The Day of LURVE

I love Valentines Day. I really do. I think it's cool that, despite the commercialism aspect, we take a day to appreciate the people who make our lives glorious. Hooray for you guys! Also, and I have no scientific evidence to back this up, Papa Murphys pizza just tastes better when baked in a heart shape. I swear it does.

Matt and I got the kids a couple of the mystery Lego Guy (I'm sure that's the official term) packs. Where you don't know who is in them until you open them. After getting an Alien guy and a Minotaur, Hank has declared several times today that this is the, "Best Valentine's Day EVER." We sat down to lunch and he glanced up, surprised at this thoughts, and said, "Hey, I wanted a balloon for Valentines. Dang." It's really good that the kid has such high expectations. That's really going to pay off for us in the long run.

I also just wanted to post about this card. The making of which was nearly the death of me. My original thought was to have everyone sitting all together. Chaos ensued. Children were much too tired, hungry, or otherwise ornery to be in such close proximity to each other. Even after we decided Boone could have his own picture, faces were sour, mean things were said. Until someone, who will not be named but it rhymes with tank, tooted. Why is this my fortune? Honestly. It seems like every post I do is about who tooted on who, in what embarrassing situation. And yet, how often tooting saves my bacon. It certainly saved this picture. Such is my lot. And I admit that I love every stinkin' (hehe) minute of it.

Happy Love Day.

Pursuit of Perfection

A few Sundays ago, I decided a picture of the kids was in order. I got everyone on the couch and started clicking for the perfect shot. You know, the one you send to Grandma or hang in the living room above the fireplace. Well we don't have a fireplace, but I think you're pickin' up what I'm puttin' down. Here are some of the highlights of our photo shoot.

First I had to convince everyone they wanted to participate.

And keep their hands in their laps.

Oh, and be natural...I'm talking you, Hank and Luke.

Then someone said something funny.

And I had to remind them this was serious, there will be NO funny business.

Luke had some input on the matter.

We never did get "that shot." We may never have achieved conventional perfection, but I think these perfectly showcase their personalities. And that's better anyway.

Yep. Perfect.

Of Poison and Plastic Surgery

Yesterday was Boone's four month check up. While we were waiting for the doctor to come in the room I noticed this brochure.

It's really comforting to know that I only have to remember one number in case my child is poisoned OR I see some suspicious activity I need to report. I do wish I had this number last Saturday when Luke ate an entire pack of Trident on the way home from Target. Is gum in mass quantities poison? Is it terrorism? I think Luke's belly would say it's a little of both. I guess the two topics of this brochure are more related than I first thought.

And since we're on the topic of doctors, Boone was diagnosed as super tall. He is in the 90 percentile for height. What? My child? Did I hear that right? Odds are he won't stay tall, but I hereby diagnose him as super cute for life.

On a related note, I always thought that I would be the first one in our family to receive plastic surgery. At the doctor yesterday we talked about that spot you can see on Boone's forehead. He narrowed it down to a few of extremely long words. The most harmless and most likely is a hemangioma, a benign red bump that will grow with him for a while and then fade away in a few years. But to be sure, the doctor referred us to a pediatric facial plastic surgeon to tell us exactly what it is and if we need to be concerned or have it removed. My future tummy tuck, botox injections, and eye lift were suddenly very jealous at the possibility of this baby getting a turn at plastic surgery before me. All in good time, body work. All in good time.

It is 2012. For Reals.

Well, once again I find myself staring at a 3 month gap on the blog wondering how to possibly fill in my two dwindling readers (if that, I'm counting on some family keeping me on the reader...please family?) on the happenings of the last while. I've decided a list for most (Fresh! Innovative! Lists are the new paragraphs!!). And Hank's birthday will, of course, receive it's own post. So here goes.

Pretty much the whole three months can be summed up by saying we've really been enjoying this little man Boone of ours.



He really is a total joy to have around. He is an observer so far, very attentive of what's going on around him, but not too quick to jump in on the action. Not only because he can't jump, I don't think... I think he's just a little reserved. He's totally worth staying up for. And also not cleaning my house for. I like to stare at him and make him dance and interact with the other kids far more than I enjoy mopping, picking up toys, anything of that nature. Please excuse this if you happen to visit my home.

With the joy of Boone, we got so many visitors. I will admit that one of my worries when finding out I was expecting Boone was that no one would get to see him. Imagine my joy when all of my siblings found their way down here. I am still overwhelmed with how happy that makes me.

Amy came first, to help me. She was such a welcome sight to my tired eyes and to the attention- hungry eyes of my three older babes. We were able to visit with Andy and Kandice for a few days and it fed our souls. Tom and Joan came right before Thanksgiving and it was a dream vacation for us. We played so hard and my kids enjoyed their kids so much that they are still talking about it daily. I feel so blessed that everyone made the effort to come here, it buoyed me up more than any of them will ever know. Love my family.

While Tom and Joan were here, we blessed Boone. It was a great day, low-key, and great. I really wanted to get a picture of all of us, the Mortimers and the Blatters at the church, but I forgot while we were there. Boo. Here is one of us when we got home, pretend the Morts are in it too, okay?


If it makes you feel better about me forgetting to get a picture of the whole group, I also forgot my diaper bag at the church. With our checkbook and credit cards in it. Oh, did I mention I also had Matt's debit card because I borrowed it the night before the blessing? Oh, did I also mention I discovered it Monday morning as the cars were completely loaded (children included) ready to head to the beach for the week? Yeah. It may be safe to say I wasn't firing on all cylinders. Thank heavens for a Relief Society President's baby, who had a blow-out so she had to come home from her errands on the other side of town, I could run get the key to the church. That kid's poop saved my hide, I tell ya.


The Saturday after Thanksgiving we went and walked around La Cantera (a fancy schmancy outdoor mall) with some friends and Lindy got her ears pierced on a whim. Well, if you call me talking her into it a whim, which I do, so it was a whim. :) We also stopped in at Neiman Marcus and I saw a dress for sale for $7,000. Really? Do you know what I could do with that kind of cash? We promptly left Neiman Marcus.


December brought Matt's birthday. I'm not gonna lie. I was homesick. Matt's birthday weekend always coincides with the Rigby tree-lighting parade and scones and hot chocolate at Browlims. We made up for it though by discovering the best Mexican Food in San Antonio and taking the kids to the mall to mail their letters to Santa.




Up next in our busiest month was Hank's birthday. It rocked. He gets his own post. Stay tuned.

On my birthday I became another year older and wiser too. Or at least I care less about being wise, which in itself is wisdom, right? Oh, deep.

Christmas was superb. It was strange not having family to party with, but we hung out with some friends and made the holiday our own. Santa spoiled the kids and we had a secret Santa that spoiled us all. We enjoyed the holidays immensley and all were sad when we had to return to our regularly scheduled lives.

So here we are. 2012. If I were to sum up 2011 in one word, it would be stretchy. I was stretched; physically, emotionally, spiritually. I can honestly say that I have never stressed or sweat as much as I did last year. I can also say I have never had more powerful witnesses of the Lord's hand in our lives on an extremely individual and personal level. I'm looking forward to taking some extra deep, relaxed breaths in 2012.

I'm also looking forward to blogging more. I would rather not try to sum up 3 months at a time while trying not to sound boring. It will be much more fun to focus on the little amazing things that make my life exceptional. Like the other day when I was going to get in the shower. Luke asked me why and I said that I was sweaty. Luke replied with, "You no shower. Me spit you clean." And then the darling spat all over my face in a raspberry fashion. Now I ask you, does it get any better than that?

Happy 2012!