Ah! The Holidays

I love this time of year. All the parties, the fun, the laughter, the games. Our Christmas was a blast! (I have pictures I will do later.) Christmas Eve was we spent the night at my parent's house. Scott and the boys took all the tv's downstairs (we had brought ours and Chamrie's) and hooked up three x-boxes and played Halo 2. Chamrie, Doug, Lem, Chiya, and Ben all went home at 11pm. Before that we had our traditional Hoagie dinner with lots of cool dips and chips. After the mass exodus, Mom, Ryan, and I filled stockings, and put the presents under the tree. Then, exauhsted, we went to bed. Scott and my Dad played Halo 3 together, till 6am Christmas Morning. We had to wake them up at 8:30 am because Nate was calling us at 9.

We were waiting for all the other married family to come before we opened presents. Nate called, and we had to ask him to call back because Ben and Randee hadn't come yet. Finally, at 10:30am, we all got on the phone with Nate. It was great to hear his voice, tell him good news, and hear his stories. After the phone call, I was pretty hungry, so we made our traditional Breakfast, before we opened presents. My mother never made us big breakfasts. It was always oatmeal, and then as we got older, it was a free for all. So Christmas Breakfast is the one time during the year that we pull out all the stops. We have waffles, with fruity syrups, hashbrowns, cinnamon rolls, eggs, bacon, sausage, etc.

Finally, after we were all well fed, we opened presents. My poor little sisters had been dying, it was the longest wait they have had for christmas. Usually we open them at 8am, and this year it was almost 1pm. Daniel fell asleep for his nap before we were able to attack the presents, so we set his aside for him when he woke up.

All in all it was alot of fun. One of our traditions is that each of us gets a ping pong ball gun and we have a big fight, shooting eachother all over the house. As time has gone on, the ping pong guns have dissapeared, leaving the more expensive NERF guns as the only alternative. This year Dad bought seven of them, and pulled them out while we were waiting for Ben and Randee. It was so much fun! We passed the guns around, and watched all the guys get into it, jumping over couches, hiding around corners, and causing general chaos.

After all the festivities were over at my parents house, we headed to my In-Laws. They always have Christmas Dinner, which works out great for us. We had ham, mashed potatoes, cranberry jello, and my special yams. We had alot of fun visiting with all of our nieces and nephews, and chatting with our other family. We watched Bourne Ultimatum with them, and left to relax at home at 9:30pm. It was a full day, but lovely.

Gingerbread Houses

We started a new family tradition last year, and that was making Gingerbread Houses. This year at the Logan Family Christmas Party we made ornaments, gingerbread houses, ate hoagies and made a really big mess! This year we drew names to see who would make the house together. It was alot of fun!

My brother, Ben and I made this lovely house.

My Parents drew eachother, so cute!

Lem (Chiya's husband) drew Chalae, and my son

wanted to help with their house.

Scott and Cheyanne made a rustic cabin.

Chamrie and her husband, Doug.

Chiya and Chrystal (Chrystal worked really hard,

because Chiya had to keep leaving to take care of her baby.)

Ryan and Randee (Ben's Wife) made a Fire Station.

There is even a helicopter pad on top!

December and Christmas

Christmas has totally snuck up on me this year. Today is Scott's day off, and we need to do our christmas shopping, check on our house, go to the temple (as it will be closed for awhile,) and maybe hang out with friends too.

I blinked and Christmas is next week, and I am totally unprepared. Maybe it is because I do not have my tree up to remind me everyday. Because Daniel is really into pulling things off of other things, we have decided to put our tree up Christmas Eve, that way Daniel can wake up and have this cool thing appear in our living room. We were also waiting cause we might have been in our house, but it is looking like it won't be finished until after the first of the year.

This has been quite the exciting month so far. My sister Chamrie is buying a house too, so we have been helping her pack, but that is now on hold pending the underwriters. We are at the point with her that we don't dare pack anymore in case it doesn't go through, but we won't unpack either cause that is alot of work that might be needed.

Meanwhile, I am living out of boxes, and hoping that I can keep things organized enough to make repacking easy.

