Boy, Did I Leave You Hanging

Wow! I haven't posted anything new for over a month. What has happened during my leave of absence? Well, for one, Matthew did recover and of course we all got strep or an ear infection and we have all recovered. I have a few pictures of things that has happened. The top picture... Lily didn't want her picture taken. I couldn't help but post up her dark go-to-where-the-sun-don't-shine look. She pulls it off perfectly.
Something exciting that happened is that I cut Lily's bangs! Finally! Above is the before picture. Yeah, they were driving me crazy. Below is the finished product. I can't believe how much older she looks. She's growing up to be a little girl and not a baby anymore.




Valentine's Day! Matthew and I LOVE Valentine's Day! We met the day before this lovely holiday four years ago. We always go out of our way to celebrate it and make it a big deal. I got Matt a set of new scriptures that he has wanted with his name on them (perfectly straight, might I add) and a book that he has wanted since his mission. Matthew, being the sweet guy he is, got me the following items. This beautiful compilations of novels by a great author...
He helped make me this bookshelf (thank you, Madera Mill). He got this for me because he knew that I wanted a shelf to put my personal favorite books. As you can see, I don't own many of my favorites yet, but I hope my collection will grow. He did a great job with it!
And last but not least, he bought me four roses. It has been a tradition since our first Valentine's Day for him to buy a rose for every member of our family.

These are just a few things that has happened this past month. I'll be better about updating this next month, I promise!!!

Lovable Lily

Okay, so I know that I have already posted today, but I figured that I should take advantage of the opportunity! I've been wanting to put these pictures up of Lily. She got a tiara from my mom and dad for Christmas and she loves it. When she puts it on herself, it's usually upside down and backwards. Sometimes, it's just backwards. All the time, it looks really funny and she kind of looks like an elf from the Lord of the Rings. She's adorable.



I wanted to put the video on here too. Lily will do this if you do it to her. She's a funny character.

Put the Lime in the Esophagus and Burn it All Up

I'm sure people remember my post about the horrible night shift era of Matt's work. Well, something that I didn't tell you was that Matt had to work with lime, which keeps moisture off the belts he had to look over. With the lime absorbing all moisture, I'm sure you can imagine what happens if inhaled. Okay, I'll tell you. It eats away the esophagus. Disgusting, right? With all of our great luck, of course Matt accidentally inhaled some lime. Bad News. Why? Well, besides the reason that I have already told you, there has been a virus going around out here. It's like a cold, but also makes one nauseous. Guess what! Matt caught it.
After inhaling the lime, it made his throat raw, and catching the virus gave him a severe case of strep throat. We were blessed to be able to go to a doctor that Denise knows who didn't charge us for anything. He said that it was the worst case of strep throat he had ever seen. Matt had to get a shot of penicillin and a shot of steroids. His tonsils were almost touching in the middle and were covered in puss. Frankly, they looked... I can't even think of an appropriate word. He's on a medication and has to gargle Benadryl and Maalox a couple of times a day. The doctor told us that he had to hit hard now or Matt would end up in the hospital. Yeah, severe strep was an understatement.
There is a bright light, though. Since the going to the doctor yesterday, Matt's tonsils are better, he's up and walking around, he's had a good night's sleep, and he's actually eaten something besides chicken broth and jello.
It's been a crazy few days. Thank you to all who have helped us, whether it be bringing food over or praying for us. We truly appreciate you all.

Bobcat Strikes Again,,, With New Clubs

Matt's cousin cut down a driver, a chipper, and a putter for William for Christmas! Will LOVES them. He had a hard time with them at first because they're heavier than his plastic clubs. He is finally getting used to them and is using two hands. This is mostly for my dad -because I know you would like to see him use his clubs. Enjoy his videos! Go Bobcat... Again...

Would You Shave Your Eyebrows?

Matthew and I haven't spent a night apart since we moved to Tennessee -over two years ago. "Two years!" I imagine you gasping in horror! Okay, I imagine you really saying something along the lines of "Meh... No big deal."
Well, my friend, it IS a very big deal. That's two years of getting used to someone sleeping by your side. Some people take a while to adjust to having someone in their bed. Some people just automatically click. Matt and I were the latter. I would spend the majority of my day laying in bed, cuddling with my husband if it were possible. As it is not, I savor even more the nights when we can lay in bed and hold eachother.
What has brought on this revelation? Well, Matt has had to work the night-shift the past couple of nights. One word: BOO! It's been very difficult on him. I'm not going to lie, it's been crazy hard on me too.
So, here I sit, thinking of how I could express myself and my feelings about this experience. My mind has wandered until it found the perfect words for this story. A monologue, if you will. I like to call it:

