The Viray Family Blog

More Pics from Christmas in Arizona

2012-01-19T12:37:00.000-05:00

Ah, the Arizona dessert. Nothing like it.

Noah on a horse!

Me, kids, my sis and her kiddos. Playing outside on 4 wheelers!

Cuddling with my boys.

Sis, hubby and my hubby...

Misty and her daughter Ashlei -

Sleepy baby.

James and Noah on 4 Wheeler.

Moses LOVES swings...

And he loves tunnels

the new Mt. Graham temple

King of Monkey bars

love the bare feet.

At my mom's grave in Tucson. These are her grandbabies! (moses was home playing w cousins)

The house I was raised in my entire life! It seems so small to me now. It was a good home...the pool helped :)

The latest with the boys

2012-01-15T19:53:00.000-05:00

Man, time flies and I've become lousy at regularly updating my blog. So, I'm stealing away these next 5 minutes while Veggie Tales teach my children some good Sunday virtue and a silly song to record the latest with each of them.

Noah:
He's become obsessed with Legos and earning money to purchase said over-priced treasures. He wants to do chores and earn money. He wants to cut up pictures of Legos from the propaganda material they include to make a "poster" and wants to sell that to you, too. Only $10 he says! Okay, I'll give it to you for $8. How about $3? We settled for $3. I still feel I got ripped off, but I would have paid more for the entertainment all over again.

We were running late to church today because Moses was napping and I didn't want to wake him given his terrible night's sleep last night, so Noah says to me in a huff about being late for church and not at all happy about that: "Who do you love more, Jesus or Moses?" (there was clearly a right answer in his mind...)

He's big on playing board games, doing ninja training, exercising, climbing the walls, talking boy potty talk all the time (boo), building legos, and school.

Moses: more personality comes out every day. Also, he's finally got two more teeth breaking through on the bottom, where two little ones in the front have been the only ones there for 5 months! yeppie! He is obsessed with looking at pictures on my iphone and thinks that it is his. It drives him crazy when i actually talk on it and not let him look at pics. There's a bit of ownership envy going on here, truly.

He also is a head-banger. When he gets mad, or when I put him down, or won't give him whatever it is he wants (see above iphone for example), he will dropdown and bang his head on whatever is close - a wall, the floor, the couch, a pillow, etc. Sometimes he is smart and will walk upset to the other side of the room to the carpeted end and then drop down and head-bang on a softer surface. sometimes not.

He loves being chased. He loves shaking his head no and will just point and say "uh" until by deduction we're able to nail what it is that he is after...sometimes that can take a while...sometimes we get lucky! He loves playing on pianos and continues to rock out to music when we play it.

Stitches

2012-01-15T19:41:00.000-05:00

The other week I was having a bit of spring-time cleaning frenzy. It hit me upside the head and I tore into closets and boxes that have long been ignored and forgotten about entirely. In doing this, i came across all sorts of treasures. I opened my sewing box full of my fabrics - two huge plastic bins worth, actually. There were remnants and extra yards of all sorts of fabrics and it took me back in time to so many lovely memories and people that I have loved...and continue to love. Like, for example, the thick hard filler stuff that Adrianne told me we had to use to sew a satin wrist cuff to put the art deco SHOE BUCKLE onto for my wedding. Yes, I did say shoe buckle and wedding in the same sentence. It was a fine visionary moment if I do say so myself (and Adrianne and I shared more than one of those together, certainly). And it was ridiculously cool and the perfect big bling accessory. A shoe buckle. Yep.

And then there were remnants of all sorts of cheery cool baby-ish but not too baby fabric from the 20+ baby quilts I've made for expectant friends. Each one of my best friend's babies received a quilt from me, and that makes me happy to think about.

Or there was the edges of the hand embroidered pillow cases that was part of my mother's trousseau (do people even use that word anymore?) that were all made for her by my great, great grandmother. I used these in a quilt I made for my sister's daughter that my grandma promptly confiscated until her death she loved it so much. And that quilt took her back to days when she would watch her mother embroider those pillow cases and dish towels.

It reminded me that these small stitches, unskillfully made (really, truly), have bound me to some of the people that I love the most. And that was a nice reminder amidst my cleaning throw-out furry.

Top 10 from Christmas 2011

2012-01-02T20:56:00.000-05:00

10. Long-overdue play date with dearest Adrianne and her two gorgeous babes at a park that included merry go rounds, play things, grass for tag, and a train ride.

9. Cousins! And lots of boy cousins, too! Thank heavens for them. Sam, Andy, Ammon, Austin, Aiden and baby Alec (Isabella and Ashley, too, but she's not a boy...but we love them too...).

8. Warm Arizona weather that enabled zip line swings, horse rides, 4 wheeler rides (and wrecks, too). Noah now has the distinction of being Grandpa Doug's only grand child to EVER wreck a small white 4 wheeler for kids. And Noah went above and beyond by not just wrecking once, but twice, in the same day. (Noah really likes fast turns; apparently the 4 wheeler did not...)

7. Cooking in a kitchen with Martha. We spent a lot of quality time in the kitchen this trip trying to feed a lot of people, and there is no one I'd rather share a kitchen with than her. Besides, she doesn't chide me when I steal cookie dough just as long as I do so evenly from each of the 12 cookies baking as to not under size one single cookie too much. No worries, i did my best to accommodate.

6. A hilarious Christmas morning with a very excited Sam, Isabella, and Noah who were all so eager to see what Santa (and others) brought them they just couldn't wait. The idea of taking turns was laughed at heartily so we did our best to keep up with the rip-roaring chaos that was our Christmas morning...and the note Noah left for Santa is priceless...

5. Drugs. Unfortunately, we all got sick with something or another. Fortunately, cousins in town had all just had the same or similar somethings-or-another, so they were willing to open up their medicine cabinets and share. Doctors might not approve, but they weren't the ones cleaning up vomit at 2 and 5 in the am, so phooey on them and thank heavens for medicine that works miracles and stops the puking.

4. Food. there were the downs: a well-intentioned but big miss on my part of getting my dad a Kentucky Bourbon Cake AND Pie. I thought, given his penchant for fruit cakes, he'd love them. Of course, I should have tried them first...but alas, despite all the alcohol cooking out, these treats were just a wee bit TOO bourbon-y for this dry bunch of Mormons...the ups included Martha's rolls and pecan pie and Misty and Scott's Thai night feast. Two thumbs up for green papaya salad and fresh spring rolls. And I cannot forget to mention fresh tortillas made locally and eaten on the spot. Daily. Plus Dad bought a great selection of cheeses and I gobbled up. I definitely got that affinity from him.

3. A day trip to Tucson to see the old stomping grounds. With a car full of kids, Martha, James and Dad, we drove 2 hours to show our kids where we were raised, went to school and church, and occasionally had a great chocolate malt. We also went to see mom's grave, which was the first time in a long, long time Martha, Dad and I had been there together and it was very significant to be there with our children, her grand babies.

2. My dad. I may be biased, but he's pretty darn great. It was wonderful to be with him and hang out. i miss him and regret that we live 3,000 miles apart. Grateful for the time we are able to spend with each other, when we are able to spend it.

1. Costco. Let me explain. Dad discovered that Costco works miracles with old VHS tapes and puts them in digital format. So, for Christmas, Martha and I got some old home videos on DVD. what a treasure. Not that I am keen on seeing myself "model" in my grandma's living room at age 13, but my dad did a have a great saunter, and it was a breath of fresh air to hear my mom's voice and see her face light up when she teased my dad...which she did often on film. she was always one to play to a crowd...

It was an exhausting Christmas holiday - with a lot of family, a lot of sickness, a lot of traveling, and a lot of joy.

Adr & her baby girl, Lucia. and me... I miss my friend. we were such partners in crime for years!

The best grandpa in the world. Moses let him carry him all the time. Whew.

Noah's note to Santa "I think you are the greatest person in the world Santa. Noah"

Spy glasses even make Christmas morning hair look cool.

Easy riders. Pre-wrecks. Sam, Isa and Noah...

2 of my favorite people in the world.

Another one of the favorite little people. Noah was so brave!

Quality cousin time snuggling and playing ipad.

Sick baby Christmas eve...

My daredevil baby. I have no doubt Moses will be fearless for life.

Ammon and Noah sharing a saddle.

Moses even wanted a turn sharing a saddle w/ Ammon, too!

My excellent sport of a husband travels across the country with me to visit my family. I love him.

Giving Thanks...

2011-12-03T20:19:00.000-05:00

Mr. Monkeybars himself...

Tito (Uncle) Jon... a dreamy Tito in all respects.

Sharing much love and play in an incredibly sunny Thanksgiving week.

Three generations of Virays at bedtime...lovely.

Lolo & his grandchildren...

Lolo Jimmy and his little buddy, Moses

Oh Christmas tree...and the decorating elves...

Holiday Elves hard at work in my house...early.

2011-11-18T19:55:00.001-05:00

This past January, yes, that would be 10-plus months ago, I came across the following item on Pickles

...and coveted it immediately. Who can blame me, right?

So, I tracked down the best place to find wool felt balls, hounded them till they had what I wanted back in stock, and spent the summer making the following...

Despite my husband's protests against bypassing Thanksgiving in lieu of Christmas too early, very handy magic elves hung in my living room this week. Okay, those elves were really me, but i couldn't wait another single day to not see this in my living room for the entire holiday season. Really, this wreath is multi-holiday, wouldn't you agree?

I ordered more of these little felt gems than I ended up using for the wreath, so I played around and made a few garlands, a topiary tree and the wreath that now adorns my front door. I'm in love with all of it. I may have gone just a wee bit overboard on the theme...but love is love and sometimes it is just impossible to have too much of a good thing...

How are fun are those, really????

An update on Noah - the big man on campus

2011-11-15T19:11:00.000-05:00

So James and I just had our first parent-teacher conference with Noah's kindergarten teacher. She's totally wonderful. She's like Mary Poppins, without the talking umbrella and the British accent. She is great with Noah and we're very lucky that he has such an engaging, encouraging, and affectionate teacher. So here are some of her thoughts about Noah:

He is engaged and involved in lessons and seems to enjoy school and learning. he loves to share his ideas and thoughts on a variety of topics. Noah can be a good classroom helper and has made many kindergarten friends. He shares and takes turns in most play and work activities.

It was so fun to be in his classroom and see how comfortable he is there - showing us so many things throughout the room. and showing off. it was great. made me so proud of him and how well he's doing in school and that at school, he's a pretty darn good kid.

And I have to add that last Sunday was our Primary Program in sacrament meeting at church - where the kids take the 35 minutes usually reserved for adult sermons and they put on a program with small talks, songs, and the like. it was really a wonderful program (props to my good friends the primary leaders) - and Noah was a rock star. He was in the second or third row of kids - next to the piano, and you could hear him OVER the piano. He would articulate each word - you could see his mouth sound it all out - and you could HEAR him clearly over most of the other kids nearly all the time. "He sang with GUSTO." one friend commented. Another congregation member said that Noah was a future X Factor TV show contestant...

If Noah applies that gusto that he sings with and his "hot brain" as his teacher said about him today -- he'll go far in life, and it will be a treat to watch...

All Hallows Eve...

2011-11-01T12:08:00.000-04:00

my boys don't mess around - Iron Man James (the original), Noah Ninja Spy and Bear Cub Moses

Action Poses!

me messing around with new camera software but this is our bearcub

happy boys

me and bear cub

fall leaves still turning and changing...love it.

