Comfort

Here is my competition... Minnie! Ok, she really isnt my "competition" rather a sweet little toy that Liane finds comfort, security and happiness in. We all had one of these items at one point in time (some of us may still have one :-)... for me it was my blanket. I dont remember the color, but it was cottony with a satin edge on it. I used to suck my thumb and with the other hand hold my blanket and caress the satin edge. I loved that thing! I see it as a healthy attachment to something that brings comfort. Im glad Liane has her "thing" and that she found it so young. Too cute!

Fall

Fall is my favorite time of the year, especially in Utah (as opposed to Californiaa where everyday and season pretty much has the same look). The colors of the trees here get so bright and beautiful... and yes, the leaves fall (and seems like they never stop!) Here are a few pics we took last Sunday afternoon in our backyard. Liane playing in the leaves
Tree out back
The big tree out back that is trouble for Salomon when Fall hits... man does it have TONS of leaves!

Vine on our fence - gorgeous!

Liane's words

Liane has lots new words these days and it is so stinkin cute to hear her talk! Here is a list of the words she can say now...

balloon
trash can
trash truck
hi
eye
bee (baby)
up ( used for up, down, open, help, etc... :-)
bana (banana)
apple
woof woof
wow wow ("Wow wow Wubzy)
Zee ( Zee from Noggin)
Ivy (her cousin)

These are the words she is trying to say now...

Buddy (one of Grandma's dogs)
pumpkin
blanket
bath

Ya notice she doesnt say Mommy or Daddy - no, I guess these words are too easy for her. :-)

Park City Utah (October 10-12, 2008)

We were invited by Salomon's family to go to Park City last weekend to celebrate his parents birthdays. It was so nice of them to invite us! We stayed in a beautiful resort and enjoyed the nice cool weather (yes it snowed, but very lightly and it was gorgeous). We had a yummy Greek dinner (made by yours truly), enjoyed the indoor pool, and shopping at the outlets. Liane looked way cute in her winter gear (yes its Fall) and we all had a great time (minus Liane's major fussiness - wouldnt you know it, she started cutting another tooth and was not a happy camper). Side note... I had been to Park City twice before this and both times it was winter and brutally cold! I swore the next time I went would be in some other season than winter, so I was thirlled to go this time knowing it was Fall! Well my luck it snowed early!! Oh well... I loved it anyway!

Sunday afternoon at Temple Sqaure

One Sunday afternoon we decided to pay a visit to Temple Square.... we have been meaning to do this for a while and finally made the effort to go. We had a wonderful time walking around the temple grounds, the visitor centers, and the conference center. Liane had fun exploring and we left wondering why dont do that more often.

The Circus (September 25, 2008)

Even though Liane is young we decided to take her to the circus. She may not remember this as she gets older, but in the moment she is having a good time! The pre-show was the best cause she got some hands on fun.

Some of Liane's favorite things...

Here is Liane enjoying some of her favorite things to do...

Being silly on her Dora couch

Purses, need I say more?

Playing outside - she LOVES being outside!

The garden... Liane loves to go out to the garden and pick the tomatoes with me... she loves to eat the ones she has found too - every time!

This is Liane's new game she made up... she likes to cover her head with a towel - or anything she can find- and walk around even though she cant see where she is going - laughing the whole time. She also discoverd this amazing towel can also be used as a cool "Super Liane" cape! Kids are so fun!

Running

Ok most of you know that Salomon and I ran the Salt Lake City Half Marathon back in April. We decided last minute to do it and we trained hard for 8 weeks to get ready (previously the most I had ever run at one time was 6 miles and I think Salomon had only a few as well). We loved training even though it was INTENSE and since then our schedules changed and we havent been able to run. Well we found a treadmill at DI for way cheap and started running again yesterday. Boy was that great! It felt amazing to run and push my body physically again. I really miss it and I really never thought I would say that! I remember being so motivated to train once we decided to enter the marathon and so I decided that I am going to enter another race to keep the love alive so to speak. I have always wanted to run a "Turkey Trot"- basically its a 5K or 6K race held on Thanksgiving morning.... I dont know, for some reason I have always thought that would be so fun. So there, now I have said it, I must do it! I have run a half marathon so I am not worried about a 6K, although I do need to recondition my body for it. So excited!!

