Last Tuesday, April 25th, the girls and I met Megan and Turner at the park for a little playtime. It was a fairly cloudy day when we set out, and I looked up at the sky on our way to the park, wondering if I should be worried about it. But ... this is California, and it doesn't rain much. Even sometimes when it is forecast to rain, it doesn't rain. So we went anyway and had a good time with our friends.
Well, Megan and Turner headed home before we were ready to go, but by then it had started sprinkling a little bit. I told the girls that if it started raining any harder, we would head home. A few minutes later, it started raining harder, so we were getting ready to head out. And all of a sudden, out of nowhere, it started hailing like crazy! It started slow and small, but the hail got bigger and started coming down really fast and hard. We took refuge under the gazebo with some other people who were at the park, while Brooke put her shoes on. The hail didn't last too long, only about 5 minutes or less, and when it let up a little, we decided to make a break for it. It was still raining quite a bit, and we were getting wet, running out of the park and trying to get home. And then ... right about when we hit the light to cross, it started hailing like crazy again! Brooke started crying and screaming. It was coming down really hard, and it hurt quite a bit. She kept saying they were pokey things and that they hurt. It was quite the adventure!
Two ladies pulled their cars over to the side once they were through the light and asked us if we needed a ride somewhere. I kept telling them that we just live right across the street, but they insisted on holding an umbrella over us while we got into one of their cars. She took us home, even though we were so close. It was very nice of her, and I was grateful. Brooke was fairly traumatized; she couldn't stop talking about the "pokey things". She didn't like it much at all. But I thought it was such a funny situation to be stuck in. Camille was covered up and bundled up in the stroller, so she didn't have any kind of reaction.
I put them in a warm bath when we got home, and they felt better after that.
Brooke has been playing doctor a lot lately. We have some doctor's toys, and she puts the little stethascope on and checks everyone up. The other day when I went in to get her from quiet time, I watched her giving Dolly a checkup for a few minutes. And just a couple of days ago, I had a checkup for a while. Actually, we took turns giving each other checkups. And she gave Camille one as well. It was just too cute. The first time she checked me up, she asked, "Mom, where is your heart?" I showed her where it was, and she put the stethoscope over it. Then she said, "Mom, I can hear your heart humping!" I couldn't help cracking up, it was SO funny!
Brooke and I have been working on memorizing the Articles of Faith. She has memorized the first 2 Articles. The first one, she took a while getting down smoothly. I think it just took her a while to understand what it was we were doing, because when we started the second one, I was super surprised with how fast she learned it. She's a pretty smart little thing! Anyway, she's passed the first 2 off with Sister Bulkley, our Primary President, so we are going to start working on the 3rd one.
Camille has started learning a bunch of new words: Mom and Dad, of course; and I think she's been working on "Brooke"; Jesus; water; train/plane (can't really tell. She says the same thing for both...); bubbles, she says really well. She's so cute, trying to mimic the sounds we make.
She's also gotten pretty silly. She gets in these moods where she'll run and jump around, pause and start giggling to herself, and then start running and jumping again. Or she'll catch my eye, or Brooke's eye and start giggling and being silly. She's pretty cute.
I've started training for another half marathon. I wanted to train for something before we get pregnant again, but a 10K seemed too easy... I could probably run a 10k without too much trouble this weekend. So, there's this half race Father's Day weekend, on a Saturday, right here in Santa Clarita, not too expensive. I think I'm going to sign up for it, which gives me about 2 months to train for it. I'm a little nervous that I won't be ready in time, but even if it's hard and I have to take it slow, I still think I want to do it. Last week I started a new training schedule that Heather is running with me, more or less. I don't think she'll run the race with me, but she's going to train with me, which is very nice of her. It's so much nicer and easier when I am running with her.
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
A Little Tender Mercy
We've been keeping busy the past few weeks. I've been working on house projects here and there: giving our garage sale mirror a makeover; putting up floating bookshelves in our bedroom; fixing Brooke's curtains; etc. We bought a rug for our living room, and I'm trying to make our house look more put together. It's a slow process, to be sure; but I think it's coming along, and I like how it's coming.
