Dempsey Family: Blog

Summer Blues

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 05:40:36 GMT

I haven’t been paying much attention to the calendar lately and summer is now almost over. I feel like I should have done more with the time I was given, but can’t do much about it now. Hopefully we will be able to get some more nice weather and make the most of it. We had HOT weather last week—at least for us. We went swimming at the lake a couple of times—which was so nice (thanks Cathy)! There’s no better way to spend a 90+ degree day. Also that week, my friend Becky and I went to see Stephenie Meyer at Benaroya Hall. It was fun to get out and do something fun.

Roxie had her 6 month checkup and shots this week. She was pretty brave. Alice sure loved it—the Dr. gave her a cookie, stickers, and a band-aid. Roxie is the same length and a couple pounds heavier than Alice was at that age (shocker). She’s a tub—she can roll over, but prefers not to because it takes too much effort. It is too hard for her to lift her body, so crawling is out. She doesn’t really like sitting either because it is hard when you have a large stomach. What she really likes is eating. So far green beans are the only thing she won’t do. Tonight we went to 7-Eleven and got slurpees. As soon as she saw me (and everyone else drinking one) she grabbed for mine. I pulled it away and she screamed. So, I let her have at it—just to see what would happen. She grabbed it and somehow got the straw in her mouth. If she knew how to drink with one, I’m she would’ve emptied my cup. Luckily she hasn’t figured it out yet. Plus, I’m sure slurpees aren't the best food for kids her age. Anyhow, as we browsed the candy aisle, she took about 4 more cracks at trying to drink from the straw then gave up.

Alice went to a fun little summer camp a couple of weeks ago and the last day they did a little performance. Check out my youtube page if you'd like to see it. You can also view a portion of the Q&A with Stephenie Meyer if you are a Twilighter.

What's with that?

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:59:39 GMT

Jake and I finally got a chance to go out and celebrate our 9th anniversary last night. After dinner at one of our favorite restaurants (Italianissimo), we finally saw The Dark Knight. It was great, as all the reviews had said. Something happened after the show that I just don't understand. It has happened many other times at movies I have seen, and still can't quite figure out why it happens. Here is what is was: People clapped. Yep, that's right. After the show was over and the credits rolled, people were clapping. Why? Will someone explain this to me? I certainly didn't see Christopher Nolan, Christian Bale, nor Michael Caine. Although, perhaps Heath heard it from some far off place (we miss you buddy). As far as I know, no one from the movie was there to receive that kind of praise/recognition. So, why do people do it? Note: No offense to any of you post-movie clappers out there.

Headline: Evergreen gets another Dempsey patient

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:55:11 GMT

Yes, now all 4 Dempsey family members have officially been patients at Evergreen Hospital in 2008. It's a darn good thing that we like that hospital. The new ER is pretty sweet. Jake finally got his chance on Saturday to get his very own hospital bracelet. While installing hardwood floors in our kitchen, things went wrong at the table saw. Luckily, he didn't lose any fingers--and it was his left hand, not the right. It's actually quite amazing that this is his first trip to the ER for a construction-related project considering how many projects he's worked on. The floors are looking good, but probably won't be finished for a little while...

Motherhood

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:12:24 GMT

Alice: Mommy, your tummy is little again!

Me: I know, it is probably as small as it will get.

Alice: I don't want to be a mommy when I grow up! I don't want to have babies!!! I want to be a prisoner...

Have I painted that terrible of a picture of motherhood for her that she would rather be a prisoner? News flash Alice--you will be a prisoner, in your own home. In all seriousness, I LOVE motherhood! I feel so lucky to be able to be at home with my kids. There is nothing more important that I could be doing in the world right now than caring for my children. I want to raise smart, strong, and confident girls who will conquer the world. I feel truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to be a mom and have kids--my kids.

9 Years of Wedded Bliss

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:22:28 GMT

Ok, ok, maybe not every moment has been blissful. But, it has been pretty close. Nine years ago today we were married in the beautiful LDS Seattle Temple. Later that day we had a garden reception planned. Everything was set up and ready to go when it started raining. The entire reception had to be moved to the nearby church building. Thanks to all the wonderful people who helped, it turned out fine. It was quite the incident, but I guess rain on your wedding day is supposed to be a good thing. We hold the Dempsey family record so I guess that is something. Nine years and two little girls later, we are still having the time of our lives. Jake is so loving and supportive. He is the greatest!

I haven't been as good at keeping this updated as I would like. So, here is an update. On the 4th of July I helped Shannon feed 300 people breakfast. It turned out pretty good. Thank goodness my SIL, Emmy, showed up with her kids. They helped Jake take care of the girls so I could help with the breakfast. We went home and took naps before we headed out to the Cadd's 10th annual 4th of July celebration. I can't believe this was the 10th year! Jake I and were there for the 1st one right before we were married. Alice swam, we visited, Roxie charmed the guests. The fireworks were the best ever! Bob and Cathy are some of the most generous people we know. We were lucky that their grandkids were not there this year because our kids were their stand-ins. We had a great time--despite the crazy neighbors who are obnoxious every year.

On the 5th of July we went with some family and the Sifuentes clan to Fort Casey. It was pretty windy so I spent most of the time in the car with Roxie and my sister. Everyone else had a great time flying kites, playing ball, walking on the beach, and exploring the fort.

This weekend our good friends Betty and Bruce came back to the mainland to visit. They met Roxie for the first time and we were able to spend some time with them. I think it was the first time I had seen Bruce not wearing a hawaiian shirt. They are awesome! We are hoping to be able to visit them again some time this winter. We also went to the Sultan Shindig this weekend. It was really warm! We watched the parade and saw all the cars at the show. Alice loves rides so I was going to take her on the Dizzy Dragon ride. After we got our tickets and got in line, she immediately made friends with some other kids. I was no longer needed. She used my extra tickets to go on another ride by herself. Pretty independent little thing. At least I will have someone to go on rides with as she gets older--Jake hates them. That is, if she will be seen with me.