More photos of Moses' Birthday bash...

2011-10-27T20:52:00.000-04:00

contemplation...anticipation...a birthday wish.

YES! Now - what to do with it...

brothers...Noah's been telling everyone Moses turned ONE!

Chocolate-eating came naturally....

VERY naturally....

UM. what do I do with a child covered in chocolate???

A very undignified emergency bath in a sink full of dishes. Pathetic, I know. he hated it. he knew the cake was gone.

the best birthday card ever...

Moses Turns ONE...

2011-10-26T14:53:00.001-04:00

The birthday boy turns ONE. Big day. Loves eating & playing with balloons...in that order.

My birthday cake...I even shared some with the guests...

Dani and Noah working on the best birthday mirror mural ever...

Noah working on his birthday art work...

Dani & Moses enjoying DC fall weather on his birthday...

Video links to birthday cake-eating & present-opening!

A day away!

2011-10-23T14:38:00.000-04:00

James had meetings in NYC this past week, and it also happened to be my birthday, so he invited me to join him. Hooray! Train ride up and back was lovely, as was an evening out in Manhattan with my husband. We checked out the view from the top of Rockefeller Center, at the 68th floor observation deck, walked through Time Square and Central Park and ate well. Perfect. Except for my shoes. I was trying to be fashionable (hey, I didn't have kids around, I was dressing up!)...and paid for it. feet still sore.

pumpkin patch

2011-10-17T08:26:00.000-04:00

I know i have two children, really I do. but the older one was swinging from magnolia trees and a photo op can't compete with that...believe me, i tried...

oh, look, there Noah is - white t-shirt racing by!

Moses: 11 Months

2011-10-06T20:27:00.000-04:00

I grin a lot - and wrinkle my nose and scrunch my face a lot...

Yes - my eyes are this blue; and yes - my hair is this crazy all the time...


Like I said, I scrunch my face up a lot...

Seriously, have you seen my lashes? Girls, eat your hearts out...

So I missed the 11 month marker as it has been a ridiculously busy period; but I hope these fabulous shots by photographer and friend, Hollie Szamosfalvi, will make up for it. (Ain't she fabulous! Just wait for more shots of both boys and Noah's solo session in a fedora. He rocks it like his daddy...)

Anyhow - bless HOllie for a fabulous baby shower gift for moses that took me 11 months to claim. We went to an old civil war park near our home for the photo session, and had a ball...

Moses continues to astonish. He's fearless, slides down slides at play scapes, crawls and climbs on anything he can, and has gotten his head stuck in our stair railing a few times this past month as he tries to find shortcuts to get wherever it is he's going faster. He loves chomping on ice and dehydrated apple slices. He squawks really, really loud and I very much look forward to him learing to speak. I think I'll have fewer headaches.

He gets sad when Noah and James go off to school and work in the morning and the energy-level in the house plummets when it is just me to play with. It makes him sad; I'm such a consolation prize for a big brother. He loves looking at dogs and has had his fair share of being licked by them lately as the weather has been great. He continues to gain weight (over 22 pounds now) and is consistent on the growth charts - which means I'm at least doing a decent job of feeding him and keeping him alive. He sometimes naps and sometimes doesn't - and even when he doesn't, he refuses to just fall asleep on the road because he doesn't want to miss out of the fun. He goes crazy when I let him sit at the steering wheel of the car - he gets so excited and happy -pumps his little legs, squawks (of course) and takes hold of that steering wheel as if he actually knew what to do with it. He loves putting lids on things - open close open close, oh yeah, and open close again...

He's started the "if i throw it on the floor, you will bend down and get it for me" game; which he thinks is fun and I think is lousy. so i try to nip that one in the bud.

One more month and we celebrate the big 1 year marker. Amazing. I can't imagine life without him.

Playground bully

2011-10-02T22:03:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again when I count the years that my mom has been gone. We're up to 16 years today. boo. I was thinking about this last night and thinking of how, despite the different stages of my life (for which she's been gone), two facts remain constant: (1) I miss her all the time; and (2) I could sure use her advice...still.

Like, for example, Noah came home from kindergarten this past week and was a bit sad because someone called him a "nerd" and that upset him. I empathized with him about how words can hurt and that I was sorry he was sad about it, but couldn't think of anything to say beyond that.

And then last night I remembered my mom. When I was in the third grade John Williams taunted my blue bicycle with the long yellow seat for days and I came home (yet again) in a bucket of tears. But my mom not only empathized, she gave me a plan. She told me that the next time he teased me for having a "banana seat" bicycle, I should just tell him, "well at least it's not an orange!"

Well, that didn't make much sense to me at the time, but the way she said it with a hand on her hip and attitude in her voice, I figured it was worth a shot. Especially since I didn't have any great ideas of my own rather than sulking and crying and that really wasn't working too well for me.

So, the next day, as you would expect, he started in again on my "banana bike" and I did it. I said exactly what my mom told me to say and it worked magic. He shut right up, turned around and walked away speechless. Victory was mine! And I owed it all to my mom. That day I thought she was utterly brilliant. And I came home and told her and she had this very self-satisfied look on her face like, "well, of course it worked. what did you expect?" The smartest mom ever!

I'd for sure go to her for help on how to navigate the next, what, 12 years of public school and kid-hood - at least? For sure. She'd definitely have a few more tricks up her sleeve that I and my kids would benefit greatly from.

And then there's Moses. She was craving grand babies before I was even 18 years old - and although it took me another 12 years to give her any, and she had long passed away, I know that she'd adore mr. moses and his lashes, smiles and squawking. She'd steal any baby within 20 feet of her and hug and kiss them. She'd be a doting grandma for sure.

And before you start lecturing me about how she's up there in heaven watching me and my family, and all that stuff, you are right and I know it. I really do. But sometimes loss just stinks no matter how long ago it happened. And that is okay, I guess, because I have these flashes of memories and experiences and lessons from her and I was lucky enough to have been her daughter here on earth for 20 years and know that we are bound together forever. And I know that these losses I sometimes feel will get to be made up somehow. I am banking on it.

And maybe one day I'll come up with a one-liner for Noah or Moses in the face of the playground bully, or whatever demon they are facing at the time, and they'll think that I was brilliant for a moment, but I'll secretly know that somehow I was channeling my mom and she came through for me in the clutch.

I'd like that. And knowing my mom, she would too - she was really, really good under pressure.
So bring it on playground bully. You don't know who you are messing with...

Moses - What is SO FUNNY?

2011-10-02T21:20:00.000-04:00

Today while I was sitting reading on the couch to Noah, James was having a staring contest with Moses, or something, and the little dude could not stop laughing. Really laughing. Like the belly-ache roaring laughter... don't mind the fact that james filmed it sideways on his phone. You'll get the point... that's one slap-happy baby.

Funny Things...

2011-09-18T21:06:00.000-04:00

I know this year I've done a rather lousy job at keeping my blog up. I've been too busy for much contemplative thought about many things, although teaching Gospel Doctrine on the New Testament has definitely helped me think about some wonderful spiritual matters and religious truths. That's been great; but the contemplative stuff about life, kids, glass-half-full stories and moments like those have been lost on me lately. (Note to self: should definitely start-up my neglected gratitude lists...)

Forget entries about my inner workings since I can't make much sense of those these day so forget me being eloquent in writing about them. You will have to content yourselves with pithy things my kiddos say and do and 10 second videos I can nab of Moses being silly...

Noah and I were reading Duck for President the other night; a fabulous book given to us by neighbor friends that know all about cool books - (you know who you are) - and we were talking about who a governor is, and who the president is, and what responsibilities they have. And Noah then asks, "So is the governor the boss of Jesus?"

Along the "things you thought you'd never hear a kid say," - "Dad, I think I lost my quesadilla." And truly he had. James searched the car and never could find that sly piece of cheesy tortilla...

This summer when I had to go on a 2 night business trip to NYC (all by myself!), Noah prayed for me that "Please bless momma that she will be surrounded by a force field."

Moses isn't quite to the talking stage of life yet, but man, he sure can make his opinions known. He can make sounds that I believe could shatter glass.

Noah's talk today...

2011-09-11T19:42:00.000-04:00

Today Noah gave a talk in Primary at Church. It wasn't his first - but it was a great one on "how missionary work blesses everyone." Here's what he (with not a little bit of help from his dad) said:

A long time ago, in a land far, far away called…Texas, two missionaries taught the Gospel to my great Tito Eddie and my great Tita Ceres.
And they taught the Gospel to their son, Eddie, who served a mission in the Philippines where he shared the Gospel with many people.
And Tito Eddie and Tita Ceres also taught the Gospel with their daughter and she had a son who served a mission in Canada, where he shared the Gospel with many people.
And they also shared the Gospel with their nephew, Chris, who served a mission in California. And he had a son who is a missionary in Mexico, where he is sharing the Gospel with a lot of people.
And they also shared the Gospel with another nephew, Fred, who served a mission in Belgium. And he has a son who is a missionary in Utah, where he is sharing the Gospel with a lot people.
And they also shared the Gospel with another nephew, Jose, who served a mission in Taiwan.
And they also shared the Gospel with another nephew, my Tito Jonathan, who served a mission in California, where he shared the Gospel with many people.
And they also shared the Gospel with another nephew—my dad—and he was a missionary in France. And my dad had a son—me—and I’m going to serve a mission one day and share the Gospel with a lot of people.
And that’s how missionary work can bless everyone around the world.

They also had a big world map and put red dots on all the different locations around the globe mentioned in the talk. I heard (i was teaching the adult bible class on the NT at the time) it was a hit and he got several compliments. Way to go Noah (and James...)

Compliment or Insult?

2011-09-04T08:21:00.000-04:00

So, yesterday Noah and I and Moses had to go to Sears to buy a dishwasher. There was a fountain inside the mall and Noah asked for two pennies to make two wishes - one for me and one for him. I handed them over and then asked what he wished for. He replied, "That you could be a better mom and that I could be a super spy."

Other of Noah's latest observations / remarks:
1. He has a girl he fancies. Ella. She is lovely, no doubt. He sneeks kisses from her (thankfully, just on the cheek) on occasion. And after a playdate and admitting he'd kissed her cheek, he tells me, "I just don't have the courage to kiss her on the lips." WHEW.
2. His prayers lately have included the following: Please help me and Nikolai (bf) to be super heroes even when we're kids.
3. He continues to exercise regularly - wanting to make sure that his exercises are either super hero exercises or spy training exercises. We have some incredible video of him doing super spy dance moves in his underoos to "Secret Agent Man" song by Jonny Rivers, circa 1967...talk about perfect blackmail for his wedding one day...oh yes, thank heavens for digital recorders.

4. We had some photos taken of our boys this week and it reminded me that on occasion, Noah will pop up his golf shirt collar, shake up his hair and ask me, "mom, do i look handsome?"
5. Kindergarten starts on Tuesday. BIG BOY.

Moses: Another Month...and more pics...

2011-08-31T09:56:00.001-04:00

man, i'm easy...just need a corn cobb to make me happy...

yes, my eyelashes are incredible. like a giraffe...

pplllffffff...

10 months and so stinkin' cute i can't stand myself...

