Ahhh Spring!

It makes me so happy to say that the weather in Aberdeen has been getting sunnier and sunnier! Now, keep in mind it is all relative because we are still in Scotland which means that I am thrilled we are now enjoying 2-3 sunny days a week instead of say...1...if any....

Anyway, I just though I would post some pictures of what we have been up to since the weather has started to become our friend again.

We spent one day at Aberdeen beach. It was a lot of fun. We visited the local Maritime museum which was very interesting and then we walked along the beach. Andrew especially loves to roll in the sand. Abby mainly liked for Daddy to old her.









A giant ship


Another day, another beach. Some friends all got together to attempt a nice picnic at Stonehaven beach. I say attempt because we didn't actually make it to the picnic part. Sadly it got pretty windy and for some reason the kids (and the adults) didn't like sand in their eyes. Who knows? Anyway, after that we ended up going to my friend, Rachel's, house which is almost like a resort anyway. It was great fun and good company!

The gang


This is the cutest puppy I have ever seen, it belongs to my friend Candice.


Hi Candice


Abby is hiding from the wind


Andrew, what a silly face...this was him before he realized I was taking his picture.


This is when he realized what I was taking his picture...


Next up we got to dog-sit/watch our friends little girl while they took a jaunt over to the lovely island of Orkney. They live in a pretty rad house, it was a lot of fun...we did a lot of activities and enjoyed some nice weather. The neighborhood pony even decided to have a foal. All in all, a good few days.

This is their view


This is the foal


This is it's mom


This is the house


This is Woody, he somehow angered Andrew who then gave him a timeout.


Beautiful walks...there are many here! (You may notice a pattern in the following pictures. For some reason I enjoy placing my kids amongst nature)

Andrew and the Daffodils. Oh this could have been a nice picture, but Andrew has a strong belief against looking at the camera directly. At least he stands up for his principles....





Well...he may be looking at the camera here but he is still showing is own sign of protest. Abby doesn't agree with his position.








When we had our fill of daffodils we then moved on to greenery. Luckily you can find a lot here.











I sure do like spring!

HELP? ADVICE...ANYONE?!?

So, we live in a small flat and therefore Andrew and Abby get the befit of sharing the same room. Normally I would agree that having kids share a room is a great, initiatory passage to life but I am having problems....ISSUES!

Abby, being a wee bairn, still likes to wake up in the middle of the night and cry. You know, just to make sure the ol' vocal chords still work. So, since she is 6 months plus, I decided move her into the living room at night and let her cry it out to see how that would go. Went great! She is a small tings so she still fits in her Moses basket and after about 2 days she was sleeping blissfully through the night. So, I took the next step and moved her into the crib in Andrew's room. Here is the problem I am encountering:

When I put them down for bed, they both go to sleep just fine.HOWEVER starting at about 3am Abby cries...the first time I just let her do it, knowing it would stop after a minute or two. But it didn't...she kept going and then Andrew woke up. Alright...you have to understand that Andrew can really be a terror at night. He DOES NOT appreciate getting woken. So, I went in to take care of Abby and ended up putting her back in the living room so I could calm Andrew who proceeded to have an hour of tantrums and demands....please, again, keep in mind that is is 3am...I'm not feeling so loving or patient at that hour.

Anyway, so the next day I decided we will try again and see what happens and basically, the same thing did. And the next night....the same thing. So, now I am left in this predicament.

Abby is used to her Moses basket in the living room. She seriously quiets right down and goes to sleep the minute I put her in it. Andrew, has begun waking up at 3 am...just because! YES! THIS IS GREAT! (Oh, by the way, that was sarcastic) So every night I have to sort him out at 3 and I've just put Abby in the living room to start...easier that way. But, I have problems!!! This can't last. Abby can't stay in her Moses basket much longer...she getting too big, it's not safe. Andrew needs to learn how to deal with her making noises at night. BUT I don't know how to do this gracefully.

In one last attempt last night I decided I would just keep Abby in her crib and let her cry it out and Andrew will just have to deal with it...I decided I was going to just sign out. Um...come 3 am, that lasted about 7 minutes before WWIII broke out. Andrew screaming, yelling for "BABY BE QUIET", which obviously didn't help Abby as she began screaming even louder. Then Andrew came running into our room and has a bit of tantrum and well...you get the idea. This something I can't just ignore and hope they sort out...I must actively parent this but Mike and I are both flabbergasted at what we can do.

So this post is to beg, plead and beseech those of you with any wisdom at all on the topic to offer your advice. Your experienced...ANYTHING to help us out!!!!!

Thank you

To Andrew...

Andrew, today I saw another side of you.

You are normally the boy who is completely unfazed by anything that falls under the category of "Yucky".

Who could forget the time you once spit out chewing gum on a dirt path before a family walk and when we came back nearly an hour later, I noticed you chewing that same gum, only this time filled with pebbles and dog hair and all manner of unspeakable horror. All you had to say was, "Yumm!"

