Big Sister and a Haircut!

Quinn's first haircut ended up ok, after "fixing" it 3 times. And I still don't really like the bangs.... But she makes anything look cute!

And here's my two kiddoes enjoying a book. I read a book to Mac this way, and now it is one of Quinn's favorite activities! See how intent he is on that book? And how proud big sister is??

I love it.

Macadoo and his tendency to grOW....

First of all, how much do I love my little man in this hat???    SOOOOOO much!

He is able to sit in the corner of the lazyboy or the couch now, and loves it when you talk to him like a big boy!

But, I don't think he quite understands how this is supposed to be played with..... Everytime I lay him under it, he looks like this 2 minutes later.

And, BRANDON and PAULINA thank you, thank you, thank you for this rattle! It has been a lifesaver! Mac get's a little rambunctious when shaking his rattles and always manages to smack himself in the head, which always ends in tears EXCEPT with this rattle because it's so soft! So, it's the only one he's allowed to shake-a-shake-a anymore! And he LOVES it!

Sista friends

Me and my sista friends got to go see Mindy Gledhill LIVE in concert in Pocatello last night! It was AWESOME! Honestly, she is one singer that sounds BETTER live than on her recordings. I have always felt that good music truly feeds the soul, and this is one song that does that for me....
WHOLE WIDE WORLD watch it, feel it, love it. You know you will.

Afterwards, Emily (being a super super fan!) really wanted to meet her and get a picture taken with her. So.... Bonnie and I jumped on that bandwagon. Real fast. 

We had a blast! Oh, and Shawn came too-- we needed someone to take our stalker-ish picture!

balloons and WHAP!'s

There was a talk given in the last conference, by Carl B. Cook, entitled, "It Is Better To Look Up." Our RS lesson yesterday was on this talk, and near the end of the lesson, we all received a balloon to take outside and let go, in similitude of letting go of our burdens. I was given a balloon, but because I was holding a sleeping baby, and had neglected to bring a blanket (my mother would be horrified!), I gave my balloon to someone else and asked them to let it go for me. I stayed just inside the doors and watched everyone through the glass "let go of their burdens." It was an interesting perspective. It was a very cold day AND the wind was blowing. So everyone had a different experience as they "let go." So like the real experience of letting go of our burdens. Some let go and watched happily as their balloon floated lazily away. Some let go, and watched their balloon fall to the ground at their feet (apparently the cold messes with the helium). And some, let go, only to have their balloon come back and WHAP! them in the face a few times, before floating up, up and away.

Sometimes I feel like that last one is me. I'm trying, trying, trying to let go of some of my burdens-- but sometimes they just have to come back and WHAP! me in the face before they can float merrily on their way. BUT at least they do eventually float along.

PS- On fast sunday, do you consciously search for the biggest piece of bread on the sacrament tray, and then grab the next smallest one because you don't want to feel like a pig? just a question. I mean, I definitely don't.

Farm stories

This is what happens when I give Quinn free reign on what to wear for the day..... a purple and white striped dress over her pajamas + the ruby slippers from her dorothy costume (you'll notice she even did her own hair-- see the barrette (sp?) up front?).

And this is what she looks like when I choose and do for her......  (She actually loved it-- her face just isn't showing it in this picture.)

And HERE is the super sweetest little boy ever! Just look at that smile.....

Mac is just the happiest little boy-- he makes it so easy to be a Momma!

PS- Tyson wanted to be in on the blogging-- so I let him pick the title....

Immu-ni-WHAT??!

Today was the fateful day-- the day Mac got his very first immunizations....

Since Quinn had missed her two-year appointment, I thought I would just schedule both their appointments at the same time and make life easier, right? Wrong. I didn't think of how I was going to handle TWO screaming children.

