The BIG picture

Friday night, I was able to scrapbook some photos of the boys AND I was able to get in a couple of good movies:  Jane Eyre and Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.   Both good movies, by the way.  As I was finishing up and putting their pages in their albums, I started looking over the other pages I had done. And to my surprise, there were a few that were very inspiring to read.  I know I get bogged down in the everyday little things and sometimes it's nice to find something, like Owen's scrapbook, to help me see the big picture and remind me that being a mom is a very special job.  It's so easy to forget how lucky I am to be able to share these moments with my kids and also to be able to see them learn and grow right before my eyes.  I guess this hit me this week because I've had such a rough week with the boys--always feeling like I'm fighting a battle.  But hopefully I can start on the right foot this week and do better.  Plus I realized that my journaling isn't so bad sometimes and I shouldn't make it such a big deal.  Everything doesn't always have to be perfect!!  So I guess I've learned this week to take a step back and look at the big picture to find what really matters.

Terrible TWOS!

Wow!  I forgot how hard it is to have a two year old.  This is a picture of him in time-out, or "the corner," as we call it, tonight.  It was cute because he actually stayed for 20 seconds with his nose in the corner!

  Aidan, who will be two the end of March, has full-blown terrible two's.  I have struggled this week with him trying to maintain control and manage my child in an appropriate way.  Everywhere I've taken him this week, it has been a nightmare!  My four-year-old, Owen, doesn't help much either.  This week I went to Sam's club to see if they could transfer my Rx.  Well, I wasn't expecting them to take forever!  The poor lady behind me.  I was trying to talk to them, while trying to keep Aidan from climbing out of the cart and Owen from destroying the blood pressure machine-he just kept pushing all of the buttons and "learning" how it worked.  I finally decided to let Aidan out to run on the bench, but that only lasted 30 seconds before he was trying to see how far he could get before I said something or chased after him.  We were there for at least 10 minutes which seemed like a half an hour and all the lady behind me had to do was give them her Rx.  I felt so bad, I just wanted to get out of there!

Then the next day we went to the library to let Owen go to a story-reading activity.  Aidan knows right where the Thomas the train movies are and went to look for them.  So we found one (thankfully only one) and then I went to find some books.  Last time we went, he sat very good at the table, just looking at his videos.  Not this time!  He was running everywhere, pulling out videos and looking at them and then coming back and saying in a loud voice, "Mommy, what doin?"  It's cute, but I was a little embarrassed because we were in the library.  I was trying to stay calm and make sure he wasn't destroying anything.  While I was trying to find some books for Owen, Aidan was taking a Thomas book away from the little boy across the table and adding to the Thomas books he had found.  He screamed when I gave one of the books back to the little boy to read and we went to find another one.  He also wouldn't stay away from the computers--banging on the keys and looking at me to see how long before I'd notice.   When I was trying to get our stuff checked out, Aidan walks right up to the automatic doors, they open and he takes off down the hall.  While Owen stands there giving me a report of what Aidan is doing, I'm trying to get my library card out as fast as I can and telling Owen to run after Aidan and not let him out the second set of doors which lead to Logan main street. Luckily, I caught him just before he headed out of the other doors.  Scary to think what could have happened!  Then he cries and becomes limp (that's his signature move) while I'm trying to hold his hand and get ahold of all our library items to take out to the car.  Whew!   These days I wonder why I go out of the house, but if I didn't we'd all go crazy!  I'm praying for the snow to melt, so they can go out back and expend some energy!!

Bedtime is also a joke.  I try to get him to take a nap early enough that he will be ready for a bed earlier.  But as soon as we shut the door, he's up and climbing over the edge.  I am bound and determined for him to learn to stay in his crib and go to sleep.  But after putting him back in his bad at least 20 times, it's hard not to give up and just hold him or lay next to him until he falls asleep.  This week we have put some soft music in their room at bedtime and he has stayed in the bedroom a little better.  At least he hasn't turned on the lights and started playing under the bed like he used to.  Now, he usually climbs in bed with Owen, but Owen starts getting bugged, because he won't lay there and go to sleep, then we have to get tough.

There must be a reason (for us) for having to go through this and I wish I knew what it was so I could just embrace it and deal with it.  I also wish I would have saved my child development books, so I could know what to do to tackle these terrible twos and why they are so terrible.  I don't remember.

I am trying to savor the cute little moments so I can rack up many of those in hopes to cancel out the bad ones.  I sure hope my kids turn out normal.  It will be a miracle!

PS:  After I wrote this post, I googled, "terrible two's" and found this website that helped give me some direction.  I hope it can help you!

http://pediatrics.about.com/od/toddlers/a/05_terrible_twos.htmh

Sick and tired...

Here is a quick pict of our hole.  It's coming along quite nicely.  They have framed the basement as much as needed to put in our floor boards next week.  It's exciting to see it come along (I'll probably say that more than once).

This past weekend and week, Jared had to go to Georgia for a work conference.  He tried to get me a ticket, but it was too expensive.  I would have loved to have gone to the part of Georgia  I haven't seen.  Jared didn't have a great time.  He was lonely and not too impressed with Savannah.  The only thing that interested him was seeing the ocean and the fact that there used to be pirates there.  

The boys and I were able to visit for a short time with Jared's brother, Tommy, and his family, and we were off to Vernal to visit my family.  The boys have fun with Grandma and Papa, Jordan, Jeremy, Christopher and Emily.  Emily spoils Owen and he LOVES it!  Grandma and Grandpa Merkley always have treats and love to see "their boys".  

