Seeing eye to eye

You know those days when your kids make you want to pull your hair out? Of course you love them beyond comprehension, but sometimes they can push your every last button and cause a nervous tick or two. I was having one of those days. Big time. No matter what I did, I always seemed a step behind her. From the start of breakfast where she flung bright blue yogurt (somehow making it land on EVERY wall, appliance, window, lightfixture and ceiling in ONE swift swoop. HOW? It was only one spoonful!), to opening and fingerprinting several DVD's, covering the cat in lotion, and smathering herself in green ink from a stamp pad - she was into everything! I would start cleaning up one mess to find two more in progress. There is only one of her, how does she do it? I was litterally looking in the shadows for the evil clone of my child someone had to have dropped off! And you would think that on crazy days like this she would burn off a little energy? Nope, not her. She refused to nap and give me a moments sanity.

I tried to think of all the causes. Her molars didnt seem to be bothering her, and I employed my mommy skills to detect a fever, but came up with nothing. So, I thought, "She must be bored!" I knew I had to concoct a great scheme to grab her attention, so I thought real hard. She loves to help in the kitchen and she is delighted with play dough, so I decided to today we would make our own homemade salt dough. Fun right? NO! She sat on the counter helping me stir for about 30 seconds, and dashed off leaving me helplessly stuck in the middle of a delicate playdough creating masterpiece. Before I knew it the bag of sugar was pulled from the lazy susan and was nicely decorating my floor. (Yes, I still think my feet are sticky from stepping in it by mistake) I finally finished the dough, got a nice layout of old cookie cutters laid out for her and was excited to see her entertained for a bit. 2 seconds later, play dough is on the floor and she's squealing to get down from the booster seat. Great.

We tried reading stories, watching movies, helping me with the laundry (about the only thing that actually got her attention for more than a minute), doing puzzles and EVERYTHING else I could think of. I was going nuts and was almost in tears knowing Cris wouldnt be home to rescue me until late tonight. Around 5pm, I decided to take a bath to release some tension. A quick dip in the tub and a hair wash always makes me feel better. Besides, I thought I could put McKenzie in after my bath and let her play while I blow dried my hair and got dressed. The water filled, and I eased into the tub. So far so good. I dunked my head under the water and thunk! She threw one of my 32 oz (yes, I checked) bottles of cream rinse onto my cheek bone. Smart girl that she is, she chose the brand new, totally full bottle, instead of the near empty one sitting right beside it. In case you were wondering its not a good feeling. In fact, I think I am slightly swollen and beginning to bruise. Great!

I drug myself into the kitchen to finish dinner and feed her. About the time the bowl of mashed potatoes and chicken fell to the floor, I was ready to grab her and scream "What is wrong with you!" I caught myself, took a deep breath and almost cried at the confusion I saw in her eyes. I know I wasnt very patient as the day wore on, and I felt horrible. I scooped her up (dirty little hands and all) and carried her into the quiet living room. I sat her on my lap facing me and told her I loved her. I talked for a minute and told her that I loved her even though we didnt see eye to eye. (I dont know why I used the phrase, it just popped out) She looked at me, nodded, and pointed to her eye, then mine. Then she put her face right in front of mine so our eyes were almost touching and gave me a HUGE hug and told me she loved me.

So, all in all, I'd say today wasnt such a bad day after all.

The amazing power of kids!

Chuck E Cheese

Today I was really looking forward to an entire day of "me time". Cris had offered to take McKenzie out for some fun to give me some time to scrapbook and finish a few projects. (Something I had REALLY been wanting to do) As he was gathering some things for them to go, I thumbed through the newspaper and found a really good coupon to Chuck E Cheese. I'd never really been there before, but for some reason it sounded like it would be fun to take McKenzie. I asked Cris if he wanted to go, and he was suprisingly as intrigued as I was (I think he REALLY loves their pizza) So, we roped my mom into tagging along, and headed for Sandy.

Cris has been spending so much time away from home with his long commute and hobbies, it was so nice to have some quality family time! I am glad my mom could go, too. It's nice to have a family that can all get along and have fun together.

Anyway, McKenzie had a blast! She was a great sport, and got out lots of winter energy. I think we are going to have to give Chuck our seal of approval and come back another time for more fun! Here's some pics of our day:

Dance, Dance

On Tuesday McKenzie was such a doll while we were getting ready for dance class. She was excited to wear the Jazz dancer dress that Grandma and Grandpa Dew picked out for her. She even agreed to pose in front of the piano for a few snapshots. In exchange, she insisted on taking this picture of me.

