video card that I bent out of shape and past all workability.

So I go to the bank to make sure that there is enough money in there to cover the cost. There isn't!!!!

We have to wait until Payday to pick it up. So instead of it being gone for a week it is gone for two weeks because payday was a whole nother week away.

In the mean time M comes down with a cold. Runny nose, sore throught, coughing. Poor M I'm helping him feel better when he isn't at work.

V has this wonderful habit of throwing his covers off when he sleeps. Well the temprature is cooling off because it is fall. We stack those blankets on him while he sleeps. Hopefully that will keep him from waking up in the night cold.

I get called to Relief Society choirister. wheew at least it wasn't primary. I think 6 years of various primary callings is enough.

Friday: V breaks my phone of 2 months in half! Payday!!!!!!!! Get the check, less than what I was expecting. So we cash it go pay for the computer and head over to the Verizon store. Luckily I get a free phone that has a cracked face, but its free.

Next grocery shopping. Can't forget to pay rent. Ok now we need to take the remaining money and make sure that Mike can get gas, I need gas, V has a car seat waiting that is a donation for $25. Well that leaves $40 for the rest of the next two weeks. Have to save that so I can buy Milk for V. I think we POOR.

Now this morning! V can climb up onto the kitchen chair. When did he learn to do that? Oh and he pulled his high chair out from where it is stored out of the way and tries to climb up it while is is still folded up. hahahahaha silly kid.

Words he now says: Apple, juce, hi, bum ba (bottle)

I can't wait for him to get a little older so I stop pulling my hair out with him.

OH he loves to ride in his wagon.

This week the weather isn't supposed to get up past 45 degrees. Possible snow fall tomorrow. What kind of Fall is this? Oh well I don't mind the rain. It definately does it more here than in the Nevada desert.

North Dakota

2009-09-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

Phew I didn't realize how much I would miss doing this. Ok so it has basically been a month since we left Fallon so I'm going to try to condense our experience down so you aren't reading a book.

To start we had a small birthday party for V. I can't believe he is one now. The next morning we loaded up and headed to idaho. We stopped in West Yellowstone for the night. The next morning we started the last leg of the trip. Two days of driving with a 1 year old, a cat, and a dog. I'm not doing that ever again.

We got into Minot late that night. But we were able to unload some things and put up beds to sleep on. The next morning we finished unloading the Uhaul and I unpacked the kitchen. M had to work, but that was ok.

Saturday we drove 4 hours over to Fargo to take Dad to the airport. When we got there we found out that the blue angels were there. They did their low show because of the clouds and we got to see them while waiting. I was a little sad because I wouldn't be able to see them at the fallon show, but we still got to see them. V watched and pointed and had a lot of fun. Until they flew directly over head and were really loud. Then he just cried and screamed. I think it hurt his ears.

We have most of the boxes out of the house but we are still working on getting things hung up and put away. I still haven't baby proofed the place. But by the end of this week it should be done.

Some wierd things about Minot: They don't believe in through streets. They stop and start in several different locations. The streets running North to South are streets and the ones running east to west are Avenues. Then if that isn't easy they have to complicate it by giving you directions For example our address is 3100 11th Ave SE this means that we are on 31st street 11th Ave on the SE part of town. Not quite like Utah streets but close. Minot was set up along the Souris River and there are two hills on either side of it. North and South hills. All though they are more like rises because they dont go back down. It isn't as big as Reno but I still haven't seen all of the town yet. The two major roads are Broadway and Burdick. They have a mall and quite a few restaurants.

Oh some good news. The ward is very friendly. We haven't been asked to speak yet but we will see what happens after conference.

We have had some rain storms and the thunder and lightning wake me up at night. It is loud and brigtht.

V antidotes:
-He walks!!!!!!!! It is so cute.
-He thinks he has to play in the cat litter. ARG
-he can say Mom, jewc, moos, mawl (ball) shoon (balloon), up, ba (bottle)
-his favorite toy is his high chair. He climbs in and out of it.

