You know it's been an early morning . . .

You know its been an early morning when you:

• Get both kids up and ready and put one down for a nap
• Unload, load and restart the dishwasher
• Complete 2 loads of laundry
• Play a game of basketball with your boy
• Read a few library books
• Run 3 miles
• Unpack from recent trip

And after all that the clock reads 6:45 AM

Living on Texas time for a week really messed up my kiddos (and me).  Hopefully, we can get back on track just in time to hit Utah for the weekend.

On a good note, I have a plan of action to get my kids sleeping better and hopefully easier.  Having a plan makes me feel more in control of something I can’t totally control (them falling and staying asleep) so hopefully I can handle naps and nighttime with calm and patience.   Here's hoping the plan (and new amazing ‘tot clock’) whip my kids into shape!

First Flights

I fully expect to make lots and lots of travel posts.  I'm sure they will have more details than you will care to read, but I want to record how they go and details I remember.  

One lazy Tuesday morning after a long run, we sat around in jammies and slowly ate breakfast and got ready for the day.  I was planning on a Weds-Fri trip to San Antonio, but found that all the flights on Friday were all  so I thought it would be a super short trip and I would just go home on Thurs. My San Antonio friend, Sandra, texted and said, 'wanna come today?' I was at the library when I read it, so I had Dave look up flights and the 12:45 flight was open (It was 10:40 and we live 40 mins from the airport hadn't packed) I raced home and the RS presidency was there to visit, I talked for a second and then packed like crazy.  I really wanted my first flight to go smoothly so that I want to fly again, but I felt like I was not organized or prepared, but jumped in the car 25 minutes later anyway. 

  Luckily, Dave is able to get through security with his badge, so he helped me undo everything for security and get us all up to the gate.  We made the flight no problem.  They said that my car seat was not 'airplane approved' so I couldn't take it.  (Turns out it WAS approved, but I didn't have time to look and/or argue it)  I checked a carry on, stroller, car seat and then had a backpack of activities and snacks for the plane.  It was a small plane, so Jackson sat next to a stranger who was kind and Hallie and I sat across the aisle (Hallie had her own seat :))  Hallie made friends with the grandma's sitting behind us.  It is surprisingly easy to nurse on a plane.  We had a poop-out on the airplane (literally . . . on the floor) and I had all the extra outfits in the luggage we gate checked.  I had to hand 'wipe' the edge of her clothes off and just made her wear them.  And I wish the bathrooms had a ledge or something to lay the baby down, changing diapers is so awkward.  I would have flipped out about this experience, but I had just read my friends experience with poop on an airplane and this paled in comparison so I handled it pretty coolly.  The kids were great!  Jackson was entralled by all the new things and apps on the itouch was great too.   His ears hurt on the way down and I felt bad I gave him his fruit snacks on the way up.  Hallie played, laughed, looked around, discovered, pulled up and even stood on the airplane seat WITHOUT holding on.  That girl is growing up too fast!  

Sandra came to pick us up, 5 kids and 2 moms in a van.  It was great!  I loved her house and Jackson loved having 2 boys and an endless amount of new and interesting toys.  Because of the time difference, my kids stayed up until 10 pm their time and were up at 5:00 am our time.  The timing is going to be difficult with my kids who hate to sleep.  

We weren't rushed or anxious about doing anything, we just got to chat and be moms and enjoy each other and the kids.  I really look up to Sandra as a mother.  She taught me all sorts of things about healthy foods, cooking, shopping at Costco, green smoothies, meal planning, preschool, and not feeling mommy guilt.  She gave me lots of discipline ideas, but also just gave sympathy and understanding that my kids are different than everyone else's and gave me confidence that I will do what is best for them.  

It was so fun to look through all of her little girl clothes and 'big boy' toys.  I have a much better idea of what Jackson might like for Christmas.  Sandra has only lived in San Antonio for 5 weeks (She moved from Arizona 2 weeks before we got here:( ), but her house is beautifully set up.   She had all these meals pre-planned and made (even though I came a day early . . . so prepared!)

 The second day, we went to the Riverwalk and rode a boat down the river and learned all about San Antonio.  Very interesting and beautiful!    Then we packed up to go home. 

 Jack, Chase and Jackson (just a little confusing!)