We are at 10 months! Can you believe it? 10 months...Incredible. So, now that this little man is beyond on-the-move, here's the latest on what he's been up to:
1. Grabbing, walking, leaning, standing on his own two feet. He's even stood all by himself a few times, but drops down to the comfort of his bum and the floor.
2. He was a hit in Texas on a recent trip to visit family. No shock there, but this little guy was a good traveler and the Lolos and Lolas loved holding him. He liked throwing himself around on Lola's big couches. It was mini version of a bouncey bounce for babies! He is fearless.
3. Teeth. Keep 'em coming...so that they will go away! Boo. More are coming. and then I want them to stop because they are mean! Top two front teeth have cut through and it seems like more are on the way!

The Big NINE!

2011-07-27T09:42:00.000-04:00

Nine months old. Time is flying by. Here's the latest about our little man.

1. he still is sporting to teeth. no more...just two. but they already mash food up pretty well and have been known, on occasion, to bite. rather impressive if you ask me.

2. he continues to be on the go all the time. cuddles with me ONLY after a bottle when i'm about ready to lay him down in the crib for a nap. alas.

3. he's learning how to give high five and kisses. and by kisses, i mean opening his mouth as big as he can and leaning in to eat you, swallow you whole, or something like that.
4. he loves strawberries and blueberries. tolerates bananas. he is still a good eater but constantly tries to grab my spoon with food dripping from it, so meals are incredibly messy. incredibly.
5. he shakes his head "no" - so i try to teach him the "yes" nod as well...but so far, no luck.
6. he had his first bite of ice cream this past week, at James' birthday dinner, and gobbled it right up. such a shocker.
7. i saved the best for last: i have to get this on video - but his latest thing is scrunching up his nose and breathing heavy like darth vader. in and out fast - it is hilarious...

Rockin my two teeth and proud of 'em.

Prayers... Ain't they great?

2011-07-11T12:47:00.000-04:00

Here are a few gems from Noah's prayers lately:

Please help us to not ever get sick and never die.
Please help me and Nikolai (his BFF) be super heros, even when we're kids.
Please let me be strong like a super hero.
Please help there not be any bad guys. (obvious theme, no?)
Please help us know if infinity is a number or an idea.

Summer Continues...more pics

2011-07-09T11:18:00.000-04:00

Because strawberries just taste this good!

And they are SOOO messy!

Quality time with Ella at the beach in July...

The best chair in the house for good lighting. Amy calls it the "magic chair"

Noah's favorite gal, Ella.

Summer Continues...

2011-07-09T11:14:00.000-04:00

if only he were cute. modeling his dad's stylin' hat.

if only he knew how to work the camera, right?

lovely dinner with Tita Ceres visiting from Texas.

At the Awakening, National Harbor - Kristine, Ceres, Eddie & us...

For dinner: Noah.

Superheros

2011-06-26T21:53:00.000-04:00

So, Noah loves to play this game with me (James) where we each make up superheros--their name, powers, uniform, etc. Last night, he explained one particular superhero he made up to me this way:

First of all, he has a dagger.
Second of all, he has x-ray vision.
And third of all...he's not very good at tennis.

I guess every superhero has to have a weakness, right?

More of Summer...

2011-06-26T21:16:00.000-04:00

Bowling air force base day of fun - water slides, sumo suits, friends, food, great view of National Airport along Potomac river and Washington skyline.

Noah's photo scavenger hunts continue...thumbs up.

Lazy Sunday afternoon. and the whole army of super heros.

Moses: 8 months

2011-06-21T16:33:00.001-04:00

Wow. Here's what I can say about the past month. Incredible! Moses has had so many milestones this past month, I can't keep track. For example - two new front teeth finally cut through. The drool hasn't stopped, but the teeth finally showed up. He's scaled our flight of stairs from the second level to the third level - a whopping 12 stairs - twice! I got it on film the first time, so here you go... Granted it does take him 4 minutes and his head, hands, teeth and feet to do it, but he does it!

what else - he digs music. rocks back and forth if he's on all fours or bounces up and down if he's sitting down. he still eats a lot of things, but is getting to be a bit more opinionated about some of them. and he has the happiest little kicky feet when he's happy. he just kicks and kicks and squeals this high-pitched dolphin-like squeal when he's happy. i call it the kicky-feet. this happens when we come in his room to rescue him from a nap or when we go to the bathroom and turn on the faucet for a bath. major squeals then...

Obrigada

2011-06-12T22:06:00.000-04:00

I cannot believe it is already mid-June. Incredible. I've been terrible at keeping up my gratitude lists the past few months, so here's my paltry attempt at making up for lost time:

I am grateful that James would rather come home to me and two kiddos than go out with his colleague and meet a bartender named Staci. I'm sure she's nice and all...and apparently voted one of DC's hottest bar tenders, for those that track that sort of thing. I sometimes think he's crazy for coming home when some nights I'm a wreck and tired and no fun at all...but grateful that he does.

I am grateful for the spiritual renewal I have been experiencing lately in church on Sundays. It has really been a few enriching weeks of lovely discussion and thoughts that have spurred me to think more on spiritual things and I am very appreciative of that.

I am grateful that I have air conditioning. Really, truly. Very grateful.

I am grateful that Noah knows how to play computer games by himself when he wakes up (by 6 am!) so I can get a few more blessed minutes of sleep before I have to hit the ground running for the day when Moses starts to coo or squawk...

And during these summer days when I am trying to juggle a job, Coco Penny, and two kids, I am very grateful for friends and play dates and swimming pools to keep us going, engaged, and happy.

But mostly this week I'm grateful that James, after 3 months of walking with crutches or a single crutch, that he threw the last one away and is crutch-less as he continues his PT post-surgery. The borrowed plastic chair is finally out of our shower and the crutch is no where in sight. I know he's grateful, too, but man, so am I...

7 Months Old

2011-05-30T22:04:00.001-04:00

Here's what I can tell you about Moses at 7 months of age. He eats. all the time. all the time. He always wants to be chewing on something these days. Tonight for example, he chewed on a corn cob, watermelon rind, actual baby food, toys, his high chair, his binki, and the wood stairs in the living room. He has mastered crawling and is moving right onto climbing onto everything he can. Today he actually climbed two wood stairs in our living room! I fear, yes fear, he will be walking by 10 or 11 months. Can't stop to talk mom, gotta go. I think I'll be hearing this from him for the next, oh, 25 years.

He loves to feed himself - and i find it very entertaining - till I have to clean it all up. a hose in the kitchen would be rather useful...really. Just would be so nice.

He continues to be happiest kid around. I have total strangers tell me this, and I can't lie. Here's a little clip of him laughing, cooing like a pigeon,http://youtu.be/gcaqeAklVP8 and being covered in squash or sweet potatoes or some other orange food. I know it is sideways for the first 20 seconds, till I remembered that the video doesn't work that way...duh. Multi-tasking can be hard sometimes...

Enjoy. Happy 7 months, Moses. Mama couldn't love you more. It really would be impossible.

One for the books

2011-05-30T21:45:00.001-04:00

I've meant to write this story down for a while - a story of brotherly loyalty, and a bit of five-year-old ferocity.

I tried to kill two birds with one stone in January by taking both Noah and Moses in for check-ups during the same visit. Let me tell you, I won't be doing that time-savings measure again anytime soon. I carried Moses in my arms, age 4 months, and Noah, age 5 years, skipped, jumped, and ran. Point being: my arms were full. No car seat. Noah has a stellar checkup and the doctor reports my son will be a strapping man somewhere around 6'2"-6'3" in height. Nice! Then Noah has to get a shot - just one - but man. not a happy kid. He kicked at me, the walls, hitting, saying all sorts of not so nice things. So I've got to calm him down enough, while babe in arms, to be able to help him stay seated while I help the nurse administer two shots to Noah. I'm holding Moses down on the examination table to aid the nurse and Noah is sitting in the chair, and then she pokes Moses and he lets out a scream. Then another scream. Then Noah is up out of his chair - full of anger - and ups and kicks the nurse! He was so mad that she hurt his baby brother...
The nurse tells him - we don't kick people - and briskly walks out of the room never to return...and I'm left with a crying infant and a very angry and worked up 5 year old...

And then when I tell James, he can't decide if he wants to give Noah a high five for brotherly devotion or the "we don't hit or kick" people talk...again...and I had to empathize... we don't hit or kick people...but we do let nurses poke people with sharp needles against their will. boo.

Noah...

2011-05-27T21:11:00.001-04:00

the post-pre-school graduation treat time.

graduation - next to Mrs. Jeanne, his teacher

This active 5 year old is wearing me out! He continues his obsession with superheros and he and James make them up regularly as part of a bedtime routine.

He told me recently that he's not too keen on marriage because it leads to putting hot sauce in kids' mouths... well, not directly, but...one thing can lead to another...

He continues to adore Megan in his preschool class. We attended a special Mother's day luncheon and we got a picture of them together and it was like prom! He smiled, put his arm around her and kept it there for at least 3-4 pictures...no crazy faces, no tongues sticking out. It was so dang cute.

He consistently gives me flowers picked from wherever...anytime we go on a walk. He graduated preschool yesterday - so proud - and here's the video of his class performing a song. noah has a special part!

He has been playing soccer with the city league and is great on defense. I think James loved cheering from the sidelines for every single kick noah made - or goal shot blocked. so loud sometimes it made Moses cry.

He is looking forward to being in Kindergarten in the fall and swimming every day this summer...

I was made for you...

2011-05-14T21:56:00.000-04:00

James & I have recently celebrated our wedding anniversary. Yahoo. Here's to another year of sticking together through thick and thin; tears and laughter; joy and sorrow; jobs and no jobs; one child then two children; etc. etc. To say a lot has happened in the past year would be an understatement of grand proportions - and our anniversary has been a wonderful chance to reflect on the spectacular man I married nine years ago...

He is my rock and my partner. He is my friend and a darn good kisser. He is my support and my sounding board. I love him...grateful for the road we have traveled together and the road we continue to travel. Who knows where it will take us but I am the luckiest girl to be by his side.

Moses - 6 months old...

2011-05-05T23:05:00.000-04:00

Moses is now our little man on the go! Here's the update -
He's mastered the ninja crawl and is no longer safe on any raised surface...it is so exciting to see him go for things he wants...unless it is my dinner, and then it is not so great.
He's grown from 30% in height to 57% in height - having grown 2 inches in 2 months...

But, he's stayed the same in weight - all that moving and shaking and growing has taken a toll. He is a great eater - three meals a day plus four bottles and plenty of rolls and chunky fingers.
Here are a few of the faces of this little guy:

Contemplative...

Really contemplative...

His natural state, or in other words, ridiculously happy...

About to cry - or sneeze - I can't remember

The six month mark...

Grace...

2011-05-04T20:38:00.000-04:00

We had the most incredible weekend last weekend. After our adoption of Moses was finalized on last Tuesday, we were able to take him to the Washington, DC LDS Temple and have him made part of our little eternal family. This is a big deal for us Mormons...and it was an emotional and spiritual high. My dad and sister flew in for the occasion, which was beyond great that they could come. Noah and Moses were both there with us, in, what we consider the House of God, as were many of our closest friends - our DC family. It was overwhelming to feel the love and support -- I get teary just thinking about it. The perfect day was capped off with a wonderful get together with many friends and colleagues for a meal and an opportunity for James to give Moses a father's blessing - which was tender and sweet. One of the best days of my life, to be sure. Here are a few snap shots from that very, very special day... many more to come... but here are a few.

The Latest Pics...

2011-04-18T13:53:00.000-04:00

Noah found HUGE Easter egg on hunt at Primary activity on Saturday. Very proud...

Moses continues love affair with food. I continue love affair with his big blue eyes.

Moses also continues to DROOL. I continue to tolerate it because he's so dang cute.