Unfortunately, dance class wasnt as easy as getting ready. It wasnt her best cooperation day. But, on happier news, we are excited to have Amy's daughter, Mae, join our class! It's going to be fun to get reaquainted with Amy and for McKenzie to have a buddy. Welcome, Welcome!

So true...

Important Video For Parents

Potty Time

Oh the excitement! McKenzie went #2 in the potty today for the first time! And she even asked to go! She sat there struggling to keep from falling into the toilet with the biggest, proudest grin beaming from her face! I was so proud of her, and completely shocked - it came out of no where. Awww! My little baby is growing up. I am so happy and proud... and just a little sad, too.

High School Seniors?

I've been asked to head a scholarship committee for the UTA. (They are a non-profit group that believes in wildlife conservation and ethical means of balancing wildlife populations) I mailed out scholarship applications to every school in Utah today and posted the forms on the organizations website. But... nothing quite does the trick like word of mouth. If you know any high school seniors who may be interested send them here: http://www.utahtrappers.org/presidents.html and scroll down to the "scholarship" section to download the forms and find the rules. All in all, it isn't that difficult of a scholarship to apply for. Good luck!

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I will not be judging - I am going to round up a judging committee for that! So... although your baked goods and monetary contributions will be appreciated, it probably wont help you win! :)

My Personal DNA

I tried this personal DNA test and thought it was fun. Scroll over the different colors to see bits about me.

Lunching with Miss Menzie

Today, McKenzie needed some excercise (aka, she was a little hyper) I dug her plastic slide out from the basement and she was SO excited to see it after a few months of being put away. I let her play with it for a few minutes while I made lunch, and here is what happened after she walked into the kitchen to check on me:


McKenzie: Menzie eat!
Me: I'm almost done cooking your grilled cheese. Are you going to eat like a big girl?
McKenzie: Me help!
She walked over to her play kitchen and pretended to cook. I looked over a second later, and she had a plastic hamburger bun in the frying pan with a piece of cheese on it. I was sufficiently impressed she knew how to make grilled cheese. Although, later she added a banana to the pan for good measure.
Me: Good job! It's ready, so let's sit down and eat, okay?
McKenzie: Okay, mommy! (she takes a bite) CHEESE! BIG cheese! Thank you, mommy! (eats a little more) Five, mommy! (The very first time someone has given me a high five for cooking lunch) Muscles big! Grow Menzie!
Me: Yes! You are eating good food and its going to make you strong. Good girl!
McKenzie: Good girl. Cat no cheese.
Me: Thats right, the cat can't eat cheese. It would make him sick.
McKenzie: (looking really disappointed) Okay, mommy. More this?
Me: Okay, here are more peaches. (trying to hide my shock that she wanted an extra helping of fruit after eating a whole grilled cheese sandwhich, minus the crust)
McKenzie: Me muscles BIG! (Loud grunt and muscle flexing action) Menzie slide big!

For those of you who dont know, McKenzie doesn't eat. She picks a few bites from her plate and instantly wants to get down and keep playing. Lunchtime is frustrating because I feel like I'm not doing my motherly duty - my child CAN'T be full, and is she really getting enough food to grow up strong? I know, I know, experts say... Anyway... I guess I found a secret weapon! Today I really praised how great she was doing on the slide, and tomorrow we'll have to get the slide out again before lunch. I'll tell her she needs bigger muscles to slide fast, and see if that might encourage a little eating. We'll see! Wish me luck!

Tough Questions

Leann has a neat format for her posts on Thursday. She does a list call "Thursday Thirteen" and each week covers a new subject. Sometimes its a list of funny moments with her kids, something insightful or inspirational. But, this week it was a bit of a challenge. Here is what she wrote:

"I'm interested in all views on life. I may not agree with yours and you may not agree with mine, but I'm fascinated by the way people think. So, I present:13 Things I Want To Know About You(I will post my answers tomorrow. Of course, feel free to skip questions ifyou are chicken feel they are too personal.) :)"

So... I am going to answser her questions the best I can. I have conflicting thoughts on some, so I'll do my best!

