Blessings Abound

Every year our family puts up a Thankful Tree. It is a fun and visual way for us to reflect upon the blessings we have received. This year Tyler and Hannah were able to contribute to the tree. They loved thinking of new things they were thankful for and adding another leaf to our tree.

Here are just a few of the things written on my leaves.

1. This man. He is a wonderful husband and father and provider. He loves me. He tells me all the time how much. I appreciate it more than he realizes.

2. This silly Tyler boy. He gets more enjoyment out of the little things in life than anyone I've met. He teaches me something daily.

3. My sweet Hannah Banana. She gives me hugs and kisses just because.

4. Baby sister. While this pregnancy has really tested me, I am beyond grateful that she is developing strong and healthy. 

5. My testimony of Jesus Christ. I know that He is mindful of me and my family. I have felt the peace, love, and strength that comes from coming to Him. I can see his tender mercies in my life, big and small.

6. Laughing. I love laughing so hard you have tears running down your cheeks. Everyone should laugh like that as often as possible!

7. Sleep. I love sleep. I honestly need around 9 hours a night.

8. Cars that work. Our Durango is getting pretty old. It is loud, completely unfancy, and every time it turns on I am grateful.

9. Sunshine.

10. More than anything, I am grateful that my family is happy and healthy. With so many luxuries in life, it is  this simple fact that is most important.

Arrrr Matey!

We've been invaded by pirates! At least they are cute pirates. This Halloween season was super fun and super busy. We went to family and friend parties, a school carnival, carved pumpkins, and went trick or treating. Both kids wanted to keep going after an hour and a half! Thank goodness for good weather and a wonderful safe neighborhood.

She's all girl!

Hannah turned three last week! We celebrated for two days straight. We were all pretty tired after the birthday festivities. On her birthday we went to Hogle Zoo....along with 90% of Utah. It was super crowded, but we took our time and still had fun. The birthday girl was happy to get in the stroller after a fun day at the zoo.

Later that night we opened presents. She was beyond thrilled with all the fun dress up clothes she got. Hannah twirled and used her wand cast spells on us all night long! Even though she is young, she definitely understands that on her birthday the spotlight is on her!



The next night we had a fun family party for her, complete with a pink butterfly cake, as requested by the birthday girl! She got clothes, dolls, a My Little Pony, books, and a stroller and couldn't have been happier. Hannah now loves taking care of her dolls. Hopefully that means she'll be a good big sister!

Hannah is sweet, stubborn, a talker, a snuggler, emotional, caring, helpful, and a wonderful member of our family. Happy Birthday Hannah!

Pictures say it all!

In case you missed the announcement on Facebook, I'm pregnant! Below are the pictures of the kids faces the night we told them that there was going to be a new baby in the house.

Thankfully they were excited. I don't think they quite understand how things are going to change around the house, but I'm just glad they were happy about it. Tyler even said, "I can snuggle with the baby...not at night though, because I'll want to sleep!"

My due date is April 10, 2013! So far this pregnancy has been different than the other two. I got very mild morning sickness with Tyler and Hannah. This baby has really thrown me for a loop. I've been on Phenergan twice a day since about 7 weeks.  I'm pretty sure I didn't cook for 5 weeks straight! Mostly because food sounded repulsive! My energy level has also been lower than with the first two. At one point Steve laid down on the couch and joked, "I think this is the first time I've been able to be on the couch in over a month!" Thank goodness for wonderful family and a supportive husband who have taken care of me and the kids. Thankfully, the last week has been better. I actually cleaned the bathrooms this morning!

I am simultaneously thrilled and nervous about having another baby. Part of me loves where our family is at right now. Both kids are more independent, and no diapers. Yet the other part of me knows this baby is supposed to join our family right now. I just pray that this baby is healthy...and a good sleeper!

Circus!

Last Friday we took the kids to the circus. It was a first for all four of us. We got to go see the animals and performers up close before the show started. The BEST part was Tyler and Hannah getting up on the performer's platform and dancing in front of hundreds of people. Oh, to be a kid with no fear! The theme of the circus was the Spirit of the Dragon. During the opening number, Tyler turned to me and asked, "Do you have the heart of a dragon?" I didn't know how to answer that!



This was the typical circus you think of. They had horses and riding performers, clowns, gymnasts, trapeze performers, lions and tigers and a tamer, elephants, eight motorcyclists in a small steel circle, cats, dogs, miniature horses, and the list goes on.  The lions and tigers were incredible. They were growling and taking swipes at the tamer. It was totally tense and engaging!  I think Steve and I were more entertained at some parts than the kids. All in all, it was a very fun evening out!