Danke...

2011-04-17T20:01:00.001-04:00

So much for my once a week gratitude list...I really did try but life has gotten ridiculously busy. Alas. But here's the latest list of things I'm grateful for:

1. James spoiled me and got me a massage. It was not only lovely, but the jasmine scented oils took me to a far off place - the island of Zanzibar - and an incredible old hotel in the city James & I stayed in a few years back called Emerson & Green, an incredible old restored palace. Mosquito netting around the bed, outdoor stone shower and bath tub, roof top restaurant during sundown and evening prayers and chanting filling the sky...and jasmine on your pillow at night. An age gone by, i know, but grateful for memories like that when I'm sticky from baby food and smell like up-chuck and have dirt in my hair from my son's windy soccer game.

2. Two people in the same day - two total strangers - passed me by carrying my son on errands and told me how lucky I am and that these are the best time of my life. Nice reminders from total strangers...point taken. Be grateful for these moments. Noted.

3. James lost a crutch! I would have hidden them long ago - but now it is legit! The doc cleared him after 6-weeks post-op to go from two crutches and no weight-bearing to one crutch and gentle weight... yahoo. light officially at end of tunnel in sight.

4. That we get to go to Texas soon for a few days to visit family. Love 'em.

5. Attended a fancy event recently that reminded me how incredible this area is and how many fabulous people live and work here and that I'm lucky to rub shoulders with them on occasion.

6. Shopping at Trader Joe's just makes me happy. I'm glad I live near one.

Emerson & Green in Zanzibar

Super Hero Friends & Neighbors

2011-04-09T10:16:00.000-04:00

I am really not sure when, or if, Noah will move on from superhero obsession to something else...but we've certainly been able to share the love with any kiddo that comes over to hang out. My mom made these costumes in an entrepreneurial endeavor and sold them at craft shows. Never mind the pesky copyright infringement laws of the land...she did it anyway. Love all our cute superhero neighbors....

super nurse...this little cutie had the attitude to pull off a superhero costume

when you say, 'strike a pose!' kids do funny things.

Let the MESS begin...

2011-04-09T10:08:00.000-04:00

it was a family affair...the first time we fed Moses solid-ish food.

do they sell full-body bibs?

seriously...it was everywhere.

and then he went for the camera!

Our Lives Lately...

2011-04-02T21:42:00.000-04:00

Noah's first city league soccer game

Way to kick! James was cheering so loud he made Moses cry.

The agony of physical therapy...no, it didn't hurt. really.

Noah loves giving Moses tummy time...

Coco Penny Launch Party

2011-03-29T15:50:00.002-04:00

Mary and I held our Coco Penny launch party on Friday night in Old Town, Alexandria. It was a wonderful time with friends, delicious food (thank YOU Kristin) and rooms full of color in bloom. It was a lovely evening and so fun to celebrate with friends that have been supporting us throughout the past year as we have worked to launch Coco Penny. Here are some lovely photos taken by Mary and good friends Hollie & Kate (thank you, ladies). And if you want funny videos from the flip-books (see first pic below) - see here and here. I have to admit, beating James on film with his crutch was rather therapeutic...and the finished flip book product looked great. hilarious

5 Months OLD!

2011-03-26T12:23:00.000-04:00

Here's moses this month.
Age: 5 months. Hobbies include discovering that he has toes, that he can reach them and I bet in the next week he will discover that they are good to chew on, too. He has also been introduced to the bumbo chair for little people and has had a few sitting sessions, although he's not too crazy about it, i think he'll get there. He's rolling around a ton; no longer safe on a couch. boo. He has begun to grab at everything in sight: my dinner plate, my drink, my hair, my face and my hair. he is rather strong and i have a lot less hair because of it. And his hair still has a mind of its own...see pics for proof.

happy 5 mo., moses. you are perfect. we love you.

the latest in pics...3

2011-03-23T18:46:00.000-04:00

3 monkeys looking at pigs on farm...

dooling wonder

multi-tasking soccer mom...pics of baby while cheering noah on

spring time fun on tummy...

happy noah bear cub

sick noah bear cub...

Merci...

2011-03-19T17:27:00.000-04:00

I'm grateful for the following:
1. Noah one morning walked up to me, hugged me, and announced that I was "the most awesome-est mom ever."
2. James continues to heal nicely and his PT is going great. Grateful that he's doing so well and that maybe, just maybe, we'll get through this recovery. 2.5 weeks down, 3.5 weeks to go! But whose counting...
3. Spring's official arrival. Flowers sprouting, trees blossoming. Love it all. Allergies raging. Bring it on...
4. Initial response to our launch of Coco Penny has been lovely. E-mails of support and encouragement from friends, some sales, and a lot of oohing over our fabulous packaged hair flowers by several local boutiques. So fun to have people like it so much!
5. Noah singing "teach me how to Jimmer"... And on that topic, James had really good timing for his surgery and recovery - March Madness. A coincidence? I think not... ;)
6. This week we received word that court has scheduled our hearing date to finalize our adoption of Moses. The hearing is set for late April, and so with this information, I was able to call our Temple and schedule a time for our little family to have Moses sealed to us as his parents, as part of our little family forever and ever and ever. I have spent a lot of time this week being overjoyed and in tears about the prospect of this event. I am so elated in the knowledge that he is our son, and was always meant to be so, but that soon - legally and in the sight of God - it will really be a done deal. Oh, happy day.

One Big Blur

2011-03-13T11:54:00.001-04:00

The past two weeks have been non-stop craziness. Really. Between James' surgery and six hours of PT a day, the boys, a job, and our receiving Coco Penny shipment from China and the ensuing unpacking, organizing, and launching of our website - it has been a blur of lack of sleep, babies, flowers, buckets of ice for James' knee and car pool. That said, here's the silver lining from the past two weeks:
1. James surgery went very well and he's being as diligent as possible on his PT to ensure that it heals right and that he can chase these two active boys we have so I can sit back and drink a daiquiri.
2. Friends have been bringing several meals to ease my work load, which has been delicious and glorious. Not only are they great friends, but they are really good cooks, too! I totally lucked out, I know.
3. Adventures in business! Coco Penny has launched - our on-line store is live. Mary and I are enjoying the wild ride that is an entrepreneurial endeavor. I'm grateful for her calmness and savvy - and above all, her friendship. It is also lovely that she is six houses away as we're together working every day but Sunday!

4. Last night I had a sweet moment with Moses that brought me to tears of gratitude for him in my life. He's such a gloriously drooly little miracle.
5. Noah's generous spirit. This week a friend brought a few delectable desserts for us. Noah was having one as an after-school snack and stopped eating it before it was gone so that he could be sure to save some for his dad.
6. Lastly, I'm grateful for lazy Sundays when I'm still in my pj's and it's nearly noon. Ah. a true day of rest sometimes is just what the doctor ordered.

Keep Me Where the Light Is.

2011-03-01T21:52:00.000-05:00

So, to focus on light, here's my gratitude list this week:
1. Grateful for good doctors who operated on James today - micro-fracture surgery on his knee and fixed up a torn meniscus we didn't know he had! Fingers crossed for us for the next six weeks on crutches...
2. Grateful for beautiful tulips in my living room and on my dining room table signaling that spring is around the corner, really.
3. Grateful that I know where Moses' tickle spots are and that I can make him roar with laughter. Will try to film it; but hard to be the tickle monster and documentarian all at the same time...
4. Grateful to friends lending helping hands this week while we adjust to post-operative care and such.
5. Grateful for dark chocolate. I can't give it up. I just can't.

Moses 4 Months

2011-02-26T21:33:00.000-05:00

Moses just turned 4 months old, so here's the update on how our little bundle of smiles and (lately) DROOL is doing. He is adorable, only growing hair on the top of his head - so the mohawk continues to gain height. He is slowly settling into a two-nap kind of a day - (thankfully) - and even more thankfully, is still ridiculously happy when he doesn't get to actually nap in a crib. The drool is plentiful. We think teeth are close behind. His thighs are a good two to three rolls thick... He rolls around a bit and pushes off the floor with his feet like he's trying to crawl. Noah has nicked named him "Momo" - a visit to the doctor next week will tell us just how much all those rolls of love weigh these days. My bet is more -- my aching back tells me he's packing it on these days.

Talk about cherubic...

Oh, the sad face!

Being tickled...starting to LAUGH.

brothers...

Toes...and the mystery how to keep a sock on. Any ideas?

A New Beginning: Coco Penny

2011-02-25T14:18:00.000-05:00

Our Coco Penny Logo

As many friends and family know, I've been working hard for the past year to launch a business with my friend, Mary. She had I have spent COUNTLESS hours organizing, designing, shopping, thinking, planning, picture-taking, etc. and we are now on the cusp of taking our creation, Coco Penny, live on the internet and to host a Launch Party not to be missed. Our website is nearly ready, plans for our launch are in place, and the product have arrived from our factories in China in New York harbor and will be delivered to us next week! Wowzers. I can't tell you how excited I am for Coco Penny -- and to introduce it to you all very soon.

Affordable and chic, Coco Penny offers hair accessories for women of all ages and embellished onesies for babies and toddlers. There is a tremendous selection of styles, colors and fabric options to adorn young and mature: fasten to hats or bags, freshen up sweaters and scarves, or wear in hair or on headbands. We also offer a special baby shower gift for baby girls, sized newborn to 12-months. These sets include an embellished onesie, headband, and two coordinated hair flowers – all packaged and ready for your next baby shower gift.

A Love Triangle

2011-02-25T14:10:00.000-05:00

Apparently love triangles can start young. Like 5 years old - and in pre-school no less. Noah has a friend in his class, Donovan, and Donovan and Noah like the same girl, Megan. And this is a problem. Noah says that he and Donovan can't both like Megan, and that only one of them can sit by her in class - and it's gonna be him.

I asked Noah why he liked her, and here is what he said:
1. I like the shoes she brings to school.
2. I like how she wears her hair.
3. We sometimes hug.

I hope he and Donovan can weather the storm that is love.............

This week's gratitude list

2011-02-20T09:58:00.003-05:00

I am grateful for:
1. Spring-like weather this week more days than not. Mother Nature cannot be a tease; I hope it is here to stay...
2. How good my boys smell after a bath; I wish the picture below was a scratch-n-sniff.
3. Roasted vegetables. I could eat them forever; and this week I ate them four days in a row.
4. A totally unsolicited huge hug from Noah. It was bliss.
5. Paolo Nutini's sound - (and how sweet it is) ...and that James is learning to play some of his music. Get your groove on, baby!
6. The fact that we live 2 miles from a Civil War Reenactment (lest you forget we live in the South) and 5 miles from the Smithsonian Museums. Love this place.
7. My nine dollar egg poacher. Seriously - one of THE best ways to eat an egg... A bit of sauteed spinach and Parmesan cheese...dreamy.


The scratch-n-sniff smell good boys.

Boys & weapons: A match nature intended, but moms detest.

A big "boom" cannon...

Perfectly Poached eggs...like eating butter.

