To the Dark Side

My stylist friend warned me that there would be a shock factor and that it may take a little while to get to use to darker hair, but it would be fun. She warned me that some people will like it, and some people won't.

Comments from yesterday:
Kaycee was the first to see me and with eyes wide: Awww, I like your hair lighter.
Getting Henry from his crib: The saddest cries ever. He wasn't too sure for about 20 minutes.
Clay: Whoa. You're not my mom....I wish you didn't do that.
Rylee: Ha! Mine is still darker. (actually it's not.)
My favorite (from a guy at church): Wow, Ryan, looks like you got a new wife, congratulations.

Really, there are several people that like it, but with my family, I think the verdict is in :)

You tell me?
Ready?

(sorry, cheesy pic from my phone - the light isn't the best,
but you get the idea.)

American Girl

This was a big day for Rylee.

She saved her own money for almost an entire year
so she could get her very own American Girl doll!
Rylee had done her research online and finally decided to get a look-alike doll.

Rylee, Kaycee and Gma with newly purchased, Ryan.
(We have several pictures to document this trip, however,
this is the only one I've gotten to work. )

Way to go, Rylee!

They Make Me Laugh

We were cleaning Lucy and Olivia's room
and while I was in the closet with my back turned, Lucy says:

Look at my eyes, Mom. Aren't they wonderful?

Sleeping Beauty

Olivia Reece
Our Sleeping Beauty

Lately, she's moved past falling asleep on the floor...

And, most impressive


That girl has talent!
(or narcolepsy . . .)

Can We Start Over?

I'd like to start this morning over again.

Henry's super congested = he slept terribly last night
No sleep for baby = no sleep for mom
No sleep for mom = grumpy mom
Ryan left for work around 7:30am (on a Saturday) = grumpy mom
A kind reminder that he has a 5 hour meeting this afternoon = grumpy mom
I heard the Wii start up this morning = kids immediately fighting and whining
Kids fighting and whining = grumpy mom
I'm still in bed with Henry = kids getting their own breakfast
Kids getting their own breakfast = a new gallon of milk dropped in the kitchen
Milk dropped = milk all over the floor, under the fridge and under our walls...
Milk everywhere = grumpy mom crying over spilled milk

It's going to be one of those days.

What to Blog About . . .

. . . when it doesn't feel like there's much to blog about . . . Let's see . . .

We rang in the New Year over at the Hunts with good food and games. In the night, poor Lucy threw up all over herself - twice. Fun. Between Henry and Lucy waking in the night, I didn't get to sleep until about 7:30am and then I had the barfies, too. Ryan's stomach was queasy all New Years day and we skipped out on Church on Sunday. We just waited for more to fall, but thankfully no one else did. And would you believe there were a couple bright sides to being sick? I was able to stay in bed and be sick for TWO days - thanks to a fabulous, responsible, and helpful 9 year-old and husband. Moms rarely get to BE sick. It's usually business as usual but feeling awful. Another bright side was finishing our blog book for 2010! Yippee!

Clay earned his bobcat in scouts. To those of you with several sons or who work with the scouts, my hat's off to you. Holy cow. I find this whole scouting thing so intimidating. It makes me wonder too if they let non American citizens even work with Scouts...I'm hoping not. Isn't that awful?

I have an insatiable desire to re-decorate my house. From new colors and furniture, changing out the toss pillows to building a mantle for our fireplace. It was somewhat calmed the other day when I started moving furniture about in the living room. Stupid living room. There aren't really any good ways to mix it up. Dang it. Micki, will you come and decorate my house? I love her house. It's so calming, warm and inviting. It's no wonder her favorite part of vacation is when she gets home. How cool is that? I love that. I don't think I've ever felt that way. Ever.

We figured out a couple weeks ago that Miss Rylee has read over 3700 pages since August. Whoa. I'm pretty sure that's more that I've read in the past several years. Before Christmas, she finished the last book of the Percy Jackson series. Go Rylee.

If you ever get the chance to ride in our van - scratch that. You wouldn't fit in our van. Anyway, if you ever pass us in the car, we're probably rockin' out to this:

Our most favorite soundtrack ever. Have you seen this movie, yet? You must. L.O.V.E. it. I went and saw it with some girlfriends on my birthday and then over the Christmas break we took the kids to see it. (Thankfully we have some major hook-ups and were able to see if for free - it would have cost over $50 to take the fam. How ridiculous is that?).

