Happy Halloween

It was just an ok Halloween for us. The trunk or treat was ok. Philip was late because he was taking a test at school. I think Orion had a good time. He didn't really get the whole "trick or treat" thing, but he liked being out and about with the other kids. We only got one family picture, and it isn't my favorite, and you can't see the costumes very well on Phil and Orion. Oh well. This feels like kinda a downer blog. I am not intending it to be that way, I must just be really tired.
Today Philip was supposed to have off of work, bt at 9:00 am, we got a phone call. And then he worked until almost 6:00. So sad. But this morning, Orion and I went to story time at the library. He did better this time around. He almost even smiled at the lady reading the stories. The rest of the day we spent upstairs. We tried to go outside a couple of times 'cause the weather was BEAUTIFUL, but Orion only wanted to stay out for like 10 minutes. I think it's becuase I brought in all the gardening tools, so he had nothing to play with. We only had 3 trick or treaters come by. So we have a ton of extra candy. Too bad none of it is chocolate . . .

Philips new exercise regeme

Just life.

I realize that I haven't posted in a while. Things here have been crazy, and I haven't had a lot of spare moments to devote to blogging. Sunday we had stake conference. We had a convert bare his testimony, and it was awesome. He has only been a member for two months, and he has read the Book of Mormon 5 times. That just blows me away. Before he was baptized he was a Roman Catholic priest for 33 years. WOW!!

Philip and Orion spent some good quality time together that afternoon. It was fun to just sit back and watch them play. Orion just lights up when he gets to play with Daddy!

Monday, for Family Home Evening, we carved pumpkins. Well, Philip carved, Orion colored, and I worked on cleaning the seeds. Monday night, Orion came down with croup. So needless to say, we didn't get much sleep that night. Tuesday I was dead tired and sick, Orion was sick and Philip was tired, but had to go to work. Thankfully, I have wonderful friends. Tuesday morning, Shawna called and asked if she could bring me dinner. How grateful I am to her!! That evening, Abrey called and asked if she too could bring us dinner. It isn't every day that out of the blue two people volunteer to bring you dinner. Since Shawna was already bringing us food, Abrey brought us dinner for tonight. What wonderful people I know!! I hope I am as in tune with the spirit as they are.


Today for the most part we are all feeling much better. Orion slept decently last night, I only got up a couple of times to check on him. He still has a nasty cold, but I suppose I can live with that. He is so cute. He can blow his own nose. He asks for a "blow" (that is his word for tissue) then proceeds to blow really hard, then wipes his nose. I usually go by after ward and finish cleaning it up, but I think it's adorable. Anyway, I hope you all have a great day.

DISCLAIMER: There is content in this post that some of you may find appalling. Please don't pass judgment on my motherly love. I really do love my son, even if I do put his life in danger.
(according to Phil his life was in danger, I didn't think the situation was quite as dire.)

This week has been both really great, and really busy and not so good, all at the same time. Thursday morning, my WONDERFUL friend Shawna took Orion over to her house to play. Once I had the house to myself, I didn't know what to do!! So, I did what I always do. I exercised for an hour, then started cleaning. No big change, but it was great to be able to do something, and have it stay done for a change. THANK YOU TO SHAWNA!!
Friday morning, Orion and I went to story time at the library. Once again, Orion didn't really get into it, but he loved playing with the train table afterwords. Right when we walked in the door, Philip called, and invited me to go into town and have a late lunch/early dinner with him. I just had to find a babysitter, last minute. So I called my other WONDERFUL friend, Jenifer and asked her if she could watch Orion last minute. Because she is so great, she agreed, and I dropped Orion off at her house an hour later. THANK YOU TO JENIFER!! Philip and I went to Quedoba (I have no clue how to spell that!) then went and picked Orion up. It was a good day.
Today I spent the morning reading my book. I was supposed to finish Halloween costumes, but I couldn't put my book down!! This afternoon, I cleaned the house in preparation for Sunday. Philip even helped by cleaning the basement and Orions room. THANK YOU TO PHILIP!!

