Spring and Easter

My boys at the Jamestown River

Our wonderful friend had us over for Easter egg dying. Here she's coloring with the boy.

The results of our egg dying efforts. This is not a very flattering picture of me, but I love everyone in the picture, so I still posted it.

I got our friend (with a yard) to have us over for an Easter egg hunt. He found one: success! All in all, I think he ended up with three total.

So, our Easter activities included egg dying, an Easter egg hunt/brunch before Saturday morning session, getting invited to share a delicious Easter lunch with some friends, and inviting some other friends to have Easter dinner with us. And around all those activities, Patrick and I went on a Friday night date and we attended all the sessions of General Conference at the church on Saturday and Sunday.

Some notes on Conference: First, it was amazing! Second, the munchkin really did great. Four two hour sessions is pretty intense. He slept through two of them, I think, and the other two he struggled by the end of them, but he did all right. I hope that this will get us started on a pattern that I want to keep up. Going to conference at the church is something Patrick and I both grew up doing. I don't think we typically went to all the sessions when we were this young, but we both want to do it with our kids because it's so important. Going to the church helps us be more reverent and focused than we would be if we watched it at home and hopefully it will help set the tone for our children, too, that this event is a church event. I know lots of families do conference lots of different ways, but I'm excited to be getting ourselves into our Conference tradition. I love traditions.

March is Changeable

How could anyone ever get upset at this little cherub?
(Spoiler: I'm about to admit that I've done it.)

Parenting Woes
This month, our weather had not been very consistent: a week of sunny warmth, followed by a week of rain, followed by a week of hot, hot sun -- or at least that's what the weather tells us to expect next week. This reflects fairly well the temperament of the little man, as well.

He was sick for about a week. I took him to the doctor yesterday and she gave us a breathing machine. Since having a child (one who is sick way too often especially), I have come to the realization that the medical field is overly enthusiastic about "fixing" things that probably ought to be left to themselves. For example, around six months, the kiddo got bronchialitis (or something) and they gave us a prescription to go get suctioned out at the hospital. We went once and it cleared him out really well. However, they advised us to come back every morning and every night! We thought that did not make financial sense and clearly it wasn't that effective if we were supposed to go that often. We weren't sorry to have gone once, but we thought their advice to come two times a day was ridiculous. Though I took the machine they gave us, I suspect it's a very similar device. If they would just tell me, "Hey, there isn't anything we can do. It's just going to take two weeks for this to pass," I would be okay with that. I just go to the doctor in case he does have something that can be fixed quickly with medication.

Anyway, the kiddo did seem to be healthier yesterday before we actually made it to his appointment, with just lingering wheeziness and coughing. However, he had an early dose of what must be the "Terrible Twos" and I HATED it! Sadly, this little phase has carried over to today. It involves hitting and biting and throwing tantrums to get his way. I am not certain how to deal with this. I sometimes lose my temper (because I don't like to be bitten) and I dislike feeling out of control. That's not to say that I've actually done anything serious, but I end up yelling at him and being rougher with him and I just recognize that all in all it is NOT effective. I feel ridiculous losing my temper with a child of this age, but gosh darn it, I admit that I do. What's a mother to do?! Normally, my little boy is so mellow, pleasant, and even obedient, so it always exhausts me when his temperament seems to change so suddenly.

Help put a smile back on my face with any advice you can muster-- PLEASE!

In Other News
There are a lot of other events going on in our lives in the upcoming future. This next weekend we are celebrating Easter, of course. I long for good traditions for holidays, especially Easter, which religiously-speaking is THE most important holiday of the year when you think about it. I'm not very good at doing them, but I absolutely love the idea of great traditions. I have a great friend who is amazing at doing holidays right. I would like to be more like her. Leading up to this Easter, we did our Family Home Evening lesson out of the Primary manual on Easter and talked about resurrection. Obviously, not a concept that the kid's going to quite get yet since he has no idea even about death, but I still felt pleased with ourselves for focusing on the religious meaning of Easter. We are also planning on sending him on an Easter egg hunt because, hey, it's fun. It's yet to be determined what the little plastic eggs will actually contain.

Also, we will be attending General Conference this weekend for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I love General Conference. The leaders of our church speak with inspiration and power and give us simple, clear doctrines to live by. They teach us from the scriptures and they testify of Jesus Christ. We hear from a prophet, called of God, just as in olden days like Adam, Noah, or Isaiah. And we hear from apostles, just as Jesus Christ organized upon the earth when he lived here. We also hear from female leaders who direct the Relief Society, Young Womens program, and Primary (for children) of our church. These are some pretty incredible people. The more often I hear them, the more I love and admire them.

Then, soon after, the kiddo and I will be heading to visit the families in good ol' Wisconsin. I hate to be apart from Patrick and we have rarely been apart in the entirety of our marriage (about three days being the extent of it). However, another of our friends will be leaving her husband for a bit too, so the men-folk have plans to study for school and play Wii.