I'm 3 weeks into Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. Holy killer work out. It gets easier though, well, until you move up a level. This week I started level 2 (I actually like level 2 better than level 1, Reece) and I'm pumped to see results. I'll hopefully move to level 3 mid week next week! After the 30 days then we'll talk training; Training for the Whidbey Island Triathlon. I know, crazy. I wanted to do a triathlon before I turned 30, but Ryan messed that up when he said "I think there's one more." But, right away, I knew he was right, and we sure love our sweet Henry. So this summer it's IT.

Speaking of sweet Henry, he's just a couple lbs shy of weighing more than Olivia. It's interesting having a tiny two year old and a big almost 6 mos old. I know, I can't believe he's almost 6 mos either. Dang it. Look at how cute he is, too.

Wrapping Up December

My thoughts on December 2010:

I could totally live in a place where it doesn't snow in December. While the whole country was getting dumped on with either rain or snow, Denver sat here with above temperatures - I loved it.

I'm still trying to figure out if that's why it didn't feel like Christmas was coming. It wasn't until Christmas Eve that it finally felt like Christmas - still without colder temperatures and snow. This Christmas seemed a little more magical as the belief in Santa was stronger than ever. Not that we agree with the commercialization of Christmas nor have it revolve around a man in a big, red suit, but, there's something about your children being children and enjoying the belief and magic. I can't really explain it (as you can tell by the redundancy).

I turned 30 this month. Thirty. I'm still trying to digest it and trying not to be traumatized. It still sounds so old but, when I look back on the road that brought me here, I'm grateful. So grateful.

Ryan and I were asked to play Mary and Joseph in our Ward Christmas Nativity. Sweet Henry was baby Jesus - a BIG baby Jesus. He loved it. He was such a good boy, and behaved so well - especially when Mary sang to him sitting on the floor holding her rather large baby.

I didn't get my camera out as much as I wanted to this month, but I did catch these Christmas morning.

And, look what Santa brought this year...

I think we may be the last people on earth to have one and there was a reason for it. I didn't want the wasted time, the fighting over controllers nor who's beating who. Whatever. It hasn't been too bad. I must say though that Ryan got in the most trouble Christmas Day.

I'm ready for 2011 and wonder what this new year will bring...

"Thismas" 2010

Playing catch-up, here.

"Thismas", you ask? It's Christmas at Thanksgiving - on the Livingstone side. We love to head over to Utah and spend time with my family. Believe it or not, we only made it out there twice this year!

I love this picture - my wonderful parents.

Having fun on a Sunday afternoon

Thanksgiving Day (and Black Friday) we head over to the church for our feast and some serious fun. This year there was volleyball, block-crafting, Rock Band, floor hockey (only kids this time) and it wouldn't be Thismas without opening our gifts from Gpa & Gma, the family exchanges and white elephant.
Sorry only pics of the gifts from G&G.

I am always amazed at my parents effort of making these holidays so special. Every last detail.
(My sister in law, Mindy, made those darling cornucopia's - how cute are they?)

They Make Me Laugh

Lucy: Mom - you wrote on my freakin homework!
Me: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.
Ryan: Nice use of freakin, Lucy.

_____________________________________________________________

Clay: But I don't like grilled cheese.
Lucy: What about boy cheese?

____________________________________________________________

Mike, one of the counselors in our bishopric has a daughter (in her early 30s) that was just called as a counselor in the primary presidency. He went into Primary to speak to the children (as the bishopric member) when his daughter was finishing sharing time. We were there to hear Rylee say an Article of Faith.
Ryan leans over to Mike: are you here to watch your daughter, too?

___________________________________________________________

Me: Kaycee, will you go make us a yummy dinner?
Her eyes get huge.
Kaycee: uh, I could make some stew...if it was already made...

___________________________________________________________

Lucy staring at a young girl at Costco.
Lucy: She has no hair.
Me: Nope, she doesn't, does she. She might be sick.
Lucy: No, her mom pulled it all out.

____________________________________________________________

Yesterday, we moved Clay down to his own room.
Rylee: Mom, Clay will need a hamper down there.
Me: Yeah, he will.
Clay: What's a hamper?

Learning More and More

I'm learning more and more about myself.
Apparently, I'll do anything for a free t-shirt.
Like run races....and eat one pound hamburgers.
(the weight AFTER being cooked!)

Holding my picture to go on the Wall of Fame.

I ate it.
All by myself.
In less than 30 minutes.
I kept it down, too.
I only had meat sweats for one night and didn't eat again until after lunch the next day.
BUT, I got my free t-shirt:

I ate the
POUNDER
Cheeburger Cheeburger
Lonetree, Colorado

Go me.

I'd like to thank Henry, who is a champ nurser and leaves me constantly hungry - I couldn't have done it without him. And, also, my husband Ryan, for his love and support. You're up next, baby!