Monday morning means being lazy. Some people like to get their week off to a great and busy start but not us, at least not today. Today will be a recovery day from everything. Recovering from a lot of driving over the weekend, catching up on laundry, hiding from the awful 50 mph winds outside. 

We will spend the day eating good food (because bad weather means baking), dancing to disney music, and patiently waiting for tomorrow because tomorrow our lives will change forever. Frozen comes out on DVD and instead of constantly watching jake and Mickey Mouse we can watch another great princess show. We are going to wake up super early, drive the 15 minutes to town for that movie and donuts so that we don't waste our morning with things like cleaning and other things that aren't nearly as important as watching a new disney movie. Sometimes being a parent is really exiting. Just kidding, Cody is gone again this week and anything that can be made into an exciting adventure will be to keep us all sane. 5th full week this year or something like that, I've lost count. 

These kids grow way too fast. Some days I love it and others not quite so much. 

Kate is wanting to crawl so badly! She rocks on her hands and knees and has mastered going from sitting to her knees and back. She is a scooting machine and I know exactly what happens Ellie yells "no Kate! Don't get my toys!" Kate is becoming a threat to Ellie's toys and some days it's all I can do not to laugh when Ellie comes crying that Kate took a toy out of her hand. 

When the weather is nice we try getting out for a little while each day. 

Ellie is talking so much more now and says the funniest things, I just need to start writing them down. She still loves pirates and my little ponies toys (they come in packages so you don't know which ones you are getting and it's a surprise and they are little and she loves them. A lot.). She sings frozen songs at the top of her lungs and loves to hide. She loves string and tying things up. The other day I found all the wii remotes tied up to the cupboard hands and currently the dogs leash is tied to the refrigerator handle. She had a few melt downs and after 45 minutes of crying, screaming, and whining the only thing that saved us was coloring. 

On Sunday at church we were in the hall waiting to go into the chapel and Ellie kept twirling and spinning. She lifted the edge of her skirt and kept Boeing and curtsying, thank you princess Sofia movie ... 

Cody's been gone quite a bit for work the past few months and we've been trying to take advantage of the time when he is home. On Saturday I needed to do my last longer run before the half marathon on Saturday and he decided to come along on his bike with the kids in tow. And puppy... This puppy had never gone for a bike ride before and was not a fan at all. He kept getting scared and would stop right in front of Cody or stop and get dragged (not really dragged but tugging against his leash). I kept running and a few minutes later I look back to find Cody carrying him on his lap. 

I am running my very first half marathon this weekend with my sister. To say I'm excited is an understatement. Ever since I started running a few years ago my goal has always been to run one. I signed up to do one after Ellie was born but my knees were giving me problems a few weeks before and I decided to stop training. But this time around has been different. My knees were starting to hurt as I put on more mileage at the end of January but after taking a few days off felt better. They still haven't been perfect and after Saturdays run they are definitely sore. This week I will take it easy (by eating ice cream and watching movies all week (just kidding)) and they should be just fine for Saturday. I am mostly in shock that it is already time! I've been working hard since November and its amazing to see that hard work pay off. When I started just bein able to consistently run, keep the same pace and run 11:30 minute miles was good but in the past few months I've taken an entire minute off my time. This summer I want to focus on being able to consistently run under 10 minute miles and run a 5k in under 30 minutes. I know it's doable and I'm exciting to have something to work towards. 

We don't like when Cody goes away on business trips. Only two more week long trips that we know of this spring and we are already ready for them to be done. It's the end of February and this is the 3rd full week he's been gone. To keep us from sitting around the house eating our hearts out and cryin our eye out, we try to stay as busy as possible. 