We are going to get him a front forward facing car seat and bumpers for his crib. Maybe this is long enough for now.

MOVING

2009-08-18T11:48:00.000-07:00

I have been soooooo busy the last few days. Mike told me Thursday that we got the single wide! So ever since then I have been packing and trying to take care of everything I needed to on this end of things. I am picking up the uhaul today and we will get to start putting things in it. I still am not quite sure if we are leaving tomorrow morning or Thursday morning but we will see what dad wants to do. Either today or tomorrow M will be able to get the keys to the place. In the midst of all this my in laws are prepareing to go to the Oregon state fair and putting up peaches. On Sunday we did my box and were able to get 21 pints out it. I was a little ambitious and made peach cobbler this morning. My mom has a great recipe for it and I had about 5 peaches left over that I wanted to eat but now I just want to use them up.

With all this activity V knows something is going on, he just isn't sure what it is.

As a side note we get to take the animals with us. This trip is going to be very interesting. An old dog spread out on the back seat of my car and a cat in a carrier. Plus a 0ne year old in the middle of me and my dad. We have to get at least one hotel room that will allow me to bring the animals inside. Which I think I need to look into. I am nervous about the actual traveling to move. But I am excited to be back with M.

On a sad note I don't really want to leave all my family in Fallon. Plus there is so much here that I am familiar with. I grew up here when I go to church I get things like I know your mom and dad, or I remember when you were little. I wont get that in North Dakota. But I am excited for it at the same time. I am looking forward to the new experience it will bring.

Going on a ride.

2009-08-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

I think I have been a touch lazy. Things are happening everyday and I haven't posted anything in a while. I guess I have been stressing over the whole situation my family is in. V and I have been busy with life: shopping, running around, going to appointments, wedding receptions, and church. His two cousins are a day apart and thier birthdays were last week. We didn't go to them because one was kind of later in the evening and the other was three hours away. No thank you. So we had a restful sunday instead. Well execpt for the part were I bawled during sacrament meeting because it hit me like a ton of bricks. M and my's anniversary is this up comming Monday. SAD!!!!!!!!!!!!! And we wont get to spend it together. What a crummy week. Other than that I've been trying to stay busy. I am working on M's horse Speedy. She is almost 4 and has never been ridden. So that keeps me busy.

As for the whole moving situation. M is supposed to go look at places today. I am praying that he finds what we are looking for. We almost have the money we need to get up there. The only hold back is that he is still staying with his friend and sleeping on the couch. It has started to affect both of us being appart this long. I am irritable and cranky and unfortunately I take it out on him. In turn he is on the defensive in case I lash out at him. We seriously need to be together it is wearing on our marriage. I don't like it.

V is getting closer to walking. I can stand unsupported when he wants to. And he can almost go from sitting to standing without much need to pull on something.

Tuesday we got stuck out in a rain storm and V thought it was great. He also liked when the big draft horse morgan took us for a ride. I was holding on to his lead rope and he thought he would go check out the mare horse. Because he is about two feet taller than me and weighs about a ton more than me he jerked us along. I couldn't stop him. But V was laughing. So that was good that he didn't get hurt.

I am trying to teach V to say hello and he almost has it when he decides to copy me. Also he says gross when I tell him that the bird tray he is sitting in is gross. OH how smart little children are.

LITTLE BLUE CAR

2009-07-26T18:01:00.000-07:00

So yesterday Mom, Dad, Kitty, Penny, Lo and I went up and floated the Truckee River. What a blast that was. Everybody was having a good time. And I'm not just talking about everybody in our raft. I mean everyone on the river. I recommend if you have the time and money to do it sometime.