Is anyone there?

I have been MIA for a while. I feel like I've been neglecting my blog, and everyone else's. So I thought I'd write a quick update on the family.

Steve--He is a busy guy. Between demanding work, calling, and family obligations he has little to no time for himself. He never really complains. He is a wonderful husband and father.

Erin--Trying my hardest to keep up with Tyler and Hannah. Some days I do, and some days I don't. I'm learning that I set my own expectations when really no one else cares. Taking the pressure off of myself, I've found life to be a lot simpler!

Tyler--He is absolutely LOVING kindergarten. He asks if he can go on the weekends. He still has more energy than I know what to do with! Tyler has a huge imagination and loves creating things with Legos and creating imaginary games to play with Hannah.

Hannah--Her new saying is "you're not in charge of me." She mostly says that to Tyler. She is really growing up and potty training is around the corner! She has also mastered her "sad" face!

I promise to update more soon!

Things I learned in California

We just got home from a week long vacation to Steve's hometown. His parents were generous enough to let us stay with them. Of course the men went off to fish for the week, so the women stayed home and played hard. It was a great week of relaxation, shopping, site seeing, and spending time with family. Here are a few things I learned over the past week:

1. Tyler and Hannah love time with their Grandmas! I think all kids have a special place in their hearts for their Grandmas.

2. Hannah is afraid of feeding goats. Who knew? I love that she is clinging to my mom for dear life. Yet, she was perfectly fine to brush the goat.

3. Dieting on vacation is for sissies! Here is a short list of the delicious food I ate during our week visit: ice cream, kettle corn, fruit tarts, spinach and gorgonzola pasta, snicker doodle cookies, a cookie sundae from Ghirardelli square, cheesecake, and more...much more!

4. Tyler and Hannah can get along...some of the time. The perfect phrase to sum up their interaction is "monkey see, monkey do." Hannah will do whatever Tyler does...good or bad. Tyler loves the power!

5. Tyler is a true engineer. We rode the cable car in San Francisco and he was more interested in watching the conductor and gears than he was seeing the beautiful sights of the city. Also, we stopped at Ghirardelli Square for dessert and he was fascinated by the machines that make the chocolate. He turned to my mom and said, "I want to work here!" My mom asked, "So you can have the chocolate?" Tyler replied, "No, so I can make the machines that make the chocolate!"

6. I want a bathtub filled with pillows for our playroom. This is the cutest bookstore, and such a great idea!

7. We wished Daddy was in each of these pictures, but are glad he had a great time with his dad and brother fishing.

  

A huge thank you to Doug and Kathy for a wonderful vacation!

What to you do in the summertime?

The question is, what don't we do in the summertime? I love summer for many reasons. I love the warm evenings, lack of schedule, delicious fresh produce, and the overall feeling of relaxation. Even though it is relaxing, we've been super busy doing fun things. Here is a short list of the awesome things we've done...so far!

1. Made several trips to Hogle Zoo with cousins and friends. The new exhibits really are well done. And please ignore the fact that my kids are wearing almost the same outfit each time we've gone!

 2. Gone laser tagging with all the family. This is one of my favorite traditions. There's nothing like running around a black-lit room, sweating and shooting at each other for three hours to bring a family together!

3. Played outside...a lot. Whether at the swimming pool, in the backyard, or exploring, the kids get tired and happily go to bed every night. That is what being a kid in the summer is all about!

4. Gone on a zip line. Tyler was the first brave kid to try the line. Of course, Hannah couldn't be outdone by her brother. She had NO FEAR at all and had a great time! When it was my turn, I had to tell myself, "If Hannah can do it, I can do it!"

5. Visited the Treehouse Museum in Ogden. Tyler and Hannah's cousins, Hayden and Jonah were in town. They all had a blast together. Even though it is a bit of a drive, it was worth every cent!

6. Done parades and sparklers. The 4th of July is always a great day full of good food, fun family activities and awesome fireworks. My mom sure knows how to host a good party!

7. Gone fishing. This was just for the boys. When I asked Tyler if he caught a fish he said, "I caught a few, but I didn't get to reel them in!" Either way, he loved it and can't wait to go again with his "best bud, Dad."

8. Tried to savor the moments when we are together as a family.

Eight is Great!

Eight years ago today, I married this guy:

(This is actually the first time I "kissed" Steve...we lost playing a game against his cousin Sam and my friend Shannon and the losers had to kiss each other on the cheek! Thanks Shannon for coming up with that idea!)

