Laying stuff out.

I got a new computer.  It's my birthday gift for this year...this time I'm thinking my birthday gift will stay MINE.  Sydney kind of took over my iPad.  And then Jeff just came out and said it was hers...and then it was.  BECAUSE I love her, I didn't fight it too much.  But this year?  I'm not budging.  This computer is mine, and mine only.  And I'm not sharing.  BAM.
That being said, I'm pretty psyched to be able to blog in super-style.  Maybe I'll start posting more regularly.  Or, maybe not.  Maybe I'll have to start Skyping with all my many boyfriends, since my new fancy computer has a webcam. We'll have to see.  It's harder than you'd think to be this hi-tech; just so many options. 

                            (Jeff and me almost exactly a year ago.....time is going way too fast)
These last two weeks have been jam-packed.  Well, jam-packed for me.  My brother came to visit for a week, and it was a lot of fun. Well, it was for me and the kids...I'm assuming you all can guess how Jeff reacted to it. Yep... in our room for five straight days. You know, sometimes I forget how different our lives are from everyone else's.  I mean, does this surprise me or the kids?  No.  Is it something that other people just don't understand?  Yes. After 13 years, I've accepted that there are things about Jeff that are permanent--like his hatred of social expectations.  Just like he's accepted there are things about me that are permanent--my NEED to be social.  I guess I'm putting this out there, because even after all this time, people still don't believe me when I try to explain that this is the way we work.  It's weird, yes.  It's awkward for others, yes.  But honestly I'm married to my best friend.  I love him more than words can say, and I know that he loves me and the kids.  We see it daily.  I'll trade awkward moments any day over being married to someone that is the life of the party, yet maybe wouldn't be as tuned into me or our little ones. I hope that makes sense, because that's how it is.  And I won't apologize for it, anymore.  To my family, or anyone else.  It's time to accept it, and just move on.  Whew...that felt really great to just freely put out there. My siblings see that the kids and I are happy, and they try to understand our family dynamic. That's all I ask.  Just for people to try.
Anyhoo, I  got to know my brother, Jayson, a little better. One of the things he said to me was he saw how great Riley and Cole and Sydney are.  He knows they live in a family that truly loves them, and they feel good here.  He told me that was proof that whatever our parenting style is, it's working.  And working well.  Amen.

Jayson came home from his second deployment to Iraq at the first part of November.  I was nervous about how it would be with him here.  But it was great.  After a couple days Syd was used to him, and enjoying his company as well.  I worried that I'd have to continually entertain him, and since we are boring people, that was a little nerve-wracking.  However, he was chill, and even though we were busier than we normally are, it was chill and relaxed and we ate a ton.  So, you know--good times.
He surprised me with a year membership to Gold's Gym.  I'm loving it. So much.  Today Muffy and I met at the one in Orem and I did some weights, (pathetically), and then hopped on the elliptical machine for a while.  One thing I know is that working out makes me feel really good about myself.  Maybe I can't physically see the results?  But it can't be as bad as just NOT doing anything, right? I want Jeff to go with me.  Just to try it.  And I know he will, for me.  Cause that's how he is.

  Hope you all take time to appreciate the one/ones you love.  Because they're most important.  Faults and all.  Later Dudes.  I'm starting my birthday week......right now.  :)

Halloween

It's been a weird couple of weeks, honestly.  My condolences and prayers go out to all the Andersons.  The oldest of the Anderson kids went into a coma last week. It was sudden and serious and it's been really scary ever since.  I'm hoping that the family and friends find some comfort.  They deserve that. 
It feels too soon to be into November already, doesn't it?  I've been enjoying the weather...and have felt more energetic.  So, you know...Yay Me!  
Syd is officially going to preschool starting December 9th.  Jeff and I had been struggling with this decision.  Not because we didn't want her to, but she's just so little, you know?  Right after she turns 3, she'll be getting up early on Friday and I'll send her onto a bus, and she'll be gone for 2 1/2 hours.  Ugh.  It kind of kills me.  And I was so against this, as first.  But then I took her into the classroom, to meet with her possible teacher, and saw how her eyes lit up. We went in at the last part of an ongoing class, and the kids were sitting in a circle, listening to a story.  Syd was completely mesmerized. She literally could NOT sit still, despite all the warnings I whispered to her.  She kept moving closer and closer to the other kids, copying what they were doing, and trying to join in.  And that, for me, was proof enough that this is something that she needs to do.  She WANTED to be with the other kids, and that's not how she usually is.  So I'm excited for her.  I'm trying to be happy that she'll be doing something that I'm sure she'll love, but I'm also kind of scared.  And heartbroken.  My baby....she's growing up. 

Halloween was fun for all of us.  We went out before the actual day--had a couple parties to attend and then on the actual day, we let Riley and Cole go out with friends and took Syd to a few houses until it got dark.  She loved trick-o-treating.  It took her a while to figure out that when people opened their doors, that DID NOT mean she was allowed to just go on inside their home.  But as soon as she realized they had some sort of obligation to give her candy?  She was running to each house, right after the other. 

Pretty much the most adorable cupcake I've ever seen.  Right?  Right. Riley was Medusa, and Cole was a skeleton.  Riley was a little concerned that she wasn't pretty enough, but I tried to convince her that she chose to be Medusa.  A lady with snakes in her hair is NOT sexy.  Nor should she try to be.  So the fact that Riley assumed she should be, was a little unsettling to me. Later on she told me that she liked her costume, but I was still a little sickened about the need to have to be something attractive for Halloween.  Remember when you were supposed to be scary? Yeah, those were the good old days.

Anyway, they all made fantastic hauls.  We have no lack of candy at our house--STILL.  And it's been almost an entire month.  My thighs are loving it.