California, we miss you already!

Three months ago my sister, Rachel, received a mission call from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to serve in Japan, and last week Lincoln and I visited my parents for her farewell.  My favorite clip is of my entire family dancing with Lincoln, since that's the last time my family will be all together for a number of years (as well as Lincoln's expression of overwhelmed confusion by the amount of people jumping in such close proximity to him).

 Although Rachel is hardly in this video, I wanted to remember the happy family that she has influenced and set such an amazing example for, and to remember our last moments all together.

Banishing the Winter Blues

In our apartment, we get down (or more specifically, "get up, get up, and get down")!  Salt Lake offers so many toddler-friendly activities throughout the winter, but I'll be honest - the motivation to attend a thirty minute activity is significantly decreased by the ice that needs to be scraped off the car windshield, and while I have enjoyed watching Lincoln walk like a penguin because of the 62 coats I layered him in, strapping all of that into a frozen car seat tipped the enjoyment factor back down again.

I can tell you one thing about Lincoln's newfound toddlerhood - kid loves to move!  Like it's nobody's business!  The last few months have been so full of dance-offs, "beat boxing" attempts, jumping on our miniature trampoline, games of hide and seek, finger painting, building train tracks and racing hot wheels, that by bath time I'm pretty exhausted (but very happy I have my own personal trainer).

I started to randomly video these little moments which make up our day, especially since our routine will soon drastically change (once the weather gets it's act together).  I compiled a few clips to remind myself that being stuck inside over the winter, with a toddler, really isn't so bad...in fact, I think I will miss it.  A lot.

Hugs and Kisses

...

filled with

...

...

and

...

!!!

To Die For

I think the day Lincoln's baby cheeks disappear will be the day I die  

(okay, maybe just on the inside).

Buildin' Forts and Stuff

These cardboard blocks have been Lincoln's new obsession, especially when Tyce is home to build a fortress around him.  Watching these two boys play together is kinda my favorite thing in the world right now.  I love that regardless of how "cool" a guy might seem, as soon as building blocks or legos are out, they're down on the floor playing just as hard as the toddler next to them.

While I Was Sleeping

A few days ago Lincoln and I returned from a ten day "vacation" to California.  A few days into our trip, Lincoln lost his appetite and obviously felt sick, so the first Sunday at my parent's house we spent cuddling in bed, watching Shaun the Sheep on my iPhone so we wouldn't have to get up.

My sister, Hannah, was the first to lose it, and apparently I shouldn't have laughed, because it was all my body needed to throw me into a very intense sickness.  One moment I was laughing, the next, sitting near multiple siblings in front of the fire trying to minimize convulsions from extreme chills (Funny in retrospect...not so funny in the moment).

While still reeling from the first few minutes it hit me, my little brother walked by my room where I momentarily managed to fake an "I got this" face, and told me, "my antigenes are obviously too good to let my body get sick!"  Ten minutes later he was in the bathroom throwing up, Rachel knocking on the door, yelling, "how are those antigenes treating ya, buddy!?"  And a few hours later, Rachel joined us in hell, so sick she could hardly walk.

I lost every ounce of fluid my body had available, was practically delusional the first night, had very intense back pain accompanied by full body spasms, dreamt of drinking gallons of water when I could hardly keep ice chips down, and when the worst was over, I claimed that labor wasn't as horrific (which I still fully stand behind.  It was that bad).  Thankfully my mom didn't get sick until my third day of recuperation, so she completely took care of Lincoln.

My point to this (very drawn out) story: I was only able to take a small amount of pictures (to prove we weren't kidnapped, obviously) and the fact I hardly touched my phone didn't help.  The few pictures that do exist will most likely have a short novel attached to them, in a feeble attempt to make up for what my camera missed.

As I slept off this deathly virus, Lincoln and my mom became BFF's (times 4,475).  My mom became a living Pinterest on crack, every moment experimenting a new idea or exciting "diy" project.  It reminded me of growing up, because my mom really rocked our childhood's socks off.  I was also treated to the memory of her remarkable artistic talent (notice the "Wilson" painting).  Now I know why I stick to "abstract art" when I paint...

Lincoln and I are still recuperating: Lincoln is dealing with the disappointment of leaving, while I deal with post-sickness lagging fatigue.  Lincoln's is probably worse though!  I don't think I'd be exaggerating to say that both Lincoln and I would've probably died if my mom wasn't there.  So, phew!  Close call...

Burning through the last of our Christmas candles...

Aren't you?  I mean, they never smell as good the next year, plus using precious storage space to pack them away?  Please.  And that wintery, juniper tree smell?  That still jives with my January, so I've been lighting what's left of those guys all month.

I think I justified procrastinating posting Christmas pictures because firstly, it is no longer December (somebody had to tell you), and secondly, if my Christmas candles weren't burnt out, then neither was a post about Christmas.  It's a very mathematical equation, but in the end, I'm glad I waited.  Why?  Because January is boring.  Like, damn boring.   So I'll do us both a favor and rewind to a festive season, full of presents, houses wrapped with multi-colored lights, hot apple cider, and the smell of cinnamon...because, you know.  My Christmas candles are almost burnt out.

