Forbush Family

Summertime Fun

2010-07-17T19:04:00.000-07:00

When I started this blog nearly three years ago I posted just about every week. Then it became once a month and I'm afraid that now it's become a seasonal blog. So what have we been doing now that it's summer? Roasting in the heat? Swimming in the pool? Hunkering down in the air conditioning? YES! Summers in the south are hot but at least they are green and beautiful. Our biggest news is that now we have a HOUSE!! About three weeks ago we moved in to a beautiful new home. My kiddos can now somersault and run and dance- all in the house! And if they get too rambunctious they can go OUTSIDE!! Craig has been happily busy with house projects. We now have a stereo surround sound system, handles on all our cabinets, an entertainment center, etc. It's been fun to see his handy man side a bit. He has also helped me out on our new PRESCHOOL. I've decided to open a little preschool in our home. Butterflies & Bullfrogs Preschool will be opening fall semester. I can hardly wait to teach little ones in my home. Until then we will continue to meet our new friends, swim at the pool and enjoy this beautiful place called HOME!

We Love Spring!

2010-04-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

Here's what we've been up to in my over two months of blogging absence:

Starting food storage- finally! I have enough oats and wheat for one month. Got to start somewhere.

Making our own bread. So delicious and much easier than you think. Here's one of my favorite whole wheat bread recipes: http://trainermomma.com/

Learning to speak! Six months ago, Gideon began speech therapy due to verbal apraxia. He is now speaking at age appropriate levels. I can finally communicate with my little guy! It's amazing how his progress has lowered the frustration levels in our home.

Watching our new home be built. At the end of June our home should be finished and we can say adios to apartment living- yahoo!

Spending lots of time outdoors. I can't remember a more beautiful spring in Texas. We've gone camping, explored big parks and spent many many afternoons at local parks.

Playing soccer and "baseball". Sierra has become a little sporty girl who wants to play soccer and hit balls with tennis racquet's at any chance. I toyed with the idea of getting her a real bat then quickly realized that a small apartment, a bat and a two year old boy just don't mix well.

Going on fun dates. Craig and I went to a Houston rockets game last month and went to a Miller Outdoor Theater production of Cats this month. We both look forward to these nights when parenting responsibilities are put aside and we can focus on having fun together.

Teaching the primary children the stories from the Old Testament. A great opportunity to learn more about the amazing men and women who made righteous choices for the benefit of generations.

Trying to spend more time with each other rather than the computer.

Love

2010-02-11T11:19:00.000-08:00

Love is in the air this time of year. Here are some of my loves:

I love being home with my children
I love eating fresh whole wheat bread
I love that my parents have sacrificed just about everything to serve the Lord as missionaries in Mexico
I love that my new apartment has a garage- attached!
I love days when we go nowhere and just hang out together as a family
I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that the peace I feel and the great love in my heart comes from my Savior.
I love that my parents, my big sisters (4 of them) and my little brothers (4 of them) connect everyday- thank you myfamily.com
I love that pure burst of joy when my 2 year old does something he couldn't do before
I love the blogs from good friends that help me keep in touch and inspire me
I love that my husband has a job that he loves and that is now just 1.25 miles from our home.
I love sunshine
I love that my 4 year old dances everyday and would rather snuggle on the couch with mom or dad and a good book than do just about anything.
I love that I live in America
I love the power in myself that I feel after I go for a good morning run
I love reading the Book of Mormon and learning from those great scripture hero's
I love that my little ones now drink spinach and call it dinosaur juice
I love the goodness that surrounds me in this world.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy New Year!!

2010-01-01T19:00:00.001-08:00

A new year is so exciting to me. A time to start fresh and celebrate the potential we see within ourselves. This year my list of resolutions grows with each day. Here are a few I'll share:

Eat cookies on the weekends only
Pay cash for groceries (when it's gone, it's gone)
Run a 10k this spring
Attend the temple at least monthly
Learn to cook five good meals
Go on a hike with my children each month
Study my scriptures sitting up at my desk each day (so I don't fall asleep)
Go on a date with my handsome husband each month
Spend more time reflecting on the blessings from above
Take new pictures of my kiddos and update this blog!

Perhaps I'm a bit ambitious as this is just a few that I'm planning on working through this year. But just for today I'm going to move full steam ahead and then tomorrow I'll do it and then the next and hopefully in a few weeks, then months I'll be more of where I need to be. Hooray for the possibilities of change!!

The Christmas Spirit

2009-12-15T14:05:00.000-08:00

My sister tuned me into this a few days ago and I finally sat down for three minutes and watched it with my little ones this morning. It's a simple youtube video from lds.org that reminded me what a spiritual time of year this can be.

The Christmas Spirit

Our Life...

2009-11-24T14:13:00.000-08:00

In Pictures.

These six little cousins spent a perfect day at the beach in Galveston. They still had energy to play hard at the hotel (though my sister and I were both pretty beat).

Camping on the beach is amazing and a great perk of living along the Gulf Coast.
Thanks Petty's for inviting us along.

Belle and "woof woof" showing you their version of a scary face.

Grandma Nae Nae came to visit (really to babysit the children)and so a trip to the aquarium was in order. Sierra loved riding the shark train.

Ahhh paradise! We are smiling only because this was after Hurricane Ida made us all very familiar with sea sickness. The Svetz were wonderful to vacation with.

A beautiful beach in Cozumel that I could have spent the entire day at. Instead I spent the majority of it asleep in the back of a taxi with the flu.

Feeling better and zip lining in Jamaica.

Playing Tarzan in Jamaica.

The pictures of Grand Cayman are on the water camera. Unfortunately due to all the storms, there wasn't time to scuba dive so we ended up snorkeling along the shore- still amazing and a place we definitely want to return to.

After nearly nine years it's wonderful to spend a week alone with the one you love.

Happy Thankgsiving!!

Full Hearts

2009-09-27T18:36:00.000-07:00

Our lives are brimming with happiness and wonderful things. There just seems to be abundant blessings pouring from the heavens to fill our hearts and home. Peace has been the biggest blessing of late- that simple contentedness that so often eludes us. Another is Holy Places where the spirit of the Lord can touch our hearts. I am so grateful for a kind and merciful Father in Heaven that I know has absolute knowledge of me. I am truly a child of God!

Craig starts a new job tomorrow! He will be a finance manager for an oil servicing company here in Houston. He is sooo excited for this position as it's one he's looked forward to for many years. I'm excited that there is practically zero travel. The job is on the other side of town so we are looking for a place to call home closer to his work. Hopefully soon I can post that we have a home of our own.

Sierra started going to preschool. She goes Friday mornings for an hour and a half with two other little girls. They rotate homes, so once a month I get to teach the little darlings. I still do preschool with her everyday at home and love the opportunity to incorporate gospel teaching into the curriculum. I love that part of my "job" and am considering starting a preschool once we have a place of our own.

