A Peek at Christmas...

First Words

Parker's Words at 20 months:

• Dada
• Mama
  
• EEEEEE (for Ellie. I guess that's not really a word...)
• dog
• bear (and a bear just says "Bear")
  
• hot
• hat
• Brrrrr
• meow
• woof
• Moo!
• Baaaaaa (sheep)
• Maaaa (goat)
  
• howwwlllll (like a wolf)
• Raaarrrr!! (Monster & Dinosaur)
  
• tweet tweet (birds!)
• Bird
  
• yeah
• ugh oh!
• no no!
  
• yuk
• yum
• ouchy
• that
  
• Ho Ho Ho (Santa!)
  
• ooh ooh ahh ahh (monkey!!)
• Joe (the cat)
• Grandpa
• Truck! Truck! Truck!
• Batman
• Mickey!
• Bubble
• Balloon
  

Quote of the Day: "Mommy, if you have another baby you should name her Peaches. That would be a lovely name for a baby...." ~E

Haircuts

The kiddos got their hair cut by my friend, Melissa.

They look super-duper cute.
But they still hate to have their pictures taken.....

Eliana got bangs. They make her look so grown-up.

And out of nowhere Parker is looking like a little man.
I mean, really, look at him in a sweater vest....

Outta the Box

I'm having a hard time with transparency lately. Writing a blog is a.) a great way for me to post stuff about our little life and the kids for our family who are all over this great US of A and the rest of the world, and b.) kind of annoying when you're a relatively private person who doesn't really like to offer too much and gets put off when she learns too much about other people's lives via the "interwebs," as Dan & Alisha like to call this whole internet thing.

Oh, technology and that whole love/hate/curse/blessing debate.....

One of my cousin's wrote a blog about Facebook stalking a while ago and how much time people spend peeking into the lives of complete strangers. And others I know both offer and find out way too much private stuff online. As though we are all "snowflakes" who need shout about our individuality All. Day. Long. (Note to self: Go watch Fight Club, again.)

So I criticize and yet I am a part of all of it. What a lame conundrum. So with that, here's some stuff about me and what makes me awesome!!!

Derrick and I hosted an "Out of the Box" wine party where we blind taste tested a bunch of boxed wines and crowned a winner: Fish Eye Pinot Nior. It was super fun with the super best of people. Wine, snacks and tons of laughs = perfect Saturday night.

Also, I'm loving this song. It's angst-y and silly and makes me want to be as passionate about life as I was when I was 20. It also makes me want to dance my face off.

Thankful

Sometimes you don't know what you want until you get something else....and that something is wrong. It feels wrong, it looks wrong, it's just wrong. Why is it that it can be so hard to be thankful for where you are in your life? In the moment. The here and now.

I'm one who focuses on the here and now. Don't get me wrong, I am also a planner, but I love individual moments and you have to kind of pay attention or those will pass you by without thought. And when I thought I'd return to work, on a part-time basis as I can't really stand to be away from the "babes" for too long, I thought it would all be great. And I'm sure there would be aspects that I would love. A girl can still enjoy the little things while being a grown up out in the real world. Such as hot coffee, the kind that is still hot...and not lukewarm and then cold by the time I get to drink it, and clothes that say "Hi, I'm amazing," as opposed to "Hi, I have baby boogers on my sleeve." You know, little things.

But when an actual opportunity was presented, it was wrong. And it made me think of all the things I would miss. And that I already had what I wanted. Even though I complain about it. Life is tough. On one hand, I like money. On the other, I love my kids. But we kind of threw the notion of having money out the window when we had kids...so I guess we just embrace the here and now. And dream about weeks long European vacations for somewhere down the road.

And until that day, thank you to everyone in my life who is so crazy as to support me no matter what I do and what I want. My amazing past-life co-workers (...and current great friends) who gave rave reviews of my professional life and my fantastic family who would do just about anything to help me achieve what ever it might be that I've posted on the docket for the day.....

Okay. I gotta go clean the house, take out the dirty diapers and give the kids a bath before preschool!! Hooray my life!!

They're Heeeerrrreee....