Yesterday Roxie finally rolled over all by herself. She is pretty excited about it now. For the longest time, that little chunker couldn't make it onto her round belly. We are hoping her two little teeth pop through soon because she is leaking like a sieve. Here and Alice have picked up colds from their mommy (sorry kids). I went to the Dr. yesterday and have the usual bronchitis. Yea for me...somehow being sick in July just doesn't seem right.

Birthdays and Baseball

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:03:42 GMT

Last Sunday was Alice's 4th b-day. At church she told everyone--I mean everyone--that it was her big day. The weather was scorching so we saught refuge at G&G's since they've got AC. We made ice cream (my favorite) and ate cake. Alice requested a Care Bear cake, but there was no way I was going to try that. I thought maybe, just maybe, I could make a Care Bear tummy cake. Alice has Share Bear so I decided to give it a try. It wasn't a complete disaster. The top was the two suckers and the sides were purple--like Share Bear's fur. Anyway, once we lit the candles Roxie threw up all over the carpet. We cleaned it up before the candles were all melted down and sang. The birthday was a success (I consider things a success as long as they are over, doesn't matter how they turn out). A couple days later we went to a Mariners game with Brett, Will, Ben, Shannon, Piper, Jack and the Cole Family. It was LDS night at the game and we got free hats--neato. We had a great time, but only stayed until the 7th inning. I'm not one for watching games, but I love watching people.

Finally...

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:30:37 GMT

After weeks of owning the scooter, I finally took the chance to ride it last night. Just as Jake had warned me, it was a lot of fun. I insisted on practicing in an empty parking lot before I would go on the road. I am kind of a chicken when it comes to riding on the street with other cars. The practice session went great--took me a little while to figure out the "leaning into the turn" thing. Other than that, I think I've got it down. I even drove it home, with Jake following behind to scrape me off the road. Luckily, that wasn't necessary. I found myself trying to think of people I could go visit on the scooter. Who knows, I might become a more social person (not likely). Jake actually took Alice on a marathon ride yesterday. They went downtown, got some gas, and then went over to our friends' house. Jake gave their kids rides and Jon some big ideas about new toys he might like to buy. Not sure if his wife, Becky, has the same ideas. But, I guess Alice did well on the long ride. Although Jake did have to keep telling her to hold on. She would just ride with one hand on the handle bars while waving to everyone and honking the horn. Fun little new toy--plus we save $ on gas. Jake has already run a few errands for me on it--plus he's much more willing to do them if he gets to take the scooter.

Update

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:12:54 GMT

It's been a while since I last posted, so an update is in order. However, I can't think of any funny stories so I will just ramble. Alice got her pink cast off a couple of weeks ago. That night we celebrated by going to cirque du soleil. We all enjoyed ourselves--except for G & G who babysat Roxie. It was nice to be able to give Alice some one-on-one time. Jake has acquired a scooter to cut down on gas prices. He will be able to drive it to work--weather permitting. So far, it has been raining most everyday. He will only use about 1 gallon of gas to commute to work each week as opposed to 1 tank of gas. That should save some money--IF we have some sunny days soon! Alice and Roxie are cohabitating as of last week. I couldn't stand how cramped our office was with the pack n play! Roxie is sleeping just great in the crib in Alice's room. Plus, we have discovered that Alice is a really hard sleeper--bonus. Roxie has had a couple nights were she starts squawking in the wee hours of the morning. Alice didn't flinch. We wrap Roxie back up and let her squawk herself back to sleep. That was the initial reason that we had them in separate rooms--so Alice doesn't get woken up. Turns out, it didn't matter. It also helps that Roxie sleeps through the night more often than not. Roxie is getting more fun each day. She plays with toys a lot more, and loves talking. She also loves squealing, and making really high pitched noises. We think we is part girl, part dog whistle. Yesterday Alice gave her first talk in primary. She was so excited to be able to say her talk into the "speaker" (aka microphone). I whispered in her ear and she spoke into the microphone. She did a great job. I think she was one of the first Sunbeams (ages 3-4) to give a talk this year. We are proud of her. I was always really nervous to do stuff like that--still am. It's amazing how kids come with their own little (or big) personalities.

Alice said...

Thu, 22 May 2008 21:53:16 GMT

"Sunglasses: Prepare to go on my face!" She then shoved her sunglasses over her eyes.

"Dad's silly. He's an April Fool."

"What the hell?" Both she and daddy got in trouble for that one.

Check your blankets, folks...

Wed, 21 May 2008 03:08:23 GMT

My friend Becky's blog reminded me of a little incident from last night. I sat down to watch some TV and snuggle up in a blanket we keep by the couch--which is incidentally by the front door, which Jake likes to sometimes keep open during nice weather. I wrapped the blanket around me and something tickled my hand. Thinking it might just be a feather from the down blanket, I didn't think much of it. Suddenly, something was MOVING on my hand. I jumped out of the blanket as fast as I could and my eye caught something black moving in the blanket. I made Jake go over and check it out. It was an ant--not just any ant--an ant like an INCH long. I swear it was that big--you can ask Jake. Have you ever seen such a thing? Have you ever had such a thing on your hand? I wouldn't recommend it. I refuse to use the blanket without thoroughly checking it first. I suggest you do the same. Spring is here and so are the insects.

Got her right where I want her

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:37:02 GMT

Last night I was trying to get Alice to finish her dinner. I was telling her to hurry up so we could go upstairs and fold clothes on my bed. She got really excited and asked if she could fold washcloths. "Only if you finish all you dinner. Plus, maybe you can do some shirts." To this, she lighted up and started shoveling it in. Man, I know someday soon she will figure out that folding clothes is actually a chore! Until then, I will enjoy it.

