...and I'm Four

This little man of ours has really blossomed into a full-fledged preschooler. He is gregarious, especially with men, and will happily tell them his name, how old he is, and that he now has his own room complete with dinosaur comforter. To those he knows and those he doesn't, he repeats this information proudly and without hesitation.

Bubs still has the best belly laugh, a full smile complete with underbite, and loves to show off when people come to the house.  Quick to apologize, he makes up for his mistakes with a snuggle and head hung low. And he doesn't hesitate to ask me if I'm sorry for getting upset with him, if I haven't apologized on my own at that time.

He is a delightful mix of all boy - launching off furniture, high places, and creating guns out of sticks to shoot bad guys - and is comfortable with a sensitive side I'm attributing to the influence of his sisters. The other morning, he was playing in his room as I got ready for the day. It was a little quiet so I peeked in through the door and found him meticulously lining the My Little Ponies side-by-side in his white bookshelf. He loves to look at books (bugs, dinosaurs, and Star Wars are favorites from the library), watch movies, and play with his sisters. "When I'm five, I'll get to ride the bus and go to Chaparral Cougars, just like my sisters," he likes to inform me.

First sunny day above 55 degrees. Why not swim?

His imagination is constantly going and he still has his friend, Later Gator, who can be counted upon to make his presence in the midst of any and all conversations. "Oh! Later Gator...." or "Later Gator's baby does/has/is...." I have to admit that there are days I am tired of hearing what Later Gator thinks, says, or knows. This is the longest imaginary friend any of the kids have had. I think this character has been with us for at least a year, maybe longer.

For his birthday - back in May, I should add - he was all over the place for a theme for the cake. Batman won and the cake turned out well. It poured buckets the afternoon of his party!

Pretty sure he spit all over the cake....

One of my favorite traditions....the decorated chair. My hubs has talent!

I can't imagine our family without this charismatic little man. He makes me a better Mama.

A Moment

Several days ago, Mallorie came into the bathroom I was attempting to clean with dirt on her nose and giant alligator tears. She'd fallen, face-first, onto the grass from her little bar hanging in the willow tree and was feeling sad about the whole experience. (Spencer, I might add, solemnly followed her up the stairs and proclaimed that he had nothing to do with this fall. He's been in trouble recently for his part in tears shed by this older sister.)

We got the dirt off her nose, dried her tears, and as I sat snuggling her for a moment, I had this feeling of peace. Confirmation that I made the right decision April 2018 to walk away from practicing as a veterinarian to stay home full time with my little circus. I want to be the one kissing boo-boos and wiping dirt off faces. I want to be the one providing snuggles for tears and snuggles for joy. And thankfully, I can.

It was a lovely moment.

Look Mom - I'm a librarian!

Hard Things

For about two years, I've been trying to manage some extreme muscle tightness in my shoulders, neck, and chest. Tension headaches are the worst symptom! My functional medicine practitioner recommended an elimination diet to see what foods, if any, were causing inflammation in my gut and thus lending to the pain in my neck/shoulders. Man, am I addicted to food and the buffering provided by putting something in my mouth!! It was the hardest 2.5 weeks I've had in a l o n g  t i m e.  No beef, dairy, eggs, peanuts, soy, gluten, or sugar. Gone were my go-to items for breakfast and snacks. I was having so much anxiety about what I would eat! Seemed silly, even at the time. Luckily, a dear friend had been through something similar and provided ideas for substitutes. She probably saved me from a major meltdown (thank you, Megan!). 

I tried enchiladas with zucchini in place of tortillas (bigger zucchini would have been ideal), making bread with almond flour (it was nasty, but the chickens enjoyed it), oat and pumpkin pancakes (not bad), and having the most delicious salads at lunch (feeling so grown up not eating peanut butter and banana every day). 

I was obsessed with food - what I could eat or couldn't. At the end of said diet, you are supposed to introduce one new food item back for three days and keep track of how your body feels. Well, I had just driven ~900 miles to Albuquerque with my kiddos and Mom and planned to stay a week before driving back to Boise. The willpower to stay on the diet was wearing thin (I cried the first night back home when my parents and children ate pizza and I had dry salad with chicken) and I didn't do so well introducing one thing at a time. But the bowl o'papas with green chili from Weck's had never tasted so amazing! 

No, I didn't feel any amazing changes in my shoulders and neck but I did learn that I could do hard things. That having to feel my feelings instead of eating or drinking something was possible. It's a baby step in the right direction. Now to keep stepping......

Life in Pictures

Photo dump. Two legs or four, someone is always doing something goofy. Unfiltered, unedited bits of my life over the last two months.

His New Favorite Quote

Chadwick's new favorite quote came from the most recent book club book, The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene:

"When the great lord passes, the wise peasant bows deeply and silently farts." 

~Ethiopian proverb

And Then She Turned Nine

Last month, our oldest turned nine. This sweet, smart, book-loving girl who made me a mama has been with us for nine years. 

The time has gone so quickly. Morgan Magoo is strong, enjoys school and especially her Gifted Talented class she attends weekly, loves to read, and has discovered a passion for downhill skiing (especially with her friend, Syd). 

She plays piano and is learning the challenges of gymnastics. When in the mood, she runs and jumps and wrestles with her younger siblings. She's a great helper around the house and I try to remember to utilize her as often as possible. Recently, Morgan has turned author and has the start to a delightful fantasy book. When grown up, there's a debate in her head about whether to open an exotic pet shop or obtain training for veterinary medicine. In either case, she plans to be an author on the side. I love her humor, her smile, and desire to learn. She makes our home a better place! 

There was an underwater theme for the family birthday celebration. We made cupcake octopus and the girls decorated the house. Family celebrations are always chaotic and fun and full of energy. This time was no exception and I'm grateful for the wonderful people in our lives. 

The countdown was on until Grandma and Grandpa Hunt returned from their mission and Morgan noted that they'll be here for her 10th birthday. I think she's missed them more so than her younger siblings. 

We also went to see How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World in theater with our family as part of her celebration. Dinner followed at Idaho Pizza. It was a great week!

We love you Morgan Magoo!

When the Hubs is Away.....

Things I can "get away" with while Chadwick is playing in Alaska at the 47th Annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race:

• Leaving my muck boots by the back door
• Not having the house *totally picked up of the toys and clutter that are part of my day
• Cooking easy, kid-friendly meals without guilt
• Eating breakfast for dinner
• Turning the sheep loose in the back yard and pasture
• Not putting away the hair straightener/curling iron after each morning use
• Being lazy about folding laundry and putting it away (I did promise that when he returned it would be a different set of clothes in the baskets in the den)

Idaho Sled Dog Race 2019

Things I miss while Chadwick is caring for the sled dogs:

• Help with dishes after a day of cooking and eating
• Having a priesthood holder in the home
• Taking turns singing songs to the kids before bed
• A warm body breathing next to me while sleeping
• His wrestling and playing "ouchie game" with the kids after work
• Taking Darwin for a run to get the wiggles out (Darwin is a better dog when he runs at least twice a week)
• His being the operator of and stress-carrier for CBH 
• A willingness to listen to my "brain dump" of all the stuff rattling around in my brain at the end of the day