"Don't let them near each other!"

Last week I got unstuck in time, just like Billy Pilgrim in "Slaughterhouse Five".
Or, well, maybe my experience was more like #15 in the outtakes of the Orchid Orientation video from LOST (you can find it on Lostpedia.com). Yeah, I think it was more like that. I didn't actually travel through time--I didn't go to Tralfamadore or anything like that.
It all started when I had to take my final exam for an independent study class. I have to take the tests at a testing center, and so I decided to take the bus to Salt Lake last week and take it at the BYU Salt Lake testing center. I got off the bus and was standing at the corner across from the Triad, waiting for the light to change, when I saw myself come out of the building and walk to the corner!
It looked just like me: blond hair about the same length, a coral-colored shirt just like mine, jeans, a pink and orange shoulder bag!! I almost turned around because I was afraid of what would happen if we crossed paths. But I was curious, so when the light changed, we started walking towards each other. I wondered if I would be able to ask myself how I did on the test.
As we got closer, I realized the girl walking towards me wasn't me in the future after all. Her bag didn't have butterflies on it; it was a floral print. Her hair was lighter and longer than mine.
So I didn't get unstuck in time after all.

Fingerpainting

Yesterday I decided to make Tempe a 4th of July shirt by stamping red and blue stars on a white tank top. It turned out really cute, and while I was doing it, Tempe wanted to help (of course!) She had a very fun time!
I'm always hesitant to let her do things like that because I know what a big mess it will be, but I've tried to adopt a "Why not?" parenting philosophy. Instead of limiting what Tempe can do just because I don't want to clean it up, I usually let her do whatever she wants--as long as it is safe and won't cause any lasting damage. I think it's important for her to explore and make choices. If all we have to do is clean up a mess, well, why not?

Looking back 5 years

I have been thinking a lot lately about how much I regret the way I acted and treated people when I was in high school--and even in college. Pretty much until I got married. Jason has made me a much, much better person. I used to be so petty. I had to be the center of attention and if I wasn't, then I wasn't happy. If someone else was getting more attention than I was (especially if it was from a boy), then I automatically didn't like them. It didn't matter how truly great a person they were. I did a lot of things that I didn't really care that much about just because I was petty and I didn't want someone else to do it without me. I didn't have a good understanding of how my actions affected people, and so I think I hurt and offended a lot of really good people.
I shudder when I think about some of the things I did, some of the things I said, and the way I acted sometimes. I hope that the people who knew me back then are understanding and have forgiven me for my jealousy, my insecurity, my gossip, my pettiness, my immaturity... I feel like I have really grown up a lot. I'm not perfect (by any means!) but I am getting better. Marriage has shown me that everything isn't always about me. I've learned to enjoy other people more and not always be so focused on my own needs.
I hope that Jen doesn't mind that I kind of stole her latest blog entry :) We were just talking about this, and so I'm glad that at least one other person feels the same way. Teenagers really are just so immature, and you don't recognize it in yourself until several years later, when it's sometimes too late to repair relationships. I hope that it isn't too late for me, and that I am able to reconnect with some of the people that saw me at my worst.

Is my Mormon showing?

I have a new favorite blog that I think everyone should check out: Seriously, so blessed. You will find the link on my blog link list. Now, just to clear up any confusion, this is not a real blog. It's a joke blog. Jason found the link on Eric Snider's website (http://www.ericdsnider.com/)
I was just talking to my brother-in-law Austin about this last week when we were watching "The Next Food Network Star". There is a BYU grad on, and she is pretty... well... she lives up to all my preconceived notions of what a Utah Mormon is really like. That stereotype was my #1 reason for not wanting to live in Utah, ever. Since living here, I have found that while there are some people that fit the stereotype, Utah is not overrun with them. I have found that Salt Lake has a refreshing blend of cultures and different beliefs--even Provo isn't too bad.
But after reading Seriously, so blessed, I must say, I'm a little concerned... I do some of the things that the *author* does! The biggest thing that jumped out at me is the scrapbooking. I do enjoy scrapbooking, and I do it a lot. But I don't spend a lot of money on it!!!! So... is that ok?