OR

How about the time you spilled soda on the nasty Costco dining table and began licking it up before I had a chance to pry you away? When I finally did, you had a funny look on your face because you had also lapped up a little of someones leftover shepherds pie.

OR

How about the fact that whenever I vaccuum it's a challenge for me to keep you from sucking on the end of the hose...the hose that sucks up withered grapes, bathroom hair and soggy bits of sick-out.

OR

What about how you like to poke the inside of the toilet with your little chubby finger WHILE you are going potty! (And NO...his hand almost never comes back unscathed)

OR

How about that one time I let you roll in mud! Gooped it in your hands, squished it in your toes and squleched it all over your little body. It didn't phase you, in fact you had the time of your life! You still ask to play in the mud!!!!!

OR

How about the fact that you don't mind a runny nose. In fact, I have even (gasp) caught you doing a little lick if I can't wipe it away fast enough.

Yep...so these are just a few of the reasons why I, in your 2 plus years of lif, have come to know you has a 100% boy's boy who liked to get dirty...who is made of tough stuff and who isn't balked by messes or anything else that a normal person might consider nasty.

I guess that's why I was so shocked today...seriously flabbergasted when I heard you dry heave. I quickly looked up to see the sickened look on your face as you managed to utter the words, "Mommy, no...so yucky!" I stopped to grab my bearings...what were you referring to? What was so yucky? And then....you did it!

You seriously....literally vomited your lunch because of what I was doing. I rushed to your side, asked if you were sick, checked your temperature, made sure you were ok. The only thing I got from you was, "Mommy, I fine." Only you followed by a point to the container in my hands as you say, "Oh, soooo yucky!" And then another little dry heave.

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

So, Andrew, I am sorry that what I was doing made you feel so queasy. I am sorry that you just aren't man enough to see past the "yuckiness" of my task. But I still have to continue, unfortunately it's a necessary part of life...or Abby's rather. But I promise you, from here on out, you no longer have to watch or even be in the same room the next time I feed Abby some baby food.

Sure do love this thing!

Andrew will turn three in just three short months. I can hardly believe it, he is growing so fast! Of course, it's not been without a challenge or two but lately he has been sooo good! Seriously, so helpful and obedient and I think I am finally seeing the terrible two's packing their bags! OH. THE. JOY!!!!

Anyway, I wanted to share some of Andrew's fun little quirks and sayings. The following are a few wee gems:


Andrew: Mommy, I’m rumbly tummy!
Me: Oh, you have a rumbly tumbly? Are you hungry?
Andrew: Yes, ‘sigh’, i need to eat your nose.
He then grabs my nose, acts like he puts it in his mouth and says, “all better”


I was sitting on the floor playing with Andrew and he asked me to trace his hands. I did and when I was done, he stood up and pat me on the head while saying, “Good boy.”


Andrew and I were playing with sock puppets and he started laughing and said, “Mommy, Andrew silly!”
Me: Yep, Andrew is a silly billy
Andrew: “Not billy, I ANDREW!”


Andrew has a weird comfort thing with my hair. He likes to rub it against his face when he is tired or upset...i know?!?!?!?! Anyway, one time he was doing that and commented:
"Mommy hair has black on it!"
I said, "Yes, Mommy's hair is dark like Andrews". Andrew did not like that because he yelled back, "No! ANDREW HAIR IS BROWN! Silly mommy!"


Abby went down for her morning nap so I turned cartoons on for Andrew and told him I was going to take a quick shower. He looked at me and said, “oh, yes... yucky hair, mommy!”


Lately Andrew has been going around doing the following little saying:
“How do we do?” (This means, what do we do?)
I respond by saying: "I don’t know, what do we do?" Then Andrew puts his finger to his lips and says, "Hmmmm....Bright idea!” He then spouts off what he would like to do (lately it's involved eating cheese...weirdo!)


Yep...he is definitley a keeper!


OH, by the way, I think this one is pretty darn cute too!!!

Turn that frown into a smile!!!!!

For those of you who actually read this wee blog I just wanted to shout out that all is well in Aberdeen. Yes...I am, WE are, still alive. Although to be honest, sometimes it doesn't always feel like it. I know...weird Emily, what do you mean?!?!?

I just mean that over the last couple months life has been a bit mundane to say the least. Weather has kept us inside, kids are cute and lovely but also cranky, and Mike has been busy, busy, busy locked in his room or on campus studying his brain out. You know, so after doing the same thing over and over it gets really...what's the word I want to use...boring, depressing, habitual. And to top that off although my days are filled to the brim with "same ol', same ol'" I still NEVER have time to do things I WANT to do. These types of things include, but are not limited to: Blogging (this blog and another writing blog I belong to), writing, reading (although that has gotten much easier thanks to the Kindle--THANKS again Camille), watching TV or EXERCISE!!!