This week's gratitude list:

2011-02-09T21:17:00.001-05:00

This week I am grateful for:
1. A husband that races home from work to help. He's a true partner in parenting, and this week, while he's gone on a business trip, I miss him a lot. He's calm when I'm frantic and up beat when I'm, well, beat. (that and the night shift is killing me...)
2. A bed that I love sleeping in...sigh.
3. Noah, who asked me for "God's toys" - meaning - prophet action figures. So the little plastic prophet Moses can kick the trash out of the little tiny plastic Pharaoh, I suppose.
4. A really great hairdresser - Glynn. Really. I am. It's a committed relationship and I'm staying faithful...but negligent. I think I went at least eight months between cuts, but he doesn't chide me, he just makes my hair look good and makes a cut last forever. He's worth every annually-increasing cent I pay him...
5. I am grateful that every morning I get to wake up and try to be a better mother and a better person. I need a lot of do-overs...
6. Lastly, I am grateful for Moses' birth parents who sent us all wonderful, thoughtful gifts this week. They spent time making Moses two very sweet blankets and some great artwork. Noah also received Star Wars action figures--and really, Obiwan could be mistaken for a prophet, right? beard? drab attire? Their card to us made me cry good, grateful tears - that of all the people we could have gotten linked up with in the wild ride of adoption - we got them. We're pretty darn lucky.

I know the heart of life is good...

2011-02-05T15:37:00.000-05:00

This year I've decided to focus more on being grateful. I am trying to better recognize the good, funny and sweet in my life. So, I hope to do a weekly posting on things for which I am grateful. Here's this week's list:
1. Tommy, a cute 5 year-old boy I car pool to pre-school, told his mom he liked my lipstick. Ah, shucks.
2. Noah is learning how to sound out letters and small words. It is such an exciting learning experience for him to sound out a word and figure it out!
3. James took me out on a date - just the two of us. So nice to spend some alone time while the children are still awake and in the care of someone else!
4. I am grateful for good friends that give great parenting advice.
5. Moses cooing and talking more every day...
6. I am grateful for sugar free chocolate and sugar free hard candies (I'm on day 6 of 14 South Beach diet Phase One...)

Where has the time gone this month?

2011-01-25T22:06:00.000-05:00

Good grief. January is nearly over and I am hard pressed to figure out where it has gone. Let me see...adorable little baby, active 5 year old, a job, starting a new company with a friend to be launched in March, an occasional home cooked meal and trip to the grocery store, a husband...yep. There you go. Figured it out after all. Whew. I feel better.

But if you want a bit more detail than that, pics and a video of Noah singing a (precious) song he made up to Moses will hopefully provide you with a bit more detail:

Here's a bit more:
Noah is sounding out all sorts of words (word that end with "AT") and likes to try to rhyme words. He's mad-brilliant at puzzles (will have to invest in more, pronto), and continues to love two things most of all: Moses and all things Superheros.

Moses continues to be a ridiculously happy baby. (thank you heaven). Although he's having a bought of reflux that makes him as stiff as a board and only like to be held straight up - no bending allowed or you will hear about it. Poor little guy. But more on him in a minute...next post.

Now a few pictures:

Brothers. Love 'em.

I do not know why, (I do really, but I don't get it), but Noah has liked playing "baby"...he's hard to get in and out of crib these days, let me tell you...at least he hasn't reverted to diapers again. WHEW.

Adorable, happy kiddo...

Moses: 3 Months

2011-01-25T21:20:00.006-05:00

Moses is Three Months Old. My, how time flies. He weighs 12 pounds 10 ounces now (!) and is a bit longer...starting to grow out of size one diapers and size 0-3 month clothing. A few other things I can tell you:

He is loved by Hazel, my friend Mary's daughter, almost as much as Noah loves him. She's nearly 2 years old and goes coo coo for coco puffs around him. She hugs, kisses, touches, pokes gently, makes sure a pacifier is within grabbing distance, gives him his blankets, and just wants to sit as close as possible...I love it. She can even say his name...which is really an honor because she's not quite mastered her two brothers' names...Good thing we didn't name him Obidiah, no? She'd be at least 5 before she could master that one!

He is as sweet as pie. Still loves to cuddle, is mesmerized by his fists (do i really control these things? wow. they are amazing! and almost taste good, too! see proof in pic below). He also practices his punches on the beloved green hippo and blue elephant - and is a real fan of it when I sing "Summer time" to him...trying to sing along...

He is sleeping pretty darn well - one feed in the middle of the night - and goes right back to sleep. If James puts him down for a nap he will sleep for hours. If I put him down for a nap he sleeps for minutes. Go figure. I don't know. James is just magic.

Loves the bath still - but is quickly growing to be too big for it. And he is getting some of those yummy rolls o fat on his thighs...Finally, he still has his mohawk that rocks - in fact, it is the only place on his head where his hair is growing!
And here is what you all really want...I know. Pics.

Oh the difference a good camera makes...check out those baby blues...

2011-01-04T20:57:00.000-05:00

thank you Mary, my fairy godmother of a friend and picture-taker...

Month 2 and counting...

2010-12-30T09:33:00.000-05:00

So my photo shoot didn't go very smoothly, so we'll try it again - but we're trying to track his growth and size...You can see him plotting his escape route in this second picture - and the subsequent shots were all sad crying shots...so we'll try again another day. But here's month TWO! Currently 11.1 pounds and 22 1/2 inches long...Mohawk still going strong...sigh.

Noah's song...aka the superhero

2010-12-28T22:34:00.000-05:00

James has spent some of his Christmas vacation sick and some of it cleaning up a Christmas Tree aphid infestation, but the most fun he's been having has been (1) playing with Noah building forts with his new blocks; (2) getting Moses to coo and smile at him; and (3) writing and practicing a song that he wrote for Noah about being a super hero...check out their duet (of sorts) here.

T'was the Night Before the Night Before Christmas

2010-12-28T21:25:00.001-05:00

This is the title of Noah's new favorite Christmas story about a family not quite on their best game with Christmas fast approaching. I definitely can identify. Thanks to Lola's visit for Thanksgiving, I at least have a decorated house and a Christmas tree up (although the tree won't stop dropping little black bugs. blech). And thanks to Lola and a handy thing called the Internet, we have present for our boys...but juggling two children, a job, a husband who has traveled two out of the past four weeks, and battling colds and stomach flu bugs, I feel a little behind the eight ball this season. That said, we've tried to fill our house with Christmas music and Christmas cheer and look forward to a week of hibernation with my three boys in our PJs more often than not, I hope...here's how we've been spending our time the past five holiday days...I haven't spent so much time in my PJs in recent memory...it has been great.

Singing the super hero song...

Check out those blocks and that castle! gotta have some place for all those superheros...

Moses' favorite thing: the green hippo

A wreath I made the past few nights

James devouring ribs I made for dinner

Cooing at his dad

1 Month...and a bit

2010-12-11T14:37:00.000-05:00

One of the darling gifts at my baby shower for Moses were these fabulous stickers to chart a kiddo's month-to-month sprouting. So, here's month one: wonderful in browns and oranges, no? He couldn't be cuter...He loves spreading those arms out as far as they can...great wingspan...(thanks Kate and Mary for the perfect excuse to take monthly pics of Moses)!

The "Other Child"

2010-12-11T09:28:00.000-05:00

I know Noah has totally gotten the blogging shaft lately, but let's face it, he's been the highlight of 90% of the blogs for the past 3 years, so it is time for him to share the glory...but, lest you think I've forgotten that I have an older son and not just a wee newborn that is precious beyond words, here's a bit of an update on Noah:

He turns 5 this month and is loving it. James threw him the best "Super Hero Training Birthday Party" you've ever heard of . It was a birthday party for three kids - Noah (aka Robin) and two other kiddos - (because that was really all I could handle this year...) and James, aka Captain America rocked the kasbah.

Here's a recent conversation:

Noah: Mom, I only like the icing on cupcakes and not the bottom part.
Me: Yeah, you've always been that way.
Noah: Yep. And I'm not going to change!

He's been obsessing about superheros lately. James & Noah play a game where they take turns inventing superheros and describing them and their superpowers. One day we spent a good 40 minutes looking up superheros on my iphone and i'd read all about them to him and he'd look at their pictures. He even asked Santa this year for "every superhero I don't have..."

at his preschool Christmas show this week...

Moses - how did this adorable pic sneak in here!

Yes, Robin (Noah) - has his foot on my kitchen table...that's how we roll these days...loose and easy.

Robin and his sidekick Captain America (be still my beating heart)

A Celebration of Mamahood...

2010-12-01T10:25:00.000-05:00

Not only was being grateful for being a mom to 2, count them one and two boys top on my list this year for Thanksgiving week in general, but last night I got to celebrate motherhood with a bunch of my closest friends in what can only be described as a perfect baby shower for Moses. Perfect on all fronts - friends were there enjoying each others' company, the food was tremendous (thanks to Kristin for putting together an incredible menu and orchestrating it all), Mary's home was beautiful and decorated for Christmas - it was so warm and inviting and stylish, the flowers were gorgeous - simple and elegant (just like the friend who arranged them), and we were lavished with love and gifts for the new arrival... Here are some pics from the evening - many more to come as I receive them from the on-staff photographers Amy, Mary and Hollie. So glad I have such talented friends to document these occasions.

The shower was lovely in every way - but it was surreal to be the one opening the gifts and telling the birth stories! I couldn't feel more loved and celebrated than I do now. So good to be home and welcome this baby boy into our community of friends and neighbors.

Thanksgiving Day

The main attraction

A Few More Things I Can Tell You About Moses:

2010-11-22T21:21:00.000-05:00

He's 4 weeks old now, and I've learned a few more things about him:
1. He smiles as he falls asleep.
2. He's not as easy to burp now (ah, the good ol' days of being a week old!)
3. His eyes are still really blue. (love it!)
4. His hair has some red to it (love this, too).
5. He continues to be adored by big brother Noah and continues to tolerate Noah's kisses really, really well.
6. He likes his bedroom, but prefers mine and the ceiling fan going around and around.
7. Has been held by lots of friends and family welcoming him to our lives, community, and the world in general - and everyone adores him. Of course.
8. He likes hearing James and Noah sing him songs...
9. I know he knows my voice and it settles him down.
10. He likes a warm bath.

passed out after a strenuous walk to a friend's house...6 houses away

the world from where i sit, trying to hold my head up on "tummy time"

Delicious

2010-11-15T20:57:00.002-05:00

Martha, my sister, is a lovely photographer in Utah and took these pics of Moses when he was one week old..."Delicious," as she'd say...

A Chosen Love

2010-11-14T14:17:00.000-05:00

I have already been asked a few different times what it feels like to be a mom to an adoptive baby – how my relationship with Moses is developing.

What I can tell you is that I have loved him long before he was born. Different from Noah because Noah grew inside of me – we (with the help of modern fertility treatments, of course) created him. He’s part of our DNA. Moses was a gift – a true miracle in our lives – handed to us by his birthmom and birthdad because they believed that we would love him and provide him with a home and family and opportunities that would enrich his life. We are honored and humbled by the trust they place in us when they placed him with us. And so the love I have for Moses is one in large part based on this trust – and the responsibility I have to them to honor their choice.

And then there’s the fact that he’s just about the cutest thing ever. And that we have wanted a second child for years. And we worked hard for him – fertility treatment, adoption hoops and endless paperwork. Granted, that was no labor and delivery – but it was work. And we saw him born. We were there. We saw him enter the world and take his first breath and helped wipe that varnex goo into his skin and James cut the umbilical chord and I was there with him in the NICU while he was poked and prodded. And those every two-to-three hour feedings day and night and the quiet time between feedings when he looks at me like he knows me and is observing everything about me.

All these things bind me to him. All these things make up this big love that I feel for this little guy.

