Best Flight Ever

Let's just be honest, I was slightly dreading the flight to Utah. The thought of having James on my lap and Connor by my side with no help from Marcus (he doesn't fly out until Friday) for nearly three hours stressed me out a bit. My boys are usually quite well behaved, especially when we travel, but you never know.. I was nervous about what might go wrong. Well, I am happy to report that our flight really could not have gone any better!

Marcus took the boys and I to the airport and stuck around to make sure we got through security without any trouble (imagine me, two little boys, two carry-on bags, two car seats, 1 double stroller, a lap top, a back pack, and a purse trying to get through security.. oh the fun). Anyway, we got through without too much trouble and headed towards our gate. When I walked up to the desk to get gate-check tags for the car seats and stroller the lady immediately asked me if I was Mrs. Poole. This caught me a little off guard, but I replied yes and she continued to ask me if I would like for them to install both car seats on the plane before boarding (giving James his own seat and getting him off my lap!!!). Of course I said yes. A few minutes later they took us on the plane and let Connor go into the cock pit to meet the pilots and see all the buttons and gears they use to fly the plane. We were then helped to our seats where the flight attendants immediately filled up sippy cups for my two boys. By the time everyone else boarded James was fast asleep and Connor was calmly looking out his window. He fell asleep shortly after take off and both boys napped until a few minutes before we landed. AWESOME! I can only hope our flight home goes just as smoothly.

Guess Who's Going to Utah?!

ME!!! And my boys, of course! We can hardly wait!!! Marcus will not be able to fly out with as he really needs to stay and work, but he will join us a few days later for Grandma Olson's famous Christmas party. I'm not looking too forward to flying with Connor and James all by myself, but it definitely will be well worth it! YAY!!! Thanks to those who love us enough (or maybe just our boys, hee hee) to help us get out there for a visit! We are SO excited to see everyone!

Wiped Out

Ever feel that way?

The last time I posted on my blog I was just oh so confident that the next time I got on here would be to post pictures of my new place all put together. Well, life threw a few curve balls into the mix and my progress at home has come to a screeching halt.

The first lovely bit of news is that our apartment was broken into one evening while we were not at home. Our TV, laptop, ipod, cell phones, purse (ya know, all the good stuff) were taken. My initial reaction was really just one of disbelief. Seriously? In the last 18 months we have now been through identity theft, our car being broken into, and now our home. We are cautious people who try to follow all the rules and do the right things to stay safe. I just could hardly believe it had happened. Oh well. Life certainly goes on and stuff is just stuff. I think I am mostly bothered by the thought of it potentially being one of our new neighbors (which is what I am most suspicious of).

Anyway, dealing with all the reports, claims, repairs, and replacing that came with the robbery took most of my motivation away from finishing up the new place. THEN, just when I get it back and start decorating for the holidays and what not, I get sick... UGH! First a nasty little cold, then food poisoning. And now, I'm just feeling wiped out.

SO

Don't give up on me yet... just give me a few more days. And if nothing else goes wrong, maybe, just maybe, I can get the new place finished.

Update

As you might imagine, we are all moved into our new place now. I still have a bit of unpacking and decorating to do, but I'm SO close to having it all done. The move went smoothly and we were surprised when Marcus' brother showed up in the middle of it from California!

I am LOVING the new apartment. It feels so much more like home to me for some reason.. maybe it's the ground floor. I don't know. We have a good sized patio and the boys spend most of their time playing out there. I feel like the whole place is more functional for us and it's SOO nice. I especially like being able to cook in my kitchen with a bit more space!

I promised my lil' sister some pictures when it's all done. Hopefully in the next few days!

Guess Who Got Her Keys One Day Early?

Me! We were able to get a good start on the move today. There's lots more to do over the next few days, but it feels so good to finally be doing it!

I Need Today

To be a great day. Is that too much to ask for?

Not that my days are usually bad. They're not. Not at all. They just seem to blend together, one into another... nothing too spectacular. And today, I just really want a great one.

SO

I'm going to keep plugging along, checking things off my to-do list and hoping fantastic things happen. Because guess what?

Just two more sleeps 'til my move now! Yay!

Three More Sleeps

Until moving day! I am so excited.. and a little anxious. I tend to never truly believe things will really happen until they do.

