One Red Sock

Isaac skinned his little toe yesterday. He refused a band-aid, but when I offered to put a sock on it so that he would stop crying, he agreed. This was about 36 hours ago, and that sock has not left his foot.

I didn't really care that he was attached to this sock, until bath time tonight. He refused to get in the water, because his "sockie would get wet!" I tried taking it off, but you would have thought I was removing the foot with it, the way he carried on. So...what else can you do? I called in reinforcements. Josh came up to help me bathe him. I washed, and Josh held the red socked foot out and away from the water, so that at least the majority of Isaac would be squeaky clean for church in the morning. Perhaps as he sleeps tonight, I'll have to switch this red sock for it's clean match. 3 straight days of sock wearing is never a good thing.

"Hooray For Christmas!"

Before

After

The addition to our train set collection was a hit.

For Christmas I got a new mouse for my lap top, a pancake griddle, and new leather gloves. A funny thing about the gloves--I opened the gloves and noticed they were labeled XL. Most girls, I'm sure would fit into something much smaller, but, I on the other hand have amazon hands, and an XL, well, fits like a glove. Next time you see me, ask to compare hands, you'll see- no exaggeration here!

Josh got a GPS and Madden 'o9. We are now the proud owners of three different years of Madden football for the XBOX. This seems excessive to me, but I've been told by those who claim to know more than me, that this is not the case.


All in all, we had a really nice Christmas. Josh and I both feel thankful that we were able to produce such a nice Christmas for our boys. It breaks our hearts to think of the parents who would like to, but can't. I look forward to a day when I can do more to ease other's burdens.

The boys got more than they know what to do with. We have taken many of the smaller toys and put them into a box, so we can pull them out at a later time and have Christmas all over again. We missed our families this year, but I would say definitely less than the first year we were away from them. I have two theories as to why this is:

1) We are more used to being on our own, or...

2) They have become less lovable over the past two and a half years, making being away from them, almost like a blessing :)

Merry Christmas everyone! Now for all of us here in Milwaukee who have been the lucky recipients of 35 + inches of snow this December, may we all settle in for the "big freeze" and the upcoming months where the snow seems less like a magical accent to the season, and more like a big albino boa constrictor threatening to either smother you or grasp you so firmly that the life is simply drained from your body.

'Tis Better to Give than to Receive

Picture it...K-Mart, Hales Corners, Wisconsin (remember Sophia on the Golden Girls?) For those of you have never been to this particular location it is the exact same as K-Mart, Anywhere, USA.

The boys and I had just finished a sad winter tradition that we have begun since living in Wisconsin of 'go to the store and look at toys, but not buy' (I know sounds like some sort of torture treatment, but I swear the boys really like it) and as we were leaving I heard that all too familiar bell ring of the Salvation Army guy. "Ooh!" I thought to myself, "what a great opportunity to teach the boys a valuable lesson." It went as follows:

Me: Here boys (I hand them each a quarter) Would you like to put this in that man's red bucket?

Isaac: Yay!

Will: No.

I was actually kind of hoping for this response from Will, because it was just what I needed to open up my can of charity wisdom to share with him.

Me: Will, the money that we put in that bucket is for little kids who don't have warm coats to wear in the cold, and don't have any food to eat. Would you like to help them?

Will: No. I would like to put this quarter in my bank. Then I can buy my excavator (a toy that he has been coveting on each and everyone of our look but not buy toy trips)

Me: but Will, they don't have any food.

Will: I don't have an excavator!

I sat for a moment in stunned silence, Will looked lost in thought, and then said,

Will: I know! I will give them some of my food, and I can have an excavator.

Pretty Steep Learning Curve

I have been at this parenting thing for a little over 4 years now, and I keep wondering when I'm going to get it, when the "good mommy-ing" is going to kick in. It must be in there!

Yesterday, we woke up and I excitedly asked Will if he'd like to put up the Christmas tree with me. Of course, he was more than exuberant with a joyful response of, "YES!" We got out the tree, set it up, and then came to untangling the beaded garland. Will was holding his wadded knot of beads and asked if he could put them on the tree. The good mommy in me said, "Oh, of course," each word practically dripping with honey it was so sugary sweet, and then the natural Megan emerged just moments later. All it took was a little "help" from the boys with the untangling process before I was shooing them away with a bribe of a popsicle to the basement to play so I could work in peace. Every few minutes or so they would come up looking to help a little more, and each time my words came out less like an angelic mommy, and more like a growly gremlin. By the end of the whole experience I found myself saying to them in a low grumble, "Just go! Don't touch MY tree." Fa, La, La, La, La.