And all of a sudden we find ourselves amidst the holidays. Leaves falling. Halloween. First snows. Before I know it I'll be recovering from New Year's and wondering were the last two months went. Our Halloween was wonderful if not a little different from years past...no big party but lots of cute little Trick-or-Treaters! Three wonderfully carved pumpkins! Lots of yummy goodies...and lots of fun.

And our first snow of the season was chilly and wet but P & Elle didn't seem to mind. They were dressed and out on the deck by 8:05 a.m. Here's to many more chilly mornings, hot cups of coffee (or cocoa) and fluffy warm coats.

Time Travelin'

Time goes by too fast. I found this the other day and laughed my face off. It's ittle Elle, somewhere around 2, telling me about her baby toes...

Ain't Love Grand(parents)

I'm pretty sure you can never fully appreciate your parents until you have your own children. Only then with the late nights and the cold, neglected meals and the bare bank accounts do you get what they sacrificed, and worked for, and focused on just to get little old you to ripe old age of 18....and beyond.

My parents divorced more than 20 years ago and yet I've never felt like a "broken home" kid (and I despise that term). And now that I have my own kids I have more respect for the strict rules, the no-nonsense approach to teaching right and wrong, and the way they could make almost anything funny, which makes it a lot more difficult to throw a temper tantrum. They always did their best to be there even if it always looked different and they couldn't do it together.

And as I got to watch each of them find new people to make them happy and bring them into our lives (Jim is particularly good at eating Chinese food with Ellie, and Cherlyn is fantastic with a box of Crayolas and a coloring book,) I also get to watch them be grandparents, and bring new little people into their lives.

Today Eliana had a special Halloween Craft Day with Grandma Judy. Complete with "Lil' Green Meanies" and "Baked Bugs." The little Bug was all aglow when I opened the door as she stood with her tray of treats. She was so proud of herself and her special time away from her little brother (and me.)

And Parker stayed home with me while Grandpa Ron came over to fix the door that I ripped off the door frame with my massive muscles. Parker was Grandpa's Little Helper and made sure to check all of the screws after they were put in. Apparently Parker's no slouch and he doesn't appreciate shoddy work. Better watch it, Grandpa.

I've always felt lucky to come from such a great family. As I grow up (or try to, at least) the feeling only deepens. I love you, Mom & Dad. Thanks for being such great Grandparents (in totally different ways.)

Quotes of the Day:
"I'll love you always and forever, Mommy. Even when I'm big." ~ Ellie
"I just waited for 10 minutes to hear the announcers say 'Tacos!!' when the Nuggets scored 100 points. I guess they're not doing it this year. This sucks." ~ Pope
"Parker's" ~ Parker, when showing me his plastic pumpkin full of candy....

Sum it Up

Today I have lots of thoughts and little time. So there's this because it's awesome:

The Sassy Curmudgeon: Should Morons Get a Voice (Even in a Shitty C-List Magazine?)

Sweet Dreams

My darling husband has a beautiful voice. I'm not sure if that's what you say about a man's voice...I'm sure I should say "amazing" or "strong" or something but he doesn't really sing that often (seriously, that is) except for when he's singing our children to sleep.

It's probably one of the sweetest things I've ever heard and one of the memories I will keep with me forever. He would sing to Ellie for hours when she was a baby. And while Parker has been highly attached to a specific "Mommy & Parker" routine at bedtime he's missed out on some of the Daddy singing. Until the other night.

I listened to the song from outside Parker's bedroom door and didn't see the little man again until 14 hours later. Those Daddy songs. They do the trick. And I even sing and hum the song, too, and that's quite the feat as I was not blessed with musical talent. So here's a little song that makes a lot of little people in this house happy, sung by one of my favorites, Kristin Chenoweth.

The Deal-i-o (with Pictures)

The fact that I haven't been interested in posting anything about recent events is probably a good thing. We've had really good stuff going on and I've kind of been all about enjoying said events instead of blogging said events. We've been having a rather wonderful fall and I'm in love with the cooler days, the turning leaves and little holiday projects and outings with the little Elle & Park.