When I realized my mistake, I panicked. But then, it turned out Quinn's flu shot was a simple nose spray, and I began to breathe again. She took it just fine and even smiled afterward as they handed her her Dora sticker. And I smiled, thinking how lucky I was. Then it was Mac's turn. I put him up on the train table (this doctor's office has themed rooms, like 20 of them- today we were in the train room-- super cool), and turned to smile at Quinn. She frowned at me-- a deep, deep frown. Uh-Oh. I didn't factor in her big-sister protectiveness. That frown progressed rapidly into frantic screaming, as they poked Mac and placed the band-aids on his legs. And now- my worst nightmares were being realized. Both kids were screaming at the top of their lungs as the nurse handed me Mac, and gave me a very sympathetic (but not ENOUGH) look. The next 10 minutes are kind of a blur in my memory, but I remember I did make Quinn walk out of the doctor's office-- I simply couldn't carry them both AND open the four doors it takes to get to the parking lot. I cursed her sympathy pains all the way home, while she continued to wail, even though Mac had calmed down and gone to sleep. But in all reality, can you blaim her?? I wish I could've done the same thing........ Why does the mommy have to be the strong one?

*27*

Tyson turned 27 and we celebrated ON the day with a delicious cupcake, and a candle.....

Yes, those are bones. Significant of how incredibly old he's getting..... :)

Happy Birthday Man-of-mine!!

Halloween 101

First of all, when you have a blonde little Dorothy that looks this CuTe: Take lots of Pictures.....

Please excuse the scary afro-man, I couldn't get him to wear a themed costume....

So, I didn't either....

I'm a little scared of when this girl reaches dating age-- she blows me away with how naturally beautiful she is. Hopefully she's like me, and is just mean to all the boys that she likes. Hey- it kept me pure. :)

PS- Mac has only worn his costume for about five minutes, while we trick-or-treated at an old-folks home, and wouldn't you know it, it was the one time that Quinn was NOT dressed up and I had no camera. SO, I will be dressing them both up again and taking lots of pics, as soon as I can find time....

Bliss

My sweet baby boy is asleep on my shoulder-- snoring ever so softly. My apartment is a complete disaster. And we are all basking in the glow of a fun-filled weekend. Quinn has asked me about ten times, where Addie is, and then, "Mom, WHY did she go home??" Ahhh, the joy of cousin love...

So I thought I would take this moment to tell you about a funny potty-training experience. We were in the store- just browsing when Quinn suddenly hunkered down and started making the "poop face," then she turned to Tyson and I and said, "I gotta poop!" So I left Tyson with Mac, and Quinn and I made a mad dash for the bathrooms. Quinn, in her haste to get there on time, ran right in front of a man walking across an isle. But, being the polite girl she is, she yelled, "SORRY! I gotta go POOP!" Never even skipping a beat, she kept right on running. I caught a glimpse of the man's face and laughed all the way to the bathrooms. Once inside the bathrooms, she instantly sat on the toilet and did her business. In the midst of praising her, I heard someone snickering in the next stall over. Just then, Quinn get's off the toilet, looks inside, and says, "Wow mom, that's a HUGE one!" And I just thought well, lady-in-the-next-stall, if you thought my poop-praise was funny- I'm sure you're about to split a gut. AND she did....

Bless you Quinn, bless you- for bringing entertainment to the WalMart bathroom.

Baby *kisses*

You know how when you kiss someone, you automatically exhale during the kiss so as not to breathe in their exhale? Maybe not. I will own it- I do this. Especially after Tyson's Dorito-burp ---- MID-kiss. Yeah. It was UNforgettable.

BUT, you know how whenever you kiss a baby, it is exactly the opposite? At least for me. I breathe IN-- I wallow in the perfect purity of the baby smell. And then, I cannot help it-- I sigh. Everytime. And then I go back for another.

In other news, Quinn came up to Tyson tonight-- cocked her head to one side and said, "You are such a cutie, daddy." And then she giggled. I'm pretty sure his heart melted. I know mine did. I felt a little left out until she walked up to me and said, "Rebecca, you are smaaaaaaart." Ha ha-- thanks Quinn...... I think I'd rather be suchacutie!

Conference attire

We go pretty casual around here for General Conference, but this year-- Quinn took casual to a whole new level. We're talking underwear and socks-- and please don't forget the socks! (that would be emberassing!)

