Personality Quirks

I've been thinking a lot lately about the quirks of personalities. I have been at my office long enough to really understand and appreciate the quirks of the different players in my office, and I realize that those are the very things that make everyone so interesting.

There are two women in particular that I really admire. I realized it's not so much WHAT they do (although they are excellent at their jobs) but it's HOW they do it. They've both really made an impression on me, and I hope to someday, somehow, somewhere leave an impression on someone else. They are, interestingly enough, about as opposite as night and day.

So. That said, here are a few quirks in my little family:

Ethan: will only sleep on his tummy. Likes to have his back rubbed. Loves to say "bubble" regardless of whether or not it has meaning at that particular moment. Will only eat dinner if he sees his sister eating dinner. Will hold food in his mouth for hours without swallowing if you try to force him to eat. Says "ouch!" when he's not hurt when he wants attention. Loves cuddles in the morning and at night....but not any other time.

Lucy: doesn't like chocolate. Favorite movie is Dumbo. Likes to climb. Is protective of her brother. Prefers just honey on her sandwiches....no butter or peanut butter....just honey. Is afraid of the dark. Thinks shadows are alive.

Tom: has a weird skin fetish; he's constantly "pushing his skin back in place" if I rub his hand a certain way. Is super picky about his socks. HATES having his face touched, unless it's with the outside of your hand...no palms for fingertips. Has a very particular way of brushing his teeth. Won't eat "left overs" over 1 day old.

Miriah: cannot stand the squeak of Styrofoam. Fanatic about the living room; do not like clutter in that room! Dissects anything with a wafer into pieces before eating it (Kit Kat barks, Nutty Buddys, etc.)

Family Picture!

Halloween and Birthdays

We're still alive; I'm just a negligent blogger. Tom got transfered to a new branch about two months ago and is really enjoying the dymanic of his new team. There are whispers of a promotion in our near future, so we're keeping our fingers crossed for that.

I am still LOVING my job and am starting to get more comfortable in my position after passing the year mark, and watching things start to cycle through again. I like the "I've done this before" feeling, instead of grasping at straws. In the two years I've been back at work we've switched babysitters 4 times, but I think that's the nature of in-home daycare. It's stressful, and of course I struggle with the guilt of being a working mom. But I just try to do each day better than I did the last day, and it seems to work out in the end.

Lucy is too smart for her own good, and is a constant source of laughter and energy in our house. She loves her brother, playdough, snow, and Dora. She says the funniest things: while trick-or-treating she said to someone: "Thanks for the candy. I really appreciate it." Hahaha! Another Lucy story: she asked what lions eat. I hesitated, then answered: "Zebras."
"No mom, what do they really eat?"
"They eat Zebras and other animals, honey. They eat meat."
Lucy bursts into tears, "I don't want them to eat the Zebras!"
Me, feeling like a total dream smashing tyrant said, "Ok, honey. We'll say they eat grass."
"Lions eat grass?"
"Yes."
"Ok, thanks Mommy." She's so sweet.

Ethan weighs as much as his sister and loves to do anything she is doing. He has a really hot little temper, which is a new experience from Lucy's generally sweet disposition. But he's also a cuddler and a lover. He doesn't talk much, at least not that you can understand. His motor skills are very developed though; at 16 months he can stack blocks, string beads, and poke straws through lid-holes. He loves to color, run, wrestle, and rearrange things . Proof that they can play nicely

Me with the two best looking guys I know


Limo ride

surprise dinner arranged by Tom

Delivered to my office from Tom

Boots the monkey and Benny the cow. I was Dora

At the Scarecrow Festival

Learning to tie her shoe

Lilli and Lucy

If I knew then what I know now...

I've heard people say this a lot. So I started thinking back to high school, and what I've learned in the 6 years (can't believe it's been 6 years) I've been "out in the world". Here are a few of the pearls of wisdom I've picked up:

1. Kindness is crucial. Above all, true kindness makes the biggest difference, and I've yet to meet a person who is unreachable with kindness.

2. No one's life is perfect; in one way or another, we're all messed up. It's ok.

3. Most people just act like they know what's going on; we're all just guessing.

4. Daydreaming gets you nowhere. I used to sit around and hope/wait for things to happen to me. For that cute boy to notice me, for a job opportunity to find me, etc. Then I realized I have to make those plans, try for those things, fail sometimes, and then...it happens.

5. The hardest, most important, and most often missed step to happiness, is determining what it is we want.

Pictures!

So I know I've been M.I.A.---sorry! Things just never seem to slow down. Here are some pictures of recent outings :)

All dressed up for our Hawaiian Ward Picnic

Ethan looking "gansta" in his hat and diaper

Trip to Moab--they were beasts this whole meal. I had to take Lucy out of the restaurant more than once

More Hawaiin party. I know I look pregnant in this picture; I'm not. Just the way the loose dress falls :)

Snowbird!!

Dancing to the music

Lucy and her friends

Just some thoughts

At work we're preparing to end a Fiscal Year and start a new one. Last year I left around this time on maternity leave. It is so strange to look back at where I was then, and where I am now. I'm not big on reminiscing, but it really seems like so much has changed in the last year. I guess primarily with my work. Taking this promotion has changed everything about my life, it seems. It's mostly good--but so....unsheltered. I never used to be "in" on any of the drama, concerns, administrative decisions. I found out when everyone else found out. Now, I get worried if there's a meeting without me, a decision I didn't know about before everyone else, etc. Being privy to such information has good and bad elements to it. I am so grateful to be in the position I am, and I KNOW I've never loved a job as much as I love this one. But it really has lost all of its simplicity. It seems like a lot of things have lost their simplicity.
One of Tom's favorite sayings is "It's not a magic show when you're the magician." That pretty much sums it up. All of the employee gatherings/parties/activities aren't the same because I'm the one planning and executing them. Again, not complaining, it's just very, very different at the close of this Fiscal Year when compared to last year.
Those are my thoughts.

Ethan's Birthday and Temple Square

Our little baby Ethan turned one!! Cannot fathom how time flew that quickly. He is NOT as sweet as Lucy was/is, but he is just as cute :) He is strong and energetic. He is quick to smile and even quicker to laugh. He loves to rough house and chase his sister. It has been so fun to watch his personality begin to develop, and see how very different my children are. Most days I just try to keep up with them hour to hour. I am so lucky to be a big part of their lives for a short while.
The other day while I was running I ran by Temple Square and realized we'd never brought the kids there. So when I got home I showered and shuffled everyone out the door. I was met with some resistance, but Mom always prevails ;) It turned out to be a great afternoon, and everyone was glad we went.
Lots of pictures!