Great Stories from Great Falls

2011 Year in Review

2012-02-02T11:00:00.000-08:00

I am not late, I just felt groundhog day was a great time to do this :)

1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Went to Hawaii, spent more than a night away from Caleb (which was amazing, parents need breaks!), had HSG test, had a kid with a broken arm, ate a pile of raw fish known as "poke" (call it what you want, it is a pile of raw fish), went to a concert with John, gave myself a shot

2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
It is a work in progress. My goal this year mostly has to do with enduring the last year of alert schedule!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Let's define close. Almost everyone up here gave birth but no really close friends or family.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No one close, but I can think of at least two people whose deaths affected me a little.

5. What countries did you visit?
None, I think I saw Mexico

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Orders out of here!

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

November 20th-found out I was pregnant

8. What was your biggest personal achievement of the year?

Being married for five years, that is equal to 50 in Hollywood years. I did a lot better at controlling my sass towards people.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Being so annoyed that Caleb stopped napping.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a uterine polyp or maybe it was a fibroid, half a dozen cysts and we all got sick the same weekend-that has NEVER happened in 5 years of marriage, my doctor is pretty sure I broke my ankle but I just never cared to go in until 8 weeks later, but the way it was healing indicated a break

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My car, white noise machine for Caleb

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Well of course John has been great and done a lot of cool stuff at work. Caleb is amazing as always a really growing and becoming even more wonderful. My mom though has made some huge chances over that last year and I think that is really cool

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
People with a million items in the express checkout, unless they are over 80 then they can do whatever the heck they want

.14. Where did most of your money go?
I find this question boring because most people would say the basics and savings, we are the same. I will say the most unique thing we spend more money than I care to admit is on our Olive Oil club, but when that package comes in the mail and I know I have organic California Olive Oil I literally pull out a spoon and start drinking it.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Hearing our baby's heartbeat for the first time, getting to go to California for 6 weeks and see where Caleb was born again.

16. What song (s) will always remind you of 2011?
Anything by Matt and Kim, especially "Silver Tiles" that was the first non-Church song Caleb started singing too. "Dog Days are Over" they played that every other song in Hawaii.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
a) happier b) that is not a polite question c) richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Sat outside, it was kind of a chilly summer though.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Sat inside, it was a very very cold winter!

20. Did you fall in love in 2011?
yes, I have a special place in my heart for blobs on ultrasounds.

21. What was your favorite TV program?
My new favorite show is "Up all night" and "Portlandia" "Parks and Rec" got a million times funnier this year too
22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Who would really list someone on this? Hate is a strong word but there is for sure some people who I can't wait till karma catches up with them :)

23. What was the best book you read?
"Positive Discipline for Preschoolers" I confess I haven't read it all, but what I have read has really helped me with Caleb. I also enjoy "The Help" and "Mini Shopaholic" that was the best beach book.

!24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Free weekly downloads on itunes, song alerts on siriusXM radio basically when my favorite song plays it will pop up and tell me what station it is on and turn it there for me-amazing!

25. What did you want and get?
To get pregnant! Go to Hawaii and Oregon. Have lots of fun as a family

26. What did you want and not get?
A very large inheritance from an unknown very wealthy relative.

.27. What was your favorite film of this year?
I didn't go to the movie theater all year!!!!!!!!!! I loved "Social Network" I am pretty sure that came out on video this year right?

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
These are very personal questions. I am 27 years young (I hate when people say that, add that to my list or should I say 24 for the 3rd time and my favorite move is the sunset). It was pretty much the best birthday ever, minus John was on alert. I had just found out I was pregnant and I got to snuggle buggle with Caleb all day and eat yummy grilled veggie sandwich. Maybe a little less Bob the Builder would have been nice, but it was a great ay.

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I could go and get Indian food anytime I wanted, if my legs were the same length-people take for grant that their legs are equal

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
I don't want to look like a dead mommy, Unless I am in the privacy of my home and no one is coming over, then bring on the sweatpants at 3 in the afternoon!

31. What kept you sane?

Exercise, prayer, John, Caleb and the beach.

14 1/2 weeks

2012-02-01T08:52:00.000-08:00

Here is my pregger belly at 14 1/2 weeks. I tried to make this picture the most standard facebook instagram picture possible (and yes that is a hole in the wall, our house is falling apart and frankly I stopped caring, that is what happens with only one year left and very cheaply built houses!)

I am not very far along, but they are pretty sure it is a boy. My doctor said I could make big bucks as an ultrasound model because my ultrasounds are just beautiful (all I heard was model and beautiful).

If you pay careful attention you will notice two little bump around my belly button. My belly button is shot from the two surgeries so close together and now it is really really misshapen and pregnancy is just making it a million times worse. It is worse than the picture shows, trust me.

Grandma visit

2012-01-31T18:30:00.000-08:00

My mom came up for a visit for a couple of days. We had a great time, here are the highlights!

*getting sushi!

*Cafe Rio (really my family cracks me up, they live right by one!)

*getting hooked on "Cake Boss"

*Caleb drinking lots of hot chocolate and getting lots of hot chocolate mustaches.

*My mom baby-sitting so John and I could go out.

*Golden Globe party

*Starting a blanket for the baby's blessing

*My mom taking Caleb to the toy store and he got to buy a little fire truck (it is somewhere in the picture, then we went to the quilt store-where the picture was taken

Just hanging out and having fun, thanks for coming mom!

Top 10 events of 2011

2012-01-24T20:10:00.000-08:00

I know this is late, but better late than never!

In no particular order

10. Caleb learning to talk in full sentences

9. Getting to spend 5 weeks in California for John's work

8. John getting to launch a missile

7. Caleb turning three and moving out of the toddler phase. He got over his fear of water (for the most part), climbed his first mountain, threw more tantrums than I want to count, started negotiating, became increasingly interested in the Gospel and scripture stories, and just grew up! He is not a little baby anymore!

6. Caleb's broken arm-not a great highlight but one that will be remembered.

5. Caleb developing not only a little attitude but a wonderful sense of humor and great reasoning ability!

4. Family vacations to Utah (in particular Zion National Park! My sissy's wedding and John's bro's graduation), Oregon, the Hot Springs, Disneyland, San Diego, San Francisco, Monterey, Whitefish, Missoula, Bozeman and camping.

3. John completing his Master's Degree from Norwich University-with honors I might add!

2. Celebrating our 5 year anniversary with an AMAZING!!!! me and John only trip to HAWAII!

1. Getting to hear this little guy's heartbeat for the first time! (due July 28th!)

Caleb has turned from baby hater to baby lover overnight! He couldn't be more excited for his "favorite friend to come out"

Bad Day

2012-01-21T19:55:00.000-08:00

We love Whitefish, Montana. All our trips there have just been so much fun, so many great memories. We just had to go back this year. We planned this trip back in October, maybe even September. As the winter started to develop snowlessly John kept saying "I just hope a huge storm hits once we get to Whitefish and then I can ski on fresh powder." Apparently John has connections with Mother Nature because that is exactly what happened-the whole northwest got pounded Wednesday afternoon.

Caleb was so excited to go skiing! (yes that is his toilet seat in the background a a picture that I took down for him to look at while on the potty and now I can't get it to hang again). He is not potty trained, but he is trying so hard we decided to let him ski all the same.

The drive wasn't great but wasn't horrible. They just don't plow in this state, and the big news this week is that the snowplowers might strike. Honestly I didn't know there were snowplowers in this state. It was freezing though -22 when we stopped for the bathroom. You know you have lived in Montana too long when you get out in that weather and don't think it is that cold.

The wonderful view from our room

To say that Caleb was excited to ski is an understatement. He woke up at 2 AM wanting breakfast and to go skiing. Multiple times through the night he ran into the hallway wanting to go skiing. Yes he never fell back to sleep after 2 AM. It was a very long night.

We rented a condo, which was great hillside, had a pool and a kitchen, just wonderful. But ALL our bedding was denim, even the bed skirt. Totally awful decor.

One of the things Caleb wanted at 2 AM was Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, since we don't have cable that is the highlight of hotels. He is too young to understand that at 2 AM you have no choice but infomercials. When Mickey Mouse came on he couldn't stop jumping up and down (I was in the middle of changing him, it took several minutes to finish).

I did yoga during Mickey Mouse, wonderful views to help me find zen

We were going to meet John at 1. When we started to get ready to ski I just knew Caleb was too tired.

He is awake but not moving

I pushed him to the lodge (not fun pushing a stroller in thick snow uphill) he was out within 2 minutes. He slept in the lodge for almost 2 hours.

We tried to wake him, he was still out of it.

First time on skis!

What the ski instructors say is to have the kid hold the pole and kind of drag them along, Caleb wouldn't even hold the pole.

We know that leashes are frowned upon in the skiing community, but we had already gotten one and we had a feeling that was the only way to get him moving even a little. (I was slightly annoyed the insert said it is only for skiing not to be used in the lodge, hotel, car and other places-if I want my kid on a ski leash I am going to keep him on a ski leash!)

That 59 seconds is about all the skiing we got out of him. He kept telling me "skiing just isn't for me, I have teeny tiny legs" So we gave up. John was discouraged because he had had great dreams of his son speeding down the hill at 3, or at least riding the Magic Carpet. Caleb was discouraged because he felt like a failure since he fell (he really kept saying that, I told him at least he didn't break a bone!). So we went back to the lodge and the song "Bad Day" came on and I just felt like it fit the moment so well (actually it was John's best skiing day in Montana. He met a guy on the ski lift and they did crazy double black diamonds through the trees together. So it ended up great!)

We shall try skiing again. I honestly think we should rent skis and just work on balance in the backyard (if there is ever snow there). I think next month we will try again after a good nights rest. It was still a super fun trip.

This almost could be a separate post, but I am too lazy. We decided to take the long scenic way home. We know we have a year left up here, but we are kind of booked up already for the whole year. As we left Whitefish we knew we might never come back (next year we are determined to ski Banff). It is very bittersweet for us. So I have always wanted to see Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake this side of the Mississippi. It is about an hour or so south of Whitefish, so we started to drive.

A view as we sped past.

Then we realized we are in Montana, no one is on the road, we can just stop in the middle and take a picture.

The end of the lake

The picture two up is the Mission Mountains. Apparently that mountain range has more grizzly bears then anywhere else in the world (ok maybe not but a lot). So they don't let hikers up in there, except a really short window before the bears get too wild and want to eat all the hikers. I immediately wanted to go into that mountain range. The last picture is just pretty Montana.

We headed on to Missoula (really long route home) because I wanted to see something at REI and then we could see John's grandma really quick. John said it was hard driving into the valley realizing again it could be one of our last times (we will pass through in May on the way to Spokane, but besides that who knows). Even though John's grandma lives there once me move it is very unlikely we will come back and it was hard for John since he has so many memories there not only over the last couple of years, but as a young lad. I guess leaving this place will be a little hard (though we are both really sick of the "keep Missoula weird" signs and attitude-you aren't Portland!)

All in all it was a great trip!

Hair Cut

2012-01-17T10:33:00.000-08:00

It has been about a year so we decided to cut Caleb's hair.

The before

He was really good for the whole thing, but there were times when he just looked a little unsure

I LOVE! the look on his face in this one.

*This picture reminds me of a random story. A couple of months ago we went to the Temple in Billings. One of my friends who I have known since probably 5th grade lives 7 minutes from the Temple (really what are the chances of a girl from my home stake living that close) anyway she so sweetly offered to baby-sit whenever we go now. About 5 or 10 minutes before we went back to get him he went over to the corner and said "I think we need to clean up so mommy can come get me" she tried to reassure him I would be back soon and he said "I am brave I am not crying" as he fought back tears. He said the same thing when we picked him up, similar face.

The after with his friend Jace (who's mother cut the hair). The sucker at the end was a big motivation for staying still

exercise

2012-01-13T19:01:00.000-08:00

Caleb got my love for exercising. Over the holidays I had to take him to the gym a lot with me (they have a parent/child area) because it wouldn't open earlier enough for me to go before John worked. He would always make sure he got to do exercises while we were there. The other day I saw him doing these weird squats and he kept saying "look mommy I'm doing my exercises like you"

Pizza Pizza

2012-01-11T20:38:00.000-08:00

We are a whole wheat family, besides yummy tortillas we eat sometimes and Lion House Rolls, we eat whole wheat. If you do it right whole wheat has a much better taste than white (John's words not mine). My sister asked for my pizza dough recipe and I figured I would just post it here since I am typing it up anyway. Then she will always know where to find it.

Honey Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

adapted from http://www.savoryreviews.com/2011/04/04/honey-whole-wheat-pizza-dough/

1 package active dry yeast
1 1/3 cup warm water (105-115 degrees) – body temp is 98 degrees, so place your finger under the tap and when it starts to feel warm you are at the right temperature.
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 – 2 cups white whole wheat flour (you can find that easily up here in wheat country, outside of Montana check a health food store) or unbleached white flour (if you are going to use it at least get unbleached please :)
2 tbs olive oil
2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tbs honey
1/2-1 tsp EACH basil, oregano and garlic powder
Parmesan cheese

Place yeast, water and honey in bowl of a mixer with bread hook. Allow to sit 5-10 minutes until nice and bubbly (ever since we moved here yeast takes longer to bubble for me, maybe the elevation or something, just watch it)

Add the salt and olive oil, then slowly add the 2 cups of wheat flour garlic powder, basil, oregano and parmesan cheese (I usually put around 1/2 cup or so, just eyeball it). Then slowly add the white flour to the mixture 1/2 cup at a time. Mix by hand or on low speed in your mixer for a minute or until the flour is incorporated. The amount of bread flour required to make a dough ball that is not too sticky will vary with temperature and humidity. Mine took a little more than 1.5 cups of bread flour. Once you have a good dough ball, place it on a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes. If you have a mixer with a dough hook place it on medium speed for 10 minutes.

Place on a flour surfaced, covered with a towel for about an hour, or until double in size. Use your hands to shape into a pizza. Brush with olive oil and poke with fork Preheat your pizza stone in the oven at 450. Cook dough for 7-10 minutes or until mostly cooked through. Pull out crust, add toppings and cook another 3-5 minutes until cheese is bubbly.

This is suppose to make two crusts, I like me some thick crust so it only made one, very very large pizza. It is amazing. Caleb has asked for pizza everyday since we ate this. Use a pizza stone and make sure you don't overdo it on the toppings, common mistake, especially the cheese. Use homemade pizza sauce too. Oh so yummy!

The other recipe I have been asked by a couple people for is my chimichanga recipe, super yummy and easy to make. I kind of made this one up, so follow along if you can :)

1 diced pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 sweet onion
Several handfuls of spinach
1 can beans either pinto or black
about 3/4 c. frozen corn, eyeball it to match the beans more or less.
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cumin
a couple drops of cholula or hot sauce of choice-should you like it spicy
1 can diced tomatoes-fire roasted is very yummy but not necessary
1/2 cup cooked rice (I use either Bajio's sweet rice though I add lime juice to this recipe or my dad's spanish rice recipe)
Uncooked tortillas. I can get them at Wal-mart and if my wal-mart carries them I bet yours does too. Sam's and Costo have them in Utah, so check there, much cheaper and so good! Or use whole wheat.
Monterey and cheddar cheese-enough for your liking

Preheat oven to 425. Heat a couple guzzles of Habanero Olive Oil (as a general rule not a fan of flavored olive oil, this is the exception to the rule, man it has a kick that is so great and wonderful, and it is made not far from where Caleb came into this earth!). Should you not want to buy it use EVOO and add some jalapenos for a kick. Once heated add a diced pepper (I have used red, green, and yellow and a combo-this is my man we have a lot of produce that is about to rot recipe), garlic and onion. Saute for a couple of minutes then add spinach, beans, corn and spices. Allow spinach to wilt and then add tomatoes and rice.

Cook tortillas on a hot skillet.

Divide cheese and filling among the tortillas. Fold in long sides of the tortilla then short sides. Flip over. Cook for 15-20 minutes until brown and crispy. Serve hot with dipping sauce of choice.

Makes 8-10

*The filling freezes great.

*This is a wonderful recipe because if you have something throw it in, if you don't oh well it is still amazing. I have left almost every ingredient out at one point or another. Once I added yams instead of rice, amazing. Really I love this recipe!

*Yes this is vegetarian, you can add meat, we do sometimes, but why not just try a vegetarian meal tonight? Eating vegetarian just once a week saves the average family about $500 a year. And there are all kinds of crazy health benefits and if your husband has the cancer genes my husband has, you will be looking for that too (I guess my child has them too-yikes!)

Dipping sauces I love:

Avocado Dressing (I will use half yogurt half sour cream sometimes, not always a fan of too much greek yogurt taste)

Cilantro Dip

1 10 oz can Rotel Tomatoes with Lime and Cilantro

4 oz cream cheese

1 c. loosely packed cilantro

1/2 c sour cream

1-2 cloves garlic, minced

Blend together until smooth and refrigerate at least an hour before.

That one is super yummy!

Ok that is all. Try them they are both so yummy! Let me know what you think!

I'll do it when dad gets home

2012-01-11T07:17:00.000-08:00

I always say that I am really glad this assignment was our first assignment because we only have one kid and he is young, too young to really realize Dad is gone all the time. I am sure most young moms feel that way since lots of my friends have hubby's in med school, or who have to work a million hours a week at their new career, or intense church callings (or as one special friend, all three). Caleb is now starting to figure out John is gone a lot and asks me "is today a day I see dad?" Once he figures out the answer to that he can then respond to any request from "time to dinner" to "clean up time" to "potty time" with "I'll do it when dad gets home." (he got John's hair and my sass!)

Here are some pictures of the fun when dad is home!

The night we were waiting for my family I got the instagram app for my phone, they were really slow driving, I had to keep Caleb entertained somehow.

Caleb is very obsessed with needing a safety harness when he is doing things, John made him a great harness out of robe and then carried him around the house.

We have been telling Caleb for months he can't go skiing with Dad unless he wears underwear. Now that the cast is off we have started on that again, so the other day he said he wanted to wear underwear. He was pretty good for a couple of days so we took him to try on skis.

Trying on skis was enough for him, he now has lost interest in the potty.

These pictures are so out of order, who cares though right. Again waiting for my family, Caleb needed safety goggles this time to fight fires.

The other day I told Caleb we were going to Sam's Club and asked if he wanted lunch before or after. He said he just wanted Sam's Club lunch. I thought he meant the samples but as soon as we got in the store he dragged John to the food court for some pizza!

We went and got sushi the other day and the hostess was in love with Caleb and wanted to know if he wanted to see the fish, so John and him went to the fish tank in the other room. Not sure if they picked the one for our sushi or not.

Golfing!

And handsome daddy.

In March we will reach our 3 year mark up here, which means only 1 more year of alerts, give or take a couple of months. I know that is still 12-18 months, but it is so nice to have an end in sight. Especially now that Caleb has the slightest concept of time and misses his daddy so much!

A tough day

2012-01-09T14:32:00.000-08:00

Caleb started Sunbeams on Jan. 1st. Big day for all of us! I just cannot believe that my little baby is so grown up, he is just a baby! He just needs to stop growing, I can't take this anymore.

His teacher said he was the best sunbeam ever, especially for being the second youngest in the class. (ok maybe the teacher was slightly partial since it was me). But really he stayed in his seat all of sharing time, raised his hand, listened to the lesson, only hit twice. Overall it was a good day. Plus he is still talking about the lesson, and has corrected both John and I for "not making a good choice."

However, when we got in the car and I asked how he liked primary he said "it was a tough day at church mommy." When we got home he came and ran to the pile of blankets by the couch and wouldn't move. So here is my sunbeam, and the effects of sunbeams on a little boy.

Nothing a little leftover Cold Stone and p.j.'s can't fix!

this year is over

2012-01-07T13:46:00.000-08:00

Shell art and 2011 are both over!

Not that it is a competition or anything, but if it were I am pretty sure I would win best New Year's Eve ever!

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(that is a text message from Caleb to his aunties it says "I have a crane, I love my aunties)

cxujjjjjhyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhhhh55555;;;;;;;,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,//////////////////////////...[ppppppppppppppppp''''''''''''+{{{++++++''''55555555555

(this one says "aunties, I love my aunties. They are so big and heavy and strong like Paka. And they are strong and useful and big with Paka). On a side note my sisters are some of the thinnest girls I know. I really don't know why Caleb was so into them being big and strong. He makes me laugh

The day started with John going on alert. Then my family all left. Then our power went out for two hours. We were on our way to the gym when it went out so Caleb insisted that we still go. I was hoping they would turn their generator on, but the didn't and we spent and hour or two in the parking lot doing "hidden pictures."

Honestly though the day was great (besides my family leaving me alone-that's right Steph feel that guilt :). It was really chill, spent in our team uniforms. How can I complain when I had this face to hang out with all day?

Caleb went to bed at his usual 7 p.m. and I watched the "Friends" episode with the "routine" and fell asleep at 9:30 only to be awoken by my father who told me they had finally made it home. Then I talked with Stephy and called it a night. I was asleep shortly after 10. It was wonderful. I literally could not have asked for a better new years.

We did set New Years resolutions based off of President Monson's "ABCs" so we each made a goal for attitude, believe and courage. Caleb is old enough now to start making goals and we have really tried to let him feel he has control over things we aren't just going to tell him what to do. He is very very into good choice/bad choice and often informs me when I might be making a bad choice. He made these all by himself:

A-say the word "good more and bad less"

B-listen in primary

C-tell himself "mommy will come back" when I leave (I might have influenced him a little on that one).

2011was an amazing year, and I have a feeling 2012 is going to be pretty darn good too.

Sister visit!

2012-01-06T14:24:00.000-08:00

Oh yeah and my dad too.

My two little sisters and dad came up the Wednesday after Christmas for a quick visit. I let Caleb stay up until after 8:30 so he could see them on Wednesday. He was so excited to have Paka come and visit!

Thursday afternoon I took them around to see two of the five falls here in town.

The wind was doing nothing for our hair, and I had the purple North Face jacket first for the record.

Stephy wanted to remember the beauty of the plains and took this picture.

At the real great falls.

Stephy and my dad

My dad was making jokes and Dana couldn't stop laughing, hence this face.

Caleb loves Paka!

Ok this next part is like the craziest thing you will ever hear, I still totally can't get over it. My dad told me he wanted to go to Cafe Rio for dinner. This man knows the owners of Cafe Rio (well they have sold, but the original owners) he could literally walk to 50 different Cafe Rio's but he has never been to one outside of Utah and really wanted to go. So we went. *Steph remember that picture of you and John holding hands after Splash Mountain, now you are sitting next to him and snuggling next to my son, it is just kind of weird have to throw that out there.

The verdict, just like Utah.

Afterwards we went to get ice cream. We had told Caleb if he stopped saying the word "stupid" he could have a special treat. He picked getting ice cream with paka. We enjoyed our ice cream later while watching "Portlandia"

Friday the boys watched the BYU football bowl game while we girls went to the gym. My dad made his wonderful guacamole and my sissy Stephanie made the most amazing homemade salsa ever! So we ate way too much during the game, only to later stuff our face with John's BBQ ribs that night.

Stephanie took all the following pictures. She helped me make biscuits.

Some darn good ribs.

John and Dana doing something

Yummy!

My dad has a big birthday coming up so this was his birthday celebration since Caleb and I won't be in Utah for the real thing. He was very excited for the food!

The funniest part of the visit, I thought, is that Caleb is learning he can edit prayers, he doesn't have to say what we say. So I said "bless Paka and aunties that they will drive safely tomorrow" and he said "bless Paka that he won't drive home tomorrow." Caleb was so sad they left and keeps asking when they will come back. He also very politely asked if he could borrow one of Paka's trains, then when we found another one he said "it's ok Paka doesn't use them" good point son.

We had fun hanging out and just relaxing. We did watch the entire first season of Portlandia on Netflix (there are only 6 episodes). That show is so dang funny. I got them all hooked (though watch with the remote, at least one skit an episode is worth fast forwarding). It was just fun having visitors, no one from my family has been up since last November. Thanks for coming ya'll

Guess whose birthday it is?

2012-01-04T23:42:00.000-08:00

Sweeties!

Caleb has been quite attached to the penguin he got from Santa at the tree lighting night of horror thing. But then we lost it like good parents do. He will not stop talking about Sweetie. Last week my sister and niece both had birthdays and each time we called to wish them a happy birthday Caleb told us it was Sweeties birthday. He would not stop, so we spent the $5 for a new one and threw him a birthday party.

We had leftover german chocolate cake, Sweetie needed her own plate and fork.

Oh so much love!

We got a dollar store balloon for the occasion too. Caleb was so happy to celebrate his best buddies birthday finally!

Oh it might also be a big birthday for my father today too (though everyone in his family lives into their 90s so I think he has another decade or two before they really are a big deal :)

We are so sad we weren't able to make it down for the party, but celebrated it with him while he was up here. Caleb absolutely loves his Paka (and Paka's trains). Caleb will still tell me about when Paka baby-sat for him back in May and took him to the park. He is a great dad too and has been very supportive of us as a family. Here are my two favorite pictures of Caleb and my dad.

My dad told me today that he forgot what Caleb looked like without hair-he looks like you dad! haha :)

Happy birthday old man!

It's off!

2012-01-03T13:12:00.001-08:00

Last Thursday was a very exciting day! Caleb got his cast off. He was very intrigued by the process.

Until the saw part, he has seen Bob the Builder he knows what saws do.

As some might say, good to see you out of those chains.

And his arm is free!

It took him a couple of days to really start using that arm, but now he is an old pro. He has a little brace he is suppose to wear for 3-4 weeks. Confession: we kind of stink at doing that, if he is leaving the house he has to wear it, and sometimes if he is really playing hard. But if he wears it he won't use that hand. The x-ray showed a completely healed arm, so fingers crossed it doesn't rebreak!

Mommy take my picture.

2011-12-28T19:32:00.000-08:00

Caleb has started asking me all the time to take his picture of great accomplishments. He will even specify which camera he would like me to use.

We went and made cookies with Santa. Caleb is just not one to show tons of emotion

He really doesn't think Santa is that big of a deal, other kids were going crazy and he was like "huh I guess I get a candy cane out of it"

I admit that his cast is starting to smell like death because it has gotten wet so many times, so bathes are not as common as normal for the next week. So his hair gets a little crazy. One morning I was making breakfast and I hear "mommy something is hanging on me, take a picture" his little Handy Manny got stuck in his awesome curls!

His addiction to hotels is starting to worry me slightly. That is the only thing he builds with his blocks. These two are ones he was very proud of (thanks again, a million years later for the blocks Shar move back and we can combine both sets!)

He thought he was the funniest little boy for hanging a hanger with the stockings.

We are still stuck in a sweat pant purgatory but once the cast is off he can't play the "my arm is broken I need cozy clothes mommy" card anymore!

Christmas

2011-12-26T19:02:00.000-08:00

This year I started thinking about Christmas in like October. It was going to be perfect. My plan was to focus on faith, hope and charity, then have the activities in our advent calendar relate to one of those virtues. There was no way my kid was going to think Christmas was all about presents, we even debated the idea of not having Santa (we never really decided and we never really talked about Santa and Caleb picked out everything for his stocking so I think he knows it was from me).

Then life happened like it always does. Caleb's arm has bugged him quite a bit. I think more the frustration of not being able to do what he normal can do makes him very grumpy. Plus it has got to itch and hurt. So the first couple of weeks of December we were still kind of on very low key mode.

Then we have a friend who we found out is going through a pretty rough time right now, that is pretty similar to something I went through awhile ago. We talked every day the week before Christmas, and it was super serious emotionally draining talks, not "isn't the weather crazy this year" talks. And it honestly broke my heart to see someone so great suffer so much. It sucked the Christmas spirit right out of me, and Friday night I was just not feeling it at all and ready to just call off Christmas.

I knew I really couldn't call off Christmas, but I was pretty bummed things hadn't gone the way I thought they would and that I was so sad. I knew I must change my attitude, but it was hard, I was too drained. I was sitting thinking about what to do and thought back to my goal for the month, faith, hope and charity. The only reason for Christmas is to celebrate Christ's birth, and if Christ doesn't symbolize hope, nothing does. Because of His life, and our faith in Him, we can all hope for better things, for changes to happen, to be with loved ones again. Sometimes charity is talking to the someone, or even giving yourself permission to not have the perfect month you were planning. I read a great article about Christ and His power to know where we are and what we are going through and to help us. As much as last week really really wasn't a fun week, it was the best possible week to make me remember what Christmas really is about.

So by Saturday I was ready to party! We had just a couple of families over for dinner, tried to keep it small. I had to amend my no iphone/pad rule of no use when we have people over to state they can be used if someone in the party has never seen "more cowbell" I am not sure how that is possible but we weren't going to let her leave without fixing that pop culture taboo. The guys really enjoyed watching it.

And that is the only picture, I only took 13 pictures both days, just enjoying family time too much I guess!

Caleb getting ready to open p.j.s!

I know it is super lame to use bags on Christmas, but we were running low on tape so at least it was a Cars bag. (Note to self, next year hide all Christmas presents in one spot to save the half an hour search for pajama bottoms and the fear of going to Wal mart at 7 on Christmas Eve)

We all got University of Montana pajamas so we can always remember our time here in Montana.

I think it is so funny that we go to Church three hours a week every Sunday and never bugs us. Until we have to go for only 45 minutes on Christmas morning, then it is like, oh man church. We decided to just do stocking before Church.

Caleb was so mad about having to go to Church, just look at that face.

We had to put his church clothes on over his p.j.'s to finally get him to go.

John had to stay an hour after to do tithing, didn't make Caleb happy at all! But then we were back in our p.j.'s ready to go.

Caleb's reaction to his magna tiles.

Magna tiles are really cool, you can build great 3-d shapes, he has had lots of friends with them, and they have all moved so it was time to get our own.

My mom gave him pj's he insisted on wearing over his cast. He reminds me of Buster "hey brother"

We have pretty much been building hotels with magna tiles since yesterday, though he does love all his other toys and will take time out to play with them.

It was a great day, we were so glad John had the day off and we could celebrate as a family. Merry Christmas to all of you!

Missoula

2011-12-17T07:23:00.001-08:00

So I sold my soul (or at least it feels that way at times) and we got an iphone. We have some rules, so that makes me feel better about the decision. So all these pictures are from the phone and used on the blogger app. so again not the best. I really need to stop just using our apple products to take pictures!

John's grandma lives in Missoula about 2 1/2 hours from us. This week she had to have some colon cancer removed (just a friendly reminder to get a colonoscopy!). Luckily she is doing much better than originally thought, but since we live so close we wanted to go over and see her.

Caleb was fighting falling asleep the first half of the drive. I gave him some snacks and he was out, literally in the middle of eating.

We went to the hospital first but Caleb was not really having it. He has only been to the hospital once and that was to visit a friend who had a baby (he didn't even come when I was in the hospital). I think he was a little freaked out to see a very frail old woman shaking in bed. So we stayed like 20 minutes and headed to the hotel. Caleb's hotel addiction is still going strong and it has been about 7 weeks since his last hit so he was bouncing off the walls!

On the drive to Missoula I had an uncontrollable craving for an organic hamburger. I think this is the first time in all six years together I have actually wanted to go and get hamburgers to eat. Thanks to the iphone (John knew it would only take one trip to convert me) we found a place that sold local organic hamburgers. It was right next to the carousel, underneath this old theater in a ballroom. It was pretty much the best food I have ever had in Missoula, and by far the best burger in Montana (ok it is my first non-veggie burger, but John has had a lot and that was his claim). John's uncle was in town taking care of his grandma and he joined us for dinner.

We were nice and took Caleb to the carousel. It makes both John and I horribly sick and we hate it, but Caleb loves it.

Caleb was so excited to have a green one, green is his favorite color!

Seriously doesn't that just make you sick to look at!

John was so so sweet and woke up at 6 am to go to the hospital to sit with his grandma so his uncle could have a morning to sleep in or do whatever. John never wakes up at 6 am, so I am really touched he would do that (he also was suppose to go skiing that day, but gave that up too so we could go-he is a good man). At one point his grandma showed her "do not resuscitate" band, John didn't know what to say to that. But she is determined that she won't do anything else to fight the cancer, so hopefully they got it all.

When he came back we spent the morning shopping where I sold my soul again to this low level olive oil company in the mall. I cheated on my wonderful Global Gardens that I whole-heartedly recommend to anyone in search of great olive oil, I might be partial since it is right by where Caleb is born, but nothing beats buying right from the vineyard.

We made one last stop at the hospital. Caleb was in a much better mood. He was telling his wonderful knock knock jokes. We stayed awhile and then headed home. It was a quick trip but it was good to be able to see her. We aren't able to be around for much with family, so it is nice when we have the chance.

A bushel and a peck

2011-12-07T16:36:00.000-08:00

This week has been much better than the last two. Caleb for the most part is adjusting to his one armed life. I know everyone says it is so great he didn't break his right arm, and it is, it really is. But Caleb is not the most coordinated kid in the world, plus the cast weights about what he does, so he hasn't quite picked up on doing things with just one hand like an adult would (I am guessing this would be the case for any young kid, they just aren't that coordinated).

My favorite thing is eating. About 99% of the time for breakfast we have some bread and a smoothie. He always would like to tear his bread apart and then eat it (I think because it is quick bread so picking it up to eat is kind of hard, it falls apart). Here he is tearing the bread with one hand and he had adopted his "hand flap" when he is doing things that might be difficult with only one hand.

Thanks to the 100 hours of Bob the Builder I was able to make this advent calendar! They are little party favor blocks with paper modge podged on it. We needed something big because we each get a piece of candy and I only eat Lindt, and they are kind of big. Every day there is a little activity that we do, or story we read and then a scripture that correlates with what we did. It has been pretty fun so far.

Caleb and I try to do "school" at least once a week (my goal was every day, it dwindles with each week). Nothing fancy and really no learning, but I have this book of activities to do with preschoolers that help them learn skills in a non-traditional, more laid back fun way. It is perfect since he is 3 but has 3 years till kindergarten. He picked the build a train activity. So we built a train using boxes for all his stuff animals.

The problem was it doesn't really move so then he starts going on how plates are not tires and how we need railroad ties and the to put the tracks down and real wood. I guess the goal was to teach problem solving and imaginative play. He got the problem solving down quite well I would say. Look at that look of death!

Just cause he has a broken arm and spends most his days in old t-shirts, doesn't mean he can't look like a model for church.

I have graduated from nursery to primary. Last week was my first week teaching primary and Caleb's first week in primary. He literally was screaming the whole first hour. A member of the Bishopric came and offered to sit with my class it was so bad. Yes Caleb might have some separation issues, but I think most of it was because of his arm. Either way I probably overcorrected this week and all week talked about how he would be in nursery without mommy. Sunday morning he was getting pretty stressed about it so I gave him the option he could take tigger or wear mommy's special bracelet. I totally don't ever wear jewelry, but he wanted the bracelet, so I found one my Grandma gave me from I believe Mexico with my name on it. I told him it said "mommy will be back soon and loves you lots." I dropped him off and showed in the bracelet, not a single tear! Happy as could be!

Also during my time learning more about Bob than I know about most of my sisters I decided that I was sick of hanging stockings on green thumbtacks and made this sign.

Last but not least. Months ago I sang the "I love you a bushel and peck" song to Caleb and he loved it! It has become our song. This morning at breakfast he just turned to me and started singing it. So cute!

Just like Rockefeller Center

2011-12-03T19:21:00.001-08:00

This past week we went to the tree lighting ceremony here on base. I have never been before, and most likely will never go again. I shall try my hardest to be positive through this post, but more likely then not there will be some snippy comments. My first one is all pictures were taking on our ipad. When John asked me what was wrong with all the pictures I said "you try taking pictures in 18 degree weather why don't you" yes they are shaky, but I give you the same challenge, plus it is the ipad (and this post is published on the ipad so it is very out of control).

The great part of the night was we had friends there! Caleb's best friend Cole, and Conner. We stayed inside until the tree lighting was suppose to start, and figured how long really will it take to hit a switch?

Apparently Santa was combing his beard because he was 23 minutes late! Plus they had promised Mrs. Claus and she was no where to be seen (maybe that is why he was late). So the boys threw snowballs and all sorts of cold activities.

Caleb and I waiting and waiting. I gave him my hat right after this picture (well John's hat, John was out in the field where it is warm). Caleb is always wearing my glove and the cast hand is probably just freezing.

Finally Santa came so it was time for the tree lighting prayer by the short blond Matthew Broderick which he read from the ipad (insert snide comment) and it was the longest prayer ever given with no regard to the 19 degree weather, plus wind and the fact we had all be standing around for a long time. Then of course the wing commander had to talk. There is a time and a place to tell about your last TDY and again, that was not the time nor the place. I was in the beginning stages of hypothermia but of course the boys would hear nothing of us leaving. Finally they lit the missile and then the tree and we all literally ran pushing people over to get back in the club for the hot chocolate and cookies that for some reason were out, even though everything was running 30 minutes late.

But then it was all worth it because for the first time in 4 years Caleb sat on Santa's lap without crying! He asked for a penguin which Santa happened to be handing out to the all the children (smart kid ask for what you know you will get!)

He is showing me his penguin who is now named "sweetie" and is Caleb's new best friend (Tigger is still very important though). He loves that thing and in the end I guess it made it all worth it. But next year we are either not going, or all wearing long johns and bring our own hot chocolate.

Snowman

2011-12-03T19:19:00.001-08:00

This is a test posting from the iPad. We went to home depot today and Caleb made a snowman napkin holder! So fun

O Christmas Tree 2011

2011-12-01T16:57:00.000-08:00

Ok my all time favorite family tradition that is the one thing I am like crazy we have to always do (at least while in Montana) is cutting down a Christmas tree, we could skip the rest of the holiday season and I would be just fine. But this one is must.

This year I thought we would take it up a notch with queso from Cafe Rio! It really made the hour plus drive to the trees a lot better!

We went the same place we went last year. There has been about half the snowfall as this time last year, but for some reason the parking lot was totally covered in deep snow. John thought this would be no problem for our snow 4 wheel drive setting, but I guess that has it's limits, a huge hole you can't see because of the snow. So we got stuck, and John had to push.

Caleb was just pretty excited to be out of the house and have the tree tag!

Finally the Good Samaritan came and helped us. I am ashamed to say a Jeep Liberty pulled us out, that is like the wussiest SUV ever.

Our tire tracks.

Caleb loved sitting on the sled this year!

It was above 14 degrees, I am guessing close to 20, not near 32 at all. I guess right around -10 C

Aww the forest!

Caleb and I stayed up at the front while John scouted the trees.

It was great watching the little one armed man play around.

My favorite part of the day was Caleb doing snow angels. He kind of acts like his left arm is gone, so he didn't move it at all. Instead he moved his head and then finally got the right arm going.

My beautiful snow angel!

John hunting for trees.

Ok how cute is he?

John told me he couldn't find any trees, so I went out looking, all I could see is trees (we ended up getting the front one).

This might officially solidify my spot in the bad mom hall of fame. There was this tiny little incline, but I am too weak sauce to pull Caleb up it, so I told him to get it. I swear he insisted on climbing the "hill" on his own and wouldn't let me help. He literally dragged himself up the hill using his one good arm. I couldn't stop laughing and totally regret not taking a video. I swear I would have helped if he would have let me, but this was way more fun, my little Civil War solider!

Oh look John more Christmas trees.

We had gone awhile without seeing or hearing John so I started yelling "John John" which made Caleb do the same.

John and Caleb scouting the area.

It literally was two minutes after I started walking around I found our tree. John has found our tree the other two years, so I guess it was my turn.

We brought Caleb's toy saw and forgot it in the car, he was very sad.

Isn't she pretty?

Caleb wanted this little tree and I literally had to drag him crying out of the forest. Next year we will remember to get two permits so he can have his little tree.

John dragging the tree.

A nice nap later and we were home, we got the tree in the house and ran to the store. We came back and found this.

Caleb using the robe to tie the tree down.

Had to get the star on top, I am amazed how much Caleb remembers about last year.

He found a cute little Santa hat.

Caleb insisted he needed a safety harness for decorating the tree.

Caleb told us he needed a rest and went and got tigger and snuggled up for all of 1 minute.

And of course the tree needed to be hammered-thanks for helping with that!

It was such a fun day! I love cutting the tree down, John was saying he would never do it again, but by the time we got home he was talking about his plan for next year.

Thanksgiving/my birthday

2011-11-30T17:12:00.000-08:00

I have always loved Thanksgiving. It is probably the only holiday that has not been totally taken over by (insert word of choice). It is still just about getting together with loved ones and eating some all the awesome food you can because it is a holiday. I love it.

Every 6 years the stars align and Thanksgiving falls on my birthday. I use to love this, now I see that it isn't so great because it takes away from my two days a year John will cook me whatever I want (he probably would do it more, those are just the mandated ones). Last time this occurred was the first time John ever told me he loved me, so that is kind of hard to beat.

This year I was super excited for Thanksgiving. John didn't have to work (yeah!), my mom was coming up, and we were having two of my awesome friends over. Then Caleb broke his arm and the opposite happened. John had to work, my mom switched her ticket because at the time we were told Caleb was probably having pins placed in his arm and I wanted my mom to see Caleb while he was happy not doped up. And I had to cancel on my friends. So sad but Caleb came first.

I have very mixed feelings about traditions. Some people are so set that every holiday they must eat the same exact thing every single meal and then do the exact same thing after dinner and wear the same clothes... I think traditions are great, but I am slightly untraditional in my traditions and this week I realized that the most important part of traditions is the small things that relate to family. When John found out he had to work he asked when I wanted to celebrate my birthday I said "um right now." He accidentally ordered my present with my email account so I knew exactly what I was getting and where it was hidden and I really wanted my boots! So Monday I got my presents.

*I must add that we did celebrate my birthday a couple weekends ago. We went down to Helena where my friend was the star of a play, so we went to that and then the fanciest restaurant in town and had great seafood and amazing almond cheesecake. Plus we got to go to Billings this month and go to the Temple which I love doing on my birthday, but due to distance can't do anymore. So it isn't like John just wrapped my unsurprised presents in a towel and called it good.

Wednesday John offered to make dinner for my birthday. We started doing an organic co-op and had gotten a butternut squash. So I wanted butternut squash pasta, which we had never had before, but it was amazing! I would totally pick that meal again for my birthday.

Thursday I knew that Caleb wouldn't be up to going to someone's house for Thanksgiving and the thought of eating the food alone while watching Bob the Builder was kind of bummer, plus it was my birthday and Thanksgiving food is not my food of choice. So I used our organic fruits and veggies, got some walnut cranberry bread, bleu cheese and our amazing balsamic vinegar and made me a mean sandwich. Seriously best sandwich I had every had!

Besides that my birthday was low key. I went to the gym in the morning so I could have my traditional put in the old age on the elliptical moment. My friend came by and brought me a pie and a card. Our other friends came by and they signed Caleb's cast. But the best part is I got to talk to all my sisters and my mom and dad (one was just on facebook, but she lives in Africa). I loved getting a voicemail from my little nephew and talking to all my family. I have a pretty great family.

But then I got a little bummed that we weren't eating stuffing and green bean casserole and rolls and potatoes. So I thought I would make just the two of us a feast. Then I thought that would be a lot of work. Then I found a recipe that looked amazing!

So we had roasted organic fingerling potatoes (amazing!) Montana grass-fed pork topped with gorgonzola cheese, organic pears (I am on a slight organic kick right now) and pecans, green beans and fig bread dipped in cherry peppermint balsamic vinegar (have I mentioned we are in an olive oil/balsamic club? That was the vinegar of the month and it is surprisingly tasty! Global Garden Olive Oils, they are the best!). John said it could easily be the best meal I ever made. We both enjoyed it more than a traditional thanksgiving meal and this year would be the year to break tradition.

The best part was we got to keep my favorite tradition-writing what we are thankful for each day of the month.

This is the best sight to me. Thinking about all that we have been blessed with this year, which is so much. Caleb and I both dodged more extensive surgeries with less painful procedures. John got to launch a missile. We got to spend six weeks in California on what was pretty much a non stop vacation. John and I got to spend five days alone in hawaii.we got to visit family in Utah and Oregon. John and I have been married for five fun years. We have a wonderful house and John has a great job. Caleb is literally the sweetest thing in the world, and just brightens every day. We have amazing friends not only here but all around the country. It has only dropped below 0 once this winter here, which is unheard of warm! Caleb has only broken one bone (well two) but with the way he plays it should be close to 20. We have the added strength of our faith and religion. The list goes on and on. My favorite thing is hearing Caleb say he is grateful for Jesus, when we asked the second time he said "Mary cause she is Jesus' mommy." That too me beats any meal in the world.

Happy Thanksgiving one and all!

Caleb's "Surgery"

2011-11-28T19:11:00.000-08:00

I have already spent time on this blog proclaiming my dislike for doctors in Great Falls (I do like the base doctors) so no need to vent that all again, I will save it for my "comment card" they gave me. I will simply say we were told that Caleb was to have surgery the day before Thanksgiving and to cancel any plans. Well that wasn't totally true, but ok whatever.

The worse part besides the nurse not telling us anything besides our son was having some massive surgery, or not being able to see the doctor when we were told we would, was having to wait 5 days before they set the bone. The day before the surgical procedure (I will give them that much) Caleb was totally happy and fine playing with toys. Play away little boy things are going to get bad.

Wednesday morning bright and early (which I was glad since Caleb couldn't eat or drink) we were at the Orthopedic Surgical Center where Caleb was the youngest patient by about 80 years, which meant the nurses couldn't get enough of him! (I really love the nurses in this town, besides the above mentioned nurse, oh and the one who made fun of me for wanting the blinds closed after my surgery-yeah I didn't like him, the rest have always been wonderful!)

Anyway Caleb had to get into a hospital gown which he did not like at all. They had disposable ones that were kind of itchy, he did not like them. John was so sweet in helping Caleb calm down.

Watching PBS Kids-he has watched more t.v. in the last week than his three years of life combined, not exaggerating (I guess excluding when baby-sitters are over, I am pretty sure they just leave the t.v. on the whole time, but even with that, it would be close).

Caleb is always pretty melon in new places that are very different.

I swear I did not put lipstick on him!

Then we were asked to leave, I was hoping they would give him something while we were there so he wouldn't panic leaving us. But again the nurses were great and let him keep tigger and press the button for the door so it was kind of like "smell ya later mom and dad"

John and I debated flying into Boston versus New York, checked some flights and I didn't even finish my two thank you notes I needed to write before they came and got us.

Caleb was put out completely and they snapped his little bone like a twig to break it completely. Now he won't have a curve in his arm for the rest of his life like Boo Radley (Amanda, is that a correct reference, I swear I remember that from the book, but you are the English professor!). The Doctor said that unless you know he broke the bone you would never be able to tell and it should heal up completely in about 8 weeks. He is in this monster arm pit cast for about 4 weeks and then a below the elbow for another 3-6.

He came out of it without even crying! The wet on his bed is from the cast.

He just snuggled with Daddy for about 5 minutes and then he was ready to eat!

We stopped and got donuts on the way home. For some reason they had John and I write our initials on his hand. Well we can't get the cast wet so they are still pretty much on his hand, just smudged a little

I want to thank everyone who loved and supported us through all of this. For all the prayers, phone calls, get well soon cards and presents, facebook posts, texts, and just love. We had to cancel Thanksgiving for three different families and they were so sweet about it. It was so great to see so many people who love us be there for us in anyway they could. It really meant so much to me. We are so blessed to have such amazing friends and family.

Caleb's hair cut

2011-11-26T07:20:00.001-08:00

Caleb's friend Nicholas moved last week, we were so happy he could come play one last time!

At one point he came up to me and asked if he could comb Caleb's hair till it was straight like his. Caleb kept saying he was getting a hair cut!

As far as real hair cuts every time I am tempted to make an appointment he has an amazing hair day and I can't seem to call. Maybe one day

Just take my card now

2011-11-19T12:59:00.001-08:00

I received my first aid certification last year, but apparently I am completely one hundred percent awful when it comes to emergencies, I think I might just burn my card because lets face it, that 2 hours was a waste of time

I made these cute blocks that say "be grateful" for thanksgiving and have them up on my high counter that divides the kitchen and dining room. Caleb loves playing with them. Need I say more? He was standing on the dining room table making a tower, fell and started to scream.

I could tell his arm didn't look right and started screaming and ran to the corner (I am pretty sure those are the exact steps they taught me in first aid class). John checked and nothing was dislocated, so I took Caleb, who only wanted to get into p.j.'s and take a nap at this point. We went upstairs and he was really ok. John's best friend (some might call bromance) Nick came over at this point because they had plans to go shopping. I asked John to help me get Caleb into his p.j.'s before leaving (we were pretty sure something was at least sprained). We took off Caleb's shirt and were pretty sure arms weren't suppose to look like that. Then Caleb tried to get up off the ground and put a little pressure on the wrist and the screaming started. We took Caleb downstairs and Nick looked at it and said it was exactly what his arm looked like when he broke it. Thus began hysterical Lindsay #2 of the day (so glad Nick witnessed this one). I seriously couldn't breathe and Caleb was crying hysterically. I half expected John to slap me "Clue" style (I had to stop her screaming) but didn't. Somehow I calmed down enough to ask John to give Caleb a blessing. He did and Caleb immediately stopped crying and really has been fine since.

We drive to the hospital with a shirtless, shoeless child who was sitting on my lap (don't worry it was was only 8 degrees outside, he was fine). And got checked in. The staff was very quick and wonderful. The N.P. came in and immediately told us it was broken (that was the first time I really looked at it or felt it, but I am pretty sure I felt a bone). But they did the x-rays to see which ones. Minor breakdown #1 here which included a phone call to my favorite med student, my brother in law Steve to ask him the dumb question I couldn't ask a stranger, will Caleb's arm still grow? He, well Stephanie talking to him, said Caleb would be fine, that he was probably experiencing shock/adrenaline rush and I was just all around insane (Steph and Amanda, I think your husband's should start a movement in the medical community that mother's should be given a tranquilizer of sorts in the E.D)

Caleb was awesome sauce for the x-rays. Seriously such a trooper even though they had to keep moving the arm around. The N.P. came back and said two bones were broken and was was not straight so they were going to have to set the bone. He left and meltdown #3 for me happened. I have never had a bone set but I hear it hurts and I really don't want Caleb to have that kind of pain. I was really glad the N.P. came back during this meltdown. The ortho doc said to come in Monday for the bone setting and real cast (cross your fingers they have green waterproof)

Hearing about the arm setting sent me into a state of shock. I could not voluntarily take my precious little boy to a doctor knowing they would put him through something so painful. John said it was necessary for it to heal, but I just was set that we were not doing that (like I had any choice). But as I was sitting there I thought about how in life sometimes we have super hard painful experiences that God allows to happen because we need to grow and heal. He knows it will only last a moment, and allows it for our good-though we might not see it that way (and I am sure in the moment Caleb won't see it that way either) I needed to do the same. It was a good mother/life awakening, but I won't be in the room and I am hoping that they will sedate him first.

They put a soft cast on him at the hospital which he did great for too. We had told him earlier we would go anywhere he wanted for dinner and he picked Cafe Rio (even over McDonalds, that a boy!). So he was just chatting with the nurses about Cafe Rio while they put the cast on.

When we left the E.D.(I learned E.R. is out dated) we came and got Caleb some shoes and then I went to target to get some clothes that would fit over the cast. Then we went to wonderful Cafe Rio where I ordered cheese and queso because it had been a long day.

His coat cap. We also have had to start just using a booster seat (he is about 1/2 an inch away from legit, but the cast makes it so hard with the real buckles). And potty training aint happening for 6-8 weeks, or skiing.

I started having pretty bad mom guilt and getting slightly hysterical again, if only I hadn't made such cool blocks, if only I had superman reflexes and could catch falling children, if only I had bought that bubble protection suit and made him wear it every day. But I decided I needed to focus on the things that made the day line up a little better. Like the fact I totally made dinner at 10 in the morning (it was a church potluck that night and the dish I made had to chill) so I don't have to worry about cooking the next couple of days. Or that Caleb decided he wanted to start potty training that morning but had peed through 3 pairs of underwear by noon and wanted diapers, and that I was willing to give up so easily. If he had been in underwear I think we would have had quite the accident on top of the fall to clean up and had to change him completely. Or the fact John was home from work which really isn't that common. Or just an hour earlier John had folded and put away all the laundry that I had been too busy to do the past two days, plus tidied the laundry and bedrooms. Or that I thought to have John giving him a blessing two seconds before leaving the house. Or that a Toy Story shirt was on the clearance rack for only $2. I know for as bad as the day was, it really could have been worse and a lot of things worked out to make it a little easier.

He wanted stickers on his good arm.

Ok his cast is so big! I am pretty sure it weighs as much as he does!

We let him rent a movie and watch some of it when we got home. I am pretty sure I looked better after labor!

He slept great last night. He woke up once and he was back asleep before I had time to go in and give him a kiss. This morning I made him wear his sling, that lasted two minutes. This morning he told me his shirt said "caleb is brave" it doesn't say that, but I agree with the statement!

He got him straws to help him since he still drinks with two hands. I recorded what he had to say about the incident, while he tried to drink with one hand. Notice the rats nest on the back of his head. I just can't decide if inflicting the pain to get that out today is worth it.

He is doing great today. He complains sometimes about pain, but not very much. He is such a trooper!

November Nonsense

2011-11-16T12:02:00.001-08:00

This blog is just a plethora of stories, pictures and nonsense-enjoy.

I finally got around to taking Caleb to the Home Depot Kid's workshop. They made Veteran's Day Picture Frames. Caleb hammering his wood.

And painting

The frame is still not totally done, pictures forthcoming.

Michelle Obama asked for military children to make Christmas Cards for the White House (I really want to be the first lady, getting to spend time on supporting military families and childhood obesity and getting in People every time you got to Target. I just don't want John to be president, so I need another job that would fulfill those requirements).

Caleb made the card pretty much all by himself.

I asked Caleb about his daddy being in the military and this is what he said (all by himself!) "yesterday we in California where I was born (then he made me switch colors) and we hear daddy's missile that means military. Good bye daddy, you be home soon" I was pretty proud of the answer.

This could be displayed at the White House all season long! (they will try to show as many as possible based on entry number).

Of course Cafe Rio opened this month! I have been three times in the two weeks it has been open (opening day, once for a friends b-day and free meal for military day, followed by the Banff Mountain Film Festival-that was a fun date). That is more than I went in an entire year living in Utah, I think I am good for awhile.

Caleb is really into animals right now and loves bananas. So I told him that monkeys eat bananas with their feet (is that even true?) of course he wanted to try.

One day he wanted me to take a picture of him talking to John while John was out in the field. So here you have it

I really wanted a picture of Caleb and John on Veteran's Day while John was in uniform. But we were over visiting a friend who just had a baby when John got home from alert, and he couldn't read my mind, so he was changed by the time we got home. But Monday is Blues day so I got this picture. Not the greatest, but it captures the essence of the exhaustion that is military life, and Caleb looks cute.

Caleb really likes our ipad, like I wish I could somehow justify buying him his own, likes it. So we have started getting kids apps. I am pretty against technology for kids, Caleb really doesn't watch lots of movies or t.v. and not into sitting and playing games on the computer all day either. I am trying to find a reason to be annoyed with these apps, but can't the are literally the coolest things ever (that's for you Amanda :). We got a Thomas the Tank Engine app that has activities and a book. I like them because Caleb can pretty much do them himself, but still wants a parent to help so at least it is not plopping him in front of a screen by himself for hours. You can record yourself reading the book. I was upstairs when John and Caleb got this and came down and Caleb was talking so lively. He was recording himself reading the book and thought it was the funniest thing ever. Of course the video comes as the excitement started to die down, but it is still a video :) Caleb will be getting App Store gift cards for Christmas, I feel like I am selling out, but at least I am selling out to Mac and not P.C.'s

Cakeb Eldon Madsen

2011-11-11T09:36:00.001-08:00

The last weekend in October we finally got around to taking some pictures of our little three year old (who insistes that his name has a K not an L). It was pretty darn cold so we didn't have tons of time to get them, but I am pretty happy with them. Let me know if you want any!

I love this one!

Doesn't he look so grown up? Love the H & M look!

My other favorite, his I will need braces and cavities filled picture. And how awesome is his hair?

This is just so Caleb!

He was very excited that there was another door.

At some point it was just too cold to continue. I LOVED where we took them and next year we will go earlier in the year so it isn't so cold. And I want better photo editing software at some point too.

I love my cute little 3 year old! He is just so big!

Halloween 2011

2011-11-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

So base decided to do Trick or Treating on Saturday (don't get me started, let's just say that maybe the wing commander isn't quite as in charge as we think, maybe the wife is and maybe someone should be ok with her husband being gone during trick or treating-it is the military after all :)

Well on top of base being lame, Stake Conference was on Saturday. Elder Oaks of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles was there to speak. I decided, with much heartbreak, that was where I needed to be that evening so I missed taking Caleb trick or treating. The baby-sitter took him and said that after about 5 houses he said "I hate walking and the cold can we go home" so I didn't miss much and it was a wonderful experience to be at the meeting (Caleb and I got to shake his hand Sunday morning, and he stepped on my toe!)

So to cover my sadness I threw a party! I have to say John is an amazing sport. He is not one for parties, but I love having lots of people over, it makes me miss my family just a little less. But he was super helpful, and he had fun though he hates to admit it!

We had chili and corn muffins, some but not all of the kiddos (we maxed out at like 12ish kids and about 20 adults, good times good times)

My wonderful friend Brittany preparing for the donut eating contest

Adorable Connor and Amber, whenever Connor and Caleb see each other they both just say "it's Connor (or it's Caleb)" over and over and over.