Well I have to tell you that on our way up we barely cross over the California border when we start to see signs for road contruction ahead. Then we see signs that the left lane is going to merge into the right lane. So Dad goes with the flow of traffic and gets over. Before long cars start to pass us. That is typical. What wasn't typical was the blue car up ahead of us getting over to the left lane and bringing all other traffic in that lane to a halt. Ok maybe not a halt because he kept moving. But he did not go any faster than the traffic in the right lane. Causing all the people who thought they could get ahead by going around the slow traffic to slow down. Every one in the car thought this was great. Of course the thing that was great was that all these cars start honking their horns. What is that going to do? Wait your turn like everyone else.

Now behind this blue car is a silver car. And this silver car is bent on getting around everybody else. He rides the blue car's bumper so close that you couldn't squeeze a book between the two. Oh it was so great.

By the time we get to the cones that ease over to the right lane all the cars behind us that had been in the left lane have managed to merge into the rest of the traffic. We let a car in that is in the left lane. But that blue car doesn't get over until he absolutely has to and he has made sure that all the other cars have gotten over. Including the silver car who has no choice but to stay where he needs to be.

So to this wonderful person who decided he needed to do something. I say THANK YOU!

The best part is that he had california license plates!

As a tag on V decided to put pieces of toilet paper into the toilet and then play with it. I'm just glad that he can't flush the toilet yet.

Elephant sounds

2009-07-23T22:27:00.000-07:00

OH boy have I been lax on putting anything up. We have been trying to get the money we need to get up to Minot. It is going to take everything we manage to save and help from both of our parents. There is some bad news in all of this. I went to apply for a credit card and they said no because I don't have enough credit. Oh well guess that won't be helping us. And then I got a letter from the DMV about M's car not being insured. What ever it has been since April. So that is a sore spot. However in all of this M has been finding out about a job with the Air Force base there that would be more income which I give a HUGE thumbs up.

My sister K is going to be in town this weekend so V will be getting his 5th hair cut over the course of 11 months! Thats right only a few weeks left until his first birthday.I look forward to it. And yet it may be bittersweet without his daddy there.

I have learned over the last two days that if I do my errands in town before V's nap he usually falls asleep in the car on the way home and has a nice long nap. He also is starting to get cranky when he is hungry. So that is new.

He can make the noise of an elephant. Except that he is trying to make the noise of a car or tractor.

I'm so glad he keeps me laughing. It is truely a bright spot in my day. Now if I could just find my own personal back rubber. Then I wouldn't get headaches and feel cranky.

Did I mention that I can't wait to see my sister? Cause I can't.

Oh grandma and I took V to the outdoor pool and he loved it. There was a child there that had a floaty thing and V couldn't take his eyes off of it. So when we were done we went to Wal-Mart and got him a panda floaty thing. Now on Saturday we will be able to test it out at a pool party/dinner for the 24th of July celebration. It should be fun.

Forgotten Reunion Things (and other things.)

2009-07-15T19:12:00.001-07:00

I'm going to go into a little more detail with things that V did at the reunion.

Favorite activity: Going up and down the stairs. Especially if you chase him.

Favorite person to beat him up: Cousin P. When he got knocked on the forhead like the should've had a V8 commercials and gets knocked on his butt!

Favorite word: OOHHHH and COW

New word he learned: Sound that trucks make when playing with them- brrrmmmm

New action learned: High Five

Favorite outside thing: riding with Grandpa on the fourwheeler.

He has been busy learning and growing. For example when I was washing his legs last night, V had hair growing on his legs.

He was quite grumpy today but he got to go swimming in the irrigation ditch water and loved it. Now if only he could enjoy his bath like that again. I don't know what happened. He used to love his baths.

I'll keep things updated and let you all know what is happening with the M situation.

FAMILY REUNION

2009-07-14T21:54:00.000-07:00

For the last five days V and I went to my Tidball family reunion up in Island Park, ID. And oh what a time!

For starters we stayed with my parents Thursday night so that we could get up nice and early on Friday to get on the road. Thursday night we had a bbq at my grandparent's house. That was fun I spent most of the time chasing V so he wouldn't go into the gravel. He also thought he could play ball with the big boys.