Unfortunately, after being there a couple of days, Owen got sick and Aunt Emily did, too.  Owen was quite unpleasant to everyone and they felt bad.  That is Owen.  He is not a very nice sick boy.  It was funny one morning when Owen came in crying.  I asked him what was wrong and he said "I wost (lost) my boice (voice)."  He said he didn't think he would get it back.  As I tried to supress a chuckle, I had to reassure him it happens to everyone and he WOULD get it back.  Luckily, he believed me.  Then after we came home, poor Aidan got sick.  We've had a rough couple of nights.  Luckily they both weren't really sick more than two days.  I really hope we are on the mend and neither Jared nor I get the sick bug.  **Emily, we hope that you get tons better this week too!

So to all of this I am quite tired.  I need a good night sleep.  I want to be out of our tiny apartment.  AND it snowed yesterday and I am tired of snow.  Winter was fun, but now it's spring and I'm ready for snow to be gone, so we can go out and play.  I'm really missing St. George right now and wish there was some way we could come and play with all of our friends.  (I miss you!)

I hope no one gets this yucky bug, and if you do, just stay in bed!  Hope it's a great week for all!

Super Survey: Getting to Know Me...

I've been tagged, so here goes:

Where were you born?  Vernal, UT

Middle name:  None, but I always wished that I did.

Nicknames:  Mich, Shelley, Shells

Are you taller than your mother or father?  Mom, yes, Dad, no

Do you cry often during movies?  More now than ever before!

What is your biggest pet peeve?  Littering, gum chewing/smacking

Favorite color:  Depends, but right now, I really like orange and green

Favorite foods:  Italian and cheesecake or raspberry cheesecake shakes (arctic circle-yumm)

Favorite beverage:  raspberry lemonade with real raspberries in it

Favorite cold cereal:  Golden grahams

Favorite smells:  clean laundry, clean babies, homemade bread, and a clean-shaven husband

Favorite time of day:  Evening when it's quiet

Favorite makeup products:  Mary Kay--always makes my skin look better.

How many pillows do you sleep with? two 

Do you play an instrument?  piano, tiny bit guitar, and once upon a time the clarinet.

Did you play any sports in High School?  Soccer, one year.

What was the last movie you saw in the theater?  National Treasure or 27 dresses I can't remember.

What is your favorite article of clothing?  My sweatshirt these days

What is your dream vacation?  A month or two in Italy renting an apartment and living there.

What was the first impression of your spouse?  He was the ward clerk in my single's ward and got my name, but I didn't think much about it.  Then we were at a ward activity later, playing a get to know you game, and he kept throwing the ball at me and I was a little annoyed--just a little though.

If you were an animal what would you be?  Maybe a cat--walk around like I owned the place,eat,  get fat, and take naps all day.

What is your favorite "me-time" activity?  Scrapbooking and working out, if I can.

Favorite TV shows:  Grey's Anatomy, the Office, Project Runway, LOST, Dancing with the Stars

What is your dream car?  I haven't thought about this for a long time, but something sporty and fun and bright.

What is one of your weaknesses?  Being on time and being patient with my kids.

What do you fix for dinner when there is nothing to fix?  Breakfast

If you could live in a different decade/era which one would it be?  Maybe late 1800's if I were rich.

What is the emotion you feel the most?  Frustrated

Do you consider yourself outgoing?  Sometimes

What is something you are constantly working on?  Being more easy going with my kids

Any hidden talents?  I give great speeches--in my head!

What is a word or phrase you overuse?  Talk to Owen, he says most of them.

What was the hardest thing(s) that happened to you this past year?  Thinking that my mom might die, losing Jared's dad, and moving to Logan leaving all my friends.

What is the best thing that happened to you this past year?  Vacation to Nauvoo and Wisconsin with Jared.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish this year?  Lose my last 35 lbs to look like a hot mama! 

The best piece of advice you learned this past year?  Make every moment count because you don't know how long you will have with those you love and Heavenly Father will always guide you if you will listen and obey.

I tag:  Angela Young, Camille Clark, Nora Thompson, and Stephanie Jones

Happy Valentine's Day!

I just wrote a whole post and realized that I put it in the wrong place and lost it all!  I will get this some day.  I am sorry that I haven't been keeping up.  Every time I pull the computer out, I have two curious little boys that want to know, touch, and see what I'm doing. 

Happy Valentine's Day (late) to all of you!  Thank you for all of your love and friendship.  You all mean so much to us.

We had a nice Valentine's Day.  I woke up to two girls who brought me a singing telegram from Jared.  I was cute as I wiped the sleep out of my eyes.  Then Owen was so excited for Valentine's Day that he had to show me the flowers and card that Jared gave to me.  He was even more happy when I pulled out the Thomas the train heart card that I made and candy and balloon that I got for each of them.  It's so cute to see them excited.

Then we invited Tiffany and Matthew over for breakfast to give them their Valentine's cards.  I made heart-shaped pancakes and everyone was amazed!  Mom's are magic!

We had an even bigger surprise when we drove by our lot and found a hole where our home will one day be.  The boys enjoyed watching the backhoe and the dump truck.  Then we had to get Jared and take him over to see our hole.  It is coming along quite quickly these past few days that we've drove by.  They have been taking advantage of this clear, dry weather.  Today we drove by and they have the forms up and will be pouring our basement tomorrow.  So needless to say, we are thrilled!!  I don't have any pictures today, but will get some soon.

This past Sunday we met our next-door neighbors who are thrilled that we are moving in.  They are really nice and have a little girl that is Aidan's age.  Today we also met some old neighbors of Jared's who will also be building soon.  We are happy to have such nice people, so far, in our neighborhood.

Thank you for all you that have posted.  It's nice to hear from you.  Keep them coming!

Lots of love!