On The War Path

I think of myself as a cool, calm, collected woman that can handle stress with grace and dignity. Of course that would cause everyone else that knows me to ask this question: Have you ever met yourself Sarah?

Recent Case in point:

I must have been on the war path today because when Jacob did not listen to daddy (quickly enough), I set him straight firmly but lovingly. He took it a bit differently than I anticipated though.

His reply? "Oh, momma, don't chop my brains out!"

Really? Chop your brains out?? Well, that gave me pause. I guess I certainly could be kinder, sweeter, nicer, softer, easier, and I am sure more patient! But then, he could listen right? It is the chicken & the egg thing, but I guess I should just do a little better each day right? Maybe a little sweeter & softer but still firm?

I did not know I was chopping brains out bad (Rick agreed after Jacob informed me though), but it certainly gives me a point of reference! Maybe next time I will go for just over reacting.

Starting tomorrow I think tomorrow will have to be a little extra attention and softness to redeem myself.

Ah, it must give my mother great satisfaction to read this. I accused her of "chopping brains out" or the like when she was irritated with us too. SORRY MOM! You were great, irritated, sometimes irrational, but definitely still great. Hopefully Jakie feels that way about me someday too.

Historic Day:(

Well, I just finished watching a day of debate and the big vote this evening over the direction of the health care/country). It has been a year long debate that has captured my attention and stoked my constitutional passions. It is official now thought that the bill is now now over the first hump. I am nervous and trepidations to see where it leads, but time will tell. I sure hope that the benefits promised are even remotely true, or that it does not stand as legal to have been done..
There is much to say on the subject but after much review of my thoughts, I realize that I have nothing nice to say about the proceedings I witnessed so, I think will say nothing!

Nah, that is not like me is it? Okay, maybe just a few words, **1232, ###$#$# and #!@ and @Q@#$# and @#$#. Ah, that felt better!! Cant wait to see the high courts rulings on this one.! (No need to decode my thoughts, just wanted to show solidarity!)

I'm a great gal though so if you disagree, just love me anyway!

See you at a rally folks!

-Sarah

Catching Up With Us... Ever Met An Olympian?

Ever met a Gold Metal Olympian? Well, Rick did. He met a few! UPMC has a benefit night and they had the Pittsburgh Penguins serving meals at a benefit that helped some charity. I could not go so I was not too worried about the charity. Hope they made lots though! Anyway, Ricks table had Max Talbot as their waiter.They got to get autographs and mingle a bit and Rick loved it. Rick had to wait in line, but he also got to meet Sidney Crosby just days after his big upset shot in the Olympics in Vancouver, BC. Crazy huh. You can see from the pictures how excited Rick was! Rick had a great time at the benefit, at well, mingled and once again, realized how fun the perks can be. My PB&J sandwich that night did not compare, but I don't begrudge him! One day I will get to join him or go have a lobster when he goes to other great events! I love where life takes us. Never a dull moment! On that note: we are definitely staying in Pittsburgh for at least another few years as Rick was offered his current position (post fellowship this summer) at a rate we can live with so we are excited to know that our future has a longer term direction. We wish we were near our long time friends though! We miss you guys.

Well, maybe a few dull moments! I have just been up to the same old, same old. Right now my big thing is working out. I was swimming 3-4 x's per week doing 1 mile each day, but then I realized that my body was using my muscle for calories!! ARGH! Exercise science is some crazy stuff. My weight was going down, but my muscle % was going down! How does that happen? Muscle eats fat, but the body uses muscle as an easy source of energy during long cardio work outs. Swimming makes you leaner if you are eating right and using resistance training in addition. Anyway, I switched up my routine to fix the issue and am now working on that. I have mentioned it before, but my basis for the workouts and way I eat (already ate this way, just without a few of the great life long principles I now know) is the ABS Diet for Women. There are a few variations on the Diet, but the one for women is so great. I recommend checking it out if you are stuck in your workout and eating well and working out reasonably (20 min resistance 3x's a week, and cardio 20 minute intervals 0-3 x's a week) sounds like a nice change. The explanations are clear and I have seen things working already. They work so well so I am excited to jump start my workouts and get some real results that can last. I'll post good pics as I reach my goals. Can't wait to hit my goals!

