Lander!

The next weekend we had a mini family reunion in Lander WY with the kids other Great Grandpa Poljanec and his three daughters - Mom, Aunt Deb and Aunt Sandy. Steve surprised me at the last minute and said he could come...ok it was past the last minute, I was 30 minutes down the road and he figured out a virus at work, so he jumped in the car with nothing packed and we had an AWESOME weekend with Dad there to help!

We celebrated Aunt Deb's birthday at Grandpa's retirement center. It was the perfect setting for all of us and I think we added some well...spice to the senior center :). Actually the residents were very patient with the kiddos running up and down the hall and the kids seemed to bring lots of smiles and joy to everyone amidst the chaos.

We had so so so much fun - Aunt Deb opened her house to us and didn't even seemed stressed with all 5 of us there keeping her up late at night :). She made us feel very welcome and right at home with lots of love. We also got to see Great Grandma Poljanec in Riverton. We played at the park, went swimming, and got treated to dinner by Aunt Deb and Grandpa. It was just delightful to be with everyone.

On the Road...

I have out of blogging land for a while due to our EXTENSIVE travels lately. As a family we logged over 3,000 miles of driving in the last month. The kids are pretty good travelers and we've figured out a system for long trips, but I'm glad to be home! We had so much fun on our three trips and the timing just happened to squish three great trips into 4 weeks. Our first trip was to see my family over Spring Break...


We started by spending the night at my Grandma's house in Laramie, where she spoiled us with all of her love and a 'big breakfast' made especially for Trenton. She always made me feel so individually special as a child, and I can't get over how blessed we are to have her doing the same for our children, a generation later, and how it just boosts their little self-esteem.

I-80 opened in time for us to make it to Luke's birthday party that night with Emily and Johnny, Mom & Dad, Anna, Ryker, Luke, Mary & Paul, JeVonne and Raquel. It was a great night.

Kali couldn't wait to hold Raquel!

Of course, Kali counted down the minutes until she and Anna could have Girl Time!!!

On Monday Trenton and Kali stayed with their cousins at Tina and John's house and had a blast, while the rest of us drove to Aunt Adeline's funeral. She was 91 and the last living sibling of the Alley kids, my Grandpa Alley's sister. It was neat going back to my roots and hearing about the Alley Cowboy Compensatory Power. The Alleys grew up on a ranch without much, but all proved very successful in life. My Grandpa, for example, earned his Doctorate and taught at the University of WY. They mentioned how Adeline and all Alley women have 'Compensatory Power' like the horses on the plains that weren't pampered in life, so they grew up to be much stronger and eventually successful than those who were given everything in life.

We saw Anna win first place in the long jump at her track meet - sweet!

And we spent time with Em and Johnny at their beautiful new home. A little cousin love!

We squeezed in a visit to Great Grandpa McDonald, but had to end up limiting our visits as Blake got a ridiculous cough that would last all night long. I was exhausted by the end of the week with no sleep due to his coughing, but don't regret one minute of going out there. Dad and Mom treated us to Chinese food the last night and I looked around thinking how I just didn't want to leave my family. It was a great trip!

Puppy Love

We welcomed the newest member of our family on Monday, Abby Allen and we are in love! She is a Havanese - the breed of dog we've been planning on getting for years, and for good reason! She is smart, loving, patient with the kiddos, hypo-allergenic, does not shed and really a delight to have around.


I finally gave into a dog for countless reasons, but mainly it's for my children. When asked to draw a picture of their pet in Kindergarten I watched Trenton draw a picture of his 2 fish on his dresser that died a year ago. That made me a bit sad. I read children's reports on "Why I am Lucky" and saw most of them listing a pet. Then there was the well child visit with the pediatrician asking: "And how many pets do you have?" "None," I answer firmly, and she puts her pen down and stares at me... "None? None at all" She studies my face for a minute then says, "Wow." And it went on and on. So when Steve suggested it, I went back and forth on it for months. My plate is pretty full with kiddos, work, volunteering, family/friends and church and I wanted to give her the best home possible. But thanks to lots of help from Steve it's been awesome - and she is so precious!

