since we came home

In the three and a half days since we came back from Snowbird:

Marc bought a new doormat because he decided that the nice new entryway deserved a better prelude than our old faded one. Good call. (Gotta love Target!)


I saw our new tile (kitchen and entryway)!! It was done last week while the kids and I were gone. Marc was here to answer any questions and make sure they didn't make any major mistakes -- for example, they were going to lay the checkerboard as squares instead of diamonds... is that not obvious? In any case, I love it so much! It makes me feel almost like I have a new house.

{terrible photo, but you get the picture}

I caught yet another mouse. Will it never end??

Eva and I went to the grocery store and she asked for a blue balloon at the checkout (they give them out to the kids). I completely forgot to ask for one and she realized just as I was putting her into her carseat. I apologized and said we would get one next time, but she started crying and saying "I want a blue balloon!" pretty loudly. Two little girls were getting in the car next to ours, and one had a blue balloon. She just walked over and handed it to Eva! So sweet. I want my kids to be like that!

I had my first full-on asthma attack. When we lived in Seattle, I had mild asthma and I used an inhaler, but I haven't needed it since we moved here 10 years ago. And I had never had an attack like this -- I was literally gasping for air, starting to panic, and it seemed to come out of nowhere! Marc and Max were with me and they looked very concerned. Marc asked if I needed help, and all I could do was shrug! Eventually I was able to breathe again, but it took awhile for me to feel back to normal. I was shaky for a couple of hours afterward. I hope this was an isolated incident!

We got a note on our front door from the nursery leaders. It explains their policies and asks parents not to bring their children to nursery if they have a fever, cough, rash, etc. All fine and good. But here's my favorite part: "Please do not bring your children to nursery if they are irritable or cross." Right! There wouldn't be any kids in the nursery at all! Oh, I see where they're going with that...

We had a nice Father's Day. Marc slept in and I made Belgian waffles with strawberries, strawberry syrup and cream for breakfast. We gave him a book he has been wanting and some Amano chocolates to try. (He discovered Amano chocolate a couple of months ago -- they are a manufacturer right here in Orem and have won lots of awards at chocolate shows -- but they don't have any retail outlets here so I had to have them shipped!) After church, Marc relaxed and I made flank steak, roasted potatoes, salad, corn on the cob, and chocolate mousse.

Eva wore one of her new dresses from Grandma Susan.

Yesterday we went to Seven Peaks for the first time this year. My session of trying on swimsuits a couple of weeks ago was so traumatic, and I still haven't gotten a new one, so I'm still wearing my suit that is about 8 years old and falling apart. I was so frustrated getting ready to go and I was thinking it would be a public service if I just stayed home. Alas, no such luck.

Amie let Eva use her chair for awhile and even loaded her up with grapes. This is the life!

It ended up being a much better day than I anticipated. At least there are no windows or mirrors there -- if I can't catch a glimpse of myself then I can (sort of) forget how scary it is. For a little while, anyway. I got to chat with Jill and Amie for a bit, and Eva surprised me by wanting to stay all day! In the past we've gone home after 2 1/2 or 3 hours, but this time we stayed for 6 -- and even then, Eva cried when I said it was time to leave, and Lucas definitely wanted to stay longer. Crazy. Despite repeated sunscreen applications, we all got a little burned, but at least this time it was just a little and not my normal lobster fry.

Lucas insists on wearing an undershirt while swimming, even though I still make him put sunscreen on his shoulders and back. Love how it's inside out.

Today is the day I told Eva she can only have her binkie when she's in her bed. I've been dreading this day for months, knowing I should do it, but not wanting to give up that easy fix. I'm not sure why today was the day, but it just was. She fought it hard for about 1/2 hour and then told me she wanted to get in bed. After playing in bed and "being with her binkie" for 15 minutes, she was good to go.

This is my family room today. Good times.