On Moday our fun activity was coloring and making story puppets. We also colored animals to sing "Old McDonald." I started singing it in a crazy voice. Ellie looks at me with this dead serious look, says "Mommy goofy" and rolled her eyes. She went back to playing as if I wasn't even there. If she is already emberassed in the privacy of our own home then I seriously feel for this kid because she has no idea what kind of a mother she has. (Insert evil villain laugh)

Tuesday I had the opportunity to help with a relief society lesson given at a retirement/nursing home. The lesson was beautiful, about how we are all important as individuals and that we need each other. The sister from my ward teaching it brought a big bouquet of flowers and pointed out that some were very loud and demanded attention while others were smaller ones with a purpose to fill the space. But each was necessary in making the arrangement beautiful and with out all of them it would not have been nearly as beautiful. We need all sorts of flowers or people to make a community (or in that case relief society) what it is. I got to sing "As Sisters in Zion" and it was amazing to be able to serve those ladies. I don't consider myself to be a good singer, more of a hide in the back of a choir kind of gal but its still fun to be able to be involved and share what little talent I have. 

That afternoon we headed to Twin for a girls afternoon. I've been watching for sales and for the perfect Easter outfits. Remember how I said we try to keep busy? Well this was one way to really help that. We scored major on their else aster skirts with coupons and sales and had fun with toys from the dollar bins at target. 

And whoever decided to put a Chic-fil-a in the target parking lot was pure genious. Either that or they just knew that I'm a sucker/lover of both! 

Wednesday we had a play date with friends outside. The weather was beautiful and made me almost believe that winter was over. Until I checked the calendar and realized that we aren't even into March yet. Yikes! 

Then it was off to volleyball with the young women's. My only goal this night was to make it through the night without Ellie throwing up. The previous week she threw up all over herself, me, and the stage. It smelled awful and I'm pretty sure a few people left just because of the smell. Well we made it safely this time, we even got serenaded half the night by Ellie belting "Let it go" from the movie Frozen. And Kate decided that she would scream if anyone tried taking her from me, we have now entered into the super mommy/daddy attachment phase. I'm sure Cody's absence lately has had no impact on that at all... 

Today we hit up story time at the library, we love it! And the fact that the library has disney movies to rent for free. Ellie usually falls asleep on the way home from story time but today she was wide awake asking the entire drive home if she could watch her Mickey Mouse show we rented. 

You don't need to know about the rest of our Thursday because it was pretty scary. Lets just say that both kids were in my bedroom by 8:30 and leave it at that. 

Some things make me feel like an adult (most of the time I still see myself as a kid/teenager, basically someone who doesn't have responsibility...). Pausing and reminding myself that I have two daughters is one of those things. Buying a house a few months ago did it to. But this weekend we did something else that made me definitely feel like an adult. We bought a puppy! This isn't one of those "Yes mom, I'll take care of it (and under your breathe you say for the first few days). 

His name is Tony and he is a boarder collie. He is an OUTSIDE dog, something I never thought I would have. Cody made him a house to stay all warm and cozy in except he prefers to sleep in the flower bed, a habit that we will definitely be working on to kick. Ellie absolutely adores him and constantly asks to go outside to play with him. She gets excited when she knocks that he will stand up and just watch her through the window. 

And a few pictures of Kate because she is the happiest, most smiling baby ever. And she has started giggling and laughing and it's the best thing ever. Ever. 

Ellie is a special girl. One of the things that we laugh at most is her throwing up. She does it every once in a while and every time it leaves us with a story that we can later laugh at.

We've taken her to the doctor for it but as far as we know there is nothing wrong. It has nothing to do with what she eats or any activities so it is completely unexpected. At the time it is not funny at all but afterwards we laugh a great deal. 

In the house we were renting there was only tile in the bathroom and everywhere else in the house was carpeted, yes the kitchen and dining room were lovely carpet. We had put Ellie to bed one night but she stood at the edge of her crib crying. Cody went to check on her and from my spot on the couch I just saw him jump back. She had just barely missed him but managed to get it all over the carpet. 

Another time she was sitting on the counter after dinner. She started to throw up on herself so Cody decided to move her over the sink. Well in this particular older house the cupboards didn't close all the way and she managed to make every single one of them her target!

A week and a half ago again she didn't want to go to sleep and was crying in our room. We were trying to calm her down and Cody picked her up to have her lie on his chest. As soon as his back hit the bed, she let it out. It somehow barely missed his face but landed all over his shoulder and the bed. That was one reason he decided to shave his beard. 