Ok, if you have any concerns at all about my motherly capabilities, stop reading now. I don't want to tell you anything that would feed those doubts.

The other night, I was giving Orion a bath. We have a rule in this house, that you can't stand up in the bath, you have to stay seated. Philip even obeys this rule. If he is taking a bath, and the soap is too high to reach from where he is sitting, he calls me in to get it down for him. Anyway, this particular night, I didn't make Orion follow the rules. (And yet, he still lives!!)
The video is a little long, and there isn't really anything exciting at the end, so feel free to stop in the middle! :0)

Orion can dress himself !?!?

This morning, I handed Orion some jeans and asked him to put them on. Usually he tries really hard for a while, with no success. Sometime he does manage to pull his pants up, but usually both legs are in the same leg hole. Today, was different. He managed to get both legs in separate holes, and with very little help from, pulled his pants up. YEA FOR ORION!!

This evening, Philip surprised me by bringing home some beautiful flowers for me. I love it when he thinks of me. His exact words were " . . . these aren't a gift, you've earned them. You do so much for me . . ." I am so thankful for my husband!!

Life has been pretty uneventful these last few days. Sunday night, Orion took his life in own hands, and drew on our bean bags with my expensive stampin-up chalk. I think I under reacted to him, because I was trying so hard to not over react. Oh, I still can't think about it without it making me sick!! He also got it all over his Sunday pants, and it didn't come out, so now, I have to get him new pants to wear to church. SILLY BOY!!! Today I finished Philips cape, and I am almost done with Orions. I just have to figure out how to finish the neck and add the strings. I don't really understand what the instructions are saying. . . Hopefully tomorrow, I will cut out my fabric and get that put together before Halloween. If not, the possabilities are endless. We also made cookies today. They were soo nummy. I had to force myself to put 2 dozen in the freezer and only leave 4 out, so that I wouldn't eat them all. Orion was more interested in the dough then the cooked cookies. At one point today, I heard him crying in his bedroom. It wasn't a hurt cry, it was a "I've gotten myself into a situation that I don't know how to get out of"cry. I went in to find him stuck in the ottoman. Needless to say, he didn't play with it for the rest of today.

Pumpkin Patch Fun!!

Today was really good. I woke up at six this morning, and unable to pull myself out of bed lazed around until seven. I went downstairs and exercised until Orion woke up. I didn't get my whole 45 minutes in, but hey, it is Saturday. I deserve to slack off sometimes right?? At about 9:30 we all piled in the car to go to Sutters Ridge Farm. We got there (5 minutes later) to discover that they don't open until 10:00. So we parked the car and went for a nice leisurely stroll on a trail. It was so beautiful. As we walked I wondered if that is kinda what the sacred grove looks like. It just reaffirmed my desire to go visit there. Orion had lots of fun on the trail. He discovered a few bushes with thorns however, and did not enjoy those at all!!

When we got to the farm, we walked down to feed the goats. Orion really liked the lamas. I think he was a little afraid of the goats. Next we hit the tricycle track. Since Orion was unable to reach the peddles, I had the wonderful privilege and opportunity to push him around. Then we went on the hay ride to the pumpkin patch. Orion was enamored with the tractor pulling us. He didn't take his eyes off of it for a minute!! (Not even to take a family picture!!) We found a couple of pumpkins we liked and took hay ride back. Once again, Orions attention didn't waver. If only I could get him to pay such good attention in church!! All in all, I think we had a very nice and enjoyable morning together as a family. I love having the whole family together all having a good time.

This afternoon, Orion stayed home and played with Philip, while I went to a baby shower. I went shopping for a gift right before, and decided that I hate going to baby showers! I always pick out the cutes things, for other peoples babies!! I pick things out, and then want so badly to get extras to put in my baby boxes for my children. If only . . .

