let's go fly a kite

James has been begging me for a kite for months. Maybe since our trip to St. George last October for the marathon when Grandpa Brent flew the dragon kite with him. I finally broke down when I saw these kites for $1 at WalMart. I figured they probably wouldn't get off the ground, but I also wouldn't care if they got trashed the first time we used them. James has been watching out the window for wind constantly since we bought them, and today he finally got the perfect combination of sun and wind. Look at these kite-flying maniacs!


P.S. The picture and sound are distorted because I edited the clips in iMovie and compressed them. That's why it sounds like there are poltergeists in the background. I'll refrain from compressing in the future so I don't creep everyone out.

our visit to the sun

Ah, vacation time. Christian scheduled a vacation this month so he could go to Southern Utah and mountain bike. The kids and I went along to visit the sun. Unfortunately, Mr. Wind was also in St. George, so it was a little cooler than we hoped it would be. But the sun was still there, and the cooler air made it perfect biking weather.

We drove through the night (knocks almost two hours off travel time when you don't have to stop and eat lunch, take 20 potty breaks, and adjust the DVD player every two hours). We almost made it in time for the first session of General Conference, but we were delayed by a nail in our tire for about an hour. So we joined in the solemn assembly from our car, which was quite a unique opportunity. We were greeted by the Sybrowskys with pancakes and homemade syrup when we finally made it to Sandy. It was so good to see everyone! We were also able to finally meet Lewis the chihuahua and see a silkworm stigma under Grandpa Layne's grade school microscope.


While the boys attended the priesthood session, the girls took advantage of ladies night at TaiPan Trading. (Why oh why can't they open a store in Seattle? It's tragic.) What an exciting day! And of course on Sunday there were the traditional Bear Claws and Horns O' Plenty with chocolate milk while we watched Conference. I love family traditions. Plus we had our favorite flank steak dinner with all the siblings and cousins. I really felt the blessing of family on this trip. It was so fun to watch the cousins play together. Thanks for all your wonderful hospitality, Grandma Jode & Grandpa Layne!



When we left for SG on Monday morning, it was snowing. What?! We really did pick the worst week to be in Utah. The day before we got to SG it was 80 degrees; during the week it dipped down to the low 60s; and the day after we left it shot right back up to 80°. Seriously? But we did have a blast.

We got to spend the day with Sam, Lucy, Sara, and Dan (at least for lunch) in sunny (but windy) Las Vegas. It was so windy that we had to ditch the park for the McDonald's Playland. We loved seeing their house and playing on the trampoline! James was so sad that Sam wasn't coming back to St. George with us. They had such a great time together. And it was fun to see how big little Luce is getting! Thanks for having us, Sari!



Christian biked almost every day. Layne, T, and Roger came down to bike one day and found out that Christian really IS a doctor. When Roger took a tumble and a rock to the face, Christian pulled out his suture and sewed him up right on the trail. (My mom has speculated that Christian likes to take inexperienced bikers on rides just so he can practice his wilderness medicine skills, since this is not the first time someone in his group has been sent to the hospital.) We swam, watched movies, shopped, and of course we ate well. All I really cared about was a Cafe Rio run for pork tacos, and they did not disappoint. It was so fun to spend time with my mom. Even with all her aches and pains, she kept up with us--what a trooper! It was such a relaxing week. Thanks for letting us take over your house! We were so glad Grandpa made it down for the afternoon before we left--the kids had a great time with him.

James: "Grandpa, do you have any prizes for me? Grandma is all out."

Friday we took our new bike trailer on a little spin on one of SG's great paved trails. We biked up to the top entrance of Snow Canyon (literally along the marathon route, only uphill), then coasted down through the gorgeous state park, stopping once for a snack break and to take a little hike. The boys went crazy for the red rock and the chance to run around. After the 18+ mile ride, it was nice to get back to the house, but it inspired me to find a cheap Craigslist bike and put that trailer to use! It was great exercise! Christian got really good exercise pulling almost 100lbs. behind his bike. He is amazing!


To my family: doesn't this look very similar to baby pictures of me? I think it's the eyes.






