Ok ok ok.,..i know it is totally annoying for a skinny girl to complain about being fat. My tummy is my "good" area and with my skirts on I am looking pretty good for just having a baby= but I used to be really really skinny before ... I guess. My problem area is my bum and thighs. I would occasional try on my 'Fat" shorts and pants while back at my "regular size" and swim in them. I keep the fat clothes around for early pregnancy and after baby...but I cannot even button my fat pants after I squeeze them over my thigs and bum. I don't want to buy any fat"er" pants because I hope to loose the inches, but come un. It is starting to get cold and I cannot wear skirts all winter. maybe I'll invest in leggins to wear under skirts.
Just complaining.
10/28/09
the complaints of a skinny girl
Chicken Noodle Soup Day
(in reality, I suggested chicken noodle soup to Maes for lunch expecting to open up a can- but we were out- so the adventure began).
We made the noodles from scratch! Yeah.
10/26/09
October tradition: Mother Nature's Farm
We have a tradition of going to Mother Nature's Farm each October. Maesyn talks about it all year and asks to watch the home video's of our prior visits. It is a little "farm" right in the center of Gilbert. They have some animals and a hay ride that takes you past some fields of weeds and beyond the fields you can see the cinder block walls of the housing developments that are all around it. After the hay ride you can play in some small play houses and pick a pumpkin off the ground. Not a real pumpkin patch, just pumpkins that are all over the ground. The kids really enjoyed the hay pit. A number of hay bails that form a wall around a bunch of hay. We spent a good amount of time there... more time than the jump house (thankfully). They also love the maze. Go half a mile west and you get Wal Mart, east and you can hit Trader Joes. Rustic...Rural.. Not really. I wondered if the farm I visited as a little girl was just like this and I created fond memories, or if it was more "farm" like. After all, the had a real pumpkin patch. The pumpkins actually grew there. And they made apple pies!! Regardless of what it is like, the kids LOVE it there and that is what matters. They are making memories...and they don't involve watching tv or playing on the computer. (in fact, they are also making "condo living" memories, which involve trying to sneak a dig in the common areas -where they are not allowed to dig, setting up their play furniture for weekly "pretend" garage sales and picking flowers from our planter box...as well as slamming the fron door when the smoke comes inside our house from the neighbors) 
Our camera battery refuses to hold a charge (new camera is on the Christmas wish list), so Nate took these with his blackberry. Very good I think. He has more, but he needs to send them to me. 
Jake is excited to see the goats! 
Mikah and I are just sitting around. I don't know if my sunglasses are big enough. You? One year one of the smaller goats was startled, it was standing under a larger animal and impaled it. Its insides were falling out. I did not see it happen, I heard about it on the hay ride and when we saw the animals again, sure enough there was a poor animal sitting in the corner, nursing it's wound. It was pretty gruesome, I'm glad the kids did not see it. It seemed that the owner had been summoned to inspect the damage.
10/24/09
wanna see something funny?
Ok, it is not really funny. It is sort of boring. I named this new blog "Heidi is living well." it is my blog where i log my food and exercise. I had this goal to eat better. I did ok on the first day or 2, but I DON'T EAT WELL. At least if i write it down maybe i'll eat better. who knows. It just seems when people do these blogs that they have these great healthy habits that they are tracking. Mine has included too much rootbeer ( we are note even soda drinkers) and too many milkshakes. Does it help that it is all natural ice cream and skim milk? NO. But bryers was on sale.
FUNNY LINK.
10/19/09
Barak Obama is.....a goat? (with post edit)
as a preface to this post:
We don't really talk a lot about politics in our home- it is of no major concern to a 5 year old, a 2 year old and a new born and those people tend to rule our house, and our conversations. Maes knows who the President is, and that is about it.