I Am Moving

To a new apartment that is on a first story, has a much bigger kitchen, bigger second bedroom, and nearly 30 sq feet of attached storage! Did I mention it is also significantly less expensive than my current unit? Yay! The bummer...I'll have a smaller dining room and more awkward living room, but nothing too bad. I can hardly wait for Nov. 7th to come!


It's in the same complex I currently live in but in a location I like a little more! I love moving, but I'm hoping this will be the last one for a while now.

Failed Already

As you can see, I have already failed at getting a blog post written every day this week.. I wish a had a valid excuse as to why, but really, I don't (unless, "it was really rainy" counts :)

Lots of you have told me you keep second private blogs for all the things you'd like to blog about but not share with the entire world. Marcus has suggested I do this for a long time. I just have one question to those of you who keep these super-secret blogs, though.. Do you invite anyone to read them, or just keep them entirely to yourself like a little locked up middle school journal? And if you do invite readers, have you ever regretted it?

Let's Just Be Honest...

We're HUGE Donny Osmond fans at this house (teehee) and so have been making sure to catch every episode of this seasons Dancing With the Stars.

Well, during last weeks result show some marching band preformed and little Connor thought it was simply the best thing his young eyes had ever witnessed. He was OBSESSED with watching it on our DVR until his daddy accidentally deleted it a few days ago.

Connor was a bit devastated when he found out it was gone, but has since recovered by imagining himself as Tom Burgeron (the DWTS host) announcing the band. Each time he reenacts the scene he gets more and more and more dramatic. Not so funny to read about, I'm sure, but HILARIOUS to see done in person. Especially when he wiggles his tiny hips, raises his little arm, and enthusiastically yells into his echoing microphone (in a very Oprah-ish sort of way), "Ladies and Gentleman, welcome back...and give a big round of applause for the *mumble mumble mumble* MARCHING BAND!"

I keep hoping I can get it on video, but I've had no such luck quite yet. We'll see.

I Can't Write a Blog Post For the Life of Me!

Seriously, if I actually published all the posts I write and then delete, my blog would be filled to the brim...

BUT

It seems every time I'm finishing one up I delete it because I think it's boring, or whiny, too deep, or will maybe even be taken the wrong way. I have written four such posts TODAY and have nothing but this rant to show for it.

I want to be a better blogger but am totally in a funk. I'm challenging myself to post daily for the remainder of this week...and if anything I write happens to be boring, or whiny, too deep, or even offensive...forgive me. I don't mean it to be :)

I HEART FALL

Seriously, seriously. I love this time of year.

-It's so much cheaper than Winter (running a furnace) and Summer (air conditioning).

-Outside is never more inviting...and fresh.

-It's beautiful (miss those Utah mountains right now).

-Fall means the Holidays are close by, but not quite here yet.

-Even though it's technically not, it always feels like the begining of a new year to me...with back to school time I guess it's always at least the start of a new phase.

-LOVE pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!

-I never sleep better than I do in the Fall. Can't get enough of cuddling up in my bed with the windows open. Not too cold, not too hot.

-Love the fall colors and decorations.

-And LOVE when it's finally cool enough to wear sweaters and long sleeves!

More Changes in Texas

Remember the first 3 1/2 years I was married? Remember how Marcus and I lived in the same apartment the entire time, went to the same school, and worked at the same jobs?

Remember when we moved to Irving, Texas a year ago so Marcus could go to UNT and work for Zerorez? Remember how he left Zerorez after just a few days so he could take another job at Mayday? Remember how we moved from Irving to Lewisville after just 75 days or so? Remember how Mayday cancelled their summer sales program Marcus had been hired to manage after he'd been there just 8 months? Remember how that forced him to quit that job and lead him to take a position working for Allegiance instead? Guess what? After just 4 1/2 months there, he is leaving to work for Proz... Oh yeah, and anyone notice his first day of school was not at UNT but at Northlake?...just another little change...

Have I ever mentioned I am a person who likes consistancy and predictablity? Making this last year a tough one for me (and for Marcus). I do think, however, that his new position at Proz will be a more permanant one (and by permanant I mean until he starts Med school in 2 years...fingers crossed).

