Well, we had a busy weekend here at the Mitchells! Brandon had a few days of meetings in Salt Lake City last week, and then I flew in Friday morning to join him in Park City. So, Fafa and Punkin came up from Tucson to stay with the kids. The kids were soooo excited to have them all to themselves.
Brandon's company put us up at The Canyons resort in Park City on Friday night. It was a really nice place. We were able to see some friends that we went to school with, so that was a lot of fun. He works for the same company and they are living in Virginia right now. We hadn't seen them in 2 1/2 years, so it was really nice to catch up. After some shopping and sight seeing, we met up with my Aunt and Uncle and cousins in Sandy on Saturday afternoon. It was a lot of fun to see them as well. We were up until the wee hours of the morning Sunday talking. We sure love seeing them and we're hoping they head down this way for Christmas. We were also wonderfully, maybe, surprised with two inches of snow that night as well! We literally froze in Utah. We are definitely acclamated to our warm Arizona weather.
Alas, we were anxious to make it home to our children. We missed them terribly. We were happy to have some time together, but relieved to make it home safely and be an intact family again! The kids had a ball with my grandparents. They had lots of fun going to the park, coloring pictures, wrestling with Fafa and eating yummy treats. Owen loved his time with his Punkin so much that he barely recognized me when we walked in the door! She even let him sleep in their bed Saturday night - - which he NEVER does!!! There is defintely a special bond between them. We sure appreciated them taking care of the kids. They are the most wonderful great-grandparents any kid could ask for. We never worried about them being safe.
So, it's back to the grind this week. We had some teary eyes this morning when they left. We promised the kids we'd head to Tucson the first weekend in November so they could see them again. Now, I just have to convince little Owen that he can make it that long before he sees Punkin again!
We love you all!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
The Joy of Nostalgia
As I laid in bed last night listening to the hum of the baby monitor and not really quite relaxing as I was listening for Owen, who is teething, I got into one of my crazy notstalic moods. (How's that for a run-on sentence!?) Those of you who have ever corresponded with me through mail or emails know that I LOVE to write and I take my time to explain any idea or memory that I want to get across. I love detailing life and events. I've always been a fiersely loyal journal writer, until lately! What I miss the most about college is all the research and papers I had to write. Call me crazy, but that's what happens when you spend your childhood reading books - and your adulthood too. I am a self-professed nerd who loves to read! So, bear with me as I take the opportunity this week to rattle off about a multiplicity of things that have been on my mind lately. Feel free to read as much or as little as you like!
Yesterday, as I was pulling out of the driveway, I looked over my shoulder to see if there were any children on the sidewalk, and I noticed the three carseats in the back of the car. I had a small moment of nostalgia thinking about the three owners of those precious car seats! I truly think that motherhood has been the best thing I've ever done. Believe me - I'm not the best - or even close - but I love being a parent. In my family as a child we had an interesting dynamic in the sense that there was a 7 year gap between the older children and the younger children. If you take a moment and look at the majority of family photos from my childhood, you will find a child attached to my hip. I was a little mother to my 3 younger brothers and absolutely loved that role. I took it very seriously. I had a special sense of needing to protect them from a very young age. As an older sister I had several opportunities to babysit them. I was super paranoid to leave them unattended at any moment - even as they got older. I remember one Saturday morning - gosh - I don't even know how old I was - I think I may have still been in High School. Anyhow, I had NEVER ever left them unattended and just once I decided to take a shower. I figured I could take a short one and be out in 10 minutes tops. (mind you, the kids were older, I think the youngest was probably 7 at the time) Well, I got out of the shower and the house was dead quiet. I panicked. I ran through the house to find no one home. I about fainted and went into a tailspin of panic. I ran out of the house screaming and running up and down the block. Our neighter, Steve Maurer, heard me and started helping me look for the kids. We couldn't find them anywhere. Meanwhile - I had only put on clothes - I don't think I had even combed my hair! Eventually, I decided to get in my car and start looking for my mother, who had been at the church building for some sort of meeting that morning. I got to the church and their was no sign of the family car. As I was on my way back to the house I happened to notice the car at our local branch of the bank. I parked quickly and RAN inside with my hair dripping wet and all! Right there in front of my eyes was my mother and my little brothers sitting at a desk opening up bank accounts for the boys! Long story short, I will never forget that. I'm sure my neighbor and my mother won't either!