Whenever we pass the stadium at ASU on the 202 Maes chants "Barak Obama, Barak Obama!" Jake joins in. (likewise, when we pass Mesa High Maesyn chants "Brittany's graduation". We took Maesyn to see the President speak at Nate's Graduation because it was free and a rare opportunity- so there is an association with the stadium and the President. )
Recently when we drove past Maesyn started her chant and Nate noticed that some people were horse back riding on the other side of the freeway. He pointed this out to the kids. I had never realized that Jake did not know who (or what for that matter) Barak Obama was. He then said that we wanted to ride a "mommy Barak Obama". With the mention of the horses on the other side of the road he must have assumed that the chanting about what ever was on the previous side of the road was an animal too.
We explained who Barak Obama was, but he insisted that "it" was an animal. This was a few weeks ago.
Today I asked Jake to put his shoes on. He showed me that there was some "goat" grass in his shoes. (they had been at the fair Friday night). He talked some more about the goat grass and then about the "Barak Obama" goat.
It has recently come to my attention that "Obama" sounds like llama. And, there were several Brahman Cattle at the fair. He has some reason for his confusion.
10/18/09
pumpkin
Although it is over 100 degrees this weekend, I have been itching to make pumpkin waffles.
I don't have a star recipe, but this one claimed to be the best online. It took some extra effort with whipping the egg whites, not to mention you have to separate them first. With the help of Jake, we got it done.
The recipe claimed to make 4 large Belgian waffles, so I doubled the batch. There are 4 people that eat solid food in my home. And, Maes has confessed that she is addicted to waffles. Well, I did not take into account that Nate is fasting this Sunday, and that the kids might not like the spicy flavor.
9 waffles later.
I ate 1 3/4 (good to see I can pack it in again)
Maes ate most of 1/4 of one, and Jake is working on his 1/4 (just eat 5 bites I plead)
10/14/09
I'm pretty sure I could not handle it if Nate traveled for work
Nate went out of town for a conference on Sunday morning. He gets back later this afternoon today.
I did not e-mail him and call as much as I thought I would. Here is a sampling of our correspondences:
Maes is at church. Jake threw a fit that we moved her car seat but he would not go with her.
then jake insisted that i open a box of yogurts while I was in the bathroom
i would not open it
then i opened the caramel kind- that is what he wanted
he said he did not like it and insisted on the fruit kind
i said he could try it tomorrow
he threw a fit
i gave him the fruit flavor
he did not like it either
i told him he had to eat half of it or go to his room
he would not do either
i had to carry him to his room
(not good on my body)
he cried for Mikah
came and woke her up
and is now on the floor in the living room
time to lock him in - i cannot have him being naughty and getting his own way ALL THE TIME.
I'm in for a long couple of days. I might try some short walks to the parks.
Love ya
Heidi
To: heidileagarner
Subject: Re: first of many e-mails
From: nategarner
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:47:07 +0000
From: heidi garner
he sat at the table with his bottom lip sticking out...and started falling asleep.
he saw me looking at him and came and told me he needed to take a nap
i told him to take it in his room
he is a sleep now.
time to make the bed and fold up that laundry.
love ya
have fun
i miss you already.. it would be nice to snuggle and take a nap- but that is just a fantasy. If you were here you would be working on uop stuff...if we took a nap the house would be trashed by the kids... if they even let us take one.
i'll just get those two things cleaned up and then relax. Maybe i can cut out pieces for home made christmas.
love ya
Heidi
| From: | nategarner |
| Sent: | Sun 10/11/09 2:36 PM |
| To: | Heidi Garner |
True, but a nap would sure be nice!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
I sent more e-mails. Ones about hour house value, ones about REI garage sales and a need for a winter coat that is cheap, and one about how the scale stopped moving down and started moving back up!!!
Then one really traumatic one about it being hard to be a mom.
We also had about 3 interrupted phone calls last night- intended to be just one. I think I complained for my part, Nate talked about the free toys he picked up from the vendors and what we should do when he gets back home tonight!