Though it may seem like it, I am not writing this post to complain. Just to announce we have yet another big change happening in our life. I am actually quite amazed at how fortunate we have been this past year. Through all the job hires and lay-offs (or leaves) Marcus has not gone a full day being unemployed. In this economy that amazes me. We've certainly had some fun adventures and learned lots of new things, but mostly just learned how much we really do like consistancy and predictability.

Why My Blog Has Become So Boring:

Because I rarely keep it up anymore. Let's see if I can change that.

Every Once In A While

...something comes along that completely lifts my spirit, brings a giant smile to my soul, and makes me feel like life's so worth living. This song makes me feel that way.

(ok, maybe that was a bit dramatic, but seriously, I'm loving this song!)

James' New Word

Take a minute and look at the sweet picture of my little James over on my side bar. Now imagine his arm stretched out towards you with his little finger pointed. What does he have to say? "DIE...".

Yep. That's James' favorite new word. He likes to say it very loudly. So sad. But a little funny.

Marcus' First Day(s) of School

Marcus went back to school this last Monday...and Tuesday (kind of)...and today. It hasn't gone quite as he planned thus far, but he's been excited nonetheless.

Monday night he attended his first physics lab. Tuesday he went to his chemistry lab. A few minutes before the chemistry lecture portion started he came down with quite the stomach bug. Needless to say, that was the end of his first day back to school. I think he was more crushed about missing classes than he was about being sick!

SO

Today he's off to school to give this whole "first day of class" thing another try. Good luck Marcus! Hope you have some good old science-loving fun! The bummer for me is that I won't see him until 9:00 tonight...and he left just after 7:00 am. Boo hoo :(

"I Am A Dinosaur!"

Connor was

hilarious

at the dentist today. The doctor had me give him Valium an hour before going in and then they gave him Nitrus while he was being worked on. They told me that combination usually makes kids quite sleepy and they just lay there dreaming throughout the procedure (cavity fillings), but it made Connor loopy as all get up!

He talked and talked and talked and talked! Giggled his little belly off, and kept us all smiling. My favorite part was when he suddenly announced, "I am a dinosaur...a T-Rex...grrrr"! He continued to tell us over and over again that he was, in fact, a dino. His body movements were so slow and fluid...and dinosaur-ish. I'm sure it's a "had to be there" moment, but it was awesome.

I have to take a moment to give my Dentist props. We were in and out in under 20 minutes with two cavities filled and a little boy who could feel his entire mouth again. That's amazing compared to my own past dentist experiences.

Anyway, as good as the visit was, here's to hoping we don't ever have to go for fillings again!

Our First Texaversary

It has been exactly one year since our little family moved to Texas. I've gotta say, it feels like an accomplishment to have made it to this point!

I'm not sure how to accurately express what this last year has been like...so I don't think I'll really try.

Let me just say that Marcus and I were talking the other night about the whole thing and we both agreed that if we knew then what we know now we probably wouldn't have ever come...We were anticipating several changes with the move, but had no idea how many changes we were really in for. BUT we also agreed that we don't regret it. It's a good thing that we came (so we're happy we didn't know then what we know now)!

Our marriage is stronger than it was a year ago, I feel I'm a better mother than I was a year ago, we've learned to rely on the Lord more and have faith in the plan we believe He has for us, I know I've grown a lot myself, and Marcus and I have more clarity as to what we want for our future...so it's hard to regret the move that helped all these good things happen. We've been incredibly blessed.

I look forward to this next year! I'm sure a few more changes are in store...(and I don't think I like change quite as much as I thought I did, unfortunately) BUT maybe there will be lots of good changes.

SO

Here's to hoping this next year will be a great one...(fingers crossed)!

Is Summer Really Coming to an End Already?

It seems like summer always has a way of flying by, and this year is no exception! I can hardly believe that Marcus starts school just one week from Monday...where on earth did the time go?

Well, I've missed the opportunity to blog about a lot of things...and I'm way too far behind to even want to think about catching up. There is one thing, however, that I just can't resist sharing with you all, and that's my sweet baby James' 1st birthday.

On July 25 James turned the big numero 1! We celebrated in Utah with my family a month early and celebrated here in Texas with friends and family on the big day.


A few fun facts about James at 1 year old:

*He 19 lb 2 oz...6th percentile.

*He is 28.1 in...7th percentile.

*Wears size 3 diapers.

*Wears size 6-12m clothes.