So here's my book-report style run-down of all the fun stuff. Put to page more for my memory than anything else. Please to enjoy...

1.) My Cousin's Big, Phat Chicago Wedding: Oh, I had the most fun running out to Chicago for the biggest family wedding since my own family wedding, and that was more than 6 years ago. I loved the (brief) moments with my aunts, uncles and cousins and being a part of such a beautiful day. And I don't mean to brag, but it was nice being with kin with hair as good as mine. (Even if I don't actually know what to do with mine in the presence of humidity. I live in Colorado. I only encounter humidity when I travel.) That Sepsey hair. It's definitely a dominate gene.



2.) Eliana is a big girl: Eliana got to go to "Monkey Cheese" as her reward for being completely potty trained for over a month now. I'm pretty sure "Monkey Cheese" is her combination of Mickey Mouse and Chucky Cheese. I love to hear her say it. And I'm so proud of her.

3.) Pumpkin Patches: We had a trip to the pumpkin patch and had way too much fun. Have I mentioned that I love fall??




4.) Parker is a Talky-Face: Parker is talking so much! Among his favorite words of the moment are Truck, Grandpa and Batman. He LOVES batman. I have also decided that Parker is destined to be the next Usher. He could have his daddy's voice, he loves to dance and he'll probably only be 5 feet tall....

5.) Game Nights: We had our friends Nurni & Uncle Grabe (nicknames to protect the innocent) over for game night. We're hoping to make it a regular thing and even get a few more people involved (like the Smiths? So many aliases.) We love playing cards. And a few bottles of wine doesn't hurt, either.

6.) Breakfast: I had a baby-free breakfast with my forever-friend Penny on Sunday morning before Pope ran off to the Bronco game. Seriously. I think I've known her forever. And we're the kind of friends that no one thinks should even really be friends because we're so different. But that's what I love. Oh, and it was at Racines, and cup after cup of delicious coffee was enjoyed too. Can't get any better than that.

Next up, a trip to Central City & Halloween!

Come Back

This album has come back into circulation in the old Pope house. Found it after being lost after the move. (How long do I get to blame missing things on the move? Months? Years?)

It just seems like a good one for fall....

Together

I've been remiss in blogging efforts lately as we've had so much going on. Trips to see the leaves change. Visits to local museums. Walks through the Gardens. All in good time, I suppose. But here's a sneak peak at what's been keeping us so busy.

Love you all, my family.

Just Makes Me Happy

Birthday Girl

So we hosted our little niece's first birthday last week and it was super sweet. And totally nuts. I think I may have woke up the next morning with a hang-over. And the strongest thing I had to drink all evening was a pomegranate Izze.

Happy Birthday little Rylee!!

The Gift of Guilt

Sometimes I read things and the only good it does me is that I feel guilty for not being the person whom I just read about. I'm not talking about Cosmo cover girls or Playboy Playmates (because my husband swears there is actual reading material in there,) I'm talking about the proliferation of "Mommy" blogs and the armies of Martha Stewart wannabes.

I love them and hate them. Those mommies. (Similar to my feelings about fashion magazines but that's a dilemma for another day.)

Who are these women who never have a bad day home with their 12 home-schooled children? And when did they have time to make milk-jug jack-o-lanterns, a home-cooked meal, all of their children's clothes and a set of curtains?? I'm baffled. And sometimes it brings out "the guilt."

Besides the fact that these people might actually be robots it seems to me that there lies a bit of "I'm better than you" in a lot of parent conversation, internet-based or otherwise. And for what purpose? We're all in the same (poopie-diaper smelling) boat. (But seriously, I am going to make those milk-jug jack-o-lanterns. They are pretty cool. Link here.)

I was recently reading a thread about healthy snacks for toddlers (as I was informed by mine that the snack I packed for preschool pretty much sucked) I read about 50 moms try to one-up one another about the extremes they each go to achieve the coveted goal of "healthy food for kids."

"I only give my kids whole wheat crackers and natural yogurt with raw honey."

"Oh, whole wheat crackers?! Only whole GRAIN crackers in my house. And raw ORGANIC honey from virgin bees." (okay, I made that last part up.)