Home(ward) Bound

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 04:09:10 GMT

Today Alice had her followup appointment for her leg. She was terrified. She was crying and whining--but had little to no pain. It was just the memories from last week coming back to haunt her. Hopefully she will be a little better by the next appointment. We need to get that tough kid back! They took new x-rays and the leg is starting to heal. He didn't even change out the cast today. He just wrapped purple around the outside of the old one to seal the open edge. Thank goodness--I don't think she could've survived sawing the old one off and starting from scratch. It was hard enough getting her to sit while the Dr. wrapped the old one up with purple. However, she will need to remain in her cast for 4 more weeks. Then, she will get a shorter cast that allows her to walk a little. She'll have that one for another 2 or 3 weeks. THEN, she will be cast-free at the beginning of June.

She's been coloring like mad and learning to draw lots of letter and numbers. Our TV is getting a good workout too. Right now she is sitting with Jake on the bed and watching Where the Heart Is. Why is she watching a movie about a girl who has a baby in Walmart? Because she wants to--she told Jake not to turn it. She gets into the strangest shows. As for me, I am starting to feel stir-crazy. Normally I am fine staying home and not going place. But now that I know I can't get up and leave during the day, I feel ansy to get out. What is that all about? Anyhow, feel free to stop by and sign her cast!

Break a Leg

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:27:46 GMT

How do you break a leg while coloring? Ask Alice...

Today she was at Grandma's house, minding her own business, coloring. She was kneeling on a chair with slats on the back. As kids do, she he put one of her feet through the slats while coloring. All of a sudden she reached to the side and started falling head-first toward the ground. Of course her leg was still holding her to the chair. Grandma and I watched in slow motion from the other side of the room as she fell to the floor. The chair was still upright, while she hung from her leg--now looking a little odd. Grandma rushed over and got her uncaught, lifted her upright, and Alice asked to lie down. No sooner had she lain down than we examined her leg and she started feeling some pain. Rightly so, because she busted her leg! I rushed her to the Urgent Care in Redmond. After the Dr. saw her, it was apparent that it indeed was broken--duh. They were unable to do anything for her besides send her to the ER. The fire dept. was called over from across the street to help get her ready for transport. I certainly wasn't going to try and drive her there myself--especially when she was screaming from the pain. It was terrible--remind me why I had kids? When they get hurt, it hurts the parents too. It was almost unbearable because she is a tough kid. For her to be screaming, it must really hurt! They finally gave her a shot to take the edge off. After she was in a splint, they moved her to the ambulance--we enjoyed our first ride in one together. Hurray. The poor thing... Upon arriving at Evergreen (my hospital of choice), Jake met us and we went for x-rays. Luckily only one of the bones between her knee and ankle was broken. It was a really clean break so they were able to put it in a cast and send us on our way.

While there, she said a few notable things. When the nurse came in to see how she was doing, she said, “I’m ok. But you need a TV in here!”

The nurse gave her a popsicle and she started eating it. After a while, she stopped. I asked her if she needed anything. She responded, “Ya, I need another popsicle—for you, Mommy.” Awww…

When we got home, she threw up twice on herself. Can it get much worse for this girl? She said to Dad, "Daddy, I'm sorry for throwing up! Please don't call the policemen." She got some sleep so she’s feeling a little better today. She is so scared that her leg is going to hurt that she will hardly let us touch her. Her cast doesn’t allow for walking, so we have to carry her everywhere. We will get a good workout toting her around. It looks like we will be homebound for the next 4-6 weeks. Although, when she gets her cast replaced in a few weeks, she might be able to have one that allows her a little mobility. We are praying for a quick recovery!

Shots

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:01:02 GMT

Today was Roxie's 2 month checkup, which means she was in for some shots. She ended up with 5 vaccinations in 3 shots. Apparently they have combined three of the vaccinations into 1 shot now--which makes it a little easier on the baby legs. Poor little thing. She is Miss Cranky-Pants tonight! Hopefully she will feel better soon. I think the actual poking hurt Alice more than Roxie. She's been going on and on about it all day. "I don't want them to poke her again, Mom. They poked her legs and it hurt her!" She even passed this along to some poor lady at RiteAid. Alice can't help herself when it comes to talking to strangers. We're trying to work on that.

Anyway, the Dr. said that Roxie is doing just fine. She has reflux, but it isn't severe enough to do anything about. She will grow out of it. I think she is only in the 50th percentile for growth. She weighed in at 11lbs 6 oz and measured 22 inches. Although, I firmly believe she is longer than that. The nurse took the measurement when Roxie's legs were not fully extended. You can never get an accurate measurement on those little ones. We are happy she is growing well. She has consistently been sleeping at least 7 hours at a time each night--sometimes longer. After she gets some food, she goes back down for another 4 or so. It's pretty good...

...I like cheese better.

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 06:10:32 GMT

Tonight at the dinner table Alice asked if we had ever seen a rockstar. We told her about the good ole' days when Jake and I used to attend concerts on a regular basis--before she was born. She asked where she was. "You were in heaven, Alice," says mom. To this she replied, "I don't like heaven--I like cheese better." Then she popped a piece of cheese into her mouth. ???

Growing up too fast...

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:21:24 GMT

My daughter is 3, going on 21. At least that's what Jake told a lady on Saturday when she asked how old Alice is. I think it is true. Alice informed the lady of her name and proceeded to spell it out (A-L-I-C-E). Then she told her that her sister's name was Roxie, and was kind enough to spell that too. I am pretty sure our kid has turned into that precocious child that I was always annoyed by. Me, "My kids are never going to be that obnoxious!"

As obnoxious as she can be, she is always doing things that put a smile on my face. For example, last weekend I purchased some new nylons for church. Alice thought the box was super cool and asked if she could have it. Uh, sure. Later that day I found this in her sock drawer. She stuffed a pair of her tights in the box.

