Am I getting used to winter around here, or WHAT?? I saw that it was snowing last night, but did not even think that it was going to trap me in my driveway with a 4 foot drift! It didn't bother me at all, I watched a neighbor though.. and it really bothered him! I actually saw him throw his snow shovel across his yard!! It made my whole family laugh so hard!! We were okay with the snow though, we gave Braydon a, "snow day" and Lance spent at least 4 hours outside with the snowblower trying to unleash us! It's funny, sometimes we feel that days like this are a holiday! We all worked in the morning, then we played in the afternoon! I am okay with it too, because ya know what... the memories are the most important thing to me!!

Before...... (whatta fro)

After.......(we straightened it!!)

Braydon is such a great sport! On Saturday, I told him we had to get his hair cut, no ifs, ands, or buts!! I am sick of the fro!! He loves it though, and I always feel bad taking control, and telling him it's my way or the highway!! But I told him before we do, let's straighten it. He said yes, and was actually a really good sport about the whole thing! So we took the straightening iron out, and look at him... CAN YOU EVEN RECOGNIZE HIM!!???

There is something special to me about spending the evening with my family, maybe it's because it's a rarity, so I like to sit back and cherish the time being spent with them, or maybe just being in their company gives me security. Whatever it is, I LOVE IT!

I don't have a childhood memory that does not include all of these people, (other than Sara, she is only 4). I was one of the lucky ones that was raised with my grandma and grandpa in my life practically every single day. I was the lucky one that had sleepovers with cousins, that trick-or-treated up camping, and spent every Christmas Eve with these people. We have shared many birthdays, and many, many camping trips together. Of course now that we are all older, and have families of our own, our family time is mostly dedicated to our own children, and families so it's hard squeezing in these precious moments with my family, so glad for the night out, good idea Aunt Suzy!

Love your guts guys!

Well, I decided to give it a whirl! He is 26 months and I am sick of buying diapers!! So a couple days ago, I decided to keep him in, "big boys" for the day, we had like 20 accidents, not exaggerating! But I didn't really prep him for it, he asked to go pee on the potty, so I just decided to give it a try. He did pee a TON in the potty, but at one point he also, "poo poo'd" in the corner of my bedroom, then came and told me, "come on mommy, come on" while holding my hand to take me to the poo! (sorry for being crude). He pointed to it, and was so proud. Beaming at his treasures he left in the corner of my bedroom! We gleefully picked the poo up and put in the potty and said, "off to potty land for the poo"! I couldn't believe he did that! So yesterday I decide we put the diaper on, and make a day of preparing for potty training. We go buy the Elmo Potty DVD, and the potty, then he decides on, (after 20 minutes of perusing the big boy undies) that he wants Hulk, and Madagascar underwear. He is thrilled beyond belief at his new toys! We go home put the DVD on, take the potty out, and Carter was Screaming with excitement while watching Elmo do the potty dance, and Carter himself sitting on his own potty, like a chair. Now here it is the next day, I have decided to slowly introduce him to it. It's not easy, is it? Braydon did it the week of his 2nd birthday, and we did the potty training in a day, the boy just got it, and never had an accident after that. Carter on the other hand... he's another story! So, if anyone has any advice or suggestions, or stories on what they did. They are more than welcomed! Wish me luck, and stay tuned for updates!

This morning, just pouring my cup of coffee, and chatting the spouse up, it went sour... let me preface: I love my friends, love hanging out with my friends, and love going out and doing things that Melanie wants to do. I know it does sound a tad selfish, but it's also a rarity. I hardly go out, I mostly live a pretty mundane, regular life. Us as stay at home moms know what I mean. I wouldn't change my life for the world, I don't envy others' lives, or anything. I love my kids, love the spouse, but I also enjoy my life outside of the kids and spouse. Okay... so I have friends that come into town every year from Montana for Sundance, I like to go to this with them, we have fun, stay out late, and star gaze. I like going to the parties, and being apart of the Sundance festivities. It's one night a year that I go, I used to go spend a week up there with a bunch of girlfriends when I was single, I look forward to it all year long. So here is how the conversation goes:

Me: Hey my friends are in town, do you care if I go up tonight.

Spouse: I don't know

Me: What do you mean you don't know? I go to this every year. It's my friends that I went to school with 14 years ago.

Spouse: I don't know Mel, you wouldn't like me going out with a bunch of friends and doing this.

Me: If it were college buddies or anything like that, I wouldn't give a rip.

Spouse: That's not true, you need to put yourself in my shoes.

Me: They are my friends Lance, period! So are you saying I can't go?

