Mindysmind.com

So Ben gets up in the mornings at 6:00am on the nose almost every time, regardless of when he gets to sleep. This morning he played quietly in his room with the light off (I unscrew it before he goes to bed so he can’t get up and turn it on) for two hours before I woke up and came to get him. He just loves trains and plays with his trains until I show up. So since he does that, he has been taking naps earlier in the day around 12 or 1 sometimes. When we go to Melissa’s in the mornings, he usually falls asleep on the way home. He just can’t handle those car rides.

Well, today on the way home it was too cute. He was eating a taco and was just finishing up. He put the last bite in his mouth and I could just tell he was going to fall asleep before he even finished chewing it. I had to startle him by saying, “Ben finish chewing before you fall asleep,” like three times. He just fell right to sleep, he may still have had a little bit in his mouth. Too cute. I love it when he goes to sleep. Kids are just so peaceful when they sleep.

I am considering potty training him. I have no idea what I am doing, people keep saying just put him on the potty. Well, I need more than that, so I bought a book to help. It is called Potty Training in Just One Day. Exciting. I have only had time to read a small part of it, but the woman who wrote it had a potty training nightmare with her two and a half year old before she figured it out. I don’t want to have that. I bought him so underwear and a little potty seat to put on the big potty. He is getting better and has sat on it once or twice. I just need to get my book read and go from there.

I am tired now and am going to try to get some shut eye while Ben is still napping.

The other morning, I had left Ben in his room in the morning for like an hour. He just wakes up too early, so I keep the bungee cord on the door to ensure he doesn’t get out and come upstairs to my bedroom at 6am in the morning. So he just plays with his toys. Sometimes his room is a complete disaster when I get in there, sometimes he is in nothing but a diaper, but nothing too bad has happened to make me change my mind about doing it.

With that said, here is how I found the little guy just a few days ago. He somehow snuck a ball point pen into his room without my knowledge.

Fun times.

And just so you know, John moved my computer into the guest room so I have my blogging computer back. I just like having all my pictures and videos in one place and a desk to put the camera on and to sit at to write. So let’s see if this makes a difference. It will today at least.

Well, life has been busy while John has been gone. I tried to make it as busy as possible. I am just sitting here in my basement. I just finished watching The Biggest Loser, one of my favorite shows on TV BTW. I also watched the Bulls vs Celtics. Oh man both were just great tonight. I am happy that the Spurs lost. I just do not like them at all. I can’t explain it. Well, I can, but I won’t.

I played basketball this morning with all my basketball girlfriends. We were discussing the fact that we all play together every Tues and Thurs but we really don’t know that much more about each other outside of that. We had a get together for one of us who was moving to Canada. While there, we started asking her all sorts of personal questions that she answered for us. That is when we realized that none of us really know each other. So we are planning on getting together more and getting to know each other. I am super excited for it. I love all the girls that come play. We have such good chemistry and play a high level of ball you just can’t find in other places. I love it.

I also took my car into the dealership today only to find out that my brakes were shot and the axel covers or something were busted. So one grand later I have a car that works and has a crack running up its windshield. I guess there was a rock chip at the base (in the black part of the window) and when they washed my car it spread. I knew there was a reason why I didn’t wash my car. Cleaning is overrated. So going to a car dealership makes me realize how little I know about cars and prices for things and it just blows. I know dealerships are the most expensive, but who can you trust out there. You almost have to know someone who knows someone, you know?? I just know that the dealership will do a good job I don’t have to worry about and maybe that is worth the extra money. Who knows.

I am planning a trip to Alaska for Beth’s wedding and for funzies. I have had this brilliant plan to save lots of money and it is starting to blow up a bit and it is not making me happy. I keep hearing that I need to get the tickets (which I know thanks) but I am waiting for my miles to transfer and double so I can purchase the tickets with my miles. I am praying for the tickets to stay low and worse case is that I have to buy tickets. Grr. Pray for our tickets.

And I think that will be all tonight. Thanks for reading. (I really need to take more pictures)

Well, we are quite busy for the next couple months. Or should I say John is. Ben and I are going to try to fill up our days with fun. Yesterday we went out and cleaned up the backyard. We have a big tree in there that leaves lots of little branches on the ground. Also after our big snow storm, we had a few big branches come down. So I got those all cleaned up. I also got the lawn mower out and trimmed down the lawn. I had seriously forgotten what warm weather was like. I like it. Last night’s weather was perfect for being out doing yard work. I need to get my summer hat on. Shoot!