"Where are you from?" "I don't know."

My least favorite question to be asked, by far, is "Where are you from?"
I hate it. I hate it. I hate it.
I hate it because I'm not from anywhere.
Here is my life:

• birth to 6 months: Virginia
• 6 months-16 years: North Carolina
• 16 years- 18 years: Pennsylvania
• 18 years-20 years: Utah (BYU)
• While I was a freshman at BYU, my family moved to Tennessee, which is where they are now.
• 20 years-23 years: Wyoming.
• Now: Utah

Where would you say you are from? I guess the obvious choice is North Carolina, but to be honest, I never really liked it there and I am so grateful that we moved to Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is where I finished high school and where I feel like I did a lot of growing... but I can't say I'm from there, because, well, I'm not. I haven't been back since my parents moved five years ago. I'm obviously not from Tennessee (I've never actually lived there) and not from Utah or Wyoming, either.

I'm just so tired of moving. I want to buy a house and stay there for a long time. I want to go places and see people I know--I miss that about Laramie a lot.

Most of all, I want my kids to know exactly where they are from.

Big Bellies

My big belly about 10 hours before Tempe was born.

Today I have been reminiscing about my pregnancies--don't worry. I'm not even near baby hungry yet! I am perfectly content to keep our family at this magical number for the next few years. Right now, everything is working out great with two kids. There are two parents, and when I'm alone with the girls, I still have two hands at least. Two kids fit in our car. Two kids fit in our double stroller. Two kids fit in the bike trailer. We will definitely want to add a third, and a fourth, and maybe a fifth and sixth child someday, but for now--two is good.

But I digress.

Today I was thinking about how much I enjoy being pregnant. Most women really don't like it, and if you look back in my archives far enough, you will find at least one entry about how miserable I was at the end of my most recent pregnancy. For the most part, though, I really enjoy it. I like that exciting feeling when the test comes up positive.I like feeling those fluttery little kicks and knowing it's my baby. I like going to the doctor every month, and then two weeks, and then once a week and finding out how much I have grown and how well the baby is doing. I even like having a big pregnant belly. I really, really like it! Maybe because it takes so long for me to get one. Even at 20 weeks, I still wasn't really showing with either of my girls. I go through a very long "fat stage", and I know people wonder if I'm pregnant but are afraid to ask. So when I am finally big enough that it's obvious, it's a relief!

Here's to pregnant bellies and all the joy they bring!

Edited to add: (I keep forgetting things) What really got me thinking about my pregnancies the other day was that I realized it was only two years ago that I was pregnant with Tempe, and now I have two kids! Isn't that weird? I guess that's what happens when you have two-under-two, but it just really hit me. I mean, two years ago I didn't even have one kid yet, and now I have two. How did that happen?!

Fun Day (right!)

Rachel and TJ, me and Tempe and Helena (in the stroller) in front of the giraffe enclosure with the cute baby giraffe. Tempe loved watching it eat!