The beautiful thing about kids is they aren't much for holding grudges. Will thinks that our tree is the best tree ever, and my sour mood did little to take away from his overwhelming Christmas spirit.

I Warned You!

I had one of the most peaceful afternoons yesterday. It started with a simple request from Will for some "sticky tape", and ended in this. He thought it was fun, and I was its biggest supporter when I saw it was headed in this direction. Peace and quiet.

What I love About Wisconsin Winters!

Fully loaded version of winter, the safest route to take.
My favorite flavor of winter. I think that he looks so cute in his snow pants.

You've heard people say, "Fake it, 'til you make it"? Well, that's just what I'm going to try and do occasionally, as I continue with my "take winter by the horns attitude". I thought this might help me appreciate more of this time of year instead of hibernating in my house for 6 months and waiting for it to be over.

So in this, my first installment, I choose to document how stinkin' cute kids are in their snow clothes. Every morning before the bus comes for school, we get Will all "puffed up" in his snow gear. By the time we are done he looks just like the little brother on the movie, "A Christmas Story". (that's what it's called, right? with the red-rider beebe gun?) He can't hardly walk up the steps on the bus, but it's worth it to maintain his fingers and toes.

The second thing is how your garage turns into the perfect refrigerator. I know, I know, everyone's garage gets colder in the winter, but it truly is the perfect temperature for chilling my many cases of Coke Zero. I am choosing to be thankful for this in the month of December, because come January, February and even March, this is no longer the case. You are a fool to leave drinks out there, because they will surely be frozen...do you know what happens when canned soda pop freezes? It aint pretty. That is neither here nor there. Back to sharing the love, December is perfect for my refrigeration needs. That is a real treat.

Progress report...my exercising goals are going well. I love my gym membership! I mentioned to Josh that I wore my wedding ring to the gym tonight. He asked if I had been getting hit on. He! He! Not hardly. Going to the gym as a married person is a lot different than going when you are single and looking. There are many reasons why I wouldn't be getting hit on at the gym. Let me list a few for you that came to mind as I was running tonight. I noticed behind me this row of perfectly made up girls, full make-up and hair, mind you, for their "work out". I can tell you now the reason they stay thin is because they don't eat, not because they hit the gym every day. Which brings me to my list of why I don't get hit on: When I am done with my workout, my face is beet red and my neck is all splotchy. From nearly head to toe I'm glistening, and it aint body glitter. The varicose vein that I proudly display as my badge of honor due to pregnancy and motherhood takes on a life of it's own as it throbs behind my right knee, and the grand finale...there is not a soul in that gym with a smaller chest than me! Boy and girl, man and woman, I take the cake and beat them all. Why would you hit on the gal (or is it? IT's chest gives no tell as to the true sex) with the blue critter crawling up the back of it's leg, drenched in sweat, with no make-up, when you've got a whole row of stationary bike perfection to choose from. So, Josh, no worries. I wore my ring just because I thought it might help those fence sitters lean to the side of "yeah, that's a chick." I love every minute of it though.

"Mama, It's Your Happy Birthday Party!"

Will singing 'Happy Birthday'. Isaac trying to steal my thunder and blow those candles out himself.
Me, proudly displaying the most delicious desert on the earth.

"Mama, It's your happy birthday party!"

I was greeted with that phrase by both my boys today. 27 years old, and in some ways that seems very old--it at least seems like I'm supposed to be a lot more grown up than I am. I recently read a blog by a friend that documented all of the things that she had done in her 20's (she was turning 30). The list was staggering. My list would be piddly compared to hers, but I suppose that isn't what matters. Josh asked me at dinner tonight what the highlights were over the last year. Easy! My boys are doing well, we finished the second year of medical school, started grad school, and everyone is healthy, and of course I discovered tennis:) Going through all of this schooling, living the life of a student for such an extended amount of time is really a tremendous blessing. Over the last 5 years of being married, and with at least 5 more ahead of us as full-blown students, we have been taught an invaluable lesson-happiness is with the ones you love, the things we learn, and our relationship with Heavenly Father. Moving away from all of our family and friends has proved to be one of the greatest blessings of all. We cling to each other, we rely on one another, and we love and appreciate those back at home more than we maybe could have without experiencing this time without them.

My birthday wish is that I never forget this. Nothing else matters.

Gobble, Gobble

I know what you are thinking, "Why didn't you post a picture where all three of you are smiling?" Simple-doesn't exist. One smile, a smirk, and a wide open mouth are the best we can come up with.
Isaac's turkey. We believe there may be an underlying genetic disease associated with this bird.

