Bella Mia Joia

And the search is over. Hours of research, numerous emails, and many phone calls to breeders ended today when we discovered the bulldog of our dreams. When we first saw her we fell absolutely in love and dialed the breeder right away. Not too long after we put down the deposit that will hold her for us until she is old enough to officially become ours.

I'd like to introduce you to Bella Mia Joia, translated My Girl Merry. She is six weeks old right now, which means we have a two week wait until she is old enough to leave her mama. She is in Tennessee right now, but her breeders have kindly agreed to fly her up to us when the time comes, so the middle of January will find Evan and I in an airport waiting for our little girl.

You'll see much more of Joia in the posts to come, and so The Search for the Perfect Bully will be ending, and Joia will be joining the ranks of the other subjects in my life I deem important enough for their own label.

And so the countdown begins......

Wrinkles Galore!

OK, can't wait. In my last post I mentioned another upcoming "new" in our house. I was going to wait to announce it until he/she arrived, but it's taking too long! So here we go....

We're getting a bulldog! Evan has always wanted one and we've been spending massive amounts of time lately researching good breeders in our area. We've narrowed it down to a few prospective breeders and their litters due 2008. We want to make sure that we find just the right bully for our family.

Why a bulldog you ask? Many reasons, the top of our list being...

1. They are ridiculously cute.

2. They love kids.

3. They are calm and don't require as much exercise or room as larger more active dogs.

4. They are fiercely loyal and protective to their homes and families. If a burglar were breaking in chances are he wouldn't be too happy after meeting a bulldog. Further, because they are so loyal to their homes and people, they don't even like leaving their yard without their humans.

5. Have I mentioned they are adorable?

Yes, there are downsides. Bulldogs have some inherent health problems (which is why we're being so choosy about the breeder), they fart, and they snore. You also need to wipe them down daily to avoid skin and odor problems. We've decided we can live with all of this in light of all their great attributes.

Anyway, adding a new label...The Search for the Perfect Bully. Look for details of our quest in the future!

Gone for another year....

I am back baby!

The hiatus was a little longer than previously planned, but I couldn't find time or energy in the midst of the holiday bustle to type even a quick note!

Christmas went well, the time with family was nice and the kids were spoiled rotten! The grandparents (ok, Ev and I too) went out of control with the toy buying. Evan bought me a beautiful necklace with the kids' birthstones, a ring, and best of all, an Ipod with tons of accessories! I love it all. His mom gave us a gift certificate for a bed and breakfast in Coeur d'Alene, which we loved.

Best of all, we bought ourselves a gift...a new mattress set! We've been having such a hard time with the old one, waking up stiff and sore and for me, with headaches. Last night was our first night on the new one, and it was so nice!

There might be another new in the near future, although I won't say anything more now. Guess you'll have to keep checking back...

It's Almost that Time...

I decided to do it! Next week I will officially be joining the Spokane Boxing Club, where I will take classes with Tracy's husband Nalo. Boxing is one of the best lean muscle/aerobic exercises you can get, and I hope that three nights a week will help me tone up the areas that jiggle a little too much for my liking. Best of all, Tracy has decided to do it with me, so I get to learn with her. We did a practice session on Friday, and I was sore for days after. It really kicked my butt!

I'm finally done with Christmas shopping as well (WOOHOO!), so no last minute shopping this year. All my presents are wrapped and stacked neatly in my bedroom awaiting delivery.

Ellery is finally feeling better, she was in a horrible mood most of the weekend. I think Aidyn managed not to get it this time, so hopefully the holidays will be pleasant and relaxing with no sick kiddos.

Tonight I'm off to look for some wool covers, I've decided to invest in some for a more economical diaper solution. More on that at a later date....

That's all I have to report for now!

This, that, and the kitchen sink....

Good frosty morning!

I love the morning after a snowfall, when you look outside and the world is white and glittering. It seems so fresh and quiet. As I shoveled my walk this morning, I savored the few minutes to myself in the darkness, nothing but the sound of my shovel, everything around me still and beautiful. I love this time of year!

I've been spending quite a bit of time on MDC. I ended up making a contribution, which means they gave me some added features, like adding an avatar (I used a photo of Tracy's that I love), improved profile, more inbox space, and the one I like best, a cooler siggy! I've been getting so many good ideas from the women on there, and I've even managed to meet some moms from Spokane! We're planning to get together and meet after the holidays. Fun!

Ely girl is feeling sickly today, she spent most of last night trying to hack up a lung. We were going to go hang out with our friend Becky today, but decided we better skip it, so today will be an indoor, relaxing type of day I think. I have to go brave the post office (I hate the PO during the holidays) and get my oil changed this afternoon. This weekend is full of activites we've committed to, including a graduation party, a night at our friends' house, church (of course), and a birthday party. Whew!