Why the guilt?? Isn't parenting hard enough without the one-ups and you-sucks?? I know people offer the information as quasi-suggestions but usually they just come across as bragging. And a little insane.

I give my kids organic hamburger. And sometimes Cheese-Its. Because they are awesome. And while I try not to keep Doritos in the house because I will eat the whole bag, it doesn't mean Ellie won't eat you out of house and home if you have them at your next BBQ. Because they are awesome.

I see it all as a balancing act. A little of this, a little of that. A generally clean house, mostly happy kids, usually smiling parents, frequently delicious home-cooked food. You know. Balanced.

And in my brief moments I am trying to be a better mommy, inspired by fleeting moments of guilt perhaps, but a better mommy is a better mommy. So Ellie and I have been doing some projects, rooms are getting painted and put together in this little house, husbands are being admired and adored, and kids are regularly being loved and squeezed.

Beat that. Hehe.

School Days

Eliana started preschool last week. She was so excited. Always a little apprehensive at first, but quick to warm up and jump in the game, my little bug took off and flew happily into this next new phase.

Like anything I seem to do, I had been a little apprehensive, too. But I knew she would love it. And that it would be a wonderful thing for her. And it is.

She's talked all week about all of her new friends and her new teacher and the prayer they sing before they eat snack and playing on the playground. She's sad on the days when she doesn't get to go.

Good luck this year, my little Bug. Fill that brain of yours with only the best stuff. And know that I love you immensely.

QOD: "I love my new friends." ~ Ellie-Bellie
"Hot, hot, hot, hot, hot....." ~ Parker Pie (about the apparent condition of our back deck)

I'm the Dude

My mind is polluted lately with all the things I want to do but haven't yet accomplished. The problem is that it's a long, long list of desires that are all completely and desperately mutually exclusive.

Such as...I want to play with the kids and take them to the park and the library and swimming and I also want to finish about 100 house projects.

And then...I want to create more fun family time when Derrick is here and I also want more solitary Veronica time.

And maybe...I want to go back and get that Master's (and be a Little Lebowski Urban Achiever) and I want to go back to work and I want to stay home with my babies (because it's finally getting a little bit easier!! Why would I give up my chance for the first "break" I've had in years? This is the hardest job I've ever had and I'm gonna "tender my resignation" as soon as I see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel?)

As the Big Lebowski, The Dude, would say, "Too many thoughts in the ole Duder's head."

As you might realize, there are a lot of difference between me and the Dude. But we have a lot in common. Okay so the Dude wasn't a stay-at-home mom but I feel his pain.

I'm stalled. I spend a lot of time waiting for someone to come "fix the cable" and with recent potty training efforts I'm quite sure that the rug has been micturated upon. Several times. I've got some growing emotional problems....beyond Pacifism.

And I'm looking for the answer by doing relatively nothing but waiting to see what information the world will provide me. I feel like I need to have a plan, because that's my thing. And a late-night fight between me and the Mr. a month or so ago revealed that I have to start doing more for me...just me. So I've started back to Yoga because I love it and stalking style blogs because I love fashion (and currently ignoring the fact that I have no where to wear a cute black French Connection mini-skirt) and spending a little time being me. And pondering my next steps.

Maybe I should just go bowling...

QOD: "Mommies don't work!! They stay home with babies!! And I'm pretty sure they don't go to school. That's a good deal." ~EKP

Adventures with Babies

I keep referring to our children as "the babies" and Eliana doesn't really appreciate this anymore. She, of course, is a big girl. And here is our big girl on a fake horse in Steamboat Springs. She REALLY wants a horse. Really. She told me about ALL THE WAY HOME FROM STEAMBOAT. Some days she drives me crazy. But she's so smart and so aware of everything in her little world that it's actually more amazing than annoying. Most of the time....