My own grandparents have said that they thought I'd never want my own children, because I had already helped raise 3 boys! Very shortly after Brandon and I got married we BOTH had the itch to have a child. Porter was born one month after our first anniversary and we've had two more since in only 6 years!! It's been a crazy, busy ride, but it's been amazing. I had a professor in college that always used to say that the joy in life is in the journey - not the final goals. Absolutely - he had it right. We're not stinking rich and I'm no runway model, but I have everything I could ever want right here at home. I am just as protective of our babies as I was of my brothers and am constantly telling them they can't go anywhere without me. In fact, we took the kids to the park last night, and as we were walking there we noticed two little boys probably Porter and Tess' ages running in the neighborhood alone. Porter looked at me and asked, "Hey Ma, why are those kids alone?" These kids are so much fun. They crack us up daily with the things they say and the questions they have about life. I have the best husband I could ever ask for. I dated a multiplicity of men, but the second I met Brandon, I knew he was different. I was smitten instantly and I still am. I remember going home after our first date and telling my mother that I was going to marry him. He has turned out to be a wonderful husband and an amazing parent. Those children look at him like he's pure gold. They would do anything for him.
Anyhow, It looks as though I may need to finish my ramblings on another day. This has gotten a bit longer than I thought! Just know we've got 3 little souls here flourishing in our home! They send out kisses and hugs to everyone. I just need to sit down and start writing our own litte family history story while all these little kid memories are fresh in my mind.
I love you all dearly!!!
Yesterday, as I was pulling out of the driveway, I looked over my shoulder to see if there were any children on the sidewalk, and I noticed the three carseats in the back of the car. I had a small moment of nostalgia thinking about the three owners of those precious car seats! I truly think that motherhood has been the best thing I've ever done. Believe me - I'm not the best - or even close - but I love being a parent. In my family as a child we had an interesting dynamic in the sense that there was a 7 year gap between the older children and the younger children. If you take a moment and look at the majority of family photos from my childhood, you will find a child attached to my hip. I was a little mother to my 3 younger brothers and absolutely loved that role. I took it very seriously. I had a special sense of needing to protect them from a very young age. As an older sister I had several opportunities to babysit them. I was super paranoid to leave them unattended at any moment - even as they got older. I remember one Saturday morning - gosh - I don't even know how old I was - I think I may have still been in High School. Anyhow, I had NEVER ever left them unattended and just once I decided to take a shower. I figured I could take a short one and be out in 10 minutes tops. (mind you, the kids were older, I think the youngest was probably 7 at the time) Well, I got out of the shower and the house was dead quiet. I panicked. I ran through the house to find no one home. I about fainted and went into a tailspin of panic. I ran out of the house screaming and running up and down the block. Our neighter, Steve Maurer, heard me and started helping me look for the kids. We couldn't find them anywhere. Meanwhile - I had only put on clothes - I don't think I had even combed my hair! Eventually, I decided to get in my car and start looking for my mother, who had been at the church building for some sort of meeting that morning. I got to the church and their was no sign of the family car. As I was on my way back to the house I happened to notice the car at our local branch of the bank. I parked quickly and RAN inside with my hair dripping wet and all! Right there in front of my eyes was my mother and my little brothers sitting at a desk opening up bank accounts for the boys! Long story short, I will never forget that. I'm sure my neighbor and my mother won't either!
My own grandparents have said that they thought I'd never want my own children, because I had already helped raise 3 boys! Very shortly after Brandon and I got married we BOTH had the itch to have a child. Porter was born one month after our first anniversary and we've had two more since in only 6 years!! It's been a crazy, busy ride, but it's been amazing. I had a professor in college that always used to say that the joy in life is in the journey - not the final goals. Absolutely - he had it right. We're not stinking rich and I'm no runway model, but I have everything I could ever want right here at home. I am just as protective of our babies as I was of my brothers and am constantly telling them they can't go anywhere without me. In fact, we took the kids to the park last night, and as we were walking there we noticed two little boys probably Porter and Tess' ages running in the neighborhood alone. Porter looked at me and asked, "Hey Ma, why are those kids alone?" These kids are so much fun. They crack us up daily with the things they say and the questions they have about life. I have the best husband I could ever ask for. I dated a multiplicity of men, but the second I met Brandon, I knew he was different. I was smitten instantly and I still am. I remember going home after our first date and telling my mother that I was going to marry him. He has turned out to be a wonderful husband and an amazing parent. Those children look at him like he's pure gold. They would do anything for him.
Anyhow, It looks as though I may need to finish my ramblings on another day. This has gotten a bit longer than I thought! Just know we've got 3 little souls here flourishing in our home! They send out kisses and hugs to everyone. I just need to sit down and start writing our own litte family history story while all these little kid memories are fresh in my mind.