Spouse: I don't care what you do, make your own decision... you don't know what being a wife and mom is.

Me: silence

Spouse: I don't care if you go

Me: Still silent

Spouse: I don't care.

Me: Silent

Really why is he pitching a fit about it? Holy moly! I want to go! Now I don't know what to do cuz I don't want to piss the spouse off! I know he said I can go now, but it sounded like this, "I don't care if you go... but if you do, there will be trouble waiting when you get back... see, SCARY!! Is it worth it?????

Ahhh yes, the VHS. I remember those days very well. It was not long ago that I was watching Liar Liar incessently on my VHS machine. I have stacks and stacks of VHS movies, and they are now literally, collecting dust! Why I am posting this though is because Braydon, ya know my 9 year old son. He doesn't remember them!! Lately I have been having an itch to watch one of my favorite movies, Savannah Smiles. Not only does it remind me of my childhood but it also reminds me of Aunt Suzy, Lindsey and my mom. We loved this movie!! Annie also. I remember when Aunt Suzy actually recorded Savannah Smiles and Annie on the same VHS cassette for me, it was bliss for me! Then I found both seperately on VHS, and made the purchase after years and years of watching my homemade set! ANYWHO.... so I asked Lance and Braydon to watch it with me, (yes, I have VHS machine still, but to be fair it's one of those combos with DVD) and they said yes, because both had never seen the movie. I asked Brayd to put it in for me, and when he saw the VHS, he goes, "What is that"? Lance proceded to tell him about it, the whole back in the day talk, and Brayd starts putting the tape in BACKWARDS!! He was seriously clueless! Am I getting old?? Nahhh... electronic times are just moving at a rapid pace!! So we watch it, and it was so different watching it, although we all loved it, and yes I bawled like a frickin' baby at the end; it was grainy and just a very poor picture! I couldn't believe what a difference it was! At first Braydon wouldn't give it a chance, and scoffed at the picture but after a couple minutes he sat and watched it with us, and loved it a lot. After it was over, he goes, "that was a cute movie mom". Anyways... I found it funny.

Okay here is the deal, I have been feeling a little inferior, if you will. It seems that all around me is either doing the frickin' Ironman, or some super triatholon, marathon thing! What's my problem? Why am I not jumping on this bandwagon? Even my sister, MY SISTER who is a full time working mother of 3 very busy children, is running in a marathon. What is my deal? Why can't I get the courage to do this dang thing!? I am one of the most competitive persons I know, I can't even lose at scrabble, when I beat Braydon at something... I celebrate.. like in his face jump up and down celebrate, and when Lance and I start wrestling... I inflict pain on him because I don't want to be beat! I want to be numero uno if you will! So why haven't I jumped on and done the running, swimming, biking activities?? Am I afraid??? Maybe... Am I so scared of losing, or heaven forbid coming in LAST PLACE??? I admire the people that do these things, in my book they are all first place just for entering the damn competition!

So it is my quest to learn about this... to figure out how to train for one of these things, and GULP... Enter it... so LET'S DO THIS!! Any ideas? Any pointers on how to get started... Ugh, I am such a freakin' rookie! The unknown is terrifying for me... when did I become such a little baby???

I need to blog... I am ashamed... I was so dilligently blogging away, and then BAM! Christmas was here before I knew it... then New Years... and then..... MY 30TH BIRTHDAY!!! Barf... I hate to even think... I AM 30!! I am 30???? I don't feel 30, I don't even feel 20... (that could pose as a problem, I know). I am not sure if I look 30, or 40, or what the hell ever!! I hated turning 30! To me it may as well been 50!! Okay, okay... not that bad... but it was frightening for me, and the whole month of December I knew that it was looming right over my head! So here I am... 30 years and one week old! Lance threw me a great party! We really had a fun time, it was nice that everyone came up to the house, and we sledded our little hearts out while my sweet little hubs made a feast for me and all the guests! Thank you baby!

Christmas was incredibly special for us this year... seems that the last 12 months have been so chaotic for us, and to just sit and enjoy the holidays with eachother was the best. I loved having all this time off with the kids, and Lance pretty much stayed home with us too. We played games, went sledding, had so many fun little parties! I love my friends, love my family so much! I know I am always going on and on about how much I love them, and I am sorry if it's mundane for you as readers to hear me say this over, and over and over again... but I feel, I say it!!!

2009, here I come! I can't wait for this next chapter in my life... I mean... 30!! Who knows what this will bring me. These days 30's are the new 20's and so forth! I am just going to have fun, enjoy my family, and friends.... AND HAVE LOTS OF FUN!!!