The Demon Child. (Or... Malcolm Has An Ear Ache)

We went on a walk to the park.  When we got to the park, we turned around and left without playing. Malcolm cried because I went first onto the grass.  He cried and said he couldn't play because he had leaves in his hands.
I know the tired signs, and boys who throw fits don't get to play at parks, so we left.
Then he cried because I went first again.  And cried because he couldn't stay ahead and so it seemed I kept "going first".  Then he had an epic meltdown and cried the ENTIRE WALK HOME because one of his leaves broke and blew away.
I couldn't handle it!  Almost a mile back to the house and I'm dragging him the whole way crying hysterically.  (him, not me)  He's not usually like this.  He usually gets it after a while and gets over it.  Who was this person?  Are we reaching a new level of three year old-ness?
When we got home, I asked him if he remembered why he was crying.
Nope.
Then the world ended when I closed the garage door instead of letting him push the button.  Oh no!  This mama was done!  I wish I had kept my voice level, I wish I could say I laid him on his bed rather than half dropped/half threw, but wow.  This was the epic of all epic meltdowns I had ever seen from Mal.

Soon, all is quiet, and he's asleep.  Thank goodness.
It only lasts a short while and he's crying again!  I watch from his bedroom door as he's sleep-crying.  I can't believe he's still upset!  He keeps shifting like its uncomfortable.  And then finally... He tells me his ear hurts.  With a sad little whimper and a soft little shudder breath.

Oh no!  Here I am getting angry and he's got an ear infection!

Worst Mommy Day Ever.

We haven't had a day like that since, but now I'll know.  He's probably sick.  ;-(

The Time I Had a Stroke/Was Abducted By Aliens/Was Possessed. Or Something.

Once upon a time, I took some pictures of Elliot. I planned to upload them to my computer so I could print them for her party.  I walked over to the camera and the SD card was gone!

Then I remembered... I had already taken it out.  I remembered opening the little door and doing the double click in/out thing to get it to pop out.

But that's it!

I couldn't remember when I did it.  Was it before the walk to the park?  Before I took out all those loads of garbage?  Before I folded laundry?  It could be anywhere!

It wasn't on any of the surfaces around the camera.  It wasn't in the bathroom, or any of the usual places I just stick things as I walk by.  It had vanished!

So frustrating!  Where did I put it?  Where did it go?  Why can't I remember anything except the *click click* and removal of the SD card?  I must have had a stroke!  Where is that whole part of my life?

All these are questions I discussed with Ryan when he came home.  He said he'd help me look.

He looked. Everywhere I looked and more.

Nothing.

I need these pictures!  I need to print these pictures tomorrow morning!  Where could it be????

Finally he comes over and starts searching my pockets.

"I did that already.  It's not in my pockets."

"Is it in your bra?"

"No!  I don't stick stuff in my bra...." as I reflexively cup my boobs and feel....

What????? There it was in my bra!  Tucked in there like I had intentionally put it there, not like I had dropped it.

But I don't put stuff in my bra!  --unless I don't have pockets.  I. Don't. Put. Stuff. In, My. Bra.  I have no recollection, no memory whatsoever, and no idea why I'd put it there.  Just a big blank in the day. All except the *click click*

I, as they say, lost my S....stuff.  It was like when the magician cuts open a complete and whole lemon with the freaking dollar bill with the freaking same serial number on it!  My brain exploded.  I ran around the house with brains trailing all around.  I accused Ryan of messing with me.  But his amusement of the situation didn't seem planned.  He was a stunned as I was--at my reaction anyway.

It had to have been aliens.  Or I've got a tumor.  Or Lord Voldemort took control of my body for a time.  because I still can't remember any of it.

Elliot and Nora Sage Turn 1

Elliot and Nora Sage were born 6 days apart, so Laura and I thought it would be fun to do a combo birthday party.  I found an idea for a party theme based on the Very Hungry Caterpillar book, and thought it would make at least the food really easy.  We ate what the caterpillar eats in the book, with some tweaking.  Then there was cake and presents and all that good stuff.  It was a fun day.  Fun to see everyone and celebrate the girls.  Laura's blog post has pictures of the food and decor and things.  Go check it out for sure!

Elliot 12 month photos

Can you believe this little beauty is one year old this Saturday?  I can't.  It's flown by so fast.  I know, we parents always say that.  But really... I didn't do as much milestone watching and marking as I did with Malcolm, so it really seemed to fly.  She is such a sweet sunshiney girl.  So happy and fun.  We love her.

I took her pictures while we were at the park on a 60 degree day!  In FEBRUARY.  Hello global warming.

Ha!  Her little scowl.

Woah... I feel like I tweaked the saturation on her shirt a bit too much, it's glowing. Oh well.  Look at her cute face instead. 

Putting on sunglasses.

We got Malcolm in on some of the picture action too.

Love this one!  She's so chatty.

MLK Weekend in Southern Utah

Sort of planned, sort of last minute (thanks to some last minute shift coverage for me) we headed down the the Titensor's St. George house for a weekend with the Titensors and the Ovesons.  We had lots of fun!  Really, we did.  We spent time just hanging out, watching movies, playing games, eating food, hot tubbing.  We spent plenty of time in the red rock too.  It was pretty chill and that was nice.  

The first day we got there in the afternoon.  Everyone else had been there for the day.  After getting settled, we headed for a walk in the red rocks on the Red Reef Trail in the Red Cliffs Recreation Area.  We'd been there before, but this was the Oveson's first time.  We made it further up the trail this time too, thanks to the itty bitties being not as itty bitty this time.

(Many photo creds go to Mary, who graciously sent whatever pictures she posted on social media to me too.)

Malcolm trusts his Daddy a lot.  He wasn't even scared perched up there on Ryan's shoulders.  Of course it was in part because Ryan played it off like it was no big deal.  Mal got a little nervous on the way back down, but hung in there.

The whole crew!

This is Malcolm "fishing"

Mary got the better shot of their silly faces.  Cuties.

Day two we headed to Snow Canyon.  It was great weather for it.  We wandered around on the petrified sand dunes, which would be blistering and intolerable probably any other time of the year.  We stopped by the sand dunes on the way out.

Besties!  Did you know, I've known Mary longer than I've known Laura?  We went to preschool together when we were 4, and Laura is 6 years our junior. 

Yoga baby... the one on my back.  See her leg?

The last day, poor Vince wasn't feeling well, so they headed home first thing.  The rest of us headed into Zion National Park.  It was free fee day on MLK day!  We took a hike, and then took the extra long way home driving around the back of Zion and up hwy 89.  It's actually a really pretty drive, and then gets not as pretty and you wish you were on the interstate going faster and not slowing down through towns.  :)

We had to suddenly veer off for a stop at Swig when we spotted one in Hurricane.  We enjoyed ourselves some sugar cookies and wild Mountain Dews.  yum...

Yeah, give em a chance! (ha)

The End!