Motherhood

I got another week of motherhood as I took care of Ammon and Cohen last week while Kelly and Jody went to Utah. I love my grandchildren sooo much and am always glad to spend that one on one time with any of them. Here's the things I noticed about motherhood that never change:

1. It is exhausting. But even though it is exhausting and you should go to bed right after you get them to bed, it is tempting (and I fall into temptation) to stay up later just to enjoy a few moments of quiet to yourself. The same thing happens with nap time. You know you should take a nap but reading a book just seems to call you. Just as you put it down to catch a quick nap, someone wakes up.

2. Forget cleaning. As you are cleaning one mess, they are making another.

3. At a certain age, around 4, all little boys love potty talk. Ammon has reached that age. He loves to walk in the room with his pants hanging around his leg and see if you are shocked that you see his underwear. He also delights in trying to see his grandma in the shower. Gross! I now have to lock the door and can hear him outside saying, "Let me in grandma, I promise I won't look. I promise I won't laugh!"

4. Kids love to go to McDonald's and Burger King. The trick is to get them to eat any food there. They are there for the play equipment and the toys.

5. It is still hard to get kids to eat what you are eating. Dinosaur chicken for Ammon and macaroni and cheese for Cohen are always good bets. Trying to get variety in their diet and healthier food is usually a no go.

6. Kids love to go get toys and videos. That means you get to stand in aisles for a long time while they painstakingly try to decide what to get.

7. Sick children are the saddest thing. Cohen got a bad case of gastroenteritis and was a puking, pooping machine on Saturday. He would not talk and just laid around and slept. Totally not Cohen and so sad. Today, Monday, he is still sick.

8 "I love you dama" (Cohen) or "I love you to outerspace and infinity" (Ammon) will get you every time.

Happy Birthday Pit Stop

I had to wake up at 5:00 this morning to catch my plane from Mesa to Stockton. It was going to be a long day and I knew I wouldn't be home until about 7:30 at night. I was dreading it. I was able to stop in Windsor and take Kelly out to lunch for her birthday though-a great pit stop! I got quick hugs and kisses from the kids and got to spend about an hour and a half with one of my favorite friends-Kellbell. The lunch was okay but spending time with the birthday girl was great!! I love my Kellbell so much and always have so much fun with her. Hope you had a great day, Kelly!

Mesa

I am in Mesa, Arizona where I was raised. I am loving it. The weather is amazing, in the high 70's and 80's. I am wearing shorts and sandals and got a pedicure today. I love staying at Julie's. Emily had a welcome poster on my bed for me. We are eating salads at all my favorite places and having such a great time! Yesterday, after she picked me up we stopped at a great shopping area called San Tan Village before we did anything. I got a cute skirt and top at Banana Republic. We went to Rumbi's and shared an amazing salad. That night we went to Pei Wei's with my dad. We went to the temple last night and saw some amazing photograph's by an Arizona artist on Christ. They will be for sale someday and I want some. They are photos of the people who will be acting in the Easter Pageant at the Mesa Temple this week.

Today we did our pedicures/manicures and had a salad at Bajio with chicken, mango salsa, etc. I also had a shrimp taco and it was amazingly wonderful. Tonight we are going to Wayne and Becky's for Elli's birthday party. In the next few days we will be laying out at a pool, shopping more, going to the temple, going to the Easter Pageant, seeing the play The Color Purple, going to a movie and eating out a lot. I love being with my sister so this is an amazing vacation in amazing weather.

Experiences

One of my favorite things in life is new experiences. Any experience. It can be going to a new place to eat, visiting a new place, even just seeing a movie. I especially enjoy experiences with family members. Experiences by myself are empowering to me though. yesterday I had one of those solo experiences by myself. I got up at 5:00 am at Kelly's and got ready and then drove to Stockton, California to catch a no-frills airline to Mesa, Arizona. A couple months ago I heard about Allegiant Airlines flying from Stockton to Mesa for only $35 each way so I booked a ticket. Yesterday I hit the SF rush hour traffic though and thought I might miss my flight. There would be no rebooking because they onlyfly Mondays and Fidays there. I got through rush hour traffic and got to Oakland and found out I still had over 60 miles to go. I really didn't think I had so far to go. I was really speeding because I didn't want to miss my flight. (Actually got there with an hour to spare). I finally got there to this tiny airport in the middle of famland and thought I'd arrived to a foreing country. Spanish is spoken more than English-at least at the airport. Got checked in and had a great flight. Of course with Allegiant you pay $5.00 each segment to get a reserved seat, $5.00 each segment for each bag you check in and buy your own beverages/treats from the stewardesses. Still, the entire ticket was $125. A good bargain, unless you count the gas money I spent to drive 6 1/2 hours from my home. But then, I got to spend time at Kelly's and got to have the experience of driving myself to Stockton and trying out a new airline. Well worth it.

Back in Santa Rosa and Laryngitis

I came down yesterday because I fly out for Arizona to see my Arizona family tomorrow morning. This is the longest I've ever gone not seeing Kelly's kids. I was so anxious to get here! Ammon is as cute and sweet as ever, Cohen is just as crazy and Rylee has really grown up! She now has two teeth, her hair lies down and she crawls. It is crazy how much they can change in just a month. She has always been adorable but now she is off the charts. So full of personality and fun. It is so nice to be with all of them again.

I am now on my 4th day of laryngitis and an upper respiratory infection with an obnoxious cough. Actually the last two days I can speak a little. The first two I couldn't speak at all. It is so annoying to not be able to answer the phone or call anyone. I actually miss my own, regular voice! Today I didn't stay for Relief Society in Kelly's ward because she teaches young woman's and I'd have to go by myself and can't talk that good yet. I feel like I sound like a transvestite. Not a good thing.

London and Paris in March

I returned on Sunday from my trip to London and Paris. It was pretty cold both places so I lived in my black wool coat and scarf. It was nice to put them away. Despite the cold and a little rain, I had a great time with Lindsey, Alex, Izzy and Alan. Lindsey is the best tour guide in the world. Despite being 20 weeks pregnant, she walked my socks off. I ate whatever I wanted too and didn't gain an ounce though so it was worth it! Lindsey did a great job describing our trip in detail so please go to her blog for the narrative and pictures. I am so annoyed-I took a lot of pictures on this stupid camera we had around the house and can't upload them to this computer!!

Trip highlights:

1. Listening to Izzy say "hello (or hallo) in her little English accent to us and everyone else everywhere we went. She is the cutest, little social bug.

2. Hanging out with Lindsey and Alex, lots of girl talk, lots of laughing!

3. Eating pastries in Paris, especially the apricot ones-ymmm!

4. Crepes in London and Paris.

5. The Museum D'Orsay in Paris. It is a gorgeous building in and of itself.

6. Wandering the streets of Paris, seeing local establishments, hearing the locals talk and laughing at our inability to say a word of French!

7. Facts of life talk in the Louvre. Picture a young girl contemplating marriage, a lot of nude statues and the questions that arose. It was hilarious!

8. Eating at Nando's. Nothing fancy, just comfort food.

9. The Bourough Market in London on Saturday-why is food always one of my highlights?

10. Seeing Les Miserables for the 3rd time.

11. The town of Bath. Gorgeous even on a rainy, cold day. The delicious Italian restaurant we ate at there.

12. Watching Alan dance with Izzy. He is a wonderful dad.

and the list could go on and on.....

Great trip!!! I'll be back in June for babysitting and the arrival of young Mr. Phillips.