Aware

I was feeling a bit down yesterday and my feelings were bubbling at the surface.

The Lime has a plugged up nose so LaVor stayed home with him. I always feel very awkward without at least one of my sidekicks. Although we've been in the ward almost 5.5 years, I have yet to connect with anyone besides my sweet Visiting Teachers. And I totally take the blame for that. I'm not social.

Anyway, we had Ward Conference so the Bishop and two members of the Stake Presidency spoke. I can probably count on 1 hand where I've really felt a Sacrament Meeting was for me. As the President finished up, he said, "As I knelt down, asking Heavenly Father what I could say to you, I was impressed to say this. He is aware of you. He knows you and He loves you.". The President said he didn't know who needed to hear it, but someone did. That someone was me.

Throughout the day, I kept thinking about a note I received several years ago while in the Tri-Valley ward. The Relief Society had an anonymous drop box where we would put notes for the other sisters.

This note said, "Kim! I just need to tell you how sweet you are. I don't think you hear that enough. You are always smiling and that always makes me smile. You are a strong daughter of our Heavenly Father. You are also a wonderful sister in our ward. Again, thanks for just being you!"

I tend to forget that although I may be visibly alone and feel alone, I'm not. I'm loved and being thought of constantly.

From Deseretbook.com

The Big C

We needed to make a trip to Costco on Saturday, to get yogurt and cheese.

Somehow we walked out of the store with much more than that. How does that always happen?!

One of the items that snuck its way into our cart was Chevy's salsa. Our local Chevys closed a few months ago (no more crispy flautas...WAH!) and we've missed the semi-guiltless treat of chips and salsa.

And it wouldn't be Costco without something BIG (hence "The Big C"). If only they were also Chevy's chips...because I would include those in my "meal before I die". The best.

Birthday Celebrations

Since LaVor and I both had to work yesterday, The Lime's birthday celebrations had to wait until everyone got home.

We enjoyed Nation's for dinner (we both got cheeseburgers, he got a hot dog) and everyone agreed it totally hit the spot.  We then met Jared at our house to open presents and eat cake.  The Lime even got a chance to open his presents from Grammy & Papa, while talking to Grammy on Skype.  Unfortunately, our internet SUCKS and we kept losing the connection.

One of the only things The Lime wanted for his birthday were balloons.  The look on his face when he woke up yesterday and saw them in the kitchen, was perfect!  He also got a crazy amount of tractors, a football, books and 2 new shirts, one of which he picked out himself.

For as long as I've known him, Jared has always gotten a mint chocolate chip ice cream cake for his birthday.  Since Liz is no longer with us, that detail got overlooked on his actual birthday.  So, since LaVor got that exact cake for The Lime, and we had "3" and "2" candles, we sang to him as well, despite him objecting to it.

We didn't do anything big or fancy but I know The Lime had a great day!

Tally Mark 24 - Part 2

-Made up a rap that goes like this..."Moo moo dat!  Moo moo dat!"  We have no clue where it came from or what it means.  But it's funny.
-Has no problem asking for help.  I hope this never changes.
-Is currently obsessed with our iron and ironing board.  I know if I bought him his own, he'd hate it and only play with ours.
-Is on a yogurt kick for breakfast.  And then wants cookies the rest of the day.
-Has been having night terrors.  I don't know if it's from being sick or his teeth that are coming in.  They're no fun.
-Stayed in Nursery for the entire 2nd hour, by himself, without a meltdown, 2 weeks ago.  Then everyone got sick.
-Would eat hot dogs for every meal, if we let him.
-Gets dry skin, just like me.  Because the static in his hair wasn't enough.
-Will randomly drop to the ground and pretend he's been tackled.
-Hates sitting in the "seat" part of the shopping cart.  Much prefers to either be in the big section or hanging off the front. 
-Never ceases to amaze us.

Tally Mark 24 - Part 1

My sweet boy,

I'm convinced this last year went by faster than the first. Besides still wearing diapers, you're no longer a baby but a big boy.

You're one energetic little guy and you keep Daddy and me on our toes. People ask us if you ever stop. The answer is always, "No".

This year has been a fun one; with you learning a whole new vocabulary and cranking that brain a mile a minute. You may not speak as clear as other 2 year olds or say as many words, you don't know all your numbers or the alphabet, you don't sit still for long periods of time. But you're so sweet and caring, polite and gracious, concerned and hilarious. I wish I could have a constant, "Tink (thanks), Mama" playing in my ear.

