Blizzard in June!

One thing I never blogged about but want to always remember is this...a blizzard in June! On our drive to Vancouver - through the Blue Mountains - in Oregon - a BLIZZARD in JUNE!

I notice that its starting to get cold. Then I notice that it starts to rain. Its getting colder. We see a sign that says "Use chains when lights are flashing." The lights are flashing, surely that's a mistake. The signs must be going through a test. WAIT, is that SNOW? Does the thermostat really say 34 degrees? Then down to 30? Are those Semi's really pulled over to get chains on their tires? YES - they are. And we were glad that they did have chains so that we were able to drive behind them and have a somewhat clearer road. Can't believe that we just saw a snow plow going the other direction. Poor guy in the smart car trying to make it through. Hate to be those motorcyclists. Oops!

It didn't last too long, but man was it crazy. I have never witnessed anything like that in my life. Probably won't again. As soon as the next exit came we got off to stop for some lunch. The entire place was a buzz with talk of the blizzard. All the truckers in shock of having to use chains and hearing of even more crazy weather to come (in another direction of where we were going - thank goodness.) Then comes the craziest part of the day...

I was sitting with the boys getting them situated with lunch while Pat was searching the car for the GPS that we thought we had left behind at the hotel in Boise...he found it...phew! Anyway, there was a real nice trucker guy talking to a couple who also drive a truck together. I wasn't really listening but noticed the guy by himself smile at us a few times. Their conversation didn't last much longer and he got up and left. The next thing I know, he was back and had his hand outstretched to me in a fist (like we wanted to give me something that he didn't want anyone else to see.) I thought maybe he was handing me some candy for the kids or something like that. So I open my hand to accept his offer. In my hand he puts a hundred dollar bill and then blots away, never looking back! Are you kidding me? $100?! In shock I look up at the couple he had been talking to, of course they are staring at my shocked face so I tell them what happened. They said that obviously he didn't want me to go talk to him so I should just take it and be grateful. Of course I wonder why he would do this. Do we look like we need it? Maybe. But they explained to me that as a trucker, you usually don't have a family and if you do, you don't often see them. So he probably saw us, making the sacrifice to have a large family (in todays world) and wanted to show his support and appreciation to us. Or maybe we did look desperate. Told to me by a so called windshield repair man - maybe for another post. I don't know and I never will. But I will always be grateful and try harder to be more mindful of the needs of others. Show more gratitude. Do kind deeds. That night and several nights after, I prayed that that man was happy. That he feels blessed. I'm sure that he does. His face told me.

Lane...catching up

So, we're here in our new house. Oh, did we move in two weeks ago and not tell anyone about it? Huh, that's too bad. Why am I so uninspired to share all that we have been up too? Not sure. But Pat has been nagging me about it enough that either I need to reach deep down and find some inspiration or I should just have him do it!

Anyway, we have a deck in the back yard - off the kitchen. Nice cause I can watch the kids play while I do other things (or while I should be doing other things but don't cause most of the time I feel and move like a beached whale!) This deck is only two steps down into the grass. Not a big deal, right? Except that they are like asphalt. The boys are having a great time riding their tricycles. Lane decides to ride his trike backwards. Being the enormous whale that I am, can't get to him in time to stop him from going backwards down the stairs. Three hours and 3 stitches later, he has now caught up to Kyle in the stitches count. Not my idea of good competition. Should I post a picture? I could, but probably won't.

Only one more week until this baby comes...better work on getting caught up! Or better yet, let Pat do it! : )

Shout out to Mom!

Pat was only supposed to be in Spain for 2 weeks. Yes, that's a long time, its stressful and crazy, but I can do two weeks. A couple of days before he was scheduled to come home, he called and gave me the story of how they really need him. It wasn't, "Software needs to stay in Spain for another week for this project to happen." It was, "Pat Smith needs to stay in Spain, etc..." How am I going to say no to that. Good for him! He works so hard and gives so much that I can only feel happy for him that he's receiving recognition for his work. Of course he would rather come home and be with us. Its just as hard for him to be gone knowing what I have to juggle and he can't help, except to hear me complain and vent when we get a few minutes to talk. *Side note - I always feel a little guilty afterwards cause he never complains about anything. That's just not normal. How can you not ever let it out?! He should every now and then just so I don't feel bad when I do, right?*
Anyway, here was my favorite part about them asking him to stay an extra week. "We know you have young kids and a pregnant wife and you're trying to move into a house that needs some repairs first, but what is there that you HAVE to be home for?" Are you serious? 3 young kids ages 3,2 and 1 and a wife who's 8 months pregnant who still doesn't even know anyone in this new state. And who is now going to have to pick out counter tops and other things for the house on her own. Are you kidding me? No, there's no need to be home anytime soon. Good Grief!
So what did I do? I did what any girl would do. I called my mom and got her on a flight over here to be with me. And she did what any mother would do - she dropped everything and came! Grateful is not enough! I would not have made it without her. Well, I probably would've but not well. 6 out of the last 8 weeks he's had to be away from us. Doing it all on my own even longer? I think that the kids would have spent a good deal of time strapped in their car seat in the garage (they don't know how to get out of their straps!!) while I took a lot of long, hot showers. *KIDDING!* NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED IT UNTIL WRITING THIS! But maybe not such a bad idea. Ha Ha Ha
It was so wonderful to have my mom here. The days flew by so fast. We both couldn't believe it when it was over. The last two summers I've had the joy of staying with her for quite a while, but not this summer. So, it was even better having her with us. We didn't do much, but we had so much fun. And thanks to her sewing, I put her to work and she made cushions for the seat bench Pat's dad built in the kitchen of our new house. As well as other sewing projects I sent her home with.
As we were driving away from the airport, the boys were saying, "we miss Grandma Suzanne already!" Its true - we do! Thanks mom! We love you!