I finished my Fast Metabolism Diet on Sunday, so I'm back to eating like a normal person again, although I'm trying to keep things in moderation and balance, so I don't gain all the weight back. And I'm trying to still eat more frequently throughout the day. I lost about 7 pounds total, gaining a pound back that last week, which was awfully frustrating. But I was so happy to be FREE again, that I didn't get as upset as I normally would. It feels nice not to be so restricted, and also to workout the way I want to again.
I feel good, after doing the diet, and I do feel quite a bit slimmer. It was really hard. But, I think I'm glad I did it.
The girls have been doing well. Camille has broken out in a strange rash all along the right side of her body. So, I've cut out dairy from her diet again, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. Daniel says it's eczema, and we've been putting cream on her for the past few days, which seems to help. She has a Dr. appointment next week, so I'll have to remember to ask about it then.
Brooke's been good, but doing some naughty things here and there. Last week, while I was showering and getting ready, and Daniel was working at home, she got into a tub of Desitin (again) and smeared it all into her hair and Camille's hair, as well as her clothes, a towel and the footstool. I was fairly upset, you might say. But I did make quite an interesting discovery: if ever you need to get Desitin out of a kid's hair, use peanut butter. I rubbed and washed peanut butter into her and Camille's hair, rinsed it out and then washed it regularly with shampoo. And it worked! Their hair was a little greasy for that day, but I washed it again the next day, and it was all back to normal. Fun life lessons, when you have kids, right?
Brooke's a good little helper, though. She loves helping me in the kitchen (I suspect it's mainly because she likes to sneak little samples of what I'm making, but it's fun nonetheless). She can set the table, she seems to take pride in cleaning up the loft all by herself, and usually when I ask her to do something for me, she does it. She's the best!
Daniel worked from home a lot for a few weeks, which was so nice. We loved having him around, even though he was locked in our bedroom for most of the day. We could still go in to see him every now and then, and he was always here for dinner. He's working down in Hollywood now, for at least a couple weeks, which means we're at the other end of the scale -- not seeing him much at all. Poor fella! This job is just not pleasant for him.
Today I had a little prayer answered. Brooke had her preschool at the Faucette's house this morning. The girls both slept late, and I had to wake them up at a quarter to 9 so we could make it. They were both dead asleep! Haha! That's always nice, because it gives me time to workout, read scriptures and pray, and take a shower before they are up. Love it!
Anyway, I planned to take Brooke, come home and eat with Camille, get ready (blow my hair out and such), and then take Camille to get blood drawn. When we went to her 15 month appointment a few months ago, the doctor ordered another blood test to check some things out. I procrastinated going in to do it; and then we were in Oregon for 2 weeks; and then we came back and I stalled again. But, her appointment is next week, so I figured it is time to take care of it so that I don't look like a neglectful mother.
This morning, in my personal prayer, I asked Heavenly Father to help me and Camille when we went in to have her blood drawn. I asked Him to bless her with peace and comfort, that I would be okay all the while, and that everything would go smoothly and that Camille would be okay. Well. We went in, took a number and sat down to wait. But literally 30 seconds later, our number was called and we went in. I sat down in the chair with Camille on my lap, and the lab tech started getting things ready. She banded one arm, and then the other, looking for a good vein, and I talked to Camille gently about what was going on. Camille didn't make a sound. She just watched the tech's hands as she worked. Then, the lab tech grabbed the needle and tube and asked me to hold Camille's arm still and straight. After a little bit, she put the needle in, and we were both expecting Camille to start screaming and crying and writhing. What she did do was so sweet and cute! She looked down, and when the needle went in, she said, "Wo!" And that was it! No squirming, no crying. She just said, "Wo!" and watched everything happen, and then it was over! It was amazing! The lab tech said that that never happens. She was pretty surprised, and I told her we said a prayer. :)
Leaving the lab, I just thought about how amazing it is, that Heavenly Father cares about the little things. I prayed this morning for Camille and I to be at peace and to be comforted just for the few minutes it takes to get her blood drawn. And He blessed us with what I wanted and what we both needed. Such a little thing, but what a difference it made for me! I love these little testimony building moments! God does hear and answer our prayers, and I feel His love for me and my littles.