Aside from that, I am just keeping the house running, keeping the kids safe and anxiously monitoring our country's political climate. I am so worried about the direction we are headed in and do what I can to aid in the conservative movement that we were founded on. I monitor it in my spare time, but worry about it frequently. I want my kids to have a great future and to be rewarded according to their efforts. I hope our country backs the principles that lead to freedom, safety and productivity. Not sure if that is going to happen without some huge efforts on the part of the people. Anyway, that is what I am up to.

Jake is doing great as well. He loves pre-school (Show & Tell days in particular), loves PBS Kids.com, loves Rick and loves to play. Jake is doing great in his last year of pre-school and his teachers love him. He is ready for kindergarten in the Fall, but loves where he is at now. After such a long winter, he is so excited for sun (we finally have some) and riding his bike each day. We hope the weather holds out! At home, he has been such a great big brother and helps mom & dad so much. We are taking him to Disney Land in the Summer and cant wait to see his sheer excitement that I know we will see. We are patiently waiting for Summer to come for other reasons: Water park play dates, vacations, Saturday get a ways with Daddy & Mom, visiting extended families, ice cream runs and ice cold sprites. Somehow they all happen more (if not only) in summer!

Ricky is growing at an incredible rate. He is for all markers and measurements the same as Jacob was. Same sitting up 6 months, same crawling 7 months & standing at 9, same teeth in the same place at the same time-we are up to 8 now- 4 top/4 bottom, same hair line -exact, same temperament-feisty/sweet, same smile -big and mischievous, same naughty little suborn streak, same pretty much everything (so far as I can remember). He is a great little baby and great little spirit thought, distinctly Ricky. He will be walking in a few weeks, I am just sure and then we will see what emerges. I love watching him develop and love loving him. He continues to grow tons, love tons and makes us smile daily.

Well, that is pretty much what we are up to. Some fun, some just daily excitement, but we are happy, healthy and love being a little family. We miss everyone and hope you are happy and healthy as well!

Deep Thoughts (Dreams) ****By Jacob...

And Today.. Deep thoughts by Jakie:

Ever had an irrational fear? Ever had a funny/scary dream? Well, 5 year olds are no exception. I remember as a kid having really scary dreams that when said aloud were not quite so scary, but rather funny. I thought I would document this one for Jakie so he could look back one day and laugh. Here is the conversation that was had between Rick and Jake (while Rick got Jake ready for bed) in its entirety:

Jacob: Dad, I had a really scary dream last night.

Rick: Really? What was your dream about

Jacob: No! I don't want to tell about it.

Rick: Jake, you don't have to be afraid. What was your dream about?

Jacob: Oh:( I had a dream that my hair grew really long and a mean person used me as a mop!

Rick: Silence...(letting it register)...belly laugh!

Jacob: It's not funny dad! I don't want to be a mop!

Rick: still chuckling, I think you are okay Jake. No on will use you as a mop.

Jacob: Oh, okay.

Rick tells Sarah later that night to a familiar reaction...

Sarah: Silence...(letting it register)...belly laugh!

Oh, our kids. They are nuts! I love that being used as a mop is the most violent/scary thing he can conjure. I am glad that the world has not gotten in there yet. Wish I could keep that his worst fear ever! We were sad to see that he was scared though. I will have to tread lightly next time I mop the kitchen and bathrooms!

Vote For Ricky!

So he is in the running on the contest!! Fun Huh??!!

Here is what I was sent:

Congratulations!
Thank you for entering the American Baby Cover contest! Your photo is currently in the running to become a weekly winner on Parents.com Photo Faves. The photo with the most votes in each category will take home the honors!