There were some wiffle balls out that everyone was playing with and V was having fun with them also, well during the prayer a little girl that was there went up and handed one to V. He looked at her and right after she turns away he drops it on the ground. I thought I was going to die from laughing.

Friday: Spend thirteen hours in the car!!!!! Fill up the gas tank every 126 miles!!!!!! Get to our destination. Fall asleep!

Saturday: Wake up. Eat wonderful crepes with strawberries, peaches, pudding, bananas, and whipcream. Hang out, talk, have fun, go on a nature walk down to the creek by the cabin. See a frog. Aunt P and Uncle D get there and everyone wants to head off to the source of Henry's Fork of the Snake River. NO THANK YOU! No more walking with V strapped to my body. But it was good because V took a nap while they were gone. I practiced my pool playing skills. I stink. That night everyone gets inducted into the Good Indian Club. And we all have a great time. Peach cobbler for dessert and we sing to my sister J for her birthday. I finally have an opportunity to get into the hot tub! Talk to M on the phone and become sad. Play phase ten with my cousin and his wife until one in the morning. Great Fun!

Sunday: Head out kinda early for Mesa Falls. See two Moose! The falls are Beautiful and V sleeps pretty much the whole time. Almost everyone leaves after Mesa Falls. Have taco salad for lunch and take a wonderful nap. Relaxing day. Play pool with my sisters, dad, and cousin B. Kalua pork for dinner. Talk to M on phone and become discouraged. He needs a new front axle for the car. Now think that Minot will happen around Christmas. Very sad.

Monday: Get woken up by mom at 6:30 to get ready to go to Yellowstone. See a bald eagle, very cool! Go to some hot springs and V the whole time sits there and goes ooohh. Go to Old Faithful, always neat. Head back to West Yellowstone for lunch. See a coyote. Stop and and watch some Elk. Eat some ok pizza. Use the restrooms and the gender signs read Pistols and Holsters. And you can decide which one belongs to which gender. Walk around West Yellowstone. See some cool shirts. Get back to the car. Put V in his seat and start buckling him up. Look down and he is sound asleep. Poor guy! Go back to cabin have a nice long nap. Eat left overs for dinner. Play bananagrams. Sit by the fire that is burning wet wood and eat a toasted marshmallow. Go to bed.

Tuesday: Get woken up at 6:00 by mom. Eat breakfast,pack stuff up and get out on the road. In car for 12 hours!!!!! Get to parents house load our stuff in car and drive 15 more miles home. So glad to be home.

Unfortunately I left my camera in Fallon so I have no pictures of any of the things that we did. But I will find a way to get them from my family. So I will let you know.

Oh M's thing now. Sunday him and his friend drove to Fargo to visit a friend who broke his back. M now wants to move to Fargo. He thought is was so nice and better than Minot so we will see how long that takes. He has definately said that we have to build up a cash reserve. I told him that I have to get to Minot first and he has to have a job in Fargo first.

Same thing every day

2009-07-09T12:05:00.000-07:00

We are about to get M's second paycheck and I feel no closer to our goal than when we started two months ago. It is harder to save money than I thought. V is constantly needing something and food is bought by both M and I in two different states. I just want us up there. I would sleep on the couch with him! But that house is small and there really isn't any place for us. We need at least $1,500 for an apartment or house to rent and then we need another $2,000 for a u-hal and all those expences for the trip. So we have at least two more months of saving up, if we can save more than $600 each pay check wich it doesn't look like it with all things we are buying.

Ok that is all for my rantings I just had to get it off my chest. Tomorrow we leave for Island Park, ID and I am looking forward to seeing family. Lots to do and see. I need to work on the packing of the trip. I just know I'm going to forget a few things.

V likes to clap now. It is so cute. But he has a runny nose and I feel bad for him. He likes to be outside but it gets him frustrated because I won't let him down on the ground because he can't walk yet. I don't like his hands and legs to get all cut up from the rocks, which he also likes to eat!