You are your Dad's #1 fan. You ask for him the second you get out of bed in the morning and he's usually the last thing you see before you fall asleep at night. If you could go to work with him everyday, you would. Any car that drives by the house, that even remotely sounds like a truck, you say, "Dada hom (home)!". I hate having to tell you it's not him.

You wear your boots everyday, just like Daddy. And you carry around a phone and keys, just like he does. You pretend to fix things, just like you see him do. You want to be just like him and I hope that never changes. He's a good guy to want to be like. And he loves you so much. So, so much.

Thank you for blessing our home with your infectious laugh and spirit. These 2 years have been the best.

I love you!

-Mama

No Way!

I came across some pictures I took a couple months ago, as we were crossing the San Mateo bridge to meet Curious George.

There was a helicopter flying mighty low, which made me a bit nervous but LaVor assured me there was nothing to worry about.  "The helicopter is just going to drop a guy off on the tower," he said.  WHAT?!?!

Setting up

Dropping off

Adios

It all makes sense.  But I just figured the worker took a little boat to the base of the tower and climbed all the way to the top.  I'm sure he appreciates this way much more than my idea.

Proof

One thing that happened a lot, while fundraising for the Avon Walk last year, was people would question if I was really doing the walk or keeping the money for myself.

Part of me was insulted but most of the time, I would say, "I have a real job. Standing on the street corner, asking for money, is not something I would do for an income (just boobs)."

I'm ahead of the game this year. Since our current PC doesn't have Microsoft Office (I'm dying without it! 20 years of it being at my fingertips and now...nothing!), I had to print the info in Picasa under the "wallet" setting. I had a bunch of blank business cards from our wedding (I can find a use for everything) so I glued the "wallets" to the cards.

Now, if someone questions me, I can provide proof that I'm legit.

Too legit to quit (hey...hey)!

Lesson Learned

Several months ago, we woke up one Saturday morning, ready to tackle the different tasks we had planned.

Our first stop was at the Stake center to drop off some bags at the D.I. trailer.

Before we left our house, The Lime found a flashlight, similar to this one, and claimed it as his toy.

While leaving the church parking lot, LaVor happened to turn around and see that The Lime had taken the light apart. I didn't think anything of it but LaVor immediately said, "The batteries!"

He quickly pulled the car over and I began the search for the batteries. Asking a 21 month old, "Did you eat the batteries?!" is useless. The Lime just looked at me with a blank stare.  The scary thing was that the batteries were so tiny, The Lime could have easily swallowed them whole.  I searched his car seat, the floor, any nook or cranny surrounding him. Nothing.

Then LaVor decided to search while I called poison control. Just as the lady on the other end of the phone said, "You need to go to the emergency room right away!", LaVor said, "Found them!". Apparently I didn't search the car seat well enough.

That brings us to now.  As I was blog stalking a couple weeks ago, I came across a girl's blog that had a similar situation but a very different outcome.

Talk about counting your blessings.  I'm now on the lookout for anything that could possibly have those darn batteries in them!

Our incident was a tiny miracle, as The Lime still puts things in his mouth...on a regular basis.  "Thanks" were given, again, the night I found Emmett's story.

I'll Take Today

(That's one of my favorite songs by Gary Allan. LaVor put it on a cd he made for me, pre break-up. I cried myself to sleep with that cd, for months, post break-up. Thankfully we got married so I don't have to cry anymore.)

I don't know if it's me or the mother in me, but when I'm at work and the phone rings, my heart skips a beat. LaVor says I need to relax and not always be on edge. But this time, the phone rang and there was reason to be on edge.

Nobody answered when I said, "Hello?" but I could hear a familiar cry. Turns out, there was vomit and I needed to come get The Lime.

30 minutes and 80 mph later, sure enough, the vomit was all over The Lime, the car seat, the stuffed puppy and the sidewalk. Thank goodness for extra clothes & blankets, baby wipes and plastic grocery bags. (That's why they shouldn't be banned, folks!)

6 hours later, the upchuck reflexes came to a halt but the requests for water continued throughout the night and into the morning. More thanks for burp cloths soaked in water that can be sucked on. Your mind thinks of amazing things in the middle of the night.

We've gotta make a new rule; LaVor can't go out of town on business trips anymore. Someone always pukes.

But at least we didn't end up in the emergency room this time.

Makeshift Momo

One of the gifts The Lime received for Christmas was a Curious George backpack, my mom made. 

He's used it for many different things, but this one is my favorite.

A hose from a Shop Vac + a Curious George backpack = the best Momo (leaf blower) a kid could ask for.