Bedtime Wishes and Fishy Dreams

As you all know the Andrea-bed-couch struggle has been ongoing for some time now. I decided it was time again to try and get to her to sleep in her bed again. This decision usually comes when she will no longer sleep through the night on the couch either.

Ryan has wanted to get Andrea some fish for a while. She gets so excited whenever we encounter a fish tank at a restaurant or the doctor's office. I finally agreed that if she would sleep in her bed for 10 nights she could get some fish.

The qualification for a sticker on the chart was simple... she had to wake up in her bed. So yes, there were several nights that I had to take her back to bed, and sit there with her for a while. There were also some unsuccessful nights when she asked to go back to the couch. So it took about 2 weeks to get the 10 stickers, but she did it! And 6 of those nights were undisturbed genuine full nights in her bed, I can't believe it!

She ended up getting 3 fish, a snail, and we are still looking for a "pink mermaid" decoration that she thinks the tank needs. When we ask her the names of the fish they are "Mommy" "Daddy" and "Nemo". I just don't like that "Mommy" happens to be the biggest one!

Happiness

My entire adult life I have felt inadequate. I think as humans we do. I constantly compare myself to others and am always searching for what needs improvement in my life.I judged myself when I was overweight.... so I lost weight.

I had a great job at the credit union, working for great people, but even then I was always asking myself if that was my "dream career"

Before having Andrea I always felt judged for not having children. Just when Ryan and I decided to create a life without a child the Lord stepped in and sent our daughter.

Having a baby brought on a whole lot of change at once. Less income, less adult interaction, more weight to lose, and the pressure of being the perfect house wife.

I felt that when Ryan got home the house should be spotless, Andrea should be fed and clean, and dinner should be on the table. These were all my expectations (and society's) and not Ryan's.

I stressed myself out with trying to find playmates for Andrea. This never worked out, I felt I wasn't really accepted into the "housewife" or "Mormon Mommy" world and had a lot of trouble making new friends after so many years loving my co-workers. Luckily I was able to tend a couple of days a week which at the time I did for Andrea, but I have grown to really love these kids! Andrea and I both look forward to the days Bracken and Leah come to play. I get to enjoy being a Mommy of 3 two days a week!

It's been a couple of years now that I have been forced into this housewife/daycare/Mommy world full time and I think I've finally adjusted to our routine and lifestyle. I've realized recently that if I stop putting so much pressure on myself to be perfect I can be truly happy!

Yesterday as Andrea and I finished grocery shopping and were in the drive up line to get our traditional Happy Meal I realized just how lucky I am. Ryan works so hard so we can have our everyday routine and loves me no matter how clean our house is or how thin I am.

I've realized that I love baking cookies with Andrea much more than I care being a single digit dress size! I've realized I love successfully grocery shopping with 4 dollars of my budget. I love tending two sweet kids who have accepted Andrea and I as part of their life! I love my calling in church and look forward to going. I love our home, dependable cars and really don't have a worry in the world. Well accept for finances but that's a worry for everyone, right? Hopefully I can keep this mind frame for a while, or if not I can look back on this post and remember to be happy with my situation!

Staheli Farm

A few years ago I read a post on my sister-in-law Sara's blog about their family's visit to a farm down in Washington, UT. It had a corn maze, pumpkin patch, kiddie train rides, and more. I really wanted to take a trip down to join them this year. She suggested conference weekend since we would all have a Sunday off church. So we headed down Thursday down and had a packed weekend of fun! Friday we visited relatives (Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Sandy, Uncle Fernlee), went to lunch, ran errands, and Sara and I even got to do some girl-time shopping while the hubbies watched the kids.

Saturday we headed for Washington/St. George. After stopping for lunch we made it to the farm around 1:00, and boy was it hot! However, there really wasn't anyone there. I don't know if it was too early in the season, too early in the day, too hot, or just because it was during General Conference... but we weren't complaining! I think we all got a little bit of special treatment because we were some of the first of the day... no additional cost for the activities and we were invited in to pet the animals and no one else had.

As far as the farm, I could go on and on... you'll see from the pictures all the fun stuff to do. It was just so much fun!

 The first thing we saw was the mini maze for the kids, I liked that one... you could just look over to see the dead ends.

 Then we rode a tractor to the actual big corn maze. The aerial view was a tribute to the Staheli parents celebrating 50 years, we couldn't walk the whole thing because it was just too dang hot!

 Matt and Sara suggested the corn maze first and I understand why, if we had done the other activities first the kids wouldn't have been up for all the walking. After giving up on the maze we head back to the farm to see what fun there was to be had.

The first stop was the rubber ducky water spout races. Once Andrea saw these she didn't want to do anything else. I tried to upload a video of it but gave up after two attempts.

We eventually talked her into going to the horsey swings with Peyton and Meryn and they all loved those. Matt got to be the designated motor and pull the kids around.

 There was also a corn slide, well at least that is what you landed in.

 And a LOT of animals. We were invited into the animal pen and Sara was the good sport to go in with the kids even though it resulted in a pig dirtying her leg and shoes.

 The big hit of the day was the blob. Even the adults couldn't get enough of bouncing on this thing! I took a few pictures than hopped on myself. Andrea loved it, even when she fell down. She called it the "big pillow" and kept asking to go back.

 The pumpkin patch was past all the cow pens, so a tractor drops you off and comes back later. The only problem was a big storm hit right after we arrived. So we took shelter under a makeshift corn husk roof and waited for the tractor. The kids picked their pumpkins from the pile that was out of the rain, and there were no complaints.

Afterwards the kids were understandably dirty, so they all had baths, we had some pizza, and the kids had a camp out in the living room. Peyton and Meryn had never seen Pete's Dragon, which was just upsetting to Andrea and I, so we set them straight. Andrea also watched the movie on the way to and from Cedar City, I'm so happy she loves a movie I never get sick of!

As you can tell we had a blast. Ryan was sick the whole time but was a good sport and did his best to ignore it. Andrea and I had allergies that seemed to turn into a cold once we got home. Traveling always seems to make us sick! Matt and Sara are always so nice to let us come down and visit and make us feel right at home. Thanks you guys for the fun time and the great memories!