I haven't seen M since May and he posted some resent pictures of himself so that I could see. He has grown a fu man chu, or how ever you spell that rediculous word, and he has lost some weight so I think he looks incredibly handsome. But a part of me worries that I will act differently around him because he looks different from the last time I saw him. He thinks HE is way out of MY league, but I feel that I am way out of HIS leaugue. So maybe we are just perfect for eachother. I miss him so much. I want more than anything to be with him.

Ok so I don't just sit here all day pining for what I can't have at the moment. I do have packing and laundry and lunch to do.

cranky and tired

2009-07-06T21:54:00.000-07:00

I don't like that when I am tired and V is cranky that I lose my patience with him and get very angry. Ok not a lot angry just put him to bed already and don't deal with his antics and being funny in any way shape or form. It doesn't help that right now I'm missing M like crazy and so I am not the happiest person out there.

Ok so here's the thing. My family is having a reunion on my mom's side and I said that I'm not comming. Well my sister called to talk to me today about it and now I'm thinking that maybe I should go. It is in Island Park, ID. Everybody wants me to come but I'm thinking that its too late now.The reunion is this weekend. Everything has been planned. I don't know what to do and I hate that feeling. Like I said I'm not the happiest person anyway. If I suddenly change my mind, I have a strong feeling that it will stress my mom out to end and I try to avoid that at all costs. I just want to get a good nights sleep and not get woken up before 8 by V. That is all I'm asking. Is it possible?... I don't think so. This is where the missing M comes in. I need a hug.

On a better note... Here are some things that V has been up to.
At church he saw another little boy clapping his hands so now he can too.
His cousins where here and now he can make sounds that his older cousin was making.
He thinks he can go anywhere outside on his hands and knees in shorts!
Oh no he can't!
And he likes to sit on the rocking horse and other little rider that his cousin pulled out of the toy box!!!

I've decided that sleep right now is the way to go.

Yard Sales and Sun Burns

2009-07-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness what a day it was yesterday. I woke up at 5:30 to head over to my parents house so that I could help them with the garage sale we were having for my grandmother's things. She passed away last year. It was hot and there was hardly anyshade until later in the afternoon. All the things that I didn't want to have sold did, so I guess I can't claim them later. So I was there from 6:30 until 2 in the afternoon. I didn't wear a hat or sunscreen. My face is nice and red. It doesn't hurt, which is good. OK maybe a little by eyes.

But when I get home I receive an update from my mother-in-law what V had been up to during the day:
-Good boy
-no nap
-played with Adolf during nap time in his crib
-rode with grandpa in the swather
-talked to everyone in the store
-didn't fuss or fight getting dressed by Aunt J (why can't he do that for me?)

Ok so there was no nap thats ok he was having way too much fun. And being silly. Well we have to take grandpa more water in the swather and we let V take another ride. When we are leaving the field V runs his hand along the chicken coop for a few seconds before I grab his hand so he doesn't get hurt. Well he starts to cry and I think its because he didn't want me to do that. Wrong. He has cut his finger on something on the chicken coop. Ok lets get him inside and wash him off and get a band-aid on him. What was I thinking. The band-aid lasts about two seconds. Well he can play in the pool that grandma got. And boy does he have a lot of fun in it. Until he starts to get goose bumps and shivering. Time to go inside and put some clothes on.

Aunt J takes him outside in the stroller so that he can watch what grandma is doing. About two minutes later I go outside and V is alone in his stroller asleep. Ok so it's finally nap time at 6 at night. But then I start talking loud and he wakes up. Not happy. Take him in to feed him dinner and put him to bed. Doesn't want to eat. Ok bed then. 7 at night he goes to bed in his clothes. He woke up this morning at 7. I loved it. I went to bed at 9:30 so that was almost 10 hours for me. I loved it. Well Happy 4th to all.

one of those kids.