1. Would you eat spoiled food from the garbage, or go hungry? I CANNOT eat spoiled food, so I would probably wither away and die!
2. Would you make one adult film, if it meant that you would never have to work again? Nope.
3. In your relationship, you find out that a baby has been conceived. One of you wants the baby, the other doesn't. Who has the right to choose? The one who wants to keep the baby.
4. You are in a serious accident in the middle of nowhere and you only chance of survival is to cut off your own arm. Would you do it? I'd like to think that I could, but honestly unless McKenzie's life depended on it, I dont think I would make it
5. Do you think it is important to tell the truth, or spare someone's feelings? Tell the truth, but in a way to avoid hurting feelings. (Example: Do you like my hair do? "It's a big change!")
6. What is something you find yourself constantly thinking about? The last book I read, whatever it may be!
7. If your house was on fire, what is the one thing you would have to save (of course, I am assuming that all people/pets are safe)? Photographs
8. Forgive and forget? Or forget to forgive? Forgive and learn from it
9. Why are you best friends with your best friend? She's my mom and love her
10. Name one challenge you are faced with on a regular basis. Trying to keep my home office clean
11. Do you think its possible to only love one person for the rest of your life? Nope. I already love many people who are important to me.
12. If you had the skills, what is your dream job? I used to have dream jobs, but learned that I feel a need to be home with my daughter as much as I can. I am happy right where I am.
13. What is your favorite quote/saying/scripture? "Service is like wetting your pants; everyone may see it, but you are the only who who feels its warmth"

What would your answers be?

Mr. Christopher

What is his name? Christopher Ray Dew (Cris) Several of his employees call him Mr. Christopher, and I think thats funny!

How long did you date? We dated for 4 months before we were engaged (right out of high school. Crazy, huh? I never thought I was that kind of girl) , and were married 8 months later. Our seven year wedding anniversary is in March. Holy cow!

Who eats more? He does at meal time, but I am more of a snacker.

Who said "I love you" first? He did. And then I ran away.

Who is taller? Despite his claim of being 6 feet tall, he is only a few inches taller than me

Who sings better? Neither of us. We are both horrible! But I think listening to him sing "Twinkle, twinkle" to McKenzie at bedtime is as beautiful as it gets.

Who is smarter? We each have our fortes: Cris is book smart and college edu-ma-cated. I like to think that I am a practical thinker and can logically think my way through things. It's a good mix.

Who does the laundry? No question: me. But I am okay with that - Cris has a thing for bleach and super hot water. Sorting the colors? No way! But, he does help put it away once its folded.

Who pays the bills? He does. I did for a few years, he complained that we should be saving more, and he inherited the job. Ha! (I actually expected to get it back after a month or two, but he's held strong for 4 or 5 years)

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do, its closer to the door when McKenzie would wake up at night.

Who mows the lawn? He does. In fact, now that I think about it, I dont think I have ever mowed the lawn at this house. I used to do it when he was going to college, though...

Who cooks dinner? Besides him occasionally defrosting something on the days I work, I am responsible for dinner. And, I think thats a good thing. (Have I ever mentioned the shrimp and potato soup he invented, or his appreciation for seasoned salt? LOTS of seasoned salt?)

Who drives? Usually he does, but we often trade off.

Who is more stubborn? We both are, but he takes the cake. By far.

Who kissed who first? He kissed me. And I ran away then, too.

Who asked who out first? He asked me. My friend was in love with him, so I made him take her out first. I was waiting for my missionary to return, and wasnt interested in dating him at all. (Pity date?) But, obviously, he grew on me! I remember one day it hit me out of the blue: "Oh my gosh! I LOVE him!" It scared me and excited me all at once.

Who proposed? He did, and he was so nervous. It was cute.

Who is more sensitive? I'd have to say me. I blubber over anything... or nothing.

Who has more siblings? We are tied. We are both the oldest of three children.

Who wears the pants? While we each have our own turf, I'd sadly have to say I have the bigger turf. Sorry, dear, but I rope you into a lot of my big schemes!

Thanks to Sharon for the fun idea! I'd like to tag: Jessica, Leann, Malory and Sara

The test

Could you pass the US Citizenship test? Click on the title of this post to find out.

I scored 9400 (I think? Can't remember for sure) I missed the number of members in the House of Representatives and made a silly mistake on the last question. Post your scores for a little fun!

I love him

I had one of those amazing days where I felt a bunch of energy to accomplish everything. I cleaned the house, put away the Christmas decorations (finally!) did a bunch of laundry, went grocery shopping and made a homecooked meal: baked ziti with homemade tomatoe and basil sauce! Yum! Cris came home and commented on how much I got done (I love it when he notices I worked hard!), and I told him I was pretty tired after all of it and was looking forward to a long, hot bath after McKenzie went to bed. He said he wanted to watch a movie after she feel asleep so he encouraged me to take the bath then. He didnt have to ask me twice! I closed the bedroom door, walked into the master and started the water running. Just about that time I heard a loud thunk, the sound of a frustrated toddler throwing herself against the door crying for mommy. This is an exerpt of what I heard during my bath:

Angry Toddler: "Mommmmmy! MOM! Menzie bath! ME! MOOOOMMMM!"