I'm a MEAN MOM
Because I got upset at the kids for:
- Not getting in the bath when asked... instead Jake told me no and decided to do other things- not an uncommon response when asked to do something.
- Maes wiping her excess lotion on the arm of the couch- I asked her not to do it last night, she had forgotten the request (she says also that she was not focusing-she was not doing to to be bad, but it makes me upset to have our "nice" things ruined- and to have my requests ignored.
- Telling the kids "no more picnics today." because after their breakfast picnic they went ahead and starting playing other things. When I went out to the patio it looked as if they threw their juice boxes across the patio after drinking them, and all of their other breakfast was left out on the floor. Nothing put away after use.
- I felt so thoughtful to pick up some more undershirts for Maes at the store, now she has one for every day! I thought she would be happy, but when I told her about them she was bothered...she wanted something cool, like a toy! How unthoughtful of me.
I feel like I'm always being mean and yelling, and then if I think I do something nice there is not gratefulness. And.. it seems like I am never listened to. That is my big pet peeve. Not being listened to. (and not just by my kids- everybody!!!)
10/13/09
Dear Neighbor that smokes.
You have the right to smoke on your patio. I have the right to have fresh air and no smoke in my house. We cannot both have things our way, and somehow you win. It is not fair.
I am trying to move.
I hope that your smoking does not lead away potential buyers.
Daily Activities of my 3 Children
She probably spends 90-95% of the time doing this. I don't remember my other kids sleeping so much. I should not be surprised. She had this sort of behavior in the womb. I worried that she was not moving enough. She was just sleeping. I think she stays awake a little longer than she did when we first brought her home. But not much. She also enjoys eating and I think her legs are getting a little chubbier!Maesyn Gale Garner
She looks a little bothered in this picture. Maesyn brought home a booklet of work to do during October break. She could not wait to start it. She also loves to sit and draw pictures and just write things. Yesterday she sounded out "Mean" but spelled it "Meen" Close enough. It was so she cold write out "Mom is mean." Then she said she was just kidding, it was for Halloween.Jakie Eldon Garner
I'm not sure if it is apparent what is going on here. Jake wanted his net that he got from the Easter bunny. I told him he could have it after he ate some breakfast and took a bath. Naturally there was a fit and then I put the net up high so he could not get it. I saw him move the chair, but figured he was still too short, so I went to feed Mikah. Then he was very quiet. I had heard him get the stool out of the bathroom, and put it back, but I did not put 2 and 2 together. I asked Maes to check on him. He was hiding in my bed with his NET! I put it up higher this time and he went back to work. He was pretty mad that he could not get it and began throwing our clothes down and then let me know that he did not like me and wanted me to go to work....but he was not sure what he would do, as he does not want to go to his school (although he is excited about the next project they are doing at school, but he "never ever" wants to go back to school). 10/9/09
On Nursing babies...
My little brother lived with us when he got off his mission and right after Maesyn was born. One day he gave her a kiss. There was something on her mouth that got on his mouth so he just licked it off. Then he realized that Maesyn had just been nursing.
He was pretty upset about it!
(I mean, what else would be on her mouth.. I guess it could have been spit up- but my kids rarely spit up! )
10/6/09
parenting is hard, and I'm not that great at it....
No comments are allowed on this post if you are going to give me parenting advice. Not looking for it... just explaining that parenting is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Before I had kids- but was surounded by other people's kids (as a teacher)- I thought I had it all figured out. Now I do things I swore I would not... maybe we just pick our battles, maybe we are tired (yes...tired). It is hard being a parent- but it is also my very favorite thing in the whole world!
Situation "Cake":
- Nate and Jake made some yellow cake yesterday morning. He even bought a covered pedestal for me to put it in once we frosted it so that it would look pretty and not dry out after we cut into it.
- Maesyn came home from school and smelled the cake. She continued to remind me of how much she loved cake. I continued to tell her that she could not have any until later.
