Okay, I'll Go Find You One!

Allright, so it's time for another "Aleia Moment." Our apartment does not have a built-in dishwasher, so we had to buy one of the portable ones (full-size, just on wheels. Kinda cool really). Anyway, so we have 4 steps to go down to get into our apartment, and the dishwasher decided it wanted to jump down instead of taking an easy ride on the hand truck. Basically, the piece of countertop that was attached to the top of the dishwasher completely fell off.

So, a few Saturdays ago I was fixing it. To make a long story short, it was a bit frustrating; I mean, you try screwing on a piece of countertop from underneath with the dishwasher in the way. Short of having a piece of elastic for an arm, it just wasn't that easy.

Anyhow, so there I am, tools strewn about next to me, arm wedged in between some stuff, looking rather perplexed. Aleia walks up to me and says: "Do you need some help Dad?" In a tone of voice somewhere between calm and annoyed, I replied: "I don't need help, I need a miracle!"

Without missing a beat, Aleia's quick response was, "Okay, I'll go find you one!" Whatever frustration I had, was gone in an instant and the thing was fixed a few minutes later. In this particular case, I think Aleia's sweetness WAS the miracle. Kids are great.

Winter Fun

First of all, a sincere apology for anyone that has taken the time to look at the blog, only to realize it hasn't changed for a long time. Matt's been studying for the CPA in the evenings, and I just haven't had much of a chance to get on the computer during the day. We're home alot now. Especially with the colder weather. And it's often a battle to get Aleia to put socks and shoes on and get out the door. It snowed here quite a bit yesterday, so here's some pictures of the fun! All Aleia wanted to do was eat it.

Macie doesn't miss a thing. She likes to be very involved. She's quite a good teeth brusher!

Wraping Christmas presents :o)

I love this stage where they eat their toes!

Macie is 4 months!

We sure love having Macie in our family. She is such a joy. Macie is 4 months now, and doctors say she is very social, with bright smiles for anyone who will look at her. She loves her family, and is ray of sunshine everyday for us.

You can't tell it's freezing

Do you remember what it was like to really play? Aleia and Sammy reminded me. To really play, one is so into what they are doing, they don't even realize they are playing. It was 45 degrees outside, but you sure can't tell. The way they were playing and laughing, you would think it was a perfect summer day. Ahh...to be young again.

Jen and I were just standing there with our teeth chattering the whole time. :o)

Sammy's House

We got to play at Sammy's house this weekend. Hooray for friends! Jen was nice enough to take these pictures of our cute girls. We're very excited for Macie to have a playmate too in a month!

I Love You Rituals

Everyone has seen a babies face light up when they play "Patty Cake" with an adult. The one-on-one time, the complete attention of the parent, and the play time are eaten up by the baby who smiles, giggles and coos.
But what happens as babies get older? We stop doing those touching games with them. A book I've been reading called I Love You Rituals by Becky A Bailey explains that these types of games

• boost brain potential
• encourage cooperation and caring
• promote learning and literacy
• increase attention and decrease power struggles and
• build bonds of unconditional love

I've really enjoyed the ideas for games I can play with Aleia. She loves the games and craves the attention.

So, for all the parents out there, I decided I would post a new 'I love you ritual' once a week, or one a month. (I haven't decided which yet) so that we can all build stronger relationships with our kids whom we love SO MUCH!

So watch for the new rituals, posted on the right.

When Aleia and I play this game at nap time (Good Night Elbow), she is a lot happier about taking a nap, knowing I'm not just trying to get rid of her, but still love her unconditionally. Try it out! See how they work for your family! I'd love to get feedback.

Time with Dad!

So, I try to spend about an hour of good "one-on-one" time with Aleia every day, and we have a lot of fun! As Macie gets older, and other kids join the family, I will have to share and take turns for that special time with other kids, but right now it is a lot of fun to be able to play with just her! The below photos are from our most recent ventures together...she is such a little heart melter!