This is mainly due to the fact that I have a wee baby who is currently in the process of getting a nap schedule down and my little Andrew wants my attention whenever I am not occupied with the afore mentioned baby. I actually really like this....please don't get me wrong. I genuinely, truly LOVE being a mom and both Andrew and Abby are growing so fast and doing some of the cutest things. For example here are a few of Andrew's little sayings these days:
ANDREW: Mom, watcha doin'?
ME:I'm changing Abby
ANDREW: Be careful, she's stinky!

or

ME: You're a good boy Andrew!
ANDREW: Best in the whole world?
ME: Yep, best in the whole world.
ANDREW: Baby Abby best in the whole world too!

Anyway, see what I mean?!? Cute, I like, and WANT, to spend all my time with these two little rugrats and I can honestly say that 90% of the time I am content and happy to just go about our days filled with toys, cartoons, nappies and juice. However, the other 10% can really kick me in the pants sometimes. AND it becomes much more magnified when there is a whole lot of the mundane going on. So anyway, Mike and I have both been feeling it and so we decided that one of the first things we needed to make time for was exercise. So tonight was the first of what I hope to be many more gym nights. Can I just say that it was just what the doctor ordered, for cryin' out loud!! My spirits have been automatically lifted and I feel so rejuvenated.

I firmly believe that attitude is what ultimately makes or breaks a persons happiness but sometimes in order to get that positive attitude a-flowin' I need to take time out to do something I want to do just because I want to do it. So, back to tonight, I left the dishes undone, the living room a mess and my little kiddos with their wonderfully helpful daddy and rocked the gym for an hour. When I came back there were still messes to clean and one kid to sort out but, oh, how I had the energy and will power to do it!

And now...well, now the mess is sorted and the kid is dreaming sweetly so I even got to do a little blogging. HAH! Sheer bliss I tell ya! I know, I know these things are little but I must never forget how it's these little things that help to fill my Emily tank which in turn fills my mommy tank. So, lesson learned (re-learned, reminded?): I am going to make these little things a bigger (but not overly dominant) part of my life because, after all, I sure do like to smile...and I think the kids like it too!

Up-diddily-date

Life has been busy..very busy, there are no two ways about it. Ahhh, but busy with what, you ask?!? Well, that is the funny thing, you can ask me what I do in a day and my answer will almost always be, "nothing out of the ordinary" but it sure seems that "nothing about of the ordinary" leaves me with so little time that I am lucky to get a shower in every 2-3 days and nice recreational activities such as blogging, well, this post has been in the works for about two weeks if that gives you a clue. Anyway, but I believe I finally have time to finish this...you see, I devised a plan and got up early this morning before the kids wake up. BWah-ha-ha-ha! Now I should be able to have a good chunk of time without needing to stop to wipe a nose or change a nappy or feed or play with puppets....you get the idea. So, for those of you who are actually interested, the following is our West family update:


First there was Halloween. It was great! Mike was in charge of a ward Halloween activity so we spent the evening manning carnival-type booths where kids could win candy. Tons of people participated and dressed up. The booths looked something like this:



Andrew and I looked a little like this:


ROAR!


Mike did a little of this:


Some people got a little crazy like this:


(Cute little Abby was dressed like a cow...that picture is refusing to post, don't know why. I'm super bummed!)

Next up were birthdays. Mike and I turned the big 28 within four days of each other. We threw wild parties that lasted all week consisting of this:





And this:


And this:


In the UK we celebrate Guy Fawkes day/Bonfire night. It's in celebration of a time when some imbecile named Fawkes tried, and failed, to blow up parliament. It's sort of like the Fourth of July to you and I. We decided to brave the frigid temperatures and went down to the beach where all the action was taking place. It was packed with people and looked a little like this:





Mike and Andrew did a little of this:


Their eyes sparkled just like this:


(Mine were mostly looking down to make sure a certain little cow was warm, didn't get any pictures of that)

Next up was Thanksgiving. WHAT!?!?! No, the UK does not celebrate this beloved holiday (for what I assume would be obvious reasons)but some of us Americans did! Yee-ha, wahoo, go git yer boots! We spent an evening with great friends (all Americans with the exception of Mike and our friend Gemma--she is from Orkney, don't know where that is? Google it, it's awesome!)

The Sorber's provided the gathering place and the Turkey (fresh from a farm). It tasted DELICIOUS and looked a little like this:



The table looked like this:


The people looked like this:




Good times, good food, good company!!!

Well, the weather decided to turn on us and now the ground that once looked like this:




Now looks like this:


And this:


It makes me go a little crazy. I hate being cooped inside. I hate letting Andrew watch lots of TV. So it has driven us to do a little of this:







And this:


And this:


And this:


And this:


Some of those things make Abby feel like this:


Or this:


But sometimes we get a little adventurous and do some of this:


Once Andrew's wee friend Alex cam over and they had a BLAST doing this:




And this:


So, even though the weather makes me feel a little like this:


We ultimately do our best to have lots of this: