Apple Cup

Thanks to Maren and Clark for letting me use the extra ticket, and Geneva and Brion for babysitting, I got to go to the APPLE Cup last night.  It was amazing!  I had always thought I didn't like watching live football.  Turns out I just didn't like watching it at Husky Stadium where it was crowded and just not a good atmosphere for watching.  Last nights' game was at Century Link Field (aka the "Clink").  It was the coolest!  I could actually pay attention to the game and follow the action.  I could hear what was going on.  It was seriously awesome.  I would go to every game at the Clink.  Oh yeah, except that I don't have time or money or enough babysitting.  But it was a fun night.  Especially because the Huskies won!!!  Derek had a picture of us together on his phone.  I will try to get it and add it.

The view from the "Clink"

PS.  A little trick for removing temporary tatoos, apply scotch tape and rip off.  Worked great for me.  (Although it hurt a bit).  NOT A GOOD TIP FOR LIBBY.  Her cheek is all red and hurty.  Boo.

Thanksgiving Fun

Aunt Maren and Uncle Clark hosted a "wonderful Thanksgiving" as Libby said in her evening prayers.  We had a good time.  The absolute highlight was Clark's turkey.  He cooked it on the Green Egg and it was smoky, moist deliciousness.  We especially appreciate the sacrifice he makes to cook it because he doesn't really like poultry.  Yum.  I made 5 pies.  Why do I get so carried away?  I even cooked a pumpkin for one of the pumpkin pies.  The texture was different than a canned Libby's pumpkin pie, but the taste was super yummy.  I also made delicious sweet potatoes from a recipe from Auntie Jen's mom.  Definitely my new favorite Thanksgiving side.
Then on Friday I shopped Black Friday with Maren, Paige, Emma, and Geneva.  I came home and got the decorating done.  I got all my Christmas lights up in front and then realized that one strand of lights was broken.  I had to unwind the entire mess and start over.  I was reminded why I have never done outside lighting before.  But the rest looks great!  I love Christmas decor.

I'm Thankful

There are many reasons why I am thankful.  I am thankful that I had the stomach bug on Monday and Tuesday and now I only have a cold.  I can eat Thanksgiving dinner with a cold.  Nothing worse than eating saltines on Thanksgiving.  I am also VERY thankful that I listened to my mommy instinct that suggested I take Ben to the doctor yesterday.  He has had a cough for basically a month.  But in the last couple of days I felt it had taken a turn for the worse.  He didn't have a fever, so I kept thinking they would just send me home and tell me to give him warm baths.  But, my doctor squeezed us in (I am thankful for her!) and he does have bronchialitis.  Wheezy lungs.  And the beginnings of an ear infection in one ear (NOT AGAIN!).  But we got the albuterol for the nebulizer to open the lungs, the azirthromyacin for the ear, and the fluconozole for the diaper rash that will probably come from the antibiotic.  We are all set for this holiday.

Sarah's Stats

Sarah had her well-child check last week.  She was great, except when Dr. Sutton-Wolf wanted to look in her ears.  For some reason she isn't into that anymore.  Anyway, here are her stats:
Weight:  34 lbs.  75%
Height:  38 1/2"   80%
BMI:  16.1  55%
Perfect!  And, FYI, Libby insisted on having her weight and height checked as well.
Libby's Weight:  31 1/2 lbs.
Libby's Height:  Exactly the same as Sarah's--38 1/2"
But, since Libby is 14 1/2 months older, I am sure that the percentages are a little different.  Oh well.  Libby has actually been eating pretty well lately.  I can't complain too much.

3 going on 6 months apparently

Big Changes...

I got a new calling.  Young Women's President.  I have been an ineffective Ward Missionary for 2 years.  I will now make up for doing very little for such a long time by doing a lot.  But, it is going to be an interesting challenge because we only have 2 active young women.

Check it out...

So if you usually read my blog through your reader, just a heads up.  There are a few cool things you might want to see if you actually look at the blog.  I redid our collage header with new updated pics that help you see why the whole zone defense thing can be tricky.  I also added a "Words of Wisdom" section where I hope to be adding favorite quotes that are helping me get through this parenting thing.  (Quotes from grown ups, not kids.)  Plus, I can now easily see how many times a post is viewed.  But, when you only look at it from your reader, I don't know you viewed.  Just wondering how many of you are reading :)

Ben Ben and More Ben

Some of these pics are from our vacation in October, I finally downloaded Rachel and Brad's awesome pics.  But the last pictures are the milestone that inspired this post.  He ate solids this week. I bought him a new high chair that I LOVE.  I only paid about $30 for the one I used for Libby and Sarah and I hated it the whole time.  Turns out when you pay a bit more you get a way cooler high chair!  He ate and swallowed at least 5 to 7 bites.  But, still didn't manage to sleep through the night.  (Actually, he did on Monday night this week, so I guess I can't be too upset.)  He is growing like a weed.

Wearing Brad's glasses

Showing his Stanford Pride...but they got trashed yesterday.  It was really a yucky game.  

Yummy solids!

Sarahisms

Sarah is so adorable and hilarious right now.  I took her shopping with me the other morning during dance class, looking for my shirt to wear in our family picture.  (BTW, I made a resolution not to buy any clothes between mid-Sept and mid-January, but Christmas family picture clothing is an exception to the rule!)  Anyway, I was trying on shirts over a Mod Bod undershirt out on the sales floor because we were in a hurry.  Every shirt I put on Sarah loudly and emphatically declared, "Mommy,  that shirt makes you look SO UGLY!" After about 3 shirts of this I finally gave up and went back later on my own.  I did buy one of the ones she called ugly, so when we get the pictures, you will have to decide for yourself if she was being honest, or just being 3.
On Friday night Derek was supervising Sarah saying her prayers.  I was laying on the floor of their room sort of zoning out.  All of a sudden her little voice caught my attention when I heard her praying for Heavenly Father to bless all her dogs and cats.  I couldn't help it.  It caught me so off guard I burst out laughing.  I don't think Heavenly Father will ever have to worry about blessing our dogs and cats since we won't ever have any.  But it was so cute.
I had just crawled back in bed this morning after feeding Ben at 5:30 (why always so close to when my alarm is going to go off anyway?) when Sarah came in.  She went right to Derek's side of the bed (he is actually off today) and said, "Daddy, I barfed.  I need you to clean up my bed and get me a bowl."  It was so sweet of her to choose him.  I didn't dare take away that privilege.  Although then she climbed in bed with me and got barf on our sheets.  Being a mom is awesome.     

Celebrating Sarah and Clark

We had a joint b-day party for Clark and Sarah this year.  Yummy lasagna and sundaes.  What could be more fun?  The birthday "kids" were very excited!

Halloween

I love Halloween!  I got my costume idea from a bodystep song that has a wonderwoman arm combo.  Then, I found Ben's costume and Derek's costume and we became the "super family".  It was lots of fun.  The girls really enjoyed trick or treating this year, and except for when Sarah stepped in dog poop and wiped her feet all over Auntie Maren's chair, I enjoyed the evening too.   

My Bodystep team from an event last year.  Great and dedicated members!

Super family!

Bodystep Halloween party.  I brought costumes for them to wear.  It isn't easy to do step wearing costumes!

We always trick or treat at Grammy's work.  So fun!

Sarahism

Yesterday morning Derek found Sarah on the floor of her room doing some strange leg movements.  When he asked her what she was doing she said she was, "showing her little Zumba friends how to do a move."
(This took place just after she had been watching me practice Zumba and yelling at me, "Stop dancing mommy!")