*Mamma's little helper! So cute in that apron! She had to be like Mamma.*
*I love when these girls play so nicely together!*
*Exercising like Mamma. I hope that they learn from my example and develop a true love for exercise! She joined in with me for yoga one Saturday morning a couple weeks ago. It was fun!*
*Peanut butter in her hair. She was not a happy camper. I told her that this is the consequence of playing with Desitin. Hopefully this time, it sticks and she learns from her mistake. :) Camille's hair was even worse, and she was not a happy camper either. *
*Little naughty kids! Camille loves taking things out of the drawers in the kitchen, and I wondered what she wanted with all those towels. Well, I found them!*
*This girl loves olives! I love those teeny tiny fingers!*
I finished my Fast Metabolism Diet on Sunday, so I'm back to eating like a normal person again, although I'm trying to keep things in moderation and balance, so I don't gain all the weight back. And I'm trying to still eat more frequently throughout the day. I lost about 7 pounds total, gaining a pound back that last week, which was awfully frustrating. But I was so happy to be FREE again, that I didn't get as upset as I normally would. It feels nice not to be so restricted, and also to workout the way I want to again.
I feel good, after doing the diet, and I do feel quite a bit slimmer. It was really hard. But, I think I'm glad I did it.
The girls have been doing well. Camille has broken out in a strange rash all along the right side of her body. So, I've cut out dairy from her diet again, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. Daniel says it's eczema, and we've been putting cream on her for the past few days, which seems to help. She has a Dr. appointment next week, so I'll have to remember to ask about it then.
Brooke's been good, but doing some naughty things here and there. Last week, while I was showering and getting ready, and Daniel was working at home, she got into a tub of Desitin (again) and smeared it all into her hair and Camille's hair, as well as her clothes, a towel and the footstool. I was fairly upset, you might say. But I did make quite an interesting discovery: if ever you need to get Desitin out of a kid's hair, use peanut butter. I rubbed and washed peanut butter into her and Camille's hair, rinsed it out and then washed it regularly with shampoo. And it worked! Their hair was a little greasy for that day, but I washed it again the next day, and it was all back to normal. Fun life lessons, when you have kids, right?
Brooke's a good little helper, though. She loves helping me in the kitchen (I suspect it's mainly because she likes to sneak little samples of what I'm making, but it's fun nonetheless). She can set the table, she seems to take pride in cleaning up the loft all by herself, and usually when I ask her to do something for me, she does it. She's the best!
Daniel worked from home a lot for a few weeks, which was so nice. We loved having him around, even though he was locked in our bedroom for most of the day. We could still go in to see him every now and then, and he was always here for dinner. He's working down in Hollywood now, for at least a couple weeks, which means we're at the other end of the scale -- not seeing him much at all. Poor fella! This job is just not pleasant for him.
Today I had a little prayer answered. Brooke had her preschool at the Faucette's house this morning. The girls both slept late, and I had to wake them up at a quarter to 9 so we could make it. They were both dead asleep! Haha! That's always nice, because it gives me time to workout, read scriptures and pray, and take a shower before they are up. Love it!
Anyway, I planned to take Brooke, come home and eat with Camille, get ready (blow my hair out and such), and then take Camille to get blood drawn. When we went to her 15 month appointment a few months ago, the doctor ordered another blood test to check some things out. I procrastinated going in to do it; and then we were in Oregon for 2 weeks; and then we came back and I stalled again. But, her appointment is next week, so I figured it is time to take care of it so that I don't look like a neglectful mother.