Making the turkeys. Josh just got word that dinner wasn't going to be for another hour, and he was beside himself.

All of you Gardner's out there, you should be pleased to learn that gum drop turkey making was happening in multiple locations this year. Salt Lake, St. George, and Milwaukee. I especially like Will's rendition, if you look closely, his bird is in flight.

That's right, a turkey cake. I got the idea last night at about 7:00, so I was limited in what I could use to pull it off, but it must have been successful, because Will knew just what it was. We aren't big pie fans at our house, so this seemed like a worthy substitute.

What can we say about Thanksgiving...I'm thankful that it's over and the mess is cleaned up.

Bring on Christmas!

Stinky Feet

Alright girls, I'm going to really put myself out there on this one, and pray that someone can relate.

I got through another crazy Sunday. You know the kind where from early in the morning until late into the evening you and your husband are like ships passing in the night as you hand off the kids to one another and scurry back out the door to your next obligation. Today was just that kind of day. These types of Sundays often lead to not being able to even sit down at any point, let alone change out of your church clothes.

Now that Wisconsin has decided to go all sub-arctic on us so quickly, it is tights time and my big, clunky, black shoes pretty much every Sunday. This combination does well to keep my toes from freezing and to decrease the slip and slide effect in the parking lot that we are so famous for, but I'll tell you now--these shoes don't breathe. Non-breathing shoes combined with any form of nylons= what? That's right, wicked, stinky feet!

I was finally able to pull off the church clothes and put on my sweats, and Will happened to be there by my side when I went into the bathroom to wash my feet.

He looked up at me with his nose scrunched and twisted up to the side and said, "Mama, do you smell that"
Me: "Yeah, it stinks, huh?"
Will: "Yeah"
Me: "What do you think it is?'
(after a thoughtful pause...)
Will: "I don't know...maybe I pooped a little"
Me: (stifling a laugh) "Do you think that you pooped a little?"
Will: "Well...I guess that I maybe could have" (he said, puzzled and bewildered)

"Oh, no!"

"Oh, no!"

Isaac watching Thomas the Train.

Isaac was watching Thomas the other night, and from the other room I kept hearing him yell out, "Oh, no! Oh, no!" I came in and instead of finding his finger stuck in some odd crevice or a foot stuck in the back of our kitchen chairs (of which I have found on more than one occasion) I found this. He was really feelin' this particular episode.

Huh?

I was enjoying a particularly quiet moment this morning, when I decided to face the music and go see what Gigs was up to. I walked down the stairs having this imaginary conversation in my head..."I bet he is in the dvd cabinet, and is building a tower." The other me responds, "Nope, he is in the pots and pans, and finding just the right drum stick from the utensil drawer." Well, we were both wrong and neither of us expected to find him shirtless, in the bathroom, with half a loaf of bread, and my blender pitcher. He never ceases to amaze. When I walked in I said, "Isaac, what are you doing?" He said, "Look, Mama, at all the bread! I put it on the toilet." He said it with such a matter of fact tone that somehow he convinced me that this was a completely logical thing to do, so I just said, "Oh." I walked to get my camera, and then he preceded to hold up each piece, and asked me to take a picture of each one. When that was finished, he looked at me, and said, "All done. Bye, Mama." I took that as my cue and left him alone with his bread.

Vacuum Truck

The day started out very typical, very mundane.

The boys and I were on our way home from the store, and as we rounded the last corner onto our circle what we saw before us was almost too glorious to be conceived.

"Mama! It's a vacuum truck!" Will exclaimed.

"Mama! Can I please go watch it?"

We'd like to share with you what may have been the single most joyous moment in Will's short life. The only thing that would have made this better is if there was a parade of construction trucks, or all of the trains from the Thomas stories there circling our street.

A few months ago we checked out a movie from the library called "21 Trucks". This may be the single most boring movie I have ever watched, but to Will it is Oscar worthy material. He loves big trucks right now. He draws a mean monster truck, excavator, bulldozer, and vacuum truck (you can imagine), and one of his favorite things to do as of late is to practice writing his letter to Santa on our white board where he practices spelling and writing all of these construction truck names.

Well, when I saw the vacuum truck on the "21 Truck" movie, I thought to myself, "That is a totally made up truck." I stand corrected. Will has been asking us for a vacuum truck ever since he first laid eyes on it, but as you can imagine, TONKA hasn't manufactured a line of them yet. At least he got to see one with his very own eyes and spend a little time with it.

Potty Humor

I specifically chose a very pretty, dignified picture of Will to tell this next story, so I don't offend all of your senses at once. I will resist the urge to post a different picture, but may find that beyond my immature capacity.