Confessions of a Night-shift Wife
I lay still in the dark, between the cold sheets. I find myself putting more layers on, trying to make up for the missing body heat I'm used to.
After hours of tossing and turning, I am still shutting my eyes nice and tight as if that would will me to fall asleep. I can't help but peek out of one eye to check the clock. He gets off in six hours. I close my eyes even tighter. Time would go by so much faster if I could just get to sleep.
And... I'm wide awake.
I finally give up. I look out of my open bedroom door to the hallway. The carpet and the wall is brightened by the kid's nightlight. William and Lily are sound asleep. Finally. It's like pulling teeth to get children to sleep. Especially when it's only me doing it. I can hear their shallow breathing -and light snoring- through the open path from my room to theirs. I get up to check on them, making a pit stop to the bathroom. I watch William and Lily sleep -having sweet dreams, I hope- and wish that I, too, can eventually have a peaceful rest.
I lay back in bed.
Sly glance at the clock. Five more hours. Sigh.
I roll over to the empty bed next to me. Empty except for my glasses, the novel that I began and finished within five hours, and a few chocolate candy wrappers, of course.
I force my eyes closed -yet again- saddened by my pathetic-ness. I've had all this time to myself. Have I enjoyed it? No. I'm just exhausted and restless at the same time. And I'm getting a headache over my left eye.
Time passes and a long yawn eventually escapes my mouth. I don't do anything to stop it's full effect. I nestle deeper into the pillows. The most comfortable I've been all night. The most comfortable I'll probably get.
I wake up to the annoying sound of metal scratching metal as the door unlocks.
It has never sounded sweeter.

Alright, so this is a glimpse of my sad life for the past couple of days. Some understand. Some don't. Some have been through a lot worse. Some would shave their eyebrows off to have the full bed to themselves.
Call me a newly-wed. Call me lame. Call me a sap. Heck, now you know you can call me in the middle of the night when Matt is working night-shift. I'll be awake, probably trying to find something to do in my awakedness.
But, you can sure count me among those who wouldn't shave their eyebrows. Even to have the bed all to myself.

Sidenote: I wrote this blog post on a sheet of paper at 2 in the morning. Sorry if it doesn't make complete sense. I couldn't help but think it was a little funny.

One Can Hear the Falling Snow

My all around favorite Christmas song is - and no mom, it's not "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time," although I think that I am the only person on the planet that actually LIKES listening to that song every year. I look forward to it actually. It's a Christmas Classic to me, thank you Wings - um.. my favorite song is... drum roll please... "Still, Still, Still."
It has the most beautiful lyrics I have ever heard. I imagine it's a parent talking to a child before bedtime. It fills me with joy to think of my children being surrounded by angels while they sleep. That we will all be happy together when our Savior arrives. To take it one step farther, it reminds me of the love that Heavenly Father has for all of His children. The peace we can feel when we are in His presence again.
I am overwhelmed with the Spirit of Christmas and of life when I listen to this song.
The past couple of weeks, it's been snowing like crazy in the wintry state of Utah. I am NOT a fan of the cold. I'm scared to death of driving down a snow covered street. BUT, I do love the scarves and gloves that people wear. And I have a coat fetish -I'm not ashamed.
One of my favorite things, though, is to bundle up and relax on the back porch -with a cup of 7 eleven hot chocolate- and watch the snow fall to the ground. Everything is so bright. Even in the dark, the sky is so full of snow-filled clouds, it brightens up the Earth. Day or night, the rooftops blend in with the sky. The leafless trees are gorgeous still, being iced in layers of white. The fresh snow that blankets the ground is the most beautiful before someone steps on it.
Although the beach is warm and the perfect setting to read a book -Jennifer-I do agree that I wouldn't mind that setting either. There's nothing that brings the feeling of Christmas to me more than snow.
Like my favorite Christmas song, snow brings with it a sense of peace, of stillness. Isn't that a part of the Christmas Spirit? "Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward Men."

Still, Still, Still

One can hear the falling snow

for all is hushed

the world is sleeping

holy star, it's vigil keeping

still, still, still

one can hear the falling snow

Sleep, sleep, sleep

'tis the eve of our Savior's birth

the night is peaceful, all around you

close your eyes

let sleep surround you

sleep, sleep, sleep

'tis the eve of our Savior's birth

Dream, dream, dream

of the joyous day to come

while guardian angels

without number

watch you as you sweetly slumber

dream, dream, dream

of the joyous day to come

It's Always Better When We're Together

Baby Einsteins in the Bath

As of right now, we only have one car. Because of this, it's just William, Lily, and me at home everyday. All day long. We have the occasional visitor. Okay, so Carrie isn't exactly occasional. - I all but beg her to come over some days. And I will be eternally grateful to her for keeping me sane.- But, you get the picture. It can be pretty boring for a 2 1/2 year old and a 1 1/2 year old to be stuck at home all day. Oh, and not to mention the boredom a 22 1/2 year old can experience. I am a natural home body, but seriously... a mom can only take so much. My house is pretty much spotless when I'm at home alone with my kids.
Anyway, the purpose of this post is to express the high points of being at home all day with the cutest little ones. I'm very thankful for the fact that they have gotten closer as a brother and sister. They have been learning to play together and share. Lily looks up to her big brother like Will can do no wrong. Everything that he does, you will find her trying to play along. William can be a little possessive of things -like anything that has to do with Thomas the Train- but he is also very good with Lily. He takes care of her. Don't get me wrong, they are getting close, but they still act like brother and sister the majority of the time -screaming included. All in all though, it's fun to see their relationship expanding. It's pretty cool to think that they can't remember life without each other.

They thought they were so cool sitting on the table like that. They both climbed up the chairs and sat on the table singing songs and laughing together. (That doesn't happen very often)
This is the box that had all of our Christmas goodies in it from Tennessee. They loved playing in it together. I'm sure Will is pretending to talk to pa pa on the phone.