And this is my two cuties-- I put Mac down for some tummy time, and so-- of course-- Quinn needed tummy time too! She loves her baby brother so much! When she wakes up before him in the morning, she stands outside my bedroom door (where he is sleeping) and keeps asking "Mac is sleeping?" AND while I work out in the morning, it turns out I do have a personal nanny-- she is willing and ready to put his binky back in countless times and tickle and talk to him the whole time (well, in between doing some dance moooves! and getting "smarshmallows." Which brings us to our next little piece of news.....

Quinn just got through her first day of potty training with NO ACCIDENTS!!! YAY Quinn!!!

THIS is what life is all about...

L. O. V. E.

Learning....

Two things I have learned this week:

1. I REALLY should've taken my mother's advice and slept more while she was here.

and

2. Dieting + Extreme Exhaustion = 1 very grumpy momma

I think I'll hold off on the weight loss-- it turns out, I need chocolate in order to keep my good nature right now.

Pampers Precious Moments

Okay, so during one of my sleep-deprived, staring-at-nothing, completely zoning out moments, I discovered that my diaper box has any amount of Pampers Moments. These consist of those heart-stopping moments of pure perfection (which are feeling rather rare right now). The one that I found myself staring at is 

Moment #37    It's so precioius the way he curls his little fingers around mine. 

And there are many, many more. But I have come up with a few of my own- just through personal experience, and I am posting them here for your viewing pleasure (also, the following pictures are in no specific order- they are just random moments from the last three weeks):

Moment #15     It's so precious the way your two-week old has finally switched his awake time from 2 in the afternoon to 9 in the morning thereby permitting EVERYONE to enjoy naptime together, when suddenly- your two-year old decides she doesn't want/need a nap anymore.

Moment #26     It's so precious the way he peed all over the bed, mid-diaper-change, at 2am and you were so tired that you didn't even think about changing the sheets and laid down and slept in it. Oh. blessed. sleep.

Moment #38    (Yes, I picture this one coming right after the pampers moment #37) It's so precious the way you just leaked right through your nursing bra, tank top, and shirt at the thought of how cute your little guy is!

I can just picture my mom telling me to ENJOY these moments while I can. And although I sound very sarcastic, I am doing just that.

I sure love these two!!

These weeks have just flown, and honestly, I'm hoping that the handful of letters that Quinn pulled off the fridge and keeps in her "private stash" on her umbrella table, is really just a coincidence....

The New Man In My Life

And counting.....

It was brought to my attention that the only picture I have posted of myself in, well....  a long time, was my doctored "fat" pic that was included in my last post. So, in the interest of disillusioning all of you who now believe me to be 300 pounds, this is what I meant by "whale."

 

Also, this last week has not been without it's share of surprises- Quinn has been really sick and not wanting to do anything other than watch movies all day. Which, quite honestly was just fine with me, because I am past the point of wanting to even move. But today when I took her into the doctor, we found out she has tonsillitis and a pretty gross ear infection. So, she is now on an oral antibiotic AND ear drops. Hopefully we can get her better before baby brother makes his entrance! Which, by the way--- 5 Days!!!

Ever have those days....

or weeks?

I have two weeks left in this pregnancy, and I feel like a whale that is good for nothing. Well, nothing but laughing at. I'm sure it's quite comic to watch me try to get off the couch or bend over and pick something up off the floor- Where's that spunky two-year-old when you need her?! BUT- bless Tyson's heart-- he hasn't laughed once. He just looks at me like, "wow. really?" And then I walk over to the calendar and count down the days one more time.... 14. If you were wondering. 14 WHOLE days.

Actually, it's quite entertaining.....

You know how sometimes you don't realize how much you use a certain word, until your two year old starts to use it? It's like a rude awakening.

Actually, it's like... "where did you hear that?"  And then two hours later, you realize you've said it four times in a five minute conversation. Yeah. It's like that, actually.