Aleia holding "Sparkles," her favorite dog in the world.

She is already pointing and laughing at me...I wonder what will happen during the next 10 years.

She loves to swing...

With her mouth wide open.

Cheezin' for the camera

"Come get me Dad! (as if I could ever fit in there.)

Aleia workin' her climbing skills

She got pretty far up the slide!

This is what happens when your daughter says "I want to stay in the car for a minute."

For the record, I did not suggest, teach, or show her how to do this.

Maybe we'll put her back there on our next trip.

Thanksgiving Point Farm

Friday was fall break, and we finally got Grandma to come to the farm! (I forgot it was UEA weekend and everyone and their dog would be at the farm). It was still fun. They had a big haloween event set up, and it cost more, but was still a lot of fun.

All of us on a wagon ride pulled by Clydsedale Horses

Aleia and a real cowgirl.

Aleia and the 'real' belle horse. (She has a toy horse named Belle whom she loves dearly)

Fall strolls and Joy rides

We have been really enjoying the beautiful weekend weather. We love fall! Here are some pictures of my family enjoying the fall.

More Funnies

Aleia and I were playing 'dogs' while I was feeding Macie. Aleia wanted me to play on the floor with her, but it's harder to get up while nursing a baby if I'm on the floor so I remained in the chair. I put the dog on my knee.

Aleia, addressing the dog said "What are you doing up there?"

Justifying sitting in the chair my dog said "I'm looking out for danger."

Aleia said "oh." Then pulled out another dog. "Hi. I'm Danger."

Funnies

Aleia and I were hanging out in the car. She was up in the passenger side in the front, and found some gum packs in the center console. Aleia grabbed both of them and looking at the one said, "Mom, you're gonna have raspberry, and I'm gonna have..." She looks down at the picture on the label... "leafs." (Spearmint.) I think I like 'leaf' flavor better.

Back in the Market

We pulled out of our contract on the duplex in Provo. We were very excited about it, the place was perfect. And then, just days before our due diligence is up, we discover....Its a MANUFACTURED HOME! ARGH! There are lots of problems with manufactured homes. The financing is ridiculous, there's a bunch of red tape to weed through, not to mention they are incredibly difficult to sell, and this one happened to be thirty years old. Who knows if it is going to last another thirty? It was already showing signs of cracking in the ceiling and walls.

Sigh.

So, it's back to the market.

We're just really grateful we found out now, and not later.

Sisters

I love this one with Macies arm on Aleia, and Aleia's around Macie
Macie looking up to Aleia
Cute smiles from my girls

Cute pink Pajama friends!

All in all, things are getting better having two. Macie always gives big smiles to Aleia, and Aleia is a very sweet and caring sister. We feel so lucky to have such great girls.

Pockets

Three plates, sleeping beauty, two doggies, a tea cup, two toy horses, a hair brush and a plastic egg. That's what Aleia can fit into her pocket--what can you fit in yours?

For real?

yes, we have proof. Aleia is scrubbing the bathtub. You go girl! She is SO helpful around the house. And loves to be a part of whatever is going on. Even if it's cleaning! She doesn't know yet that it's not supposed to be fun. Hooray for kids!

Macie's Blessing

Matt and his dad

Liz, Macie and Aleia

Ahlstroms

Macie

Well, Macie was blessed. She cried the whole time, but it was soft enough we could still hear the blessing. :o) It was awesome timing with Matt's dad in town and his brother flying in for an hour on his way home. Macie is a sweetheart, and we love having her in our family!

It's Hot

Okay....so we don't post too many narratives on here, so let us know if you appreciate this one!

The other day, at the dinner table, Aleia was commenting over and over again that her dinner was hot. This continued even after we put hers in the freezer for a couple minutes, and she even blew on each bite before putting it on her mouth. Having tested the food ourselves, Dixie and I both determined that the food was in fact NOT hot, and probably would have been too cold for either of our tastes.