Also I have some good news: I am pregnant again! My due date is the 16 of August! I don't have morning sickness yet, but I am getting hints of it all the time. Waves of tiredness, moments of ickyness, and an occasional whiff of nausia. I don't think I will be without it very much longer, unfortunately.

Daniel is learning new words every day. He says Thank You, Car, Ball, Doggy, Kitty, Daddy, Mommy, This, Please, Water, etc. (of course, he doesn't say them clearly, they are still in the baby mode, but you can understand them if you try.)

I wish you all a Merry Christmas! And a Happy New Year! Hopefully I will post again before next year, but in case I don't take all my good wishes with you!

A Chapter Completed

Yesterday ended our apartment managing career. I am happy to have this chapter closed in our lives. It was a great blessing, but it is such a relief to sit here and know that I don't have to answer the business phone, or do any repairs unless they are mine. I am so glad we had this opportunity, it helped me learn more about Real Estate, and saved us financially when Daniel was about to be born. It has been a huge blessing to our lives, and we are happy to be able to give someone else the same opportunity we had. It is nice to know we don't need it anymore, and even nicer to know that we can pass it to someone who does.

Right now we are living with my sister and her husband. We will be here for a couple of weeks until our house is finished. We are in the basement, so we have alot of privacy. . . in fact, it feels like more privacy than when we were in the apartment complex.

Meanwhile, we will be living out of boxes and stuff, since I don't want to unpack everything just to pack it all up again. Today I am moving all the boxes we won't get into to the storage room. That way Daniel doesn't climb all over them.

Daniel has had both a wonderful time and a hard time. He really didn't like being with me in an empty apartment while I cleaned. It was boring for him, right up until the carpet cleaners came, then he thought it was so cool to run on a damp carpet. Strang Boy.

Daniel has also discovered the pulling tape off of boxes is fun, including all the labels Mom so carefully placed on those boxes. Which is why, during his nap, I am moving them as quickly as I can.

On The Move

We are moving tomorrow! Our apartment is completely packed, I only have a few food boxes left to do. We are probably going to take a few things over this evening that we don't want broken, like our computer and a few fragile things that were hard to pack.

Our New Doggy

This is our new Dog! His name is Buster. Buster is a four year old pure-bred

Golden Retriever. His owner couldn't keep him in his apartment,

so we were able to get him. He is currently staying at my brother's house

until ours is finished. He is fully trained, and a very well behaved dog.

I agreed to take him because of his training. I have never owned

a dog, and I didn't want to spend the effort to train a new one.

Buster is really Scott's dog. He is so excited to have him in our lives.

House Update

Our home is now ready for Stucco and Rock!

The Inside is completely drywalled and ready for

tape and texture!

We are getting closer!

Chia Seeds

I have made a step towards a healthier me. That little tiny step is adding Chia Seeds to my diet. I have been taking Chia seeds three times a day, and am already feeling better. I have been doing a great deal of research on Chia seeds, and have come to the conclusion that they are a perfect food. They are chock full of Omega 3, protein, antioxidants, and fiber. The Aztecs called them the "running food" because they would bring a handful of seeds with them to eat on thier journeys.

I cannot even begin to write all that I have found about them, so here are my favorite links:

http://www.chiaforhealth.com/chin.html
http://www.chia4life.com.au/nutrition.htm
http://www.eatchia.com/englishfacts.htm
http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/issues/2005/1112/7370809.shtml?page=1

Chia seeds are virtually tasteless, and I add them to everything. First I make a gel out of the Chia seeds (but you don't have to use just the gel, you can eat them plain too.)

Chia Seed Gel
1/3 cup Chia Seeds
2 cups Filtered Water

Mix together and let sit for 15 minutes, then stir again. This gel can store up to two weeks in the fridge.

I was told we should eat three tablespoons of the gel three times a day.

I put the gel in with my orange juice in the morning. I spread it on my sandwiches during lunch, and mix it with whatever I am having for dinner. From a dieter's perspective, it is amazing. Adding the Chia seeds to your meal adds bulk and makes you feel full with out eating as many calories. It also keeps the flavor potency, so the meal tastes just as good, but you haven't eaten as much of the bad stuff. I love it. I can even eat it plain, since it is almost tastless and goes down easily.