My ankle is healing nicely . . . finally. I haven’t been back to play yet, cause I haven’t purchased those ankle braces to protect my ankles. I am also a bit nervous about playing on it again. But it will all work out.

Ben and I are enjoying watching Cars, Bolt, and Thomas. We watch each at least once a day. He loves Bolt and the more I watch it the more I like it. It is a great show.

I don’t have any pictures for now, but I will be more aware and take some this week.

Hope everyone is well. We loved having Ed here for that short time he was here. We inherited a bunch of couches and chairs from Gramma Lindquist. Our downstairs is now nothing but seating it seems. I have to figure out how to get my zen back with all these chairs. That is one of my projects this week.

Later for now.

So I was searching my old hotmail account to try and find my old Alaska Airlines login name and password and I came across an old picture. I thought I would share it with you all.

Oh man that was a good one. LOL. Just thought everyone would get a kick out of that. I love it. Glad that I survived it, that’s for sure.

In other news, Ed has been here with us for a while. He came down for the funeral of his mom and has been sorting through her house and stuff for the past few days. We enjoy having you here dad. And he also reminded me that I wasn’t blogging like I should. So I thought I would.

Ben got some new little trains from Gramma’s house. He is loving them. They are really small replicas of actual trains. He just loves all kind of trains. (Sorry Cyndi, he just loves them)

I have been battling my diabetes for about almost two weeks. My blood sugars just went crazy on me. I had switched to a new type of insulin that was supposed to be the same if not better than the one I was using, but I have concluded that something is wrong with that insulin, cause me and it just did not get along. So last night I switched back to my regular stuff and we’ll see how that goes. Once I figure out our insurance information I will go see someone about it.

How’s my ankle you ask? It is still a bit swollen. I still have some residual bruising. I may go have it checked out too.

And that is all for now. I am trying to plan our trip to Alaska for Beth’s wedding. Exciting!! Our first trip back to Alaska as a family. I can’t wait.

Ben usually naps around 2:30 and on Wednesdays I have scouts at 4:00, so I decided we would just have some quiet time. Well, this is a picture of him at 5:55. He was watching Thomas and I was getting dinner. I had just got his plate ready and came down to find him like this. Too cute!

Anyway, it was funny, cause I made like three chicken breasts for dinner cause I am used to John eating with us and then it turned out I was the only one eating. So I have quite the leftovers.

Where do I start? I was playing basketball like I do every Tues and Thurs mornings when I landed awkwardly on the side on someone’s foot. I rolled my ankle pretty good. I know, you have heard this story before. Well, this time it was worse than the last time and yes, it was the same ankle. Here is my evidence.

So there are my awesome ankle pictures. Yeah it has not been a good few days for me. I rolled it when John was out of town in Chicago, so I had to have Melissa come and help me home. John got home that night and the next morning he got the offer and accepted it from RoundArch in Chicago. Hoorah!!! It was such a great moment, but I was laid up on the couch not being able to walk. So that put a damper on our celebration.

Also, that was the day that Ben started breaking out in hives. I had some RX strength hydracortizone (sp?) from when he got a rash on his bum. So I treated the first out break with that and they went away. Then he broke out again. And again. And again. And again. You got me on what was causing the breakouts, cause nothing had changed. I switched out his bedding and washed his blankies. It seemed to get worse when we’d put his to sleep in there. I washed his blanket again after another breakout. Finally yesterday when I put him down for his nap, I went in to check on his about an hour in and he was cover in hives. I got a picture of them on my phone so I could show the doctor when I took him in. Cause I treated them with Benadryl and the hyrdacortizone so I knew they would be gone by the time we got there. I just wanted some answers.

The doctor told me that he is allergic to something, but most of the time you don’t ever figure out what it is. I told her all about how I had washed his blankets and switched his sheets. So she put him on Singulair and Children’s Claratin. So he just has to take those daily for a while (I can’t remember how long) and then when we stop, if they come back we’ll go from there. Poor guy. He didn’t really seem to be bothered by them at all. He didn’t itch them at all. Even when they were all over his legs and arms he was still just running around like nothing was wrong.

John started work yesterday. He is going to be able to work from home, so we are excited. He will occasionally have to travel to Chicago. We have been very blessed. Every step of the way the Lord has guided our journey. We are very grateful.

I enjoyed conference this weekend. What a great time of year. Now, I am all done.