 I remember thinking the day we got married that I had no idea what was in store for us as a family. And I still don't know what life will bring us. I'm just blessed beyond measure that I have someone to share my life with. I think it is safe to say that when any of us get married, we are in the "infatuation" stage of love. Now that I'm older, I feel like my love for my husband has matured. He still makes me laugh and treats me with the same love and respect he did when we met, but I feel like we have "grown up" together. After seven moves, three degrees, four states, and two children, we have come to rely on each other.

When we were engaged, I remember people telling us that marriage was going to be work. To be perfectly honest, the first four years were a breeze. It was a smooth easy transition for us. But in the last few years, I've come to understand what they meant. If we don't make time for each other and work towards making the other person happy and stay connected, it will never happen. It is a conscious effort to let the other person know you love and appreciate all they do.

How do I know I married the right man for me? At the end of the day he is still the person I want to talk to most. He is still my best friend. I love you Steve. Thanks for eight years of wonderful!

I'm A Big Kid Now!

Tyler graduated from preschool last week. He just loved this last year. He is a very social boy, so he thrives with all the kids. He also really enjoys learning and being creative. I truly feel like he is prepared to succeed in Kindergarten. Wow, I am going to have a Kindergartner! I'm feeling old. But that's a post for another day!

Tyler really did a great job at the graduation. He was a great listener, singer, dancer, and speaker. And, I know I am biased, but he sure looked handsome.

Now to begin the summer of fun before school starts! We've got swimming, the zoo, splash pads, parks, cousin visits, museums, and late nights of playing outside to keep us busy.

"If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard, is what makes it great."

The other night one of my favorite shows was on TV. I love A League of Their Own. Mostly because it reminds me of all the good times playing volleyball. I digress. A clip of the movie really struck me while I was watching it. Tom Hanks' character says, "Baseball is what gets inside you. It's what lights you up, you can't deny that. It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard...is what makes it great."

I know he is talking about baseball, but that quote made me think of motherhood. It is hard. And honestly there are many days where I just want to quit. These two little lives are completely dependent on me. If I am not 100% invested in their learning, success, and well being, who will be? It is overwhelming. I often feel extremely inadequate and undeserving of two perfectly healthy, beautiful children. Especially when I read of such heart breaking stories like this. Do I really appreciate the sacred gift of my children?

I have been thinking a lot about this. I beat myself up a lot that I'm not doing a craft with my kids three times a week, or living at the library, or making great tasting organic meals. I feel like I must be failing because I don't have furniture in my home that I refinished myself after finding it at the thrift store, or because I don't wear the cutest clothes in the smallest possible size, or smile at my kids when they are whining and driving me bonkers.

This is where the movie quote comes in. Motherhood is hard. It is supposed to be. It is the test of this life for women. To learn how to humbly ask the Lord to help us with the this awesome responsibility we have to raise these perfect little souls entrusted to our care. Raising Tyler and Hannah is the most worthwhile thing I can be doing, so naturally it is going to require all of my mental, physical and emotional strength in order to be successful. While I am NEVER going to love the tantrums and disobedience, I am going to love them forever. I am always going to struggle with keeping my calm when Tyler splatters his toothbrush on my newly cleaned mirror, but I will also always love watching Tyler sing his heart out for me on Mother's Day. Hannah's bad manners and goofing off at the dinner table is going to drive me insane, but her snuggles when I read to her make even the most frustrating of days seem not quite as bad. For with all of their quirks, I have my own. They forgive me on a daily basis. They keep me humble. All they need from me is for me to "show up" each day for them. I can do that!  

So do I really appreciate the sacred gift of my children? The answer is a resounding yes! I would not trade Tyler and Hannah and my role as their mother for anything else on this earth. Because the hard is what makes it great!

Cause for Celebration

It has been a good couple of weeks at the Pulley home. While there have also been countless tantrums and fits, cleaning, laundry, bills, etc., we have three great reasons to celebrate.

First is Steve's birthday. The birth of my good husband is definitely something to celebrate. He works so hard for our family. Steve rarely has time to himself or to do the things he enjoys, and doesn't complain. I on the other hand complain, probably daily, about some aspect of my life or the kids.

Steve wanted a homemade dinner of pork chops with spiced apples and raisins and butterscotch brownies for dessert. All I have to do is give him some good food and he's happy. He is easy to please! The kids loved helping him open presents and were great little singers. Tyler bought Steve a gift with his own money and made a card all by himself. Steve and I noticed that his drawings resemble anime cartoons!

The next reason to be happy is the selling of our house in Boise. We loved this house. We became a family there. However, it has been a money drain since we left 3 1/2 years ago. I cannot tell you how happy I am that we never have to think about that house again...except for the good memories. No more bills, no more HOA dues, no more insurance. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted from our shoulders. A real blessing indeed!

Last, but not least, we celebrated my birthday. It was a great day. My sister-in-law took me out to a delicious breakfast, followed by a quick stop at the zoo for Hannah. The afternoon was spent relaxing, playing outside with the kids, and not doing the daily things that could easily wait until AFTER my birthday!

I didn't have to cook, clean or do any dishes thanks to a delicious dinner out. My three loves spoiled me with flowers (from Hannah), new gum (from Tyler), clothes and spending money.

These celebrations make me thankful for my family, friends, and blessings.

Newport Beach!

I realized this morning that of the 18 days of April, I have only been home for six of them! The latest whirlwind trip was to one of my favorite places, Newport Beach. My husband's family has vacationed there for years and now I've come to LOVE it there. Here are some of the highlights, and low points from our trip.

Highlights:
Food
All of my health conscious ideas and calorie counting goes out the window when I am in Newport. We ate Balboa Bars, Ruby's diner, Bristol Farms bakery, gelato, Sprinkles cupcakes, more Balboa bars and the list goes on. And it was worth each and every bite!


Time with Steve
It is good for me to get out of mommy mode and get back to being myself and being a wife. This was our first kid-free vacation since Tyler was born. Steve and I were able to go on walks along Balboa island every night. We went to Crystal Cove and went tide pooling. Drove a couple of hours, without kids interrupting our conversation, to Six Flags Magic Mountain. Time with my husband is usually minimal, so it really was great for us to have a few days to remember why we fell in love with each other in the first place!

At Magic Mountain, they have some pretty intense rides. Their X2 roller coaster is the most intense and insane thing I have ever experienced. No joke, I had to have Steve help me out of the chair my knees were shaking so bad. I truthfully almost wanted to cry...not because I was scared, but because I didn't know how else to digest the experience of the ride. And Steve's reaction? I have never seen him laugh that hard in our nine years together. He had tears streaming down his cheeks. He had the time of his life.


Shopping
Pretty much every store is better in California. You might think I spent a lot of money on cute clothes for myself. You'd be wrong. All I could think of was cute things for my kids. I couldn't help but miss Tyler and Hannah when I see things like this. Both of these came home with us!

And now for the low points:

Vertigo
I had my first ever case of vertigo...the day we were leaving. It was awful. I got motion sick at Six Flags the day before but this was worse. It took two Dramamine and four extra strength Tylenol to touch the dizziness and headache. Not my favorite.

Leaving
Just like any vacation, it was hard to leave the sun and beach to come home to laundry and rain clouds. But I will gladly come home to my kids and housework if it meant I had a wonderful long weekend with my best friend!

A very big thank you to Steve's parents for providing a place to stay and for the great company!

A whirlwind of weeks

I swear the past month has flown by. To make a long story short, we've had a funeral, house guests for a week, a week long road trip to Phoenix, and Easter. That is all in addition to preschool, the gym, grocery shopping, church meetings and all the daily doings. I feel like I haven't really had a chance to exhale!

Over Spring Break I went down with the kids to Phoenix to see my sister and meet my new sweetest niece. My mom was nice enough to drive down with me. It was great for the cousins to be together. I LOVED snuggling Sophie. And of course the weather was simply splendid! We ate good food, sat around and chatted, watched good shows, and relaxed.

I was all set to drive home myself with the kids on Friday morning. I was sort of dreading the long drive, but was geared to go. However, Thursday night Steve surprised me by walking into Jay & Kristin's house. No joke, I cried for two minutes straight. I believe I asked him "are you serious?" to which he replied, "No, I'm just kidding!" So we stayed an extra day and played at the park, ate AMAZING pizza at Grimaldi's and laughed so hard we cried. A true vacation!

We got home late the night before Easter. Like I said, a whirlwind! The kids actually let us take pictures of them. I think because we told them they couldn't find their Easter baskets until they gave us a good picture! Tyler must have a homing device on him, because he found his basket pretty easily the first place he looked. Hannah found hers the second place. Both kids loved their candy...of course!

After a wonderful day at church, we found Easter eggs outside at Grandma's house, dyed eggs for the first time and ate a delicious dinner. It was the perfect way to relax and unwind from the past few weeks. We were able to spend time together remembering our Savior. It was a very Happy Easter!