My Cute Baby

My face hurts...a lot

Last friday, the 25th, I had my last two remaining wisdom teeth removed. Hi-Lar-I-OUS. Actually - there have been some pretty funny moments. All my interactions with people the first hour after I woke up were pretty funny. Keep in mind that for some reason, I thought I needed to speak loudly. Here's a sample of the "fun".

From my first awakening moments: I see some kid next to me, prostrate on his chair, mouth hanging open. In my fuzziness I hear the nurse say "Yey - look at her. She's already awake and he was finished before her". To which I respond in my drug-induced state "That's right! I'm freaking awesome! I was made for this!".

Matt helped me out of my chair, recieving instructions. I remember thinking how aware I was - how the drugs weren't affecting my speech and how that was a little disappointing.

As we're leaving, Matt notes the sleek BMW in the parking lot and wonders aloud if it's the Dr's. To which I respond: "I hope it's his car! He deserves it! That was awesome! This is like, one of my five favorite things!" Matt: What are your other four? Me: " Four puddings...I'm hungry" He chuckles and I say "I'm totally doing this on purpose, you know. I know what I'm saying. I'm just making it fun for you." (note: I was totally out of control)

Matt passes by a yard sale and stops, first asking if it's okay. I assure him enthusiastically that it's fine. I watch him from the window, and as he approaches I honk the horn loudly, motioning for him to buy the doormat on the grass. I thought it was brilliant. So - he did. A few days later, I saw it in the car and was like "I wanted that....right?" Matt nods and notes that I wanted it "really badly."

We get home, I demand my pudding and fall asleep, waking up to blood all over my comforter and gauze in my mouth. I"m drugged up on vicoden, foggy, sleepy and not in much pain. Alas, I wake up on Saturday to a swollen face which progressively gets worse to this:




And yes, I have gone out in public and yes, it was embarrassing. BUt kind of funny. If I could smile, I would laugh pretty hard. But, today is Tuesday and I'm tired of feeling like there's a swollen golfball in my jaw and I'm tired of feeling tired. This stinks.


(Yes - that is pudding on my face)

Thirty, Flirty (?) and Thriving...

And so - it is. Ever since my birthday LAST year, I have been counting down and yes, at times, DREADING my next one. The big 3-0. I never thought of myself as one who would be bothered by aging, but for some reason this one bothered me. Not because I view 30 as old, because I don't. In fact, I think of it as entering my "prime". :) After a year of musing over this, I have concluded it bothered me for a few reasons: 1) I'm realizing how fast my life is going. The last 10 years went by so fast! The fact that a decade is over and done with in a blink of an eye is a little sad. I look forward to the next, but am a little sad with the rapidity of it all.
2) Linked to #1 is the realization how quickly my kids are going to grow up. In 10 years, Sammi will be 18! WHAT!?! Sad. I just hold them a little longer and closer now.
3) What are the 30's linked to? What fun thing? College, get married, have a baby (or two...or three..or four), buy new home, start career....all this fun stuff was in the 20's. And so I say...er...30...what d'ya got? (Perhaps I'll just have to wait and see, eh?)

Anywho, now that it's here, over and done with, I am coping well. Matt helped make my day uber special. (thanks hon!). Here's the low-down of the day:
Woke up and went with the kids to breakfast at IHOP. Wore the awesome Birthday Crown that they made me (much to the pancake patrons pleasure)

Matt sent me off with some friends to get lunch and Pedicures! My first one ever! (Pedicure that is. I've had lunch before) Olivia was a pro - after Nikki and I figured out our massage chairs, we looked quite suave ourselves. LOVED IT!

Matt and Sammi made the flip flops for us. I would have LOVED to see his big ole' hands crafting with those tiny balloons. Priceless. Super cute too.

Yey! Presents! Matt got me a locket with pics of our kids and us in it and the new Alice in Wonderland and some other trinkets. My sweet friend brought over some delish Bath and Body works soap - it was a big surprise and so appreciated! My kids made me cards and posters to hang up.

For dinner, we went downtown to Solid (very tasty - thanks to Hannah for watching our chillins) and then came home and watched my new movie with the kiddos and had strawberry pie. (mmmmm) It was a wonderful ending to a wonderful day!

And so - I move forward. Here's to "30". Yipee!

I LOVE THIS WEATHER!

Now, I know there has been a lot of grumbling about the weather lately, and I have listened to it, even pretended to sympathise with it as I fight back my true feelings. Well - here they are: I LOVE IT. I love that it's still cool, I love that it will be warm one day, cold again the next, I love the fluffy clouds, I love the rain. Love it. Matt says I should move to Seattle. I figure, why? - when it's just as good here in Boise? :)

Memorial Day

I love holidays - any reason to spend time with people is a good reason to me. Memorial Day was great. Easy-going, laid back. My fav. We had a bunch of our friends over - some old, some new - for a BBQ and it was fun to watch our kids play together and enjoy the beautiful weather. I made my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE angel-food cake (it's truly delish - another plus for holidays...it gives me the excuse to make it.) After the BBQ we tucked our kiddos in bed and Matt and I stayed up to watch a movie. I love lazy, hazy days. (although, it wasn't hazy - big billowy clouds, bright blue sky, with an occasional overcast moment - *sigh*)

Guys...