Overboard

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:22:49 GMT

So, whenever the movie Overboard is playing on TV, I HAVE to watch it. Why? I really don't know. There is something about it that draws me in--no matter how many times I have seen it. I found myself watching it again last night and laughing out loud at some of the lines I had forgotten were in the movie ("A falsetto child?"). Other movies that I just can't get away from are: A Cinderella Story (yes, the one with Hilary Duff and Chad Micheal Murray), Johnny Tsunami, Clueless, The Wedding Planner, etc. For Jake, his movie is Drumline. I have to admit I like it too. Luckily these movies are replayed over and over again on channels like TBS, TNT, and ABC Family.

Freddy

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:08:26 GMT

We think Alice has a crush on Freddy. Who is Freddy, you ask? Well, he is a nice young man who is living with my parents. Whenever Alice goes over there, she asks where he is and if he's home she loves talking to him. He is nice enough to talk with her and has even been known to play with her. She is constantly mentioning him. If I say, "Cool" or "Sweet", she chimes in with "Hey, Freddy says cool (or sweet)". It's Freddy this, and Freddy that. She never fails to bring Freddy up somehow. I think he's too old for her--18. If she's going to have a crush, at least it's on one of the nicest 18 year olds that I know.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:08:53 GMT

Alice is spending the day at Grandma's while I get some much needed rest. Although, Roxie slept for a 6 hour stretch last night. What is up with that? I'm certainly not going to disturb her beauty sleep! So far she has been a pretty good baby. Doesn't cry much, sleeps a LOT, and isn't sure what to do when Jake "plays" with her. I have posted some new pictures of Roxie for your viewing pleasure. Alice's photo shoot is also on there. She got a new hair cut (because growing it out wasn't working). She has the craziest hair--cowlicks all over the place. The new do is much easier to deal with. We took some pictures to share, but she wouldn't stop posing for the camera. I'm not really sure where she picked that up--she's never met a camera she didn't like.

Basket Case

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 20:14:43 GMT

Even though Roxie has 2 other beds to choose from, we have been preferring to have her sleep in a laundry basket in our room at night. We did the same thing with Alice when she was little (only for the first month or so). Her sleep schedule was a little rough in the beginning, but seems to be getting better. Lately she has been going to bed around 11 or 12 (we are night owls around here) and only getting up once in the night for food. That is making life so much more bearable! Although, last night we had a little kink. After she ate, and she was getting burped, she puked up everything. THAT was fun to clean up at 4:30am. I remember Alice doing the same thing at about 2 weeks old. It was a one time thing, and I'm hoping it is the same thing for Roxie.

She's here!

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:59:56 GMT

Roxie Jane Dempsey arrived on Wednesday, January 30th at 2:46am. She clocked in at 7 lb 3oz and measured 20 inches. We are so excited to have her home with our little family. Alice is trying to adjust--she is SOOOO excited about having a baby sister. Unfortunately, she thinks of her more as a doll. She wants to put her in different outfits and still has a hard time "bringing it down a notch". But, she's a good big sister--always ready and willing to help.

After looking back at some of Alice's baby pictures, we have decided that Jake and I have only one set of genes to pass on. Is Roxie a clone? We don't know...can you tell who's who?

The Idiot

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:32:11 GMT

As we drove home from Grandma and Grandpa's last night, we saw a pedestrian walking on the street to avoid the ice on the sidewalk. Jake said something like, "Get off the road, you idiot!" Alice replied, "Daddy! Be nice to the idiot!" Great...

Snow snow snow

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:49:12 GMT

It snowed last night--and has been snowing on and off today. Alice raced out of her room this morning and in to see me. She woke me up and said, "Mom! It's snowing! It's snowing!!! We can go outside and play in it!" Since she has been fighting a cold for a few days now, she accidentally let a few coughs slip--probably induced by the sudden burst of excitement. Then she says, "Uh, I was just kidding mom. I don't have any coughs. I was just kidding." She reassured me over and over that she was ok to go play in the snow. Since we don't get to play in snow very often (and also that I feel guilty for not playing with her much lately and will soon have a newborn), we went outside this morning to play. She had a good time, and I was ready to go in after about 20 minutes. Luckily, she was ok with that too.

Aliens

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:13:09 GMT

As Alice and I were walking into the store tonight, she looked up at all the stars.

Alice: Mom! Look at all those sparkling stars!

Me: Yep...they're pretty.

Alice: And there's an alien space ship.

Me: Uh, I think that is an airplane.

Alice: No, it's an alien space ship. But, shhh, don't tell anyone. It's a secret...

Rednecks Day Out

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 04:24:18 GMT

Jake and Alice went with Brett and Will to the monster truck show in Tacoma on Saturday afternoon. Since sitting for hours on a bench at this point in the pregnancy is slightly uncomforable, I stayed home. Alice had been talking about it all week and was SO excited to go. They had a great time. Luckily they took ear protection, but Jake reported that there were a lot of young kids with out any. What are these parents thinking? I remember going to one show and barely being able to handle the noise. Alice loved watching the demolition races and the monster trucks. Her favorites were the Monkey Truck (Donkey Kong), the Moose Truck (? something with bull horns), and Grape Tigger (Gravedigger, my personal favorite). At one point, she leaned over to Jake and asked, "Dad, is that Satan?" Jake looked around and saw a man sitting behind them with multiple facial piercings. He said, "No" and they started talking to the guy--who turned out to be very nice, just a little intimidating to look at. She made all sorts of friends with the people sitting around her--including a guy who was feeding her popcorn. Jake put an end to that after a while because he was a little creeped out. Monster Truck Shows...does it get much more American than that? I can embrace my roots, can you?

It's no BYU

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 04:43:27 GMT

A couple of days ago I went down to Jake's school to purchase a parking pass for him. He gets home too late in the evening to go to the cashiers office himself so I did him a favor. Of course, I took Alice along with me. I felt completely comfortable going there because I graduated from the UWB. At least I felt comfortable until I noticed a lot of people staring. Kids are rather scarce on campus--as are women who are nearly ready to give birth. As I was driving home, I had to laugh as I thought about how things would be different if I were walking on the BYU campus. It is not unusual to see kids running around. It is also quite normal to have pregnant women in your class. I remember taking a humanities class and a couple women actual had babies during the course of the semester and returned to class. They would even bring a stroller to class! Wow, BYU is a strange place. But, I have to admit I would've felt more comfortable walking around on that campus. But, I guess I probably would've gotten stares anyhow because I am older than most of the mothers at BYU--pregnant at almost 29 is practically senior discount material.