This evening Orion and I cleaned house (swept. mopped, vacuumed, dusted, picked up, you know.) in preparation for Sunday. I was very tempted to not do so much, but we are having friends over for dinner tomorrow, and I certainly don't want to have to be cleaning tomorrow before they come over. Now it is one of my favorite times of day, BEDTIME!! After Orion is in bed I plan on spending a relaxing evening reading the Relief Society lesson for tomorrow, and then maybe take a bath. Oh, I can hardly wait!! Good night to you all.

I feel like it has been a while since I've posted. Sorry about that to all of my devoted readers. (Ha Ha Ha, I needed a good laugh.) Anyway, the other day Orion and I finger painted . . . with pudding. Orion had fun painting, until he tasted it. Then he had fun eating it. Philip told me my picture was much prettier. (much more pretty??) Not much is going on, so I will quite here.

Just another day.

I feel like I start all of my blogs "so yesterday". Why?? Because by the time the day is winding down, and things actually happened that I could write about, I am too tired to even think about posting anything. So then bright and early the next morning, I am writing "so yesterday . . . "

So yesterday was good. We walked to the library in the morning. Last week we went on a Wednesday, but when we got there, it was story time, (close to the end) and the kids room was packed. So we just picked up my books that were on hold and walked home. This week I thought, ok, we will go on Tuesday. Orion likes to play with the train table and will sit and play for a good 20 minutes while I read. Well, yesterday (on Tuesday!) after we spent the 30 minutes walking there, guess what, IT WAS STORY TIME!! Apparently our library does story time 3 days a week!! I know I shouldn't really be complaining about it, but Orion doesn't really get into story time, so I prefer to go when he can enjoy himself. Anyway, we stayed for story time, and then checked out some books, and started our long trek home. After Orions nap we went outside and played with the sidewalk chalk. Why he felt he needed to color himself, I do not know.


Afterwards, we went and did some dishes. I got a cute little video of Orion helping.


Oh, and lately Orion has really been into hats.

There are BALLS in the SKY!!

It has been unseasonably warm here in Wisconsin. Last night we slept with the windows open, didn't use any covers and I was still too hot. I was very tempted to get up and turn the air on, but it is OCTOBER!!! So anyway, on Saturday night, we decided to eat out on the balcony and enjoy the coolness of the night. The sun was just setting, so it wasn't too dark, but dark enough to see the moon. The whole time we were eating dinner, Orion kept pointing to the moon and saying "ball ball ball". I would shake my head and say no silly, that's the moon. He was not convinced. As it got darker and the moon brighter it changed from "ball" to "ball lie ball lie". (Which interpreted means ball light.) What fun it is to have a 20 month old.


By the way, for those of you who don't know, Orion is learning lots of different signs right now which is super helpful in deciphering what he is talking about. Here is signing "shoes".

Our Hot Date

Originally I was going to title this post "My Hot Date", but I am vain. I looked at the picture that our wonderful babysitter (that would be Wanda) took of us, and decided Philip wasn't the only one who looked hot tonight. A little stuck up is what you all might be thinking. I prefer to look at it as an immense amount of self worth.
This afternoon Philip called and asked me out on a date, the only condition being that I had to find a babysitter for Orion. Eager to spend the evening alone with my husband, I found someone last minute to watch our little monster angel. Yea for us!!
We just went out to dinner at a local restaurant called the Grumpy Troll. The food was EXCELLENT, the sevice, not so much. The company though, was the BEST!! It is so rare that I get to spend time alone with the man that I love. I kept looking over at him and just thinking, "I am the luckiest girl in the whole world." Tonight, before I put Orion to bed, I sat and rocked him and sang to him. The last song was Families are Forever. As I sat there holding my son, thinking about the wonderful evening I had with Phil, and singing about how families can be together forever, I just felt so blessed. I am so thankful for my family here on earth. They really are so good to me. And I most definitely want to share my life with them, through all eternity. How wonderful a feeling it is that I can. Even better, that I will.