Get your friends and family to vote too! So, everyone vote for Ricky. Just click here and vote for Ricky.
http://photos.parents.com/category/vote/photo/112340

Wish us luck!

Parents Magazine 2010 Cover Baby contest

Check out Pictures in the link below of Ricky that I submitted to the Parents Magazine 2010 Cover Baby contest. These things are total long shots but he is such a cutie, I figured it was worth it. ***My favorites of them all are just below the link. Fun Huh!

Here is Album 1 that I submitted: (Direct Link) http://www.parents.com/photos/photo-contests-1/ab-cover-contest-2010/1579800023/?photoId=1577100074

Here is Album 2 that I submitted: (Direct Link) http://www.parents.com/photos/photo-contests-1/ab-cover-contest-2010/1580200043/?photoId=1577200105

http://www.parents.com/photos/photo-contests-1/ab-cover-contest-2010/ (Click on this link and go threw the main pages to see the competition. They are sure adoreable kids in this contest. You will see his in there as you shuffle the pages. There are tons of entries so they may be burried deep in the pages.)

Friends visit during the GREAT STORM OF 2010!

HELLO Klarman's!!!! So this was the second time that Doug and Laura have come to visit us since we moved from Utah almost 4 years ago. They came to see us about 2 years ago in Seattle and were welcomed in with about the worst storm in WA history! We had 1 & 1/2 ft of snow, freezing rain that turned to hail and even a sunny day in there, all within a 72 hour period. RANDOM right? Well, we thought so until they came to visit us again this weekend and again, the worst storm in PA history (says all of the residents). Thursday was fine and Friday about 1/2 day was nice until a storm hit with furry. By 6pm when Doug and Rick came back from the Hospital (Rick working and Doug doing a medical shadowing for a job) the roads were covered in about 8 inches of snow. We thought that was rough, but then when we woke up on Saturday we were shocked. We got an additional 12-14 inches!!! We were snowed in like I have never had before. Not such a big deal for those folks in super snowy areas my sister Amy (in Alaska) reminded me, but that much that fast was crazy here. Snow plows were in short supply, roads went untreated, drivers were wrecking all over town (if they could dig themselves out of the snow) and power lines were downed by trees all over the city. To add insult to injury, the power went out! About 150,000 went without power for a decent period of time between Friday and Sunday and there are still some without any power even today! Scary huh. We lost ours on Saturday morning at about 2pm. Yep, guests in town for like 48 hours, 2 kids, a city to see and we were snowed in and out of power! Well, there was nothing left to do but......go to Wal Mart! Unfortunately.....they were CLOSED!!! When has Wal Mart ever closed?? They were that night so we had to forage the fridge and cupboards to see what we had to feed 4 + 2 kids. Sandwiches, shrimp and Swiss chocolates got us through until the next morning when the power came back on (THANK GOODNESS!!). We were not without our traumas but we were lucky. 24 hours without electricity makes you talk, spend time and hang out. We were glad we got to do that with our friends the Klarman's. Next time we come to St. George (or you move here??). There may be a record breaking heat wave, but I am pretty sure we will not have any snow!

We are set for another snow storm starting this afternoon that will bring another 8-14 inches between now and Thursday. CRAZY! Guess I will get some books read and the house cleaned. I miss working out, taking Jake to the Children's Museum and pre-school! Cant wait for Spring!

Jakie at play in the back yard. This is all he wanted to do when it started snowing!

Doug and Laura on our way to the Airport Sunday after the storm hit.

Our view from our front door. That snow was over 2ft deep.

I love the way that trees look when they are frosted over and the tones of greys, whites and blacks come out. The snow was super heavy and took out quite a few trees.

Our front door bushes were covered!

View from the back door (hence the screen griding). There is a huge meadow where Jakie loves to play. It was about 2ft deep too.

SAME