And Dolls...



Some of Matt's Buds....I love how Noah has "super hands" in both pics.


Anywho, what's the point of having favorite things if you don't share them? Here's the recipe for the above- mentioned angel food cake. LOVE IT!
(The following recipe is from the Essential Mormon Cookbook by Julie Badger Jensen)

CHOCOLATE TOFFEE CRUNCH CAKE

1 pint whipping cream
1 (16oz) jar Hershey's Hot Fudge Topping
1 large angel food cake (homemade or purchased - I made mine. It's more moist that way)
4 (1.4 oz) Heath or Skor candy bars

Whip cream until stiff. (about 5 min) Fold in fudge topping. Spread over top and sides of cake. Chop candy bars in chunks. Sprinkle over surfaces of frosted cake. Refrigerate for several hours before serving. Makes 10 servings.

(SOOO yummy...next time I'll take a picture. It'll last longer.)

Potty-Trained!

Alright folks! This is the third time I've done this and it is my first boy. At this point, I think I know what I'm talking about with the success of potty training all three kids in just ONE day. That is right. ONE. DAY. First it was Sammi - one day. Then, Maddi - one day. And finally....KEITH! YAHOOOOO!!!!! One day! (Did I mention that this took only one day?!?!)

Last Friday, I decided I was ready (yes - YOU must also be ready as well as your child. Because it takes your focus for that whole day) and well - Keith was obviously more than ready as he was the easiest of all three to train. (only 1 accident - and that was my fault. He told me and I said "okay, just a second", immediately forgetting and then and hour later...accident. I'm such a good mom. :P) It's been 5 days and we've had no other accidents, successful pooping every-day and are staying dry all night. I haven't even cracked open the Pull-ups bag!

"How is this achieved" you ask? Well, check out this link.


This method is gold in my book. (I didn't even need the doll with Keith. He was excited to get to call Barbie - yes, Barbie - each time he pooed. -Thanks Olivia and Millie!)

If it's the first time you've ever used this method, my only advice is to follow it exactly and to plan on your whole day being centered around potty training. Yey for briefs!

Spring Break

We had our first real family vacation over Spring Break. We stayed for 9 days in McCall Idaho at a wonderful resort (it was like having an apartment there). It was during their slowest season, so it wasn't crowded...there was a LOT of snow and it was very cold, but so much fun. Our first day there, we went on a sleigh ride to feed the wild elk. We were on a sleigh that had bales of hay for us to sit on. When we came to a clearing in the woods, a bunch of wild elk approached us and started to eat. It was pretty cool...one elk got a little fresh (if you moved at all, it loosened the hay under your bottom...something I guess the elk really ejoy) so that was pretty funny.

We went swimming a lot and decorated easter eggs and went sledding. Our good friends came up for the last few days which made it even more fun. It was wonderful to just be together and relax. (and in such a beautiful place!)

My husband, Steve Perry - er, Matt

Before we left for our trip to McCall for Spring Break, we attended Boise High's talent show. Matt, a.k.a. "Mr. Swenson" was asked by some students that have a band if he would be the lead singer for a song they were working on. He agreed...and discovered that the song they were working on was "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey. Now, for those who don't know or who have never given it much thought, Steve Perry, the lead singer of Journey, has a VERY high voice. Very high. Matt felt a little intimidated, but, was true to his word and they rehearsed for a couple of months before the talent show. Somehow, it was kept a secret that he was doing this and they saved it for the last number of the night. The setting was very cool - the band played a prepared number, the audience loved it - the lights dim while the band ends their song, the last note humming in the air amid applause. Before the beat completely ends, the band transitions into "Don't Stop Believin'", the lights low. Once the audience realized what they were playing, they applauded and cheered, the lights still down. Matt comes in, and eventually the lights are lit up again and you see the band and Matt in full Journey garb. Classic. It was hilarious. Matt says he looked like Steve Perry with an added 300lbs - I just laughed and laughed. The shirt was pretty awful - but I was impressed with how he rocked it. I took video, but it gets bad in the middle because Eli attacked me. (yes, ATTACKED me) but you still get the idea. My absolute FAVORITE part of the entire act were the two kids in spandex, dancing with ribbons. Priceless. Enjoy!

Re-Commited

I have neglected my blogging for too long, distracted and swayed by other "technologies". However, I have found my preference, and it is blogging. Simple and sweet. So, I commit today that for at least 6 months, I will be a faithful blogger. Yipee!