Donut eating contest for the kids!

My friend Shar posted on her blog about finding toys in "brains" (noodles). I loved the idea and wanted to do it with the kids. Caleb searching for his prize

Found one!

So me being the super responsible person that I am totally let the kids searching for the prizes to count adults for donut contest. It didn't take long for them to realize that throwing the noodles was more fun! (Cole's dad Brian and I decided it is a good thing they are friends now and not in high school, that would just be trouble!)

Caleb's hair was the favorite target! I love Kelsie's "why are boys so lame" look.

Yep that is my pasta on my ceiling!

Everyone kept asking me why I wasn't freaking out, how I am patient with Caleb (I think it is more lazy, I love the boy! But he is kind of what I call a spirited passionate child-wonder who he gets that from). One the mess was there when I walked in so what good would freaking out do? I thought of this quote.

If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.

Caleb is growing too fast, and I know he will be gone soon. I can clean up pasta every once in awhile because in about 16 years I won't get to clean up after him anymore. Let him enjoy childhood, and me enjoy motherhood. We looked at those pictures a million times today and just laughed.

Ok back to the fun and games! Donut eating contest guys versus girls.

Brian-he hates sweets but he was rocking this contest!

The other Brian, Cole's dad.

John

Brett

And the winner-Brian with his very proud wife!

Girls turn! We totally made the guys tie their hands behind their back, but not the girls

The winner-Regina! She ever bet the guys time! She got a wonderful lotion prize (glad a guy didn't win that was our only prize)

Then time for some wonderful caramel apples.

Awesome Tavien who is having a baby any day now! And Brooke licking her hand. I love Brooke, and this is why. Brooke, her husband Brian and John are all from Davis county. I said something to them about how not everyone is lucky enough to be from Utah county like myself, and she agreed! She said she wonders why people want to live by the not as pretty mountains and the refineries, and she is from Bountiful, the nicest city of them all. Yep Utah county is just better!

I am eating one of those apples as I type, so good.

Team girls! Ashley is on the right side holding my favorite little Jerzie. Kat is in the back behind Amber, and Julia is next to Brittany.

Add Shaille. They were in the middle of buying their first ever car! So that is why she is on the phone. Being married for 9 years and never bought a car, I just can't relate.

Team boys. I love little Jake's outfit, check out those shoes!

Caleb eating his apple.

Regina had never carved a pumpkin before in her life! Can you even believe that? We had to correct that.

John helping out.

Finished project! I am still impressed by that mustache-first try!

It was the craziest but most fun party! I absolutely love all my wonderful friends, I know I always say that, but it is always true.

Haunted Houses

2011-11-03T20:15:00.000-07:00

My friend Amber said she wanted to do haunted houses (think gingerbread houses but Halloween). Well I got the Mormon kid table so I offered to do it at my house.

I made sugar cookie houses, but I kind of forgot to use one of the templates that I use for our gingerbread houses. So Caleb made more of a cabin.

Caleb smashed it several times and after about the third time there was just no help.

"finished" product!

The one when I forget EVERYTHING

2011-11-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

Ok I am going to save us all the pain of playing "well did you forget this?" because most likely I did. I remembered not one but 4 different types of pants-non of which jeans (workout, yoga, lounge, pool and p.j.-ok 5!) I think I might have a "team uniform" addiction and I am currently seeking help.

Anyway, we went down to the Fairmont Hot Springs near Butte. We have had to reschedule like 3 times that month so we were so happy to get away and relax!

Caleb loved the pool! He could touch the bottom at this one and I think that made a huge difference for him

Caleb had so much fun playing with John. We got the noodle and the ball as apart of our package.

For some reason his hair looked kind of girly while swimming, usually it doesn't look that way wet.

We were so brave and went out in the 30 degree weather to the outside pool. John did the water slide a bunch and I was too cold to get a picture. Actually in the water it was really nice. We also lived outside the law, kids aren't suppose to be the hotter (by like 5 degrees) section, the lifeguard was too cold to care.

I was spoiled and got a massage while John and Caleb swam some more. The next morning John and Caleb swam some more and then sadly we had to leave. Caleb wanted a ride on the little horsey first! (yes I let him travel in his p.j.'s it is just the kind of mom I am-see first paragraph).

Beautiful hot springs land (it's not in a town)

The water slide. Caleb actually went on this! He didn't like it tons and made sure every time we went to the pool we weren't going to the water slide.

So I know I am a very forgetful person. I need to work on that. I decided to make our family "t.o's" or packing list. We travel so much that it is about time I did something like this. I have one for each member and put everything we could possibly need. Then when I am packing I can cross it off with a whiteboard marker, then erase and use again! I love them and hope this solves our need to get free toiletries from the hotel (though we will, it is smart to get every dollar worth-think Ross) or run to some town I have never heard of to get Caleb diapers at 9 at night :)

work halloween party

2011-11-01T19:58:00.000-07:00

So the day after trunk or treating we woke up and headed right to another party. John's work party!

Where did Caleb go first? Bouncy house!

You are going to see this shirt a lot, it is all I will do to dress up!

We were able to convince him to get his Nelson on.

Then we fed the dino bugs!

Balloons!

We wrapped John up as a mummy

Caleb would not stand next to him

And more bouncy house!

Cute little Nick

Caleb's best bud Jace

Caleb and Jace bouncing away!

We watched the BYU football game after the party and then John and I went to another Halloween party-adults only! I love the holiday season!

Oh this is what happens when you forget to take your pumpkin outside

trunk or treat

2011-10-31T20:07:00.000-07:00

Like any good Mormon ward we had a trunk or treat to celebrate Halloween. Caleb loved it!

Cole is his new best friend. He is always asking to play with him, and luckily I visit teach with his mom so we do see him quite a lot. I couldn't pick a favorite picture.

I love that Caleb is just admiring Cole, he loves him!

Very scary boys

They did a costume parade, Caleb was shy at first.

But then he strut his stuff!

Our cute friend Ashlyn, and John's head. Nathan has been at every ward Halloween party with Caleb, I hope they just follow us for 20 years.

Caleb enjoyed the trunk or treating. He was very polite and always said thank you. He loved all the candy!

Next year...

2011-10-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

we will take family pictures before the end of October to avoid this:

LOTS more pictures to come

Pumpkin time!

2011-10-24T18:49:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday for FHE we did our pumpkins (we sometimes, well a lot of the time do FHE on Sunday since John works a lot on Mondays).

To go with our pumpkin painting I made pumpkin bars. We have this old BYU creamery container that we use to keep flour in. Caleb is currently obsessed with BYU and makes John play BYU cougar football all day everyday, so he got very excited to see the container. Pulled it out, opened it up and dumped in on his head. Little flour boy!

I only had our little camera to take that picture, so then Caleb wanted to take more pictures. Well then he dropped it and the screen went black. When we went to do pumpkins I realized our big camera was out of batteries, but the small camera had no screen. I still took pictures with the small one in hopes that they would be saved and I would be able to upload them-which happened. But I was not able to see what I was taking a picture of, so that is why the pictures are not so great.

Caleb coloring his pumpkin

John wanted to carve his. This was pretty much the funniest thing ever in Caleb's life. He thought the inside was so funny/icky

I did not carve a pumpkin because I hate fun/the feeling of pumpkin guts on my fingers/spending money are pumpkins (let the comments begin sisters!). But I did make these decorative pumpkins with some friends-that took a lot of time so I think I am good.

Caleb's reaction to John's pumpkin guts. I blame my drunken shakes on the fact there was so screen, but maybe I just have the inability to hold a camera still.

John, Caleb and the pumpkin. Money blankie is taking a very close second to tigger.

I decided to stop hating fun because Caleb wanted me to draw a face on his pumpkin. He told me what feature/shape to draw where.

*That is just root beer in the background, we haven't gone too crazy up here.

Yeah for pumpkins! Can't wait to do them again next year!

The funniest movie in the world

2011-10-23T18:53:00.000-07:00

Remember John's boss Jeff who drove down to California, went hiking with us, and now when I see him at oh the med group while waiting for my super sick hubby or Halloween parties all I can think is "I don't really know you but you know WAY too much about my family, and I swear my sisters do have social skills" and then John just laughs at the memories. Anyway, his wife posted this video on facebook and I literally think it is the funniest thing in the world. John and I are pretty sure that after the Dakotas, Montana would rank last of anywhere people would want to live. This video is probably about 95% accurate at describing why.

Ok we do have starbucks-right next to the new Cafe Rio!

600th Post

2011-10-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

We made a goal that we were not going to turn bitter while living in Montana. It is hard, the job is hard, the winters are hard, the lack of awesome things is hard, the expensive flights is hard, missing family is very very hard (first October not going to Utah-Halloween just isn't Halloween without a "Bod" sign), and this will be by far our longest stretch of not going down to see family), but that is our goal. So I felt myself getting bitter so last week was our pick us up week of fun times to remind us that we do love Montana (Cafe Rio is really helping you seriously have no idea, we talk about it all the time, and I don't even like LOVE Cafe Rio like some members of my family who I believe still owe me $8 since I tried the shrimp tacos and din't like them as much as promised :)

What could put you in a better mood than a baby! I threw a baby shower for a friend. A couple of us made a diaper cake-the bottom is a tutu, the middle is just ribbon and the top is a headband (I take very little credit for the cute idea this was)

After the shower Caleb wanted to take pictures with "his" camera (our old point and shoot) John's favorite-the record player.

Look my hair looks long in this picture! That excites me a lot!

We were suppose to go the pumpkin patch after the shower but it rained the night before so it was closed (really this is Montana when has weather EVER effected anything?) so we just went to the store and got pumpkins. While there we had the idea to do Oktoberfest. John served his mission in Germany/Austria so he loves all things German (he has trained Caleb well, Caleb is always pointing out BMW's to me) and we have tried to do Oktoberfest every year we have been married (we think we are only about a 50% average) so we finally bought ourselves a meat pounder, mourned over the lack of apple beer in Montana, raided the German aisle at the commissary and had ourselves a feast!

John making cucumber salad, which might be my new favorite thing with our fancy olive oils from our olive oil tasting tour in California (did I ever write about that? It is how Mormon's enjoy the central coast.)

And the Schweine-Schnitzel-John's best yet!

I did contribute too-I made the potato salad, I love German Potato salad. John made us get the red cabbage for the experience.

Me and my yummy yummy German food

Oh yummy-who wants to come next October? Of course we had great German chocolate for dessert, I don't know why America even bothers to make chocolate.

We had a great evening, we baby-sat some friend's kids and Caleb was in heaven having two friends over. We also watched BYU football. All in all just a fun day!

The best week of the year!

2011-10-20T18:54:00.000-07:00

It's that time again- Fire Prevention Week! Caleb has been asking for this for the last 51 weeks, and it was an amazing week!

So last Sunday/Monday Caleb and I were sick. Monday night it brought John down, hard. Tuesday morning John had to take his first sick day in over three years and was told my his commander he had to go to the doctor. Luckily they took him as a walk in on base so we didn't have to deal with the E.R. and luckily there are a couple "hospital" rooms in the clinic (who knew?) because poor John was so dehydrated and sick he had to have an IV for rehydration and to get meds into him quick. This is the guy who NEVER gets sick. I felt so bad for him, but story time was at 10 and it was Fire Prevention week. Luckily the IV came out at 9:50 and John was asleep by 10 so we made it for story time! (well we missed the story but got to see the fire truck, and John slept until 4 that afternoon so he didn't miss us one bit)

It was a really crazy morning, I was back and forth and all over and remembered to grab our little point an shot, but it wasn't until the end that I realized that is was on "red accent" setting. I guess that is appropriate for fire week. Caleb and the fire dog.