Lincoln and I flew back from California on Christmas Eve, so we could spend Tyson's one day off work, as a family.  Since my parent's house was never warmer than 60 degrees each night, Lincoln slept in bed with me while we visited, making our first night back home filled with Lincoln yelling "Moooom!!!  Bed!" into the video monitor.  So. Much. Fun.

Once we woke up Christmas morning, about to open presents in pajamas (who doesn't?), there was a knock at the door.  Naturally, I fled the scene (although I do rock snowflake thermal leggings), while Tyson and Lincoln answered the door to find Tyson's entire family on our porch.  Surprise!  And they even brought dinner.

By the time they left that evening, we were so exhausted we considered opening presents the next day, but ended up tearing through everything...because are we really so old we would choose sleep over presents?  Never!   Then Lincoln gave us a Christmas present by sleeping through the entire night, in his own bed.  And Oh. Holy. Night.  An entire night, sleeping in my own spacious bed?  It was the best gift ever.

"We cannot call back time that is past"

After the endless games of hide-and-seek, the complete lack of personal time and space (because heaven forbid I close the bathroom door), the soaking splashes of turbulent bathtub-turned-battleship-water, and the emotional exhaustion felt from turning every errand on my "to do" list into an exciting adventure, I occasionally need an extra reminder to truly treasure what I have been so very blessed with.

Because that's what every moment is, and should be as a parent: an exciting adventure.  Most days with Lincoln are haphazard escapades, spent embracing discoveries and laughter...but, of course, there are days I struggle to maintain patience, where enjoyment does not come as easily.

With the difficult moments in mind, these words perfectly articulated the importance of valuing time.  To help me remember, again and again: time passes too quickly to allow even one day to escape appreciation.  Thomas S. Monson writes,

"As parents, we should remember that our lives may be the book from the family library which the children most treasure. Are our examples worthy of emulation? Do we live in such a way that a son or a daughter may say, “I want to follow my dad,” or “I want to be like my mother”? Unlike the book on the library shelf, the covers of which shield its contents, our lives cannot be closed. Parents, we truly are an open book in the library of learning of our homes.

Near the end of his life, one father looked back on how he had spent his time on earth. An acclaimed, respected author of numerous scholarly works, he said, “I wish I had written one less book and taken my children fishing more often.”

Time passes quickly. Many parents say that it seems like yesterday that their children were born. Now those children are grown, perhaps with children of their own. “Where did the years go?” they ask. We cannot call back time that is past, we cannot stop time that now is, and we cannot experience the future in our present state. Time is a gift, a treasure not to be put aside for the future but to be used wisely in the present."

New Year Kisses, (etc)

For New Year's Eve (being such party animals) we visited Temple Square to see the Christmas lights.  Every year we've set aside an evening to see the lights, but hands down, this year won for "most freezing."  After walking in fifteen degree weather for fifteen minutes, we got back into our car and slowly drove around Temple Square, Lincoln pointing to all the different lights, yelling, "ober 'der!  ober 'der!"

Our yearly visit to Temple Square's lights is the only night where I can 100% justify paying $4.00 for apple cider.  I was seriously concerned for Lincoln's little fingers, because even with gloves on, my hands were so cold they started burning (ironic, I know).  Once we were home and Lincoln was warm in bed, we rang in 2013 by watching fireworks from our balcony (with crossed fingers the explosions wouldn't wake Lincoln).

Sidenote: if Lincoln looks like he's wearing lipstick, it's probably because he is, courtesy of my kisses!

At first...

I'm like, "this is New Years!!  Gimme somma that!"

and wonder how people drink on a regular basis, 

because that's crazy bubbly!

...and then I don't care because it's SO DELICIOUS!! 

 And I feel greeeat!

So I guess what I'm trying to say is have a safe (and very happy) New Year's Eve.  Kids get crazy...even if it is only a sugar high from sparkling cider!

Gingerbread Houses & Animal Cookies

When I was younger, so were my grandparents.  Totally rude of them, I know.  Since they were "alive and kicking" then, whereas now they are "almost dead and stiff" (directly quoting them), they had the energy to host a huge gingerbread house party for our entire family every Christmas Eve.

A few years ago they called it quits (not life - just cooking and laundry) and moved into a Veteran's home an hour away.  And so ended the tradition.  Until this Christmas, anyways.

Now that our immediate family is large enough (due to my own, generous donation), my parents thought it would be fun to start that tradition up again.  Like usual, they were right.  Because tell me one person who doesn't love a sugar rushed launch into their childhood dream of becoming an architect?  You know I'm right.  And then that sugar crashed nap afterward?  Heavenly.

P.S.  I would like to point out, for honesty's sake, that I did not make a gingerbread house because I was helping Lincoln choke down more sugar than he's had in his life, all concentrated into 15 minutes (courtesy of Mrs. Claus).

The house I'm 'reppin in the last picture was made by my dad.  And isn't it beautiful?  Well...not as beautiful as the "teepee-turned-Santa Claus-hat" created by Jake (whom should love this holiday because all he needs is a green shirt, and, bam!  He's Christmas colored).