So some of you know, some don’t, but last Thursday John got a call from work and they told him they were eliminating his position. He was shocked and so was I. I was visiting my mom at the time so it was just weird. John reassured me that it wasn’t going to be difficult for him to find a new job, but that we may have to move to get it.

A week later and several offers from Florida to Baltimore to Ottawa to Belguim, we are hoping to stay right here in Utah. John runs a website pv3d.org. It is a tutorial blog for PaperVision3D. He goes across the country teaching workshops on the software. From what I hear, he is very good at it. Some even say he is a bit of a legend in the field. Sweeet. He is very humble about it (if you can believe that), but very confident too. He should be making a decision within the next few days. He is just waiting on a few more offers to see what all the options are.

It is scary to have the economy hit home. Although, as my gramma says, when God closes a door, he opens a window. This may end up being a better deal for us. I am very grateful that we are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and know that we will be taken care of. I believe in the blessings that come from paying a full tithe and giving a generous fast offering. We have been blessed in ways that I can’t count. My praise is to God for His blessings in my life. I couldn’t be more blessed.

~

This was, of course, prior to all the snow slamming Utah today.

So, I just got home from a fireside with our neighbors the Mt Timp Temple President and Matron. I enjoyed it. I decided to get all ready for bed, but it was only 9pm and I was ready for bed but didn’t want to be going to bed quite yet. John suggested I write on my blog. Great idea Sweetie. Blog time.

I have done lots since my ankle got sprained. I was able to play in my volleyball tournament in Moab and we won!! We won the tournament at midnight on Saturday with three teams left in the gym. The one we were playing and the one keeping score and doing lines. I had so much fun. I saw so many old friends I hadn’t seen in forever and even made a new friend. We played from 7pm on Friday until close to midnight and on Saturday we woke up at 5:45am to eat and be to the gym for our first game. We spent most of the day in the gym aside from a few hours spent at the hotel. We won every game in pool play and we started the tournament round with a bye. In the winner’s bracket we played best of three, first two games to 21 (cap at 23) and the third to 11 (cap at 13). The first team we played it went three games and came down to one play when the score was tied 12-12. I just happened to be going for the kill on the final point. I called for a 2 (a high set in the middle that I rarely hit) and I heard Kristen yell, “Put that shiz away!” So I tried. I swung as hard as I could and slammed it right into the block. Boo. I was so stinking mad about that I just could’ve died. But I pressed on and used it as fuel for the rest of the tourney. We had to win every game now that we were in the loser’s bracket. We played one game to 25 until we met up with the team from the winner’s bracket. Then it was best of 3.

We started playing in the losers bracket and there came a point where if we won we would play the next five games. So we just kept on winning. We beat a team and another would warm up for a minute and we’d beat them and then another would come on and we beat them. It was the best awesomest night of volleyball. I was just sad that no one was there for our awesome victory run!! We got our money back that we paid to be in the tournament for winning it. Jen our setter and my new friend got some pictures. She also was the one who suggested those who had spandex wear them. I have to say my game stepped up a few notches with those spandex on. I loved it, though not sure I love the picture of them.

So that was that. I have a few new pictures of Benjaninja. Kamie Jo and I came up with that new nickname cause John vetoed Benny Boy.

One night at dinner Benjaninja had noodles and broccoli. He ate all his broccoli and said, “More broccoli please mommy.” So I got him some more and he scarfed it down and asked again for more broccoli. So I gave him a third helping. I think I stopped after three, too much broccoli isn’t good for you. John suggested I get the camera. Too cute my little broccoli lover.

Here are some pictures of when Mari and Charles came to town and we made Valentine’s cookies with the kids.

Fun times. Ben still knows who everyone is and identifies them in pictures. Sometimes he talks about Willie and the slide. Something about pushing him or something. Ben likes to push little kids. We were at the Rec Center for a basketball game the other night. And I was down a hallway changing Ben’s diaper. Well, I had gotten done and let Ben get up while I put away the changing pad and wipes. He ran straight down the hall into the big common area where a friend’s little boy was standing. He is probably like half Ben’s size. And I saw it coming from down the hall and shouted “No Ben don’t push Lukie down!!” Didn’t help. He walked right up to him and shoved him down with two hands. Poor little guy. He fell right on his behind. I am not sure what to do about it other than keep Ben away from little kids.

Here are some pictures of my ankle. I am not sure it did it much justice, but whatev–

Ok, this post has been too long. Mainly it is long because it has been forever since I sat down at this computer and wrote a post. So I know my mom and John’s mom will enjoy it. I hope everyone else can too.

A few more cute pictures.