Park Pariahs

After spending an hour ignoring Orion, I decided to treat him to his favorite activity. We went to the park. He loves this. Everything from finding his shoes (today, one was in the kitchen sink, the other in his crib) to riding home on my shoulders. But today, was not so fun. Hand in hand we walked down the street, Orion doing a fast jog to keep up. Occassionally we would stop and look at the giant lamp post, or the minuscule ants; both of which Orion would try to pick up. When we finally reached the park, there were already about three families there playing. Not a problem, Orion plays well with others, most of the time. But as soon as we got close to where the other kids were, the parents called them away. After playing by himself for a couple minutes, Orion tried to venture off to where the other kids were. Again, as soon as we got close, the kids were told to go some place else to play. This went on for about ten minutes, when I finally picked Orion up and went home. I have to admit, my feelings were a little hurt. It isn't like Orion has an awful contagiouse disease, that all the other kids were going to get if they got within spitting distance. (Not that any of them or Orion were spitting, but it gets the point across.) As a special treat to Orion, since we didn't stay long at the park, and it wasn't really all that exciting anyway, I let him help with my sewing project. He had the ever important job of putting the pins back in the pin cushion.

Don't tell him this, but later, I went and re-did several of the pins. Every time I picked up the cusion, I was poked by a pin. The rest of the day has gone better. We had pizza for lunch, and Orion loved it. This afternoon, Ruth and Moroni came over to play. I think Orion really enjoyed having them here.

Orion, the oh-so-very-helpful helper.

It's 8:22 am. I have already exercised for an hour, cleaned up breakfast, woke Philip up and got him out the door to work, and dressed Orion. It is time for me to finally go and relax in a nice hot steamy shower. I grab a clean change of clothes, make sure the kitchen is blocked off and that Orion is happily playing in his room. I place my clean clothes on the bathroom counter, and close the bathroom door, leaving it open just a crack. I step into the nice hot water and let out a nice big sigh. Oh . . . this is the good life!
Then Orion comes in. Laughing, he slides the shower curtain open, and tries to play peek-a-boo with me. Trying not to get water all over the floor, I quickly try to tug the shower curtain back into place. Orion decides to move on. After shampooing my hair, I peek out to see what he is up too. I notice my clean clothes on the floor, but Orion is harmlessly brushing his teeth. I turn the water a little hotter, and take a deep breath, oh . . . this is the good life.
Since things are going so well, I decide to make this a very luxurious shower, and shave my legs. I'm half way done with one leg, when once again, Orion wants to play peek-a-boo with the shower curtain. SLICE. In my startled state, I take a nice chunk out of my leg. I'm done shaving now. I hurry and finish up and turn the now turning cold water off. I open the curtain, and what do I see?? Not my clean clothes! And Orion playing with the extra rolls of toilet paper in the drawer. I grab my towel (at least that is where I left it!) and step out. SLIP!! The floor was a bit wetter then I thought, and I went crashing to the floor. Orion thinking this is a great new game comes over to jump on me. I wrestle him off of me and struggle to a standing position, I am off to search for my clean clothes. I re-wrap the towel around myself, and step out of the bathroom. On the floor, right underneath the laundry shoot, are my jeans. JUST my jeans. Orion, being very helpful, put my clean clothes in the dirty clothes. Why he didn't try to put my dirty clothes there too, is beyond me.
After getting dressed, it is time to face the bathroom. I nicely ask Orion to put the toilet paper away, while I clean up the water off the floor. No matter how Orion arranges the rolls, he can't seem to get them all back in, and close the drawer. I help out in the end.


The bathroom put back in order, we both walk out, and I close the door. So much for a nice hot steamy shower!! I hope that the rest of the day goes better, but since I am planning on sewing today . . . The outlook is not good.
On a better note ( I know you are getting tired of reading, so I'll be quick!) yesterday was great. It rained all day, so we played inside. Orion helped make lunch too. I thought if he helped, maybe he would eat better. Not so. But he did have fun helping!



We also had fun playing with a snorkeling mask.