FLYing, Day 16

I have been on the FLYLady system for 3 weeks, but one of those weeks I was on a cruise, so I am currently on day 16.

I am seeing an amazing difference in my life. My house is becoming managable in an amazing way. I feel more in control, and I have more time to focus on things that are important to me. My husband is happier because the house feels better, and I have good meals planned and ready to make. Daniel is happier because I have him play with me while I go through my routines. He loves putting dishes away and unfolding the laundry. I am using a calander for REAL! I know what is going on this week, and haven't missed (out of forgetfulness) the baby shower I had last night.

I am actively involved in fifteen minute increments. Fly Lady says that you can do anything for 15 minutes! It is true. In fifteen minutes a day, my home is shedding clutter, and preparing itself for a move. My sink is nice and shiny, and my counters are clear.

I am more excited than ever to be in my new home, because I am going to be taking only those things I love with me!

Today I read an email from FLY Lady about clutter. It was very enlightening. She said that clutter holds us prisoner in our own homes. It saps our strength and makes us feel out of control. Clutter is a tool the Enemy uses to keep us from feeling peace in our homes. She said to be careful of allowing the clutter of others to stay. We worry too much about getting rid of something because it was a gift. It just sits there, unloved and unused, taking up space and energy. It really hit me. I have all of these things that I don't need, don't want, and don't know what to do with. They don't have a "place" and seem to migrate from room to room. I have a room that has become a major clutter zone as everything I don't want in our main living area gets shoved there.

FLY Lady suggests looking at things and really asking yourself: Do I need it? Do I love it?
If the answer is no, get rid of it. Things that we love are easy for us to take care of, especially when we are not constantly distracted by the things that clutter our lives.

Poor Babies!

I really feel for little toddlers, especially because that is the stage of life that my little son is at now. He is having a miserable time, and is making the rest of us unhappy too. Daniel is currently teething, learning that "No" really does mean "NO," that Mom doesn't do things for him just cause he wants it, that there are things he can't have, and that bedtime is time to sleep.

We started putting Daniel down for a real bedtime last Monday. The move from our room to his was going to be a big change, and we wanted to get it done before we moved into our new home. All of a sudden, it seemed anyway, he couldn't sleep for longer than 15 minutes without being held. I rested in his room, so that he didn't feel completely abandoned, for two nights. I didn't get any sleep, because just as I would doze off, he would get awake again. At the end of the second night, I was so exhausted that I took my son to my mother's house so that I could take a well deserved nap. Then I had my Dad look at him.

For those who don't know, my father is a Chiropractor, and very good at what he does. He basically works on the overall well-being of the body. Anyway, emotionally Daniel was fine, but what he needed was to feed something (and forgive my spelling) called the Pineal Gland. This little gland near your brain moniters your sleep. It helps you get deep and restful zzzzzz's. To feed this gland, you simply eat a cup of oatmeal before going to bed (you can brush your teeth afterwards.)

Simple. Effective. Very Effective. Because I didn't know if I could trust my cranky little boy to eat oatmeal plain, I got him some Oatmeal cookies at the store (to be replaced today with some healthier ones I make myself.) One cookie before bedtime, and he sleeps most of the night.

I didn't notice this phenomenon earlier, cause when he would wake up at night, I would bring him into bed to nurse with me. Most of the time I was so tired that he would spend most of the night there. So I would help keep him asleep without being aware of it.

The only problem now, is that Daniel thinks it is time to get up between 5:30am and 6am. I am hoping that as the oatmeal builds up in his system that it will mean better and better sleep. Maybe he will start waking up at 8am instead. That would be nice!

House Update

The front of our home!

The Back of our home!

The lights in the kitchen! (cool huh!)

Scott looking out of our front door.

The electrical was finished today. This

evening we are going to go choose the color

of our roof. They were almost finshed with

the ducting, plumbing, and other various ings.

Our Cruise, part 4

Our last day at sea, we spent playing.

Daniel loved the Miniature Golf Course.

We played for a couple of hours.

Scott had two holes in one!

Danny carried the club and ball all over the course.