*Wears size 3 shoes.

*Sleeps 11-12 hours each night.

*Takes one or two naps a day...usually 3 hours total.

*He's walking very well by himself, but chooses to crawl about half the time still.

*Climbs on everything and has NO fear!

*Climbs up the stairs to the big slide at our playground and goes down by himself...this terrifies, but amazes me at the same time!

*He loves eating almost anything.

*Prefers juice to milk, but I'm working on that one.

*Says Mama, Dada, Up, Night-night, Bye-bye, and No.

*SCREECHES, SHRIEKS, and SCREAMS in the most incredible high pitches...OUCH!

*Is generally a happy, sweet little boy who love to cuddle and get kisses.

*Loves Elmo.

*LOVES his stuffed monkey's and puppy.

*Loves his kitties, though they're not quite as keen of him.

*Loves his big brother, Daddy, and Mommy.

AND

We love him! Happy first birthday Sweet Baby James!

The True Purpose of Band Aids

It seems that although Connor has recently become obsessed with wearing a band aid, he does not understand their true purpose.

Today he hurt his foot and it started bleeding a little bit. I ran over and got a band aid to slap on it after washing it up. HE FREAKED OUT and told me "band aids do not go on bleeding spots!"

I guess it is a hard concept to grasp after all.

Sometimes My Kids Make My Decisions So Easy For Me To Make

For example...

Marcus and I have been rearranging our room a bit to add a desk for him to use for working and studying this fall. We have the furniture all figured out and situated but have been still deciding where exactly we wanted to put our pictures back up on the walls.

The major decision I have been trying to make is this: whether to put a huge frame I got from IKEA (and find a picture to go in it) above my bed or just go with the same wedding pictures I have had up there before.

Well, Connor just made my decision a whole lot easier for me. He shattered the glass in the IKEA frame. No, he did not get hurt at all...and he somehow managed to even keep any of the glass from falling on the floor. I cannot figure out how he did it, but he did! In true "little boy in trouble" style in ran to hide in the bathroom immediately after I discovered it. He then tried to spin a little lie but to no avail.

SO

Thanks Connor! I guess I can go in and get all my pictures hung back up, now that I know where they're all going to go.

Connor's Recent Band Aid Obsession

Connor, the little boy who used to be terrified of wearing a band aid, cannot get enough of them now!

He slipped off of one of our dining room chairs a while ago scraping a small (and I mean tiny) spot on his leg. He has insisted he keep a band aid on it for the last week or so. He has also been very aware of any "owies" anyone else in the house gets and is quick to slap a band aid on them. We've gone through so many lately that they have become standard on my weekly shopping list.

If you're looking for something exciting to send him in the mail, Mom, just put a few character or colored band aids in an envelope and you'll make his day!

This Shocked the Pants Off Me

But made me very happy...

I saw this on the Dallas evening news tonight.

Business Week released a list today of "Top Places to Offer Job Opportunities and High Quality of Living." Number 2 on the list: PROVO-OREM UTAH! Second only to Anchorage, Alasaka.

Awesome!

Let's Start with Family Photo's

After an eleven day trip to Utah and a week long visitor here in Texas, I have a lot to blog about.

Our first morning after arriving in Utah we made a trip up north (we were staying with my family down in Ephraim)to get a photo shoot in with my amazing photographer cousin Katie. She and her husband were so kind to take the time to help us get some fun new pictures! I love her style and I am beyond happy with the shots she got! My sidebar is sporting some of my favorites, but I can't resist showing off these two adorable casual ones of my boys as well.

Connor's Big Idea

Yesterday morning we were watching the movie Beethoven's 2nd, you know, the one with the st. Bernard dogs...

Anyway, we were watching the movie and when Connor saw all the little puppies for the first time he said, "oh, they're so cute! I want a puppy! Mommy I want a puppy!" I told him to go ask his daddy.

Connor walked over to Marcus and said, "Daddy I want a puppy!" Marcus replied, "We can't have a puppy because we already have two kitties." Then came Connor's big idea that had us laughing like crazy...He said, "Let's get a box and send them to Jesus."

He was dead serious.

I'm On Vacation...

...and I'll write all about it on Monday when I'm home.