I have missed St. George so much. When we lived in Utah, we probably went down there about once a month. We decided this trip that no matter where we end up, we will own a vacation home there. It is the perfect getaway. We were able to make it back in time to enjoy Saturday with the Sybrowskys again (mmmm, Crown Burger). And Lind & Code were able to squeeze me in for a cut and color--you rock! Thanks to everyone for making it a great trip!

tanks easto bunny, bok bok!

And the eating goes on. Easter was delicious. The boys and I dyed eggs with Ella and it reminded me how much I like hard-boiled eggs. I really missed the annual Ivie-Wawrzyniak Easter breakfast in St. George this year--especially my dad's creamed eggs on toast. I would've made some in his honor, but I would have been the only one eating them, and creamed-anything should not be on my menu right now. Christian missed the big egg hunt (again), and most of the candy, but he did make it to church in time to teach his lesson and then stayed awake to accompany us to Derek & Bonnie's for Easter dinner. And it did not disappoint. Bonnie is a gem--she got a real, true Honey Baked® Ham! I had forgotten how much better they really are than the Costco spiral cut honey hams which we've switched over to in hard times. There is a difference, and it's a tasty one. She also made the most fabulous cheesy potatoes, of which I ate way too many servings. We brought asparagus and Jody's famous trifle for dessert, which unfortunately did not turn out as good as Jody's. (The easily-distracted being that I am, I only added one box of white chocolate pudding to the milk measurement for two boxes. Oops--pudding soup. That's what I get for attempting to prepare food while my children are out of bed.) This, however, did not stop me from having a huge serving that night and again for the next two nights.

Bonnie was so thoughtful and bought a dinosaur floor puzzle for the boys. The little boys. I guess James wasn't in the mood to show off his puzzle skills, though. How many orthopaedic surgeons does it take to put together a children's floor puzzle?


We loved being able to spend the holiday with part of our Seattle "family." Thanks for having us over! We hope you still want your child to be born after spending three hours with ours.


P.S. I do have footage of the boys searching for eggs for the grandparents, but I need to edit for length before I post it. Watch for it soon. . .

marmaduke eats it all (happy birthday to me)

Birthday brownies. Birthday brownies with cookies n' cream ice cream. Oh, and Carly's pork burritos with LOTS of cheese and dressing. That's what we ate for my 31st birthday. After my mom and sister left I found myself standing on the scale in shock. How could I gain 7 pounds in one weekend?

I'll be honest--it wasn't just the brownies. Let's see, Thai on Thursday, big fat cheeseburgers with fries on Friday, and coconut curry mahi mahi on Saturday, followed by a medley of desserts. Plus lunches at the Nordstrom Cafe, Taco Time, and Joey's, all with a real Coke. (I am Coke deprived, and I don't like Diet Coke, so when I finally get a chance to go out, I drink at least three of the real thing in a sitting. Do not tell me how many calories that costs me. I don't want to know.) And the peanut M&Ms were flowing all weekend. Seriously, all we did all weekend was eat and shop!

At least after excess shopping you look better than you did before. I have really let myself go crazy ever since Thanksgiving, I guess. I ate whatever I wanted at Christmas, then I had my little surgery in January, after which I convinced myself that I should take a break from working out so I could heal (ha!), plus I have a permanent candy dish on my counter (bad idea). But none of the weight seemed to be catching up with me, even after all the Valentine's candy. Who says your metabolism slows down at 30? No, that's not true at all. It slows down at 31. Augh! Seriously, four days after my birthday I finally saw the scale jump. And I've got to be in a swim suit in two weeks. BOOMER!

At least I celebrated big, unlike last year when Christian was on call and I lit myself a candle on a cupcake and made the boys and some neighbor kids sing happy birthday to me. Christian was on call again this year, but my mom and sister made it a fabulous day. Thank you so much for coming to see me, and for all the amazing birthday gifts! It was one of my best birthdays on record.