So, after yet another "It's hot dad" comment, I did what any other quick-thinking dad would do: I pulled in a "your mom" comment. So, here is the dialog that ensued:

Me, to Aleia: "Your mom's hot!"

Aleia, after touching Dixie on the arm: "Nooooo, mommy's not hot."

Dixie: "Aleia, hot is also another way to say 'beautiful,' so when a boy says you're hot, it means you're really beautiful."

Aleia: "I'm hot!"

A VERY BIG thank you to Dale and Danni Martinez who took these wonderful photos of Macie for us...they are good friends of ours and we really appreciate them! They also offer their photography services to the general public for a reasonable cost, so if anyone is interested, let us know and we'll have Dale get in touch with you!

Pleasure versus Happiness

I rediscovered a piece of wisdom today, and typed it up for my own personal use. I thought others might find it enlightening as well.

Pleasure versus Happiness -“The present is an age of pleasure-seeking, and men are losing their sanity in the mad rush for sensations that do but excite and disappoint. In this day of counterfeits, adulterations, and base imitations, the devil is busier than he has ever been in the course of human history, in the manufacture of pleasures, both old and new; and these he offers for sale in most attractive fashion, falsely labeled, Happiness. In this soul-destroying craft he is without a peer; he has centuries of experience and practice, and by his skill he controls the market. He has learned the tricks of the trade, and knows well how to catch the eye and arouse the desire of his customers. He puts up the stuff in bright-colored packages, tied with tinsel string and tassel; and crowds flock to his bargain counters, hustling and crushing one another in their frenzy to buy. “
“Follow one of the purchasers as he goes off gloatingly with his gaudy packet, and watch him as he opens it. What finds he inside the gilded wrapping? He has expected fragrant happiness, but uncovers only an inferior brand of pleasure, the stench of which is nauseating.”
“Happiness includes all that is really desirable and of true worth in pleasure, and much besides. Happiness is genuine gold, pleasure but guilded brass, which corrodes in the hand, and is soon converted into poisonous verdigris. Happiness is as the genuine diamond, which, rough or polished, shines with its own inimitable luster, pleasure is as the paste imitation that glows only when artificially embellished. Happiness is as the ruby, red as the heart’s blood, hard and enduring; pleasure, as stained glass, soft, brittle, and of but transitory beauty.”
“Happiness is true food, wholesome, nutritious and sweet; it builds up the body and generates energy for action, physical, mental, and spiritual; pleasure is but a deceiving stimulant which, like spirituous drink, makes one think he is strong when in reality enfeebled; makes him fancy he is well when in fact stricken with deadly malady.”
“Happiness leaves no bad after-taste, it is followed by no depressing reaction; it calls for no repentance, brings no regret, entails no remorse, pleasure too often makes necessary repentance, contrition and suffering; and if indulged to the extreme, in brings degradation and destruction. “
“True happiness is lived over and over again in memory, always with a renewal of the original good; a moment of unholy pleasure may leave a barbed sting, which like a thorn in the flesh, is an everpresent source of anguish.”
“Happiness is not akin with levity, nor is it one with light-minded mirth. It springs from the deeper fountains of the soul, and is not infrequently accompanied by tears. Have you never been so happy that you have had to weep? I have.” James E. Talmage, Improvement Era, vol 17, no. 2, pp 172-73

We're Home

Well, everything was "peachy-keen," so mom and baby came home yesterday afternoon. Several people have asked about coming over to visit, and we'd love to see you! Just give us a call and let us know when you want to come--I'll be home all week entertaining Aleia and helping out while Dixie works her motherly magic on Macie, so come on over!

Aleia is a wonderful sister, and she loves helping Macie find the binky! Ironic, because Aleia never took a binky or a bottle, she always gagged on them and wanted nothing to do with them!

Anyway, the pictures below include some photos at the hospital right before coming home, Macie's first car ride, and some photos at home.