Moses & me - 1 week old

I find that as people, we have a greater capacity to love than we think we do—if we open ourselves up to it. I love Moses’ birthparents with a love that caught me off guard, too. I love them and want to be there for them in their lives and follow what adventures they have. I know that love is meant to be part of this adoption experience to teach me and James that our capacity to love is bigger. It isn’t about blood and DNA, it is about a choice. And those choices bind us together. They graft us together as part of the family tree of God – all brothers and all sisters in the same big family, looking out for and taking care of each other.

I am grateful for the opportunity to experience this love – at times through this experience I’ve struggled with it and the expectations that it carries – but I am so grateful for it and for the growth that it has enabled in me.

Honorary Godmother Amy

2010-11-03T23:42:00.000-04:00

If Moses were going to have a Godmother, it would be Amy Barker. But since we don't do that in Mormon culture, it will have to be an unofficial honorary title and role. She deserves it - she really deserves this child to be named after her but since Amy isn't one of those gender neutral names like "Pat", this public shout-out will have to do.

Amy Barker is the friend you go to when you are hurting. She's a sensitive soul that doesn't mind crying with you (me - in this instance) and we've shed many tears over the past few years about our infertility and struggles at growing our little family. Right about the time we were getting ready to start the adoption process, she decided that we were being far too slow about it and that she needed to find us a baby. She put the word out to her several thousand close friends and family members connected through facebook, email and the like - letting everyone know that she knew good people that wanted a baby if anyone happened to know of someone considering placing a child for adoption.

It is only because of Amy, and her following what we believe to be God's promptings, that Moses' birthparents learned of us in the first place. Her independent action on our behalf - her trying to do something to help a friend - has enabled us to have Moses.

I'd be willing to name him "Moses Amy," but Noah has already been very clear that his name is "Moses Batman."

Brothers

2010-11-01T21:58:00.000-04:00

Noah is crazy in love with Moses...crazy in love. Moses really does get at least 3,000 kisses a day - and he says all sorts of things to him - some sweet, some informational, all hilarious. Take, for example:

1. soon we will be happy ever after
2. can you turn it down???
3. who's the cutest baby in the world? you are! (i don't know where he got this...but it cracks me up. he says it in this high-pitched squeal)
4. all about halloween and christmas -
5. oh, you're so precious!
6. MY MOSES BATMAN. MINE.

Ten things I can tell you about Moses

2010-10-29T18:34:00.001-04:00

After spending our first full day (and night) as a family of four, I can tell you a few things about Moses:
1. He is most awake and alert between 6 and 9 at night. In fact, last night we had a staring contest and he won.
2. He loves a clean bum. Not so much the changing bum part - but definitely the results.
3. He has received about 6,297 kisses and hugs from Noah in the first 36 hours of being part of our family - and was a real trooper with 6,296 of them.
4. He likes his milk warm. not cold. shaken. not stirred. He's very particular about this.
5. He weighs 6.95 pounds - so he gained a few ounces on our watch and we're thrilled that the every two-hour feeds are paying off!
6. He is a real easy burper.
7. He hasn't sprayed me with pee yet...although I really do know it is inevitable...
8. He is observant when awake - taking in all the sights and sounds - soaking them up.
9. I know that he is loved by more people than I can count - and I am so grateful for ALL that love coming his way.
10. I know without a doubt Moses was meant to join our family and am overwhelmed with the grace of it all.

Our son - Moses

Moses: The Night You Were Born...

2010-10-27T19:32:00.005-04:00

The night you were born, you were a surprise! We weren’t expecting you for another week…but were very excited you were ready. The night you were born, we had just had a great Sunday with cousins – Primary Programs, play time and meals with loved ones. We got the call that your birth mom was in labor and at the hospital and you were well on your way to being born. We quickly got packed and took Noah, your big brother, to your cousins’ house to sleep. We tried and tried to tell him that this was the night you were going to be born, but he was too tired to hear us. But we know he would have been excited.

The night you were born we spent the whole night at the hospital – waiting with your birth mother and birth father for you to come. They were so loving and generous to let us be there to watch you arrive.

The night you were born the soundtrack was the sound of your heart beat on the monitor. Sometimes it was like a horse galloping. Sometimes faster like a hummingbird. But always there. Thump. Thump. Thump.

The night you were born there was a big storm and a full moon. Some would say that is why you came early! The power went out – and the hospital operated on a generator. We’d never seen that before. You came with the dawn – we saw you take your first breath. We saw you cry your first cry. We saw you open your eyes for the first time.

The night you were born we celebrated your arrival with tears and smiles and hugs. The night you were born you changed our lives forever. We have loved you before you were born – and we love you even more now that you are here with us.

Noah says that soon you and he will be happy ever after.

Moses James Viray was born the morning of October, 25, 2010 at 7:25 am. He weighed 6.6 pounds and measured 20 inches long.

(a few quick pics below taken at hospital today upon discharge...many, many more pics to come...SOON.)

Ah, Fall is HERE.

2010-10-07T21:27:00.000-04:00

Which means pumpkin patches and friends. And carving pumpkins. And eating soups (my new favorite recipe is roasted curried butternut squash...yumm) and a lot of fresh bread...
Thanks to mary for the pics that I swiped from her blog. She's such a great blogger. and picture taker. and picture poster. and friend in general...

National Book Fair...

2010-10-07T21:22:00.001-04:00

Fall is here! And the National Book Fair came and went. Ironically, Noah's favorite part of the Fair was the characters from PBS television shows he watches - I know, I know. But we do read - promise... We spent a good 35 minutes going in line after line to hug and say hello to all sorts of characters - George, the Cat, Super Readers, Word Girl. He'd even get in the cue to hug characters he didn't know - are they real? are they for real? He was mesmerized. Love it.

Why I love Noah today

2010-09-21T21:11:00.000-04:00

Today I love Noah for these reasons:

Noah at 3 months...

1. He's tender and sweet with babies. Kissing them on the lips may be a wee bit much, I know, we're working on that still...but he's pretty darn gentle with them all around.
2. He set the table tonight without being asked - placemats and napkins! It was amazing. There is hope.
3. He will still let me cuddle with him. I know this will eventually end, but for now, I am reveling in the fact that he will choose to sit on my lap, wrap his arms around me - give me a few pats on the back and rub his cheek on my cheek ("because mom is softer than dad"). Sometimes I even get a back-scratch.
4. He's into chapter books (and this should really be a sub-section of no.3 because it is just an excuse to cuddle). but it is supposed to make him smart and is fun and all that, too.
5. He spontaneously picks wild flowers and weeds for me and calls them presents.
6. He likes to look at my jewelry box. I don't know why this makes me smile, but it does.
7. He is big on the art of negotiating - and sometimes it cracks me up and sometimes not so much. but an impressive skill nonetheless.
8. He has huge feet and is going to be really tall. I can't believe he was ever 21 inches long and 8 pounds and change...seriously.
9. He says the words "wittle" for "little" and "sweep" for "sleep" - and sometimes I cry to think this little lisp will one day go away.

Why I like superheros

2010-09-21T20:57:00.000-04:00

Noah: Mom - why do I like to play superheros so much?
Me: Well, why do you think you like superheros?
Noah: No. you tell me.
Me: (trying to think of really big reasons to like playing them...) Well, is it because you can wear costumes?
Noah: No.
Me: Is it because there are so many and you and your friends can all pick a different superhero to be when you play? (i thought this answer was brilliant, by the way)
Noah: No.
Me: Hmmm. Is it because they have special powers and save people?
Noah: No.
Me: Well - I just gave you a few reasons why I think you like superheros so much - why do you think you like them?
Noah: Because they are cool.
(seriously? all those real good reasons - the compassion, the outfits, the diversity - and they're cool? so pedestrian...but he is four, so its okay.)

Radio silence...a trip!

2010-09-13T07:39:00.000-04:00

We sauntered down to Florida Disney world - just a hop skip and a jump away - for a few days of family fun. Just the three of us. It was so great. Many friends had prepared us for the adventures of the Magic Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom, and their tips helped us novices to make the most with our time there. We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge - an Africa-themed fabulous lodge replete with cultural representatives from all sorts of African countries and is nestled on an animal reserve. We'd wake up early early, thanks to the four-year-old alarm clock named Noah, and peek our heads out our balcony and observe at least four to six species of animals - zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, kudu, nyala, eland, ankole cattle... it was sweet! James' running joke was that he wasn't sure who was more excited about it all - me or Noah. I won't go on and on about the details of the trip - but here are some pics to capture the some of the moments. It was a great trip - had such a fun time. Glad we were able to sneak it in before James starts his new work later this month. Yahoo!

Some things really are too good not to share.

2010-09-02T21:51:00.002-04:00

Like chocolate. Or ice cream. But this blog isn't about those things, no, no. This blog is about photos from the archives of time (and that old rusty file cabinet next to our desk). Photos that capture a moment in history...and then you think to yourself, so that's where those two ended up! Never would have guessed, frankly. But I'm being a tease. Here's what is too good not to share...

Seriously - can you believe it? That's James (yes, monkey arms and all) and me in the dorms our first semester of college in 1992. Yes, Freshman together. No budding love - but buddies. (It did take us 9 years to go out on a date after all). I'm sure James looks at this and laments my present shorter and grayer hair (among other turn-for-the worse body, but we don't need to go into that). And well, who can blame him! Me too. I miss his hair, too! (no, kidding. love that smooth head of his. not many heads as good looking as his around, I'll tell you what.) Who would have thought that those kids would end up like this:

sigh.

Argh - Matey. We be pirates

2010-08-30T22:47:00.000-04:00

Argh. We be pirates. Urban pirates, that is - because what else would you be in the Harbor of the Great City of Baltimore? Urban. All the way.

This is "Notorious Noah" - Eye patch, vest, tattoo, name tag, sword and all...

This is pirate training by Skinny Vinny. He really was skinny. There were oaths, songs, conga lines, and limbo-stick "how low can you go" contests (so much easier when you're five and can duck 'em). What more does a pirate ship need?

A mascot, of course. Noah was skeptical of his origins, but played along...

And manned the cannons. Water cannons, that is. Now who wouldn't enjoy a day of swashbuckling.

It was pretty hilarious all around. And James' tattoo lasted a good three days - made him look pretty tough. Argh.

Sometimes Notorious Noah takes these things SO seriously it scares me. I mean, look at that face. He was totally pirate. Urban pirate, that is...

Ah, new milestones today.

2010-08-30T20:03:00.000-04:00

And these are big ones, folks.

1. Noah has mastered the art of...Fish Lips. Say it with me, fish lips. Ain't it great?

2. We finished reading our first real "chapter book"! All 121 pages of it. Thanks to friend Meredith for loaning us James & the Giant Peach. It was a big hit and James & I were so impressed with N's focus and enjoyment of it. Charlie & the Chocolate Factory is next. Harry Potter might be next month, who knows???

The Annual Trip West

2010-08-27T09:07:00.004-04:00

Ah, yes. It was that time again - when we headed west on our annual "tour of people that love us". we're afraid we wore out our welcome and stayed too long, but expect that the people that love us will still love us even if they saw too much of us while we were there...cause love means never having to say you're sorry that you're sleeping at their house for far too long, right?

So, here are some of our trip highlights...

1. Noah's increasing sass and negotiating skills: "Mom, that isn't the deal, here's the deal...okay? Okay."

James & Noah pool time

2. Fresh raspberries, strawberries, green beans, and zucchini at Uncle Mark's house. We'd just go and swim, play, and pick pick pick away at their amazing garden (and then eat, eat, eat).