Have you figured out what word I'm talking about? Yeah. Actually. But in Quinn language, it's pronounced, "Ak-shee." Here are a few examples of how she has used it just today.

Quinn walks up to me holding a small plastic cow and proceeds to spill her story- something about slippers and running. Two minutes later, after the twentieth, "It's like, wooooooaaaahhhhhh  ahhhhh!"

 Me: Oh really? (Yes, this is my good ol' standby response when I have no idea what she's talking about.

Quinn: Uhhhhh.... Mom, I talking to cow, AK-SHEE.

Me: Oh, well, 'scuse me.

And later:

Me: Quinn, it's naptime.

Quinn: Ak-shee, it's not, Mom. It's time to go see EMMA!!!

Me: Uhhhhhh.....

And there ya have it, folks. It's actually really quite fun. 

The week from you-know-where and an update on Miss Quinn

Sunday morning dawned bright and clear, and I opened my eyes and rolled out of bed at a blissful 9am to the sounds of Q playing happily in her room. I reached up to turn off the fan and close the blinds, just glancing out the window as I did so-- and saw this....

My glasses-less eyes could not comprehend what I was seeing. I kept thinking, "Why did someone park right behind us like that?" Then Tyson started to show signs of life, so I poked him and pointed out the window. But unlike me, as soon as he saw this same scene, he said "Oh crap" and ran out of the apartment. I was still confused. Then I grabbed my glasses just as I saw Tyson approaching the two cars and realized that they weren't just parked really close- they had actually ran into our car! Luckily, there was no damage. The car had just rolled out of it's spot and, turning slightly to the right, had hit our car.

You might think, hey- that's nothing to get worked up about. At least there was no damage. And I would agree. But it seems that this (coming two days after we had sold the G6, and were waiting for our buyer to come pick it up) was just an omen of what was to come.

Tuesday night, Quinn and I drove to Jackson to pick up our buyer (my little sister!), and drove back. The last hour, under the cover of darkness. And just 30 minutes outside of Idaho Falls, home, we had a near- death experience. A car of teenagers pulled onto the highway-- without looking-- right in front of our car (the G6) with us going about 70 mph. With some luck, a lot of swerving, and a few tiny naughty words (words that I hope my daughter will never repeat), we made it around them still intact. I slowed the car to 30 mph and just kind of drifted along willing my heart to slow down and my stomach to go back down where it belonged. And then THAT car-- the one that had almost cost us our lives-- swerved out and around us, all the while with the occupants staring at us like we had done something wrong. Right then I went from upset to murderous, and if they hadn't sped up so fast I would've gotten their license plates and called it into the police. But they did, and therefore I didn't. And we were still alive.

Then Wednesday morning came along, the day that we were supposed to pick up a check from the bank (our new loan for OUR new car, the Buick Century). And then I got a call from the bank. "Mrs. Allen, it turns out that since you haven't yet consolidated you and your husband's student loans, your debt to income ratio is too high, and we cannot offer you a loan at this time." Seriously? And why didn't you mention that this might be the outcome, the three times that I talked to you yesterday? Do you understand I am supposed to be in Pleasant Grove, UT in four hours to pick up this car? Yes, of course you are sorry.

Three stressful hours later, we were on the road (money in hand- thanks to a much more lenient lender :)) But now, with the knowledge that I had to get our loans consolidated within the next two weeks. With no more problems for the rest of the day, we picked up our buick and headed home-- arriving at around 11. We got a ..... night's sleep, and I got up the next morning to begin doing our laundry for our three-day stay at my sister's to watch her four children while she and her husband attended girl's camp.

You'll never guess what happened next. Our dryer called it quits. Just at the start of do-or-die laundry day. Always at the perfect time, right? And then I was ready to call it quits. Quinn ran around that day in a tank top and shorts-- appalling, I know. But she was seriously out of clothes and that was the only clean thing in her drawers. Tyson ended up taking a few loads down to the clubhouse to get them dried and we survived. The good news is that we later found out it was just the heating element that went out and a quick fix and $56 later, it's as good as new!