When we get back, I am hosting a baby shower for a friend. I am so lucky to have great people who are helping me pull it together. So we will have a pretty busy next month. I'm sure there will be updates to follow, although I recognize that I am slackerish about it lately.

Hello, January

Poor December only got one measly little post. I wasn't completely lazy, however. In fact, I was packing and traveling and visiting and returning and unpacking and playing. I also was posting, actually, just not here. I have taken on an alter ego. You can see my darker, more self-absorbed more feathery side here: www.geefunnyfarm.blogspot.com. (You may be wondering, "Is it possible to have a more self-absorbed side when every post in this thing is about you, your family, and you?" Actually, I think I can say yes.) This alter ego blogging is in behalf of my mom's new business GEE Funny Farm. The business is in the birthing process, but when it's up and running, it's going to be wicked cool. I mean, how many places do you know of where you can go and to see a wallaby, llamas, horses, a miniature horse, parrots, a miniature donkey, and more?

This is a glimpse of the utter coolness of the Funny Farm.

Anyway, we had a fantastic Christmas. We loved seeing our families, in particular. We did not, as it turns out, fall deeply back in love with Wisconsin cold. In fact, we felt a little frosty towards it. My teenage self shudders at my wimpiness; my adult self is actually not all that concerned with approval, as it turns out. It was cold. Period. Our families were awesome, though. The kiddo was showered with attention. If he weren't so cool, he would be spoiled for life. Fortunately, he actually hasn't seemed too obsessed with keeping it up at home. Phew.

Above: Dad's side spoiling the munchkin.
Below: My side spoiling the munchkin.

After the family time, we spent one day with Daniel and Michelle in Michigan. They were so nice to us and tolerant of how we shifted their normal routine by arriving at 1:30 am and getting up to go at 5:30 am the next morning. We played games and caught up and just had such a nice time for the day we were there. And we were so happy to meet their newest addition and see their first addition who is speaking in complete sentences and even says, "I fell and broke down and cried." What two and a half-year-old says, "I broke down"? I love it!

After three weeks away, we were really, really glad to get home to our own space. Our little apartment seemed absolutely charming when we came back to it. Also, we made it back in time to celebrate birthdays with our friends Kathleen and Rachel. So that was an added bonus to our return. Now, Patrick's had his first day of the second semester and he has a better idea of what he needs to do to be successful. It's fun listening to him organize his time, especially since his plans include a walk with me everday. We went on a nice walk in CW (Colonial Williamsburg) today and it was so relaxing, I'm thrilled at the idea of keeping it up for an entire semester . . . and maybe longer. Life, my friends, is pretty stinkin' grand.

Me and my darn good lookin' husband before we went shmoozing law firms on the hunt for a summer internship.

2008 Winding Down

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Caleb playing Santa.

This is the way he dresses when we go walking in the cold and he can sit in the stroller (meaning there isn't snow all over the roads and sidewalks).

This is one of the first times he held onto something. I was brushing it into his face, making not-very-ferocious roaring noises and he grabbed on and (of course) tried to eat it.

This is one of the first times he didn't get massively upset to be on his stomach and, in fact, looked very peaceful and pleasant.

This is after one-too-many pictures, I guess.

These are our walking buddies Libby and her munchkin (known fondly as "the Frog"). Libby and her husband introduced us to the game Arkham Horror (which Patrick bought with his Christmas money).

This is when Mom discovered a hat that Grandma Taylor gave us and thought it would be good for a photo shoot. It would have worked better if I'd moved the blanket-- this is a hat that can definitely stand on its own.

Our son is already a better citizen than we are: he's keeping up on the news. (Actually, Patrick does a pretty good job in this area; I could use some improvement -- ah hem new year's resolution #1.)

This is a sleeper from Grandma Billie.

This is how we bundle up to go walking when I carry him. Believe me, we stay pretty warm.

I really just love this picture. He looks so curious.

Our very own "Santa baby."

Intently opening his present from his great-grandma Billie on Christmas morning.

And here they are for his playing pleasure. I love them and he loves some of them now and will love the rest very soon, I think.

After my first year of blogging, I just want to say that we've had a good year and been very blessed. Two graduations and a baby -- really, we couldn't have asked for more. And 2009 is looking very hopeful and exciting too. Huzzah for living!

Probably Too Much Information

Here for your enjoyment, a review of the last few weeks of our lives, mostly in pictures.

Caleb dressed for church in a cute sweater from Grandma. Isn't he starting to look so old? He'll soon be three months.

He has a red Mickey Mouse outfit like this, and this is his blue Tigger outfit. I just think they are both super cute. I got them at Walmart so he would have a few long pants, long shirt outfits.