It was mostly a girls weekend, with neighbors and Christian helping with the boys so we could play. I was so desperate for some girl time with no kids that I actually left the boys with Christian post call. He took James to school and put on a movie for Addy, and doesn't remember anything after that. Then on Saturday I got a call from James on my cell. From what I could understand I assessed that he hurt his ear playing Ghost Run and he didn't like when daddy had to poke him with the needle. That's right--round two of do-it-yourself stitches. While circling the kitchen, he nicked his ear on a corner, popping the skin open and exposing the cartilage. Man, I'm so glad I didn't have to see that one. Christian's description of holding James down with his knee while trying to stitch it up was enough for me. Well, they both lived, so I guess it worked out. I had a great time shopping and didn't have to deal with the drama firsthand for once. Thank you so much, Cree, for giving me that wonderful birthday gift!


The boys got in some serious snuggle time with Grandma Holly. There was, of course, the requisite trip to McDonald's, plus she took them to see Horton Hears a Who while Lind and I saw Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. And don't forget the Easter presents, just a little early. Goofballs! What a great mom and grandma we have. So thoughtful and fun. We love you!













It was so great to spend time with my sister, too. We got crafty (think fabric-covered headbands and crocheted chihuahua sweaters) and read every tabloid magazine from the last three months (she takes good care of me). I miss having her right there for style and hair advice. I'm so glad I have a sister. Thanks for coming all the way up here, and for the sweet gifts! I miss hanging out with you!



Addy was positively distraught when we dropped Grandma and "Aunt Wanda" off at the airport. He cried and yelled for me to "go back a airport, right now!" I think he thought we were getting on the plane with Grandma. Poor mister.

As much as I love my three boys, sometimes I just need to be around girls. The talk is different, the expectations are different. The shopping is definitely different than with my sweet husband. And you wouldn't believe the cleaning they did before they left. My house was cleaner than before they came! I can't tell you how much I looked forward to this weekend--it really got me through some tough days with my two crazy monkeys. And it was worth the wait. I love you two!

helper monkey

He wants to wash his hands constantly. He won't wear his shoes if he notices the bottoms are dirty. He'll be the first to dump out the basket of toys in my living room and then run off, leaving a mess, but if you ask him to clean it up he'll say, "Otay" and go to work. This kid is a clean freak. Yes, Addy is much like his daddy, too. Oh it's a good thing--I love having a "clean" kid. But for some reason I was still surprised to see how excited he was to vacuum the floor the other day. He usually runs for cover from the noise. "I try!" he said when I got the Shark out for my daily crumb clean-up. So I took the long-reach handle off and voila! It was just his size! Is 2 too young to start a job chart? I think I could delegate some serious housework to this monkey! He's just the right size for those hard-to-reach places. . .


I wish you could see his facial expression when he's really concentrating. . .


Any idea how hard it was to get him to smile for this picture?
He wanted it washed off so badly I could hardly get him to pose.

i'm smarter than you

James: "Mom, I'm smarter than you, because I think better than you, and I have better ideas."

Me: "James, that's kind of rude to say to someone."

James: "Oh, sorry. How 'bout you can be as smart as me if you want. But I'm 30-2-50-30-931 smart. That's really smart."

That's okay, Buddy. You're probably right. You are smarter than me, or will be shortly. It kills me the way this kid just exudes confidence. So much like his father...who is also smarter than me. Not that it bothers me. My mission is to soften and sensitize these brilliant men so they don't come off arrogant and snobbish to the rest of the world, and remind them to use their genius minds for good in this life. To help them to be kind and approachable, highly respected and well-liked. And believe me, I'm working on it. Because I see their kind, approachable sides from time to time, and I respect them immensely and love them fiercely. There is hope.

good day sunshine

"I need to laugh, and when the sun is out - I've got something I can laugh about. . ." -The Beatles

What a gorgeous week we've had! Sunny and 50+ degrees every day. We couldn't help but spend hours and hours outside. Picnics, snake walks, rock-wall climbing, flower-picking, swinging, sliding, spinning, and lots of "ghost run" games--anything to be in the sun! I even stopped taking my vitamin D supplement this week. We were lucky to have Christian join us at the park today since he was post call. To all of you still buried in snow (especially the grandparents), enjoy some early pictures of spring! (But don't get too envious--we'll be back to gray skies soon enough, probably until June.)