Daddy: "Come watch a movie with me! Or we can play with your dishes?"

A.T.: "NO! MOM!"

Daddy: "Don't you like me?"

A.T. "NO! Mom! MOMMY!"

Then I would hear her squeal as he pried her from the bedroom door (I knew she was laying on her tummy, face pressed against the crack at the bottom of the door, fingers sticking underneath because she does the same thing when daddy showers) The noise would quiet down for a moment and I would hear some laughter. Then a random holler "MOM?"

Daddy: "She will be out soon, its okay"

Thumping noise as she runs down the hall to the door

Very Angry Toddler: "Mommy! Menzie! MEEEEeeeEEEE! Open!"

Daddy: "No. N-O!"

And that was my cue. Cris always spells the word "no" when he is about to lose his patience. (Learning this cue has come in helpful so many times. So, the bath may not have been terribly long, but it did the trick. And I love that Cris:

a) noticed what I did (a gold star always is nice)

b) was thoughtful enough to try and provide me with "me time"

and c) sacrificed all of our eardrums and his personal patience dealing with an extremely over-tired toddler trying to re-figure her schedule after vacation just to spend a little extra time with me. Movie night wasn't the top thing on my list earlier in the day, but now nothing sounds better. In fact, I think I should head into the kitchen to make someones favorite shrimp dip.

Whats in a name?

Go to this link and type in your name. Below are my results.

What Stacy Means

You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

15 things I learned on vacation

1. Coming back to cold weather isn't much fun!


2. Cris never feels he has had too much sleep and can literally sleep through anything.


3. Eating at cafes and fast food that much is NOT good for my complexion! BAHHH!


4. Cactus needles hurt!


5. Going 10 days without TV wasn't hard at all, but...


6. A DVD player in the car during a road trip is a #1 MUST HAVE!


7. Watch out for Grandma Dona; she will get even! (explanation: Grandma had been on the phone for hours trying to get her dish network working and didnt have any luck. She finally gave up and hung up on the customer service agent. Later my dad had me call her and pretend I was from the company following up on her service. I told her that there would be a delay in getting her access card and that she had signed up for a new expensive yearly contract. Luckily I confessed my identity before she reached through the phone and strangled me, but I still dont think she found it as funny as the rest of us. 10 minutes later, she backed her car into the back of my parents SUV. Coincidence? The world may never know ;)


8. My disinclination for dredlocks remains in tact. EEEYUCK!


9. The A,B,C game is a mandatory road trip game - no matter how old you are.


10. My dad thrives on the knowledge that he is driving me nuts (Yes, I knew this before, but I didnt know to what extent he was willing to take it!)


11. My dad can make a U-turn - even in California!


12. MapQuest isn't always right. And I have the print out to prove it! (There is a BIG difference in NORTH and SOUTH people!


13. My sister misses me


14. At times my family drives me bonkers...


15. But, I wouldnt trade them for anything. I have the most amazing family I could ever ask for. My grandmother is selfless and giving, my mom is accomodating and patient, my dad tries hard to go out of his comfort zone to do things that make the family happy, Bob is pretty fun and I love getting him away from the computer long enough to have a real conversation with him, Malory is caring, Cris is a good daddy and loves us very much, and McKenzie is smart, energetic and knows how to make people melt.

Sure, we had our ups and downs on the trip, but it was a great experience. At times we all may have been cranky (myself definitely included) but I think we all enjoyed the trip, and enjoyed it more because of the company we were in. Thanks to my family for a great trip!

I am posting the pictures from our vacation on our family website: www.thedewfamily.com

Ram Release

I didn't get a chance to post this before our vacation, so bare with me as I catch up now! :) The day before we left for vacation my father went to Antelope Island to assist with a Big Horn Sheep transplant. They were moving sheep from the island to the mountains West of Grantsville. He called when they were on their way, so I bundled up McKenzie and we headed out to meet them. It was a neat experience to watch the elusive animals up close. Here is a video of the release of one trailer of rams. I believe that day they released around 22 sheep and were going to release another 20-25 more the following day. It always makes me laugh when people accuse hunters of being blood thirsty savages out for the thrill of the kill. From my experience, hunters are the ones who spend the most money and time preserving habitat and work hard to make sure animal populations remain at the healthiest level possible.

