the PSP

I have a love/hate relationship with this toy. help me work it out.

On sick, tired, stay at home, boring, bad weather days I love it because I don't feel bad about Easton having something to entertain himself.

On other days... I think it is sucking the brains and life out of my child and I have this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that the repercussions of playing video games with somehow turn his brain to mush.

Then, I tell myself that it is a right of passage for boys. Like Barbies are for girls. It is a social thing-- and I don't want to stunt him socally do I?

Time restrictions work- except when they don't. He is always willing and much more happy to do another activity... but if I let him he would mindlessly play on this thing for hours upon hours.


Is it weird that I care so much? Is it really so bad? Is it normal? Poor kid's been drug accross three states and had to adjust to new school, friends and his mother turning into a baby crazed nesting psycho. should I just let him play and let it go???

his new t-shirt reads "eat. sleep. video games. *sleep optional."

he wants to wear it every day.

I hope...

our #2

(see I told you... no toes)

makes us laugh

and is as much fun as

our #1

if you think American Idol is entertaining... you ain't seen nothin'!

4th year in haiku

a new place we like

a little bored and lonely

we all need a friend

homeschooling is hard

pregnant and moving don't mix

I can't see my toes :)

husband needs a job

try not to stress about loans

enjoy the freedom

i don't care how much

not moving to alaska

lets talk about dreams...

the end.

He's lost it.

His front tooth that is. It has totally changed the shape of his face and the was he talks. so funny. This thing has been hanging by a thread for a while now and today I was a little worried he was going to swallow it so we gave him five minutes to pull it out and told him if he did it in that time we'd take him to Golden Corral (a.k.a. crusty Corral at our house) well, with two seconds to spare he earned a trip to unadulterated gluttony. Is that wrong? Some call it bribing. I prefer the term reward.

So we have now officially been in the potato state for a month. Its......... Idahoish. It smells weird. I took a trip to see the fam and had a blast teaching my nephews how to play penny-in-the-flour. They LOVED it and Payton even said "This is the best day!" for real. so I guess that is what kids want. Gross messy games where adults get involved and there is a high chance of choking or aspirating flour.

Easton's latest obsession is Star Wars. I am pretty sure he thinks he is the first person to discover it and it is so funny to think of how many other little (on not so little) kids have had this obsession. it is so much cuter when it is your own kid. why is that? I actually (against my better judgement) bought him a cheesy Star Wars t-shirt (with the thought that he could wear it for pj's) and I have yet to see a single day go by when he doesn't wear it at some point. He sneaks it under his other shirts, or changes half way through the day. I don't get it, but I have to say I find it funny and cute. He even got to meet Darth Vader at his cousin hudson birthday party. which will forever go down in history as the coolest ever.

He keeps asking how uncle Boyd got Darth Vader to come and if maybe he could get some other characters to come to some other parties.

Life is simple and quite and all about Easton right now. In ~6 weeks that is all of that is about to change.

Resolution revelation:

It was another sweeping holiday season that left me here on the 13th of January wondering where the time has gone. Our new years celebrations consisted of pigging out on the most delicious food and the tradition of making our own New Years hats. Some people in the family balk at this, but in the end the kids have a blast, and you should know that if you are unwilling to make your own hat- I will make one for you and force you to wear it while I take your picture. Its tradition. I personally loved Eastons this year. He is a deer in the grass, which was perfect since we brought in the new year in Richfield where the boys acted like savages all Christmas break killing various animals for sport.
My new years resolution was really quite simple: gain some weight. I felt that at this point fighting nature is futile and that I would have a lot more success by making an achievable resolution. I am doing pretty good so far:

For what seemed like forever I spent so much of my time being mad at my body. I wanted to be pregnant so badly and when that didn't come easily I blamed myself. I have found so much love and liberation from that through this pregnancy. I am so much more appreciative and aware of what a miracle it is to carry a baby than I was in the past. I remember hearing people complain about the sickness and the aches and all the time feeling my own heart break because I wanted nothing more than to be kicked in the ribs and feel those pains, knowing it would be a lovely contrast to the pain and heartaches I felt.

It has been a hard lesson to learn and it has taken a long time to get here. I am feeling the uncomfortable part of pregnancy creeping slowly... so here are the things I am enjoying right now:

*Derek and Easton have both felt the baby moving and kicking. She is gearing up for some wicked WII boxing I think.

* I am loving looking at little girl stuff. Borderline obsessively. I lay in bed at night putting together cute little outfits in my head. Is that weird? Buying will have to come later though, (Derek is grateful for that!) since we still have another move and house to setttle into- and we were jam packed getting here as it it. so I wait patiently.

*I am not sure why I ever gave up elastic waistbands, thank you maternity jeans. Oh, wow maternity clothes are so comfortable. And they have come a LONG way in the past 6 years.

*I no longer feel guilty for reading a book or taking a nap while Easton is at school. I am working REALLY hard on growing this baby. I do not feel guilty for not contribution financially and I am loving being at home and just keeping my house clean and cooking and playing with Easton.

* I love that people are noticing that we are pregnant and so excited for us. We are excited for us. Our family is lovely, and with a sweet baby girl in the mix I am sure that it will be a great thing for all of us. It is in a lot of ways like starting all over, but it also just feels like the best timing in the world and we couldn't be more happy.