And that brings us to tonight. If you are still reading this, I am impressed. Its probably not very funny to others but just recalling Cody's face of shock and horror as she makes the beginning sounds is priceless! 

After dinner I took Kate into the living room to feed her while Cody and Ellenor were still in the kitchen. She started crying and Cody kept trying to get her to tell him what was wrong. There was a short pause before I heard it. The gurgling that rumbles through the throat before the big explosion. It sounded like he had dumped a gallon of water on the floor. And then he started calling for help. It was bad. And all over the kitchen floor. 

I am so grateful for Cody. I cannot handle the smell! Give me a dirty diaper and I can manage but he cannot. Its a good trade off. He had to use a dust pan to clean it up while I happily gave her a bath.

I have a two year old. The only way I make it through the day is knowing that my knight in shining armor will come and rescue me at the end of the day (rescue in our house means play with her in another room so I can breathe). Most days we do just fine and we get along great. Except lately.

I am struggling so much right now with raising this girl. She is so much fun and we can laugh and have the best time but in an instant she can be throwing the biggest fit. Hitting and screaming at the top of her lungs. At least she doesn’t know how to say hateful things yet!

Today was not a good day in the parenting book. I yelled, walked out of the room as she was crying out for mom, ignored her pleas and whines, cried in front of her while asking her to just stop. It was quite the scene. More like a horror film that lasted all. Day. Long. Then I put the girls to bed and breathed a great big sigh of relief. Not even two minutes later I am missing them and secretly hoping at least one of them will wake up to keep me company. For me to hold them and tell them that I am sorry for not being a great mother and promise them that I will do better tomorrow. Thank heavens for tomorrows and being able to fix what we did wrong today. Tomorrow is a new start. Tomorrow will come and she won’t remember how ugly I was today, at least I hope not. She won’t hold it against me and will wake up in the morning happy to climb in my bed and play.

Tomorrow will be a better day. I will be more patient. I will play more and remember to laugh more instead of getting upset at the small things. Tomorrow I will kiss her more and hug her more. Tell her I love her more and show her how great life really is with her around. Play more, explore more, discover more, be more. Raising a two year old is rough stuff. 

Is there any magic cures/potions for moms to become better overnight?!

There has been a lot lately that has got me thinking about my marriage and the man I married. I came across a blog a few weeks ago about a lady who recounts her husbands passing, he was having an affair with a married woman and was shot by her husband. What a terrible and sad situation. I have actually enjoyed reading her blog because she talks about having faith and hope through the whole thing. But my heart sinks every time she talks about the weeks leading up to the tragic event because I wont lie, losing my husband to someone else is one of my biggest fears. The biggest being losing him in general. 

It has got us both talking quite a bit about our relationship and where we are in life and in our marriage. I know (at least I am pretty dang sure) I would be able to tell if something were wrong between us or if something was going on. We have very open communication and I love that. I love that Cody is a nice guy but knows where to draw the line with other women and co-workers. On his trip to Denver last week a married guy he works with did something silly but said that he wouldn't tell his wife. That if she didn't know everything was ok and had the attitude that it wouldn't affect his marriage. I believe that any secrets or lies create a wedge in any relationship. (If its a secret about a present or something along those lines that is completely different.) 

Just having conversations with Cody helps to reassure me what a good man he is and that he really does love me. When he leaves on these business trips, its not just a vacation for him to get away from the family but that he really does miss us. 

He is so good to put up with all our crazy ideas. A few weeks ago he got home early from work and I made him go out to play. We had a family date to the library and grabbed some ice cream cones on the way home. Ellie loved looking through books with her dad and showing him the toys that she likes to play with there. 

We put the kids to bed on Thursday when he got home and not even a half an hour later Ellie snuck out of her room with her blanket. Cody welcomed her with open arms and they slept on the couch for half the night. He is such an amazing father and husband, I honestly don't know what I did to deserve him. I have been so blessed to have Cody in my life and look forward to all the adventures that lie ahead.