I plan on updating the recipe of the week later today. Yes, I'm well aware that it has been orange rolls for the better part of two months....sue me. I think maybe I'll just rename it the "Recipe of the whenever I feel like changing it".

Tawny Stillar, Domestic Engineer

I was having a talk with Evan last night about the future. It seems like I'm always trying to find a purpose, a direction to go. I've been thinking, well, what am I going to do someday when my children are older? I was thinking, what makes me truly happy? The answer, when it dawned on me, was so simple and blatant. So here is my new life plan, what I want to be when I'm "grown up"...

I want to be the best mother I can. My children will never have to ask if I am going, because they will know that I will be in the first row. I will be there to pick them up and drop them off at every activity they wish to pursue. I will support their dreams. I will help with homework. Most of all, I will love the dickens out of them and put their welfare and needs ahead of my own.

I want to be the best wife I can be. I will support my husband's career and goals. I will complain less and give backrubs more. I will make sure his clothes are clean and he comes home to a good meal. I will be there to listen when he's had a bad day. I will be his biggest fan and cheer him on.

I want to be the best neighbor I can. I will welcome new faces with cookies and a smile. I will wave while we shovel our walks and always offer a helping hand.

I want to be the best housewife I can. I will make a home that is filled with love even if it lacks material goods. I will take pride in keeping it clean and comfortable and warm. I will cook delicious meals for those I love and provide a safe haven for my family.

I want to be the best human I can. I will smile at those others pass by, I will help those who can't help themselves. I will spend time, energy, and money to reach out to those who need a hand.

I want to be the best Christian I can. I want to have a heart like His. I want to do what He leads me to do. I want to be open to His word and works, so that if he sees fit he can use me for His purpose.

These may not be lofty goals, nor are any of them lucrative in any way. Mother, wife, neighbor and friend were all unpaid postitions last time I checked, and I can't tell you how many times I get the pasted smile when I say I am simply a housewife, but I suddenly don't feel the need to make an excuse or try to find a different path. Society may think of what I do as lowly or unvaluable, but my family and the people around me appreciate what I do. It's time I started to as well.

Silver Bells, Silver Bells, It's Christmastime in the City

Good Morning from Tawnyland!

The first piece of news is that my carpet, who I've long believed is the devil, is finally clean. I broke down, got sick of trying to do it myself, and called Stanley Steemer. They are soft and fluffy again, and best of all, I got an enzyme treatment which takes out all the old bacteria and soaps. I guess soap building up is what causes all the dirt to begin with, because it gives the grime a place to stick. The SS guys don't use any soap, they use mostly water and a small amount of surfactants, which are non toxic cleansers. I guess they used to have a guy who worked with them who would actually swig the stuff in front of customers to show how harmless it was. Crazy, I know. Anyway, the carpet is stain free...well, almost. The crystal light, now banned from our house, of a previous post remains. The SS guy said he could remove it, but it was going to cost me $75/half hour. Needless to say, I was not about to dish that out, but he was nice enough to show me the process so that I could do it myself. I plan on doing that while the kids nap today.

The rest of today involves some playtime with the kids, some cruising on my new favorite site, laundry, dishes, and all the usual cleaning, and perhaps some organizing of the toys. Every year at Christmas the grandparents spoil the kids rotten with toys, and so a few weeks before, mommy must go through every block and car and get rid of the broken and discarded, and donate the gently used. I started in Aidyn's room yesterday, and now I just need to finish up with Ely. I also need to get on the kids' presents, as that's the only shopping I have left. We have been so blessed this holiday season, and it has been nice not to worry about money and be able to get our loved ones special gifts, as well as give back to people who are a little strapped this year. It really is better to give than to receive.

I also need to get a jump on Christmas cards, they came in last night so I need to print out my holiday letter, stuff the envelopes, and address them all. Hopefully I ordered enough! I'm also going to put together a grocery list of all the ingredients for my holiday baking. From now until New Year's the smell of warm cookies and cinnamon will waft from my kitchen. Have I mentioned I LOVE this time of year? Now if I could just get a little more snow....

And So It Is.....

Welcome to my very slow paced day. The chores are done, the kids are napping, and my feet are up (for the moment).

I've been spending time on this HUGE forum that I just joined, Motheringdotcommune. It's a natural parenting site sponsered by Mothering magazine. I've been there before but was too intimidated to join, but yesterday I finally plucked up the courage and signed up, and I've been posting like mad ever since. There is so much information and support, it makes my cloth diapering, extended nursing, attached heart jump for joy! It's nice to find support for my parenting ideas and see that others are benefiting from it as well.

I also have been reading a new cookbook I bought yesterday that I've been perusing. It's called, "Food No Matter What! Stories and Recipes for Perfect Dining in and Imperfect World", and it's hysterical. They have food for any situation, and I mean any. My favorites so far are "Nailing down dinner, menus for the woman who just had a manicure", "Dinner ad nauseum, dinners you can make while nauseated", and "The invasion of Normandy, entertaining cooks better than you". Hilarious!