We love her in our own ways:

Blake - His low manly voice goes up about 3 octaves when he says "Hi Abby, Hi Abby, Hi Abby." He is constantly asking to "pepper" (pet her) and for the most part has been very gentle with her. She changes his tears to a big smile in about 2 seconds. It's magic.


Kali - She thinks her baby has finally arrived and insists on carrying her EVERYWHERE, rocking her, covering her with a blanket when she's asleep, and attending to her every need. I know when Kali has her she will be watched like a hawk (and will have wood chips, etc. taken out of her mouth without a problem). She shows her off like a newborn also, a proud little mama. Calls her Abby Cottonball.

Trenton - In 48 hours Abby already knows him as her playmate and loves to run around the yard with him. I think she's slightly relieved Trenton doesn't care to carry Abby ANYwhere, and he constantly is telling Kali "Just put her down and leave her alone for a minute!"

Mom - My first dog EVER (After being married for 10 years Steve asks: 'did you really not have a dog growing up?!')! After the first sleepless night was rescued by Dad who took came home from work to save the day & help train Mom/Abby in all ways puppy. I am amazed how horrible the first night was (non-stop yelling/barking/yapping missing her family of course) to how well she has now adapted to her crate with a little bit of loving guidance. Didn't hear one little yap in just 24 hours - way to go Abby! Love how my children absolutely light up with her, and love how soft and cuddly she is. Grateful for all the puppy advice from friends and family. Love that she is doing so well with potty training, has taken great to her crate and special room (our pantry with a baby gate & toys to keep her safe and happy when I am otherwise occupied) and love that she loves me. Especially am grateful for Dad asking me to please wake him up so he can get her if he doesn't hear her calling, for the much needed first day 'nap,' taking her to her first vet appt and teaching me in his patient way.


Dad - Taking the lead in an expert way with our new little one. Researching and making the puppy transition delightful. Thank you!!! I loved watching her fall asleep on his chest. As I cannot claim one ounce of this sweetheart as my idea, except that I didn't forcefully put my foot down at the suggestion; I must say father knows best.

Happy Birthday Bro!

Hey there -

It's been almost two years since you left this earth and I'd like to say life without you has gotten easier, but it hasn't. The pain isn't as sharp or as often, but the longing for you is much, much deeper. In the beginning I used to have a respite of sorrow for a moment and almost forget you were gone, then for some reason it would flood back that you'd died and the grieving process started all over, the pain as fresh as the moment your body was found. Luckily, that's slowed down, too.

I had a tender mercy last fall of realizing I could have not had you in my life and I've tried to change my perspective to being ETERNALLY grateful to have had you as a brother. You always understood me and would talk with me as deep as we could, always understanding each other on the deeper level that I only felt safe going to with a very few people. We were so similar in that way and in the strength of our testimonies and in growing up to live our childhood dreams. I would be a different person if I didn't have someone to share all of that with and I thank Heavenly Father every day for you.

So...here's an update:

I married a good man. He supports my dreams and is very patient with all the things about me that drove you crazy:). He cried at your grave last week. He is such a hard worker and is a rock and leaves the emotional swings up to me. He's doing Biggest Loser at work and has such self control. His back surgery went great and he is a new man - living his dream on the basketball court. I love love love working as a nurse and love putting my patients and their needs first. I work as the charge nurse a lot and we don't take patients now, so on a hard day when I've put out fires all day I'll just ignore everything and start answering call lights so I can be with patients! I am training for a race this summer - and although Anna teases me about my pace, running (jogging, whatever) keeps me happy. I know you like that.

The kids are growing so fast. I love them so very much. Trenton talks about you a lot and I'm surprised at what he remembers - the beach, the planes, playing. When we visited your grave he grabbed a wipe and scrubbed your headstone saying, "Uncle John would like it this way." He wants to fly jets and 'fight for our country against the bad guys' when he grows up. He is a perfectionist and life is black and white to him and I still think you would have understood him better than I do! Darn it. Kali has stopped waving to you up in heaven and I want to bring you all back and let her know you and love you. Thank you for watching over them and if you could help me with an extra dose of understanding when Trenton goes perfectionist on me, I'd appreciate it.