Will is potty-trained, has been for a long time, but still requires assistance with the wiping of the "Big 2". For this I'm thankful, because are there really any 4 year olds that don't require assistance with this? They may not all get it, but nonetheless, still, it should be offered. Each time he finishes, he yells, "Mama, I need help to wipe!" Dutifully, I come, and then he bends over, I take care of business, and while this step occurs he proceeds to talk to be about what he sees in the toilet. Size, color, smell...you get the picture.

Yesterday, the following conversation took place:

Will: Mom, you smell that?

Me: Oh yeah, I smell it.

Will: I wouldn't want to eat poop

Me: NO! that would be really yucky. We don't eat poop.

Will: but, maybe if I ever did, I would just put it in my mouth, but not swallow it. Ok? and then I would spit it out.

Me: Gross!

Will: I won't swallow it!

Let's hope he never runs for office. Instead of "Yes, I tried it, but never inhaled"...the headlines would read, "What!? I never swallowed it!"

"I'm Back!"

Josh did the most wonderful thing ever for me yesterday. He sent me an email earlier in the day and said that he had been thinking a lot about my birthday. Strange. My birthday isn't until the 29th, and well, given his track record, I certainly wasn't expecting that. Last year, we went all day (he was even home) without so much as a mention of my birthday. My visiting teacher brought me flowers, and when he came up from his office to eat dinner (at 6:00pm) he noticed them, and said, "What's with the flowers? Is it a special occasion or something?" I had been quiet all day, but I could bite my tongue no longer, and I blurted out- "Are freakin' kidding me? It's my birthday!" What did he do? Laughed, and then laughed harder. He left right after dinner and went to buy me a card. In his defense he was inundated with homework and preparation for finals, so if I were in his shoes I likely would have done the same thing.
Well, he made up for it this year. On his way home from work he stopped at all of the nearby gyms to check out prices, and then was going to sign me up, but wanted to run it by me so that I would be happy with the choice. This is the best birthday present ever! Now that it is getting dark at 4:30 and my kids start getting crazy about then, it is so nice to know that I get that break EVERY NIGHT to go and work out after dinner. It's not just the gym membership, but his wanting me to have that time. Very thoughtful. I have been without a gym for 5 years now, and it was a beautiful reunion there last night, and the best part was when I came home, the boys were both in bed, and I didn't even have to get them there.

Walk to the Park

Sand box at Whitnall Park
Stopping to draw. Lately, Will has taken a liking to drawing. Mostly, he likes to draw big trucks, but lately has been showing more interest in just drawing what he sees, so now on our walks or riding in the car he likes to have a notebook and marker to draw what is around him. It makes for longer walks, and a lot of yelling at us in the car to "Slow down!" or "Daddy, could you just stop driving, please?" because he gets mad when the bumps make him mess up, but all in all, what a great thing to like to do.

Isaac crunching the leaves.

Isaac, showing his goods. There is very little to be said about Isaac--a picture is worth a thousand words.

At the request of Charis--me. In addition to Will liking to draw pictures, he also really likes to take them. He took this one of me the other day. I have chosen to omit the ones of me still in bed in the morning. Nothing beats waking up to a flash, and Will saying, "Mama, say cheese!"

Winter Preparations

My favorite view in Whitnall Park

(although, not the greatest picture of it)

We have lived in Wisconsin a little over two years now. Since being here, I would say that I have learned A LOT! The things I have learned are of a great variety, but one thing stands out above the rest. I really don't like Wisconsin winters. I do, however, love Wisconsin the other 6 months of the year. (Yes, I'm saying winter is 6 months long here--if not, then it is stinkin' close) Wisconsin is more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. Bear with me now as a try to draw an analogy for you to explain the less desirable side of this great state.

I really like to go running, and who wouldn't if you were able to run with this as your backdrop? (see above picture) Running in an atmosphere like this does more for you than just getting in your recommended cardio, it really is peaceful...this is how I feel about living in Wisconsin most of the year. It's a good place to be. We live in a nice, seemingly safe area (I say seemingly because I could be surrounded by crazies and just not know it yet) our kids are happy, life is wonderful...peaceful. Then something unsettling happens.

Allow me to introduce you to my non-human arch nemesis.

(human arch nemesis...you know who you are)

College Ave. entering Whitnall Park

Most of my runs at Whitnall Park are just as I said before...peaceful, but every single run ends with this bad boy. This is the hill that we access to enter the park, and if you run down it then eventually, you are going to have to go back up it. I don't feel that these pictures do it justice, but let me explain to you what used to happen to me when the hill would come into view. About a 1/2 mile prior to this hill you have a great view of it, and it can seem pretty daunting. When I first started running it made me feel: 1) intimidated 2) queazy 3) short of breath, because as I approached it my breathing would get all funky, and then I'd start breathing too short and too fast, making the hill almost unbearable. It's one of those hills that when you get on it, you think after you're about half way up that you've finished the worst, but, that isn't so. The hill takes it up a notch, and gets steeper on you.