Bragging Rights

I am so proud of Orion. Saturday and Sunday we watched General Conference in our home. I would love to say that Orion played quietly on the floor for all four sessions, but lets be real, he is only 20 months, so he didn't. But no matter what he was in the middle of destroying, during every single prayer, he stopped, and folded his arms. And kept them folded for the entire prayer. Oh, I was so pleased, that at least he has that down. I was very tempted to take a picture, but thought maybe perhaps that would set a bad example. And besides, who really takes pictures during a prayer. You will just have to settle for a picture taken later on in the day. I am not sure what the rash on his face is from, but I hope it goes away soon.

I wish I could tell you who my favorite speaker was, but I haven't quite mastered taking care of a 2 year old (almost) and intently listening. I should call Alice and find out how she does it . . . Anyway, I plan to slowly listen to all the talks again this week, while Orion naps. It is so wonderful that today we have the resources for me to be able to do that. How blessed I am to live in this "day in age".

Bee Sting!

So yesterday, while I was standing in line at Cub Foods (they had a great sale on bottled water, I don't usually shop there!) I felt something at the base of my neck. Thinking it was just a leaf or something (I was standing semi close to some plants) I grabbed it and threw it on the floor. That is when I noticed a searing pain and burning sensation in my finger. It was a bee, and it had the nerve to sting me. I took my revenge and stomped on it before it could get very far. Lucky for the bee, he was quickly put out of his misery. Not so for me. My finger still hurts!!! The injustice of it all!

Milk Jug Jack-O-Lanterns

The other day I was in quite the fall season mood, and wanted to decorate my home with my fall decorations. So I braved the storage room, and found my boxes of decorations, only to discover, I have no fall decorations. Last year I just put some gourds on a bed of fake leaves. So all I have now are the fake leaves. How did I fix this problem?? Orion and I made Jack-O-Lanterns out of old milk jugs. They didn't turn out as cute as the ones in the Family Fun magazine (which is where I got the idea), but we did have fun making them. And that is all that matters right? I was very grateful that I put down paper on the table though, 'cause Orion wasn't that great at just coloring the jug. (I meant to put the pictures in the opposite order they came up in, oh well.)

After lunch yesterday, Orion and I made the very long mile and a half trek to Walgreens to pick up some pictures I needed for later that night. On the way home, we stopped at a park and while I gratefully rested my feet, Orion went down the slide ten million times. Needless to say, he didn't walk much on the way home. Thank goodness for strollers!!! After we got home, we made some very nummy cookies. I sometimes wish Orion didn't like to help so much. For every cup of flour he tries to put in the bowl, I think half goes on the counter. But he is always so excited to help, I just can't resist his pleas.

When Philip got home from school at about 8:00, I went to my friend Jenifers to scrapbook. It was nice to get some more done. I finally feel like I am catching up with Orions pages. I am only a year behind now instead of two years!!

Today, we are going to be super busy too. We are going to the library as soon as it opens, then it is off to the eye doctor, to get my glasses adusted. By then, hopefully Philip will be up and we are going into town to get some much needed winter and fall clothes for Orion. Poor guy just can't continue to wear shorts in this weather!! On the way home we will have to also go grocery shopping. Making cookies yesterday depleted my stock of brown sugar, regular sugar and flour. All ecentials in my kitchen. I thought I had some downstairs in food storage, but I guess I was wrong. One last thing, we are all SUPER EXCITED for General Conference this weekend. I am looking forward to listening to our prophet and being uplifted. Cross your fingers that Orion will somewhat behave himself, so that I can actaully sit and listen.

yummy linguine

So today for lunch we had Chicken and Broccoli Linguine. For the first time, I opted not to cut Orions noodles into tiny little pieces. It was quite fun to watch him maneuver the noodles into his mouth. At the end, he finally figured out what to do though, and ate much more quickly after that.

I love watching him grow and learn and figure things out. It is so rewarding to be a mother.

going to the park!

So we went to the park yesterday, and for the first time all summer, I took the camera. It was a little chilly, and Orion currently doesn't have a coat that fits, so we didn't stay long. But he had a blast all the same. I just followed him around and took pictures. These are some of my favorites. He for the first time tried the chain ladder. I admit, I was a bit worried, but I stood back and let him do it, and he did just fine.