This morning, in my personal prayer, I asked Heavenly Father to help me and Camille when we went in to have her blood drawn. I asked Him to bless her with peace and comfort, that I would be okay all the while, and that everything would go smoothly and that Camille would be okay. Well. We went in, took a number and sat down to wait. But literally 30 seconds later, our number was called and we went in. I sat down in the chair with Camille on my lap, and the lab tech started getting things ready. She banded one arm, and then the other, looking for a good vein, and I talked to Camille gently about what was going on. Camille didn't make a sound. She just watched the tech's hands as she worked. Then, the lab tech grabbed the needle and tube and asked me to hold Camille's arm still and straight. After a little bit, she put the needle in, and we were both expecting Camille to start screaming and crying and writhing. What she did do was so sweet and cute! She looked down, and when the needle went in, she said, "Wo!" And that was it! No squirming, no crying. She just said, "Wo!" and watched everything happen, and then it was over! It was amazing! The lab tech said that that never happens. She was pretty surprised, and I told her we said a prayer. :)
Leaving the lab, I just thought about how amazing it is, that Heavenly Father cares about the little things. I prayed this morning for Camille and I to be at peace and to be comforted just for the few minutes it takes to get her blood drawn. And He blessed us with what I wanted and what we both needed. Such a little thing, but what a difference it made for me! I love these little testimony building moments! God does hear and answer our prayers, and I feel His love for me and my littles.
*Mamma's little helper! So cute in that apron! She had to be like Mamma.*
*I love when these girls play so nicely together!*
*Exercising like Mamma. I hope that they learn from my example and develop a true love for exercise! She joined in with me for yoga one Saturday morning a couple weeks ago. It was fun!*
*Peanut butter in her hair. She was not a happy camper. I told her that this is the consequence of playing with Desitin. Hopefully this time, it sticks and she learns from her mistake. :) Camille's hair was even worse, and she was not a happy camper either. *
*Little naughty kids! Camille loves taking things out of the drawers in the kitchen, and I wondered what she wanted with all those towels. Well, I found them!*
*This girl loves olives! I love those teeny tiny fingers!*
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Murder on the Grill
A couple of weekends ago, Daniel and I hosted a little Murder Mystery Dinner at our house. It was a 50s themed barbecue party, and we had 3 couples come -- the Hebdons, the Thompsons, and Morgan Kennington (her husband couldn't come, so we had Daniel take his part). Everyone got decked out in 50's style clothes and brought a little something to share.
*Daniel -- AKA Chubby Cheddar, fraudulent rock star*
*Leslie -- AKA Peggy Sue, Gossip Columnist
*Morgan Kennington -- AKA Barby Q, hot divorcee and fence*
*Emily Thompson -- AKA Bobby Socks, Hoola Hoop superstar*
*Megan and Brandon Hebdon -- AKA Tiara Diammond, beauty queen (and murderer!); and Johnny Rocket, Russian Spy and grease monkey*
We also had Preston Thompson -- AKA Ivan Spudnik, Russian rocket scientist.
We had a great time! I was a non-suspect, which wasn't as much fun as being a suspect. I sort of faded into the background of all the discussion and argument. But we had a great time anyway, and we hope to do it again.
*Daniel -- AKA Chubby Cheddar, fraudulent rock star*
*Leslie -- AKA Peggy Sue, Gossip Columnist
*Morgan Kennington -- AKA Barby Q, hot divorcee and fence*
*Emily Thompson -- AKA Bobby Socks, Hoola Hoop superstar*
*Megan and Brandon Hebdon -- AKA Tiara Diammond, beauty queen (and murderer!); and Johnny Rocket, Russian Spy and grease monkey*
We also had Preston Thompson -- AKA Ivan Spudnik, Russian rocket scientist.
We had a great time! I was a non-suspect, which wasn't as much fun as being a suspect. I sort of faded into the background of all the discussion and argument. But we had a great time anyway, and we hope to do it again.
Hibernating
So, ... I got sick this week. Brooke has been coughing a bunch for 2 weeks now, and we've kind of been hibernating because of that, hoping not to get anyone else sick. But then, early this week, I developed a bit of a flu -- mostly stuffy and runny nose, a little stuffy head and achy-ness; but no cough, thank goodness. I'm over it now, I think. But because I got sick this week, we hibernated for another week, avoiding people. So it's been a little weird that we haven't gone to the park or seen our friends at all.