- Maesyn calls out to me again, and I tell her that I don't want to hear how much she loves cake, she will have to wait.
- She lets me know that she already got some.
- I go to the kitchen and see the cakes covered with a dish towel and a dish towel on the floor. The floor dish towel covers the crumbs. One of the cakes has chunks dug out of it.
- My response: time out for 5 minutes, call your dad and tell him what you did, and no cake tonight with the family.
- Maesyn gets defensive and explains that she does not even like cake and does not want cake for her birthday.
- I tell her to remind me of that at her next birthday.
- She realizes that is silly and retracts her comments.
- It is hard to take things away from your kids.
- With the persuasion of Nate Maesyn is allowed to have cake later that night, but only a pieces where she has taken a chunk out of already- and only after eating her dinner (Did I mention it is hard to take things away from your kids).
- Maesyn sneaks icing repeatedly out of the tub after being asked not to.
- Nate is still ok with her having cake.
- Maesyn sneaks a big lick of icing off of her cake without finishing her dinner.
- I decide no cake for the night.
- She goes to bed without cake
- End result: after breakfast this morning Maesyn got some cake- (I was still asleep).
- It is no surprise that we are having problems with Jake.
- It is nice outside so the kids can play for a while.
- Jake runs out in just his underwear after being asked to put some clothes on first (it sort of fits in to run around in our neighborhood in just your underwear- but it does not make it right).
- Jake runs away far- my dad is out with him but cannot run due to a surgery on his knee. So Nate goes after him.
- Jake gets a time out and then is told that he will have to go to bed early after FHE.
- Jake gets second chances (we are full of second chances) if he is reverent during FHE and stays in the corner the whole time then he can stay up until bed time.
- Jake is not reverent (surprised?)
- Jake has to go to his room, we have to lock the door.
- It is hard for Nate to see Jake sad, it is hard for Maesyn. I am so so so tired, I'd get him in his room and lock the door if I had the energy and if I did not feel like I was falling apart.
- Jake cries for about an hour and screams for Maesyn.
- It is hard on Nate...
- When Maesyn and Nate get back from running and errand Jake is still sad and so are Nate and Maesyn...I'm just exhausted.
- We talk to Jake about his behavior and tell him it is now real bed time and Maes is going to bed too (she does not want the door locked).
- Nate reads them stories
- - Jake ends up running down the hall and putting himself to bed in our room.
When I have to diciplie my kids I get a little taste of what our Heavenly Father feels. He is our parent and it hurts to see is make bad choices. He wants us to return to be with him, but there are concequences for our actions. Granted eating cake is not the same as the Celistial Kingdom-but it killed me when I knew that we would have some cake later that evening and she would not. It pains our Heavenly Father to see us do things that would prevent us from making it to our ultimate goal...returning to be with him...our big piece of cake.
Parenting brings me closer to my Heavenly Father.
I love my kids.
10/1/09
A big brother with his little sister.
I noticed that I don't have a lot of pictures of Maes and Mikah...the truth is, I'm trying to take more pictures period. She is an amazing big sister that helps get diapers and will hold Mikah very well for me.
She can hold Mikah and eat a whole bowl of frozen berries. Such a multi tasker (she'll make a great Mom one day).
Jake on the other hand is in LOVE with his sister. He loves to hold her (until she gets to heavy- and then I have to be on guard so he does not plop her down too hard).
He wants to hold her all of the time it seems..sometimes his attention span is longer, like this morning.He held her and said she was a "cutie" (he says that almost every time she is in his arms).
Then while I was in the bath he sang her some made up songs.
He also likes to sing "itsy bitsy spider" to her.
Such a sweetheart... until things don't go his way!This is where things start getting hard for me.
He loves Mikah and wants to hold her constantly... and touch her, and play with her. (he even had a blanket over her head as they were playing "hide and seek". )
But he does not want to wash his hands, does not want others to hold her and does not want to wait.