Caleb in the firetruck

Our little firefighter

Then Saturday was the fire truck parade! It was kind of a big deal, they had fire trucks from Sand Coule, not everyone gets that. They also gave out really good candy not just lame smarties.

Caleb was so happy to watch it!

Watching fire truck parades on youtube is literally one of Caleb's interests on facebook (ok he doesn't have a facebook but if he did he would have that listed, he would watch them non-stop if I let him, I don't, they drive me nuts) so we filmed the firetruck parade so he could watch it anytime he wants-you also get to see me run for candy-it was good candy and there were some greedy 9 year olds nearby, I did what I had to do.

Now stop reading and go check your fire alarm!

A little culture

2011-10-19T19:02:00.000-07:00

My very good friend of mine is the choir director at Great Falls University (yes we have a university, and they now offer 3 Master degrees as well!). Last week was her first choir concert ever! (well as the conductor, I am pretty sure she has sung in concerts before). So Caleb and I went to watch. I told him we were going to a concert and he went to get his binoculars so he could see the stage.

He took this amazing picture of me!

Caleb was pretty good during the concert. The day before we had had lunch at Sarah's house and when she came out on stage he started crying that he wanted to eat lunch with Sarah (she gave him nutella-who wouldn't want that again? Caleb also has taken quite the likening to Sarah's husband who was a couple rows behind us). We stayed in the hall the first song and explained that we would have another lunch date some other time but we needed to listen to the pretty music. He was good from there on out.

Later that day we saw this sign. I had heard Cafe Rio was coming, seen it on their official website, but seeing the sign in person. Well that is just exciting. I am not sure if Cafe Rio counts as "culture" but we have only been out to eat in Great Falls I think twice all year (probably 3 times we have ordered in) so it will be great to have another option!

Castle Mountains

2011-10-18T14:03:00.000-07:00

I read a quote the other that describes our life I feel "Sometimes it's better to travel than to arrive" -Pirsig

That is life in Montana, when we lived in Utah we could drive less than an hour and be at a million different hiking spots, but here we drive. My brother-in-law who loves driving and the outdoors would love it here, I am still getting use to it. The last weekend in September we knew would probably be our last nice weekend (still in the 90s!) so we drove and hiked.

Cool dude!

We went out to the Castle Mountains. There wasn't a "destination" per say for this hike, just hiking. Pretty little meadow we hiked through.

Caleb only naps sometimes, he desperately needs them more, or he has this look most of the day after no nap.

Oh there's my happy boy!

Isn't he just angelic?

All the lodgepole trees.

We hiked about 9 miles, then drove the almost 2 hours home. We got home a little after five and I was still able to make dinner, shower and make it to the Church for Relief Society by 6 (well maybe 6:05, but before the opening prayer!). What an amazing meeting. All during the hike I was thinking about some very specifics things I am dealing with and I felt the talks were just for me. It was a great day.

Random picture of the week. We are doing fall cleaning and I just needed a better organization system-my answer to all of life's problems these days-Vinyl Lettering! Caleb loves that he knows what picture to put all this toys and clean up has gone much smoother the last couple of weeks.

Caleb's b-day videos

2011-10-17T14:46:00.000-07:00

I know no ones lives have been complete without these videos. So should you care to watch all the events of Caleb's b-day here you are!

Stepies video debute via ipad!

more presents

Opening the train set

Playing with trains

Singing happy birthday and Caleb thinking he is blowing out the candles but little does he know they never lit thanks to the wind!

That's all folks! Enjoy and pretend you were here with us for all the fun. I will give $.25 to whoever actually watches all of these videos.

Super proud wife

2011-10-13T21:38:00.000-07:00

John got an Air Force Achievement Medal for his work down in California over the summer. If you have amazing eyes you can read all about it. If not it just says he had great technical expertise on the operation, maintenance and execution of a $24 million test launch (that is a lot of money) and great leadership during all of it. He got a medal to wear on his mess dress so now we have to start going to the air force ball! I am very proud of John and all his hard work, just over a year left up here (fingers crossed) and he is still going strong!

Sick Day

2011-10-10T14:33:00.000-07:00

The Bell/Madsen gene pool is kind of really awesome. We have some strong stomachs. With the exceptions of surgeries and the one time my doctor had me take way too much medicine I don't throw up, John hasn't thrown up since like 6th grade. Caleb kind of threw up once when he ate some play dough, but not really.

Until this weekend. I was so sick all of church yesterday. Then I got home and was really sick. At about 10 pm Caleb starts crying and he had thrown up too. Poor boy, and poor John-luckily it wasn't too much. I feel asleep with him on his bed. This morning he woke up and said his tummy still hurt, we we sipped sprite while watching "The Lion King" (the first movie we have every bought Caleb!).

This was at about 8 am

When John woke up and said he was going to get some Jello and crackers (that is the problem with never been sick, we don't have the stash!) Caleb wanted to go with him and seemed quite a bit better.

Then John put together our "water vacuum from Target" (caleb is very into where things are from these days. I am so so happy to have a fancy deep clean vacuum, our carpets are so cheap and get dirty to easily, we figured with all the moving it was a good investment). Caleb wanted to help-he seemed to have a fair amount of energy-picture around 11 am

By lunch time he was as good as new. He found this rock that he named "moosy" and played with it while climbing on the vacuum box. I asked if his tummy hurt and he said "nope I'm good"

Madsen's don't get sick and when we do we bounce back pretty quick!

*I am not pregnant, just the good old fashion flu making me sick

Mayhem

2011-10-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

If you have not seen this commercial, take 16 seconds of your life to watch it, I almost died laughing because it is my life.

This week has been just one of those weeks. I was asked to help with our ward's "terrific tuesday" that is in a month, I needed to come up with projects, buy the supplies and make them in less than a week. They discontinued classes at the gym due to budget cuts so I am out of a job (not that it had anything to do with money, more just my fun hobby is gone-but I would like to see that brought up in the next presidential debate!). John was suppose to have 4 days off so we planned a trip to Mount Rushmore, he was told he couldn't travel that far so we switched to Yellowstone. Then I decided I didn't want to go to Yellowstone in the rain so we booked a night at the hot springs not far from us, I even convinced John that I really needed a 90 not 60 min massage. Then of course they added an alert to John's schedule so we couldn't go. Then the base decides that Trick or Treating is going to be on Saturday not on Halloween-as if they don't control our lives enough and now John won't be able to go, plus it is the night of Stake Conference. Then a stupid person (yes that is judgmental but I feel it is just judgment) in John's squadron got a DUI (really how stupid do you have to be do try to drive onto base completely wasted-you do realize you have to talk to cops to get on base-stupid person) so John-who has never had even a sip of alcohol-had to spend Friday evening out in the rain asking every person who left base if they had a plan and giving them a number for the base safe ride program-again stupid stupid person-I hope I am not sitting near them at the Christmas party.

And then there is this little boy, always adding adorable Mayhem to my life.

Last Friday he fell asleep on our walk home from the post office at like 4, he slept until 6 the next morning. I think I woke him up when I was heading to the gym (my favorite time of the whole week is 6 am Saturday at the gym-no one is there and I can be alone with my thoughts-don't judge until you have tried it) so instead of going to the gym we made the most amazing pumpkin coffee cake for Conference and then went for a walk and watched the sunrise (which is at like 9 up here, also I still can't run-very frustrated with my ankle).

Caleb as always was a great helper in the kitchen. He would not watch a single session of Conference without coffee cake, and then on Monday when I asked if he wanted some coffee cake he looked at me and said "no more conference mom, please"

He was ok through most of Conference but the very last session he just wouldn't have it. John was gone and I just didn't care enough to try. I turned on a show for him and watched it on the ipad in the living room (I also took Steve Jobs death very hard this week). Problem was his show ended early, so then he comes in and starts playing around and broke our lamp-that is why we only buy cheap stuff from Ikea. Then after conference he threw a massive fit that we didn't get to go to Church that week. At bedtime he wouldn't get into p.j.'s only his church clothes, of course he woke up at 2 am and had to have his pjs on.

He has discovered the joy of throwing things in the garbage. My sister Stephanie sent him a birthday present-a really cute dino shirt. I couldn't find it anywhere though. I asked Caleb if he had seen it, and he said he had thrown it in the garbage (no offense stephy-he threw tigger in the garbage once-though you gave him tigger so maybe you should be a little offended). So I go searching through all the garbages only to find it with his halloween costume in the closet.

The other morning I was making breakfast and I hear "I go poopy on the t.v." so I go and he has climbed to the top of the t.v. stand and sure enough done his business.

His memory is something else though, he threw this huge fit because he wanted more dino candy. I couldn't figure out for the life of me what he was talking about. Come to find out he wanted more of this candy that my sister Dianna gave him LAST October. He described the whole day and even remembered the video on Mayke's blog about it all. To think some lady at the gym was trying to tell me that if I didn't buy this certain protein powder Caleb's brain would not develop right and he would be stupid for the rest of eternity. I think his brain is just fine-thank you very much.

Congratulations on making it through my post of venting, next week I will be much happier :)

Gone Fishing

2011-10-03T19:33:00.000-07:00

Every weekend in September we think "this will be the last weekend with nice weather of the year" so each weekend we go to the mountains. A couple of weekends ago Caleb wanted to go fishing. Problem is that John didn't have the proper identification so he couldn't get a license. Luckily Caleb's fishing pole doesn't have a real hook so he could go. We drove forever! But we made it up to a beautiful part of the state we have never been.

Caleb insisted on water breaks every two minutes-I'm all about hydration-but really!

He would make us all find rocks to sit on for our "rests"

I am not a huge candy person, and I do not remember the last time I ate a whole thing of candy in one sitting, but I did this day-I had to document those Peanut M&M's

Caleb is all about regular M&M's

Behind all that hair is a very cute boy!

See!

Caleb wanted to build a treehouse-drawing the plans.

Cutting the wood, that log became the treehouse

John really needs a new facebook photo-I think this would be a good option

We spent more time building treehouses than hiking

Finally we got to some fishing!

Caleb wasn't having any of this on the bridge fishing he wanted to be down at the river.

Montana sure is pretty!

John tried to teach Caleb to skip rocks, Caleb enjoyed finding and chucking large rocks instead.

So we were kind of rushing to get out the door and I forgot my running shoes, so I hiked in my flip flops-it was completely flat terrain. The pedicure was fun while it lasted!

Yep this is how Caleb fishes-he didn't hold that pole for more than two minutes

Random picture of the post-cookie dough!!! I have resorted to hiding cookie dough in my freezer in the garage. Sometimes there are just days when I need to go and be by myself in the garage for a couple of minutes eating cookie dough.

Caleb hasn't had a hair cut since January. I want to go a whole year, I just don't know if we can make it!

Sluice Boxes

2011-09-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

After Oregon we HURRIED home (did you know in some places in Washington the speed limit on the interstate is 60?!!?!?!? THAT should be illegal! We are Montanans, our car doesn't do 60) because my dad was going to come up for the weekend. Sadly his car had other plans, namely dying in Malad, Idaho-now there is a town that makes Great Falls seem like NYC!

So our Labor Day was wide open and we decided we needed to get out (after all we had been home for over 15 hours). We went to the Sluice Boxes, a state park that is suppose to look like the sluice boxes miners use to carry. I don't really get the reference, but I know people see bears there and if I don't see a bear while I live in this state I will consider these four years a complete waste of time.

So we started hiking and realized as we walked along this small cliff edge that we probably were not on a trail-sure enough we weren't.

Yep that looks like a sluice box to me, whatever that is.

You can't tell but there is a river there, and Caleb crossed it like a rock star!

Caleb walked all but the death cliff parts. So we didn't go too far. Then John made the mistake of swinging his hiking pole which meant Caleb wouldn't stop swinging his-monkey see monkey does. It was so pretty and fun to get out.