Copy Cat

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 19:33:09 GMT

Since I can't think of clever things on my own, I must copy ideas from other people. My friend Becky made this great doorway puppet theater for her kids this Christmas and I wanted one too. She was nice enough to give me the directions and some great tips that made my life easier when trying to sew it. It was actually easier than I thought it would be. I got ambitious enough to line the storage bag--something that wasn't in the directions. But, it makes it look a little more finished. I am so good at copying that I even ordered the same puppets she has! Would you believe that I never copied others' homework in school? As I have gotten older, it makes me think that maybe I should've. I'm good at it...

Merry Christmas

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 00:06:51 GMT

Our family would like to wish you a Merry Christmas. May the season bring you and yours love and joy. God bless...

The Sleepover

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 00:05:32 GMT

Grandma Hodson thought it would be fun to invite her grandchildren over for a sleepover this past week. Jack (7), Piper (4), Alice (3), and William (2) all came over for Christmas festivities--thought it was decided that Will was probably a little young to stay over night. The evening started out with making gingerbread houses out of graham crackers. I guess that makes them graham cracker houses--not gingerbread--but the idea is the same. After everyone's houses were thoroughly decorated and the roofs caved in, they were herded over the watch a Christmas classic (Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer). This is where the parents left and Grandma took over. From what I hear, they ate popcorn and watched the movie. Sometime after that, they made Christmas cards, read christmas stories, and built LEGO landscapes. Grandma even gave out cash prizes for the winners (Alice received a token prize for effort). Alice and Piper had a difficult time going to sleep. From what Grandma says, they took trips back and forth to the bathroom, sat in the dark in chairs staring at one another, and generally avoided sleep. Apparently they didn't get to sleep until midnight (sorry Grandma). But, I know Alice had a great time and loved sleeping over at grandma's. Unfortunately, Jack was the only one who might get invited back next year.

Does it feel Chile?

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:21:25 GMT

Bryant and Brad have officially left on their missions to Chile. We will miss them, but are very proud!

Swimming through the holidays

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:02:28 GMT

We signed Alice up for swimming lessons during the week of Thanksgiving. She hasn't ever taken them, but we wanted to do something fun before things get crazy with the new baby. When we showed up the first day of lessons, it turned out that there was only one other kid in the class--which was great! They both got a lot more one-on-one time with the teacher. Alice loved going to the lessons each day. William was with us that week and he got a kick out of watching the kids swim. She will have to repeat the class again for sure, but it was good exposure. I sure as heck am not willing to do a beached whale impression. I would rather pay someone else to swim with her. I guess I should have taken her to the pool more before I got too big. She loves swimming!

Halloween

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 18:22:08 GMT

It's finally over! All the Halloween festivities have come to an end and all we have to show for it is a huge pile of candy. Last Saturday we went to our church Halloween party/Trunk-or-Treat. As usual, we had a great time. Alice loved dressing up in her Snow White costume--all that effort at the sewing machine paid off. She played games, ate food, and went Trunk-or-Treating. It was fun to have her cousins Jack, Piper, and Will there. On Monday, we carved a sweet pumpkin to look like Brobee from Alice's favorite show--Yo Gabba Gabba. Alice, did the scooping and Mom and Dad did the hard work of carving. It was fairly successful considering that we will throw it in the dumpster today. On Halloween, Alice dressed up as Snow White again and trekked out into the neighborhood with Dad. She came back for a bathroom break, emptied her bucket, and went back out. We have some Sr. Apts. near our house that we go to every year. The old folks there have a ball decorating their lobby and dressing up. Last night there was a man who dressed as a mummy and scared the snot out of Alice. Alice and Dad came back home and we went over the Grandma and Grandpa's. Bryant and Brad were there with their friends. They were decking their faces out in these crazy ape masks that were a little too realistic for Alice. She was freaked out--and it creeped me out a little too. Hopefully I can get a picture of them--pretty impressive. The were planning to go to a movie in their masks. All in all, Alice had a good time and got lots of great candy (that we will help her eat).

California Dreamin...

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 21:58:27 GMT

Alice and I just returned from a trip to visit the Solomons in San Jose, CA. We had a great time! They are the only ones on the Hodson side that don't live in the Seattle area so it was fun spending some time with them. Alice and Owen got along pretty well, as long as they played on Alice's terms. He loved doing anything that she was doing and wanted to always see what was going on. Alice was bugged by this--but hopefully she has learned a little bit about how little kids work. Alice will soon need to lend some patience to her younger sister. We had a great time though--went to a pumpkin patch, shopped, went to the park, and made Halloween cookies. The weather was pretty nice for fall--a heck of a lot better than in Seattle. However, this next week it will be in the 80's down there. Would've been nice to go swimming--sigh. There's always next time!

At the airport, we saw a man wearing a turban. Alice said, "Mom, look! He's wearing a Wise Man hat!"
We found a fountain and I gave Alice a penny to throw in, then told her to make a wish. "I wish, I wish...for ice cream! Is the ice cream going to come now?" Don't you wish life worked like that? Later that evening, Alice's wish came true. She was elated.
Alice was sitting next to me on the couch being a goofball. She pulled back my lips to see my teeth. She gasped and said, "Oh no!" I said, "What?" She continued, "Your tooth--it's ruined!" (Sometimes I get white spots on my front tooth during the day.)

Clean Freak

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 05:19:45 GMT

I think some of me is rubbing off on Alice. She and dad were outside on Saturday cleaning the garage and playing. Dad gave her a squirt bottle and paper towels to wash her cars (that were so generously given to us by a friend). Alice squirted and scrubbed those things for at least an hour. I'm sure she would've gone longer if I let her. It think I will put her to work inside the house next time--I could use the help!