We're home!

Just wanted to drop a line and let everyone know we made it home safe and sound. And cold! We have been running around in t-shirts and barefoot, coming back to the snow has been somewhat painful. Looks like the wind was terrible while we were gone - half of the houses in our neighborhood are missing shingles and siding. Luckily, Randy and Terri took good care of our house and it was in great shape when we made it home. I will try and post fun pics and stories when I get a little laundry and unpacking done. Plus, after a 12 hour car ride, McKenzie definately needs to get her wiggles out. See ya tonight!

We're Off!

We are heading out tonight on our 'wild adventure'! I am hoping to drive most of the night to make it easier for McKenzie. We'll see.... (God, grant us all patience, please?) I am also packing the computer (as long as there is room!) so if I find a WiFi connections (McDonalds?) I'll see if we can post updates! Otherwise, we'll post again on the 15th! See ya!

I'm addicted

I am addicted. I headed the advice of Sharon and Jessica and dove into the Stephanie Meyers book Twilight. Luckily, Cris bought be the box set for Christmas because I devoured the book! (I finished it in 12 hours flat - although I only wanted to read 3 or 4 chapters before bed) I made myself stop reading for a bit to do a little housework before I start on book two. I have no doubt that I will be done with the entire set by the end of the week. And I want more! If you can handle it, I highly recommend this series. Click on the title of this post for more info.

My list

I guess now is the time of year to reflect on life and consider what we can improve. Some call their goals resolutions, but personally I hate that term. Overall I may be resolved to accomplish what I set my mind to do, but I know that I will face weakness and my resolve will sometimes shrivel into a tiny ball of nothingness. I also know I will at times fail. I am the perfectionist sort who when once fails, gives up entirely. I give up on complete diets because I gave into the temptation of a single cookie, for crying out loud! So, this year I am going to try something different. I dont want to use any set numbers or milestones - I want to know I am accomplishing my goals by how I feel. Here are seven things I intend to improve this coming year:

1. Be positive - I want to be the optimist in the crowd. Yes, I want to remain realistic. But, I don't want to be the negative voice taking everyone down. I want to be the cheerleader encouraging myself or others to give just a little more.
2. Be lighthearted - I want to be more carefree. I inhibit myself by worrying about what others think way too much. I want to learn to let go, have fun and be someone who makes others feel comfortable.
3. Be creative - I love working on projects, I just hate cleaning up after them. Or I feel like I don't have enough time. Or... (insert a million other excuses) This year, I want to devote more time to scrapbooking and other outlets that allow me to express myself a little more.
4. Be knowledgeable - Whether its reading books, taking a class or two, or just picking up new skills from others, I want to learn more this year!
5. Be friendly - I am not an outgoing person by nature. I am shy, reserved and self conscious. This year I want to reach out more to those around me and see what happens.
6. Be healthy - I am not going to diet or start an excercise plan - that just doesn't seem to work for very long. But, I am going to eat healthier foods and be more active. I'm not cutting anything out by definition, but I want to be more aware.
7. Be an example - I have a little sponge following me around everyday. She soaks in every word I say, every action I do. I want to be careful of the image I project so my daughter has a positive figure to look up to. Who know who else may be watching?

Well, I think thats the basic outline. Like I said, there are no standards to measure up to, so as long as I give it a real try, I can't fail and force myself to give up, right? What goals are you working on this year?

Argh!

You know how sometimes you just need to vent a little? Well, now is my time! So batten down the hatches, and brace yourself!

To make a long story short, I was encouraged to leave today (instead of Thursday) with part of our group going on our little vacation. They gave me 45 minutes notice. Have you ever packed for a two week vacation in 45 minutes? With a two year old running around behind you? It's NOT a pretty picture. We hadnt showered, gotten dressed for the day or eaten breakfast. I ran around like a mad woman (more so than usual!) I tend to stress out easily, and boy did I. I finally took the last bag out to the garage when the phone rang. There ended up not being enough room for me in the car. ARGH! I didnt care, and still dont care if I went today. It really didnt matter. But for whatever reason, I burst into tears and bawled. My eyes are red and puffy and everything I use on a daily basis is packed up in the garage. So... now I think I get to unpack, put everything back where it belongs, only to load it back up again in a few days. How exciting, right? All in all, its probably better that I have more time to carefully plan our packing and make sure I dont miss anything, but ARGH! Thats all I have to say about that. :)