Today was just one of those days... one of those days that make me want to scream all day! Especially since that's what both my kids did.
One of my friends from Laramie, Rachel, was in town today, and we decided to get together to go to the zoo. I was really excited because I haven't seen anyone since we left (I know it's only been like a month). Well, just about everything went wrong... Helena cried the whole way there, and so I was distracted and I missed my exit and had to get off at the next one and backtrack. Then I somehow wound up in a turn only lane and had to turn and go around the block to get back on the right street. You would think I haven't been to the zoo lately--but I've been 4 times in 3 weeks!
So, we made it there, and Tempe and Helena were pretty good while we were there. But we finished in less than 2 hours! I mean, we had seen everything. I didn't want to go home yet, so I asked Rachel if she wanted to go out to lunch.
Deciding to go out to lunch was a big, big mistake! I should have known, because it was close to naptime, but I was stupid and I thought "Oh, they will be ok!"
So we decided to go to this restaurant called Zupas in Draper that I really like. I was pretty sure I knew where it is...yeah. I don't. We got lost. Luckily, we ended up finding it, but by that time, all 3 of the kids were screaming. We got our food, took a few bites, and decided to get boxes and call it a day. Tempe screamed the whole way out to the car, and when I asked what was wrong (I was pretty exasperated) she said "Nap! Nap!!"
Oh, but the fun didn't end there. Tempe, of course, fell asleep about 5 minutes away from home, and thought that counted as a nap. So she was still fussy when we got home, and she threw a pretty spectacular tantrum when I tried to put her in her crib. Grandma came rushing out because she thought it was Corinne and Katelyn fighting.
I finally got Tempe down for a nap at 3, and she slept until 5. Which means that even though it is bedtime now, she will probably be up for a few more hours.
Oh, what a fun, fun day! At least my food was delicious. I got the Nuts About Berries salad (romaine lettuce, poppyseed dressing, cinnamon almonds, and fresh raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries) and the Boston Crab Melt sandwich (crab salad, Muenster cheese, and celery).


Edited to add: I did have a really great time seeing Rachel and TJ! Rachel was one of my best friends in Laramie, and it was so nice to actually go somewhere with a friend again. And I would rather be at the zoo with grumpy kids than at the house with nothing to do!

The Andersons Go Green

My wonderful in-laws got me this fabulous bike trailer for my birthday a few weeks ago! I had been telling Jason how much I wanted one--we only have one car, and so I thought a bike trailer would be great to have so that I have transportation when Jason drives the car to work. But I never thought that I would actually get such a nice one! As you can see, it is a double bike trailer and it has cute little cargo pockets in front. It also has a pretty large cargo area in back. It has a mesh cover with a plastic rain cover that you can roll up on nice days to let air in. And when it's not being towed by a bike, you can use it as a stroller! I thought it might be hard to tow, but it's so light and it turns so easily, I can barely tell that I am towing anything!
Helena can't ride in it until we get this special hammock thing to put in it. I hope that it works, because I want to take Tempe and Helena to the park and the library!
Tonight I rode my bike to the grocery store instead of driving and it felt so good. It's so much better than driving--it's good exercise for me, fresh air for Tempe, and it saves gas (which means it saves money!) I felt so good to be riding my bike somewhere that I would normally drive to. From now on, if I can possibly ride my bike somewhere, I'm going to--and that's a promise!

Wild Thing

Lately Tempe has truly been a Wild Thing. She is into everything!!! Every time I turn my back, she is making another mess. Here are just a few of the things she has gotten into lately:

• There are big flower pots on the back patio. All that dirt is just too tempting for a little girl! Every chance she gets, she digs her hands down into the dirt, smears it all over her face, and even puts it in her mouth. Yuck!
• Yesterday she ripped Aunt Morgan's birthday poster in half (sorry, Morgan). Tempe had to help me tape it back together.
• If she ever gets into Corinne and Katelyn's room, we find her huddled in the corner stuffing Easter candy in her mouth (sorry, Corinne and Katelyn).
• Last night she was in Grandpa's office, and she pulled an ice cream wrapper out of the trash and dumped out all the red melted ice cream all over the carpet (sorry, Grandpa). Luckily it didn't leave a stain.

I just don't know what to do with her!! Time-outs don't seem to bother her--if I tell her she needs a time-out, she very calmly walks over to the door (her time-out spot), folds her arms, and sits quietly until I tell her to get up. I'm not sure how else to punish an almost 2-year-old... I think she is going to be the kid that says "That didn't hurt" if we ever spank her (just like Uncle Jonathon). Oh, the joys of having a toddler!!