"I'll Be the Mommy"

Yesterday Connor wanted to play "house" with James and myself. I was the daddy, he was the mommy, and James was the big boy. This is how it went:

C: "You be the Daddy, James will be the big boy, and I'll be the Mommy!"

Me: "Ok. What does the daddy do?"

C: "You go to work. Now I'll go be the Mommy."

Connor walks into the other room and says to himself, "I better go clean...(now, in the meanest, most gruff voice he could muster) LOOK AT ALL THIS MUD (gasp)!"

He went on to pretend to clean the mess, but did so gasping and sighing the whole time.

I never really thought of myself as a mother who freaks out about a mess, but I guess that's how my child percieves me...guess I better watch the dramatic gasps and sighs the next time I clean!

An Additional $550 Bucks Later

...and my car will officially be re-registered.

Bummer.

Not that it will be registered, but that the bill to do it this year just keeps growing and Growing and GROWING.

And the worst part of it? We had to buy 4 new tires...and we just bought 2 last year! The warranty for them expired just weeks ago. Yuck.

Oh well, I guess there are worse things in life than car registrations.

Not So Cheap

Last year I made a post about how pricey yearly car registrations are in Utah and I was happy that next year (this year...this month actually) was going to be so much cheaper because I would be in Texas, and I was told their registration was cheap.

Guess what?

Today I will be spending nearly $300 to get my car registered in Texas. That is not so cheap! In fact, it's a hundred more than Utah! Stinkin' "new resident tax", county registration fee, state registration fee, and title application fee.

Hopefully next year when I do not have to register as a "new resident" I will save a little money.

The Village People Were Wrong!

It was NOT fun to stay at the YMCA today.

My very fit friend Typhanie convinced me to go with her to a circuit training work out class at the YMCA this morning. My little family joined the Y back in April and have really enjoyed going since (though we don't go as often as we should...meaning more than our once a week average...and Typhanie knows it).

Anyway

She convinced me to go to this class with her. Let me just say, what I thought was going to be one of those "from one weight machine to another" circuit work outs (like the ones at Curves, you know the kind) ended up being a mock try-out for the Dallas Cowboys and guess what, I didn't make the team! The things I was supposed to get my fat little body to do were just insane.

I quit 35 minutes in and went to the track to walk laps and try to get my head back. The room was spinning, my head was throbbing, my face was bright red, my arms and legs were shaking, and I think my heart rate was at its max.

Let's just say I am quite sore right now, and I think the next class I will be taking at the Y will be "water aerobics" or "intro to body movement"...not "advanced sports training"!

Tornadoes, Severe Thunderstorms, and Flooding...

welcome to Texas! Let me just say this, I think I prefer the snow in Utah.

24 hours ago my boys (Marcus included) and myself were hiding in a small central room on the ground level over at his mom's work waiting out severe thunderstorms that were raging through the area and hoping that a tornado wouldn't come of it (in our area at least).

As you may guess we were just fine, but there were multiple tornadoes confirmed in our area, two in very familiar grounds for us (our town and the town just next to us). Luckily the tornadoes were small and not too destructive...with damage mostly just to power lines, fences, roofs, siding, trees, random debris, etc.

This morning brought the most intense thunderstorms I have ever experienced. Micro burst winds forced rain through the seems around our windows or the brick of the building itself (and I didn't know that was possible). Come to find out we were far from the only ones this happened to. I have also never seen lightening strike so violently. The news reported several stories of apartment buildings and homes in the area struck and burst into flames. All I could think was, how'd you like to have to evacuate your home in that kind of weather?!

As you might imagine all the storms brought lots of flash flooding to the area. The news today has been covering flooded businesses and homes and all sorts of rescues of people stuck in their vehicles.

Exciting? Yes. Fun? Not really.

FYI, I snagged all these photos from the Fox 4 website viewer photo gallery. I'm far too wussy to go out and take pictures myself in the middle of such terrifying weather! Although the first one was actually taken by a resident of the apartment building right across the street from me.

Blogging

I have gotten into a blogging slump that continues to get worse and worse since moving to Texas. I have multiple theories as to why...but none of those reasons really matter. The bottom line is that I like blogging and I am going to do it more.

SO

Watch out readers, daily posts for the next few days.

Texas Trip Photo's

Here's a bunch of photo's from my fam's trip to Texas...we miss them already! It's always so much fun to have visitors. Anyone else want to come play?