When we were done, he cried when we gave the balls back.

We had so much fun on our cruise, and definately want to do it again!

Our Cruise, part 3

Danny had fun chasing all the pigeons

Here we are in Encinada, Mexico

This is La Bufadora, (the blowhole) it spurts water

every 20 seconds or so. We went on an

entertaining tour to see it.

Our tour lasted 2 hours. We saw some pretty

ocean scenery, and laughed with our guide.

After two hours, we decided we had enough,

and went back to the cruise ship to relax.

Our Cruise, part 2

On our way to Catalina Island!

Mom let Danny get too close to the waves,

and he ended up wet and sandy.

We had to go back to the ship in order to

change his clothes and wash him off.

I kept him on a tight leash after that!

Danny and I went on a Glass Bottom Boat ride,

While Scott went Snorkeling!

The Cruise, part 1

Danny and Scott asleep on the plane.

Our Boat, the Carnival Paradise!

Scott was really hungry, I couldn't stop him.

We're almost aboard!

Tuesday morning at Catalina Island!

Wiped Out

I do not recommend living on 4 hours of sleep. You drift through your day in a haze, your blood sugar doesn't act normal, and any nap you take seems to remind yourself how little you actually slept.

And if you are a Mom? Then, no matter how tired you are, you have to wait until your little angel is asleep before you attempt to recoup the hours of sleep you lost. Then, inevitably, you look around your house, and would rather use those precious hours of alone time to do anything but catch up on rest. So you start a project, only to get ten minutes into it and realize you can't keep your eyes open any longer.

As soon as you curl on the couch (your bed is made, why mess it up?) You drift into blissful nothingness. For a little while it seems you will have the peace you need so badly. . . and then the phone rings. Whenever this happens to me, I am shocky and cannot think clearly. Half the time I say things I don't remember or it takes me a good five minutes or so to figure out who is on the other line.

Let's say that other person is your sweetheart, who also only got 4 hours of sleep. He is at work, poor thing, and in no condition to take advantage of a sleeping baby. He is exauhsted, you are exauhsted, and trying to communicate is laughable. It takes both of you repeating yourselves several times to come to any conclusions.

This is our condition today. Scott has been at a training in CA the last two days, and arrived home at 3am this morning. He had to go into work today at 8am. Danny woke up at about 8am too. Hopefully tonight we can all go to sleep early. Tomorrow we start preparing for our cruise!

Our Walls

This is the front of our house.

This is the back of our house.

Danny and Scott waving at me!

This is our master bathroom with it's walk in closets.

House Update

We have Walls! Not just the basement ones, but the ones that are on the main level! It is totally cool! We even have a solid floor to go with the walls! The walls already have openings for the window and doors. We didn't get any pictures because it was too dark, so we will try to take them today (which means it will be finished even more!)

Ping-Pong Balls?

Daniel brought home from Grandma's house some ping-pong balls two days ago. He has had them in his hands ever since. He eats with them, sleeps with them, and carries them around. Sometimes he only has one clenched in his fist, but most of the time they are both there. I think that this is what he will be attatched too! I am excite, this means that I can buy a whole bunch of ping-pong balls, and when one gets lost or broken, Whala! there it is!

Flying Anyone?

I was reintroduced to www.flylady.net and began the system again on Monday. This time I took it seriously. I already feel more in control, and my house is still a mess! The reason is that FlyLady has you do everything in baby steps. You add one habit a day until you have a routine that flows. She reccomends that you do things a little at a time, which takes away the overwhelming feeling we can have sometimes. I have found it alot of fun.

Warning, if you sign up for her emails, you get about 15 a day. She reccomends you simply delete the ones you don't want to read. Most of them are reminders to help us stay on task or to give cool little tips.

Twister Fun!

We had a family activity at my brother, Ben's house. Doug, my brother-in-law, challenged the guys to twister. My father declined, but Scott, Ben, and Ryan took him up on it.

I don't remember who won, but it sure was hilarious to watch!

Then, of course, they made all of us wives do it too!

Yes, we are a little obsessed

These will be the stairs into the basement.