2009-07-01T13:01:00.000-07:00

Out at my parents house again. We went into town to help run arrends? While we were in a craft and antique store V grabbed a bowl and I tried to grab it but it fell to the floor shattering into a ton of pieces. After it was all picked up we offered to pay for it and the price tag said... drum roll please... $50.00. I couldn't believe it. I was so embarassed. All I could do was stand there and look at the mess on the floor. So now I know my child is "one of those kids." I thought he would be so well behaved. He isn't. In church he is the kid that tries to escape and makes noise and yells.

Hope and Fairy-God Mothers

2009-06-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

What another hot day. And for excitement V slept for a long time when it was nap time so yeah for that.

There is the slightest hope that we will be able to join M in Minot sooner. If the guy staying with M and his friend is kicked out. From what M says he is "creepy." Then M and I can have that room and V can have his own space. Just until we can save for a house. But it makes more sense for us to be together able to save more money than three states apart. The only thing keeping us apart is that there is nowhere for us to stay nor the funds to get there. But if we don't have to wait for an appartment or a house then we won't have to save as much money before we go. Just the amount for the uhal and gas and hotel room for the journey.

I don't know what to think of this turn of possibilities. A big part of me is saying yes because then we will all be together maybe by the end of july. But on the other hand I really want to wait until we have a place of our own.

This is were I need a fairygod mother to tap me on the head and all of this will be over in the twinkling of an eye. No more worrying about if M will miss V's b-day or our anniversary or V walking. No more lonely nights and tough days. But this is reality and that won't happen.

Maybe I need that DQ Blizzard from the other day!

Scares and pie

2009-06-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

Sunday was too hot to do anything V was roudy in church but that was ok. Stayed inside most of the day.

After V's nap he started getting into everything that he shouldn't:
-Golf Tees in his mouth with the sharp end poking out.
-An Altemeter? in his mouth and trying to see if Adolf had an electric current.
-The kitty food
-The bird food
-Trying to climb in the bird tray EWWW GROSS

Then this morning he almost gave he a heart attack. The bird was on the floor and V saw that so he starts racing over there. Charlie has his head turned toward V. I knew that V got too close Charlie would try to bite him in defense. So I screamed V's name and he stopped an inch away from Charlie who started to back up. Terrified me half to death.

My mother -in-law made strawberry reuhbarb pie. YUMMY! And right now V is trying to climb up on the rocking horse, but isn't quite managing it.

Good news

2009-06-27T15:16:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting for things to happen so I could share them, but like a tipical saturday it has been relaxed and sort of boring. I told a friend on the phone today that I am driven by my stomach. So in true following of this, I ran to my parents house for lunch. To my dismay lunch was already over and there were no leftovers in fridge. What did they eat??? Time to improvise... Ah they had bisquits for breakfast and there is one left. Ok what else that wasn't filling. I see yogurt. Perfect. So maybe I should come with a WARNING: IF I AM AT YOUR HOUSE I MAY BE HOPING TO BE FED! DO NOT FEED THE MOUCH!!! That sounds about right.

There is a big part of me that hopes I keep plenty of food stocked in the house in Minot so that I don't have to worry about what we are going to eat.

V went with grandpa to check the water for the field that is being irrigated and was watching the cows saying"mooo co-ow" for whatever reason he has picked up on that and is one of his favorite things to say.

When he woke up from his nap this morning he was more interested in playing with me while still in the crib than getting out. Thats fine by me, just not in his typical behavior.

Some hope and excitement from M in Minot! He got payed yesterday and mentioned that someone had told him about a house for rent that is two bedrooms. So here is putting faith into hope that this will work out combined with tithing and prayers. And my fingers are hypothetically crossed. I think I need more faith in faith.

Ah I get to teach some 12 and 13? year olds in church tomorrow maybe I should actually read it!