And the next day it was on to Bonnie's to watch the kiddos. OR I guess a more apt description would be to have THEM watch ME, since I was seriously almost over the edge. Luckily, Bonnie's children are some of the most well-behaved, helpful kids I have ever been around. If not for that fact, I'm not sure I would have made it. Emma and Anna entertained and watched over Quinn, Maggie entertained and watched over the three of them, and Cooper just stuck around and helped out whenever he could see that I was just too tired to care. One of the times when we were all lively and having fun, was during play-dough time. I made me and Tyson's dudes and Emma made Quinn (the pink one in the middle-- wearing the diaper). One happy family:

And Sunday-- we crashed. I am not even ashamed to say that we totally skipped church, slept in until 10 and lazily spent our day just enjoying the non-stress of it all. 

 

Now for Miss Quinn-- she is as independent as ever and LOVES order. Tyson and Quinn have a nightly ritual called clean-up time, right before bed. This is sometimes skipped if we are not watching the clock and it's bed time before we know it. On these occasions, when we kneel in Quinn's room for her to say prayer, it's really hard to get her to concentrate, because in between repeating words, she is picking up toys and putting them away in her bins. She just cannot handle going to bed with toys on the floor. So like her dad. And this morning after going out to check the mail, I walked in and just kicked off my flip flops NEAR the door. I came back later and found this:

She had put my shoes nicely next to eachother and then stacked her own flip flops on top of mine. Neat freak, that one. But I love her so much!

And she really keeps us laughing with the things she says: yesterday, Tyson was mixing up a chicken, cream cheese, and onion mixture for chicken pockets and started complaining that his arm was hurting. I laughed and told him "You just gotta keep working it! Work it baby!" So Tyson starts stirring faster (and shaking his butt) and says, "Alright, I'm working it baby!" Then Quinn climbs up on her chair next to Tyson, and says, "Daddy, I wanna work it baby!" We both laughed so hard we almost fell over.

That's our girl! Sorry for the extreme length of this post, hopefully it was worth reading through! Love you all!

Sorry for the delay.....

Okay- not that you've missed me or anything, but we are finally back online! Quinn and i spent a couple weeks in Wyoming at the end of May. We had lots of fun- especially Quinn. She enjoyed the BIG back yard and unrestrained free time with Oat (my brother's dog). Oh, how she terrorized that dog. The last couple of days we were there, Oat would run and hide whenever he saw her coming. It wasn't that she was mean (okay- there was that one time that she was experimenting on how it would feel to give Oat a "back massage" with a bat, but other than that...), but the main problem was that she was so dang attentive. She was constantly feeding him (whatever she happened to be eating at the time), and petting him, and trying to lay next to him and just generally being in his space. I got the feeling that Oat is a "personal space" kind of dog. Too bad for him, he was the only entertainment available......

 .....except for that one morning when we went to Jamie's house and she got to play with her dog- that was when she fed it an ENTIRE bag of treats, thereby giving Jamie a REALLY nasty mess to deal with the next day. Well, messES, I guess I should say.... but anywho....

Here is what Grandpa and Quinn do best.......

And here is my first surprise from Tyson when I got back. (okay, honey- you only made me promise not to post this on facebook, you didn't say anything about the blog.....) TA-DA! He cut his own hair! AND he actually did a really good job, it's that that dang neckline is REALLY hard to do on your own, when you can't actually see what you're doing. The worst part is that he did this the night before and went to work all that day, before I got home and fixed it. He said, "check it out- I cut my own hair. But Jo-Jo did mention that it wasn't very straight in the back....." And then this was what I found. Don't worry- Quinn and I only referred to him as Vanilla Ice, INTERMITTENTLY.

And speaking of hair.... Quinn's hair is finally long enough to DO stuff!! Yay! Although she still yanks it out after a couple of hours, and it NEVER makes it through naptime. Oh well, we keep on trying.

So, thanks all for checking back- and there will be more to come-- as long as my husband doesn't kill me for posting that pic.....  :)