Gideon just turned two! What a happy boy he was blowing out his candles and opening up presents. I love this age of discovery and excitement over everything. The emotions are so pure- two years old is one of my favorite ages! Though his cognitive and motor skills are at 30 months, his speech is just at 12 months, so he starts speech therapy next week. He tries so hard to speak but it just isn't working for him.

I am getting so anxious for the fall weather and the upcoming holidays. I love that feeling of change in the air when you can begin to anticipate wonderful things coming your way.

Good Friends

2009-08-09T18:03:00.000-07:00

I've kind of taken a summer time break from the blogging world and just now read through blogs I haven't read in a long time. There are so many wonderful things going on all over the world! What a great reminder to me of how blessed I have been throughout my life to be surrounded by inspiring people who are doing such amazing things with their lives. The Lord has blessed my abundantly with friends in the right places at the right times. I want to be like all of you!

Craig has been traveling all month and is finally home for a few weeks. Yeah!! During this time, we've really come to appreciate the time we do get to spend together as a family. I've become even more grateful for the support of friends and family that has gotten me through some long days. With him home I can start running again in the morning. I decided that I can't push a 50 pound stroller and 60 pounds worth of kids when it's 100 degrees. I can do one or the other but not both.

Craig aka the family barber cut the children's hair. It was Sierra's first hair cut and I admit I was a bit anxious over losing her baby hair. It was scraggly and she disliked anything but a headband in her hair, so it was time. It's adorable now and so much easier to comb. Gideon also got his hair cut- rather buzzed. He now looks like a big boy. Now if we could just get him to talk like a big boy. I've started teaching him a lot of sign language, which is helping lower our frustration levels. Any advice on how to deal with temper tantrums would be greatly appreciated. I stop counting how many he has if it's over a dozen and we haven't even had lunch. Thankfully, he makes us laugh just as much. Families are just like that- quite a challenge but oh so wonderful and something you wouldn't trade for the world.

Here are pictures of the children with their new hair cuts.

Oh What Do You Do In The Summertime

2009-07-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

Here's what we do in the summertime...

Search for flitty floating butterflies at the butterfly garden.

Watch plays and listen to concerts at the outdoor theater.

Turn our cream leather couch into a canvas with an ink pen- oh no, that's not really what you should do, but it happens and it does come off .

Make sure the goats at the petting zoo are well groomed.

Throw Princess Parties! We spent our preschool time one week learning about fairy tales and the associated brave knights and pretty princesses. It was fitting to cap it off with a royal ball.

Visit local community helpers. The kids were both very hesitant with the fire station visit, though I found it fascinating. (Yes, my hair seems to match the fire truck. Another thing you shouldn't do in the summertime is go crazy with hair dye, semi-permanent or not.)

Have a family 4th! We hosted a 4th of July party with my sister and her four children and my cousin and her five children (yes that makes 11 children when you add my two). It was crazy and fun and unforgettable.

Splash in whatever water you can.

Enjoy the beautiful flowers in full bloom.

Spend an afternoon at a museum. This is the Museum of Health Science and their 4D movie about cells.

Play at parks...but only at 8am.

As you can see, we are having a wonderful summer as we attempt to make the most of this sweltering time of year. We hope you are also enjoying the joys that come during this season.

Heavenly Homes

2009-06-12T18:29:00.000-07:00

Well we just signed a six month lease extension for this tiny apartment. If it weren't for the guidance of a loving Heavenly Father reassuring me this is the best thing for our family right now, I'd lose my mind thinking about staying here longer. I'm often frustrated over the lack of space for our stuff and especially that the children really have no place to play. Last weekend, Craig and I went through all our closets yet again to organize and attempt to create a semblance of order. Because of our small space and my desire to make the best of it, I've been intrigued with the idea of creating a haven in my home. A little piece of heaven to retreat to. As I've pondered and prayed about this desire, ideas that really work have come to my mind. Slowly but surely we are building our eternal home albeit a small one.

"Actually, a home is much more than a house. A house may be constructed of lumber, brick, and stone. A home is made of love, sacrifice, and respect. A house can be a home, and a home can be a heaven when it shelters a family." Thomas S. Monson

Highlights

2009-05-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

Since it's been so long since I've updated this blog, I figured I better just stick with a few recent highlights:

Craig: He turned 30 on Sunday! We celebrated at my sisters house in Corpus Christi with my nine day old nephew! At work he just moved out of finance to program management. It's a great opportunity for him however, the travel involved isn't much fun for me. He's been gone all week and wouldn't you know the battery on the truck died so I've been somewhat stranded at home counting down to Thursday night when he gets home. Thankfully he called our home teacher who came and fixed the problem tonight. Yeah! Now I don't have to do my grocery shopping with the stroller.

Craig's feeling's about turning 30

Gideon: Finally said his first word! It was "hi" as he held a play phone to his ear. I'm pretty sure he also said "dog" the other day too. Though his speech is delayed he still manages to communicate through gestures and grunts. I can hardly wait until he calls me mama. He is at a delightful stage where everything is funny and his giggles are heard most of the day. I love this boy!

He loved his first ice cream cone

Sierra: Is our little chatterbox that talk about anything and has a question about everything. She is fascinated with becoming an astronaut and wants to go live on the moon with her daddy (mommy's and little brothers have to stay on earth). She is very empathetic and covers you with band aids for any and all wounds. She seriously makes me laugh out loud every single day.

Sierra loved playing at the beach and searching for seashells and starfish

Me: I put six weeks of training to the test and ran a leg in a marathon relay in Corpus Christi. I ended up running the leg that went up and over a huge bridge. I really enjoyed the experience (especially the finish line) and am so grateful to my wonderful husband for supporting me especially on those long runs Saturday morning. This was hard for me but I just couldn't help but feel grateful for a strong, capable body. What a blessing!!

This is the end of the race and I had just spotted Craig and the kids

Run!

2009-04-04T19:12:00.000-07:00

I've officially caught the running bug. First, Craig got me a jogging stroller, then I bought real running shoes and this week I signed up to run a race. I'll be running a marathon relay with five other women in Corpus Christi. I haven't done anything like this before and I'm nervous but very excited. It's in just six weeks so I've got lots of running to do between now and then- yeah!

Here are four cute cousins in Nevada testing out the stroller for the first time.

Called to Serve

2009-03-27T06:16:00.000-07:00

My parents have been called on a mission to Guadalajara, Mexico working with the Perpetual Education Fund and the Church Educational System. They've sent eight of us kids on missions so finally it is their turn to spend their days serving the Lord. We will miss them terribly but I know what they will be doing will bless so many lives. This deserved a grand farewell fiesta so my children and I flew to Sparks, Nevada. Seven of my eight siblings were able to come join the festivities and with Craig's family living just a few miles away, we were surrounded by lots of family. What a wonderful feeling! We played and played and were completely worn out after two weeks. Craig came and spent a long weekend with us and we were actually able to get away for a night together (thanks Grandma). It's amazing how rejuvenating it is to leave behind mothering and housewife task for even just a day. Now we are back to the regular routine with the bonus of a fantastic jogging stroller that allows me to run each day even if I don't make it to the gym at 6am. Sierra and her cousin spent hours jumping on the trampoline.