DQ blizzards

2009-06-26T13:39:00.000-07:00

M is in Minot working hard for us and I love him for that, but at times it leaves him exhausted. In the mean time V and I are here in Fallon doing a wackjob routine. V has discovered he prefers finger foods when it comes to eating. And I have run out of ideas on what to feed a 10 month old. String cheese, graham crackers and cereal are not the best thing to ALWAYS feed him. But he doesn't complain... yet. So he sits in his high chair making a mess of the cut up veggies I gave him and gives a huge grin with his eyes squinted. So of course I over look the mess and just smile and laugh at him. He really is too cute! When he makes a mess like this I know he's actully eating some of it, ulike when he has to clear his tray of everything and then it just lands on the floor, with nothing eaten. Maybe he will drink some more apple juice.

I can't help but think I must be a scatterbrained mother who thinks its a good day when I remember to feed my child more than twice a day. Oh sure he gets milk when it is his nap times and for bed, but breakfast and dinner can't be healthy for the poor boy. And yet he continues to gain weight. I know cause everytime I pick him up he seems heavier. Maybe I will let Adolf in to play with V for a while. But secretly it is so I can read a little bit in Breaking Dawn.

Earlier I realized that V needs a better high chair situation. He currently uses the wooden one that grandma got for all visiting grandkids. To keep him strapped in we use an old belt. But he can still stand up that way. DANGER!!

I have been trying to shed a few access pounds so I feel healthier and it doesn't work so great. Just a short time ago I had visions of DQ Blizzards dancing in my head. I need more self restraint. Maybe the fact that I have to drive 10 miles to get it will help me in my hour of need.

How does one sweep the floor when your child can escape the exersaucer you've been using as a jail? I think I will have to come up with a better solution.

Things I Missed

2009-06-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning at 8:30 and in a hurry. Transformers started at 12:30 and I had things that needed to get done. Get V out of bed and he wanted on the floor not to cuddle up with me, dissapointing, oh well I have shirts that need washed anyway. I was going to grab the blueberries out of the freezer to make blueberry muffins but space it. Bring V into the living room and make a call to my mom to see if she would like to go with me to the movie. Then call Dad to see if he wants to come too. Almost 9 so I call M before he heads to work. He saw the movie last night and I'm trying to get info out of him, it doesn't work. V is now in the washroom eating who knows what. It's breakfast time. That is when I realize I forgot to get the blueberries out, oh well guess its cold cereal again! But to add something healthy V gets to eat an apricot. Now he's getting grumpy maybe a little seasame street will work. It doesn't. Time for a bottle and lay in the crib for a while.

Fastforward to the theater. I get there ahead of my parents and save seats. Let me just say that I think that this sequal was fantabulous. So we get out of the movie after three or something. I have to give my mom a ride home because dad didn't end up comming in. We sit in road contruction for about 10 minutes. And then I get on facebok. One of my friends has said something about Farrah Faucet sp? and Michael Jackson. What is she talking about? So I look it up. They died?????? Shocking. I'm not sad I never knew them, but they are big names. I've been hearing MJs name since I can remember! But now who am I going to make fun of every once and a while for doing strange things? Oh well. Their poor families.

And so these are the things that I missed because I am a scatterbrained mom who doesn't watch the news and goes to movies in the middle of the day to save two bucks.

Musings and thoughts

2009-06-24T10:22:00.000-07:00

How does one child make such a big mess? V is so busy. He goes from one thing to the next. Clean off the coffee table, help Adolf eat his cat food, clear out the dvds and tapes, pull out all the shoes, throw his toys in the bird tray. Oh and the temper tantrums he has learned to throw. If I didn't love the little stinker so much I may have to sell him to the zoo. And yet there are those rare moments when he is dragging a rope string around by the mouth when he looks up and grins and all you can do is laugh and give hugs and kisses.

