Newsflash---Being a mom is hard

Just in case you didn't know, being a mom is a handful and I'm ready to go crazy. I'm about ready to pull my hair out with Danny. He wants to be so independent and it makes things soooo difficult for me. His favorite thing right now is when I hold his hand and ask him to walk with me, he throws his body to the floor and REFUSES to walk. I feel like I'm gonna pull his arm out of the socket. But then if I don't hold his hand, he takes off and loves to see me chase him. I feel like I'm creating this terror child, but I don't know what to do. At this point, I definetely feel like the two year old is winning and it's driving me crazy! Our enrichment activity this week is on parenting-looks like I'll be the first one there! (Actually, probably not, I can't seem to be on time for anything!)

But I guess I should share something that shows his sweetness, because he is most certainly not all bad. :) So a little background information---ever since he was a baby he has been one of those that plays with his hair. When he nursed, he would play with this one little piece and twirl it around one of his fingers. Also, when I hold him and he has his arms around my neck, he'll do the same thing to a piece of my hair. And now that he has a big boy bed and I lay in bed with him to read stories and sing songs and stuff, he does the same thing. Well tonight, he put me to sleep as he played with my hair! When I woke up, nearly an hour later, he was asleep but still playing with my hair. He's so cute.

The baby is doing well though. They're so sweet when they're newborns. Dan is out of town this week for some training, so we shall see how I do ALL by myself.

I'm a canner!

My next door neighbor Tara went to Pennsylvania for Labor Day weekend and raved about how good produce from Lancaster County was. She offered to bring me back some peaches, so I decided I needed to learn how to can. My Relief Society did it as an Enrichment activity a few weeks ago, but with the new baby I wasn't able to go. So I called up my friend Sister Rust to see if she could tell me how to do it. But instead, she so graciously offered to come and help me that very day! So we spent a couple hours together and afterwards I felt like a better Mormon woman! :) I ended up getting about nine quarts of peaches. Thank you Sister Rust!

I'm looking forward to canning apples here pretty soon. My cousin manages some orchards out here, so I'm sure I'll be able to get some delicious apples from him.

Slip 'n Slide

We had such an exciting mutual activty last week at the Bishop's house. Check out this Slip n' Slide!! Two tarps were sewn together to make one massive slide and the kids used dish soap to make themselves go even faster. After everyone's eyes were burning from the dish soap, the YM leaders realized that they should have purchased baby soap instead. But the kids hardly complained and they had a great time.

Dan would get a running start holding Danny in his arms and just FLY down the hill. This one ended up in a small little crash, but Danny just popped up and started clapping with a big smile on his face. Dan is creating a lil' dare devil.

My little warrior playing with all the big kids!

Wild Animal Park

For any of you who doubted that Danny was the spitting image of his father, here is conclusive evidence. I have always teased Dan about when he's standing his hands always seem to end up in his back pockets, see exhibit one, or in his back waistband. It doesn't matter if he's waiting in line at the store or brushing his teeth, his hands always end up behind his back. I found it a little strange and wondered why he did it. Well, now I can see that it's just him 'cause Danny does it too.

He loved feeding the goats and the deer until they got a little aggressive, then he got a little scared and wanted to keep his distance.

Momma and Danny looking at some cute little monkeys.

Dan took Danny over to see the baby camel, whose fur was unbelievably soft, and as he set him up on the fence to pose for the picture, I saw that the camel started nibbling on Danny's leg! Needless to say, Danny was a little startled and didn't want much to do with him after that. But the little camel was so cute, his umbilical cord was even still attached.

I thought he looked like he was really GQ-in' it!

Simple Pleasures

Is this not a picture of pure enjoyment?!

Rita's is an italian ice chain out here that Dan and I love. And I think we frequent it probably a little more than we should because Danny knows exactly where it is and if we drive by he yells out, "treat!" and points in the direction of the establishment. I am shocked that a kid, not even two years old, can recognize places out and about town. He knows exactly where Chick-fil-A is as well. He cries out from the back seat, "side!!" which in his language is slide. They have a little toy area that Danny is obsessed with. Whenever we eat there, I can hardly keep him from darting immediately to the back of the restaurant, pulling on the little handle on the door and racing into the play area without a care in the world. But playing on that jungle gym thing is something he loves, so he remembers it. The simple pleaures of a child.

But this particular time at Rita's, they gave him a massive ice cream cone! Dan did not join us on this trip and by the time we got home, this is what he looked like. Just imagine his sugar high.

Called to Serve

I am very excited to announce that my brother Austin, the younger of my two brothers, just received his mission call to Vancouver Canada, Mandarin speaking!! He leaves for the MTC at the end of October.

We find his call especially endearing because since Austin was 10 or 11 he has always wanted to serve his mission in China and speak Chinese. We knew China wasn't open to missionary work at the time, so we would tell him, "you never know what can happen." So for the last seven years or so, he has been fascinated with the Chinese characters and the Chines cultural. He has had a Chinese calendar and a souvenir that I brought home for him from NYC Chinatown hanging in room for years!

So when he read his call and came to the part that he would be speaking Mandarin, nobody believe him because he was going to Canada not China!! We had to ask him several times, "Are you kidding?! Austin, are you serious?" We just couldn't believe it because he has wanted so badly to learn Chinese. (I am opening admitting ignorance and I do not understand the difference, if any, between Chinese and Mandarin so I hope I am not sounding too foolish.)

Here is a map of his mission. Before 1974, this area was known as the Alaskan Canadian Mission.

I also did a little research on Vancouver because I was curious as to why there was such a large Chinese population. I didn't quite find my answer---but I am short on time and I have a baby that will be waking up any minute wanting to eat and if anyone knows why, I would love to learn about it---but I did learn that since the mid 19th century, Vancouver has been home to one of the largest Chinese populations in North America. And apparently it has a beautiful and clean Chinatown. And it has the first authentic classical Chinese garden to have been built outside of China. Here is where you can find some more information. http://www.vancouver-chinatown.com/

But we are very excited for Austin that he has this wonderful opportunity to serve the Lord as a full-time missionary for two years. He is a hard worker and has a strong testimony of the restored Gospel. I know he will do great work in Vancouver!

Pure Cream

At Kate's doctor appointment yesterday, I nearly died when the nurse told me that Kate weighed NINE pounds and TWELVE ounces!! I had no idea! I thought she was getting a little chubby, but she has put on nearly two whole pounds in almost three weeks. And she's grown just about an inch and a half. I was shocked! My mother-in-law teases me about having not just milk, but pure cream. But my babies like it and they sure do grow! I love to see the chub that she's starting to accumulate.

Dan put together the double stroller for us and we went on our first walk all together. Danny was thrilled about being able to see his little sister the entire time and look out for her, as he's doing in the second picture by trying to buckle her in. But let me tell you, this is one mother of a stroller. I feel like I'm pushing around a boat! Even though it does ride smoothly, with the two kids, it is heavy and quite a workout.

I love this picture because I think it perfectly depicts their relationship. Danny innocently enjoys to torment his little sister. He's oblivious to it all. He loves being a big brother!