One of Craig's favorite things to do at his parents home is to ride ATV's around their property. Even though it was freezing, the kids seemed to enjoy it too.

My parents and most of my siblings (one sister wasn't able to come as she's due to have a baby soon and another brother was there but was napping with his son and missed the picture)

Gideon was mesmerized by the snowfall!

Gideon's first hair cut by his Grandpa

Healthy Ideas??

2009-02-17T11:58:00.000-08:00

I recently got a huge wake up call from my doctor and as a result I must exercise every day and eat as healthy as possible. So I need some help from all you healthy cooks and diligent exercisers out there. Do you have any great recipes or tips on how to get in a work-out everyday? These two darling little ones need me to be a healthy mom. Thanks!!

Timeless

2009-01-28T18:46:00.000-08:00

Being three seems to be the same regardless of the decade.

My Favorite Things

2009-01-13T17:12:00.001-08:00

Move over Oprah- here are some of my favorite things:

Craig got me these awesome storage containers for Christmas. They are air-tight, stackable and I love being able to see how much food I have.

These are microfiber cleaning cloths that allow me to use very little cleaning products. My fixtures are shiny and my mirrors are streak free (at least for a minute). I got them at Target. They were a little pricey by my standards but are well worth it.Sneaky Chef cookbooks. Since my husband and daughter's only vegetable consumption is that found in pasta sauce, this idea works well for us. I sneak in the veggies and they eat the food and I feel great about them eating a little healthier.

Teach Me Mommy is a fantastic preschool curriculum for moms like me who want to do preschool at home with their little ones. It's simple, fun and doesn't require too much prep, yet it's effective. I've done it with Sierra for two weeks now and so far we both love it and look forward to preschool.

Wow! It's pretty obvious I'm a stay at home mom from my list. On another note, last week was a big week for us: Gideon gave up the bottle for good, Sierra gave her beloved binky to a pink bear at Build-A-Bear (it worked great!), Gideon is transitioning from two naps to one and Sierra is deciding she just may be done with naps all together. Craig went back to work after a long glorious holiday at home and Sierra started Sunbeams at church. After a holiday hiatus I started running again and Craig just got called to be the Executive Secretary at church. Whew it's been busy!

From Our Home to Yours

2008-12-24T11:49:00.000-08:00

Ok so we can't say it's a white Christmas here in Houston (it's probably 70 right now), but we did get a dusting of the white stuff a few weeks ago.

Santa Clause may be coming to town but Gideon sure doesn't want any of it.

What $1 will buy you the day before Christmas Eve (just the tree- not the presents or the clothesless children who spent the morning jumping in mud puddles and needed mid-day baths)

Merry Christmas to all!

Our Christmas Miracle

2008-12-16T09:43:00.000-08:00

I usually don't post things terribly personal on my blog as this is the world wide web we're talking about here. Anyway, I feel compelled to share with you our Christmas miracle, albeit one from three years ago. The story begins many years previous... after over four years of marriage and a couple of early miscarriages I wasn't sure motherhood was a prospect for me. During a routine physical exam, my doctor referred me to an infertility specialist thinking some of my physical problems were due to infertility. Months later, my appointment for the specialist finally arrived and during the routine course of the appointment they did a pregnancy test. And yes I was pregnant- but just barely. In fact I was so early that the doctor was able to give me the medication I needed so I wouldn't miscarry this baby too. I was overcome with joy and thanksgiving for this miracle. A few months later I got the horrible call at work that the routine genetic tests came back positive and my baby had a very high risk of being down syndrome. I'm not sure how I made it through the remainder of my workday. Because of that test my doctor began monitoring me closely with numerous ultrasounds. These ultrasounds revealed a few weeks later that my baby wasn't growing very well at all which put me on modified bed rest. Then finally after another ultrasound (the bad kind when the tech leaves the room to get the Dr.) I was informed I no longer had any amniotic fluid and that I had to go right home and stay there until they could arrange for this baby to be born. Sierra was born two weeks later on December 15th. My only concern was that she was healthy. I didn't care about size, hair, even gender at this point. When she was delivered the operating room was eerily quiet. She finally made a little peep and I became completely overwhelmed knowing that a miracle had just occurred. I got to see her little face before they whisked her off to the intensive care nursery. She was placed in an oxygen bubble because her lungs weren't developed sufficiently yet. So for nine days she lay hooked up to all sorts of wire in the neonatal intensive care unit. When we brought her home the day before Christmas Eve we brought home a healthy though tiny baby girl. She has a small hole in her heart and a slightly deformed heart valve but that is it. I can still remember that Christmas day thinking that there was nothing in the entire world more than what I then had that could make Christmas better. Sierra continues to light our lives. She is such a happy girl with a spirit that just shines. The Lord was so gracious in allowing her to come to her family. She just turned three and as Christmas approaches I once again am reminded of what a blessing she is.

Finally- A House of Order!

2008-12-04T06:51:00.000-08:00

Last week I decided that enough was enough. We are living in an 800 square foot apartment with all our furniture and stuff from our 2,000 square foot house + garage. Every closet was filled to the brim and every nook and cranny was filled with stuff. We decided not to move forward with the building of a new home so this apartment will be home for the foreseeable future. So I went to work and opened all the boxes (some I hadn't looked at for over two years) and went through them all. It's been a little chaotic but having a closet you can actually use is so worth it. I have sold lots of stuff on Craigslist (my new favorite thing!). We even got rid of our huge dining room table and replaced it with a more reasonable table that gives us some breathing room. We are still pretty crammed I don't have boxes falling all over the place. I didn't touch Craig's Star Wars collection but he knows that is coming some day soon...

Rainy nights

2008-11-29T19:09:00.000-08:00

Late last night as I was laying in bed, I couldn't help but listen to the rain outside. It wasn't a horrific storm or anything- just a rain shower not unusual to Houston. It was so comforting to be in my cozy bed and know that my family was safe from the rain. My little ones didn't even know it had rained. They were truly sheltered from this little storm. As I lay there, I began thinking about how I wish I could protect my children from all the storms of life. Physical protection seems so easy compared to the protection of worldly influences. I sometimes struggle knowing what is the best way to teach them what they will need to help them through the storms of life that surely lie ahead. I'm amazed of how pervasive and influential worldly influences are. I know that right now during the early years of my children's life I'm laying the foundation for many things to come. I sure hope I'm doing all I can to provide them with the protection they will need. I know there will be many more sleepless nights ahead as I wonder what I can do for them. Oh the dilemmas of motherhood!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-25T17:40:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is just two days away- hope everyone has a day of fabulous feasting and gracious gratitude! The weather is finally turning fallish so it's beginning to feel like the holidays. My sister and her three children were planning on coming for the holiday but they got hit with a stomach virus and are staying home. Sharing something like that would make for a memorable yet very miserable time. We'll just have to eat all the foods ourselves or find someone else to fill their spots. The rest of my family (well most of them) are gathering in Ogden, Utah for my grandma's 85th birthday. She is a remarkable woman who will always welcome anyone into her home, feed them and send them home with food. She has taught me how important it is to focus on your family and to make serving them the highest priority. I've learned from her the sacredness of quiet time together. I sure wish I could be there but I am trying to honor her by learning from her example.