Here he is in one of his pouting sessions.
He has his big gun. He was being so difficult for some reason or another, and I'm sure it was past his bed time. I bribed him with it- saying he could sleep with it if he would just do what I asked (cannot remember what I asked of him, but it was important at that time).
As of now the gun has been taken away until Halloween (it is part of his costume) as is his little gun and various sticks. First Bath (at home)
I mean, I only have 2 hands...and Nate is here with me, and it is still hard.
The kids were excited to help give Mikah a bath at home. We got all the gear together and everything ready.. They even had parts picked out that they wanted to wash. But then we had listening problems...
I think I'm really buckling down.. or just loosing my patience.
But it ended up being a Mommy only washing this first time..followed by guilt on my part for not letting them help.
However, they did not seem to mind.
I love tiny little bum cheeks!And I look tired because I am!
Chicken Salad Baby
Soon after Mikah was born the gave me a menu from the cafeteria at the fancy new hospital in which we was born.
Happy to have my stomach back in the space it was intended to be in, I ordered a Chicken Salad Sandwich. I like Chicken Salad...but it is a hit and miss salad to order. Some places make them great and others..yuck. And there is no way to tell who might make a great one. My sister in law loves the salad served at the cafeteria of the High School where she works. Who knew?
Well, Banner Gateway does not have a yummy chicken salad sandwich.
So skip it.
On Tuesday my mom brought over some chicken salad for our lunch. She was out of Mayo so when it arrived it had chopped rotisserie chicken, onions, spices and celery. I added the mayo and a bit of pineapple and dried cranberries. Sprinkled with cashews, we ate it on shredded lettuce.
I have been feeling really loved. We have been set up to get meals every day this week and into next week. So here is what has been coming through our door.
My friend Jada from across the parking lot brought us dinner Tuesday night. She brought us dinner when Jake was born and it was amazing. So I was quite excited.
On Tuesday night she brought us
.....Chicken Salad Sandwiches.
I did not have the heart to tell her we had Chicken Salad for lunch.
But the disappointment of a repeat meal was not necessary. I already know that I could eat Mexican every single meal, but I did not know about the variety that could be found in Chicken Salad.
Jada said that her chicken salad was sort of boring... but I'd argue it was not. It was a simple salad on a buttery croissant. And it was SOOOOO gooooooooood! And she made a to die for apple pie. AND a huge salad. AND a fruit salad. There were quiet a few sandwiches and I was afraid that we would not finish them. But my kids happen to like chicken salad sandwiches. Well, one ate the salad and the other ate the croissant (with extra butter added). They were gone by morning. And Jake demanded more croissants.
So...
On Wednesday I told Nate we would have to buy croissants for our Jake.
Then, that evening my friend Jen came by with dinner. She is a great baker and we love her treats. She sat down and said.
"I brought you Chicken Salad."
I laughed. I had to tell her about all the chicken salad. She thought we should dress Mikah up a a chicken, as she is the chicken salad baby. She also said that she had been feeling so original to bring Chicken Salad, as she thought maybe other's were bringing pasta.
She brought a whole box of croissants. Perfect for Jake. And her salad was like none other that I had tasted. It was a combo of chicken and egg salad and very, very tasty. She had told me earlier that growing up her mom used to make egg salad sandwich for long road trips. This made me laugh. This was yummy chicken salad too. She also brought kettle chips, baby carrots and a delish rice krispy treat with marshmallows and melted candy baked on top!
On a side note:
I'm beginning to believe that there is a conspiracy to not allow me to loose my baby weight by Christmas.
Tonight, we had another meal on the way. I was curious to see what it would be. The Johnson family brought us by a delightful fresh...
CHICKEN...
NOODLE SOUP.
It was completely home made and very light, with some nice garlic bread and fresh fruit kebabs. It complemented the left over half chicken salad sandwich on a buttery croissant very well that I added to the meal!