I love you all dearly!!!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Family Home Evening
Well......I know it's been two weeks since I wrote - - - excuses - - - we've been busy and we've had a bit of some sickness in the house as well. Alas, I am back and all is well in Mitchell land.
We had a great Family Home Evening tonight with the kids. We've been really bad in the past about doing that on a regular basis, and have recently vowed to change our ways! Our big lesson tonight was on tying our shoes! Porter is at that right age and we know it takes a lot of practice. He'll get it eventually. Tess even tried as well, which was really fun. Owen opted out - he was more interested in his little dinosaur with tags on it! The kids thought the best part was the treat, of course. We had Nestle crunch ice cream bars - Daddy's favorite. Personally, I loved listening to everyone sing the little speckled frog song!
Soccer season is going really well. Porter, despite being the youngest, shortest and slowest kid on the team, is doing really well. His favorite position to play is goalie, which he does really well at. He's getting faster and more aggressive with each practice and game. We are so proud of him and he loves it. He continues to love school. He comes home each day and sits right down to do his homework. His teacher told me the other day she loves talking to Porter simply to watch the expressions on his face! He's always showed all of his emotion right on his face!
I started watching a friend of our's child last week and Tess has really enjoyed having him at our house everyday. He's 18 months old and his name is Owen as well! She likes playing with him and that has helped her have a playmate while Porter is gone at school. Owen's mom is a school teacher, so he's gone just after Porter gets home from school, so that's nice for me as well. She continues to love to ride her bike and eat strawberries whenever she can. She calls strawberries "strawberry shortcake" because she loves the character Strawberry Shortcake.
Owen is still the perfect little baby. He is ALWAYS sooooo happy. I can't believe he'll be 7 months old on Friday. He's fully rolling all over the place! It took him a bit longer cuz the poor thing is so chubby! He now has two teeth and is jabbering all the time. He's been eating solid food for awhile, but tonight we gave him mashed potatoes for the first time, and you'd think he was in heaven! He LOVED them!! He kept opening his mouth and he'd bark at me if I didn't feed it to him fast enough! He's growing up too fast. What he does that I love best are his kisses. He'll practically suck on your cheek and laugh at the same time. It's way cute.
Well, we hope all is well with everyone and I promise to work on some great oration for the next entry!
xoxoxoxo
We had a great Family Home Evening tonight with the kids. We've been really bad in the past about doing that on a regular basis, and have recently vowed to change our ways! Our big lesson tonight was on tying our shoes! Porter is at that right age and we know it takes a lot of practice. He'll get it eventually. Tess even tried as well, which was really fun. Owen opted out - he was more interested in his little dinosaur with tags on it! The kids thought the best part was the treat, of course. We had Nestle crunch ice cream bars - Daddy's favorite. Personally, I loved listening to everyone sing the little speckled frog song!
Soccer season is going really well. Porter, despite being the youngest, shortest and slowest kid on the team, is doing really well. His favorite position to play is goalie, which he does really well at. He's getting faster and more aggressive with each practice and game. We are so proud of him and he loves it. He continues to love school. He comes home each day and sits right down to do his homework. His teacher told me the other day she loves talking to Porter simply to watch the expressions on his face! He's always showed all of his emotion right on his face!
I started watching a friend of our's child last week and Tess has really enjoyed having him at our house everyday. He's 18 months old and his name is Owen as well! She likes playing with him and that has helped her have a playmate while Porter is gone at school. Owen's mom is a school teacher, so he's gone just after Porter gets home from school, so that's nice for me as well. She continues to love to ride her bike and eat strawberries whenever she can. She calls strawberries "strawberry shortcake" because she loves the character Strawberry Shortcake.
Owen is still the perfect little baby. He is ALWAYS sooooo happy. I can't believe he'll be 7 months old on Friday. He's fully rolling all over the place! It took him a bit longer cuz the poor thing is so chubby! He now has two teeth and is jabbering all the time. He's been eating solid food for awhile, but tonight we gave him mashed potatoes for the first time, and you'd think he was in heaven! He LOVED them!! He kept opening his mouth and he'd bark at me if I didn't feed it to him fast enough! He's growing up too fast. What he does that I love best are his kisses. He'll practically suck on your cheek and laugh at the same time. It's way cute.
Well, we hope all is well with everyone and I promise to work on some great oration for the next entry!
xoxoxoxo
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