Because of all of that, it made for a pretty slow week. I did my usual chores for the week, continued my super fun diet and exercise program, and took care of these girls. Daniel worked at home for most of the week again, which was nice. We had the sister missionaries over for dinner one night, and the girls and I took the Altima to get an oil change and car wash, which was quite the experience. I took the car up with the girls in tow, a little Burger King for their lunches, dropped the car off and went to wait in the little patio waiting area ... for almost 2 hours! And little Camille was hard to contain. She kept trying to run out to where the cars were being detailed, and I kept having to chase her and tell her not to go out. The girls were late for nap, but at least we got it done.
Brooke had fun playing with play dough and paint while Camille napped this week. She did watch quite a bit of tv so that I could sleep a little on the couch. And I've been trying to get out to take little walks around the neighborhood with the girls, while the weather is still nice and not too hot. I think they like our walks. Brooke usually rides her little bike around, and Camille and I walk very slowly, so that Camille can stop and grab things, look at bugs and flowers and generally explore all that she wants.
Camille has always been the cutest little baby. But over that past weeks, she's developing into just the cutest little girl! I can't help but squeeze her sometimes. I obsess over her chubby little cheeks and her tiny little toes. She's trying to talk and communicate more and more, which is both good and bad, since I don't really know what she's trying to say, usually. She loves watching Brooke, and will sometimes just sit and watch her for a long time. She's often off in her own little world, doing her own thing, so sometimes when I try to play with her, she'll put me off -- I've obviously interrupted her play. :) She walks on her tiptoes all the time, which we think is both incredibly funny and so cute (another reason I obsess over those toes).
I love watching her learning how to be a person. It's so fun! I love watching both of them learning how to be real people, but it's especially fun with Camille right now. The other day, I watched her take a tissue out of the trash, wipe and "blow" her nose in it, bend over and wipe at her little bum with it and then throw it back in the trash. It was hilarious! She has been awfully interested in Brooke's potty training process, and I often catch her tearing off toilet paper, wiping her bum, throwing it in the toilet and trying to flush. It cracks me up!
The other night, we were reading an animal book at bedtime, and I was making some of the animals noises, some of which she has picked up. She can bark like a dog, quack like a duck (although it comes out somewhere between a quack and a growl), growl like ... well, every other animal .... This night, I made the sound for an owl, and she started mimicking me and picked that one right up. Now, every time we come across a picture of an owl, she hoots, and tonight after we put her to bed and closed the door, we could hear her hooting in her bed.
One thing that I'm not loving lately with Camille is that she's been a bit of a finicky eater. Over the past few weeks, she has been turning more and more food away, and I can't figure out what she likes or is willing to eat anymore. She doesn't really eat bread anymore, which is problematic. She ignored most of a banana this morning. She won't do noodles. And she turns up veggies more than not. It's all very different. She used to eat almost anything and a lot of it. And that's just not the case anymore. Fortunately, she still LOVES rice and beans type bowls, she'll eat chicken nuggets, and we think her allergy or sensitivity to dairy is gone now too. It's quite the frustrating job trying to feed these girls.
Brooke was so helpful this week, I was sort of in awe. She has one main chore, aside from the little things I ask her to do now and again throughout the day, and that is to clean up the loft at the end of the day. She knows it's her "Brookie job", and most of the time she fusses and whines and complains the whole time she does it, making the job take 4 times as long as it normally would. She almost always asks me to help her, which I do a little bit, usually. And it always frustrates both of us to no end, that sometimes I wonder why I don't just do it myself every night. BUT. This week has been quite different. When I tell her it's time to clean up, she runs up cheerfully, even excitedly, to go do her job. Even if it's really messy up there, she takes the time to clean it all up, and she doesn't even complain about it. AND, she does it all by herself! It sure makes a Mamma proud! I tell her how well she does and how much I appreciate her help every time she does such a good job. And I can tell she's proud that she did it. Aside from this little help, she has been very interested in helping me do laundry, dishes, clean the bathroom, and, of course, make dinner (although, she's always wanted to help in that department).