Sandra and I 

 The flight home was very empty, I was able to push a stroller with Hallie's carseat and pull a carry-on (thank goodness I brought the jogger stroller so I could push one handed) and Jackson tagged along (with lots of coaxing).  Sometimes he tried  We had a row to ourselves and I put Hallie's carseat in.  But, she still couldn't fall asleep because she knew I was there (even when I covered her up).  But it kept her more contained.  Now she was standing up IN her carseat, ON an airplane, with no hands.  Jackson was scared watching "enchanted" so we turned it off.  He then admitted to being tired (this may be the first time ever) and curled up on my lap (but was still too squirmy to fall asleep).  They were both fantastic on the ride home.  We got home at exactly the same time as we left San Antonio and Dave picked us up.  Great trip!  Sandra made it SO easy though.  With car seats, pack'n play.  All the baby girl things we would ever need and all the boy stuff Jackson likes.  It was just a perfect trip where I wasn't too worried if I accidentally forgot something (I think I only forgot a phone charger!)  I loved how quickly we got there and how comfortable it was.  I hope she'll have me again before they have to move.   Thanks, Sandra!

Things I definitely want with me on each flight:

• stuffed animal (both my kids love to cuddle these)
• Sippy cup with lid (in flight drinks are much too big for a 3 year old to finish in one 'sitting')
• Airline approved Carseat
• Blanket (over compensating on the A/C)
• Snacks!
• Ipad with songs, games and movies (get headphones that are louder and stay on the 3 year old's head)
• Extra outfit for all 3 of us (Jackson spilled his drink on him, Hallie pooped and Hallie spilled my water on me)
• Changing pad for the bathrooms
• bottle with formula all measured in it. 
• I can't decide if I should get a double stroller or double jogger or neither.  you need 2 hands to push a double stroller, thus you can't pull luggage, a double jogger is easier to push with 1 hand, but then it is huge to get through security and elevators, etc.  But Jackson is difficult to reign in sometimes . . . I wish there was a double stroller that allowed you to hook carseat on them and tow luggage all at the same time :)

Planning trip #2 for tomorrow!

Brotherly Love

My brother and sister - in-law have just been approved for adoption and are looking forward to expanding their family with a little baby.  We just love this family! They will be fantastic parents!  We want to help get the word out, so if you know of any one thinking of placing a child, pass their information along.   On the blog's side bar is a photo of them.  Click here or on the photo to go to their  information page.

Our new house

Take a tour of our new place with Dave as your guide

Nick Names

Before I named my children, I was very conscientious of nicknames they may be called.  However, you can't quite predict the things that you call your own children.  I know some people nickname based on personality or other characteristics.  We mostly just do play-on words with the names we picked for our kids.

Jackson is called Jax, Jack attack, Action Jackson, Jackstonian, Jacksta, Jackston . . . all logically stemming from Jackson.

Hallie, on the other hand, is getting a bit  'off the charts' nicknames.  It started with Hallie Gallie almost exclusively, then Hal-Gal, and somehow we started Halsee  and Hals . . . (Maybe because Jacks ends with an S and we didn't want her to feel left out?)  Then Jackson was interested in the song "Hallie, Gallie, Bo ballie, banana Fanna fo Fallie, Me My mo Mallie, Hallie."  And he almost always nicknames her Mallie (Maui) and Mals.  so we started all sorts of different letters Hals, Mals, Pals, Gals, Sals, and then Sally, Mallie, etc.  My SIL was here in Phoenix and called her Hallie Berry . . . so you can see why all week I've been calling her Sals-berry . . . totally logical nickname, right?

We love her and her huge smiles and happy, contented personality (as long as big brother isn't tormenting her or her mean mamma isn't abandoning her).  She is super active (rivaling her big brother).  A kind lady was trying to help me a couple of weeks ago in church as I was husband-less . . . she mentioned that she really got her work out trying to hold on to her!
Hallie will eat anything and everything as long as it is real food and not baby food mush.  She loves to chew, with only 2 teeth . . . She learned to clap last week and is waving and giving kisses.  She is also standing on her own when she accidentally lets go.  Yes, she is only 8 1/2 months old . . .

Jackson is really growing up a lot, too.  He loves to show us just how tall he is several times a day.  He tries out new vocabulary words to make sure they work (My shoes are 'totally ruined'! or "Otherwise . . .") He is eating really well (although he is picky).  He is actually going to bed great.  I think that having Hallie in his room is good for him.  Maybe he was scared to sleep alone and that is why he was coming out so much before.  Nap time, on the other hand, is completely non-existent.  

He prays for new friends here.  The other day I really feel like he was following the spirit.  We just prayed for new friends and in my morning prayer I prayed for a way to serve others.  After waving goodbye to dad, He asked to go across the street to 'find new friends'.  We were in jammies and sweaty running clothes, but since no one was out, I thought I'd humor him for a minute.   He saw some weeds and asked if we could weed her yard (He is obsessed with weeding right now).  Right then, the woman came out of her garage (I thought to go to work) and said Jackson yells, "Can we pick your weeds?"  She laughs and says that she was just headed outside to do yard work.  Together, we picked weeds, and talked.  Turns out she just lost her job 2 days before and so I got to talk a bit about our family's struggle and how Heavenly Father makes it all work out for the best.  I hope it was helpful to her, because I'm not sure how many weeds we actually pulled!  I was grateful for the chance to get to know someone and share the love and guidance Heavenly Father has showed us recently.  I hope that my testimony might lift others that are going through a trial of unemployment now.  