Anna and Luke are doing great. Luke is working so hard. Can you believe he is going to be a daddy?! Have you talked with his son? Anna is super aunt, miss athlete and works hard in school. And if you've ever wanted to give her boyfriend a piece of your mind, don't worry...Dad's gotten the message across loud and clear. He and mom miss you like crazy as you well know, but your son is filling a little piece of their hearts in your temporary absence.

John, your wife is amazing. She is doing such a good job with your little boy and with her life. She's made such huge steps, progressing in her life and in her testimony. I know you're with her. And we are in love with your son! He is so smart and such a good soccer player already. And he already puts things back where he found them! What 18 month old baby does that? (I know what you're saying, "My child, of course.") Trenton kept saying over and over: "He is the cutest little boy in the world!"

We are continuing to go to TAPS events and this year Steve and Trenton will be joining Em & I. TAPS changed my life and I felt strongly they should be part of it while we were there last year. I think it will give Trenton others in his situation, coping skills and a positive environment to celebrate your life. And though I certainly hesitate putting myself in that environment where your absence and life is the subject, there is a new level of healing each time I do it and I walk away a more complete person.

Trenton wanted to put a pinwheel on your grave for your birthday and I wanted to add a balloon. So even though I know you would have thought it was a waste of money...we did it. Yours is a life to be celebrated.

Thank you for your life, for the legacy of faith, hard work and living life to the fullest you left. We love and miss you!!!

Blessed

True love is coming home from a 12 hour shift to a daughter who has been waiting all day for her mommy to come home. True love is having her silently wrap her sweet little arms around you, squeeze as tight as she can and feel her body shake with giggles of delight for three minutes straight without saying a word, just thrilled to have her mommy back. True love is kissing her sweet little cheeks over and over when she can't wipe the open mouth grin off her face.

I am so blessed.

Ethiopia, here I come...

I love being enlightened about other cultures and a discussion with a co-worker the other day did just that. This girl was my very hard working nursing assistant, about my age, and had 3 children 6, 4, & 2. We began talking one night I was working and she said she wanted to go home so bad. I asked her where home was and she replied Ethiopia. I ignorantly raised my eyebrows at this, but wanting to know more I asked her why she wanted to go home. And her answer made me drool with jealousy.

Merlan (my Nursing Assistant): Why do I want to go home? Well, because we have servants in Ethiopia. They cost practically nothing and EVERYONE has them.

Me: Seriously? They are just a way of life? No!

Merlan: Oh, yes. No one I grew up with didn't have a servant - it's just how it is.

Me: So you had someone living with you helping with the children, cooking, cleaning-

(she interrupts me)

Merlan: Oh, no, no, no. One servant could not handle all of that...

(At this point any guilt I'd had about not keeping up with laundry, bills, cooking, children, etc began to melt away)

Merlan: You have one to take care of the children, one to do the cleaning and laundry and one to do the cooking. It would be ridiculous to have one person trying to do all of that.

(Ridiculous is exactly the word I would use for it too!!!)

Merlan: And you live near your family so everyone helps everyone. It is so wonderful. I miss it so much. When we go back we save up and try to visit for 3-4 months. You certainly can't make make money over there like you can here. (Yes, there is that minor detail)

Me: Hmmm...so tell me something. My husband has hired housekeepers to come a few times and every time they come I am torn between how guilty I feel for having them there and how absolutely wonderful it is. I shouldn't be feeling guilty, should I?

Merlan: Are you kidding me?! Don't you feel another ounce of guilt! A few times in 10 years of marriage - that is nothing! We have help every minute of every day. You need more help!

I think I was beginning to drool with jealousy at this point - fully aware of what I would not have in Ethiopia, and of course being very grateful to be in America - simply imagining for a teensy minute that most beautiful aspect of Ethiopia my eyes had been opened to. Wow. Just imagine.

Well, I'm off to mop the floor, put away 3 loads of laundry and take out the trash for trash day tomorrow, since the kids are finally in bed (done by yours truly) and the meals are cleaned up and leftovers put away (yes, also done by myself).

Ethiopia's sounding nice.

Goodnight.

A Day in the Life...

