Girls trip to San Francisco!

I went to San Francisco last weekend with my sister, Susie, and my two neices. It was great fun! We did some of the usuals:

China town where I found some awesome gifts for the kids - Thatcher is obsessed with his 'ninja' sword, and Gretchen with her Chinese umbrella,

A self portrait on the trolley - yeah, I know, i should be a photographer,

The fat seals at pier 39, they made me miss Chris so much,

Ah, the lovely view of San Francisco from Alcatraz,

the lovely view inside Alcatraz - I'm going to save this one to deter my teenagers from breaking the law!

This is my new favorite saying. They had it posted on the bus, and I think I might put it up at my work! Ha ha
We went to the de Leon museum and a natural history museum or something like that, but they had the coolest sea horse thiingy I've ever seen - it's called a sea dragon


Another self portrait - we rode bikes across the Golden Gate bridge and into Sausalito. It was great fun! Super windy, cold, really far and hilly, but fun and beautiful!

MMMMMM. Ghirardelli sundae!

A view of the bridge from my bike! I even took this without crashing on my bike!


And I was worried how the kids would manage without me - well they didn't even seem to notice i was gone! They got to play with cousins and grandmas and grandpas every day, swimming, parties at Wheeler Farm, phew! I think I'll have to go out of town more often!

Thatcher and the guy who gets bit by a pig. . .

So Thatcher talks all day long. I mean really, constantly all day long. I think my ears might fall off. Here's a sample conversation:
Me: Thatcher, it's almost time to go pick up Gretchen from school.
Thatcher: Can I ride up front with you?
Me: No, you have to ride in your seat.
T: What seat?
Me: Your normal seat.
T: What seat? (really I think he's just bored and wants to hear his own voice)
Me: Your booster seat.
T: What booster seat?
Me: You know, your seat that you always sit in that's in our car?
T: What car?

Oh honestly. Some days I nearly loose it with the whats and whys.

So after one episode of Thatcher disappearing on his bike down the street and ended up talking to some random people planting flowers in their yard (luckily the kind people walked him back), we set a limit of the 'green house' down the street. It's a couple houses down and he knows the people that live there from church, and they have a couple kids.

Well he's been riding down there a couple times a day, every time it's good weather. I'm ususally out working in the yard, but I can't see him when he is actually at the green house. Gretchen just informed me that he goes and knocks on their door everytime he rides down there! How embarassing. So I went to go talk to the mom and apologize for the interruptions (I'm sure she thinks I'm a neglectful mother who hasn't the slightest idea where her measly two children are). She was very kind, and apparently, yes, he doesn't only knock once a day, it's every time he rides down there. And he progresses to tell them long random stories, the latest of which included a guy who got bit by a pig (obviously he meant the man in black from The Princess Bride when he is bit by an R.O.U.S. He's been telling me this story a lot lately). I guess I need to adjust to having a child who isn't afraid to talk to people!

I have been complimented on teaching Gretchen how to 'not talk to strangers'. Well, I never had to teach her that one - she just doesn't talk to anyone! I guess I need to work on this with the boy. . .

Hair cuts, spring soccer and a sad universe. . .

So I went in to help at Gretchen's class and I came across this 'journal entry' of hers. In case you can't read it, it says "Today is my cuoins moms birthday. Sousea went on a universe she went to california. I miss her." And I thought the drawing was of her getting her hair cut, and with the tears running down her body onto the floor! So I'm not sure the drawing and the story go together, but i thought it was pretty cute! I'm not sure, but I am thinking the 'universe' is related to Susie's anniversary that she went to California for! And there weren't any tears when she really did get her hair cut:

She held very still, without tears! We went to Cookie Cutters which lets them sit in cool cars and watch a movie of their choice on their own little tv, so they love it!
Note the stare hard boy eyes. . .


And yes, I realize the balloon is in front of her face. That's what she offered me to photo!

Here's Thatcher enjoying the lovely rainy spring soccer weather. This day was freezing!

Modern Woman?

So being a 'modern woman' is the goal, right? If we were old fashioned or outta style, that would be a major faux pas. So here's what I've decided it means to be a 'modern woman'.