On another note, Caleb is currently in love with his p.j.'s (and on another note, 5 years of marriage and I still am having to explain to John what the "team uniform" is? Simply put-the way my sisters and I would always dress if we could-or in some cases the way we really do always dress. Not p.j.s though) anyway, he loves his p.j's so much sometimes he makes me let him wear two sets of p.j.s at once! Not sure what is with his face in this picture.

3 year old check up

2011-09-26T20:09:00.000-07:00

Today I took Caleb in for his 3 year old check up. He is doing great!

(I on the other hand am not so fond of the questionnaires they give me I didn't know half the answers so technically on the charts Caleb is autistic, after the appointment the doctor is pretty sure that is not the case and I am to take the questionnaire home and do it here. I wish I got the questionnaire before the appointment because so many of the questions were "how would he respond to ..." I just thought "he never has done that, I am sure he would respond this way but I am not sure." And I admit that even though we walk up the stairs a million times I don't know if he alternates feet. Basically the appointment made me feel like a bad mom).

He is 27 pounds (9th percentile) and 37 1/4 inches (30th percentile). The doc wasn't concerned at all because that has been where he is has been for the past long time. He got his momma's metabolism! The doc said he would probably be a boaster seat till he was 12 though :(

The doc thinks he is really quite above average with communication and problem solving. The exam table is a firetruck so Caleb kept talking about how we need to get hoses and turn on the sirens and go put out the fire, that really impressed him. The doc said that studies show children who camp with their parents are more likely to be normal as adults-I like when we get something right! All in all he is a bright kid.

A couple cute quotes of the week:

My sister had a pouch in her stomach and was super sick last week. So every day I would text her "how is the kangaroo" (I so funny right sister? She is fine now) So Caleb not quite getting my humor would always ask about aunties Kangaroo. Yesterday at dinner he said "mommy my tummy hurts I have a kangaroo and it makes my tummy hurt."

He hates babies (I might coddle Caleb just a little too much, everything from that show has happened in our house) at first his reasoning was just "they are icky" (all his reasoning has been either "it's icky" "it's too hot/cold" or "it makes me frustrated") now he is expanding beyond that. Today we were baby-sitting and he was kindly petting the baby and saying "there there it's ok" so I said "Caleb do you like this baby" he said "no i hate babies" I asked him why, he said "because babies live in peoples bellies" (very smart I think, I hope the conversation doesn't go any deeper than that for years). Then he said "babies go in the dirt (that is his other new thing if we are eating something he doesn't like-dirt, songs he doesn't like-dirt, me somteimes-dirt) then a backhoe put babies in baby dump truck and take them away." Well ok then, that is pretty graphic and mature response. My friend told me that it is a good thing because at least he can express his feelings and feels safe to do so-thanks for the silver lining Angela!

Besides that he is just a wonderful three year old. The hitting has died down a little, he can switch feet while riding a scooter, he can ride a bike with training wheels, he can climb on the counter and fill up a water glass (not that he should), he can get anywhere he wants, he plays very imaginatively, he has a memory that trumps an elephant (last night he asked if we could color pumpkins with markers like we did yesterday, maybe not great on the concept of time, but still that happened a year ago and he remembers it), he is a self proclaimed "joke man" (he really is very funny), he has an opinion about anything and everything, he loves camping, he wants to go skiing more than anything, he only likes hiking if he isn't in the backpack. He is perfect.

Matt and Kim concert

2011-09-23T20:42:00.000-07:00

John is a complex person, he never ceases to surprise me. Like when we were flying to Hawaii and he had me listen to this new band Matt and Kim defined by wikipedia as a dance punk duo, and currently John's favorite band (well one, nothing can compete with Pink Floyd). But really who would have thought he would want tickets to a dance punk duo concert for Father's Day-but that is what he got! (this is an old post, I lost the cord for this camera, this was our first day on the road down to California. Nothing like waking up at 4:30 going to Turbo Kick, driving 8 hours and then staying up until midnight at a concert for a fun day! How I was awake for Zion National Park I just don't know)

He insisted on a "artsy facebook photo" us in the mirror before going and getting some sushi (sushi and dance punk-how hip are we? not hip at all really)

Matt and Kim are from Brooklyn, meet at Columbia and decided to start a band-though neither had ever played an instrument. Kim plays drums and Matt plays keyboards (I think I said "I'm going to hang out and work on my music" a million times that day). You would think that would be lame, but it was rocking! Look at those lights!

The nice guy next to us took a picture after spilling his beer on my foot.

Here is a video of their song "Cameras" Caleb loves this song! If you come to visit you can listen to them on vinyl, because yes we are that hip that we have vinyl Matt and Kim

The best part of the night was as we were walking to the hotel. We literally were in the oldest 5% at the concert. John said it was interesting because he was at the concert and thought "I probably make more than 90% of the people (that really isn't saying much the average age was 17-I think I make more than most the people and I made maybe $300 last year including gift card money) and I am probably the only person in this room who knows how to launch a missile" I think he can rest assured that outside of Great Falls that is a true statement in most rooms.

It really was the funniest night ever! It was so great to go on a date with John, and the concert was a blast-one big party! John and I have never been to a concert together and it was so much fun!

Thanks to John's brother and his wife for watching Caleb, we sprung it on them last minute when plans changed and they were willing and happy to do it and we appreciate how great of family we have!

Portlandia

2011-09-20T19:37:00.000-07:00

After the ranch we headed to Portland. John's funny moment of the trip, as we were driving I said something about the great game "Oregon trail" (why can't kids play games like that these days?) I said something about how I was so great at shooting the buffalo (which now I know were probably American Bison) to which John replied that he was always great at contracting malaria and dying (really did anyone ever make it all the way more than once?).

Anyway, we stopped at a park for lunch, Caleb didn't eat, he just wanted to play!

We stopped at Multnomah Falls outside of Portland. So pretty! Caleb loves waterfalls!

We did some shopping, ate some amazing Middle Eastern food, then dad of the year took Caleb swimming in the freezing outdoor pool (why do hotels have outdoor pools unless it is like Vegas?)

The next morning we went up to the Rose Gardens.

Love this picture!

And to the zoo. I kept telling the Fialka's they didn't have to come, but they were so sweet and came and looked at all the animals with us!

They did opt out of the train ride, which was too bad, best zoo train ride I have ever been on.

I know I have said this before, but I will say it again, I love that Caleb more often than not has a serious face when doing something new that he likes. It takes him awhile to really show those emotions, but I can look at this face and tell he is having the time of his life-can't you?

He did insist on holding my leg the whole time, I will use this picture when he is a teenager and thinks he is too good to go to Motherboy with me :)

I swear the train was stopped when this picture was taken.

Really isn't the excitement just oozing out of his face?

Petting the goat that then started to eat my sweatshirt.

Not quite as cool as riding Pete, but pretty close.

Caleb and his second cousin Laurie. And then isn't he her first cousin once removed? It is very complicated, more often than not he called her Aunt Laurie-that works!

Driving the tractor!

And the eagles nest!

The rest of the trip was one big episode of Portlandia- the 90s really are alive in Portland we saw lots of bike riders (and we went to that bookstore), saw lots of unemployed people, ate organic food, walked around the movie plaza, John even had to find a bathroom that wasn't just for costumers sadly with all our shopping no birds, or dumpster divers-though we did go to the toy store near the dumpster. (ok that is like an hour of clips-you can pace yourself, it is so funny though! (I love Fred Armisen, so funny!).

In all seriousness, the trip to Portland was really fun. It is a really pretty city, and has a very fun vibe, it truly is where young people go to retire, and I would really like to have millions of dollars and retire there at 30.

After Portland we went back to the Fialka's. Laurie's birthday was the next day and we had fun celebrating with her. She was nice enough to let crazy Caleb crash her birthday lunch and party later on. I love Laurie, we had so much fun chatting and hanging out.

Sadly the fun had to end and we had to get home, I have been away from home for about 12-13 weeks out of this whole year. That is crazy and I am ready to stay put!

Caleb turns 3!!!

2011-09-17T21:36:00.000-07:00

We interrupt our trip to Oregon for my mom, she wants pictures of Caleb's b-day.

*disclaimer-I think that our family is going to end up being that family of a couple "only children" since there will be such an age gap between kids (NOT an announcement). I say that because We took almost 100 pictures of the day, I have only posted 33, continue at your own risk.

I call this birthday the unperfectly perfect birthday. As a mom I had amazing ideas of how this day should turn out, none of which came to pass. My cricut wasn't working-so no super cute invitations (but believe me they were going to be amazing!). Then I asked Caleb wanted he wanted for breakfast on his birthday last week-he said "frosted mini wheats" (we never have cereal-wasted calories in my opinion). I asked if he was sure, he could have cinnamon rolls, french toast, pancakes-anything he wanted. He held firm on the frosted mini wheats the whole time.

We sang to him in the morning, as we started singing he ran to John and wanted to be held-I didn't think my singing was that bad :)

We hit the jackpot-John had a dentist appointment that day, which means they weren't going to touch his schedule and he was home all but one hour of the day (side note no cavities!). We let Caleb open one present before the dentist appointment.

After all the insistence that he had to have frosted mini wheats he did not eat even ONE!! That is another reason I never buy cereal-he only eats it at Shannon's house-seriously-not a bite at our house. He came and sat on my lap and drank half my smoothie and wanted my toast. I made him his own piece with nutella-it was his birthday after all.

Mad scientist in the making!

Once John got home we opened presents!!

John said the birthday was pretty much a commercial for an ipad, my sister Stephanie did chat with us on the ipad to watch Caleb open all his presents!

I was in charge of taking pictures and the ipad, it was very difficult!

Caleb FINALLY got the train set he has been asking for for almost a year. He was in heaven!

The lighting was horrible! But you get the idea, he spent pretty much the whole morning playing trains.

Except when he was throwing a tantrum (enlarge the picture to really see that little face)

Doesn't he look like a ghost?

Finally, I love that he is very serious and intense.

Then it was time for the cake making! Caleb told me oh probably in March he wanted a train cake and we found one I think when we were in California. Caleb has watched the instruction video probably 100 times. He wanted to help frost, so I gave him a little chunk

Again video chatting with my sister Dana this time. I love technology!

We were pretty set that we weren't going to do a party for him. But then last week we asked him what he wanted for his birthday and he said "to play with my friends and eat cake" So we invited lots and lots of friends to play at the park and have cake. Sadly, not tons of people came (another not quite perfect part) I think mostly because the weather wasn't amazing and a couple people were out of town. But Caleb had a blast with the friends that did come, and we were so grateful to have other people to celebrate with.

I love his face!

Caleb pretty much stayed in the swings.

A train cake!

We love our neighbors, they have been at both of Caleb's birthdays, Christmases, General Conference BBQs, they are just great. We will be so sad when they move in May.

All the adults were trying to block the wind so we could light the candles.

It was too windy to light the candles, but Caleb still thought he blew them out, hope his wish comes true still!

The bees literally attacked us after about 5 minutes. There were dozens of them and our little neighbor got stung. So that pretty much ended the party. Poor boy :(

We spent the evening talking to grandparents and playing with toys. Caleb wanted grilled cheese for dinner and ate one bite-too much sugar! He was up until 9:30 playing with toys in his room, and I had to finally go in and rock him to sleep. He was just so excited! I think Christmas is going to be just crazy!

And of course-the bear picture. Can you believe how big he is compared to that bear that was so much bigger than him on his date of birth? They just grow up way too quick!

The moral of the story is that even when things don't turn out quite as planned it can still be a perfect day. Just one of the MANY lessons this little boy has taught us in three years. We love you Caleb!

*videos are forthcoming