Looking down on the hill


What's my point? This hill is my winter! and like the hill, just when you think, "hey, I'm doing alright, this is going to be okay!" Not so--we hit the deep freeze of January and February and you just keep waiting for the thaw that should come at the end of March? April? oh, please let it be in May!! So, here is my new resolve. Through more preparation and consistency this hill has become a lot more bearable. I still usually don't look forward to it, but every once in a while I get that crazy look in my eye, and pump up it as hard as I can.

So...instead of the panic that has set in the previous two years as winter time approaches, I'm going to do my best to conquer the beast that is Wisconsin winter, and not let it make me intimidated, or queasy, or nervous. No more!

When we first moved here, our Bishop called us in for an interview, and he asked me if I suffer from seasonal depression. I thought that was the strangest thing to be asked, but now I get it! Introduce me to a fellow Wisconsinite who does not get a little loopy in the winter. This is my year to conquer and this is my plan:

1) Exercise every day (minus Sunday) I need those happy exercise endorphins pumping through me daily...without a steady supply, the wicked cold sucks them from your being making you feel lazy and fat!

2) Shower and get ready first thing in the morning. I don't do this now, but I think that it says something to be "ready" to go somewhere, even if you can't open your doors because they are frozen shut.

3) Learn to make my kids my friends. Winter is a time of great isolation here. You just don't take your kids out, because that is pretty much the equivalent of child abuse--You've heard the stories of how if you spit in the air it will freeze before it hits the ground? Same is true of little kids--they don't stand a chance. A walk from the grocery store to your car pretty much turns them into human novelty ice (you know, the ice that has the toy spiders in it--I can make those with my boys!)

4) Find a daily project. Whether it be tackling that one closet that you know is a mess even though nobody else knows or cares, or a craft for the boys. I think it will be important to be able to see something accomplished every day.

5) Get myself some proper winter wear. As of today, I own a coat, beanie, and those little "one-size-fits-all" knit gloves. I can tell you now--not sufficient. I am determined to embrace outdoor winter time here in Wisconsin. I need to be outside, and so do my boys, so we will need to be properly outfitted so that we don't lose our fingers, toes, or noses.

Perhaps, a silly list, but one I'm taking seriously. November is going to be my month of preparation. I feel like now that I've posted this, I am somehow accountable to you all for doing it. I would love to hear what you do to make winter time a wonderland and not hell frozen over. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Things That Make You Go, Hmm...

Every mom I know can relate to this. You are bustling around your house trying desperately to check some things off of that never ending "To-Do" list, all the while your kids are swarming under your feet creating havoc and mayhem. If they aren't whining they are being insane. Even with this, you manage to tune out the madness and keep going. Then, miraculously, the kids seem to kind of disappear. You notice this because you just finished something without having to do it three times over because they were there undoing what you had just done. Where could they be? What on earth are they doing? I suppose a better mom than me would actually go find the answers to these questions. Not me! Before I get all crazy and go chasing after them I stop and listen for screaming (not whining, but real screaming--there is almost always whining) I take a quick sniff of the air, and as long as nothing stands out as either fire or poop, I switch into hyper-drive to get as much done in this moment as possible. I will deal with whatever has occupied them later. Most of the time I just find a huge mess, but every once in a while I see something like this that just makes me go, hmm? (Isaac is the culprit linked to these particular events, but Will has been known to produce some real doozies as well)

I did hear Isaac yelling for me once, perhaps he thought I was in here, and if he could just manage these keys he would find me.
I have no explanation for this, other than he did it because he could?

This, however, makes perfect sense! Like a fool, I have been putting them IN the drawer, but they are much more accessible this way. Very clever!

It's Been too Long!

Every day, around 11:30, a similar course of events take place.

Me: Will is on his way home.

Isaac: Will's coming on the school bus?

Me: Yes

Isaac: I can't ride the school bus. I'm too little. (really, he says this every day)

Me: Do you want to wait outside

Isaac: YES!!

and the rest is documented in pictures for your enjoyment.

1: Isaac is waiting for the school bus
2: The school bus is getting closer! Isaac pulls out his binoculars for a better look.
3: "William's home! William's home!"



4: "Hi, Giggies!"
5: "Hey, mom. Isaac missed me."