First "Big Girl" fit...

So Liane truly is growing up and to demonstrate this she threw a real "big girl" fit! As all you moms know, it was over something small and simple (but to her so very big and upsetting). We were in the kitchen, I was trying to make dinner, and the usual routine followed... she says "up", I pick her up, she wants things on the counter she cannot have, I politly say no and try to redirect, she gets a little upset, I put her down and she protests, but walks off being distracted by something that catches her eye... all went as usual today, execpt for the last part... she didnt walk off today - she threw a fit! Crying, tears, glares that pierced my heart, and even hiding in the corner. I tried to comfort her - hence the pierces- and realized that was not going to help this time - at this point I knew it was a real "big girl" fit. I walked away to let her have some space (she CLEARLY wanted that) and so as to not add fuel to the fire so to speak. She walked over to her Minnie Mouse doll (yes crying the whole time), picked her up and walked back into the kitchen and cried and cried and cried. I felt so badly for her and wanted to comfort her (kinda feeling a little competition with stinkin Minnie!), but I was not at all what she wanted. Finally the crying was getting louder and showing no end to it, so I decided it was time to let Liane have some alone time in her room. I carried her to her room, placed her gently on the floor and with the sweetest most loving voice told her she could come out when she was done crying... of course which was followed by louder crying and her following me out of the room (yet still not wanting ME). I gently placed her back in her room and walked out. She came out again and this time I said "Liane" in my gently stern mommy voice and she immediatly turned around and walked back into her room ( yes still crying loudly and holding Minnie). It was so sad yet funny too.... she was milkin this fit big time! I let her calm down for a bit in her room and when I walked back in she was holding Minnie (of course) in the corner between her closet and little play kitchen. I just walked in and sat in the rocking chair at the opposite side of the room and she kinda hid from me (she wasnt ready for me yet I guess). After a moment she finally calmed down and we were able to hug and make peace. We moved on and played for a bit. She was all smiles and laughes after that.

Ok so why did I have to write all of that?? Well I wanted to document for my own records her first real fit, but also to point out some lessons...

Gotta love children - so much we can learn from them! Sometimes we all need a good cry, a good fit! I didnt take it personally, I know Liane adores me and she knows I adore her. She needed space and I respected that - with also letting her know that she needed to have some alone time to calm down - I wasnt going to sit and watch her "show".

How quickly they move on and forget... this is one thing children do SO well and we can all stand to take pointers from them! Forgiveness... they have it down. At what point do they (we) learn to hold grudges?? I hope I can teach Liane to always be forgiving and loving and move on from tension or problems... she will be happier in the end and certainly more Christ-like.

Oh boy, it was hard to watch Liane be so upset... I wanted to run and comfort her and this was the first time she didnt want me. I passed my first "Im really mad at mommy" fit... I know there will be MANY more of those and I hope they pass as quickly. :-)

My "creating beauty" project last week...

Ok so I followed President Uchtdorf's counsel at Women's Conference last week and I took some time last week to "create beauty." It really only took me about an hour total one day to do this... and here are my lame directions on how to do it...

You will need:

Wood letters - any size or shape
I bought letters at Joann's fabric store - they were $1 off (off $1.99) so I got a deal!

Scrapbook paper - any kind

Mod Podge - like a glue (at any craft store)

Ribbon - again, any kind

Sand paper

Scissors

Hot glue

Just trace the wood letter upside down on the back of a piece of scrapbook paper

Cut it out (told you my directions were lame :-) - cut a little smaller than the actual letter

Glue onto the top of the front of the letter with the Mod Podge - let dry

Once dry, sand edges of wood and paper lightly - gives it a worn/aged look... I personally like the vintage look, but if you dont, then dont sand it.

Tie ribbon in a bow and hot glue ends to the back of the letter... took me some time to get it all even, but you are smarter than me and can probably figure it out quicker :-)

Ta-da you are done!! So cute huh??!!

Ok so its not perfect but I think its dang cute and Liane likes it so..... enjoy!