*We can wear whatever we want. Pants, sleeveless shirts, and flip flops. Our ankles can show, as well as a fair amount of cleavage.
*We can pick and choose our careers. Doctor, lawyer, humanitarian, even run for President of the U.S.
*We can be sexy and educated, and smart and sassy all at once.
*We are strong enough to open our own doors, and pay our own way.
*In addition to all of the things we can do, there are still all the things we have to do. So not only can we have our own careers, and our own social life, provide health insurance to our family, run and scrapbook, we also have to clean the toilets. Oh and the laundry. Well and I guess clean the floors. And vacuum. And clean the windows. And install new door knobs. And plant flowers and trim the shrubs. Sometimes mow the lawn, cause the husband's busy. Take the kids to all their lessons, and help with their homework. And discipline them when their naughty.

Hmmmm, what's going on here??!! Wait, I know. . .yeah, I've got it. So being a modern woman means, not only do we have to do all the things that we 'have' to do - like all the housework and kid care - we now have to have careers and be self-fulfilled! So, I'm not sure about you, but who came up with this crap? Now I just have to do all of the man's work, as well as my own! Blast. . . .

More mess please!

So I was wondering. . . do you think it's possible to make MORE of a mess getting out ONE bandaid?

I'm sure it's possible, and I'm sure we'll experience that soon!

On a sadder note - our in vitro was unsuccessful. Ah, so sad and so stinkin' expensive. Thanks for all your love and support - and lots of cookies and cupcakes will be accepted as condolences. . .

Remember the 'I Love You!'

Buckling Thatcher into his booster seat is usually a fantastic time to steal a little kiss. His cheeks are so kissable and he's pinned and can't run away! I usually follow it with an "I love you" and often "I could eat you for a sandwich" (cause he's so yummy! ha ha). This morning I buckled him and kissed him, but without the fore mentioned "I love you". As I sat into my seat and started buckling, he said, "no you say, 'I love Thatcher'". How sweet! I promptly added an "I love you!" Note to self: despite all the fighting and asking me not to kiss and hug and love them, that they do appreciate it! Phew - maybe I am doing something right. . .

Thatcher's Preschool

So on about day 2 of Thatcher's life I signed him up for preschool. Put him on the waiting list, that is. We went in, in person, the other day to officially sign up (and pay $$$ of course). So for those of you that know Gretchen well, I spent may days having her peeled off of my arms and legs by her preschool teachers - one time on Halloween her teacher was dressed up as 'the dentist who stole Nemo', very clever and cute, with fins and all, and she had to carry my giant child into the classroom, while I left amidst her screaming. Some of you would say, "Wow, what willpower from a mother to leave that sad child." I tell you, nope. She wore me down way before that. That crying is barely heard in my ears. YOu should have seen her at swimming lessons. But ahh! I regress! So Thatcher's preschool. . .

So we show up, and that little boy made himself right at home. They took us on a 'tour' and a regularly scheduled class was in session. He shoved his way past a teacher coming out into the hall and RAN over and sat down with the class on the rug for storytime! It was the cutest dang thing! And so refreshing after all the tears. . . . He is SO SO excited. I told him when he's 4 he can go (since he'll be 4 in Sept I thought that the simplest explanation. And they gave him a t shirt (or should I say the t shirt was $75) which he wants to wear everyday, and is shown in the pic with the worms (scroll down a post or two). Anyway. I sure love my kiddos - they keep life entertaining and full of sounds!

Easter with the cousins. . .

Grandma Adler likes to get the grandkids matching holiday attire - pretty cute.

 

 

I actually wasn't there this day - I was at work (yahoo. fun stuff.) - and I'm thinking that no, Gretchen is not standing on a step or anything. I frequently refer to her as my 'giant'.

 

Constant questions. . .

So as per usual spring, Chris has been working non stop. The children's questions are adding up - here was my dinner the other night.
Gretchen asks, "Is Jesus really big?"
me: No I think he's the same size as us.
Gretchen: Do we look really small to him?
me: Well, maybe. Like when you're in an airplane.
Gretchen: Oh yeah and everything looks so tiny small.
Thatcher: Yeah and then Jesus stomps on all the people and the cars!
me: Huh? No, Jesus doesn't stomp on cars and people. (I still don't know where that one came from)
Gretchen: what are carrots made of?
me: Um, carrots.
G: Yeah, but what are they MADE of?
me: Well, you plant a seed and with dirt and water and sun it grows.
G: yeah, but what are they made of?
me: Um, I don't know, just carrots.
G: What is water made of?
me: Well, it comes from rain and snow.
G: I know, but what is it made of?
me: I don't know, heavenly father and Jesus just made it for us.
G: Why don't I like vanilla?
me: Um, I don't know.
G: Is pepper a spice?
me: Well, yeah.
G: Why isn't it in a spice jar?
me: ahh. I don't know.