My parents recently received a call to serve as missionaries in Guadalajara, Mexico. They will be helping college aged men and women with their educational needs. They don't leave until the end of March so hopefully we can visit them before they leave for 18 months.

Tonight as I was getting the kids ready for bed Gideon came walking into the family room with his arms folded and knelt down next to me all ready for family prayer. It was the cutest thing to see this little toddler recognizing the tradition of praying as a family before going to bed. I love my little boy!

Yesterday a little boy came to play that Sierra hadn't played with before. They were happily playing in her room while I visited with his mom when a very loud argument erupted. When I went in to see what the commotion was all about I nearly burst out laughing. The little boy was adamant that he was spider man and could climb on the walls, the bed, etc. Sierra who hasn't been exposed yet to the wonders of superheros was vehemently telling him that no he wasn't spider man and there was no way he could do those things. Neither could be convinced they were wrong. Kids just make me laugh.

Last weekend we went camping to a nearly state park that is also an alligator refuge. It was a pretty cold weekend (by Texas standards) so we weren't able to spot any gators. We did have a great time snuggling in sleeping bags and huddling around a fire. Here are some pictures.

Searching for gators on a cold Saturday morning.

Smores anyone?

Gideon got his two top teeth while camping so he wasn't quite a happy camper but he did chow down on graham crackers and chocolate.

supercalifradulisticexpialidocious

2008-11-03T10:08:00.001-08:00

Happy Halloween!! Mary Poppins and Bert the Chimney Sweep made a few appearances at the Zoo, the Children's Museum, Trunk or Treating and a fun party at Craig's work. It's been a busy holiday. Sierra decided on Halloween morning that she wanted to be Cinderella so she wore her little dress up clothes to the park where we watched the play "Beauty and the Beast". The clothes are a little small and barely covered her so I made her take them off when we got home. I guess I got busy and didn't realize she never put clothes back on and next thing I knew my 25 pound bag of flour was used to create her new costume- a ghost! Those pictures are not suitable for publishing cause remember she had nothing on but lots and lots of flour. If only I could have snapped to get that mess cleaned up.

Count Your Blessings

2008-10-10T11:12:00.000-07:00

It's been a tough week economically for most of the world. Watching the stock market stumble has caused me to pause a number of times and count my blessings.

We get to buy a house! Last month we contracted to build a house in beautiful Fall Creek. It's a cute 3 bedroom house with a playroom and a nature reserve behind us. It won't be ready until next spring so in the meantime we are just grateful to have an apartment to live in that is finally bed bug free. Little side note on the apartment living... this morning Sierra decided she needed to go to the apartment office to get a cookie. She got on her shoes and walked out the front door- by herself! Fortunately, though I was rocking Gideon to sleep, I heard the door open and quickly brought her back in. She was upset and told me that her "Big Self" would be ok going to the office without me.

I am grateful for libraries! Each week I get to take my kiddos downtown and browse through books, music, magazines, movies and take home whatever I want for free! Reading to my children everyday is something we all look forward to and having new books each week sure makes it fun.

Lastly, I'm grateful for nap time and the chance I have for an hour a day to read my scriptures in a quiet home. I know that both of them won't nap at the same time forever, but for now I'm grateful for the time to reinforce an eternal perspective on life and all it's craziness.

Gideon is One!

2008-09-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

My baby turned one on Friday! It's so hard to believe that a year ago I snuggled a tiny infant in my arms. Now I'm lucky if I can catch the wiggly guy long enough for a quick hug and kiss.

5 things about Gideon that we love

He is utterly unpredictable. He'll laugh with you or just screech. You never quite know what he'll do. He often greets people with these awful grumpy eyes but just as easily he'll give a big nearly toothless grin.

He wakes up incredibly happy. When his eyes open his mouth turns up in a smile and he is ready to play.

He adores his big sister. If he wakes up from his nap first, he'll go wake her up too so they can play. When they shared a bed they would often end up just giggling together.

He is fascinated by things that move and can be manipulated. With amazing focus, he will sit and watch something move or attempt to manipulate something into action.

He is a sensitive boy who lets us know when he's had enough. He helps keep me focused on the simple (often quiet) things that bring happiness.

I know this next year will bring many changes as he totters on two feet for the first time, utters his first words and begins the process of emerging into a little boy. I'm so grateful for this little one in our home.

Gideon devoured his first chocolate cupcake. It was love at first taste.

He (and Sierra) have had so much fun playing with his new Little People Fire Truck.
Sierra and Elia (a Thunderbird friend that is now a fellow Texan), having too much fun!

Mighty Ike

2008-09-15T18:35:00.000-07:00

The forces of nature are humbling to say the least. From business as usual last week to survival this week, I'm in awe at how quickly this city has changed. I've seen enough since Ike wielded it's fury to reevaluate my 72 hour kit and move food storage at the top of my to do list. We are very very fortunate in that our power wasn't out for even 24 hours (our milk was still fresh). I think that is because we are right across the street from Reliant Center which is the FEMA headquarters. What a blessing to have air conditioning, cold food, lights and a zillion other things we take for granted. We ventured out today and witnessed first hand the empty grocery shelves, the long long lines at gas stations and the devastation of the wind and rain. A scripture has come to my mind throughout this, "O how great is the nothingness of the children of men"

Ike

2008-09-11T19:51:00.000-07:00

When you live near the gulf coast you can expect for some excitement in the fall and it's not typically the back to school kind of excitement. It seems like tropical storms and hurricanes have been in abundance this fall. We lived in Houston during 2005 when Katrina and Rita hit the coasts. When Rita threatened Houston, we took advantage of the unexpected time off work and headed to Disneyworld. We had such a great time we always said we'd do it again for the next one. Well the next one is here and we are in Hutto, Texas, a suburb of Austin. We were planning on coming here anyway this weekend to pick up our furniture Craig's brother has been storing for us. Now we get to stay an extra day. Guess we'll do Disneyworld for the next one. Hopefully the storm isn't as bad as they say but if not, we are here safe and sound.