And yes, Pat will be home in a couple of hours and shouldn't have to travel again until after cupcake #4 comes. Phew! Now we can mve into that big, empty house!

Little Miss Left out

A.K.A - Neglected Nora

She often lets us know (and quite loudly) that this is how she feels. Because she's just as big as her brothers and can do whatever they can do - duh! Such a funny little girl. When the boys are wrestling, she's right in there. Jumping and attacking, laughing the whole time.
She's a little girl who loves shoes. Often throughout the day, she will bring me shoes to put on her saying, "shh, shh" But she also loves to play dinosaurs with her brothers. She makes this funny throat noise - like a dino stomping, I guess is the best way to describe it.
The usual words she can say - like mine, mama, no, ball and my favorite...when a camera is pointed at her she immediately says, "cheese!"

As far as her food allergies are concerned, we are finding more foods that she can tolerate. She loves potatoes, zucchini, carrots, sweet potatoes, rice pasta, and some fruit. I have found that she can handle apples, blueberries and peaches as long as she doesn't get more than one at a time as well as only a few times a week. This is really helpful in the jealousy department. Its no longer, "I know that your brothers are eating jelly beans but hey, here's a rice cake...YUM!" I can give her something colorful to eat. I like the Stretch Island fruit leathers. There is an apple one that she can have every now and then. It helps that her brothers love them so that she feels included.

She's a strong-willed, determined little girl and we sure do love her. She has an infectious laugh with the cutest gap between her two top teeth!

YUM...DIRT!


I'M SO FUNNY!


HAVING FUN

Lane's new trick - Kyle's attempt

how to spell when you're 2

While walking in a parking lot, a certain 2 year old stopped behind a car and said...
"T-O-Y-O-T-A spells car!" same car "U-A-M-R-Y spells car!" Obviously there are 2 ways to spell car...
At church looking at the doors the same 2 year old says...
"E-K-I-T spells door!" and he can even read Spanish "H-I-M-N-O-S spells book!"

Lane

Who said it was the terrible 2's. I think there are many moms who would agree with terrible 3's! Not that he's terrible. That's not the right word. Its more challenging 3's. He sure is showing more and more assertiveness in his personality. Telling me how he really feels about things. Rolling his eyes, slamming doors. All those delightful things. We're working on teaching him patience...any ideas?

So now for some fun things to say about my little Lane face. He's starting to understand more big boy things. For instance that when its your birthday you get presents. Of course he doesn't understand weeks and months so he doesn't really know when his birthday is (October) but he talks about it all the time. Earlier this week when we were out shopping, we went by the bicycle aisle. He had to sit on every bike that he could and he announced to me that he would be getting a bike for his birthday. Cause he's a big boy who's going to be four and he needs a bike now. When we were out in the "circle" today riding trikes he says to me. "See mom, I need a bike cause I'm too big. I'm pretending that this is a bike. Its a green one like we saw at the store. I need those little wheels that will help me stay up until I get lots of practice. And I'm pretending to wear my special hat that will protect my head when I fall. Etc. Tonight when we were saying prayers he wanted to say his own. I don't remember all the details but how could I not remember him saying, "Bless that it could be my birthday." If only we could ask for things like that...

I love that he is at the age where he is pretending all the time. Its so fun to see his imagination at work. But 3 is such a hard age. He wants to be so big and grown up but he still screams and yells when one of his toys gets touched or Kyle doesn't do exactly what he wants him to do. Or whatever. On a positive note - he's getting to be such a good helper. He's very curious and wants to know what I am doing in the kitchen. He's happy to sit on the counter and watch and help even when he's not supposed to - that patience thing again.

He has such a hard time when his dad is gone. Poor little guy. So he loves to sing the primary songs. I'm so glad when daddy comes home. And, My daddy is my favorite pal...