A friend of mine had a post I loved, showing a day in the life of their family.  She chose the 15th of every third month just to give a snapshot of what a typical day looks like for them.  I loved the idea, because although the days seem very monotonous, unglamorous, and very much the same, I am realizing how brief this time is with my little ones and how I'll look back and 'miss' those days.  But really I am planning 'reminiscing' not so much missing.  Kind of like college days - I really don't miss finals week.  At all.  I 'reminisce' and love that I loved that time then but appreciate where I am now.

So here we go.

The day started with a nicer than average breakfast - Eggo waffles and Morningstar veggie patties (aka sausage), and oranges.  A bit pricey, but with Costco's help they're closer-to-reasonable & getting a full serving of veggies in at breakfast makes me smile.

And Blake in his cute jammies that make me want to kiss him all over:

Next for mommy - my favorite oatmeal ever.  Yum.

Steve leaves for work around 8:45 which leaves him time to love and play with the kiddos in the morning and to lend a helping hand hand breaking up a quarrel or changing a diaper helping me out MUCHO!

Saying good bye with hugs and kisses for Daddy.  

It was President's Day so there was no school.  We invited a favorite neighbor of ours over to play.  Both the kiddos adore her and have a blast with her here.

Movie time with popcorn.

Nap time for Blake after lunch (I have no idea what we had...right before naptime is just like right before dinner time for some reason - pure chaos leading up to peace).

A little Chutes and Ladder guidance.

Squeezing in a couple loads of this.

And of course a load of that.

Steve surprised us and came home for lunch.  That is one downside to having moved farther away from Oralabs - we see him much less frequently for lunches :(.  Or maybe it's because he comes home to things like this - a plugged disposal on this particular day.  It's moments like this he is always grateful he came home for lunch. 

For some reason real live carrots taste much better to me than baby carrots - Steve doesn't quite get why I'd prefer peeling every carrot I eat to the convenience of baby carrots, but I'd do it in a heartbeat every time.  They're just plain better.  Steve is starting 'Biggest Loser' at his work and I promised him I'd have a big container of carrots peeled and ready to eat.  For some reason I was sure this time the disposal could handle the peels from 3 lbs of carrots.  Well, it handled them as well as last time...

 

And yes, we ended up taking apart the pipes under the sink.  OK - he did, but I handed him everything and cleaned up after so it was still a team effort.  Steve saves us so much $ with his handyman skills.  I love it.

So then Steve went back to where he could take a rest from all this - work. 

After Blake woke up we went to the gym - I am training for the Wasatch Back in June and trying to teach myself to run again.  Thank goodness for the free childcare here!  It is my sanity!

Then off to piano lessons.

Then home to make dinner.  Blake loves to help.  He gets very angry if he doesn't get to help.  I love his two year old help and just try to remember it won't last long.

I had flown in the night before (Valentine's Day) from Seattle so we had to postpone our special Family Valentine's Day Dinner to tonight.  We had as much red as I had the energy to come up with - spaghetti sauce, strawberry milk, tomatoes (on the salad), and some heart marshmallows on top of pudding for dessert. I know, I know.  Hopefully I'll do better in years to come.

We had our FHE - which the kids will NOT let us miss and I love that.  Blake cracks us up - after every part of FHE he shouts "TREATS" and runs to the kitchen.

Opening Song

"TREATS!" (races to the kitchen - we call him back)

Prayer

"TREATS!" (races off)

Special Musical Number

"TREATS!" (races off)

etc,

I love that boy.

There is so much to teach them in such a short amount of time.  Steve and I made a list of what we wanted them to be taught this year and did a rough draft of FHE's for the year and where to find the lessons.  It's made it a lot easier and we feel like we are teaching them the things that are important to us.  The nights of "Sunday Videos" for FHE are fewer and farther between, but definitely still an option when sheer exhaustion sets in!

Then stories, teeth brushed, jammies, prayers and BED!  Steve set up the bunk bed and moved the boys together a week earlier - of course on a night when I wasn't home to put them to bed.  I was working.  It was sooner than I would have moved Blake (2 yrs and 1 month) but he's done great!  He just loves being with his big brother.

After the kids went to bed I think I watched 19 Kids and Counting (Michelle Duggar is one of my role models) and The Suze Orman Show (my favorite is 'Can I afford It?' segment).

And then I crashed, ready to do it all again tomorrow!