Great Advice

2008-08-29T10:09:00.001-07:00

Be forewarned this post is not for the squeamish! Last Thursday I went into the kids room to check on them before I went to bed. I usually just peek in, but that night I walked in because Sierra was sprawled out on the floor and I noticed one of her dolls in Gideon's bed- too much bedtime fun I thought. I reached in to retrieve the doll when I noticed that Gideon's skin was crawling with bugs. I screamed and woke up the entire house- wouldn't you? We moved the kids to our bed and got them back to sleep then went about the horrible process of discovery hundreds of bed bugs bedding with my children. I was beyond grossed out and literally felt sick thinking about them crawling all over the kids at night. It's been a nightmare since then trying to eradicate our home of them. Before the exterminator could come, I had to wash every article of clothing in our home and bag it up (yes, winter clothes, blankets, towels, everything!), and move everything from closets and bedrooms into the living room. Ok, we live in a 800 square foot apartment- the closets were stuffed full and the living room was filled with our couch. It was pure craziness doing it all, but we did it and the exterminator came Wednesday. Thanks to our T-bird friend Clint who let us stay with him while the bug juice filled our apartment (and Jen who offered her home). I've been slowly trying to get things back in order but the thing is I keep finding more bugs. We called the guy back and asked if it was normal and he said no and that he would be back today. So now I've halted all unpacking until I found out what to do next. I have a feeling this will be a long process. It's staggering to think about the costs of all this. We had to throw away one mattress, Gideon's bed, Sierra's beloved doll house, lots of toys, sheets and baskets. The bug guy alone cost $485 (yes, the apartment refused to pay for it saying it was an "unusual" bug and they only treat for usual ones). The biggest cost has been our peace of mind. Sierra constantly talks about bugs and won't sleep in her bed (so we gave Gideon her bed and let her sleep in a chair). It's all just so disgusting. Hopefully by next week I'll be able to see a silver lining in all this. The best advice I could give anyone right now is ALWAYS check for bed bugs when you sleep in a motel- no matter how nice it looks, and especially if it looks crummy. If sheets or mattresses have little spots on them (fecal matter and blood), or you wake up with little red bites get out of there quick.

Sierra and Gideon were good sports about spending ALL day in the laundry room. Drowned bed bugs from Gideon's bed.
The kids having fun in the midst of major chaos.

Saturday is a Special Day!

2008-08-16T19:56:00.000-07:00

Saturdays have become my new favorite day of the week. A whole day to play with Craig! The kids are always so excited when I tell them daddy doesn't have to work. Today his work sponsored a day at the downtown aquarium. We had so much fun playing (for free!). Sierra rode the carousel four times then later in the evening Craig went back with just Sierra and rode some more. I stayed at home for the evening jaunt with Gideon who is finally teething and not feeling so hot (yes he is a little late- 10 1/2 months and finally getting his first tooth).

Gideon enjoyed the carousel as well.
In Sierra's words, "The Ferris Wheel was super fun!"
Yes that is my husband with a pink butterfly painted on his cheek. The things dad's do for their little girls!

Last Saturday we had the incredible opportunity to wander around the temple in Houston for a while. Though it was a steamy hot afternoon, we walked all around admiring the beautiful building and the gorgeous grounds in full summer bloom.

Sierra loved the fountain and watching a bride in her beautiful dress.

Gideon just wanted to explore everything he could- including the leaves on the trees.

Sweet & Spunky Sierra

2008-08-05T09:47:00.000-07:00

So I thought I'd blog about my kids today since it's a rainy day and the kids are taking extra long naps. (thank you tropical storm Eduardo).

Five things about Sierra we love!

Sierra is a social butterfly. She loves to play with anyone and everyone. She asks nearly everyday if she can play with friends. I think she loves church just because she gets to go to the nursery and play with other children.

She sings all the time even if it's often in a very high pitched tone that isn't' easy on the ears. On a little road trip to Austin last weekend she was singing a song from the musical "South Pacific". She loves musicals. Hands down this girl would rather watch a musical than any cartoon or kids show. Her current favorite is "Sound of Music".

She is a happy girl who rarely has a bad day. She giggles and smiles all the time. She gets very concerned if others are sad. She often puts her arms around someone who isn't happy and asks them what is wrong (usually Gideon).

She is very inquisitive. She wants to know what everyone is doing and asks lots of questions about the people around her. The train is especially fun for her because there are so many people to ask about.
She truly has an innocence about her. She wants to do the right thing and has no guile. She is an amazing example to me already! We love having her in our family!

Sierra riding the little train around the park.
My little artist painting away with water.
She embraces her femininity fully!

Sierra singing to her animals and dolls.

Families are Forever

2008-07-20T17:33:00.001-07:00

Friday morning I was taking the metro rail home from the children's museum when my outlook on the day changed pretty drastically. A young family, mom, dad, three small children, boarded the train at the medical center stop. The father was holding a little girl about four years old who was obviously very ill. The whole family was very subdued and just sat in silence the entire ride. I then noticed that in the fathers hand was a pamphlet entitled, "What is Cancer". My heart just sunk. Tears came to my eyes as I thought about the difficult road this family is on and what could possibly be ahead for them. I know that modern medicine does amazing things but that life is also very fragile. The possibility of losing a young child would be devastating and especially so without the understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ that teaches that this life isn't the end. There IS more and families CAN be together forever. Watching this little family reaffirmed the deep gratitude I have for my testimony of this important principle. I wanted so badly to share my beliefs with them but I wasn't sure how. They got off at my stop and just before my apartment, I paused and talked with them for a moment. I gave them a card and invited them to call the number on the card to learn more about the importance of families. I finished my walk home feeling glad that I'd done something but still felt somewhat inadequate to what was truly needed. I just hope and pray that they are able to eventually find the comfort and peace that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Beach Trip

2008-07-06T18:23:00.000-07:00

I love the 4th of July! I love the patriotic songs and the beautiful fireworks but most especially I love that I most often get to spend it with my family. This year I was blessed to spend the holiday with my Texas siblings. My brother from Austin and my sister from Kingsvale met on the beach in Corpus Christi. We spent the holiday together with our little ones (eight of them 4 and under). It was such fun to create happy memories of being together. I am so grateful for families!

Gideon is my nature boy who loves being outdoors. The beach was no different. He LOVED everything about it- the sand, watching the birds, and listening to the waves come and go.
Vacations are such a great time to really focus on family without the distractions of everyday life. I loved the afternoon we spent at the beach with just our little family. This is the group! There was never a dull (or a quiet) moment with all these little ones.

Two Rules

2008-07-01T18:02:00.000-07:00

There are two rules you must abide by if you are going anywhere in Houston- check the weather and check the traffic before you leave. I broke both those rules on Sunday and boy did I pay for it. I had to pick up Craig from the airport and I thought I'd leave a little early and go to the arboretum for a little walk with the kids. It was overcast when I left our home but by the time I got to the park, big juicy raindrops started falling so we didn't even get out of the car. We then got back on the freeway which quickly turned into a parking lot because of the storm and flooded frontage roads. So instead of a nice Sunday afternoon walk in nature we spent all our extra time in the car. Sierra just sat in her seat and sang songs about silly cars swimming in the water while Gideon just cried- I think the very loud thunder and heavy rain scared him a bit. We were sure happy to get to the airport. Anyway, next time I pack the kids in the car and plan to go more than a few miles I'll follow the rules.

Yummy! Gideon loves to eat!

Sierra showing off her new hat from her Grandma that she LOVES!