*Someone got into the fridge, pulled out the Easter eggs, and started peeling them. This girl is growing up more and more every day. It's fun to watch her explore and learn.*
*Making big messes and playing together -- what they do best!*
Because of all of that, it made for a pretty slow week. I did my usual chores for the week, continued my super fun diet and exercise program, and took care of these girls. Daniel worked at home for most of the week again, which was nice. We had the sister missionaries over for dinner one night, and the girls and I took the Altima to get an oil change and car wash, which was quite the experience. I took the car up with the girls in tow, a little Burger King for their lunches, dropped the car off and went to wait in the little patio waiting area ... for almost 2 hours! And little Camille was hard to contain. She kept trying to run out to where the cars were being detailed, and I kept having to chase her and tell her not to go out. The girls were late for nap, but at least we got it done.
Brooke had fun playing with play dough and paint while Camille napped this week. She did watch quite a bit of tv so that I could sleep a little on the couch. And I've been trying to get out to take little walks around the neighborhood with the girls, while the weather is still nice and not too hot. I think they like our walks. Brooke usually rides her little bike around, and Camille and I walk very slowly, so that Camille can stop and grab things, look at bugs and flowers and generally explore all that she wants.
Camille has always been the cutest little baby. But over that past weeks, she's developing into just the cutest little girl! I can't help but squeeze her sometimes. I obsess over her chubby little cheeks and her tiny little toes. She's trying to talk and communicate more and more, which is both good and bad, since I don't really know what she's trying to say, usually. She loves watching Brooke, and will sometimes just sit and watch her for a long time. She's often off in her own little world, doing her own thing, so sometimes when I try to play with her, she'll put me off -- I've obviously interrupted her play. :) She walks on her tiptoes all the time, which we think is both incredibly funny and so cute (another reason I obsess over those toes).
I love watching her learning how to be a person. It's so fun! I love watching both of them learning how to be real people, but it's especially fun with Camille right now. The other day, I watched her take a tissue out of the trash, wipe and "blow" her nose in it, bend over and wipe at her little bum with it and then throw it back in the trash. It was hilarious! She has been awfully interested in Brooke's potty training process, and I often catch her tearing off toilet paper, wiping her bum, throwing it in the toilet and trying to flush. It cracks me up!
The other night, we were reading an animal book at bedtime, and I was making some of the animals noises, some of which she has picked up. She can bark like a dog, quack like a duck (although it comes out somewhere between a quack and a growl), growl like ... well, every other animal .... This night, I made the sound for an owl, and she started mimicking me and picked that one right up. Now, every time we come across a picture of an owl, she hoots, and tonight after we put her to bed and closed the door, we could hear her hooting in her bed.
One thing that I'm not loving lately with Camille is that she's been a bit of a finicky eater. Over the past few weeks, she has been turning more and more food away, and I can't figure out what she likes or is willing to eat anymore. She doesn't really eat bread anymore, which is problematic. She ignored most of a banana this morning. She won't do noodles. And she turns up veggies more than not. It's all very different. She used to eat almost anything and a lot of it. And that's just not the case anymore. Fortunately, she still LOVES rice and beans type bowls, she'll eat chicken nuggets, and we think her allergy or sensitivity to dairy is gone now too. It's quite the frustrating job trying to feed these girls.
Brooke was so helpful this week, I was sort of in awe. She has one main chore, aside from the little things I ask her to do now and again throughout the day, and that is to clean up the loft at the end of the day. She knows it's her "Brookie job", and most of the time she fusses and whines and complains the whole time she does it, making the job take 4 times as long as it normally would. She almost always asks me to help her, which I do a little bit, usually. And it always frustrates both of us to no end, that sometimes I wonder why I don't just do it myself every night. BUT. This week has been quite different. When I tell her it's time to clean up, she runs up cheerfully, even excitedly, to go do her job. Even if it's really messy up there, she takes the time to clean it all up, and she doesn't even complain about it. AND, she does it all by herself! It sure makes a Mamma proud! I tell her how well she does and how much I appreciate her help every time she does such a good job. And I can tell she's proud that she did it. Aside from this little help, she has been very interested in helping me do laundry, dishes, clean the bathroom, and, of course, make dinner (although, she's always wanted to help in that department).
*Someone got into the fridge, pulled out the Easter eggs, and started peeling them. This girl is growing up more and more every day. It's fun to watch her explore and learn.*
*Making big messes and playing together -- what they do best!*
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)