(really this was non-stop within about 10 minutes. I can really use that 'go ask your dad' - it's rough when he works late!)

Here are some more winners.

As discussing the prospect of another child, and health insurance, Gretchen asks (both Chris and I) "how do you make a baby?"
Hmm. I was hoping we'd have a few years for this one. Chris replied, very well I might add, with a long discussion about eggs in the mom's tummy and that they mix with a part from the dad and then grow for a long, long time into a baby! she said, "Oh."

So then, a few weeks later I went into the doctor, with Thatcher, for an ultrasound and had to disrobe my lower half. Thatcher asks me, "Why are you taking your pants off?" I say, "they just have to look at something in my tummy." He says, "Oh, cause you have eggs in there that turn into babies?" Stunned, I say, "Well, yeah actually." Then he returns to his leapster game. Wow - those kids ears are always open!

We have gone through some in vitro stuff - but with unknown results. But here are the potential candidates. . .

Cute, aren't they?

Super!

So Thatcher's word of choice right now is super. Here are a few examples. . .

As said to Daddy when he was sitting in the laundry basket, "I can super fit in here!"
We were walking together and I said, "I'm tired, Thatcher, can you carry me?" And he replied, while carrying his usual handful of toys, "No, me have super lot of things in my hands."
In reference to running, he is always 'super fast'.
He's either 'super hungry', or 'super tired'.

Here's a pic of him with the little 'worm family' we found in the front yard.

He kept trying to kiss them, cause he said, "Me love worms". Ewww.

Hooray for dental insurance!!

So being the cheapskate I am, we hadn't had the kids in for too many check ups. Thatcher is an actually never. Oops. But here are the results! They were so good. I was so proud. . .

Gretchen did awesome (considering when she was 3 she had to be sedated for her dental work! The suction thing with the flouride freaked her out after a minute - but man I don't like it either!

She told me that Thatcher was the most cooperative 3 year old she'd ever had! Yeah! And after she finished 'brushing' and putting some flouride on him, then he said, "Now I want cherry!" and he was ready to keep going! Ha ha!

And we're back. . .

So I haven't posted in awhile, so what? Life has continued. Here are some photos -

Chris got himself a new puppy for Christmas - he is a bernese mountain dog and his name is 'Mr. Samsonite' - yes from 'Dumb and Dumber', aka Sam. He is very sweet and soft! Chris takes him to work with him most days, I'm working on Chris taking Thatcher with him as well. . . . And yes, he is a puppy, just kinda large. . .


With Gretchen in school, Thatcher finds himself with lots of free time (like when I'm in the shower. . .). This day he decided to combine the flour and the salt! He also thoroughly covered Riddick (who is an entirely black dog) in flour! Oh he also opened up a few packages of microwave popcorn, which the dog then ate. Good thing that boy is so cute. . .
We had the pleasure of speaking in church recently, and we woke up that morning to Thatcher heavily applying lotion to about 4 shoes. Not really sure why, but he had an awesome layer covering the soles. Huh.

We moved into a 'new' house in novemeber - in Sandy, utah. We've been enjoying it! As we were unpacking, and after I had neatly lined up and arranged all the food cans in the pantry, Thatcher decided a 'train' on the floor would be much better . . .


Santa was so kind as to provide a swing set! It was recently installed (due to you know, snow and such) and those kids love it! They are out there every single day - rain or shine! And one of my new favorite child accomplishments - pumping! Thatcher can go outside, get on the swing and pump all by himself! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! This may even be better than putting on their own shoes. . . Gretchen is starting soccer tomorrow and is crazy excited! This excitement is remarkable considering it has taken lots and lots of pep talk and coersion to get her to play! We'll post some pics though. . .
Here's a cute picture I found of Gretchen and her cousin Sydney in Lake Powell last summer. . .


Gretchen is really really good at making art and a mess. Here she made some fairy tale folks and a castle with real functioning doors! Also, keep an eye out for her on the next episode of 'Hoarders'. I just finished cleaning out her room, and I'm quite sure she'll make it onto the show.