Tough Guy...

Last Saturday Josh went down to Vail Lake with Andrew and Robert to participate in the Tough Mudder - an 11-mile mud run obstacle course.  Josh hadn't really trained for this event due to a knee injury, so I was a little worried that it was just going to be a miserable experience.  But, I think this picture says it all - 

They had a great time (though Josh was limping around for the next two days).  And check out this - 

Is that a mullet, you ask?  Why, yes.  Yes it is.  Gross.  But, really, how do you get tougher than that?

More Crafting...

Corban made a few cards on Valentine's Day -

It's been a lot of fun working on these projects with Corban.  I especially love seeing his creativity and artistic preferences.  And he is always so proud.  For days after we made these, he'd pull the card off the fridge and bring it to me and point to all the stickers.  I'm super proud too.

Arts and Crafts...

Two days before Christmas, I decided to tackle my first real art project with Corban.  Picking an already stressful day to do this was probably not the best choice, but I wanted Corban to give a handmade gift to his dad and grandparents.  So, I decided we would do a painting.  Getting the whole process started was a bit of a nightmare, but Corban ended up LOVING it.  Here's the little Picasso (naked, of course, because washing paint of skin seemed easier than out of clothes) -

We also did some marble painting, where you just roll marbles through paint.  It had the desired effect, but we also had paint covered marbles flying through the kitchen.  Luckily cheap craft paint washes off really well!

And after 45 minutes we had all these pretty pieces of paper -

And while he took a nap I cut and glued and we ended up with these -

As you can see, my creative spark only happened twice over, but they turned out way better than I was expecting.  And Corban had a blast.  The best part of the whole thing was the fact that Corban wanted me to take a picture of him every step of the process.  Each time we got a new color he'd point emphatically at the camera.  It was like he was saying, "Mom, this is so amazing we just have to document it."  Always glad to oblige.

New Look!

So, I thought it was about time to give the blog a little face lift.  The beginning of the year is always a good time to start afresh - and it's always fun to try on a new look.

Speaking of the new year, I've spent the month pondering goals.  I haven't felt the urge to work on anything too adventurous, because helping Josh get through his last year of school and having another baby seems like more than enough.  But, that excuse also seems like a bit of a cop-out, so here's what I've been thinking -

First, yesterday at Stake Conference Pres. Blickenstaff really helped give our home a spiritual focus.  He challenged us in three things. 1. Focus on the temple.  Josh and I plan to attend three times before our next Stake Temple Day in December.  2. Family History and Indexing. 3. Read the Book of Mormon.  Tonight, we started the scripture reader with Corban and Josh and I read a chapter together after putting Corban to bed. 

In other areas - I've really been getting excited about focusing on my health and getting back in shape.  Over the holidays, I ate very poorly. (Who doesn't, right?)  But this year my body let me know I was not being very kind.  By New Year's, I just kind of ached all over and my head constantly felt fuzzy.  And then I failed my glucose tolerance test.  Ug.  That was a bit of a wake-up call to get back on track.  I changed my diet and cut out (most of) the junk and passed the 3-hour glucose test, which was awful.  And boring.  I've also really been wanting to run.  But running is quite a ways off.  I don't plan on starting a running routine 7 months pregnant, and then I'll have at least 4 months of recovery from a C-section.  After Corban I started running at about 2 1/2 months post-partum.  That, my friends, is too soon.  I think I did more harm than good.  But, for now, I'm focusing on eating well and intense exercise will come later.

Finally, I want to be more mindful about what we bring into our house, in a very material sense.  After trying to reorganize after Christmas and planning on how to fit another human being into this tiny house, I am amazed at how much stuff we own, and I want to try to accumulate less.  First, there is the financial aspect of so much accumulation.  Let me tell you, Target is a dangerous place.  You go for lightbulbs and come out with ten different items making your $5 shopping trip into $50.  And then there is the clutter issue.  But mostly, I want to learn to be content with less, to place needs before wants, and then when getting "wants" being mindful about it so it's something I actually do want, and not just something I saw in the dollar section.

So that's the plan for 2012.  Wish us luck.

Catching up with the times...

Well, I finally did it - I joined Facebook.  I've been meaning to for a while, but I already know I'll hardly do anything with it.  But, I do want to keep up with more people that I care about but rarely see.  So, I'll be working on friend requests, but please friend request me if I haven't gotten to you.  Thanks a million.

O Christmas Tree...

This year, Corban has a Christmas tree for the very first time.  Josh and I thought he'd finally appreciate the novelty of it, and that he did.  We had a good time watching him explore the ornaments.  He particularly liked taking a glittered fern in each hand and violently shaking them, to watch all the glitter fall off onto the carpet.  There's still glitter everywhere -

 

I think it was our second Christmas together that I gathered our decorations.  I think its just gorgeous (and, big surprise, its bird themed)

 So, when I put first put this tree together, being pre-child, I thought, I'm never going to put on a bunch of cheesy handmade ornaments.  But then, last Sunday, Corban left nursery swinging a gift bag, never looking more proud.  Inside I found the most precious popsicle stick snowflake, and I couldn't wait to add it to my carefully designed tree.  It stands out, but its probably my favorite piece on there.

Just Checking In...

Hello again.  I actually made it back!  My mom has been complaining that I haven't updated my blog in a while, which I knew, but when I got on tonight its actually been four months since I posted.  Yikes.  Pregnancy sure has its way of taking over your life.

I've actually been feeling really well for the last two months.  Morning sickness (or should we just start calling it "all-day sickness") departed and sleep returned.  And then the very next week Corban got the stomach flu.  He got better and then Josh caught a cold.  And then I spent two full weeks trying to clean up the mess of my life - quite literally.  My house was full of dirty dishes and dirty laundry.  Life had been reset.  For about 30 seconds. 

Bring in Thanksgiving, a stomach flu of my own, and the beginning of Christmas mayhem, and Life fell apart again.  BUT! Things have settled down once again.  Back to blogging!

So, the big news (a few weeks old now) is that baby-to-be is a boy.  And I am so excited.  Despite how fun it would be to have a girl, I was hoping for another boy.  I love the idea of "brothers" and hopefully Corban and our next little boy will be the best of buds.  And boys are awesome.  Corban is a bundle of energy and so much fun.  He's hilarious, and very sweet, and he's like my own little best friend I get to hang out with every day.  Sometimes, its hard to imagine how my heart can possibly expand to love another child as much, but I'm sure as soon as I meet him I'll understand.  For now, I'm enjoying the last few months of being mommy to just one and loving every minute with my little sweetheart.