Being a mom

2008-06-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

"Remember dear friends, that you are now doing the work that God intended you to do. Be grateful for the opportunity." Marjorie Hinckley

I've thought about that quote a lot recently because of the veracity of that statement. I truly feel that being a mother right now is the best thing I could be doing. I have been much more content with life than I did when I was focused on a career. It's a personal thing of course, but for me this is where my heart is. It's been especially nice to have my own home to look after again. I actually am enjoying the domestic side of staying home these days but I especially love playing with my kids. There are rough moments and not so rosy days, but overall it's great. Sierra is 2 1/2 and in the last two weeks since we moved to Houston, three new molars made their appearance. The teething and allergies triggered some bad asthma that is finally under control- yipee! I love having my happy imaginative child back. Gideon is almost 9 months and is now rolling over and starting to crawl. He is getting his first tooth so the teething rounds begin again. He is a sensitive boy but also very playful. A huge thunderstorm came through today and he was just mesmerized by the wind, rain and thundering skies. I thought it would frighten him but he just sat in front of the window and took it all in.

We live across the street from the light rail so we take the train often to the library, museums and to visit Craig at work. Gideon does great for about 15 minutes every time, then he just loses it. Sierra on the other hand loves riding the train and talking to all the people who get off and on. I enjoy not having to worry about parking, driving on roads with crazies and paying a ridiculous amount of money for gas. We did use the car to take a little road trip last weekend and drove to Austin (3 hour drive) to visit my brother and Craig's brother. Grandma Forbush was also in town to help with the the new baby Craig's brother's wife had. Sierra couldn't get enough of being with her Grandma. It was wonderful to be around family again.

Happy Father's Day!

Gideon and his new cousin Owen, just 5 days old.

My brother has two little girls that Sierra loved playing with- they are all such little princesses.

Texas

2008-06-02T07:50:00.000-07:00

We are here in Houston, Texas now. Some observations:

Cockroaches are big here! Especially the kind that habitat in crummy motels where we are currently staying while we wait to get into an apartment.

Blond haired kids must be unusual because everywhere we go someone comes up to Sierra and talks to her and usually touches her. I'm not accustomed to complete strangers hugging and kissing my children. They love the attention thank goodness.

Flying with children sure beats driving but it's still makes for a crazy day. Gideon woke up everyone in the Phoenix airport with his screaming when he dove out of the stroller and landed face first in Sierra's pizza. Sierra was content nearly the whole way playing with a Mary Poppins Barbie doll.

Gas is still expensive here as well, even though we can see where it is being refined.

There are wonderful people in the Summerwood area where we used to live. Attending church yesterday with them was a fulfilling experience.

Saying goodbye to family in Nevada was much harder than I thought it would be. It's especially hard to hear my little one ask over and over to go to Grandma's house and to play with cousins. We're going to have to make a trip to Austin and Corpus Christi to see family soon.

Humidity makes for some fabulous feeling skin and outta control hair.

Being together as a family and having full time employment is such a wonderful blessing.

Gardening with Grandpa. Yes it was cold enough for coats.

Playtime with cousins.

Gideon & Sierra love to swing!

He did it!

2008-05-20T22:14:00.000-07:00

Craig got a job!! After many months of unemployment post MBA graduation, we are thrilled with the opportunity for employment. He will be a financial analyst for a software company in Houston. He is excited to be moving back to Texas to the state he loves, though I know he would be even more excited if the job was in the oil/gas industry. He and my brother-in-law are leaving Friday with the U-haul for the trek. We decided driving 4 days with two little ones wasn't such a great idea so I'm flying with the kids next week. It's happened so fast that my mind is just whirling with the things to do- find a place to live (anyone know of a great place in Houston?), pack our stuff, prepare the children, spend time with our families before we move far far away, etc. It's a little overwhelming but I'm happy to be overwhelmed for this. We lived in Houston for two years before he went back to school, and Houston is where I served as a missionary so I am very familiar with the area. Nonetheless, it'll be an adventure I'm sure.

My sickie kids are doing much better- hallelujah! Gideon ended up with RSV (and unfortunately passed it on to his 7 week old cousin) and double ear infections. Sierra's asthma is under control and we are slowly returning to normal life- whatever normal is for us anymore.

Sickies

2008-05-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

I've spent the last two days laying on my bed with two sick kids laying on me. I've watched more TV in these two days then in the last two months- ok not quite but it feels like it. It's days like these that I'm grateful I get to be home with them and especially grateful that we have insurance now (it only took 4 months) so a doctor visit is possible. Sierra has a respiratory infection which triggered her asthma. I've suspected she's had asthma for a while, but now that I have an official prognosis I can treat her more effectively- bring on the breathing treatments! I haven't taken Gideon into the doctor because what can they do- he throws up everything that enters his mouth. I just heard the finishing beep of the fourth load of throw-up laundry today. Craig has been out of town- he always seems to be out of town when the kids are ill. He was in Colorado last week and is in Texas this week. They can't be sick forever and the down time has been relaxing but I'm ready to get out of this room!

Play Time

2008-04-25T12:31:00.000-07:00

Last week my little brother and I got the bright idea to jump out of the two story barn onto the trampoline in my parent's backyard. Well it was super fun but we both felt it afterwards. I want to be able to do crazy things even as I get older so I thought I'd better get in shape. So this week I started doing yoga every morning. Well I hurt more from the yoga than from my jumping. I should probably just give up the yoga and play more.Spring is here which means you never know what the weather will bring here in northern Nevada. It was a particularly nice afternoon so I took my four charges outside(two of mine and two of my sisters). We lasted just long enough for a breath or two of fresh air and a picture before meltdown occurred, which happens often with 4 babies (2, 14 mo., 6 mo., and 3 weeks). Gideon is getting so big! He's seven months old today. He sits up like a champ, is sleeping mostly through the nigh and is really beginning to be a happy boy. We love having him in our home!
Sierra got to enjoy some four wheeling fun with her Auntie who spent her spring break with us.
My nephew turned six and had a party at my parents house complete with a pinata. Sierra played on the trampoline and in the bounce house with the group of rowdy boys like she was one of them, but when it came time to hit the pinata she couldn't bear to. Of course, she had no problem eating her share of candy that came tumbling out of it.

Giggles

2008-04-09T20:33:00.000-07:00

There are so many moments throughout the day when I am just filled with the joy of motherhood. I love being home with my children! Motherhood was a long time in coming to me and I spent a number of years on the "career track". Perhaps that is why I can honestly say there is nowhere else I would rather be. I've been deeply saddened as I've contemplated returning to that working world again as Craig looks for a job. What would I miss- everything! The other night I was putting the children to bed and I began singing to them and Gideon just bursts out laughing (Craig is the one with the good voice in the family-not me). Well that sent Sierra into fits of giggles, which made Gideon laugh even harder. It was a priceless moment to listen to these two little ones giggle like crazy. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Happy Easter!

