Week 2 & 3: January 8-21
January 21st, 2012 by Natalie in Happenings | 3 Comments »So, once a week is harder than it sounds.
I still don’t know how I want to do this. It isn’t feeling as organic as I think it should. I want to document the little things in our lives as well as the big, but sometimes it all feels too disjointed. And frankly I am too distracted or tired most of the time to focus too long on trying to make it connect or make sense in any way. Sorry. (That was mostly meant for myself.) I do wish my writing was better on this blog – something I know I am extremely capable of – I guess it just isn’t too high on my priority list.
Clint:
- Promoted to Senior Designer at work. VERY, very busy. Wakes up at 5am, gets ready for Seminary, teaches, comes home, (sometimes runs), goes to work, comes home, eats dinner, helps put kids to bed and then prepares his lesson for the next morning. Sometimes he tells me that he hopes they call him back to this calling next year. I do not feel the same way.
- Today we bought Zelda Skyward Sword for him. He has been wanting it for a long time and he finally gave into temptation and impetuousness (something that NEVER happens!) and I thought he deserved something fun for all the hard work he has been doing. That is NOT our M.O., but it was fun for me to get him something totally frivolous exciting and its fun for him to be able to think about something other than work and Seminary. He is playing it with Ryan as we speak. Father son bonding time. So many benefits.

On a lazy day: Ryan playing his earned hour of video games and Jane watching while eating ice on the couch.
Ryan:
- Tells me every day what he wants to be for Halloween. In the past few weeks we have gone from Luigi (and Jane would be Mario) to a fireman to Sonic. Who, by the way, is real. I accidentally told him otherwise – and was promptly reminded of the fragile feelings and uncertain grasp on reality that three-year-olds posses. Sonic IS real, and so is Mario and Batman.
- The other day while cleaning out a closet I pulled out some fake flowers. Ryan gave them to me and told me that he was going to marry me. I am very okay with that. When his Mrs. Right comes along I will happily give up the #1 Woman position in his heart, but until then I hope he loves me most.
- If he instigates (as opposed to being approached – which he does NOT like) he will gladly talk to anyone – and loudly. He yells out loud in the store to random strangers asking them what they are doing and telling everyone to line up. Its slightly embarrassing but I would rather that than a screaming fit.
- He also talks to animals. I caught him the other day up in our Chinese Pistache talking to the dog next door. I thought he was talking to me and when I asked him what he needed he said, “Nothing mom! I’m just talking to the puppy!
Jane:
- Oh.my.goodness. One word: Busy. That girl never stops! Actually, when its time to stop (i.e. nap or bedtime) she is very good, but in between….WOWZA! Being a mother of young children if physically draining!
- She does silly things like: Walk around the house in a onsie with socks on and one of her big brother’s shoes with a drum on her head. OR…try and put shoes on with her footie pajamas still on. Hot pink footie pajamas and sparkly silver church shoes – that girl can make a mean fashion statement!
- She is talking a lot!
- She loves to be naked and if she can will take off her diaper if it is soiled. Time for potty training? PLEASE NO! Mommy isn’t ready to tackle that quite yet.
Natalie
- I got a new calling last week to serve in the Primary again! I am thrilled to be back with the kids and will be serving as our ward Nursery Coordinator. We have three nurseries right now which will be four nurseries in a few months as more kids come in. I love Relief Society and the sisters, but even running around like a chicken with my head cut off, I felt the spirit stronger with those kids than quietly sitting in Sunday School and RS listening to a lesson. Nothing can mimic the spirit of the children. I missed it and cant wait to be there again tomorrow with the kids.
- This week my MIL came over and helped me paint a wall and little coffee table that I am converting into a bench. The wall used to be a dark brown and now its a beautiful bright green. The table was ugly and old and now is bright and yellow! LOVE IT! I still have more work to do in that room – finishing the bench with baskets and a foam top, re-upholstering chairs, doing pillows, and painting my entry dresser to name a few – but just those two changes really improve the feel of the room. It is fresh and happy. I giggle like a little girl every time I go in. Its so beautiful.
- I also attempted canning chicken for the first time. Also beautiful. I now have 19 (well..18 cause I already used one!) pints of beautifully canned home chicken. I really do love feeling domestic. (And having canned chicken that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg!)

Unfinished yellow bench.

My fresh green wall - Grape Leaves by Behr. Should I do stripes??
Books we are reading and loving right now:
- Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin (Have to listen to the reading/singing of it!) Because its all good…
- Emma by Jane Austen (for my book club this month)
- The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal (for fun and because I need more of it!)
- Linchpin by Seth Godin (Clint…because I bought it for him)
Shows we are watching and loving right now:
- Psych (me, for something totally brainless and pretty decent)
- The Office (new episodes but also started again from the beginning – Clint and I together ONLY!)
- Downton Abbey: Season 2 (because we are into British drama apparently – and most stuff on Masterpiece Theater…most, not all…)
And that is the end of this post because my hiccups just came back (probably my BIGGEST pet peeve ever!) and I have to go drink a glass of water upside down.
Up.
Side.
Down.

















