I took the kiddos up to Steamboat with my mom and dad and my grandmas, the kid's great-grandmas, for a few days of vacation. Why is it that vacation never feels like vacation with babies?? Excuse me, "baby" and "big girl"?? My mom informs me that you have to do the "hard time" and travel with them a lot, take them out to eat, and make them sit through Church (and they never actually have to do that last one...for now...) so that they are sweet, well-behaved cherubs when they're bigger. And I do have to admit Eliana is AMAZING in restaurants. She's so well behaved it's shocking sometimes. And Parker....well, I guess I'm just doing my "time" with that one.

Sweet Parker is just a crazy little boy. I love the age he's at though as I can actually see him learning. He practiced saying "Papa" under his breath for two minutes while walking across a bridge so he could say it out loud when Papa Jim picked him up. He's also quite convinced that every animal is a bear or a dog and they all say ''Moo."

Of all the things that drive me crazy in my day and in my life seeing how much Eliana and Parker really, truly love each other makes it all about 1000x better. They play and hug and chase and give each other good night kisses. I love that we have been able to give them each other. They'll have each other (if all goes according to plan) for the rest of their lives. It's the best thing we've ever done.

Old School

Happy 6 Year Anniversary, love.

Backyard Water Park

Quote of the Day: "You have to turn on the hose, Mom. The sun said I could play in the water." ~Eliana

Lazy River

With a house full of family and a what feels like a long, hot summer, my father-in-law, Jack, had the brilliant idea to go to Water World last week. We packed up the cars and made it for a whole afternoon. I had the distinct pleasure of riding along in a tube on the Lazy River with Parker. He LOVED Water World. What do you know!?! He might really be my son after all....

He waved at all the people, splashed in the water, giggled with delight, and when he snatched my sunglasses off my head and I playfully demanded that he give them back he cocked his head and gave me a big fat, "No!" He's 15 months old. And with that, I think, my baby Parker was gone.

He's acting so much older all of a sudden. He said "Blueberries" yesterday and "Grandma" this morning. He's paying attention to everything and he's learned he can actually tackle Ellie, knock her down, and pin her to the floor. He's 15 months old. Bye, bye Baby Parker. I love the little boy you are becoming. (Tackling Ellie included. I'm sure she deserves it.) How is it that a baby is just a baby for what seems like forever and then one day - not a baby. I'm glad I got the moment with him at Water World. It seemed like a little secret between me and him.

In other news we've got a list of things we still need to accomplish before these summer sands run out. Like a trip to Steamboat Springs with the parents and grandmas, a mountain retreat with all of the siblings when brother Dan and family get back from Japan, my cousin's wedding in Chicago and a few more house projects like painting the kids bedroom furniture. Not so lazy after all....

Quote of the Day:
"I love my Aunt Emma cuz she's all grown-up like me. And I love my cousin Cole because he's soooo handsome," ~Eliana

The Way Things Are

If I know anything, and sometimes I think I do, it's that the world will sometimes disappoint you. Maybe you made the wrong choice, maybe you trusted the wrong person, maybe you did the wrong thing, or maybe something crummy simply left you a little disillusioned. It happens. Too often.

But these things ultimately result in something better. Somewhere down the road you end up making better decisions, or being more careful about who and how you trust, or trying to be a better person just for yourself. This too happens.

From this vein come some news and life lessons:

1.) We took Eliana & Parker to a Rockies game. It was fun. Parker really liked it and probably would have watched all day. But eventually things with Ellie became a bit trying and our stay was relatively brief. We stopped by the totally packed kids playground, walked out of the stadium for some Dulce de Leche gelato and were driving back home by the sixth inning. As we were leaving Pope said, "This is why my mom never took us anywhere." Hmmm. Indeed.

2.) The baby brother is in love. It's adorable. It is publicly known that I completely despised the last girlfriend. She was terrible!! I could write for days of my disgust but I will not. No one needs to see me be that ugly. But from her he learned what real love is supposed to look like. And it looks like he's been able to find it. I am so happy for him.

I'm also instituting a "Quote of the Day" for the old blog because I want to remember all of the funny things that are said on a daily basis in our house. So someday our kids will repeat them to their kids and I will be genuinely satisfied....

Quote of the Day: Ellie, on me presumably brushing her hair to hard, "Mommy, stop!! You're brushing too hard!! You're hurting me twicer and twicer!!" ~ What??