Carving Pumpkins

I have always hated carving pumpkins. I don't know if I am allergic to the pumpkin or if this is something that plauges everyone- but when I get the pumpkin guts on my arm- it itches me to the point of distraction. I hate it. But I also think that early childhood memories and impressions are very important- and I want Ty and Ryans to be ones that make them happy. I read once in an Ensign article that we (as parents) aren't just rearing children. We are preparing a future generation of parents-- a generation that will need all the positive experiences we can give them to cope with an increasingly challenging world. The article posed the question, is it possible that children who have a happy childhood make better parents? I don't know about the rest of you, but while I can't live Ryan and Tyler's lives for them- I CAN give them a well of joyful memories from which they can draw throughout their lives. So- we no longer make messes (okay- really when you live with a three year old- you DO make messes- but go with me on this for a second) we make memories. So, while I don't care for pumpkin carving- the memory of us together as a family doing this is something that Ty can carry with him.

I don't know that this "light-bulb" moment really helped me out a whole lot. It seems to have put even more pressure on me as a parent. But maybe it also increases the blessings that we receive from parenthood as well. And hopefully I can pass on this idea and these insights to my kids through memory after memory. Perhaps each memory that I give to my children will become another link in a chain of righteous parenthood as they help their own children make joyful memories. Eternal bonds. Eternal memories.

And what about pumpkin carving? It has to be worth the time and the effort for the memory that we make. I love this last picture. Ty was insistant that this pumpkin only have one tooth- so he cut and pulled at the bottom one until it finally came out.

The Great Pumpkin

Our pumpkins did not make it this year- mostly because it snowed in June and then again in September... it makes for a short growning season I guess. So- since we had no pumpkins, we went down to my parents house to get our Halloween pumpkins. I wish that Montpelier had a pumpkin patch or something like that so that we could have stayed close to home- but it was also nice to go and see grandma and grandpa. Ty loved helping Grandpa JB cut the stems and carry them over to the grass. Though I'm not sure how much of a help he actually was- since all he could carry was the tiniest of the tiny. Of course he is only three.

We also got a chance to take a few pictures of us while we were down there. I think that's one of the hardest things- how do you get pictures of everybody when you need everybody in the picture. I know that's why they invented the self timers on cameras- but we can never get in the picture in time and have all of us looking where we need to. It confuses Ty and I've never been one to set any land speed records- so the pictures end up looking silly. My dad also got some pictures of Ryan and I together, which was kind of fun. Since I am the one usually holding the camera- I'm not in a lot of pictures with my boys. I never thought it was too big of a deal until I started putting pictures together in books... And now it irritates me.

I guess some of us like the snow...

Ty had such a kick with the snowstorm that came through here a few weeks ago. Which means that at least one of us will be having a good time this winter. Okay. The reality is- I need to have an attitude adjustment when it comes to winter. I really hate it- but since I can't get Shaun to commit to moving to Mexico... I may have to settle for thinking on the bright side of things (novel concept isn't it?). So I came up with a list of reasons why winter isn't going to be so bad this year.

1. My holiday cards will be better looking than my friends that live in Texas and Southern California.

And I'm out. I'll just have to keep working on this I guess.

Oh hell.

9:30 PM Saturday night. The gray thing in the *gag* snow *hurl* is Ty's lawnmower.

A Tuesday...

I haven't posted in a while- so I'm getting my fill tonight. This week was kind of a quiet week- it has started to get cold and we have had to find a few activities to do inside rather than run around and play outside. If any of you have some fun ideas for inside... let me know!

Let's see... Ty was bored one day after his nap (that's why he is not pictured with pants in this picture), so we made a Halloween gingerbread house. I think Ty ate more candy and frosting than actually went on the house... but it kept him occupied almost until dad got home- so I'll take it!

My degree came in the mail on Wednesday... I had to refrain from throwing my arms around our mailman- but I was just so excited! Ty made me a cake for dessert in celebration all by himself. Though he realized after he had made the cake that he calls me "Mama" and not "Jess" so the name on the cake was wrong. I forgive him.

Ryan, as ever, was in good spirits the other day so I snapped a picture of his cute smile. I remember Ty being a happy baby too and very content- but Ryan is almost always smiling. It's my favorite! The smile almost makes 3AM feedings seem worth it.

I also finally got a picture of Ty doing "Turbo Jam" the other morning. It's gotten to the point that if I don't pull out a video in the morning- he's pulling on my shirt saying "Mama- we didn't exercise this morning- let's go do it now." I never knew that my personal trainer was going to be the kid in the next room! Good thing all he charges me is a glass of chocolate milk!

There was one in the tub

I love tub time. It's probably my favorite time of night because it means that the day is finally winding down and my bed is starting to softly call my name. Ryan loves his tubs (can you call it a tub if he's still bathing in the sink?). He gets the most contented look on his face when he's floating along in the soapy water- I almost don't want to take him out. But then my bed calls again and I quickly towel him off. I didn't get any pictures of Ty in the tub tonight because he was kind of being a grump and yelled when I came in with the camera. Of course I can see his point- I wouldn't really want pictures of me in the tub circulated on the internet either. Ryan is young enough that he has no choice.

Ahhh. The beauty of a handy husband...

I grew up in a household whose inhabitants do their best to be "do it yourselfers" but often times have found that it is just as easy to pay somebody to do certain things. For example... my dad never touches anything electrical if he can help it. My mother has "Stanley Steemer" on speed dial, my brother automatically reaches for the phone if he hits on a homework question that involves more than three words, my sister freaks out when you mention anything to do with beauty product and I cry when I see installation instructions for shelves and furniture. I did my best to marry out of this habit and Shaun seems to have hit the nail on the head (if you'll pardon the pun). We bought an older home (it's about fifty years old) and it has a few "quirks" here and there. One of them being that there is no overhead light in the living room. It's been more than a little bit annoying to fumble around in the dark for a lamp switch on the other side of the room for the past year. But last weekend we decided to fix it. Or rather, Shaun decided to fix it. With the help of his cute family- he ran wire, installed a light switch and hung a celing light/fan... and the best part is... when he turned it on... it actually came on! (Not that I doubted him)

PS- sorry about this last picture- I don't know how to flip it nor do i care how to flip it. You get the general idea.

Darth the Vadar

Ty's latest obsession is with the old Star Wars movies. He loves the starships and thinks that Yoda is funny. And oddly enough, he has developed a strong affinity for Darth Vadar- who I remember when I was little- scared the crap out of me. But scary or no- Ty just loves him- though he calls him Darth the Vadar and will quickly correct you if you leave out "the." Anyway- we were saying our prayers last night, and I was helping him remember what to say when all of a sudden he interrupts me and says, "Thank-you Heavenly Father for Darth the Vadar." Okay people- try to keep a straight face when your three year old all of a sudden decides that he is so thankful for this big scary man and goes so far as to include him in his prayers. I tried not to laugh. I tried not to giggle- but needless to say- a little snort snuck out. Ty whipped his head around and told me "Mama- stop laughing during the prayer. You are NOT being reverent." Okay. I was dying. After the prayer I had to apologize to Ty for laughing. I'm still not sure that he has entirely forgiven me.