He's finished? Are you kidding?

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 00:33:59 GMT

Yes...it is true. Jake has finished the bed he was making for Alice. She has finally graduated to a "real" bed. He did a great job too! All that is left is to make a trundle or storage drawers underneath. Hey, I'm happy with this for now. Let's just enjoy the moment. Ahhhhh...ok, that was nice. Is it done yet?

The Break-In

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 06:44:02 GMT

So, unlike my sister's recent "break-in" story, we actually had someone break into our cars. The one night we don't lock our car doors is the night someone prowls. Jake went out to the truck on Saturday afternoon to take a drive. He came back in after a few minutes and asked if I had pulled everything out of the glove compartment. Uh, not that I remember. Since I rarely leave anything of real value in the truck, I didn't lose much. They took a small flashlight, a good tow strap, and a small first aid kit. Gee, they sure got me there. However, they didn't touch my pepperspray, umbrellas, or library card. Whew! For some reason, Jake was storing his mp3 player in his car--which was taken. They were very clean--no broken windows or locks. They simply opened the doors and took what they wanted. Sheesh, they had to be some stupid kids, otherwise they probably could've got away with the cars too. We thank them for their stupidity and wish them well with the first aid kit and tow strap.

It's a...

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 03:35:53 GMT

GIRL! We are excited to announce that we will have another girl in early Frebruary. It was kind of cool because we got an ultrasound picture of the baby where she was pointing--at least I think it is the pointer finger. Alice wasn't convinced it was a girl even after the poor ultrasound technician told her multiple times. But, later this afternoon she asked if her sister could come now. So, I think she is past denial and has finally accepted the truth.

Trip to the park/beach

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:10:17 GMT

Mom, Shannon, and I took the kids (Will, Piper, and Alice) to the park for one last summer day out. The weather was beautiful, but it still had an autumn edge. Piper still hasn't adjusted to the cooler weather in Washington so she wore a coat in the morning. The kids loved playing at the playground. After that, we at lunch and fed some ducks--illegally. I had brought some plums and took a bite of one only to find a small worm inside--gross! I quickly threw it down. A duck grabbed it and ran off. It probably choked on the pit--oh well. I still can't get the mental picture out of my mind. Worms--how sick! I think I am scarred for life. After lunch, we finally let the kids play in the sand and water. They had a great time building sandcastles and digging. Will and Alice kept fighting over the fish floatie that we brought. They loved wandering out into the water with it on. It scared me a little to see them going out into the deeper water--luckily they survived without incident. I think swimming lessons are in order.

Things Alice has said lately...

Dad and Alice were watching a show where two guys were fighting. Alice says, "Why doesn't he just shoot the guy?" Uh, no more fighting shows, Dad.
I was eating an apple the other day and Alice asks, "Mom, is the baby having some of your apple too?"

The Fair

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 17:35:08 GMT

Yesterday we spent good part of the day at the fair. We piled into Shannon's car with her kids, Grandma, Bridgette, and Owen. We tried to get there fairly early because there were free bunny ears up for grabs. They were actually trying to break the record for the most people doing the bunny hop. We signed up and got our ears then proceded to check out the exhibits and animal barns. The kids loved the animals and especially all the cutouts where they could be photographed. There were a lot more this year than I had remembered in the past. After a trip to the handwashing station, we picked up some classic carnival food--yum! After lunch and some carnival sweets, we headed over to the grandstand for bunny hop instructions. John Curley of Evening Magazine was leading the dance--Grandma was a little excited about that. Everyone was instructed to file out of the grandstand and snake around the fairgrounds. It seemed like we walked forever--under the scorching sun. When we finally arrived at our "dance spot", we were told to back up and then go forward repeatedly. The organization left a lot to be desired. Finally, after all the time and effort we had given to the cause, we bailed out of line and got something to drink. No more than a minute after doing so, the dance started. Whatever...we tried. But, we got free bunny ears anyhow. Piper and Alice went on one ride before we left. On the way out, we stopped and let the kids ride on little tractors. They had a good time. Unfortunately, we came home a little sunburned.

Alice's 3rd Birthday

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 02:40:26 GMT

First on the agenda for the birthday was to meet Grandma at the mall. She took Alice to Build a Bear. Despite our trying to talk her out of it, Alice chose a bright pink bear. She dressed her in a pink Sleeping Beauty dress with pink slippers. The bear was named "Princess Pink". All the pink made me a little sick. Alice, however, was pleased as punch carrying her Build a Bear box around the mall.

Wow--I decided I don't like planning birthday parties. This year is the first time that we have actually made an effort to have some sort of a party. However, it was still pretty low-key. We wanted to go to Cottage Lake Park to let the kids run, but it turned out to be soggy. So, we asked Grandma and Grandpa if we could have it at their house because ours is just too small. They agreed. Weldon and Donya brought Hadley and Kemper. Brett brought Will over for the party too. So, there were a lot more adults than kids. Alice wanted nothing more for her birthday than a Spongebob cake. So, after weighing my options, I decided to put for the effort and attempt to make it myself. You can see from the picture that is was the job of an amateur. I have never decorated a cake, so it was an interesting experience. In fact, I think I might like to improve my skills if it wasn't so time consuming and wasn't so hard to clean up. We ate pizza and fruit from Costco so it was pretty easy in that department. Alice loved all of her presents and had a great time. She is even getting better at remembering to hold up three fingers instead of two when asked how old she is.