The only negative part of my day is this small problem that is bothering me. Last year I had a cookie party, and invited Evan's family over to decorate Christmas cookies. It was a lot of fun, and after talking with his sisters, I decided to do it again. I decided to spruce it up this year and went out and bought all sorts of goodies, including door prizes for best cookie and such. At our brunch on Sunday, Evan's mom suddenly says, "Oh, by the way, we're doing cookies next weekend." I was kind of flabbergasted and said, I thought I was doing that, I already bought everything. She says, Oh, just bring it. Now this is not something his family ever did, last year it was my idea and I planned it alone. They just decided to do it this year without even asking me. I know this may seem stupid, but here is why it matters so much to me. Every year we spend Christmas here. I don't even ask to go home, because with snowy roads and Christmas costs, it doesn't make much sense, so we just stay here with his family. And every year, I follow their traditions. Christmas cookies and candies were a big deal in my family, and that was the motiviation behind my party last year...establishing a familiar tradition of my own here. I feel like they just took it away without even asking me, and it's been bothering me for days now.

OK, enough ranting and raving. I'm off to read my funny cookbook!

Sounds Like A Case of The Mondays!

Do you ever have days where it seems like nothing goes right and everything you touch fizzles and dies? Boy did I have a whopper yesterday. So bad that upon waking up this morning, I ran a mental review to assess exactly what I did that started the landslide that was my life yesterday. The first mistake was breakfast, or lack thereof as I immediately began my chores without so much as a multi vitamin in my stomach. Which is why this morning finds me with a large protein shake and yogurt (and a multi vitamin!) sitting calmly at my keyboard before the momentum of my day picks up.

So why was yesterday such a bomb, you ask? Well, let me enlighten you....

It started in a jumble as I tried to multitask the cleaning of my weekend-messy home and keeping up with kids. Nothing too bad. When naps came I swapped my usual half hour down time for laundry, power cleaning, organising some closets, and wrapping more Christmas presents. Feeling a great sense of accomplishment, I finished just in time to go scoop Ely out of her crib and cuddle her for a moment before her brother's door opened and heralded the official end of nap time.

From here, things begin to get hazy, but I believe it started with the tempers. The usual rosy, sleepy smiles that follow nap time were replaced by angry eyebrows and some serious whining. It continued for three hours. I had planned to take some candids of the kids in these cute little antlers so I could get my Christmas cards ordered. Not one to be deterred, I pressed on. I was nearly crying by the end of twenty minutes. They tore the antlers off, ran away, cried, and generally raised havoc.

A good depiction of our photo shoot.

Aidyn actually pooped right in the middle, so I took a break to change his diaper. Right as I was done, they actually sat down, so I grabbed up my camera and tried to snap a few before they ran in all directions again. I did manage to grab a decent shot before Ely ran away, straight into the diaper I'd left on the floor when I snatched the camera back up. Not only did she run into it, she picked it up and started flinging it around. Needless to say, a bath followed. In the bath, Aidyn, for reasons known only to himself, bit Ely's finger...hard. She retaliated by pinching him. No ordinary pinch, a pinch that lasted two minutes and took both Dani and myself to pry off. And so, the kids exited the bath screaming. I thought, well, they just need a little drink. Aidyn requested juice, which he hadn't had for several days, so I went to get some and discovered we were out. Milk? No, juice. Water? No, juice. I improvised with watered down Crystal Light. I took a quick trip to the bathroom to drain the tub, and returned to the living room to discover what happens when two naughty children take the lids off of their cups and empty the contents onto the nice off white carpet. At this point, I actually did cry. Twenty minutes of scrubbing turned the big red puddle into a big pink puddle. It was shortly after this I called Evan and told him in no uncertain terms to come home. We ordered pizza because mama did not feel like cooking after her day, and I spent the rest of the night trying to unwind enough to be able to sleep. A little cuddling and TV with Ev after the kids were in bed did the job, and I woke up this morning with new optimism...which brings us to right now!

A few nights ago we had Evan's Christmas party, which I looked killer for BTW. It was a lot of fun, and he actually won a door prize, a really nice fishing reel. After we went out with some of his co-workers and danced for awhile. Sunday morning we went to church and then brunch, as usual, but I left early with a migraine. I actually had to have someone else drive me home (Evan was working end of month) and watch the kids because I couldn't even see straight. I've been having these recently and am starting to wonder if I should perhaps mosey into my doctor's office and get checked over. In other recent news, the rain from yesterday melted all of my beautiful snow and I opened my door this morning to a rather Spring looking scene. Bah Humbug!

Anyway, hope your Christmas season is going well, with or without snow!