3. Hiking in a red-rock slot canyon in southern Utah with more kids than adults...Braver souls than mine mapped out our trip and I was so proud of Noah for hiking for four hours straight! Upstream, through dirt, up rickety ladders, sliding down natural water slides, etc. Way to go Noah! It was really gorgeous and was a fantastic day spent with great friends we see far too infrequently.

4. Major milestones - our niece, Isabella, was baptized, and a small army of family was present for this major life milestone. Including my 89 year-old grandmother who I haven't seen in several years. So lovely.

5. Noah was introduced to the joys of OPT's - Other People's Toys. Specifically, all toys owned by cousins Sam and Isabella, which includes a vast number of cartoon characters and Star Wars. he was in heaven and Isa was, albeit nearly twice his age, a fantastic (and fantastically patient) play partner.

Isa - modeling a new outfit...skinny jeans and all

6. Nephew Sam was introduced to the iPhone, which changed his young life. In one week, he made over 40 lists of movies (by production company, movie house summer shows, etc.) on my phone - he's got an incredible memory.

7. Time with my Dad & Sis. Adventures included Lagoon amusement park, dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point and playing amateur geologist/paleontologist up the canyon digging for fossils. Amazingly, he hadn't been to that spot in 50 (yes, that's fifty) years - and he remembered hiking, digging up there and coming across seashell fossils that were a good several thousand years old...

8. James' speeding ticket in a fast new test-drive Camaro down the canyon. Thank heavens for a rather merciful police officer that could have taken his license, but didn't. Whew. Didn't hurt, I'm sure that James turned in our brother in law so he wasn't the only one that got hit up for a ticket. You should ask James about the story...it's a good one.

My dad and sister...

9. Boating with our friends. It was an adventure of a day, but man, nothing beats being outside in great weather, gorgeous hills surrounding you, playing in the water.

10. Friends. Picnics. Sundance. Shopping. Friends I hadn't seen in a few years (Adr!) and new friends I know I won't be able to live without...

Noah

11. James holding his own when being attacked by two cousins' kids - half his age and in those prime manly teenage / college years... Video on facebook may show a different story - but Tita Belenda was totally biased in her portrayal of said attack. I on the other hand, am completely neutral...right?

(many more pics to come...just as soon as I find them all.)

Up the tree-ladder

James & boys hanging out

My, how time flies...

2010-08-17T16:03:00.001-04:00

Is summer seriously almost over? Golly. "Where has the time gone," you may ask. So, here's my best efforts at answering that pressing question:

1. The POOL. Nearly daily. Noah has turned himself into a fish, or aqua man, or an Olympic swimmer - he's great in the water, loves it, can swim all over, touch the bottom of the pool, collects dive sticks from the deep end, loves cannon ball jumps and an occasional dive from the kneeling position...Next summer I need to invest in a gallon or two of sunscreen we go through it so fast, and a pair of goggles that don't fog up. notes to self...

2. The Basement. My favorite part of my home during hot months. Noah doesn't mind it either. Couches become islands or pirate ships, the hall becomes a dodge ball alley of death, and the computer (and all games on PBS) are heaven-sent.

3. The Scooter. Ah, the three-wheeled ball of orange plastic joy. you may have seen pics of Noah scooting around in his batman uniform, but this wheeled-device continues to be the main way he navigates.

4. A LONG trip west. more on this in the next posting. it certainly merits its own posting.

5. Visiting friends with new babies. Seriously, a LOT of babies going on in the world- and I think a majority of them are being born in our zip code, and we love it. Lots of cooing, Noah practicing his big-brother skills, etc.

6. Jonathan! James' brother has lived with us for the summer while he's done an internship, and it has been great to be a home base to this out-and-about guy. We're going to miss him tremendously. Fingers crossed he comes back soon. For good.
7. Museums. Ah, the air conditioning is heaven sent at those enormous places - and the learning isn't bad, either. One week we went twice! It's great that we're close enough to be able to not have to spend the day (so, thanks for paying your taxes! Three cheers for public museums!)

8. Popsicles. They are a state of mind, really, not so much a destination, and in the summer, they are a staple at our home. We probably went through several hundred of those frozen sticks of joy in three months.

9. Both James' parents, Lolo and Lola, will have come for a visit this summer...and we couldn't be happier with the time they were willing to spend in our home during the hottest and most humid time of the year...they must really love us.

10. Dinosaur Train. Again, ode to PBS, but man, we love that little 27 minutes of educational bliss. Noah continues to increase his dinosaur knowledge and is just waiting for plastic toy makers to get on the ball and stop producing mass copies of the same 12 dinos, in exchange for a few on the exotic side of things, like the Corythosaurus, Dimetrodon, Troodon, and the like...

Prayers & Marriage...heavy stuff for a 4 year old

2010-07-12T21:56:00.001-04:00

N (during prayers recently): Please that we don't have bad dreams and that if we do, that they won't come true...Thank you for the yummy food...Please bless me, daddy and tito (uncle) Jonathan that we won't get eaten by monsters...
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N: Maybe I'll marry Jocelyn...but that wouldn't be fair. So I won't marry her.
James: Why wouldn't it be fair?
N: Because she already has a husband.
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N: Maybe I'll marry Ella (age 5).
N: Maybe I'll marry Gianna (age 5).
N: Maybe I'll marry you, Mom...
Clearly this is on his mind...but he's struggling with all the options in life.
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N: Mom, when I was a little baby you should have named me Nikolai so I would be reverent like Nikolai.
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At Target yesterday:
N: Wow! That toy is sooo cool! It's cooler than me! (ah, the humility...)
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A system...and a cookie

2010-07-05T19:59:00.000-04:00

I was just making a batch of chocolate chip cookies from the only cookie recipe I have ever memorized - the ONLY cookie recipe I ever ate growing up. It's a good one, no argument. But tonight, more than craving said cookie, I was flooded with the memory of making these cookies with my mom. She had it down to a science. We used toothpicks to help us count the cups of flour going in. We'd hand mix the flour because she knew it would make a better cookie that way. We used one spoon to scoop the dough and one to slide the dough onto the parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Or sometimes, when she was feeling generous, we'd use the 1/4 cup measuring cup for the dough (those were the kind of cookies that were meal replacements).

Yes, indeedy, there was a system.

At this moment I'm really missing how she worked out a system for things - a way of knowing how to deal with little things like how best to mix the flour into the batter - but also the big things in life like what to say to someone who is hurting, what questions to ask someone to get to know them, and how to handle life's ups and downs with grace and confidence in God. It's purely selfish, but I could use some better systems right now and there's no one else I'd rather ask.

So I'm going to go eat a cookie and toast a tall drink of milk to the woman who taught me how to make a darn good chocolate chip cookie - and so much more. I think she'd like that.

A weekend of "firsts"

2010-07-05T15:40:00.000-04:00

Noah silly face at zoo recently on a summer outing.

On a Potomac River ski boat ride - Our first water adventure with a motor! (usually james and i power the kayak we rent from Georgetown)

James catching some air on a ride behind the boat.

Knight Noah - he's into knights and dragons right now - have at least seven library books on the topic right now. I love that he'll rummage through shoe buckets to find shin guards and old winter gloves to complete the ensemble...

A Capitol Hill Fourth concert. This weekend was full of "firsts" for us - including seats at the Hill concert. It was a fun evening. Fireworks were great, as always, and the singers were as Americana as you can get - good time waving flags. Can't believe I couldn't come up with a more patriotic outfit than a white shirt and pink skirt. What was I thinking!

God bless America - Land that I love.

A photo update...

2010-06-24T20:43:00.002-04:00

These soccer pics are a month or so old - but man, so dang cute. The last day of soccer class was "dress up" day - love that the Brit coaches do it too. Those kids were so HOT and SWEATY- fully decked out in Ninja Turtle, Batman, Spiderman hot-suits. Good thing it wasn't August...

The family pic was from preschool graduation - ah, the milestones in life. Noah's class sang two songs - "This Little Light of Mine" and "Ring Ring Goes the Telephone" - so funny and darling.

These days he can't stop singing "Nephi's Courage" - by far his favorite primary song (the ONLY one he ever wants to sing for family night. ever. that's it. nothin' else will do). He'll stand on top of the arm rest of the couch and sing it as if it's a battle anthem -- swinging arms dramatically, making very serious faces like he's gonna beat you up if you tell him not to do what God told him to do.

Oh, the thoughts of a 4 year old:

2010-06-20T22:45:00.014-04:00

N: When will i be a grown up?
Me: Well, usually people are considered grownups when they turn 18.
N: Or 6?

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N: DAD (in that very whiny DAADDD way) call me Saber-TOOTH-tiger!

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N: (at bedtime): Okay, mom. Here are you choices. You can sleep with me for 7, 5 or 1 minute.
(i think he's been paying a little too much attention to the "choices" style of parenting that we use)

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N: (playing in my jewelry box): I'll be careful! I'll be 100 careful. I'll be one hundred fifty-sixty-one careful.

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N to James on Father's day: When will it be Son's Day?

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N: Pretty please with beetles on top? (really? why? is this a good thing?)

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N (rubbing stubble on James' head and trying to pull it out): See, you do have some hair.
James: I know. Can you please stop pulling it and leave it there?
N: Then, you wouldn't be Daddy anymore.

Daddy Needs Some Ink

2010-06-12T12:48:00.000-04:00

Memorial Day at the pool.

Little girl (pointing at N): Is he your brother or your son?
James: He's my son.
Little girl (insistantly): Noooo. He's your brother.
James: No, really, he's my son.
Little girl: I don't believe you. He's your brother.
James: Why don't you think he's my son?
Little girl: If he's your son, why don't you have a tattoo of his name?
James: You're right. I'm a terrible father.

Marriage: Enhancement of Life

2010-06-08T21:56:00.001-04:00

This blog is overdue, but I've been meaning to write it for about a month now. Last month was our wedding anniversary. (Yahoo!) We also attended a friend's beautiful wedding overlooking the Potomac and several monuments. It was quite picturesque - and lovely. After the ceremony, the bride's grandfather shared some thoughts and I was really smitten with many things he said about marriage and the role it plays in our lives.

I heard it once said that marriage is so that people can be a witness to each other's lives. I like the idea that James is the most personal witness to my life that I have primarily because he has a merciful perspective and I know he won't judge me too harshly. I love the feeling in marriage of being connected at all times to this other person, and the family we are building.

The bride's grandfather talked a lot about the "enhancement of life" and the enormous role that a spouse plays in the goal of, in his words, "a greater enrichment, enhancement and expansion of each life."

I continue to be so blessed in who I married and the enrichment he provides me and our little family and the world at large.

(For a little levity, if the previous post from tonight isn't enough, this is our son's latest drawing of our family. He's on the left with spiky hair, James is in the middle with no hair, and i'm on the far right with curls. I love how happy we all are in his eyes.)

Okay, you asked for it...Sumo Marianne

2010-06-08T09:00:00.002-04:00

Well, a few of you did at least. Here is a video of me as a Sumo Wrestler. I couldn't figure out how to just give you a picture for proof that I actually dolled myself up as a Sumo in a loincloth, so I am willing to humiliate myself by putting this on YouTube. Humiliation is a wee bit mitigated by the fact that I did win the match. Whew. That counts for something.
Here's Clip One - I can't seem to NOT fall down, but at least I got the points for pushing her out of bounds first! (hint: i'm in the blue loincloth. truly, never thought I'd be typing those words!)
There's another clip too, but we'll see if I can figure out how to post it...
Don't laugh too hard.