One would think that now that he is down for a nap I would get loads of things done, but I think I am the slowest house cleaner in the history of housewives. It takes me ten minutes to sweep the floor, even if I'm in a hurry. So never ask me to sweep cause it will take forever. I also do not enjoy the dishes doing. I for some reason prefer to clean up messes, but not the deep cleaning. For example when cleaning off the table it is ok to clear the dishes and take them to the sink, but some one else may wash them, wash off the table, and put the left overs in the fridge.

So M made breakfast this morning up in Minot. I was teasing him that it was my job to do that. He told me to get my butt up there and do it. So now I am going to tease him about it and tell him that I'm headed up there. Unfortunately there is so much to do before we can get up there:
V needs his birth certificate
I need to gather up medical records
The things we've been using on a regular basis need to be put in boxes
The Uhal needs to be rented and picked up
I need a driving companion so they need to to take time off work
The three of us need a place to live. That one should be at the top of the list.
So you see there is still a lot to get done before there will be any moving to begin with. I suppose the milk containers can't wash themselves and I need clean shirts, plus Vernon needs clean pjs for tonight. But I much prefer to do this and when I'm done here I have every intention of continuing to read midnight sun on Stephenie Myers official website.

Which is another thing I used to read books very quickly. I am currently reading the same book I was reading 5 months ago! And when I complete this one I can finally move on to the final book in the twilight series. May I finish it much faster than this current book!

I would really like to go one week without making a trip to wal-mart. Maybe that is what I will start doing. Go everyother week and if I run out of something in the meantime, I will just have to do without it until the scheduled shopping day. Sheesh when did I start having so much to say?
I guess always. I have always wanted to write so maybe this is a good way to go about it. One time in high school the author Chris Himerdinger or how ever you spell that came and did a fireside. Afterwards I went up and talked to him about being a writer and he told me to write every day. So maybe one of these days I will post a little short story.

THE FAMILY

2009-06-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

For a rare day V is sleeping in. I am truly greatful for that. Once he wakes up, it is a constant chasing around the house. We are staying with my in-laws and their house is not baby proofed. So in the midst of all I do I have a constant eye on if he is in the Macaw's bird tray or pulling dvds off the shelf or going into the bathroom.

I can't wait till we get into our own place again. You see I like to cook and I love to cook breakfast, but all my cookbooks are in a box in storage so I can't wait to get back to making all those good things that I make each morning. This morning I decided to make German Pancakes and I had to get the recipe from my mother last night. But now they are done and taste so good I am glad that I did.

M is working at a tires plus in Minot ND. He has an advantage because he was in the Air Force for four years. He worked on ground vehicles. He is a good man and a wonderful husband.

V loves all animals. He has a kitten named Adolf and they play so well together. Last night in the bath, that his grandma gave him, he played in the tub as long as his kitten was watching. As soon as Adolf left he was done with his bath. And when he is done in the tub he stands up and refuses to sit back down. In fact it is a fight to finish washing him up if he is done. The other animals he loves include the Macaw Charles who he wants to touch soooo bad. But Charles is not a super friendly bird so Vernon has to get a little older before he can touch the bird. He also sits on the floor by the cage and just watches him. He says "cow" so we spend much time watching the cows out here eat. He also likes the big draft horses and the regular horses. V will touch their noses and giggle. V also likes to sit on them and then sort of jump off. He gets so excited when he sees them. He has only met one dog that he didn't like and that dog licked his face and scared him for some reason.

V gets ever closer to walking and I am so afraid that M will miss his first steps. He has woken up so now it is beakfast time.

Starting Out

2009-06-22T22:30:00.000-07:00

It's official I have decided to join the blogspot world of sharing information. This first one will be short because I am getting sleepy.

It is kind of wierd to celebrate a father's day without the father of your child around. But I tried really hard to make it a good Father's Day. I sent M footprints on paper, pictures of the process, and candy. Can't get better than that can you?

This evening I left V with the grandparents to help my mom and dad move furniture. We are buff three women and my dad and we were able to move a refrigerator.

Other than that I can't wait to get up to North Dakota to be with M again.