This is the framing for the basement, it is just basic right now, but we will be finishing it in the spring!

My Apologies

Somewhere amid the chaos that was the last two weeks, I have failed miserably to update my blog. So, once more I will give you the run down on my life, currently.

Our house has a cement floor now, and framing will begin this week. This is the step we are particularly excited for, as our house will finally look like one! It means that we get to roam the rooms, notice changes, and get excited over the smallest details. Scott and I have created this habit of going to the construction site, and gazing in awe at the house as it changes. One time, we met the guy who was doing the compacting of the foundation. Apparently there were some major setbacks, as our dirt contains a high concentration of Gypsum. Gypsum expands when wet, so they had to bring in road base and top soil, and compact an extra ten feet to give us a firm foundation. It is nice to know that they caught it before they poured the foundation, otherwise we could have had some major cracks after the snow melted.

Daniel still hasn't broken the teeth that he occasionally dissolves in tears over. It has been a month, and still his little mouth is swollen. I can feel them when I press down on his gums (which he only lets me do once a week or so) but they don't seem in any hurry to make an appearance. Saturday (after conference) Daniel played outside with the "big kids" and ended up with a cough that started that night. Unfortunatly for me, he doesn't understand the whole "too cold to play outside" concept. I kept him indoors all day yesterday, and he wasn't happy at all.

Our cruise is fast approaching, and I am suddenly excited in a very real way! I am trying to wait patiently for our itinerary, cause until that comes, I can't make plans (like when we go down to Vegas, or if we should bring diapers or buy them there.) Theoretically we should only bring carry-on luggage (in case they lose our luggage, and it doesn't make it on the trip.) I just don't know if I can bring enough diapers to last us a week, plus clothes for all of us, and keep it to two carry-on bags. Those things are small!

Interviews were done this weekend on potential apartment managers. Hopefully the owner makes some decisions soon, so I can start training them. I am thrilled to be moving. I am going through everything we have and dejunking. If I don't want it in the new place, I am throwing or giving it away. This means that our two closets full of boxes that we haven't hardley touched are going to look a little bare.

11:44pm and waiting

Scott is down at Gamestop. He is waiting to pick up his Halo 3 game. He hasn't been this excited since getting the Suburban. We have visited the Halo 3 website everyday, seen every video, and I have to admit, I am pretty impressed. The website is really cool, it is designed as if Halo 3 really happened and is a monument to an incredible moment in history. It sure is tantalizing, I am curious to see how the plot ends up. They give you just enough to entice you, and not enough to satisfy.

It looks like the group playing will be alot of fun also. This is the part that Scott is really excited about. He loves getting together with friends and shooting eachother up. Whenever the guys play, there are lots of yells, laughs, and totally bizarre but fun behavior. Saturday Scott played with my dad and brother, and that was hilarious. Suddenly my father leaped from his seat and started jumping up and down, screaming "I got him! I got him!" he even did a hip shake in triumph. My mother came out from her bedroom right in the middle of this explosion, and Dad sat back down saying "I don't know what came over me. . . " This is what Scott loves about the game. The play with friends. The totally unexpected and lucky things that happen.

So, I am waiting for him to come home. Danny is peacefully sleeping, and I have just finished reading a good book. We will probably not get to sleep til 1am or so, as Scott will want to at least put Halo 3 in and look at how cool the graphics really are. And, though I am tired and ready for bed, I wouldn't miss this moment for anything! (There is something so neat about watching your sweetheart's eyes light up with excitement.)

Which House?

One of my friends brought this personality quiz up on her blog. I thought I try it for fun. The results? Apparently Hufflepuff beat out Ravenclaw by 1/100 of a point. I think, if it were my choice, I would choose Ravenclaw. I just am so much more attracted to that house.


81
Gryffindor

95
Ravenclaw

96
Hufflepuff

35
Slytherin

Happy Birthday To Me! (yesterday)

Having celebrated my birthday in an extreme fashion last week, yesterday was a pretty relaxed day. I got birthday kiss from my Hunny, and many well wishes from friends and family. I cleaned my house, went to the gym, and spent Family Home Evening over at my brother's house. It was a very pleasant day.

Our House!