Notes to future Arizona Residence

The kids were awesome!  Thank goodness my mom came to help feed and entertain!  

This is some random stop along the way to Phoenix.  

 We decided to come into Phoenix at the exact time the Cardinals football game was ending.  We love stop and go traffic to finish off a 12 hour trip :)

 We've arrived!!


We tried to get lots of advice and info from people who had lived in AZ, but there is nothing like living here for a week to point out the obvious differences from where you just moved.  So here are some tips I would give someone that I hadn't heard yet

 1. Wear sunglasses while running . . . even at 5 am!  With no mountain cover, the second the sun is 'up' is is glaring right in your eyes.
2.  Even though it is dark, it isn't necessarily time to sleep . . . there is no gradual night-is-coming-soon-dusk time.  The second the sun hits the horizon it is pitch black dark . . . usually by 7:00-7:30.  It is really throwing me off every night!
3.  Increase your eat out budget.  This is to include buying a DRINK every meal.  Asking for 'just a water' isn't going to cut it.  Be it Chili's, Peter piper pizza, Wendy's or Burger King the water here is DISGUSTING!
4.  Turn on Gas Utility.  It took us 2 FULL days of living in our new house to realize we didn't have HOT water only lukewarm . . . and we won't have hot water until Tuesday!  Nothing like boiling water for a bath!
5.  Crickets IN the house is normal (?!?!)  Have shoe (off your foot) ready to chase it around.  They jump high, fast and any direction, they are fine with landing ON you as well.   Crickets are a bit messy to clean up after they are killed . . . note that crickets are also food sources for scorpions . . . want to exterminate them immediately!!
6.  Males walking in the AZ evening heat may be wearing only boxer shorts and an umbrella and stop in to introduce themselves.  No big deal . . .
7.   So far the heat doesn't feel so unbearable, until you move . . . By move, I mean, take more than 5 walking steps, lift an 8 month old baby, open a car door then once you move, expect the sweat to begin.  But hey, it's a DRY heat so it doesn't take long to dry out :)  I found Jackson like this after 'nap- time (or lack there-of).  He insisted he was cold (its 78 degrees in our house) and wore it for house.

8.  When packing,  put all lamps and light bulbs in the rear so just in case the previous renter snagged all the light bulbs, you will have light to move in (I assume you will move in at 8 pm like us since it is the only bearable heat time of day.)
9. Bring a fleece blanket to church or wear a sweater.  The church is apparently trying to accommodate the males and make it super cool . . . it was freezing and every female had a sweater or a plush, fluffy fleece.
10.  When attending a swim party, enter with swim suit on, towel in hand.  Don't know why it is different in Utah, but after being questioned at 2 pool parties, we will comply.

We are almost set up in our new house, We're very glad we opted for a home in a neighborhood (with a garage).  It is the most space we've ever had.  We attended the ward and feel really excited to be here (but anxious to have new friends and feel at home).  Last week my mom and other brother and his family were in town so we were busy, busy, we'll have to see how this week 'alone' feels.

I'll get some pics of the house up, maybe next time Jackson takes a nap (so that will be in 2 -3 weeks).

Back in the saddle (running shoes) again

After 2 1/2 years I am finally back to running!  I am doing a lot of back strengthening and stretching and have thus far not felt much pain.  After my 3 episode of a herniated disc, I completely stopped running and biking for a full year (I was pregnant so that helped).  I did swimming only.  Six weeks post-partum, I slowly started running and walking.  I would only go once a week or so and not very far.  At this point, running was not very enjoyable, probably because I was out of shape and it hurt.  Little by little I have added more running and finally made a GOAL: To run the Pink Series race on October 8 in Park City.

 I am super excited about the race because it is only for women.  We are running to support breast cancer awareness, prevention, and treatment.  It seems like it will be a party.  I am amazed how much more enjoyable running is now that I have a daily schedule and plan.  Being husband-less it is much more difficult to my runs in, but I enjoy trying to fit them in.
This morning I ran TEN miles.  It was a big increase from 6 2 weeks ago, 8 last week and then 10 this week (I will go back down next weekend).  But it felt SO good.  I love the feeling of accomplishing something great (and not being hurt afterward - only sore)
I'd love to run with you and have a party after the 1/2 marathon . . . sign up!  It will be fun!!