2008-03-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

We had such a wonderful Easter. Little children truly make holidays fun and exciting. Sierra was thrilled with her easter basket which contained snacks for church and books. I made her a little "Jesus book" that she thinks is a singing book. I had to take it away during church because she was singing a little too loud at all the wrong times. She also got two easter dresses (thanks Grandma Miller) and had to model them before choosing which one to wear. She is such a little girl! We got to eat two delicious dinners- the advantages of having both our families so close by. Saturday we dyed eggs and had an egg hunt at my mom's house. Sierra was more interested in the swings and just wandering outside than in finding easter eggs so my 5 year old nephew and I got to enjoy the hunt all to ourselves.

Last week I was also able to visit with some of my high school friends Laney and Holly. It was so fun to chat and catch up on our lives that have gone in such different directions. I am ever so grateful for friends who help us through the many stages of life. What would life be like without good friends?

We also welcomed two new boys to our family last week. My brother Josh and his wife Juli who live in Austin, Texas had a little boy- Stewart last sunday. Yesterday my sister Allison who lives here in Sparks had a little boy- Isaac. There's nothing like new babies to celebrate springtime.

Missing Arizona

2008-03-20T20:37:00.000-07:00

I know everyone is swimming in Arizona this time of year and we sure are missing it! Sierra talks about swimming all the time and even "swimming" in the big bathtub doesn't cut it. It is starting to warm up here in Nevada so maybe soon...

Road Trip!

2008-03-17T20:27:00.000-07:00

Craig and I just returned from a quick road trip to Utah and back. We left Friday night, and after a gazillion stops to secure our load of furniture and after using two rolls of duct tape on it we finally arrived in Provo early Saturday morning. My little brother Tim and his darling bride of three months are living there in a cute old house without any furniture. We unloaded the furniture to the happy and grateful couple (they now have a couch to sit on). We then stopped by Sandy to have lunch with Craig's grandparents. Sierra insisted on having her own "to go" box which she filled with rice (which promptly fell all over the car). My Grandma Loveland in Ogden was our next stop where we stayed the night. Sierra loved playing with her two puppies and I loved sitting by the warm fire. Sunday morning we hit the road again for home. The amazing thing was how wonderfully behaved our children were. I couldn't believe that they sat in the car the whole day with hardly a whine or a cry. Sierra read books, colored, sang and talked and talked and talked. Gideon just slept and played with his car seat toys. Wow I'm ready to go on a longer trip now.

Gideon with his Great-Grandma Loveland

House Flipping

2008-03-05T19:39:00.000-08:00

We've been watching a lot of HGTV episodes about house flipping lately and acquired our first flip. It's an eight room Victorian fixer-upper that Sierra LOVES. Ok so it's just a doll house, but it'll be fun to give it some TLC. My mother-in-law had it in the goodwill pile so I rescued it. We've already had a lot of fun with it. I'm not sure how we will move it when the time comes, perhaps we can find another little girl who would enjoy it.

This is Gideon experiencing cereal for the first time. Nope, he didn't like it and cried the whole time. He's a pretty fussy boy so I wasn't too surprised.

Jump Man Jump

2008-02-23T20:40:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I figured out how to glue gun my hair! Today I'm trying to figure out how to get it out! I was fixing Sierra's princess tent in the bathroom using a glue gun and picked off some extra glue and piled it on the counter. A while later having totally forgotten about the glue I pulled out my curling iron and inadvertently set it right in the glue. Of course the glue melted all over the curling iron unbeknownst to me and I used it to curl my hair. I laughed pretty hard when I finally figured out why my hair was all gunky. Good thing I don't have anywhere important to go.

Today we went to a birthday party at Jump Man Jump and played around on inflatables. We had a blast racing down the slides, playing in the ball pit, running through the mazes and jousting each other (ok Craig had a fun time not me on this one). Since it's snowy and cold it was nice to be able to run around indoors. Here are a few pictures.

Blessings Abound

2008-02-21T15:00:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot of all the blessings that we have received of late. The first and foremost is that my children are HEALTHY! We haven't had health insurance for four months, which is risky with an infant and a toddler. However, we haven't needed it. Yes it would be nice to find out if Gideon really does have eczema and what his projectile vomiting is all about but he is growing and developing well. I know with so many sicknesses in the air and the near misses of serious injury that we have been blessed in this regard. Another huge blessing is that we have been able to spend some serious family time together. I love having my husband home during the day. He loves to play with the kids and does so often giving me a little time for other things. It'll be quite a transition when he goes off to work again. And lastly we both have awesome families nearby that have been extremely supportive. Sierra loves playing with her cousins and I love that our parents get to do so much grandparenting. I am so grateful for these seemingly simple blessings that mean so much to us right now.

Gideon sacked out after a long day

Sierra making Valentine Cookies with Grandma Forbush

My Grandma's Legacy

2008-02-10T21:26:00.000-08:00

I just have to share my major accomplishment tonight- I finished my Grandma's Life History. A year ago I began this project with a bagful of tape recordings of her life story to transcribe. Some of the tapes were quite old- in fact on one of the tapes my baby babblings can be heard. Anyway, I got all the tapes transcribed then pulled all the transcriptions together into a cohesive story. It was a labor of love that filled many nights (thanks to my patient husband). I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn so much about my grandma's life. She is one amazing woman! She endured the depression as an immigrant family from Hungary, met my grandpa during World War II, (he proposed in a letter after two dates), learned about the Mormon church and got baptized, drove for the first time in Los Angeles, raised 5 children, oh I could go on about the adventures of her life. She is 84 now so I'm not sure how much longer I'll get to visit with her. What a blessing it is to have a legacy of love to have before me.

Dancing

2008-01-26T10:29:00.000-08:00

Sierra LOVES to dance and wears her tu-tu nearly everyday. I don't have a video camera, just the one on my camera so the quality is poor but here is my cutie.

News Update

2008-01-26T10:03:00.000-08:00

We are enjoying our first real winter since we've been married (7 years). It's snowed off and on all week and has been pretty cold. I love looking out at the white landscape and hunkering down with some hot chocolate. Perhaps because we haven't endured many winters I am loving this one.

News on the job front: Craig had a great interview for a job here in Reno last week and he is flying to Texas and Mississippi next week for interviews there. We are hopeful that one of the three will work out.

News on the family front: My mother-in-law had surgery last week and has been recuperating at home. She's pretty much on bed rest so Sierra always has someone to snuggle with and watch movies. Renae came to Arizona after Gideon was born and helped out so it's nice to return that favor. Though I must say taking care of our 800 square foot apartment pales in comparison to their 5000+ square foot house.

My dad had hip replacement surgery this week and is now home from the hospital. I am grateful that we are close by to help out with his recovery which will be quite extensive.

News on the children front: Sierra and Gideon are pretty much on the same nap schedule and they go to bed at the same time- yeah!! It's amazing what I can get done with a couple of hours without a child in my arms or on my leg. We finally figured out that Gideon's cradle cap was actually eczema. Once we began the right treatment it cleared right up. He is a much happier baby now without that itchy sore head.

