Unda da sea...or pool.

 Mindy and Bo came back for another quick visit.  They brought their really cool camera with underwater capabilities. This made me really happy because I never open my eyes underwater and therefore have always wondered what we all look like.  Well, take a look!  

Ha!  Thanks for making the trek over again to visit us, Mindy and Bo.  Can't wait till next time!

 Mindy and Ruby- gettin ready to go out for a walk on the Moose Moss trail.

Owen likes this hand me down hat from Evan so much that he will grab it and give it to me to put on him when we are getting ready and he likes to keep it on to play in after we get back.  Thanks, Evan!

Ruby is walking too!!!

Well, that didn't take long.  About a week ago, Ruby started pulling up on things and pushing away to walk somewhere else without any prompting on mom or dad's part.  Her approach is different than Owen's.  Owen figured out how to push himself up from the ground right away.  Ruby prefers to pull up on something (and she can pull up on anything including just a wall- no holds necessary) and then walk away.  You can take a look in the video below.  Yahoo!  Both of my babies are officially toddlers!

Aww- the Niech- I am sure he totally gets kids and meant this quote to be used in this context. ;)  Well, I bet Nana would probably agree with this quote at any rate-  Let the great thoughts begin!

"All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking."
-Friedrich Nietzsche

Western and Eastern Unite

We united with the other half of the Western DuRoss Clan and half of the Eastern DuRoss Clan for a late Christmas celebration and hang out time.  We started with our Christmas family time up here at the Summit Estate for dinner and gift exchanging...a total hoot with the kids.  I included a video below of Ruby and Owen opening gifts from Nana and Papa.  Ruby is no fool.  She has got the whole unwrapping thing down.  Owen did pretty well too...but still really is more interested in eating the wrapping paper than getting to the gift. :)  I love the photo above of Nola, Ruby, and Owen all lined up to eat dinner.  These family gatherings have taken on a new life.  We have to stick to a strict schedule to insure babies and kids get fed in time to get any activities done in time for bed.  But, it worked out, both times we got everyone together (for regular gift exchange and then again at the Wilson Estate for the white elephant exchange) and lots of fun was had by all.

Just an adorable little moment I caught between Papa and his pal, Ruby.

Ruby can walk too.  She just chooses not to unless you stand her up and make her do it.  She is actually doing a lot more cruising that Owen ever did.  I am sure she will off and running on her own soon.  But for now, we still play a lot of the "back and forth" game as seen in this video with Nana and dad.

In between Christmas gatherings here in Utah, the Summit Clan joined Nana and Papa in Driggs, ID for a long weekend retreat.  We almost got lost and stuck on a snowy road in the middle of Wyoming somewhere as we poked around looking at real estate (a favorite pastime for this crowd).  Ruby and Owen missed all the fun due to their snoozing status.  Good thing it WAS nap time and they do look really comfortable.  I guess we'll let it slide this time.

Some randoms-

Owen...what am I going to do with you?  Every time I want to get something out of the fridge, I have to look to see if Owen is around.  He LOVES to climb up into it and cries if I close the door and don't let him get a peek.  And, I love this picture because you can see the TWO gallons of milk I have to buy every time I go to the store now.  We are SO done with formula- praise the lord- and on to milk...still warmed, darn it.  We'll keep workin on it.

I was making what still proves to be one of Ruby and Owen's favorite foods, when Chip got all artsy on me and starting taking photos again.  The avocado is a very photogenic fruit, don't ya think?!

"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas."  

~Peg Bracken

2011

What a ride 2011 has been!  There are some things I learned...or relearned...in 2011. Special thanks to Chip, Ruby, and Owen for helping these truths become so clear and making this year another opportunity to push, learn, and love.

 I just love looking back at the pictures of them SO small, swaddled, and sleeping in the same crib.  Too sweet.

1)  Write things down.  I have always been one to make lists for anything from goals to shopping.  I believe there is something powerful in putting an intention, desire, or whatever, into writing.  I think the universe hears it louder that way or something.  Anyway, this year, I had to write down things as simple as "take a shower".  Somehow if I put it down on paper, it would get accomplished.  And if I didn't, it wouldn't.  There were just too many demands on my time.  So, writing things down helped me prioritize, organize, and materialize a lot more than if I had just rolled with it.

Just a few days old.

  Just a few months old.

2)  Drink coffee.  Perhaps I am justifying a delicious treat in the morning...but there is lots of positive research to back up this justification.  A cup a day is GOOD for you...and definitely me. I am a better mom on a cup of coffee than without.  Most days that Chip is not home, I do not make time to brew coffee...and on the days he IS home and we make it happen, I am better for it!  Coffee (in moderation of course) combats depression, diabetes, cancer, strokes, and, oh...almost forgot....fatigue!...something I was pretty familiar with this year.

3)  If you think something is hard...make it harder.  This one became clear when we traveled mostly.  Sometimes at home I would begin to think that things were barely manageable.  When would the kids stop crying, why won't they EVER sit still for a diaper change, why aren't they eating, why won't they make it through a normal nap...and so on...Then, we would take that show on the road and you just make it work.  Squirming kids being changed in the back of the car...makes changing that kid at home now look like a cinch. Crying kids in public...make crying kids at home seem a lot less stressful.  You get the idea.  The more I thought about this, it applies to a lot of life situations.  Try it.  It is amazing what a little change of perspective can do for the psyche, stress levels, and general happiness.

First plane trip...to Outer Banks, NC

4)  Take time to shower and say thank you.  These are two of the most therapeutic things I do all day.

This insane collage represents the things and people I am thankful for and...some of the reasons I need to take a shower.

5)  Systems and routines rule.  The more I can turn into a routine and/or system, the less thought it takes on my part, and therefore, opens up more of the limited brain space and time for other things I might want to do...like exercise, make a phone call, or be creative (i.e. blog!)  Plus, I think it can turn mundane things into ritual...which I also believe is good for the soul.

 You might diagnose me with a mild case of OCD if you checked out my food system.  Freezer above, nightly routine below.

And finally, a quote from a favorite author-

"Don't cry because its over. Smile because it happened." ~Dr. Seuss