Memorial Day Weekend

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 06:58:15 GMT

We just got back from a marathon trip to Montana (they all seem to be that way). We left on Thursday at about 4:30pm and drove straight through. Alice did well--that is, until we hit the pass in Idaho/Montana. It was dark, she was watching a movie, and Jake was driving like a bat out of hell (translation: 85mph around the pass curves--one after another). Blugh! She puked all over. We managed to find a place to pull over and attempt to clean up. She didn't really know what was going on. As a baby, she only spit up a handful of times. She kind of looked down and said, "Mom, what is this? Turn the light on--I want to see." It was a mess! I can't imagine having a kid who does that all the time (sorry mom). After we got things as clean as we could, we trekked on. I think we arrived at Jake's parents' house at 3:00am or so. The next day Alice ran wild. She and her cousin Richard played outside all day. She flew kites, saw the chickens, fed the horses, and played with the dogs. Jake gave rides on the lawnmower and tractor. Alice and I rode Katie the horse, and she even got to ride by herself. She referred to her as "Katie, my black horse". Tasha, another cousin, came to visit that afternoon and they were instant best friends. Jake pulled the kids on a sled behind the lawnmower--don't worry, they wore helmets. I will have to get some pictures of that. They had some good ole Montana fun. We spent most of the next day in Missoula shopping, site-seeing, and visiting Emmy and Tasha. We even squeezed in two visits to the Cracker Barrel--Jake's favorite restaurant. On Sunday, we drove up to Whitefish for the wedding of one of Jake's childhood friends (Derek). Alice didn't know what to think of him--she was unusually quiet around him. We stayed at a hotel in Kalispell that night and started driving back early Monday morning. We stopped on the way home in Moses Lake to visit Grandma Hodson. The rest of the drive was a slow creep. Memorial Day traffic--gotta love it.

Blake Lewis Day in Bothell

Tue, 15 May 2007 05:37:44 GMT

Blake Lewis, a Bothell native, came home on Friday for a visit. The town came out and gave him a parade. Following the parade, he performed at the Bothell Landing Park. My mom (grandma), Bridge, and I all went down to see him perform--I mean, it was so close, we could hardly think of missing it. We arrived at 3:15 and he wasn't scheduled to perform until 4pm. However, things ran late as they always seem to do and he didn't arrive until what seemed like 4:30 (I really don't remember the time, only that it was later). The mayor talked for a while and announced that it was officially Blake Lewis Day. His parents were invited up on stage. Blake also unveiled the concert line up for the summer at the amphitheater. Finally, he performed 3 or 4 songs (who knows, it might have been 5). We dragged Alice and Will down there so it wasn't easy to keep a good view. Grandma ended up standing away from the crowds with the kids most of the time. Bridge was the only one who was able to see most of the performances--hence she took most of the pictures. There were so many people crowded in that small spot that taking pictures was hard because you were constantly being bumped into. That is why most of the pictures are blurry. He ended up walking out to his excape vehicle using the sidewalk we were lined up on. We were just feet away from him, but pictures were difficult with all the security he had. We had a fun time...it will be fun to watch on Tuesday.

Cheeseburger in Paradise

Fri, 11 May 2007 21:46:07 GMT

We returned last week from our trip to visit Betty and Bruce in Oahu. It was the most relaxing vacation I think that I have ever had. They invited Alice and I to come over a week early while Jake continued to work. He joined us after 5 or 6 days and then we had a week to spend together. I really got used to Hawaii and think I could possibly live there. B & B live in a wonderful part of Oahu called Ewa Beach (pronounced Eva). There are virtually no cloudy days there--it could be raining in Honolulu, but rarely in Ewa Beach. LOVED IT! Plus, it is usually around 85 degrees but there is always a breeze to cool you off. Back to the trip...

B & B picked Alice and me up at the airport (btw, Alice did great on the flight--thanks to the portable dvd player! Isn't technology wonderful?) and took us to Cheeseburger for lunch where I had one of the best burgers ever. The next few days, they drove us around the whole island and played tour guide. We went to Honolulu, Waikiki, Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC), Chinaman's Hat, LDS Temple, Turtle Bay Resort/Golf Course, Ko 'Olina, Makaha, the Northshore, the Dole Pineapple Plantation, and much more. It was great! After Jake flew in, Bridge, Mark, and Owen flew over from Maui to spend a couple days together. The whole crew went to the PCC and really enjoyed it. The next day we went to the USS Arizona Memorial, Honolulu, Waikiki, and the Dole Pineapple Plantation (again--btw, if you go you must try the pineapple ice cream). B & B were gracious enough to drive us around in their "Tour Bus", as Bruce calls it (Saturn Outlook--nice vehicle, roomy). Besides, our rental car couldn't fit 4 adults and 2 car seats.

B & B have some great neighbors. It seemed like a good number were LDS. Poor B & B--they can't get away! One family actually entertains for a living--polynesian style. The wife, Natalie, was actually voted best female vocalist in 2006 and is said to be Hawaii's best kept secret. Her hubby, Io, plays and sings with her. I wish we could've seen them perform before we left, but, there is always next time! Some other neighbors had kids that were Alice's age. Ammon and Liahona were so cute! They could come over everyday and knock on the door and ask for Alice. She misses her new friends. Most of all, she misses B & B--boy, did she get spoiled! We really owe B & B for their hospitalilty. It really felt like home there...I miss it (them) already.

Riding the Ducks

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 07:34:22 GMT

Some family came in from out of town and, of course, we just HAD to do something touristy. Why not ride the ducks in Seattle? Well, if you don't know what I am referring to, take a look at the pictures. I believe their tagline is, "It's a party on wheels and in the water!" How true...There is quite a bit of history behind the vehicle/boat that is known as the Duck (check out http://www.ridetheducksofseattle.com/history.htm). But, you don't need to know any of that to have a good time. It was pretty much the most mortifying experience of my life--yet I laughed so hard I cried. Come to think of it, I think was crying because I was so mortified. Our Captain/Driver (Capt. Hal O'lujah, yes it is a joke) was pretty much crazy. While driving the streets of Seattle, he had music blaring. The people on the sidewalks couldn't help but notice us going by. Plus, he would frequently make comments about the people we passed--which they could obviously hear. One lady was walking her two enormous dogs, so he played "Who let the dogs out". Amusing, but kind of embarrassing too. He was also a fountain of knowledge--which was pretty interesting if you could get past the fact that he was wearing a crab hat. I would probably recommend doing this at least once in your life--but with people who don't mind being embarrassed. Alice loved it--feel free to take her with you when you go. Jake will definitely be staying home next time--what a wimp.

