Fall Frolick

We thought we would take advantage of one of the last nice days of the season. Livvy was at school while we played...

Lost Lamb

Oh! This has been a hard couple of weeks....Our cable company could not 'maintain' their tower here in Burley and we have lost ALL television. I thought maybe I would be noble and just try and do without (Its been great for the kids!) but, I am a lost lamb looking for it's flock. It is somewhat embarrassing to admit I am sooooo dependent upon television, but it is something I look forward to everyday. I mother children all day and just want to veg in front of the TV at night. I blame it on James though. Since we were 1st married he has worked at night. My 'boob tube' became my best friend. I have followed American Idol with astute obsession, had to keep my heart in my chest as Jack Bauer was yet again tortured, made my own list of possible theories behind 'Lost', wondered if the CSI crews could possibly solve another heinous crime, hated every evil person on Survivor, really wanted Hiro to "Save the cheerleader, save the world" and laughed my stomach sore at Michael, Earl and JD. My world is now bleak and lonely.......

I get the kids to bed, go sit on the couch, look around and think, "Now what?" I certainly can't read every night. Watch a movie? No, my current Netflix movies are on en route. Study the scriptures, well sure, but not for 3 hrs. Learn a new song on the piano? No, the kids are asleep. Exercise? No, I already do that in the morning. Get on the internet? No, I'm pretty sure I've read almost everything there is on the net (naughty stuff excluded). Go to bed? No, the diet coke I drank at 5:00 is still doing it's job. Learn to crochet? Na. Dye my hair blue and paint my nails pink? No, I wouldn't want to frighten the kids. Read "The Dangerous Book for Boys" and learn how to make a functioning go cart? No, too much work. Pull out the ol' flute and pretend to be Zamfir. Surely I jest! What to do!

It's apparent I am hopelessly dependent on that darn ol' television! I keep thinking that maybe time will temper my television need. Not so, not so. I guess it's time to sweetly smile at my husband, scratch his head (this always works) and plead and beg to have my friend returned from exile.

Arms Reach

There are several, no millions of things I love about being a mother, all of which are too hard to categorize. If I had to create a top five though, one of those would be having a baby in the house. There is nothing like it! You would assume it's because of the giggles, the baby talk, the happy, cherubic face, the darling clothes...oh the list goes on and on. While those are all good and justifiable reasons, mine is purely self serving. I love being someone's everything. Vain, I know. I find pleasure in being the one Tess watches walk across the room. Even more pleasing is knowing I'm the one she prefers to be with. Maybe it's because I have the goods (food), but I like to think it's because she likes the way I smell or the way my face lights up when I see her. I hope it's because I make her happy and feel secure. We are never far apart and when we are it's like I'm missing a leg or an arm. We are that attached! She always wants to be within arms reach of me and if she isn't she'll figure out a way to make it happen. When I am doing my hair and putting on makeup she is right there watching the process all from her throne in the sink. It's nice to have at least one person in this world think you are wonderful. We'll see if she feels that way in 16 yrs. I'm not banking on being her whole world then, but at least I'll have proof that at one point in time she was all mine.

Chasing the Impossible

Do you ever feel like you are chasing the impossible? Here is the proof that no matter how hard we try, pray, bribe, coddle or get mad about, there is no such thing as a perfect picture of our kids. It is simply...impossible. One would think we would only have to worry about the 2 year old, but we Sellicks don't ever like to do things normal! We spent the evening with a photographer and much to our chagrin we watched as money slipped from our fingers...penny, by penny, by penny. Between the four we had a Goofy, a Sleepy, a Cranky and an I Have to be Touching the Baby in Every Picture. Our poor photographer was a puddle of sweat by the time it was all said and done. I guess we'll have to try again to get that 'perfect' picture. You know the one...everyone is happy, loves each other and is soooooo happy to be a part of the Never a Problem Family.

Page Turner

I have a new addiction and it's keeping me up late at night. This is NOT a good thing as I am cranky the next day! My sister-in-law Tristan recommended this book, so last weekend while I was playing in Utah with my sisters and my mom we all picked up our own copy. I can only get to it late at night after the kids are to bed and I have to say it is certainly worth it. I know I've got a good book when I have to force myself to put it down so that I can get at least 6 hours of sleep...I function best on 8. Anytime a book has a vampire in it, it seems to catch my fancy. I had to put Ann Rice aside as her books are a little tooo racy for me. "Twilight" seems to be a good alternative. I'll post a final review when I am done, but so far I have loved reading "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer, who also happens to be LDS. I'm no Oprah and my seal of approval won't put this books sales through the roof, but I recommend it and will add it to my own book club.

OK-So I finished this book last night...late last night. I'm kind of obsessive once I start something. I have to know what happens. I can read a new Harry Potter in 1 day. Nothing gets done in that day, but I do finish the book. Anywho- I really did like this book. It is definitely a 'young adult' book and the reader must treat it as such (I never felt that way about Harry Potter). Regardless, the plot is incredibly intriguing and left me wanting more. It did all the right things. It made me wonder, made my heart race, made me smile and allowed me to get into the minds of the characters. I felt invested in the characters and their outcomes. If you can get past the 1st 5-6 chapters and get into the meat of the story you will certainly be as invested as I was.

Bring on the next one... Half Moon...enter the werewolf!

Milkman

Wouldn't you love to get into the mind of a 2 year old? Our little man's newest obsession involves emptying our fridge of all milk containers and relocating them to various parts of the house. He is clever though because he waits until I am unavailable to intervene. He jumps into action the moment I am in the shower, on the the elliptical, nursing Tess or on the computer. We have found the milk in his bed, in the coat closet, in the tub, under the table...the list goes on and on. He never comes and tells us the milk has moved. We just happen upon it throughout the day or have to go looking for it when it is needed. This little one keeps me on my toes for sure.