This is Cosette studying Caleb. Actually, the cutest thing ever was something I didn't get on camera. He was sitting in his carseat and she would sidle over from behind his carseat and look so excited to see him and then she would scoot back behind and then sidle in front again. I think she was playing peek-a-boo, but she did it without any prompting from the adults; we were all sitting at the table talking when we noticed her doing it.

Patrick and I play backgammon with almost every meal. We thought it was about time Caleb learned how to play, so Patrick's teaching him.

Patrick eating the baby?

This year we did dinner with Dan and Michelle. Michelle is preparing an excellent vegetable dish with all sorts of vegetables I'd never tried. For instance-- brussel sprouts, really quite good when well prepared. Who knew!

Cosette munching while she waits for Thanksgiving dinner to be ready.

Daniel putting the turkey in the oil so we can fry it.

Everyone worrying about whether it will boil over or be okay. With good reason. However, it all turned out delicious and safe.

Cosette taking a pre-Thanksgiving dinner nap. Gotta get ready for the festivities.

Caleb waking up from his pre-Thanksgiving dinner nap.

Our little family on my birthday.

And again-- lit by candles this time-- Twenty-three of them!

And Caleb in his super-cute "Little builder" overall outfit.

Our Life Reviewed Through Pictures

Soon after our trip to Wisconsin, we got back and Thayne opened his mission call to the Belgium, Brussels/Netherlands Mission. He was a little concerned that he wouldn't leave until a few weeks into September when he wants to begin school soon after he returns, but relatives assured him that it can still be arranged, and we think it's cool that he'll be around when the baby's born.

The dangerous weapon I got Patrick for his birthday was a water balloon slingshot. He and Keith attempted to test it when Thayne and Savannah arrived at their house. I don't think Thayne got wet at all, but they did get Savannah who was standing next to him. Below is Patrick's first time testing it. I think it works pretty well.

Below is after Patrick's birthday celebrations. We had two wrapping paper rolls laying around probably finished off with his birthday presents. There's one picture of Michelle and Aimee both beating up on him, but this one is funnier because of Michelle's expression and Patrick's posture. I think this whole episode scared Michelle's baby, Cosette, a little, but I guess if she's going to get to know Patrick then she'll have to get used to sudden attacks and outbursts like this.

Once a month (usually on the first Sunday of the month) we get together with all the nearby family and have a family dinner. For July, we are a week late so that everyone could be there. I'm excited because we're in charge of dessert and I have a cinnamon cake recipe that's so good that we're going to make. This is from last month. It was the first time we'd had the dinner at Julie and Dallas's house. I think their son is taking the picture here of Bethany and Randi. Bethany likes to say the two of them are sisters. Though they are cousins in reality, they do have fun together.

Here's Bethany making a funny face again. She's pretty amazing on a guitar and I don't think she's taken lessons except informally from her mom. I took a semester-long class and she plays WAY better than I do. In fact, I don't really play at all.

This is the rock lesson for the boys at church. Patrick is painting "PRAY" on the rocks. Doesn't he look so intent? It was a fun project. Since they're supposed to go on your pillow, later we made one for Pattie as a joke that says, "WATCH YOUR HEAD!"

This is Cosette's first birthday. Her mom gave her chocolate cake. I thought she didn't look as delighted by the whole thing as I imagine I would be. However, she does look cute . . . and messy.

This is Cosette's cousin beating up on Patrick. I know he looks like the victim in these pictures, but I really think Patrick starts the roughhousing a lot of the time.
This is Independence Day at Mickie and Keith's. They made delicious chicken, which you can see on the grill. I'm hungry just remembering it. For Independence Day, by the way, Patrick and I slept in and then got up and filled water balloons and water guns and went in hunt of friends we could get. We got our friends Debbie and Jeff with the water guns a little, though they stayed hidded in their house when they saw the water guns which we'd left for them to defend themselves. The water balloons we saved all day until we arrived at Mickie and Keith's and then we snuck around back while Keith was grilling and attacked him. He was a great sport about it . . . which was probably easier to do when we didn't get him very wet. (I don't think I got him at all.)

Here is proof that Patrick often starts it. We filled up the water guns again before going over to Mickie and Keith's. And he shot people pretty liberally as I recall.

This is Bethany retaliating. She looks so nonchalant about it that the picture looks a little creepy but it is a water gun, as evidenced by the bright yellow and purple on the gun and by Patrick smiling while he tries to duck away.

And this is me and Pattie settling in to watch the fireworks. We ended up on chairs but the grass felt nice for awhile. It was a fantastic fourth of July!

Clearly, things are going well here. We're having a great time. In the future, we're looking forward to the next family dinner, Aimee's shower, our family reunion, the baby classes, and then Aimee's wedding/wedding festivities, as well as Patrick finishing summer term and (in his ideal world) the baby being born after his finals and before the next/final semester starts. But we'll see what happens.