All Fools Day Parade and Festivities

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 07:05:54 GMT

Saturday was the annual Woodinville All Fools Day Parade. We have been going nearly every year since we moved to Woodinville. This year we did something new. We went to the pancake breakfast that was held at the firestation before the parade. The food was decent for the price. Each table had tiny paper cups full of peanut butter and also pats of butter. Alice was sure the butter slices were cheese. I told her over and over that it was butter--but, she wouldn't believe me. So, like any good parent, I let her see for herself. She at one whole slice--still sure it was cheese. After half of the second one, she had to spit it out. It made us sick just watching her eat it. After eating, we went off to the parade. Since it was sprinkling, we backed up to the main street and sat in the back of the car--staying dry. Alice enjoyed watching the gymnastics girls dance and tumble down the street. Ronald McDonald was in the parade too--which Alice loved. She kept yelling to him, "Come over here, Ronald Old McDonald! I want to give you 5! Mom, he's not hearing me!" She was sad as he paraded away. But, she was happy again when all the basset hounds started coming. There were tons of them--dressed up in crazy costumes (poor dogs). The Seafair pirates made an appearance with their ship and LOUD cannon. Alice was a little startled, but I plugged her ears and she felt better. There was also a Mini Cars Club that showed up. One of the Minis was decked out in Gumby gear--not sure why--but Alice loves her Gumby movies so she recognized him. The driver wore a huge green Gumby suit and popped in and out of his sunroof. Alice yelled at Gumby to come see her. "Mom, he's driving away! Gumby! Come back here!" Luckily, after the parade was over, we saw Gumby rollerskating around the street (strange, strange man). So, she yelled to him over and over again. He skated by us, but we decided after seeing him up close that it would be best to keep our distance (strange, strange man). We walked down to City Hall where they had more stuff going on. She ended up coming home with a pile of stickers and coloring books on safety, a fire hat, an ID card, candy, and some other small toys. When we got home, she said "After our nap we can go to the parade again!" Thank goodness it comes but once a year...

Pigs and Puppies

Sat, 24 Feb 2007 09:15:44 GMT

The other day Alice and I were reading an animal picture book with her cousin Will. We were imitating the animal sounds on each page. As we turned to the pig page, I said, "Alice, tell William what a pig says. What does a pig say?" Alice thought for a moment and replied, "Salutations!" Apparently she has been getting a little too much "Charlotte's Web".

Days later, Alice was sitting at the table eating lunch while I did some dishes. She kept saying, "Poopies, poopies". I'm thinking, what the heck? Does she have to go the bathroom or something? I asked her what she was talking about. She said, "The lady on Nacho said that." I thought for a moment and then remembered that the lady in Nacho Libre does say something that sounds like "poopies". However, in the movie she says "puppies" with an accent. Nice interpretation...

(I hesitate to share the next story because it embarrassed me) Last weekend we were eating dinner with some friends. While at the dinner table, Alice took a bite of steak, chewed it for a moment and spit it out. That wasn't the really embarrassing moment. Here it comes...pointing to the steak, she said to me, "It's dog poop."

The things kids say...

Fri, 08 Dec 2006 08:53:53 GMT

We were getting our family portraits the other day. The photographer was trying to get Alice to smile so she was making really weird/silly noises to get her to crack. Alice wrinkled up her face, looked at the photographer, and said, "What are you doing?" Alice was looking at the photographer like she was some kind of alien.

Dad and Alice were playing on the couch. Dad said, "Alice, I love you." Alice said, "I love you. I love you so hard!"

Mom said, "Alice, do you want some pie?" Alice replied, "Hooray! I want some Key William Pie". I always thought it was called Key Lime Pie. Huh, you learn something new everyday.

Mom comes out of that bathroom. Alice said, "Mommy, did you go potty on the toilet." Mom, "Yep". Alice, "Good job, Mommy! I'm so proud of you! You get a star!"

Alice was casually lounging on our bed watching TV while Mom and Dad were getting ready in the bathroom. Alice took her eyes of the television long enough to say in a very serious tone, "You guys stink." Dad asks, "We stink? What do we stink like?" Alice returns to her TV show and says frankly, "Cow poop".

P.S. We are not moving. Jake helped remodel a house in Mill Creek and some of the pictures are on this site.

Thanksgiving and more

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 06:10:10 GMT

Thanksgiving has come and gone--which means it is time for another blog entry. We went over to Grandma and Grandpa Hodson's for dinner. Great Grandma Alice came too. We ate ourselves sick--as usual--and had a great time. On Saturday we went to ZooLights at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. There weren't too many live animals to see since it was at night, but the lights were spectacular. Alice especially loved the huge rainbow. She and William enjoyed themselves on the carousel. We don't have any pictures of that, but hopefully we can get family members to send them to us. Just when we thought the long weekend was done, it snowed on Sunday. Plus, it has been snowing virtually all day today (Monday). It is now 10pm and 26 degrees outside--the snow is definitely here to stay tonight. Alice got some new snowboots today and tried them out in the backyard this afternoon. We also took a walk late tonight down to the main road to see all the car that parked haphazardly because they couldn't get up the hill. What a mess! Jake took every opportunity to get out and drive in the snow. I have never seen him more eager to go pick up some grocery items for me at the store. When he got back from doing that, he rushed down to the hardware store to get a snow shovel for the 3 inches of snow on our sidewalks. On his way back from the store, he saw a little family waiting for the bus. They had been waiting there for 2 hours in the snow with their 19-month old daughter. He offered to give them a ride home--which ended up taking about 4 hours with the terrible traffic. My husband--the Do-Gooder. I was actually surprised he didn't stay out longer trying to dig cars out of ditches or pull cars up hills. Any excuse to use the 4-wheel drive and call other people "idiot drivers".