A man of many faces...

2010-05-30T16:50:00.001-04:00

Oh, James. because some photos are just too good NOT to share. He got his booty kicked in Sumo wrestling at a BBQ recently, so I had to take a turn in the ridiculously heavy (and sweaty) costume and bring honor to the Viray family name...I promise photos for those that don't actually believe I could or would do such a thing...but this blog is about James and not me.

Then there's James at a kid's birthday party. Not sure who had more fun - the 5 and 6 year olds, or James...

Yeah, don't mess with him. He'll beat you up.

But one of my favorites is when he dresses up in N's costumes with him and they run around the house as Batman and Robin (you can bet that James is always relegated to the sidekick role, but he's man enough that he can take it...)

I love that man.

The Days of Viray...

2010-05-23T15:02:00.001-04:00

It has been a tough period in my life, no doubt. Economic struggles, having to work more, my grieving over infertility, etc., has been a lot for me to handle.

Knowing this about us, some friends decided that we needed to be spoiled rotten. So, nearly everyday for the past two weeks, we've been doorbell-ditched by love notes and some seriously swell treats.

We have felt really grateful for such an incredible group of friends who have chosen to spend free time and energy on us. It has brought me to tears more than once. I haven't lived too many places, but I'm quite certain that not many other groups of friends could possibly be as generous and kind-hearted.

The loving kindness of so many people has been really affecting, and has cheered my days tremendously.
These "Days of Viray" notes hang in my living room now, as a reminder of how blessed we are with such loving, generous friends.

We were provided "Official Rules of the Days of Viray" in which we were told that we were NOT to write thank you notes or ask too many questions about the wizards behind the curtain, so I'm just writing this to express my general gratitude for how blessed by grace (and friends) I am...

A late night conversation...and ALL his questions...

2010-05-21T14:32:00.000-04:00

Two nights ago N came down the stairs to the basement at 9:52 pm.
Of course, should have been in bed and asleep ages ago…

N: Mom, can I ask you ALL my questions?
M: Okay. It’s very late, so you can ask five of your questions and save the rest for tomorrow.
N: 1. Why should I go to bed?
2. My other question is why are YOU not in bed if it is nighttime?
3. Why are you not … why is… can I show you something quickly?
4. Why is your teacup down here?
5. Will you come sleep wiff me for a yittle bit?

What's that zooming down the street?

2010-05-18T21:10:00.000-04:00

Is it a bird? Is it a car? Is it a...BATMAN Noah on his scooter... so, don't be alarmed. He's just your friendly neighborhood superhero on wheels.

And don't worry, he also climbs poles if you happen to have a need for that particular skill...and he looks mighty fine doing it, too, doesn't he?

Sticker Chart for Dad?

2010-05-17T08:56:00.000-04:00

So, to encourage good behavior, we've got this sticker chart for Noah. It essentially resembles a gameboard and every few spaces are labeled with a prize like, "Extra book at bedtime," "Ice cream cone," or "Movie." He earns stickers to put on the chart with good behavior. Anyway, tonight at bedtime, we had this conversation......
Noah: How many books do I get to read tonight.
Daddy: Two.
Noah: Did I land on that on my chart?
Daddy: No. I'm just letting you read two tonight.
Noah: Oh. You're just being nice?
Daddy: No. I'm always nice. Tonight, I'm being EXTRA nice.
Noah: Oh. So you can get a sticker on your chart?

A few of my favorite Spring things...

2010-05-14T20:05:00.000-04:00

Our Wisteria has bloomed. A lot. it's lovely. I hope in a year or two it will cover the whole trellis system over our dining area outside...
Second, a bird has made her home at our home...we love it.
Third, Noah and I made a bird feeder. Apparently, craft paint doesn't work very well on orange juice boxes. FYI.

Other happenings this spring:
Noah enrolled in soccer and really enjoyed it. His coaches are British and funny, so he's learned to call a soccer ball a "coconut," "stink bomb," and a "rock." Those darling coaches can call it whatever they want so long as they do it with their accents.

Apparently recently N and a good friend of his (more like a brother in the way the fight, sometimes) had a good turn. N went over to the other boy's house and the other boy said, "let's say a prayer to Heavenly Father to help us get along." N said, "okay," so he offered the prayer, apparently, and the play date went swimmingly well. True story - and totally unprompted by either mom or dad!

We also had some company last weekend from out of town and there was a funny exchange:
Mom: Noah, have you ever been on an airplane?
Noah: Yes. I've been on two airplanes.
Mom: where did you go?
Noah: Utah and Texas.
Kid no. 2: I fly to Utah, too!
Noah: Huh. I didn't see you there...

Finally, for tonight, Noah loves Family Home Evening. We've had it twice this week...he actually doesn't mind the scripture/lesson bit, and really, really loves the family play-time together. Usually, dodge ball in the basement is still the favorite sport - but Hullabaloo might be gaining on it...

White House Garden Tour

2010-04-20T16:15:00.000-04:00

Living close to DC definitely has its perks. Here is one of them: garden tour of the White House this weekend. Lovely. Saw the 8,000 tulips planted on the grounds, trees all the president's have planted, the new playscape the Obama's put in for their daughters close to the Oval Office, the new Kitchen Garden and beehive they put in, too. My dear friend, Andrea and I had a nice time walking around, listening to the marching band, and took too many pics. Here are a few from my camera. better pics from hers will be coming...

Tulips, some of the 8,000 of them planted on the grounds.

The newly added Kitchen Garden & closeup of rosemary...just love those little signs...

The Oval Office

Today's conversations for record...

2010-04-05T22:32:00.000-04:00

1. So Noah and I are waiting at the metro for James to arrive and shuttle him home in style. Windows are down, music is up, and a bug flies into the car:
N: (freaking out) Is it a stinging bug?
Me: no
N: Is it a biting bug?
Me: no
N: Is it a looking-at bug?
Me: Yep.

2. At bedtime, the cuddle-fest insues and N tells me, "I love you more than chocolate cake and ice cream." now that's love.

Happy Easter to you.

2010-04-04T18:06:00.002-04:00

okay, seriously, could he be any more adorable? Outside on our easter egg hunt this AM.

At our church easter party two weeks ago. A lovely time. Don't you just adore Noah's HALLOWEEN bucket as his Easter basket? I'm so lazy, I couldn't find it...so he had this instead. Thankfully, he didn't care at all...

Noah's Latest Antics & Cherry blossom festival

2010-04-03T14:16:00.001-04:00

And by latest, I mean, in the past six months or so...since I've fallen off of the face of the blog world...

1. He's older, wiser, knows more words and likes to use them. Among the favories are the "potty" words. Why, oh why, are those words favorites of all the male gender? What's so funny about the word "poop?" I don't get it, but he gets it and gets giddy...boo for those words.
2. However, there are more words that he likes, too, that make me much, much happier. "I love you more than ice cream" or "I love you more than chocolate", for example.
3. Or there was a prayer two months ago - when he told Heavenly Father in his prayer that he was sorry for saying potty words that his friends thought were funny. (i nearly busted out at that one...)
4. He's taken to his Kik scooter and rides it around all the time now. It helps that it is spring and glorious weather outside (see cherry blossom photos for proof that we are out of the 3 feet of snow from two months ago...)
5. He's becoming quite a big boy that loves all things electronic and game-related. Good thing we don't actually have the Wii, gameboys or the like, but he's getting really good at the whole hand-eye coordination that goes along with those games.
6. Learning his letters and can write his name..
7. Might NOT have two eyes for much longer. Seriously. If he makes it to his next birthday with both eyes in his head it will be a miracle. In the past 6 weeks he's done two scary things to his eyes (apart from the non-eye-related incidents): (1) stabbed his eye with the kitchen scizzors after he'd taken it apart and was playing swords by himself; (2) while scaling a brick and cement staircase, slipped and fell, hitting his eye socket on the cement corner of the staircase on his way down... good grief.
8. Sings made-up songs all the time - about anything and everything. Life has suddenly become a musical some days.
9. At bedtime, James and Noah will head up stairs, Noah takes his bath and James sits on the side and they have "guy talk" about their day, what they are thinking about, what's up in life, etc. James loves this quality talking time and I, for my life, can't seem to replicate it. I've tried - but I just can't seem to get that same experience. I guess I have my own special time with Noah (he always come in and wants to cuddle with me in the morning), but still!

Here are the latest pics:

Noah and "baby" Sage going for a walk yesterday at our Cherry Blossom picnic at the Mall. (we were there with about 5 million of our closest friends. it was chaos.)

Us at Cherry Blossom Festival yesterday in front of the Jefferson Monument...

The summer shearing of Noah's hair...I tried to put the clippers to my own hair, but James said I wasn't funny.

The Washington Monument and Cherry Blossoms in full bloom....spectacular.

I stink.

2010-03-25T14:40:00.000-04:00

I stink. I've totally lost the blogging energy! However, upon being reprimanded by long-distant friends, here are a few photos of a recent trip my dad made to DC - accompanied by my step brother, his son and another cousin...it was a full house and was a great time hitting every cool museum an 11 year old would like to see in the DC area... whew. there. i've posted something...we'll see how long it takes me to get the blog-energy back!

My on-the-cheap new living room:

2010-02-15T21:21:00.000-05:00

Nothing was WRONG with this room...I just really wanted a change, but we're not in the position to buy new furniture or reupolster the chairs, so - the solution: new paint and a few new accent pillows!
The before pics:

so, here you go. the new blue! "Seaworthy." New accent pillows were clearance from C&B - yahoo. i think the peacock feathers look great, too. I painted one of the tiles on the wall in the dining room blue, too, to help with continuity...

Part II: As if Part I weren't enough...

2010-02-11T22:24:00.001-05:00

Okay - these are still the BEFORE pictures - before our second crazy, crazy storm of Tues-Wed this week - where we got an extra 10-15 inches...am not sure how much... you tell me, if you can, where on EARTH we're supposed to put all that extra snow? we have yet to figure that out...but are trying to deal with it...

i'm ready for spring, but am afraid that those tulips i tried planting will be SWIMMING come April - if they end up coming out at all. Am not convinced that this snow willl ever, ever go away...

next up, when i get to it, is me bragging about my paint job in the living room. have a few before and after pics to show off... sigh. i love it.

I'm back...sort of.

2010-02-08T21:49:00.000-05:00

We've been buried in snow and I've been buried in work. So, despite having MUCH photo-logging and blogging to make up, this quickie on the weather and a fwe pics will have to suffice...not that anyone is just itching to see what we're up to, but just in case. And we are expecting to be burried even further tomorrow. Truly, hasn't anyone come up with an invention that will just make snow disappear? Where on earth will we put it? The sides of our townhome are already so packed - up to 6-8 feet high - that another expected 10-20 inches tomorrow night will just be crazy. where will we put it all????

Noah cracked me up tonight. James built him a fort in his bedroom and he's slept in it, on the floor, under this sheet that goes from his bed to the closet doors, for the past 9 nights, rather than sleep on his queen size bed. Tonight he said to me, "mom, dad is home now and is going to fix my fort. you don't do it right. you twist it up and that is what makes it not right. But i still love you." fair enough. i'll take that.

Last Night's Prayer by Noah

2009-12-02T21:28:00.002-05:00

dear heavenly father,

we're thankful for this day.....we're thankful that we're all here....we're thankful that.....we don't fight about what we don't have....and we're thankful for what we do have......we're thankful that we don't have to watch scary movies that are only for grown-ups.......