We are doing our Family Home Evening activity today and going swimming. Sierra asks to go swimming all the time and the bathtub just doesn't cut it. I'm looking forward to being back in the pool again as well.

Pitzak Family....

2008-01-07T21:49:00.000-08:00

Hey Mark and Tera,
I can't find any contact information through your comment posting. So, please get a hold of us.

forbushjcraig@gmail.com
lynetteforbush@hotmail.com

Blessed Baby Boy

2008-01-06T19:24:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday our little boy was blessed in church. Craig was the one who gave him the blessing surrounded by our fathers and brothers. It was an awesome experience to see the wonderful men in my family participate. For those of you reading this who are not Latter-day-Saints, we typically give infants a blessing soon after they are born. It's not like a traditional Catholic baptism (you have to be at least 8 years old to get baptized) but more of an individual blessing for them. Gideon received a beautiful blessing that was humbling to hear. As his mother I feel a greater responsibility to teach him correct principles and to help him learn the things that will get him through this stormy life. Speaking of storms we've had some amazing storms here in Sparks the last few days. It's been amazing to see so much snow piled everywhere. Yesterday we used some 4-wheelers to pull sleds around the property here. It was so much fun! It seems that the last two weeks have been full of fun times with the holidays and my brothers wedding. All the visiting family have returned home and it is awfully quiet around here. I guess it's time to get back in a routine- boring but probably good for us at this point.

Happy Holidays!

2008-01-02T10:10:00.001-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas which we celebrated in Utah with my grandma, one of my sisters and her three children and my parents. It was a little hairy getting to Utah with all the snowy weather but we enjoyed a very white Christmas. We joked that the last white christmas we've had in a long while was when we were in Houston a few years ago when it snowed on Christmas Eve (about 8 snowflakes). Santa Baby

I made a tu-tu for Sierra and got her pink sparkly dancing shoes. She wears the dancing shoes constantly which is fine because she is always dancing.

Merry Christmas!

Terrific Two's Here we Come!

2007-12-17T19:40:00.000-08:00

Sierra turned 2 years old on Saturday. It hardly seems possible that just two years ago she made her tumultuous entrance into this world. She was very excited for the big day and would do a little dance and pronounce "Happy!" (she can't quite say birthday yet). It was great to be able to celebrate her birthday with both our families and our Thunderbird friends the Svetz's. She is such a fun girl to be around as she finds excitement and joy in the littlest things. It is truly wonderful to have a toddler around with fresh eyes of this world. She can also be a handful at times as she is pretty strong willed. Last night for dinner she insisted on eating out of a yellow bowl with an ice cream scoop as her utensil. She did eat all her dinner though so-whatever works.

Here's our two year old-complete with outta control hair and a messy, though happy face.Opening presents with Daddy.

Our Little Man

2007-12-07T09:37:00.001-08:00

Playing in the Snow

2007-12-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-25T19:55:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I love this holiday and the chance it provides to reflect on the abundance in life- wow we are blessed!! We were able to have two feasts- one with my family and another with Craig's. (yeah I need to start running tomorrow). I love being close to family and sharing the holidays with them. Gideon will be two months tomorrow! I can hardly believe how fast time has raced by and how much has happened in such a short amount of time. He is growing big very quickly! He weighs around 12 pounds now and seems to get chubbier by the day. He slept through the night last week- yippee! Sierra was down and out with teething and a cold but finally recovered and is back to her spirited self. She went shopping with me and my mom and two sisters after Thanksgiving and loved it all. She was mesmerized by the holiday decorations and couldn't get enough of them. My in-laws are big time Christmas aficionados so it's a lot of fun for her here. We are still on the job hunt and are praying the right job for Craig and our family comes sooner rather than later. But as we have learned many times in life- the Lord is in control and as long as we put our trust in Him we will be taken care of in His own way and in His own time.

2007-11-14T13:28:00.000-08:00

Sierra loves being outside and though it is colder than we are used to, she still insists on spending part of her day roaming around outside. We are living with Craig's parents who just built a home on five acres so there is plenty of wide open space for her to explore. Craig has been earning our keep by helping to clean up post-construction messes. Yesterday he spent most of the day breaking apart concrete with a sledge hammer and today he has hauled old metal fencing. I just watch in awe at his strength and stamina and try to keep Sierra out of the way.

Goodbye Arizona

2007-11-12T19:40:00.000-08:00

So long Arizona- we have now made our sixth move (in just six years of marriage) and are in Nevada living in Craig's parents home. Craig spent the last two weeks or so interviewing out of state so I got to be a single mom and pack our house up. I have the most profound respect for single mothers out there who do it day in and day out- way to go!! We finally got the last of the boxes in storage and loaded the car and truck and headed north. The children were great travelers but I think we were all relieved to reach our destination. We are getting settled in and working on adjusting to a new living arrangement that we hope is temporary until Craig lands a job. Meanwhile it has been fun to visit with both our families as they live just a few miles from each other, though we are already missing our Thunderbird Family.

Happy Halloween

2007-10-31T20:54:00.000-07:00

Halloween is such a fun holiday! I love the creativity of the costumes and the excuse to eat lots of candy and treats (as I polish off the last bit of pumpkin cheesecake). We had a great time trick-or-treating around the campus of Thunderbird and got lots of loot. I promptly confiscated 90% of the sweet stuff and then let Sierra eat the rest this afternoon. I was surprised that she actually threw away most of the candy after a bite or two- except the smarties. Tonight we attended a festive party at Greg and Amy Giauque's home. Sierra decided that for the evening party she needed to be a ballerina dancer so we forewent the panda bear she wore earlier. Gideon was our little pumpkin- a cute one at that. It's so fun to gather together with friends to celebrate these fun holidays.

Party Time?

2007-10-22T19:45:00.000-07:00

So I don't know what most of you were doing at 2:30 am this morning but you missed the party! I was up with Gideon (who goes from 0 to starving in 2.4 seconds) which woke up Sierra. While I was busy feeding the little guy, Sierra found my church shoes and was prancing around the kitchen in them proclaiming that she wanted pizza. I just sat there laughing and watching her in amazement at her ability to take advantage of ever opportunity to live life to the fullest. I have so much to learn from my children!

It's Fall

2007-10-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

It's finally fall here in Arizona. Today there was a cool breeze that rustled the leaves and made it seem like it's actually October. After such a hot summer the cool air feels heavenly and we try to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Friday we went to a pumpkin patch with some friends and had a great time.

Our New Arrival!

2007-10-05T10:37:00.000-07:00

Gideon Jay Forbush joined our family on September 26th. He was 6 pounds 9 oz and 19 inches long. We are so excited to have this new little guy in our home.

Sierra LOVES being a big sister!

2007-09-25T22:16:00.000-07:00

The time has come to join the blogging community! We love browsing through other's blogs and hope you enjoy ours as well. Pictures and more postings will come soon, but for now at least it is set up. Tomorrow morning (9 hours or so to go- yeah!) we will welcome baby #2 into our family. I can hardly wait to meet this new little one!